Datu Salumay, better known as DASAL, is on for the 12th time already this weekend. The renowned Filipino event takes place in the Marilog District of Davao and is widely considered one of the very toughest trail races in Mindanao. Once again, runners can score a Grandmaster Quest point if they manage to complete the 80km race distane within the cut-off time.

“Beelieve you can” is the tagline of the event. The bee was intentionally chosen as the race’s official mascot to highlight the crucial role bees play in preserving the natural environment. Historically, the DASAL organisers have always cared about raising eco-awareness among the general population. In any case, participants on the 80km must believe in their capabilities as trail runners given the distance and the 5000 metres of elevation gain on often steep, technical terrain. Rain is also never excluded. Just like H1 in Philippines’ northern Luzon Province, DASAL seems to be a race everyone should have at least attempted once. This year, the 80km category has about 375 registered starters. The event itself has many hundreds more spread out over shorter distances, too. It’s a real trail running festival.

Last year, Jevie Cagatin and Shally Yuson were strongest in the male and female gender categories respectively. Shally Yuson is back again this weekend, along with other podium and victory candidates such as Mia Revilla - winner of BUTM 100 this year - and Anglie Guia Cabigas. Also Jevie Cagatin will be trying to repeat his victory from last year. For the big majority of participants, it will just be about finishing and scoring another Grandmaster point, however!

Vietnam trail running suffered one setback after the other at the end of last year as typhoons and other foul weather caused event cancellations throughout the country. Not so in 2026, luckily. After a very successful ATM Championship Final in Mu Cang Chai and the Grandmaster Quest event Vietnam Jungle Marathon, we are now heading south for Lam Dong Trail in Dalat. For the third time, the long distance ultra of 85km is an ATM Championship Qualifier and finishers also score a point for their Grandmaster Quest.

Lam Dong Trail is a traditional “Dalat Race” including beautiful passages through large pine forests, coffee plantations and a number of hill summits with exquisite views over the area. The event’s motto “Back to Nature” is indeed spot on. The 85km trail course may look gentle on paper, but many runners in the past found it treacherously underestimated. Weather can be anything and can change quickly, too.

The start list features names of runners who were registered for the cancelled 2025 event and transferred to this year. It is a bit of a question mark if all these will also be actually present this Saturday. Singapore-based American Humberto Baeza, for example, is someone we haven’t seen for a while. Baeza was the last race winner, though. Two years ago, he scored his first ATM race victory here ahead of Tran Van Nghia and Scott Pugh - also from Singapore. Fastest female in 2024 was Julia Duong Nguyen, ahead of Loi Luong and Pham Ngoc Dan Chau, who was an ATM Finalist for Vietnam last month. Let’s see who comes out on top this weekend!

The 85km race starts at 3 am local time.

It does feel like trail running is making a bit of a comeback in the mountainous Cordillera region in Luzon, Philippines. That’s something that can only be applauded. In pre-covid years, the Cordilleras were pretty much in the spotlight in ATM every season. Afterwards, things quietened down a lot. PMTF has been there of course, but technically Nueva Vizcaya is not part of the Cordillera region.

We are therefore happy to announce a second ATM Candidate Race to take place in the region, just a few weeks after UTCP. The Great Cordillera 100 has big ambitions and will be held on the weekend of 13/14/15 November. Organised by RiCON, the event features several race distance categories with start and finish in the familiar Camp John Hay in Baguio, the city that functions as the gateway to the mountain area. Flagship race is of course the 100km. The course is built on two distinct loops that connect Mt. Marikit, Mt. Bidawan, Mt. Kotkot, Mt. Palanchey and Mt. Ulap. The course moves through pine forest ridges,  eight river crossings and the mountain villages of Itogon, Benguet. It tops out at Mt. Ulap, with open ridgeline views across the Cordillera range. The aim is for runners to experience the full character of the Cordillera, its landscape and its communities, in one race. The 100km is serious business, though. It has an estimated 6660 metres of elevation gain for 103km and a cut-off time of 32 hours. The highest peak of the race is 1800 metres above sea level, so that is still quite modest for a Cordillera race. Note that the 100k starts on Friday night at 11 pm.

There is also a challenging 60k race category with 3700 hm of elevation gain and a cut-off time of 18 hours. No doubt that participants will need to keep moving. Less ambitious runners can also opt for a 21km or a 10km.

People keen on taking part should register quickly and be very mindful of the mandatory gear requirements and the race schedule including the various cut-off times at checkpoints along the way. You can find all details on the event’s facebook page linked below.

Provisional course map of the 100k

Provisional profile map

Two months after Trevor Lim, another trail runner from Kuching in Sarawak, Malaysia, has completed the fourth level of his Grandmaster Quest. Mohd Nizam Arabi is a new Golden Grandmaster!

Twenty long ultra finishes under ATM and Mohd Nizam did that in just three years! He began his journey in September 2023 with Borneo TMBT Ultra 109 and finished also in Sabah, completing a very big circle, with Kokol Ultra 70 last week.

Actually, his plan was to score his fourth Grandmaster star at his home event in Sarawak, Jagoi Ultra at the beginning of September. However, that event got cancelled due to the toxic haze engulfing Sarawak and plenty of other southeast Asian places at that time. Arabi therefore had to wait another six weeks before Kokol Ultra to complete his Quest, but in so doing has a record that reads from Sabah to Sabah.

After collecting his third star at Lantau 70 in Hong Kong last March, Mohd Nizam Arabi continued early May with the Merapoh Rainforest Trail 100 and then UTSG 80 in Singapore and Deep Japan Ultra 80 in Niigata. A bit of rest was warranted after those races. At the end of August he added Pahang Eco 100 to his record as number 19, showing that he was certainly not afraid of tackling the toughest races on the Grandmaster calendar. Two weeks after Pahang, Jagoi should have been the big home celebration, but alas. That came then in another race held in challenging conditions: Kokol Ultra 70 last week.

A four star Golden Grandmaster in three years, a huge congrats and a big round of applause for Mohd Nizam Arabi!

  Mohd Nizam Arabi Grandmaster Record

1. TMBT 109KM 2023

2. MMTF 100KM 2023

3. Vietnam  Trail Marathon 70km 2024

4. BUTM 109KM 2024

5. Silabur Ultra Trail 100km 2024

6. Kar Ultra 110km 2024

7. Trail Des Gombak 100km 2024

8. Ultimate Trail Of Penang UTOP 100km 2024

9. IZU trail Journey Japan 70km 2024

10. BTR Indonesia 100km 2025

11. Mantra  Indonesia 68km 2025

12. The Magnificent Baling 100km 2025

13. Himalaya Sport Tampin Transnaning Ultra 68km 2025

14. Ultra Fish N Sheep  Hong Kong 75km 2025

15. Lantau 70 hong Kong 70km 2026

16. Merapoh Rainforest ultra 2026

17. Utsg  singapore 80km 2026

18. Deep Japan Ultra 80km 2026

19. Pahang Eco 100km 2026

20. Kokol Ultra 70km 2026

Heat & Run Trail Ultra is a new event in North Cotabato, Mindanao, organised by the Kampo and Mountaineers Trail Runners (KUMTR). The event has received the ATM Candidate Race label for its new edition on 13/14 February 2027. The main race category will be the 60km, which has an elevation gain of approx 2675 hm.

The main race is scheduled to start at 3 am and will have an 18-hour cut-off time at the finish.

The course features scenic yet technically challenging open mountain trails, rolling hills, river crossings showcasing the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of Mindanao. KUMTR is fully committed to runner safety, eco-friendly trail management, and high-quality race execution. The goal of the event is to establish Heat and Run as a premier international ultra-trail event in North Cotabato, Mindanao, promoting sports tourism and community-led trail conservation.

The event venue is the Presbitero Elementary School, Brgy. Presbitero, Pigcawayan in North Cotabato. To reach the place, you could consider flying domestically to Awang Airport nearby. Cagayan de Oro, which lies north of Cotabato, is another possibility.

You can stay up-to-date with the event via its official facebook page, linked below.

Also in peninsular Malaysia trail runners can keep looking forward to new event experiences as new races get established and further developed. One of those is Selama Ultra in Perak, which enjoyed a very successful edition this year with nearly 2000 participants. The organisational team is now aiming to increase the visibility also across borders and has applied for the ATM Candidate Race label for the next edition from 8 to 11 April 2027. On the programme are five race distance categories, among which a 85km long ultra.

Race venue of Selama Ultra is Dewan Semai Bakti, FELDA Ijok, Selama in the northern part of the State of Perak. The 85 km is the main category and has approx 3500 hm of elevation gain. The course offers a combination of technical trails, forest sections, rural landscapes and the Bukit Ganding area. Less ambitious runners can also choose the 55km with about 2500 hm, or shorter distances, such as the 35km, 15km or 5km fun trail.

Selama is known for its countryside charm, featuring tropical rainforests with waterfalls, old town and ecotourism with emphasis on adventure activities including river rafting and kayaking.

You can stay up to date and find all details on Selama Ultra via its facebook page below, or join the instagram page.

An interesting new entry on the Grandmaster Quest calendar for 2027 is Pangantucan Ultra Trail. Organised by the Ultra Runner Republic - known from Mt Kalatungan Ultra - in collaboration with Sugar Cane Trail Ultra Runners, this event takes place in the southwestern part of Bukidnon in Mindanao, Philippines. On the programme for Grandmaster Quest point chasers is a 70km with approx 3000 metres of elevation gain. Rendez-vous on 20/21 February 2027.

As the aforementioned Kalatungan Ultra cannot be held for the time being, the Pangantucan Ultra Trail will honour the mountain nonetheless by providing stunning views of this fifth highest mountain in the Philippines. The 70km is described as a challenging route with a dirt road to a stunning view of one of the tourist destination,Lake Napalit. Also part of the trails are the famous Kimereges Blue Water and Kidanggin Hot Spring. Less ambitious runners can also choose a 42km and 21km option.

The main objective of the Pangantucan Ultra Trail, aside from promoting trail running as a healthy sport, is building camaraderie among runners and also to showcase the natural beauty of Pangantucan and its trails as an adventure and tourism destination.

All details can be obtained via the facebook page linked below. Note there is a fixed quota of 700 runners at most.

Last weekend’s Taman Negara Ultra in peninsular Malaysia saw a big turnout for its second edition. The event was labelled as an ATM Candidate and its programme featured several race distances including the classic 100km and 50km Organized by Persatuan Rekreasi Taman Negara, the event centred around Kuala Tahan in Jerantut and aimed to showcase the area as a premier eco tourism destination and it is also the gateway to the world's oldest rainforest.

The 100km and 50km logically claimed most attention. Both had significant elevation gain to. conquer with 4500 for the 100k and nearly 2400 hm for the 50k. Both categories had a lot of nighttime running and had to cope with some serious rainfall. The DNF rate was quite high as a result.

Amierul Amin added another race victory to his record and more and more seems to be the benchmark for long ultras in peninsular Malaysia. His finishing time of 19h46 indicates clearly how tough the 100km race was. He was nearly an hour ahead of Adam Danial Zailani in second and Hanafi Hasan in third on the podium. Only three women made the finish of the 100k. Elsa Ng took the victory in 30h23. Goh Pei Fen was second and Roziana Ladde third.

Also the winner of the 50km needed 9h23 to complete the course. Ibrahim Karim took the honours with a significant gap on Mohd Hatta Wahab and Mohd Hasrul Hisham Mazlan.

Halimatun Sa’adiah was the strongest woman last weekend in a time of 11h23. Michelle Ng was second in 12h02 ahead of Chong Mei Tze in 12h56.

Amierul Amin was an ATM Finalist in 2023.

Halimatun Sa’adiah

The upcoming winter edition of Minamiaso Caldera Trail on 19 December has been entered into the ATM Championship calendar of Season 12. The race category to focus on is the 50km. For travellers to Japan, Minamiaso could be combined with Izu Trail Journey, which takes place on the Sunday before, albeit in a different part of the country.

Last summer, Minamiaso had a very wet edition that had to be cut short for safety reasons. It was therefore suggested that the winter edition may be a better option for inclusion in the ATM Championship as the weather - touch wood - is normally much more stable in December. Of course, it could also mean cold temperatures and even some snow, but runners tend to be fine with that. The event will already celebrate its 11th edition this year and takes part in a popular trail running region in Japan. It takes place on Kyushu, one of the larger southern islands of Japan with Fukuoka as best-known major city. Access to Minamiaso is via Kumamoto, another city with its own international airport and roughly 1 hour away from Fukuoka by high-speed train.

The 50km course is quite hilly with 2500 hm of elevation gain. The start is scheduled for 6 am and the cut-off time at 16:00 in the afternoon.

The Minamiaso Caldera Trail was first held in January 2021 to light a beacon of hope for the stagnant sport and local economy of Minami Aso Village. The 11th edition of the event will be held in four categories: 50 km, 30 km, 18 km and 2km, so less ambitious runners can also go for one of the shorter distances.

Registration via the official website linked below and any questions can also be addressed via the email below. Please note that there is also a - payable - shuttle bus service to the race venue.

Also Hoi Yee Lam was at the wet summer edition of Minamiaso

Even snow is possible during the winter edition in December

Golden Grandmaster Tomohiro Mizukoshi

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We are happy to announce a new ATM Candidate Race in the eastern Visayas of the Philippines. Sinirangan Trail Ultra will be held for the second time out of Tacloban City in Leyte with a 50km race as main distance category. Set up as a boutique event for proper trail running enthusiasts, the event is directed by Ray Neil Caminong and scheduled for 14/15 November.

The 50km race has considerable elevation gain with nearly 2800 hm. The start will be at midnight on Sunday, thus making it a Sunday race. Cut-off time at the finish will be after 16 hours. Note that there is a registration quota so if you want to be part of the event, sign up quickly. Less ambitious runners can also choose the 32km, 16km or 8km categories.

Sinirangan Trail Quest takes place where the sport remains relatively uncommon and unknown. The event aims to grow trail running culture and community in Tacloban City and Leyte.. The event seeks to promote local tourism by showcasing the area's mountain trails and natural landscapes, while supporting the local economy and communities near the race course. Ultimately, the event aspires to establish Tacloban City and the Leyte Province as a recognized international trail running destination in the Philippines.

You can find out more details on the official facebook page , and also sign up via Racemeister.

It was great to see a new ambitious event taking off in the Cordillera mountains near Baguio in Philippines last weekend. UTCP as the event is now commonly known did not miss its inaugural edition and opportunity as an ATM Candidate Race. A great line-up of trail runners from across the country and a solid organisational team made for a great weekend out of the John Hay camp, close to the city of Baguio. UTCP was serious stuff for runners, however. To the extent some participants argued it was perhaps a bit too technical. Finishing times reflect the tough terrain of the 100km and 50km race courses.

Fastest man on the 100km, named Saleng 100, was Ligorinson Abbugao in a time of 16h18’17”. That was one-and-a-half hours quicker than second-placed Dennies Lajada. Ronnel Valero took third in 18h21, followed by Rafy Ciano and Johnrey Espadon. In the womens’ 100km, Rhea Falitnang was once again outstanding and took the victory in 22h14. Elma Bengwasen and Maria Isabel Reyes were second and third in 24h12. Sandra Patricia Bernal and Grandmaster Ann. Jilian Pulanco finished in fourth and fifth place.

On the 50km we got pleasantly re-acquainted with Randolf Gonzales after a season away from the ATM circuit. Gonzales was fastest in 6h02, twenty minutes ahead of a strong John Taquiqui. They were well ahead of the other competitors, of whom Kart Russel Dela Cruz grabbed third place ahead of Albert Codamon and Vinson Ramos. Also the women’s 50km saw a nice battle for victory with Trisha Reyes eventually taking it in 8h53, just ahead of Myrna Batiyeg. Loraine Dulagan was third in 9h12. One of Philippines’ female trail legends Majo Liao made a nice appearance and finished fourth, ahead of Mercy Tacloy.

100km race winner Ligorinson Abbugao

Great to be back: Randolf Gonzales

Trisha Reyes, fastest woman on the 50km

Rhea Falitnag unbeatable on the women’s 100km

Maria Reyes : third on the 100km

For the first time runners could score a Grandmaster Quest point at Kokol Ultra, the annual event in Sabah, Malaysia - an ATM Candidate Race already before. Over the years, Kokol had kept growing and adding more offroad sections to its course map, so no fewer than 1200 participants turned up last weekend. To the extent the organisational team got a little overwhelmed and some heavy downpours of rain did not make it any easier.

The flagship race was of course the 70km - the category in which finishers could score a point for their Grandmaster Quest. Fastest runner was well-known Syahrul Neyzam Sukasdi, who completed the course in 10h23. That was well-ahead of Azman Salama and Samry Sainin (ATM Finalist for Malaysia earlier this month). Interestingly, three veteran runners thus scored overall podium

The women’s 70km race actually was super exciting to follow. ATM Finalists last month, Maria Jocelyn Manalo Tugna for Philippines and Harlin Richard for Malaysia, as well as Keziah Marieah Loreto looked like they were going to contest the race victory. However, 2-star Grandmaster Adelinah Lintanga suddenly switched on her turbo engine towards the end and overtook the others to claim a brilliant win, her first in a while. Lintanga dug deep and crossed the finish line in heavy rain in a time of 13h01. Harlin Richard was second one-and-a-half minute later, followed by Maria Jocelyn Manalo Tugna. Adelinah’s sister Jessica finished tenth in her first Grandmaster distance in ATM since 2019. Both Lintanga sisters now have 14 GM points, meaning one to go before they ‘graduate’ as 3-star Silver Grandmasters.

Malaysians still have another chance to score a Grandmaster Quest point in their home country this year. At the end of November, they can do so by finishing the 70km race at Trail des Lenggeng in Negeri Sembilan, not too far from KLIA.