We are happy to announce that the 3rd edition of Impasugong Ridge Ultra in Bukidnon has received the ATM Candidate Race label for the event on 28 September 2025. Organised by Trillchaser Sports Promotion Services and directed by experienced trail runner Juliet Chavez, Impasugong offers a challenging and scenic 55km race near Cagayan de Oro on the western side of Mindanao island in Philippines.

The event is even more testimony of the boom of trail running in Mindanao and particularly Bukidnon since the end of the corona crisis. Impasugong Ridge Ultra aims to provide for runners of all levels. The 55km is the flagship race, but there’s also a 30k and a 15k for the less ambitious. Participants on the 55 will need to conquer no less than 2600 hm of elevation gain: not nothing. For competitive runners, the last 10k are downhill and flattish to the finish, so one better keep some juice in the legs.

Registration is open and goes via the established platform RaceTech in Philippines. For more details on the event, you can consult the facebook page, also linked below. To reach the event, you need to fly into Cagayan de Oro. The airport is actually closer to the event site than CDO City.

Bukidnon has become a genuine trail running hub alongside Davao in Mindanao in the southern part of the Philippines, and Point Trail Ultra was testimony to that fact. A solid technical organisation supported by a wonderful vibe created by the various local and regional trail communities made PTU one of the standout experiences of the current season. On top, Bukidnon ace Shally Yason scored her second back-to-back ATM race win just five weeks after the renowed Hardcore 100 Miles in Luzon. And in the men’s points race, it was the first ever victory for Kik Suello, after innumerable podium places in the past two seasons. 

Kik Suello’s win did not come by accident either. The runner from Zamboanga, 7th in last year’s ATM Final, went out to get it on merit. Over halfway into the race by the end of the night, he passed the early race leader Eric Candelanza and also got rid of Kristian Joergensen on an uphill stretch. By that time, pre-race co-favourites like Jevie Cagatin, BTR Ultra hero Roberto Cain III, Jomarc Ferrer, Eldy Bulod, Isaiah Paraiso and Marjones Abugan were already looking at quite a gap that they would not be able to close anymore. In fact, Bulod and Paraiso would even DNF and score zero points. As Candelanza gradually faded towards the end, it was Suello vs Joergensen for victory. Both were more or less running at the same pace only some five minutes apart. Suello, sensing he could finally grab that elusive ATM race victory, did not waste any time at the last two aid stations. Joergensen is always a formidable competitor, and kept the pressure on. The result at the end was two amazing finishing times of 8h05 for Suello and 8h15 for Joergensen. And this for a 70k race with over 4000 hm of elevation gain and lots of muddy, slippery, treacherous trails. A fantastic dual between the two, competitive trail running at its best. Candelanza salvaged his 3rd spot on the podium, a great ATM debut for him. He crossed the finish line in 8h39. Almost one hour later, Jomarc Ferrer outsprinted Roberto Cain III for fourth place, and excellent and potentially significant result with a view to his ambition to qualify again for Team Pilipinas at the ATM Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October. Cain III said afterwards he had trouble with his stomach throughout the race. In sixth, after running fourth for quite a while, was Jevie Cagatin, who also was not yet 100% fit after a bit of an injury recently. Marjones Abugan did well in seventh place, closely followed by Dan Fernandez in eighth. 

The women’s race was more clear cut. At the first aid station, Shally Yuson and Erlicete Paragoso were still together, but in the next section Yuson already went solo. She quickly developed a substantial gap to Paragoso and Kimberly Flores, with Valerie Marcos close behind in fourth place. Most of the race nothing changed, but towards the end Paragoso faded and Marcos launched quite an incredible push and overtook both Paragoso and Flores to look for Yuson. In the end, the gap was big enough for Yuson to just maintain a consistent pace and win in 11h52, but it was nevertheless surprising when Marcos finished just 12 minutes after her. Great final third of the race by Marcos. Kimberly Flores finished about an hour later in 12h46. Paragoso still cramped up and lost fourth place to Metzi Joy Alson, who is having a very solid season that might get awarded come September with a spot in the team for the ATM Championship Final. The same applies for Shekinah Velasquez, who finished seventh last Sunday behind Daryl Palomar. Cristine Montuya never featured at the front this time around, yet still scored useful points for eigth place. 

The next ATM Championship points race in the Philippines takes place in Bukidnon as well. MUSPO 100 in Valencia, a bit closer to Davao compared to Malaybalay. 

Sunday’s Point Trail Ultra in Malaybalay in Bukidnon, Mindanao is the next points race in the Philippines, a country where the battle for ATM Championship points is for real. There’s no shortcuts to earn a ticket to the team that goes to the ATM Championships here, so many of the country’s trail stars will be present for the 70km race that starts at midnight.

It is a debut for Point Trail Ultra in the ATM Championship, after a successful stint as a Candidate Race last year. The 70km race is quite serious business when looking at the estimated elevation gain of 4150 hm, although race director and 2-star Grandmaster Yoyong Sacayle argues the course is runable. Rain might alter that, as there has been precipitation in the afternoons over the past few days and it’s actually the wet season still in Bukidnon. The course is essentially a rollercoaster without distinctive mountain peaks, but to negotiate the relentless ups and downs one better has good legs on race day.

Among the anticipated protagonists in the men’s race, a trio perhaps stands out slightly, but there’s definitely a handful of others who may just take the upper glory tomorrow. Kristian Joergensen, Kik Suello and Roberto Cain III will be the ones most look out for. But then there’s also proven contenders and race winners such as Jevie Cagatin, Isaiah Paraiso, Jomarc Ferrer and Eldy Bulod.

Roberto Cain III, fresh of an impressive 100k race win at BTR Ultra in Bali, will be keen to now also prove himself against Kristian Joergensen, a Filipino resident for years and the benchmark for many in the country. Kristian himself is keen on adding an ATM Championship to his palmares, especially after seeing Jeff Campbell manage that feat at 40+ in Borneo TMBT last year. Point Trail will already be his 5th ATM race of the season, and he finally won again in his last one: Mount Ugo Marathon 50k just over a month ago. A new victory on Sunday would be his 9th ever and put him alongside Hisashi Kitamura and Milton Amat in the all-time ranking. But a victory is exactly what Kik Suello wants, before he becomes the eternal ‘runner-up’. He has been collecting podium places since last season, but an official win has eluded him so far. Already this year, it’s been 1x second and 3x third. He no longer needs to worry about his spot in Tean Pilipinas for the ATM Final in Vietnam on 4 October, but entering that with a race win under his belt would be such a confidence booster. Jevie Cagatin already tasted victory once at Mt Kalatungan Ultra last year. Reportedly, Cagatin has been hampered by a slight injury, though, in recent times. Isaiah Paraiso won on Mount Apo in 2023 and was a Finalist last year, but Point Trail will be just his first ATM points race of Season 10. If he wants to qualify again, he better grabs as many points as possible this weekend!

The women’s 70k race features recent H1 winner Shally Yuson against Julieann Morales, impressive newcomer Kim Flores , Cristine Montuya, Shekinah Velasquez, Metzi Alson and Guia Cabigas, amongst other potential contenders. This race could remain exciting until the finish! Coming off her big win in the Harcore 100 Miler last month, Yuson may have a mental edge, but 70km is different than 100 Miles. Montuya was the race winner at Sierra Madre last year, can she score her second ATM race win on Sunday? It has been quiet so far this season around her, so maybe now will her real start. Velasquez has been a consistent points scorer this year, and if she can continue to do so she may earn herself a spot in Team Pilipinas for the ATM Final. That also applies for Metzi Alson and Guia Cabigas. Kim Flores won the 85km at Kalatungan this year, but that was not a Championship points race. Her account will open on Sunday, and some people tip her for the full 500 points..

The 70k race starts at midnight in the town centre of Malaybalay and can be followed live via the ATM Channels as usual, subject to connectivity.

Together with Kik Suello perhaps the 2 top favourites for the men’s race: Joergensen and Cain III

Bislig Ultra Trail in Surigao del Sur, north of Davao, this year offers a Grandmaster Quest point to all finishers of the 80km course on 11/12 October. The event, a Candidate Race last year, is organised by the AWRA Team, which also brings you the New Corella Trail Ultra in December.

As the official event tagline reads: “the race routes designed to challenge and inspire you amidst the stunning natural beauty of Bislig. You are about to embark on a journey that showcases the very best of our region’s landscapes and wildlife.” The highlight is the magnificent Tinuy-an Falls, often called the "Niagara Falls” of the Philippines.

In addition, there is the sanctuary of the Philippine Eagle, one of the world's rarest and most majestic birds. The presence of such unique wildlife adds a special dimension to your run, making it not only a test of endurance but also a celebration of Bislig’s natural heritage.

The 80km course is an extension of last year’s 50km. It is a challenging and exhilarating course that showcases the region's diverse terrain, including barangay roads, scenic trails, waterfalls, river crossings, and ridgelines. Last year, the excellent service and volunteer support gave participants a memorable trail experience. The men’s 50k race was won by pre-race favourite Jhon Mahinay and the women’s race went to Lory Gacusan in 10h28.

Bislig is located 200km north of Davao City in Surigao del Sur Province. Davao is your main airport for those who need to fly in. It’s certainly listed among the ‘new destinations’ for trail runners.

The official facebook page has all details and can be accessed via the button below.

Marilog Ultra 70 in Mindanao, Philippines, offers finishers of the 70km race a Grandmaster Quest point at the event scheduled for 30/31 August. Organised by Team BRAD, last year’s ATM Candidate Race received acclaim from many participants

Marilog Ultra aims to be more than just a race. It's about giving back to the community, protecting the environment, and promoting eco-friendly tourism in the area. The race director is 2-star Grandmaster and 2-time ATM Finalist Julieann Morales, herself one of the leading trail runners in Mindanao and a multiple race winner in ATM.

The Marilog event has four different distance categories on the programme. The 70km is the Grandmaster distance and has an estimated elevation gain of 3629 hm. The course map will be available in due course. Start and finish is MWES Marahan in the Marilog district of Davao, to the west of the main city.

Registration is already open via the button and form below. To stay up to date on what is happening, please follow the facebook page of the event.

We are happy to announce that the 3rd edition of Camiguin Island Trail race, scheduled for the weekend of 12 July, has entered the ATM Grandmaster Quest calendar. Organised by Vertical To Sky under Doi Calbes, this event has been growing rapidly in popularity and for the first time will feature a 70km race category - long enough to offer a Grandmaster point to finishers.

Camiguin is an island in the Bohol Sea, approximately 10km off the northern coast of Mindanao in the Philippines. The trail event is held out of the island’s and provincial capital Mambajao. The island has some lush green forest reserves, even protected under the ASEAN Heritage Park label. Camiguin also has a rich cultural history and treasures, such as Old Mambajao Fountain and the façade of the Santo Rosario Church in Sagay. This is a mountainous island, which offers the opportunity for some splendid trail running, including some technical mountain sections. The highest peak is Mount Timpoong, which towers a respectable 1500 metres above sea level.

The event has already opened for registration and in no time secured 650 entries. Contrary to other Vertical To Sky events, this one does not have a limited participation quota. However, better sign up fast to also secure your personal desired accommodation. The course map of 70km is currently being updated and will be released in due course. Via the official facebook page you can stay up-to-date on the latest developments regarding Camiguin Island Trail.

To register, Doi likes to keep it simple. Just send him an email on verticaltosky@gmail.com with your usual event registration details, and his team will come back to you within 48 hours.

The Philipino Mountain Trail Festival in Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya saw some expected and also surprising victories and performances in what what as always a tough physical and mental exercise. The Hardcore 100 Miles, a.k.a. H1, is the flagship race of the newly designed Festival and witnessed truly fantastic victories by Rhys Pawid and by Shally Yuson. While Pawid is an experienced long ultra specialist from Luzon, Yuson hails from Mindanao and took part in her first ever miler - having previously often struggled even in 100k races. Pawid, a 2022 ATM Finalist, scored his first ever ATM race win, for 2024 Finalist and Grandmaster Yuson it was her second win after MUSPO 50 at home last year. 

Rhys Pawid went solo early in the race already, between checkpoints 2 and 3, as he created a gap with the two main pre-race favourites Kik Suello and Jevie Cagatin, both from Mindanao. The gap would remain between just ten and fifteen minutes for a while, but by CP 5 at Cabayo Pawid had suddenly doubled it and would disappear out of sight for the duo behind. Pawid reached the finish after 161 km in a superb 26h02’15”, which turned out to be more than three hours faster than second-placed Kik Suello. Mantra-like differences in other words, even between some of Philippines’ most acclaimed long ultra trail runners. A new podium for Kik Suello this season, but after three third places now his first second. When is that first victory coming about? Just a matter of time for last year’s 7th place in the ATM Championship. His qualification for this year’s Final in Vietnam in October is already as good as certain. Jevie Cagatin took third, and his first Grandmaster star as well. Cagatin was the highest ATM points scorer in Philippines last season and winner of Mount Kalatungan in the process. He came 11th in the Final, just off the Top 10 enlarged podium. Another 2024 Finalist took fourth place in H1, Jomarc Ferrer. Jordan Bugnay was fifth, just a few minutes ahead of Ronnel Valero. 

The women’s H1 race was much closer than the men’s with Shally Yuson, Shela Mae Bahian and Rhea Falitnang all reaching out to victory. While the gaps were not huge, pre-race favourites Ann Jilian Pulanco and Mary Joy Sumanda somehow were never in the mix for the race win. Rhea Falitnang initially had the quicker pace, with Bahian perhaps the more consistent in second. Until Yuson made a move from CP 4 onwards. Falitnang, however, was able to up her pace again towards the end and returned to within just a few minutes of Yuson by Cp 10. Bahian there looked to be settling for third, but also she had some extra juice left in the tank. At the finish, Yuson held on to take the prestigious victory and Bahian still managed to get second just 12 minutes later. Falitnang secured third place on the podium. Mary Joy Sumanda still finished in fourth place, and became a 2-star Grandmaster by doing so. 

The second ATM Championship points race on the PMTF programme was the Mount Ugo Marathon, another “old” classic race in the Philippines. Medium trail distance of 47km, but spicy with the well-known beautiful Mount Ugo in it. Kristian Joergensen did what he came to do, grab the 500 ATM points by winning the race - his first ATM victory in a while, in fact. Joergensen, who often trains in the Cordilleras and who is familiar with the route, was a good half an hour faster than the surprisingly strong Erico Villamor. Angelo Maynard Encormal took the third spot on the podium, ahead of Sean Aying. 

In fifth overall we already had the first woman, and it was not Filipino favourite Angelie Cabalo. Japan’s Chisato Kario managed to stay a few minutes ahead of Cabalo, who ultimately had to cede second place also to South Korea’s Hee Joo Jang, fifth in last year’s ATM Championship Final. Another podium in any case puts Cabalo in a strong position to qualify for this season’s Final. She also becomes the overall points leader this season with 1325 points in the account, 45 more than Tara Savage and 50 more than her compatriot Ritzy Amor, who will be competing in Bali BTR 60 this weekend, however. 

The next Filipino points race takes place in Bukidnon, Mindanao: Point Trail 70km on 14 June.

2024 ATM Finalist and Grandmaster Shally Yuson took a rather unexpected win at H1

3rd place in the Mt Ugo Marathon was enough for Angelie Cabalo to claim the overall female points lead

Rhys Pawid was an ATM Finalist in 2022, but H1 was his first ever ATM race victory

The new Philippine Mountain Trail Festival kicks off the long Labour Day weekend on Thursday with the start of the prestigious Hardcore 100 Miles, perhaps better known as H1. A classic in the Philippines, renowned for its difficulty level and high DNF rate. Now organised by Intrepid Spirit, it is the first time H1 - and also Saturday’a medium distance classic Mt Ugo Marathon - are part of the Asia Trail Master Championship series.

Filipino ultra trail runners feel obliged to at least try H1 once. The majority knows in advance it will be hard to finish, but if you succeed you forever have a big feather in your cap. And so we again see over 100 participants for the 100 miles or 161 km long ultra race, including a fair share of female runners. The event takes place in Nueva Vizcaya and Benguet, east of Baguio City. A remote area in the Cordilleras.

Lots of ATM Championship protagonists and Grandmasters on the start list. Among the expected victory contenders we have great competitors such as Kik Suello, Jevie Cagatin, Poy Brillantes, Yoyong Sacayle, Rhys Pawid and so on. Also a few experienced Malaysians could finish close. In the women’s race, we find ATM Finalists such as Shally Yuson and Mary Joy Sumanda on the list. Sumanda already traveled to the area from Bukidnon last February to do the Mount Pulag Ultra 130km, with success. Long ultra specialist Ann Jilian Pulanco will be a serious contender for the win, and perhaps Michella Aradanas and Shekinah Velasquez can pull off something big this weekend.

Saturday’s Mt Ugo Marathon centres around the meanwhile famous Mount Ugo and is 47km in length. Interestingly but tellingly, the list of participants is shorter than H1. However, it features some big names as well. Kristian Joergensen will be looking for his first ATM race victory of the season against the likes of Maynard Encormal and Sean Aying. In the women’s we are looking forward to an interesting race between Angelie Cabalo and Hee Joo Jang. Cabalo is very much into the ATM season this year, having banked already 900 points in two races, including a race win at Mount Kalatungan Ultra two months ago. She goes into Mt Ugo as the obvious favourite, but let’s not forget that Hee Joo Jang was fifth in last season’s ATM Championship Final at Borneo TMBT.

Maynard Encormal: can he keep up with Kristian Joergensen on Mount Ugo?

Mary Joy Sumanda: went to Pulag 130 in February to be ready for H1

Kik Suello: two ATM podiums this season have proven his 7th place in the 2024 Final was no coincidence

Angelie Cabalo: favourite for the women’s Mt Ugo Marathon

Jevie Cagatin: will this be his breakthrough weekend?

Meanwhile a classic race on the Asia Trail Master calendar, we are happy to confirm that the 11th edition of The Punisher on Samal Island will again be the final Filipino ‘qualifier’ for points in the Championship ranking this season. The event is scheduled for 16/17 August. The 80 km course will be modified to accommodate a new and improved start/finish venue at the Botanical Garden in Barangay Bandera in the Kaputian District of the island Samal, which is located just off the coast of Davao City and reachable by a short ferry ride.

The event is organised by Vertical To Sky under Grandmaster Doi Calbes and also offers shorter distance categories for the less ambitious: 50km, 25km and 15km. Runners looking to score points for the ATM Championship ranking and the Grandmaster Quest need to focus on the 80km as usual.

The Punisher is often labeled as a ‘boutique’ event and attracts hardcore trail runners, or runners ‘of the first hour’ who do not need all the bling bling and just enjoy the camaraderie and challenge in a beautiful and relaxed setting. Trail running at its natural finest. No surprise that the event has always attracted a wealth of elite runners, too. Hisashi Kitamura has won it twice and twice ahead of Arnie Macaneras. John Ellis came third in 2019, Jcy Ho won it that same year and so on. Last year, it was Angelie Cabalo who ran a fantastic race to take the women’s win, while Kik Suello and Eldy Bulod came in together as joint male winners. As the 2025 edition will again be the last chance for Filipino runners to score ATM Championship points on home soil before the Season’s Final in Vietnam on 4 October, many of the country’s elites will be circling the date in red. Contrary to last year, The Punisher is not the last ‘qualifier’ on the international ATM calendar, though. Afterwards, we still have Borneo TMBT Ultra in Malaysia and the new Ijen Mountain Marathon in Indonesia.

The course of The Punisher is typically a nice mix of runable and technical. The start is at 4 am, the cut-off time is 25 hours, i.e. 5 am on Sunday morning.

International runners will be pleased to see that there’s again more and more direct flights to Davao. This is also the case for Hong Kong and for Singapore. From the airport in Davao, it is quick and easy to reach the ferry to take you to Samal island, where plenty of accommodation options are available. Take a look at the Vertical To Sky website and stay up-to-date via its Facebook Page for all details.

Sierra Madre Trail Ultra once again proved to be one of Luzon’s most respected trail running events and witnessed an impressive first win in ATM for Randolf Gonzales and an equally strong fifth ATM race win for Cecille Wael. Barely a week after Gonzales came 7th in Lantau 70 in Hong Kong and behind Kristian Joergensen, he seemed more recovered than the latter and switched positions to take victory in Rodriguez. Wael had her own issues before the race, as she barely made it to the starting line following her regular daytime job in Manila. But once she got going, Wael outpaced Malaysia’s Rejlen James and took an important victory for her own self-confidence, after several races had not gone to plan due to her sensitivity to nutrition-intake while competing. The male and female top 3 was completed by Kik Suello and Jericha De la Paz, respectively.

Sierra Madre Trail Ultra, by the Maharlika Team, was the second Filipino points race of this ATM season and the first in Luzon. The 75km had some course changes compared to previous years, but Randolf Gonzales was pretty accurate in his own prediction. His goal was sub-9 hours and he did finish in 8h56. That was 14 minutes quicker than last year’s winner Kristian Joergensen. ‘Youth is catching up,” was the Manila-based Dane’s conclusion of the past two weekends’ races. For years, Joergensen has been the benchmark for races in the northern Philippines and the man-to-beat. Now at 40+, he sees a considerably large group of young, talented trail runners challenging him for the victories. Third-placed Kik Suello was the early leader at nighttime and also still finished ‘just’ ten minutes behind Joergensen. It is Suello’s third consecutive third podium place in ATM this season. At present, he is in pole position to join former champions John Ray Onifa and Arnie Macaneras in Team Pilipinas in October this year. Randolf Gonzales has also increased his chances for qualification considerably by means of this Sierra Madre victory. When you look at former obstacle racer Gonzales’ 3 ATM races so far this year, he has proven to be learning quickly on how to bring home big results. In February at 9 Dragons, he still blew himself up big time and would drop down the leaderboard from second to well outside the top ten. Beating Joergensen and Suello - 7th in last year’s ATM Championship Final - offers perspectives for Gonzales, who undoubtedly will still improve as he gains pure racing experience. Roberto Cain III was first of another trio of talents. Jomarc Ferrer and John Ivan Zonio ended up fifth and sixth.

Experience is what Cecille Wael by now has a truckload of, both with positive and negative outcomes. Her ‘acid reflux’ issues in races, along with irregular working hours make consistent training - especially on trails - difficult these days. However, her road running times over the past few months did suggest she is still in great form, and when the stars align for her she is always a potential victory and podium contender. She proved that once more at Sierra Madre. Cecille Wael now has no fewer than five ATM race wins on her record and she boosts her chances to qualify for her country’s team in the Championship Final in Vietnam in October. With also Angelie Cabalo on form already, Team Pilipinas could be stronger than ever this year and a serious challenger to take back the ATM Team Championship Title from Nepal.

Rejlen James kept the pressure on Wael all race and finished second 13 minutes later. James has won multiple ATM races on home soil in Sabah, but previously had always struggled abroad. This solid second place should give her confidence a boost, and she collected another 450 Championship points to go with the 500 for winning BUTM 100 last February. Also in Malaysia it is not easy to qualify for the ATM Final, but James certainly will find herself under less pressure after two fine results already. Jericha Laguna De La Paz scored third in Sierra Madre, a new name and a very decent performance given she kept Shekinah Velasquez behind by an hour. Keziah Loreto finished fifth.

The next Filipino points race event is coming up next month. The Philippine Mountain Trail Festival features the H1 - Hardcore 100 Miles - and the Mount Ugo Marathon 50km as the next opportunities for runners to score ATM Championship points.

The 4th edition of Sierra Madre Trail Ultra is up next in the Asia Trail Master Championship series this weekend. It is the second Filipino points race of Season 10, and it’s one of the most honest and simple races on the calendar: 75km, take it or leave it. Since its conception by the Maharlika organisational team, the event in the Rizal mountains east of Manila has been widely applauded as a highlight for trail runners in Luzon and the whole country, and it has seen some of Asia’s top performers taking part. The 2025 edition has a few modifications, from a midnight start to some significant course changes. Sierra Madre Trail Ultra also celebrates the 154th anniversary of the host town Rodriguez.

The new route consists of both technical and wide trails, river crossings and bouldering with minimal road sections. It’s trail running pur sang and the daytime heat needs to be factored in as well. Total elevation gain is estimated at a bulky 4200 hm. Sierra Madre is a race that takes mandatory gear seriously, so runners need to make sure they carry all that is deemed necessary.

Two years ago it was current ATM Champion Jeff Campbell who set the trails on fire, last year it was Kristian Joergensen. The latter, of course a resident in the Philippines, will return this Saturday, despite having run Lantau 70 in Hong Kong last weekend. Joergensen came sixth, after finishing fifth in Vietnam Ultra Marathon just a month ago as well. A third solid result would probably put him already in the safety zone for Team Asia Expat in this year’s ATM Championship Final at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in Vietnam in October. Given his heavy race load over the past month, a new victory in Sierra Madre may not come as easy, however. A group of young, talented Filipinos may be smelling blood. Joergensen has been a benchmark in the Philippines for years, so most certainly the likes of Kik Suello, Roberto Cain III, Jomarc Ferrer, John Ivan Zonio, Randolf Gonzales and Maynard Encormal will be dreaming of more than a podium this weekend. It will make for some interesting racing, also tactically. For the Filipino contenders, any ATM points race is important, given a lot of them want to be in Team Pilipinas at the ATM Final later in the year. Godwin Mirar and Kik Suello are currently 1-2 in the ranking, followed by Gonzales. Former ATM Champions Onifa and Macaneras have already secured their wild card for the Final, so the question is which five other guys will join them in the team.

75 kilometers is of course also a Grandmaster distance, and it’s great to see quite a lot of Grandmasters on the start list on their journey towards the next level and star. Runners such as 3-stars Dward Fuentes and Sean Aying, Ben Chiok, Munintaran Sundram, Mario Yap and Bhert Orpiada.

Traditionally, the women’s race at Sierra Madre has always been very exciting to follow as well with rather surprising race winners even. Ann Jilian Pulanco took her maiden ATM race victory here two years ago, and last year Cristine Montuya surprised everyone with her strong finish to take her first ever ATM race win. Both Pulanco and Montuya are absent this time, but the start list still shows several competitors who can dream of success. The two runners with most wins and podiums on their records are Malaysia’s Rejlen James and Manila-resident Cecille Wael. As outstanding Borneo star Rejlen James has been on home soil, things have never really worked out for her so far when abroad. Can she turn that corner this weekend? Cecille Wael knows the trails by heart and came second behind Montuya last year. Recently, Wael’s been suffering from inconsistent training opportunities and nutritional problems while racing. Last month she ran the 9 Dragons 50/50 basically on just water. Her road running times this year have been solid, though, and she has the potential to give James a run for her money. Julieann Morales and Julie Mae Marquez are two other contenders, but both just returned from Lantau 70 in Hong Kong. Marquez in particular has had a particulary busy few months - also reaching Grandmaster status. Morales, already a Grandmaster and a three-time race winner in Season 9, cannot be underestimated, however, as one has the feeling she has not been emptying her tank over the past couple of races. The dark horse of the women’s race may very well be Shekinah Velasquez. Given Sierra Madre has a history of surprise female winners, this may very well just become her breakthough-weekend. Let’s also not discount the chances of Ellen Cheng from Hong Kong. A bit underwhelming perhaps at Lantau 70 last week, but she did win the V Trail 85km in Laos on a very technical course just a month ago.

You can follow the Sierra Madre Trail Ultra live on our ATM Facebook, YouTube and Instagram channels all day on Saturday.

Running back in time

Sabah’s Rejlen James : already a winner again this season on home soil at BUTM 100

3-star Grandmaster Cecille Wael: 2nd last year. Last month, she finished 9 Dragons 50/50 on water only

Last year’s winner Kristian Joergensen is going for the double at Sierra Madre

Roberto Cain III: one of Joergensen’s top challengers this saturday

For the fourth year in succession, MUSPO is one of the ATM points race events in Philippines. The event is scheduled for the weekend of 19/20 July and from an ATM point of view, contrary to last year, will focus on the 100km distance category exclusively. Organised by Try Mountains, the host of MUSPO is the town of Valencia in Bukidnon, a northern province in Mindanao.

MUSPO highlights the popularity of trail running in this province since a few years. Runners such as Yoyong Sacayle, Mary Joy Sumanda, Shally Yuson and also Godwin Mirar have become genuine protagonists and regular podium placers in ATM points races since the end of the covid crisis. No wonder that we also have a number of Bukidnon races in our Championship this season.

MUSPO attracts the country’s finest trail runners as we can tell from its list of winners. 2022 ATM Champion Arnie Macaneras and Shally Yuson took the honours last year, and two years ago it was 2023 ATM Champion John Ray Onifa and Julieann Morales, for example.

Runable at best, mudcrawling at worst. The weather does have quite an impact on the MUSPO trails. Therefore, one can never be certain what one goes in for. However, the atmosphere in Valencia has always been great - even when rain comes down torrentially. Race Director Philip Anthony spares no efforts to ensure every participant has a great weekend experience. Musuan Peak and Lake Apo are two of the scenic highlights runners will come across during the race.

Registration is open and all specific details can be checked via the event’s facebook page linked below. Make sure you also check the mandatory gear list. To get to Valencia, there are basically two options: take a flight to Cagayan de Oro or to Davao. The former choice requires a shorter bus/car drive than the latter. The drive to Valencia is actually very scenic in parts, for those who have never been in the area before.

The 2024 route of MUSPO 100. This year’s route will be confirmed soon.

Last year, 2022 ATM Champion Arnie Macaneras was the winner of MUSPO 100

Running back in time