The Cordillera mountain range in the Philippines has been an integral part of our series since the beginning and we are pleased to see continuous excitement for trail running in the area. On the weekend of 24-26 October, a new event enters the calendar: Ultra Trail Cordillera Philippines. Organised by Aid Station Cafe with experienced runners Louie Ganayan and Roflyne Fangayen, the new event has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label.

On the event programme we find a 100km flagship race, but also a 50km, 25km and 10km. As the comprehensive website reads: the UTCP course will traverse the scenic and challenging mountain trails of Itogon, featuring a combination of pine forest trails, mountain ridgelines, technical single trails mixed with wider dirt roads, highland communities and amazing views overlooking the Cordillera.

Event venue will be the familiar John Hay Camp in Baguio, the city that functions as gateway to the Cordillera mountains, and which is connected to Manila and Clark. The 100km will be flagged off at 2 am on Saturday, with the 50km one hour later at 3 am. Elevation gain is estimated at 6600 hm for the 100k and 3300 for the 50k. Runners participating in the longest category have a cut-off time at the finish of 32 hours, those doing the 50k should return within 15 hours.

The UTCP website is a nice piece of work where you can find all other details, plus a great gallery of images to get you in the mood.

Trail running in india is growing and we are happy to announce that the Summit Run Lurntsu Circuit has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label for its next edition on 5 December 2026. The event is part of the SUMMIT RUN Series and takes place in the Tehri-Garhwal region in Uttarakhand, Indian Himalayas, a few hours from Delhi in the north of the country. Mussoorie is a well-known hill station and local gateway. The event is organised by Boots & Crampons Pvt. Ltd.

The Summit Run Series currently focuses on shorter trail distances, yet that’s relative as elevation gain is substantial and the altitudes, too. The Lurntsu race measures 42km - making it a trail marathon - and has over 3000m of elevation gain. No walk in the park, in other words, and the cut off time reflects that as well: 14 hours. The 42km race starts at the Deolsari Forest rest house at 4:30 am. The course is run entirely on mountain trails through dense forests, high ridgelines, and two prominent Himalayan summits. After the start, participants will be climbing towards Nag Tibba via the quieter Ontor village side, a lesser-used approach that winds through deep forest before opening out near the summit at just above 3000m altitude. After touching the Nag Tibba temple, the route descends briefly towards the Bhatwari / Shrikot side for about 3 km before turning back up for a second climb towards Nag Tibba top.

From here, the course moves onto one of its defining sections — a long, scenic ridgeline traverse towards the Ghodiappa meadows, gradually gaining elevation towards the second summit of Lunrtsu Peak. After crossing Lunrtsu, runners descend through forest trails back towards Deolsari Forest Rest House, where the finish line awaits.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, 5 December and it is recommended to register with overnight camp stay + meals. If you wish to remain independent, the organisation can recommend some homestay options in villages surrounding Deolsari you can choose from.

For less ambitious runners there is also a 30k and 16k on the programme. Expect mountain trail running pur sang , and bring a sense of adventure. Lurntsu Summit Run aims to become a recognised international trail event and become part of the ATM Grandmaster Quest.

You can find registration and further event details on the website linked below.

Today we have a rather special announcement as for the first time in the history of Asia Trail Master we put the spotlights on Bangladesh! A new destination in Asian trail running highlighted by the Albatross Ultrail, which will be organised for the second time on the weekend of 30 October/1 November and which has received the ATM Candidate Race label. On the programme for runners are three race categories: 100km, 50km and 33km.

Albatross Ultrail was established last year by Run Bangladesh, the country’s leading sports event organiser that also has, amongst others, the Dhaka 25k international road race in its portfolio (accredited by World Athletics). Run Bangladesh has a clear goal to showcase the raw, untapped beauty of the country’s trail terrain to the international community. While Bangladesh is known for its flat terrain, there are hills, in fact, and these hills offer a technical, raw trail experience that should fascinate the international ATM community. The hill sector is known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Albatross Ultrail is held in loops of just over 16km, to be done twice (33km), four times (50km) or six times (100km). For the longest distance that results in an estimated elevation gain of 2800 hm. A dedicated and experienced team - RBAN Team - is committed to ensuring international standards are met. The core team consists of endurance athletes and brings over a decade of deeply rooted, hands-on experience to the endurance sports landscape.

Zooming out, Run Bangladesh “revolves around building a functional, highly active societal unit through competition and education. By hosting diverse sporting events and capacity-building sessions, we foster social bonding and drive nationwide campaigns, including our upcoming Run 4 Good Cause initiatives, to create a better, more active Bangladesh.” The company is committed to being a catalyst for positive change and put Bangladesh firmly on the map of international sports tourism.

The event takes place in Southeastern Bangladesh in the northern part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. To get an idea of what it is like, we recommend checking out the videos below as well as the official facebook and youtube channel of Run Bangladesh. To obtain further information, also on logistics, please contact Run Bangladesh via the facebook page or via email on official.runbangladesh@gmail.com .

Trail running has been booming in Mindanao since a few years. Not only are there now several good events, but also a huge number of runners - some of whom even have reached elite status. Think of Arnie Macaneras, Godwin Mirar, Kik Suello, Roberto Cain III, Jomarc Ferrer, Shally Yuson, Kim Flores, Julieann Morales and many others. Initially, events got established in Davao and later in Bukidnon, but recently we also observe several new organisations popping up near General Santos City in the south of the large island of Mindanao, which is actually closer to Sabah on Malaysian Borneo than to Luzon (Manila). F’Lomlok Trail Run is the latest new addition to the trail calendar and the event has applied for ATM Candidate Race status for its inaugural edition on 5/6 September.

Organised by Lady Justice Endurance Events, F’Lomlok turns around Polomolok and Mount Matutum. On the programme are several race distance categories, of which the 70km is the longest. Goal of the organising team is indeed to have that longest race included in the Grandmaster Quest calendar going forward. Furthermore, the event aims to position itself as a recognized and sustainable destination race by continuously attracting local and international trail runners, while promoting eco-tourism and community involvement within the municipality of Polomolok.

Mount Matutum stands out in the landscape and is a remote volcano, the highest point in the South Cotabato region. The peak is 2286m above sea level. Trail runners cannot go to the peak but will run on the slopes of the volcano. Elevation gain for the 70km is estimated at over 3100 hm and the route is nearly entirely offroad. The race director points out that proper trail running footwear is a must for this course. Start and finish is set at the Landan Elementary School at the Landan Barangay in Polomolok. Cut off time is 21 hours with the start set for 15:00 in the afternoon (Saturday).

Less ambitious runners can also opt for shorter distances, such as 42km, 25km, 15km and 5km.

General Santos City is the nearest airport (30km fron Polomolok) and there are also bus services from Davao and a few other places.

Registration goes via the form linked below.

No Point Trail Ultra this season, but the event organising team is happy to announce a new event near Malaybalay in Bukidnon: Kibalabag Trail Ultra i set for the weekend of 16/17 May and has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label. On the menu are four distance categories, of which the 50km attracts most attention.

The course is serious with 3800 metres of elevation gain to be conquered in those 50km. Participants have to be back in the finish by 17:00 in the afternoon, following a midnight start. There won’t be much of a warm-up as the the trail goes up almost immediately after the start. Given the technicality, pay attention to the mandatory gear list for this 50km race, also pasted below.

The event is hosted by the Barangay Kibalabag near Malaybalay City. It is characterized by densely forested and mountainous terrain, with a deep gorge carved by the Kibalabag River running lengthwise through the barangay.

You can stay up to date on the event via its facebook page linked below.

We are happy to announce that Taman Negara Ultra in Malaysia has received the ATM Candidate Race label for its upcoming edition on 24/25 October 2026. Organized by Persatuan Rekreasi Taman Negara, the event centres around Kuala Tahan in Jerantut and aims to showcase the area as a premier eco tourism destination. It is also the gateway to the world's oldest rainforest.

The event programme features four distance categories, of which the 100km and 50km claim most attention. Less ambitious runners can also sign up for the 30km, 15km and 7,5km. As the website reads: “Participants will embark on a journey through pristine trails surrounded by lush greenery, cascading waterfalls and the dense humidity of Taman Negara, offering one of the highest levels of tropical immersion in the world.”

The races have a decent number of altitude metres to conquer as well. The 100km measures approx 4560 hm and the 50km almost 2400hm. The cut-off time for the 100km is set for 35 hours after the start on Saturday morning. The medium distance runners have 20 hours of time for what is planned to be a nighttime race.

Participants in the event will also discover the rich heritage of the Orang Asli, the indigenous people of the region. On the website we read: 'These remarkable communities share their timeless traditions and harmonious way of life, which are deeply rooted in their connection with the natural wonders of Taman Negara. From traditional crafts to captivating stories of the rainforest, runners will gain a deeper appreciation of this region's cultural richness.”

Taman Negara has major ambitions and is much more than just a sporting event.

“ Aligned with the vision and mission of Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) to shape a more prosperous, harmonious and united Malaysia through youth development and the culture of sports, this event supports the holistic advancement of youth and sports to fulfill the nation's aspirations. By participating, runners not only celebrate health, unity and the spirit of adventure but also become ambassadors of Malaysia's rich natural and cultural heritage.”

You can find all details on the official website linked below, and you can follow the latest news and announcement via the facebook page. There, you can also see the event’s extensive transportation schedule - including from Kuala Lumpur to the event venue in Kuala Tahan. Plenty of accommodation options and activity options are also on offer.

For any queries, you can also contact Miss Hani as mentioned on the poster below.

The 2025 course map for 100km. The updated 2026 map is coming in due course

The 2025 course map for 50km. The updated 2026 map is coming in due course

Last weekend’s ATM Candidate Race in Libertad, Misamis Oriental saw two of today’s biggest Filipino trail talents collect another race win. Bukidnon’s Godwin Mirar and Kimberly Flores were too fast for the competition on the 42km long main race of the event, held for the first time and organised by Bakyard. The event had to deal with a rather last-minute change of location and race course a few weeks ago, but nevertheless took place without any major hiccups.

Misamis Oriential is the province around Cagayan de Oro in the northwest of Mindanao. The 42km course had about 1750 metres of elevation gain and was run mostly at nighttime. Godwin Mirar completed the course in 4h45. That was 19 minutes quicker than Eric Candelanza and Edward Candelanza. Godwin will be one of the dark horses at the upcoming ATM Championship Final in Hong Kong (The 9 Dragons).

Ever since mid-2025, Kim Flores has been scoring race win after race win in her home region. Last weekend, she was 34 minutes faster than Maria Dannica Embalsado to win in 7h05. Merry Luz joined them on the podium with third place.

Minamiaso Caldera Trail was the first ATM Candidate taking place on Kyushu, the southwesternmost island of Japan. Organised by the Local Gain group out of Kumamoto, Minamiaso has a winter and a summer edition, so participants can visit and enjoy the magnificent scenery along the trails in two completely different set-ups. The Winter Minamiaso took place in dry and good running conditions, albeit without snow this time. As such, it was a relatively fast race at the front, despite the significant elevation gain of 2500 hm for the 50km distance.

Tomohiro Machida proved to be quickest on the day in 5h53, winning the men’s race by some three-and-a-half minutes over Yohei Kawahara. The third spot on the podium was taken by Yuichiro Hayashi. Fastest female runner was Kyona Nonaka in 7h33, five minutes ahead of Seika Higashi. Sayo Matsuda claimed third place.

Minamiaso is one of the world’s largest volcanic calderas. You reach the area via Kumamoto, one of Kyushu’s main cities - the biggest is nearby Fukuoka. Kumamoto has an airport with even some international connections such as Hong Kong, and otherwise Fukuoka has more. Both cities are worth a visit, too.

The Summer Minamiaso is scheduled for early July 2026 and is expected to be officially announced in the course of January.

We are happy to announce a new ATM Candidate Race in peninsular Malaysia, taking place in Selangor not too far from KLIA Airport on the weekend of 4/5 September 2026. The 2nd edition of Tunggul Melati Trail builds on the experience of its debut event and offers trail runners now also a long ultra course of 80km with nearly 3500 metres of elevation gain. Organised by Pasak Adv Empire, ‘TMT” as Tunggul Melati Trail is known in short, has great ambitions going forward.

The race village is based in Jenderam Hilir, where there will also be a sports tourism expo, cultural activities , local vendors and runner services. The long-term objective is to establish Jenderam Hilir and its surrounding attractions as a premier national and international hub for trail running, sports tourism and eco-recreation.

In brief, Tunggul Melati Trail seeks to:

• Position itself as one of Malaysia’s leading trail running races with regional and internation participation

• Promote Selangor as a key destination for nature-based and adventure tourism

• Create long-term economic opportunities for local businesses, homestays, vendors and tourism operators

• Foster healthy lifestyles through inclusive sports programmes and community-driven wellness initiatives

• Discover and develop new talents in trail running and endurance sports, especially among the youth

• Strengthen environmental awareness by encouraging responsible recreation and conservation of Bukit Tunggul, Bukit Melati and the surrounding green areas.

• Ultimately, the event aspires to become a signature annual attraction that contributes to tourism growth, supports local socio-economic development and builds a strong identity for the region through spots, nature and culture.

The event features several race distance categories of which the 80km is now the key attraction. Less ambitious runners can also opt for the 60km, 40km or 15km. Pay attention to the start time of the 80km: Saturday at 18:00h, meaning faster runners are looking at a nighttime race. The 60km starts at midnight, with the two shorter distance at 4:00 and 7:00 am respectively. Cut-off time for the 80km is 22 hours, 17 hours for the 60km and 12h and 6h for the 40km and 15km.

Registration goes easily via the well-known Checkpointspot site, linked below.

Last weekend’s Soimalai Trail in Tak province in northern Thailand saw many hundreds of runners taking part in one of several race distance categories, which even included a 100 miles and 100km. Soimalai Trail is the fourth and last event of the annual popular Tak Trail series and had obtained the ATM Candidate Race label - just like Tulay Trail six weeks ago. Doi Soimalai is a mountain area covered in pine forests that lies roughly 1600m above sea level, and is known for its ‘sea of fog’.

On the 100 miles we saw very familiar Thai face, Sanya Khancai. However, he had to settle for second place as Kodthananat Anupan managed to grab the win by just two minutes in 27h51. Santichai Salad was third on the podium. Kittiya Piyawan was first female in just under 40 hours. Keson Sinchang and Ravikarn Kumkong joined her on the podium.

Apirat Chaitanarit and Limsiao Ai took the victory on the 100km in the men’s and women’s respectively. Chaitanarit completed the course in 18h33, Limsiao Ai in a solid 20h40. There was also a 65km with the win going to Phissanuwat Inon in 8h27 and Arlene de Abreu in 10h26. The 45km went to Paween Kongyai in 5h21 and Sirikanya Phoobhuaphet in 6h47.

On the official event facebook page of Soimalai you can find a big collection of great photos taken at the event last weekend. Stay tuned for more news on the 2026 edition!

The new Malaysian ATM Candidate Race in Lenggeng in Negeri Sembilan had an interesting conclusion of its main race distance, the 50km. Three runners came together into the finish and two of these were female! Mukminah Paiman and Azzatie Intan Suraya Zamani finished the race in 8h18 together with first male Aiman Azmi. Jie Jun Chua came next four minutes later. Then it was Azri Hasmi as third male. Third step on the female podium was taken by Aliah Ismaei.

One of Malaysia’s top runners in the last two years, also the highest Malaysian point scoring runner in Season 10, Muhammad Faris, won the 30km race. Albeit in a sprint against Ahmad Asyraaf Abas. KL-based Filipino Ritzy Amor also proved her status as one of Season 10’s best points scorers by winning the female 30km.

Trail des Lenggeng is organised by Projek Hijo, the team that also brings you Trail des Gombak in June.

Photo credit: DeeDee TDL25

This weekend we have a new ATM Candidate Race in peninsular Malaysia by the team that also brings you Trail des Gombak in June. Projek Hijo’ Trail des Lenggeng, known in short as TDL, takes place in Dusunnas Farmstay & Campsite, Ulu Beranang in Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan. That’s the state roughly between Kuala Lumpur and Malacca.

On the race programme we find a 50km main category, with also a 30km and 15km for the less ambitious. There’s 1800 metres of elevation gain on the 50km long route and the start is scheduled at 3 am on 30 November. The shorter distances will commence at sunrise, 7 am. Main highlights on the route include the 140 years old SAK Dato Temple (Malaysia’s largest statue of Monkey King), Bukit Gondol Berup (Trig Station), and Kg Orang Asli Chelogeh

Projek Hijo aims to develop Trail des Lenggeng into a a premier event on the Malaysian and Asia Trail Master trail calendars. Foreseen is a 70km Grandmaster Quest distance in 2026 as well. Ulu Beranang and Lenggeng have natural beauty and cultural richness to attract plenty a trail runner. Lenggeng also aims to position itself as a sustainable eco-sport tourism destination and support environmental conservation, cultural heritage and rural economic development.

On the 50km start list this Sunday we find several known names such as Abdul Rasyid Mohd Salehuddin, Muhammad Asyraf Bin Zulkifli, Metussin Hidayat, Lim Wenshan, Henry Yang and on the 30km there is also Muhammad Faris, the highest ATM points scoring Malaysian of the past Season 10.