Unfortunately, the V Trail in Vang Vieng, Laos, also has to be rescheduled following the earlier postponement of Luang Prabang Trail. The current situation in the country still does not warrant a successful event in November, and the organisers at Green Step have taken the precautionary step to move the V Trail back by a few months to the first weekend of February 2023. This implies it will be one of the first races of Season VIII of the Asia Trail Master Championship series, which may actually be a good thing. The event in Luang Prabang is being planned for its usual September slot in 2023. Laos was one of the new destinations in Asian trail running before the covid pandemic hit us all. In the last edition of V Trail, some local talent emerged as well and we are looking forward to seeing how these talented runners will develop themselves in the coming season.

Along with Ijen Trail in East Java, Indonesia, the two Laos events are currently the only scheduled ATM events not to take place after all. Lantau 70 in Hong Kong may be the fourth casualty of ongoing covid-related restrictions.

For any queries about the postponement , please contact Green Step directly.

You can now register for the Cordillera Mountain Ultra in Tinongdan, near Baguio, on 4 December. One of the classic events in our ATM series is finally making its long anticipated return after the covid crisis. The 50k race on Sunday is still the main event and will be the last chance for most runners to score points in an attempt to enter their country’s national team for the ATM Championship Final taking place two weeks later. The 50k is actually 47k and centred around Mount Ugo and has a whopping 3270hm. When the weather’s good, it is quite a runable mountain trail, though.

To reach the event you need time but your patience will be rewarded. Fly into Manila or Clark, from where event busses take you to Baguio City. Minibusses continue to the race site in Tinongdan, where runners can also book homestay accommodation. More details can be found when clicking on the button below. Further down you can also check our race summary video of the 2019 edition, held in March that season.

Credit: teelakow/UTCM

Japan’s Yuta Matsuyama repeated his 2019 victory at Ultra Trail Chiang Mai in Thailand last weekend and added 500 valuable ATM Championship points to his 2022 tally. Matsuyama was pushed nearly all the way by Singapore’s Deric Lau, who somehow was running even pace but could not come any closer than ten minutes. After a 5th place at Cameron Ultra last month, Lau now scored his first ATM race podium and certainly is one to watch in the upcoming races and potential leader for Team Singapore in the ATM Finals in December. Matsuyama finishing time was 13 hours. Third place went to Germany’s Olaf Stuermer, just ahead of Norway’s Eirik Knudsen in 14h46.. Malaysia’s Nancy Lem Chee Ng was fifth in a 105k points race where Thailand’s competitive home runners were remarkably absent. Not so in the women’s category, however, as Chonlada Kappiyanand scored her second ATM points race win of the 2022 season in 17h00’. She was clearly the strongest with a 3-hour gap to her compatriot Chanchaya Naphawanroed. Japan’s Maeno Yuuka took third on the podium.

A Thai woman also won the second and shorter 65k points race of the UTCM event. Sutinee Rasp was 25 minutes faster than Malaysia’s Halimatun Sa’adiah, who ended up on an ATM podium for the third time this season already. Sa’adiah is therefore also the new leader in the Malaysian ATM women’s ranking. Srinual Kanta from Thailand was third, just a minute behind Sa’adiah.

The men’s race was won in impressive style by Bangkok-based Indonesian Rama Astra Bramastana, nicknamed ‘Rambo’. A still young trail runner who has been steadily improving and who has used the covid crisis to become more competitive. He was 47 minutes faster on the 65k course than second-placed Hungarian Miklos Viczena and 1h25’ faster than third -placed Yuthakan Mana. Bramastana won in 8h02’ and is suddenly in the mix now for qualification in Team Indonesia for the ATM Finals.

Credit: teelakow/UTCM - ‘Rambo’ Rama Astra Bramastana wins the 65k race in impressive style

Credit: teelakow/UTCM - Halimatun Sa’adiah scores her 3rd ATM podium of the 2022 season!

The first ATM Candidate Race in Sarawak on the Malaysian side of Borneo delivered a great classic dual between Hisashi Kitamura and Milton Amat. On paper, the Jagoi Heritage Trail Run of 50km and 1250 hm looked ideal for the Japanese to assert his characteristics as a runner, but Sabah’s Milton Amat turned out not have any issues at all with the set pace and almost made his victory look easy by outgunning Kitamura in the final technical descent to the finish line. A significant psychological victory for Amat, or should we say ‘blow’ for Kitamura, in light of the upcoming Borneo TMBT Ultra 100 - one of the highlights of the ATM Championship season, and a race Kitamura has targettedr to win after a narrow defeat by the same Milton Amat in 2019.

The Jagoi 50k race was not a first edition, but the first time the competitive field was robust. The local organisers and local village community were also delighted to see some of ATM’s top stars taking part in their race - even though no points were up for grabs as it was a candidate race. It rained heavily the afternoon and evening before the race, which turned some of the trail sections muddy and more technical than previously anticipated. Ireland’s Malachy Kirwan - still relatively new at trail running - was struggling with the conditions and in the end had no answer to the pace set by Kitamura from the start. The Karate Kit was quick out of the blocks and tried to put pressure on Milton Amat straightaway. However, the Sabahan remained visibly relaxed and had no issue letting his classic trail rival go in front by 20-30 seconds. For about 20km they were joined by a third runner, in fact. Mark Steacy, also from Ireland and residing in Kuching, was the surprise of the day. Eventually Steacy had to slow down a bit, and saw Wilsen Singgin still catching him and overtaking him in that final descent for third place. Nevertheless, a great new name who will also compete at TMBT 100. Up front, Kitamura felt it coming at the last aid station before going up the longest and toughest hillclimb. Amat was still right on his tail (see video on facebook). Amat took over towards the summit and used his technical downhill superiority to win the race.

The women’s race was dominated by local hero Sally Yap and Sabah’s Mailin Salungin. Both runners stayed side-by-side all race and decided not to sprint it out for the overall win (both won their respective age groups). Afterwards, Salungin was all praise for the youngster Sally Yap, who is one of the new names in Malaysia post-covid. After winning BUTM 100, she will also try to score TMBT 100 in three weeks’ time, and in so doing secure her spot for Team Malaysia at the ATM Championship Final in Philippines on 17 December. An impressive third place in Jagoi went to Grandmaster Siokhar Lim, who was coming very close to the lead duo on the final hillclimb. 50k and 1250 hm are peanuts numbers for Siokhar, who typically excels in the long and tough mountains ultras, but yesterday she showed her general running pace has increased, too. Celeste Teo, third at MMTF 2021, also looked solid in taking fourth place yesterday.

You can replay the race of the leaders via our ATM DTA platform here: (laptop/desktop required)

On our Facebook page, you can find several videos and photos of the race, too.

There have been quite a few ATM Candidates in Malaysia already this season and this Sunday we have the next one, but it’s a rather unique one. The T8 Jagoi Heritage Run is the first trail event with an ATM logo in Sarawak. Originally scheduled for 2020, finally this event can take place roughly one hour south of Kuching. Jagoi features a 50k main race that has attracted some very strong runners from the region. Hisashi Kitamura and Milton Amat, for example, are set to race each other in what could be a great teaser for the big Borneo TMBT 100 clash in three weeks from now. Yet, Jagoi is only half that distance, and seemingly more runable than TMBT with just 1250 hm. Kitamura may thus have an advantage on paper this weekend, but for both ATM stars it is likely to be just a psychological game this weekend. And when two dogs fight for one bone, a third may run away with it. WIlsen Singgin is also at the starting line on Sunday, and also Singapore-based Irishman Malachy Kirwan. For ultra distance specialist Singgin the Jagoi 50 might be a bit too short to assert himself, but for Kirwan this distance and elevation chart looks ideal. Coming from road running, Kirwan suffered a knock of the hammer at the BTR Challenge in Bali to finish fourth, but he will have learnt from that experience and might as well put his name firmly in trail runners’ minds this weekend.

Also the women’s 50k will be an interesting one to follow. Home runner Sally Yap is present, and so are Mailin Salungin, Siokhar Lim, Laslin Sarawi and Celeste Teo - to name a few.

ATM will be covering the race live from Sarawak on our usual channels, and also via our live tracking platform.

Home favourite Sally Yap, number 1 in ATM Malaysia Ranking, will be keen to deliver a good run this Sunday

Three years after the first edition of ‘Kiss the Rain’ - the nickname of the Ultra Trail Chiang Mai event - runners are again gathering at the Ban Noen Wittaya school, a couple of hours outside Chiang Mai City this weekend. Despite the predicted rainfall - it’s wet season - a lot of trail runners are attracted by the conditions and will toe the line in one of six race categories. Two of those matter for the ATM Championship points and the Grandmaster Quest. Competitive runners are aiming for the 104km and 65km races, GM chasers need to focus on the new 100 miles and the 104km. A lot of categories of course means the competitive field is spread out. It is great to see that the 2019 race winner of the 104km, Japan’s Yuta Matsuyama, is returning to Thailand to try and repeat his victory. He is joined by his partner Yuuka Maeno, who could be a podium candidate herself in the women’s race. She will have some stern competition from Malaysia’s Siokhar Lim and UTKC 100 winner Chonlada Kappiyanond. The former only three weeks ago completed the brutal Transnaning Adventure Challenge, but we know Siokhar Lim is able to digest a lot of mileage and elevation in a short timeframe. Moreover, she took part in UTCM already three years ago. Kappiyanond is one of the new names in Thailand, and with another strong race result could already secure her spot in Team Thailand for the ATM Championship Final on 17 December at Mt Apo in Philippines. Another woman who can boost her chances of entering her country’s team for that ATM Final, is Malaysia’s Halimatun Saadiah. With two third places this season already, she is aiming for at least the same in the 65km race this weekend. As usual in Thailand with such a huge population of trail runners, we will be getting to know many new names, too.

2019 Race Winner Yuta Matsuyama likes to mix the wet with the dry. This year he ran EcoTrail AlUla in Saudi

Singapore’s Deric Lau has a great and consistent run at Cultra last month with a 5th place as a result

Malaysia’s Siokhar Lim will be one of the favourites in the women’s race against Bangkok’s Chonlada Kappiyanond

On the 65k, Halimatun Saadiah continues her impressive first ATM season

We are happy to announce Gold Rush Trail Challenge in Philippines as a new ATM Candidate race event on 17/18 September. The event, organised by Oarokya ni Basti Happy Feet Ultra Trail Runners, will mainly be held on a 15 km loop with 926 hm in Sibutad, Zamboanga del Norte. That is a province in the southern Philippines situated within the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. The longest race category will be 5 loops or just over 80km and 5000 hm. No walk in the park in other words. Less ambitious runners can also opt for 42k, 21k and 15k options at the event. The main loop is very scenic and reaches a ridge with a great vista over the region. Registration is already open and has been extended so last-minute deciders still can join the races.

A smart run by Dedy Yusuf landed him a first ATM race victory in the inaugural Jember Hills Classic in East Java, Indonesia, yesterday afternoon. Starting from the Rembangan Hills outside the city, the 70k trail race was controlled by three runners who stayed together from the second aid station onwards: Yusuf, Akhmad Nizar and Thimo Kilberth. In the final couple of kilometres, Yusuf - who had been saving energy throughout the day - had too much speed left on the road towards the centre of university city Jember. An impressive win by the 36-year-old from nearby Lumajang, especially given the two guys next to him on the podium. Nizar was second and Kilberth third - for the third consecutive time in an ATM points race this season. He is practically assured of a place in Team Indonesia for the ATM Final in December. Kilberth has been living in Bali for over ten years.

Jember Hills Classic offered a varied and green course with nine bukits or hills as guideline. The vistas on some of these summits were impressive given the clear weather, which of course also resulted in elevated temperatures after 10 am. Adrian Tuankotta, I Dewa Geda Astawa, Hadi Mustofa and Fuminori Kondo were chasing the lead trio most of the day, but in particular Tuankotta and Kondo suffered as they went off course after 18km for some time. Tuankotta and Kondo recovered strongly and finished fourth and fifth. The same occurred to Shindy Patricia in the women’s race, which placed Indah Wardhani, Rhea Batac, Mila Marlina and Trisha Yuen ahead of her on the way to AS 3. Shindy recovered, however, and was able to distance the other women again on the way to her second ATM race victory of the season. After the finish, Shindy did admit it was time for a bit of rest after a very busy race schedule in the past couple of months. She is basically already guaranteed for her place in Team Indonesia for the ATM Championship Final on 17 December, and Mount Apo in Philippines is exactly the kind of mountain that Shindy likes…. Rhea Batac secured a great second place, equalling her best ever race result on the ATM circuit (2nd in V Trail in Laos in 2019). That’s a rather unexpected big points haul for her Team Pilipinas ambitions for the same ATM Final in December. Third place went to Bali’s Indah Wardhani and fourth to Trisha Yuen, also a very busy trail bee of late and her best race result on the ATM circuit.

Jember Hills offers some amazing vistas along the varied course around the university city

Nice getting to know you: ‘clever’ Dedy Yusuf wins the inaugural Jember Hills Classic

Shindy just keeps on going: busy bee scored her 2nd ATM points race victory of the season beside all the local candidate races

Talented Akhmad Nizar opened his 2022 account with a 2nd place after his misfortune at Mantra Summits

Thimo Kilberth was happy to have scored his third consecutive third place in an ATM points race

Rhea Batac scored a great 2nd place and does a wonderful job for her ATM Championship ranking in Philippines

This Sunday we have the third and potentially last Indonesian points race of the 2022 ATM season in East Java. The Jember Hills Classic is new on the trail calendar and is produced by the crew of Ijen Trail, an event that is unlikely to take place this year as the region is still recovering from the covid crisis. Jember Hills is part of a bigger running festival that also features a road marathon, half marathon and 10k fun run. The trail race is 70km in length , has 9 bukits or hills for a total elevation gain of just over 3000 hm.

With the high likelihood of Ijen Trail’s cancellation, and Tahura Trail not being scheduled for this year at all, there may indeed be only three ATM Championship points races in Indonesia this season. A good occasion therefore for the Indonesian runners to boost their ATM points total with a view to qualification for the ATM Championship Final in Davao on 17 December. One runner who has his eyes firmly set on just that is Bali-based Thimo Kilberth. A busy runner with lots of races under his belt, but one who plans and prepares his targets carefully. Kilberth will be one of the men to watch this Sunday, alongside Nizar. In the women’s, we may be looking at the first ATM dual in a long time between in-form Shindy Patricia and 2018 ATM Champion Ruth Theresia, who has returned to high level trail racing. Shindy can do a good job for her ATM Final qualification this weekend, and as a former champion Ruth just needs to secure two ATM race finishes this season.

After a difficult period during the covid crisis, Ruth Theresia has returned to competitive level this summer

It was almost a repeat of the 2019 men’s race at The Punisher on Babak Samal island, just off the coast of Davao City. Hisashi Kitamura and Arnie Macaneras finished one and two again last weekend, and Godwin Mirar was third, whereas three years ago he was fourth. While that may sound a tat bit boring, the race certainly was not. Local hero and man-with-a-mission, Arnie Macaneras pushed Kitamura a lot in the nighttime hours after the start at midnight. However, as in Cameron Ultra a month ago, Kitamura is not only running with his legs this year, but also with a truckload of racing experience and a very healthy mindset. At around halfway the 80k race, the Japanese UGLOW runner shifted to a higher gear and managed to open up a gap. At the finish, his race time was just 3 minutes slower than in 2019, even though Kitamura said he felt a bit tired and struggled with some pain in his knee and foot. Nevertheless, it’s victory number 3 this ATM season and Hisashi Kitamura is assured of a spot in Team Japan for the 2022 Asia Trail Master Championship Final on Mount Apo in Philippines on 17 December. Macaneras opened his ATM account this season with a second place, after DNFing at MUSPO three weeks ago. Same for Godwin Mirar, still only 22, in his first ATM race this season. Yojo Sacayle took fourth and Sean Aying fifth. Former winner of the Punisher Rexell Aguirre claimed sixth place.

In the women’s race we saw the first ever victory of Julie Ann Morales. The 30-year-old from Tagum took her first ATM podium at MUSPO three weeks ago, finishing a few minutes behind Ces Wael in her first 100km race. Last weekend, she finished 26 minutes ahead of the same Ces Wael! Both of them and Emily Raga battled for victory throughout the race, but Morales again seemed to have most juice left at the end. If she keeps improving at this rate, could Morales be the dark horse in December’s ATM Final?

Julie Ann Morales scored her first ever ATM race win after a 3rd place at MUSPO three weeks ago

Another second place for Ces Wael

Godwin MIrar, still very young, completed the men’s podium

Three weeks after MUSPO Ultra, we are back in the Philippines, and even back in Mindanao, for the next ATM Championship points race of Season VII. The Punisher on Babak Samal Island, just off the coast from Davao City, has become a bit of a classic entry on our calendar, and one which especially attracts people with a good running pace in their legs. Despite what the event name might suggest, The Punisher is arguably not the toughest race, especially when it’s dry weather. This makes it appealing for some to give an ultra distance of 50 miles or 80km a go for the first time. Also, The Punisher is incredibly varied in terms of running terrain, between sandy beaches, grassy fields, hills with superb vistas and some tough single jungle trails to spice things up a notch. Back in 2019, the last time the event was held before the covid crisis, it turned out to be the perfect race course for Hisashi Kitamura, who kept his ATM Championship bid alive by beating John Ellis and the surprising local newcomer Arnie Macaneras in very convincing style. No wonder Kitamura returns this year to The Punisher, and this time to basically secure his spot on Team Japan for the ATM Championship on 17 December - the Mount Apo Sky Race. For the Karate Kit, this weekend will already be his fourth ATM race of the season (2 wins, 1x 3rd place) so on this year’s ‘best-four-count’ system it’s unlikely any other Japanese runner will bump him off the team.

Can Kitamura win The Punisher for the second time, too? It is certainly possible, and his main rival is likely again to be Arnie Macaneras. The Davao running star had an unfortunate DNF at MUSPO after co-leading the race for a long time. Macaneras ATM counter therefore still reads 0 points, and with many Filipinos eager to get qualified for their national team in December, he needs to collect big this weekend to avoid unnecessary stress in the coming months. Another top runner from the Mindanao area, Godwin Mirar, also needs to open his 2022 account still. Mirar was a shocking 4th in this race in 2019 - aged only 19. Now he has more racing experience and maturity, could he be capable of an upset on Saturday?

More podium candidates on paper are Sean Aying, lest we forget 2nd at MUSPO 100, Ronie Torlao and former winner Rexell Aguirre. And why not our LBRY Sports & ATM reporter Richard Akol? Always fast on runable terrain.

On the women’s side, eyes will again be fixated on Cecile Wael as the woman-to-beat for the race victory. Aggy Sabanal had the better of her three weeks ago, but at present she does not feature on the start list. Julie Ann Morales, however, does. She was 3rd in her first 100k at MUSPO, and only a few minutes behind Wael. Another victory candidate is Emily Raga, Filipino but based in Singapore. Raga scored 8th at Cameron Ultra but did a very long road ultra afterwards, too. Has she recovered enough to compete with Wael and Morales?

Stay tuned for updates from Babak Samal Island starting on Friday. The race flag off is at midnight.

The race winners in 2019: Jcy Ho (Hong Kong) and Hisashi Kitamura (Japan)

The event is not always as ‘punishing’ as its name might suggest

As previously announced, the V Trail in Laos is returning to the ATM Championship event calendar on 12/13 November. Registration for the event in Vang Vieng is now open as well. On the programme are the traditional race categories, of which the 85k is the targeted event for the points seekers.

This was the inaugural event in the country back in 2018 and quickly established itself as one of the more adventurous and technical races on the ATM circuit. While the 30K and shorter distance categories offer a great introduction to Southeast Asian trail running, the 85K main race is one to prepare yourself for - physically and mentally. You get to the event in Vang Vieng, a tourism hotspot, via the national capital Vientiane.

Organised by Green Step, a company with a lot of ambition in Laos, the V Trail relaunch post-pandemic is wonderful news for the Lao trail running community, which practically had just been building itself up when covid hit.