Conditions for the third edition of Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths in Vietnam were very similar to last year: damp, moist, cloudy and humid but not that hot. 100k ultra runners were warned in advance and clearly were better prepared mentally for the task at hand. Last season’s ATM Finalist for Vietnam, Nguyen Tien Vo was quickest of all in 15h45 and scored his first ever race win in our series. Tien Vo was in a league of his own, finishing almost two hours ahead of Tran Van Bac and Trung Nguyen, a double ATM Finalist for Singapore in the past two seasons. Trung entered the race battered and bruised from a bad fall on training, but nevertheless scored a solid podium. Do Trung Kien had to settle for fourth just a few moments later. Then, it was American Tara Savage as fifth and winner of the female 100k. Based in Thailand and already fifth in VTM early this year, Savage lived up to her status as race favourite and kept main challenger, the experienced Vy Le Phuong, behind by some 45 minutes. For Savage, who has a background in martial arts and is also coaching track & field in schools, it is the second ATM race win after UTCR 125 last October. Third place went to Pham Thi Thu Thuy.

On the (much) more runable 42km medium distance points race, Nguyen Si Hieu more than beat his own expectations. The winner of last year’s 100km finished first in 3h45 - well under four hours and that for a trail marathon! A very impressive result and only six minutes slower than established marathon runner Hisashi Kitamura a year ago! Is Nguyen Si Hieu actually even more competitive on the medium than on the long ultras? With that speed, he can get very far in this year’s ATM Championship Final. Only 20 minutes later, Nguyen Xuan Tu came second - also a strong run. The final step on the podium went to Tokyo’s famous Roppongi Runner Tomohiro Mizukoshi. No longer the youngest in the field, but still fast and competitive. The 42km course was also perfectly suited for him. Tomohiro clocked 4h36. Another pre-race favourite, Tu Do, did not have the best of days with stomach issues, yet still managed to get fourth place.

The women’s 42km was hotly contested and the most exciting to follow from a competition point of view. Ho Chi Minh-based Japanese Mude Sports runner Akane Nemoto grabbed the victory after a tight battle with primarily Claire Berton and last year’s Lam Dong Trail winner and teammate Loi Luong. Nemoto, sixth in last season’s ATM Final in Indonesia, is typically very fast on runable trails and did not want to let this opportunity slide. She kept Berton behind by a mere two minutes and scored her second ATM race win after VMM 70 in 5h14.. However, the latter then got strangely disqualified by the race referees for not having a headlamp with her. Strange, because the race was held from sunrise to sunset in daytime. Loi Luong inherited second place in 5h21. Officially, third place went to Nguyen Phuong Van.

Nguyen Tien Vo scored his first ever ATM race win and did so impressively on the tough 100km

That’s 2 ATM race wins for Thailand-based American Tara Savage!

Also Akane Nemoto grabbed her 2nd ATM race win on the 42 km against great opposition!

Unbeatable in Cuc Phuong. Last year the 100, this year the 42: Nguyen Si Hieu

Great to be back on the overall podium: Tokyo’s Tomohiro Mizukoshi may no longer be the youngest in the field but remains a contender wherever he starts!

Last year’s winner in Lam Dong Trail, Loi Luong had to be content with 3rd place in Cuc Phuong, later upgraded to 2nd following the unfortunate DQ of Claire Berton

ATM double Finalist for Singapore, Trung Nguyen entered the race hurt and bruised from a fall, but still took a podium on the 100k!

If last year’s edition showed anything it was that Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths near Ninh Binh in Vietnam is a trail event with two significantly different faces. On the one hand a borderline extreme 100km going deep into the old rainforest, and on the other hand a very runable and pleasant 42 km. No wonder the event attracts all kinds of trail runners to the oldest national park in Vietnam, 120km south of Hanoi. Also this weekend, runners score ATM Championship points in both the 100k and 42k races. Those only looking for a Grandmaster point can also opt for the 70km.

Plenty of runners hardly knew what happened a year ago. Cuc Phuong’s 100km has a total elevation gain of about 2600 hm, which is peanuts in Asian terms. The first half of the race until CP6 also reflected this. But not only is most of the elevation covered in the second half, those hills are also deep into the jungle of Cuc Phuong with continuously treacherous, slippery and dark single trails. Armies of leeches added even more to the flavour. Some runners felt it was more adventure than trail running and retired at the first logical opportunity to do so. Those who continued to the finish loved it and were truly excited about their achievement. Nguyen Si Hieu in the men’s and Shindy Patricia in the women’s were the greatest stars of the day. This year’s 100km is virtually a mirror copy. The difference is that runners have been warned and should be better prepared. Among the expected contenders for the race victory we have Nguyen Tien Vo, already 4th in VTM in January. In the women’s 100km, Thailand-based Tara Savage is no stranger to tough ultras and might be the one to look out for. Savage won UTCR 125 last year and was an ATM Finalist, too. At VTM earlier this season she finished 5th. Vietnam’s Vy le Phuong has the experience, too, to eye a strong result.

Nevertheless, ultra specialist Nguyen Si Hieu has decided the 42km is enough for this season. He will start as a race favourite in any case, with the likes of in-form Tu Do and Tomohiro Mizukoshi as other known contenders. Mizukoshi was also a survivor of the 100 last year, but the Japanese Grandmaster will find the 42km perfectly suited to his competitive ability. A year ago, Hisashi Kitamura took top honours. Can Mizukoshi step into his footsteps? Trinh Nam Phong was a strong local contender last season. Can he make it onto the podium this time? The women’s 42km will feature Loi Luong, winner of the Lam Dong Trail in Dalat last November and part of the Mude Sports Team, which also features Hau Ha and the aforementioned Tu Do. Loi Luong may find the path to victory obstructed by her own teammate Akane Nemoto, Japanese but based in Ho Chi Minh City. Nemoto was an ATM Finalist last year (6th) and particularly quick on a 42km distance. Phung Thi Trang was third last year and is back on the start list. Can she cause an upset?

ATM will be reporting live from Cuc Phuong with focus on the 42km and 100km race. Mobile connectivity is not guaranteed outside of start/finish, so we need to wait and see how much information comes through in real time.

Last year he won the 100km, this year he is going for the 42 km

Loi Luong burst onto the competitive trail scene last year, a.o. with a great victory in Lam Dong Trail

ATM Finalist last year, Tara Savage will be trying to follow into Shindy Patricia’s footsteps on the 100k

One of the toughest ultra races on our ATM Championship calendar since last year is Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths 100 in Vietnam. Not necessarily because of high-altitude mountains, but because runners go deep into ancient rain forest to get a real “Indiana Jones” experience. It is one those 100km races that makes every finisher proud of himself. However, runners who are more into faster and runable trail courses also find their playground at the CPJP event with the 42 km race. Both the 100km and 42km offer ATM Championship points, and if you’re only looking to score a Grandmaster finish point, there’s also a 70k option.

Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths is scheduled for the first weekend of April and registrations are open. The event by Race Jungle is quite easily accessible from Hanoi as runners can book and take the event bus to the race venue inside the Cuc Phuong National Park. Participants with more time on their hands can also explore nearby Ninh Binh and other very popular tourist areas such as Tam Coc.

If you are choosing to tackle the 100km, you will need to be prepared and perhaps even more mentally than physically. Know that in the second part of the race on the long way back to the start/finish arena you will literally disappear off the map as there is zero connectivity inside the deep forest. Marshals and event staff are present as well, of course, yet be aware that you are expected to be able to handle yourself for a while in case of injury or other issues. Runners are expected to show fair play and help people in need, too. Given the high degree of technicality and adventure (never mind leeches!), participants should also take the mandatory gear list seriously.

Last season, Nguyen Si Hieu and Shindy Patricia were the toughest of the bunch in the inaugural 100k race through the National Park. Hisashi Kitamura and Christine Mitchell were the fastest runners on the 42km distance.

All information and details can be found on the website of Race Jungle, including on travel and accommodation packages. if not yet registered, please do so quickly.

For the 100km runners: the path to the deep old rainforest of Cuc Phuong National Park

While Hisashi Kitamura cruised to an easy 6th ATM race victory in his running career on the 42km course, all 100k ultra runners were struggling their hearts out on the very tough 100km course through the Cuc Phuong National Park. What was labeled as an easy and runable trail turned out to be one of the more extreme races in ATM history with participants even vanishing off the GPS map between five to seven hours. No surprise then there were a lot of DNFs. Most had just not mentally prepared for a technical battle with thick jungle and sharp rocks, let alone armies of leeches. The contrast between the 100k and the 42k could not be bigger. Race winner Nguyen Si Hieu had estimated a finish time around 11-12 hours based on his performance on the 70k last year. Instead, he crossed the finish line in 15h20! Shindy Patricia - with a long pedigree on tough ultra races - won in 19h14, and was fifth overall, slightly ahead of Japan’s Tomohiro Mizukoshi. There were only three women who completed the race. Paulina Svoboda - anything but a softie - and Grandmaster Yvette Chong were even among the DNFs.

It was moist and drizzling at times in the oldest national park of Vietnam, which is one explanation for the much slower running times compared to a year ago. However, the routes were also changed quite a bit and the 100k. was a new distance that would cut straight through the Park. The 100k started at 10pm, which meant the first half was ran entirely in darkness. Pre-race favourite Nguyen Si Hieu quickly set the pace up front, seeking his first ATM win since VMM 70 in 2018. Thimo Kilberth was following neatly, together with Yoyong Sacayle - in his debut outside of Philippines - and Vu Tien Viet Dung. Mizukoshi was a little further back with Nguyen Tien Vo. Paulina Svoboda and Shindy Patricia stayed together at the front of the women’s race with 2022 ATM Finalist Vu Thi Lan Huong not far behind them. By the time the 42km race got underway at 7am on Sunday morning, most of the 100k runners had gone beyond CP6, where their GPS trackers stopped signalling. That’s how remote and deep the jungle was. Only at CP 7.1. we would still catch a glimpse of what was happening, before everyone disappeared again until 2-3km before the finish line. At CP 7.1. a lot of participants threw in the towel and caught transport back to the race venue. Later, when runners arrived at CP 8, the first thing they all had to do was rip off the many leeches from their body parts (see the video of Shindy and Tomohiro below).

Eventually, Nguyen Si Hieu retained and extended his advantage over the others and won the extreme race. After third place in Dalat Ultra Trail, things are already looking good for him to qualify for Team Vietnam in this year’s ATM Championship Final in early December. The same applies for Yoyong Sacayle. The popular runner from Mindanao stayed with second Vietnamese and internationally experienced Vu Tien Viet Dung all race. While he could not respond to the late dash of his companion to take second, Sacayle’s third place in his first race overseas was very promising for the future. The duo was one hour behind Nguyen Si Hieu and 45 minutes ahead of fourth place Nguyen Tien Vo.

As said, the 42km was nowhere near as complicated. Race winner Hisashi Kitamura even said “easy course” halfway into the race. Nobody was able to keep up with the Karate Kit, who had time to plan his trademark kick across the finish line (see video below). Behind him, there was a big battle between five, six runners for the podium. Vietnam’s up-and-coming mountain trail talent Nguyen Phuong Quang tried to follow Kitamura in the very early stages, but blew himself up and in the end dropped to fifth place, just ahead of V Trail winner Alex Tilley. For the three traditional podium spots, Chris Devoize held the best cards until an unfortunate late misunderstanding with the otherwise excellent marking signs saw Trinh Nam Phong and Jose Luis Alvelais sneak ahead. Note that Kitamura won the 42km in 3h39, a full 40 minutes ahead of the others.

In the women’s race, Hanoi-based Christine Mitchell was tipped as the favourite to win and so she did in 4h45. The British woman was also unthreatened with half an hour advantage over Nguyen Thi Huong and Phung Thi Trang.

The next Vietnamese points race event is Vietnam Mountain Marathon in September. Runners can opt for 3 distance categories: 100km, 70km and 42km. In agreement with the event organiser, all 3 categories will offer ATM Championship points.

Later on 11 November, there is also Lam Dong Trail in Dalat. Registration for both VMM and Lam Dong Trail is open.

It was the 4th ATM race victory for Shindy Patricia since 2015

Second podium of the ATM Championship season for Mindanao’s Yoyong Sacayle

This weekend already the second Vietnamese points race event takes place a few hours south of Hanoi near Ninh Binh: it’s the 2nd edition of Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths. An event by Race Jungle with several distance categories, of which the 100km and 42km offer ATM Championship points. On paper the course here is fairly runable, but moist or wet conditions may make it tougher than expected. despite modest elevation gain of about 3000hm for the 100km and only 1000hm for the 42 km.

Cuc Phuong is the oldest National Park of Vietnam, founded in 1962, and located 120 km southwest of Hanoi and close to Ninh Binh. It’s very big and densely forested with limestone mountains, rice terraces, hundreds of birds species and all kinds of wildlife. It’s also the home of the Muong ethnic minority. Close by are also Tam Coc and Hoa Lu, famous sites on Vietnam’s backpacker tourist trail.

Competitive runners are divided between the categories (and there’s even a 70km option as well..), but both the 100km and 42km should see some great action for the top placings. Arguably the biggest star on the start list, Hisashi KItamura, has chosen the medium distance for this weekend in an attempt to extend his premium form for longer than was the case last year, when he gradually burned out in August and September. Also, contrary to the 100km that starts at 10 pm Saturday night, the 42 km will be held entirely in day light with the start scheduled for Sunday morning 7 am at Mac Lake. Looking at the profile, this should be Kitamura’s kind of race. but he will receive a challenge from two newcomers on the ATM scene: Hong Kong-based Mexican Jose Luis Alvelais and Vietnam’s Nguyen Phuong Quang. Avelais belongs to the Gone Running-Joint Dynamics Team, which also consists of a.o. Jeff Campbell. Coming back from injury, he last week took part in the Lantau 70 Relay race with a.o. Ezster Csillag. Alvelais has ambitions for this year’s ATM Championship, but says his favourite running distance is actually 70 to 100km. However, medium-distance speed work first, as he is also scheduled to run Korea 50K next month. Hanoi’s Nguyen Phuong Quang impressed the local community in recent months with some strong performances in short races with considerable elevation gain. Question now is how does he fare on more runable terrain. Outsiders for the 42km podium are Britains’ Alex Tilley - winner of the V Trail in Laos two months ago -, France’s Chris Devoize and Vietnam’s Bui Duc Long.

On the longest distance, the runner-to-beat is probably Nguyen Si Hieu. Always meticulously prepared, Nguyen Si Hieu has been accumulating ATM race podiums for years, seven in total now, and recently still so in Dalat Ultra Trail (3rd). This weekend presents him with a good chance to score his first victory since 2018, when he was fastest in the 70km race of VMM. But it won’t be straightforward because Filipino Yojong Sacayle has been in great form of late. Sacayle, from Mindanao, won Mt Apo 100k last December and finished second behind Elmer Retolado in Santa Ines Mountain Adventure 80k two months ago. It’s his first race abroad, however, but the fact the Cuc Phuong rainforest is cooler than those at home allegedly plays in his favour. Other podium contenders are Thimo Kilberth, always solid on runable courses just like Tokyo’s Tomohiro Mizukoshi. On the Vietnamese side, we also watch out for Vu Tien Viet Dung, Le Trong Nghia, Vu Xuan Binh and Vuong Xuan Hoa.

In the women’s race, Indonesia’s Shindy Patricia might as well collect another international race victory this weekend. From a competitive point of view, Shindy hardly ever has a bad day and it would be surprising if we don’t see her on the podium again. The runner from East Java is especially known for her mountain climbing strength (she was the fastest climber on Mount Apo during the ATM Final last December, en route to a 4th place in the race). Still, she has also won more speedy races like Cameron Ultra 100 (2019). Her main competitor for the race victory in Cuc Phuong may be Paulina Svoboda, Czech but living in Singapore and a former winner of MMTF (2018) and TTMT (2018). Vietnam has ATM Finalist Vu Thi Lan Huong and Pham Chi Mai in the women’s 100k race.

Hung Hai, one of Vietnam’s top runners, is the course director of Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths and will not be racing himself.

ATM Champion Hau Ha is taking a rest after Dalat Ultra Trail and a road marathon in the past weeks.

ATM will be reporting live from Cuc Phuong on Saturday and Sunday on our usual channels, with livestreams of the start and finish planned on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, and video updates throughout the race including on instagram.

Always a favourite: Shindy Patricia - 4th in last year’s ATM Championship on Mt Apo

Nguyen Si Hieu: ATM race podium collector - can he win this weekend on the 100 km?

Jose Luis Alvelais, up-and-comer from Hong Kong, will make his debut in ATM on the 42km race

A new entry on our 2023 Asia Trail Master Championship calendar is Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths in Vietnam on 1/2 April. An event organised by Race Jungle who previously brought us the Cau Dat Farm Ultra in early 2020 won by Alessandro Sherpa, and Tam Dao Mountain Trail in Hanoi in 2017 - won by Steven Ong during his amazing season back then. Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths is in its second edition this year and brings runners to the popular national park, on the trekking and hiking itinerary of many since over two decades. Accessible via Ninh Binh in the north of the country - not too far from Hanoi - CPJP offers a 100km and 42km as points race categories for the ATM Championship ranking. For Grandmaster Quest runners, there is also a 70k option to choose.

Cuc Phuong National Park (or Cuc Phuong forest) is a nature reserve, a special-use forest located on the boundary of three provinces: Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. This national park has a diverse flora and fauna system featuring tropical rainforests and was also introduced as the first national park in Vietnam.

The race courses are generally quite runable, which explains the rather tight cut offs. The 100 km needs to be covered in 22 hours, for instance. Start of all catgeories is at the Ho Mac Area. Long distance runners need to be aware that the start time of the 100km is on Saturday night , 10 pm. Many will thus run mainly at night. The 42 km race starts at 7 am on Sunday morning with a cut off of 13 hours. If you arrive in Vietnam early, there will be an option to collect your race kit already on Thursday in Hanoi city.

Accommodation and transportation options are available, please check the link to the official website below.