Last week’s Grandmaster Quest event Zamboanguita Mountain Ultra Trail was held with the first Golden Grandmaster Masafumi Yamamoto part of the participant’s field for the 70km long ultra, minimum race distance for a Grandmaster point. Masafumi completed the course and so also began his Trail to Immortality.

Up front, the race was won by Loyd Echalar from Iloilo in a time of 12h04. Only 23 years old, Echalar was 24 minutes ahead of Johnrey Espadon, himself also just 25 years old. Third place on the podium was for the 43-year-old Chuck Paul Mata. Great to see also a youngster in fourth place, JM Esquilarga, 25. Those four were clearly the fastest of the pack.

The women’s race was won by Resie Gaudiano in 16h07. In second, we found Keziah Marieah Loreto and in third place Mary Rose Canete.

The event was organised by Happy Feet, which in the past also held the Mt Talinis Mountain Marathon in Negros Oriental.

70km runners before the start

Loyd Echalar: new name and a race winner at 23.

Hiroyuki Matsuda and Celine Loubiere claimed the spotlights in Bali last weekend as both trail runners scored their second ATM race victory of the current season. It was a fine day for competitive Japanese runners, as Yutaro Yokouchi won the men’s 60km. The women’s 100km went to South Korea’s Bo Min Park.

After a difficult start of the 105km race, recent BUTM winner Hiroyuki Matsuda joined his compatriot Akihiro Maeda at the front and ultimately had the strongest pace to win in 17h15. Another 500 Championship points in the bag for him this season: he now totals 1750 points in four races, should be sufficient to be part of Team Japan in the ATM Finals in Vietnam on 3 October. Akihiro Maeda took second place in 17h27. India's Grandmaster Shashwat Rao was a solid third place, showing again his competitiveness as a mountain runner. His time is 19h02. Russia's Igor Zaytsev grabbed fourth after a strong second half in 19h58. Rounding up the Top 5 was Italy's Silvio Pesce in 20h26. In sixth we have the first Indonesian runner, Sobiri Haerudin in 20h37. Shortly behind him are his compatriots Muhammad Abdul Majid, Rachmat Septiyanto and Yusuf Aprian. Yandi Yoko Bumi made it into the top 10. Quite a surprise that none of the local stars made it into the top five of what is now arguably the biggest Indonesian trail event.

The women's 100km race was won by Korea's Bo Min Park. She took over from local runner Dian Pradina during the night and stayed ahead of the rest by roughly one hour. It's her first ATM race victory. Ang Yee Mei from Malaysia claimed second place. Metzi Joy Alson and Alison Gauthier were competing for podium, eventually coming in together. Ruth Theresia was running third until she made a bad tumble at km 79, following which she retired from the race. Former Mantra race winner Henny Sutanda finished in fifth place.

Another Japanese victory on the 60K today: Yutaro Yokouchi won the race in 8h17, ten minutes ahead of France's Dorian Houzu. Indonesia's newcomer on the international scene, Putra Julio Ekdo Badayu, showed a lot of promise with third place on one of his first longer trail races. His time, 8h34 - so well in contention. Sobari Herdiana was fourth, Surasaka Somboon fifth.

Celine Loubiere has become a victory and podium candidate everywhere she starts and she showed again why. From France but based in Hong Kong, Loubiere was fastest on the 60K in a time of 11h01. Forty minutes ahead of Philippines' Trisha Reyes. Earlier this year, Loubiere also won the 50km at 9 Dragons and took a 3rd place in Lantau 70 to boot. One of the best performing female athletes in our series this season, she is basically assured of qualification for the Championship Finals in Vietnam on 3 October. For Trisha Reyes, these are the first 450 points of the season. Last year, she was 3rd in the 50km of 9 Dragons. Thailand's Phitchanana Mahachot scored third place on the podium. Elsa Ng from Malaysia was fourth and Jana Lindstrom from South Africa fifth.

Hiroyuki Matsuda impressed with another 100k win. Last month he had also won BUTM in Sabah

France’s Celine Loubiere also won the 50km at 9 Dragons a few months ago

Record participation numbers this weekend for BTR Ultra in Bali, Indonesia. The event now firmly established itself as the most popular trail running event in Indonesia offering race categories that suit both the long ultra and technical trail adepts and the beginning young newbies. The 100km and 60km categories are once again qualifiers for the ATM Championship and the 100km also offers a point for runners’ Grandmaster Quest.

Looking at the start list for the 100km, we could have quite an open race for the victory. Then again, just like last year’s Roberto Cain III and Man Yee Cheung, someone might just accelerate early during the night already (race starts Friday evening). The usual local Indonesian competitors are present, such as long ultra specialist Rachmat Septiyanto, Sobiri Haerudin, Yusuf Aprian and Taofik Hidayat. On a good day, anyone of them could walk away from Bali with the race win - especially Septiyanto. However, on paper there’s at least two interesting challengers: Japan’s Hiroyuki Matsuda and Central Java’s Risqi Kurniawan. Matsuda was the impressive race winner of BUTM 100 in Sabah, Malaysia, last month and sits fourth in the overall ATM points ranking this season. He is ensuring himself of a spot on his country’s team for the Championship Finals in Vietnam in October. Kurniawan has been unbeatable in Indonesia on the medium distances from 40 top 70k, roughly speaking. He has been a bit away from the spotlights in the last two years, though. Now attempting to do the 100 in Bali, injury-prone Risqi could either blow the entire field away or suffer a reality check. Another known dark horse is India’s Shashwat Rao. Shashwat loves tough and technical mountain terrain and has proven to be very competitive on his day.

BTR Ultra 100 is obviously also on the Grandmaster Quest calendar, and one Golden Grandmaster is already looking to score the recently introduced new milestone for trail runners who have scored their fourth star. Mario Yap from Philippines can Become Legend this weekend! After securing his 4th Grandmaster star for 20 long ultra finishes under ATM at the VTM event at the end of January, Mario immediately embarked on the new Trail to Immortality challenge. Since early March, he ran and finished races in five countries and collected 400 points for 400 official kilometres ran. This weekend in Bali, Mario can add another 100 to make it 500 : the milestone for earning the title of ATM Legend.

The women’s 100km start list features 2018 ATM Champion and Indonesia’s only Golden Grandmaster so far, Ruth Theresia. Based in Hong Kong now, Ruth Theresia suffered a DNF in Bali last year and, first of all, aims to set that straight this weekend. Several other victory contenders, though. Her compatriots like former Mantra winners Henny Sutanda and Sianti Candra, for instance. Philippines’ Metzi Joy Alson could get in the mix for podium at least, as well as Siao Ai Lim, Ang Yee Mei and Tamae Harada.

The 60K Men has some big international guns on the list, along with a strong Indonesian line-up spearheaded by Akhmad Nizar, Dedy Yusuf and Sobari Herdiana. Let’s see what they can do against Japan’s Yutaro Yokouchi and Russia’s Navil Shaimukhametov. Heat and humidity may play a role here, but these two’s sheer running pace is beyond any doubt. Plenty of other podium and top five contenders who are well-known on the ATM circuit, such as Golden Grandmaster Tomohiro Mizukoshi, Alex Tilley, Luis Avelais.

The women’s 60K has Aurore Dacier on the start list, but she will reportedly not be competing. That opens the door for other victory candidates such as another Hong Kong-based French woman: Celine Loubiere. Winner of the 9 Dragons 50km and third in Lantau 70 already this ATM season. Thailand’s Phitchanan  Mahachot always remains a strong competitor, and Philippines’ Trisha Reyes is not to be underestimated. From Malaysia, Halimatun Sa’adiah and Lolita Lintanga can aim for a top result. Local Indonesian runners who may have ambition for podium are Fitta Emike Sari andSri Wahyuni. There’s over 800 runners on the 60k start list, so we may of course discover some new talents as well!

BTR Ultra 100km course is genuinely tough

BTR Ultra 60: a flattish final that can surprisingly hurt many runners’ legs

The famous Black Lava field at the base of Mount Batur

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.

The 7th edition of Jumla Rara Ultra in remote western Nepal was held in sunny conditions and saw Kalpana Budha take her second consecutive victory at the age of barely 18. In the men’s 54km race, Dhira Bahadur Budha was quickest also for the second time after 2024. Both trail runners are locals, but given the strength of the competition it remains a strong acccomplishment underlying their natural talent. Dhira Bahadur Budha and Kalpana Budha were already leading the race at the highest mountain pass of the day, Chuchhemara, before the descent to Rara Lake.

The winning time was 6h09’08” . Homlal Sheshtra came second just two minutes later. Sheshtra was also second in The Manjushree Trail Race 50km last month. In third place on the men’s podium was the winner of MTR 50, Gopal Tamang in 6h13, showing how tight it was at the front. Chandra Rawat was fourth in 6h24 and Milan Rai fifth in 6h27.

Kalpana’s winning time was 7h07’12”, eleven minutes ahead of MTR 50 race winner Sunsari Rokaya. Quite a turnaround from a month ago, when Rokaya was far ahead and Budha suffered from muscle cramps. Sandeva Budha once again managed to get on the podium as well in third place with 7h38. Showing progress, as she ended the race ahead of Rajya Laxmi Rawal, who was second in MTR 50. Puspa Sherma was fifth, and 100 miles specialist Nirmala Rai sixth. Incidentally, the MTR 100 Miles race winner Ang Furba Sherpa came eighth.

The ATM Qualifier with the highest altitude and in the most remote location of the season: Jumla Rara Ultra in the far west of Nepal is on again this weekend with a strong start list featuring many of the country’s biggest names in trail running. Those who ran Manjushree Trail Race last month can at least already fulfill the minimum requirement of two ATM race finishes during the season to qualify for our Championship Finals in October. And indeed, even the MTR 100 Miles winners Arjun Rai Kulung and Ang Furba Sherpa are scheduled to race between Jumla and Rara this weekend, alongside other favourites such as Gopal Tamang, Dhira Bahadur Budha, Homlal Shehstra, Chandra Rawat, Nirmala Rai, Kalpana Budha, Rajya Laxmi Rawal and MTR 50 sensation Sunsari Rokaya.

The race takes runners from Jumla to Rara across high mountain passes that lead to over 4000 metres above sea level. The finish after 54 tough kilometres is at the majestic Rara lake.

Last year, the race was won by Dhal Bahadur Budha and Kalpana Budha.

Meanwhile a traditional event in the ATM series, Silabur Ultra Trail in Sarawak, Malaysia, featured on our Grandmaster Quest calendar last weekend. The 100 km race attracted a lot of runners from several countries, many with the objective of scoring another Grandmaster point. A large group of 30 runners from Davao in Mindanao, Philippines, even made the trip over to Borneo Island. Quite a few chose Silabur as their mandatory international event, necessary to complete each level of the Grandmaster Quest. And a few also became an official ATM Grandmaster, as separate announcements show on our socials.

The 100 km race in itself saw two runners reaching the finish line together as ‘winners’: Azmil Saripudin and Azman Salama did the course in a time of 14h29. Silabur is not known for its elevation, but the heat of day is slowing a lot of people down. The passage through the famous cave complex always comes as a welcome and cooling relief. I Hsaing Huang was third on the podium just five minutes later.

Joyce Yong Hie Ying was quickest woman last weekend in a time of 18h32. Eight minutes faster than Ana Fe Gamo. Noor Hafizah Zubaidi took third spot on the podium.

Silabur Ultra Trail is starting a rotation scheme with Jagoi Ultra by the same organiser, Alpha Sports Events, for a place on the ATM Championship calendar. This season, it’s Jagoi Ultra 70 early September that also gives runners a chance to score ATM Championship points alongside a Grandmaster Quest point. In fact, Jagoi will be the last championship qualifier in Malaysia this season before the Final in Vietnam on 3 October.

Merapoh Rainforest Trail in Pahang, Malaysia, is a new entry on the ATM Grandmaster Quest calendar this season and took place last weekend. The popular event is the follow-up of TMMT, which was an annual ATM Championship Qualifier from 2016 to 2019. Since then, the event has introduced a 100 Miles category and attracted a considerable number of participants: 140. Amazingly, 80 of these also managed to complete the course. Admittedly, the 42h cut-off time is generous, but still. At the front, we saw a great competitive performance by Mohd Fazlie Bin Rosli, winning the men’s race in 22h12’13”. He was three hours faster than Muhammad Adil Adham Bin Khairul Fata. In third place overall was the winning lady: Ritzy Amor. The Kuala Lumpur-based multisport athlete, 7th in the recent ATM Championship Final, ran her first ever official 100 miles trail, but is no stranger to mega distances. She finished Merapoh in 25h58. China’s Liang Jun was fourth in the finish as third male on the podium. He was followed by the next two women, indicating a strong female field: India’s Ashwini Bhat completed the first level of her Grandmaster Quest and finished in second place in the race in a time of 28h33. Ashwini is the first ever female Grandmaster from India. Behind her and third female on the podium was China’s Hu Xiaoqin.

The event also featured a 100km on the programme, obviously also a valid distance for the Grandmaster Quest. Fastest male runner was Adam Danial Bin Zailani in 12h19. He was about 20 minutes ahead of Assrul Aminur and 56 ahead of Mohamad Aiman Haikal Bin Mohd Zani.

The women’s 100km was a very close competition between four runners! In the end, Kar Lyn Tan won the battle in 16h55, just half a minute ahead of Aliah Ismail. In third place, Zoey Wong Yin Hong from Singapore - only five minutes behind the winner, together with her compatriot Stephanie Lim.

Photo: Merapoh Rainforest Trail FB

Kik Suello and Angelie Cabalo were the top stars of last weekend’s classic Filipino trail race H1 in Nueva Vizcaya, Luzon. Both runners from the Kogi Athletics team emerged victorious for the second time in three weeks, having also just won Sierra Madre Trail Ultra 75. While Angelie Cabalo proved that she was indeed the big favourite in the women’s 100 miler, Kik Suello had a hard time fending off his surprisingly strong teammate Jomarc Ferrer, who himself is enjoying the best competitive season of his trail running journey. Suello used his pure running pace to get the advantage, but Ferrer’s technical ability and stamina brought him back in victory contention deep into the race. Ferrer even seemed to be taking the upper hand by km 143, but Suello - who perhaps needed a wake-up call - dug deep and managed to drop Ferrer again in the final section of the race. Suello finished in 30h33, six minutes ahead of Ferrer. Although they are teammates, both recognised the significance of H1 as a classic race in Philippines and beyond and so battled each other for victory to the delight of all the trail fans following the proceedings on social media. No surprise therefore that H1 was the most followed and viewed ATM race of the season, behind the Season 10 Championship Final in Hong Kong two months ago. Clearly, competition between the best runners remains a major drawcard to boost the sport’s recognition. Suello and Ferrer deserve a round of applause for that alone already!

Behind the duo, Ligorinson Abbugao did a fantastic effort himself to come in third in 31h24, i.e. within an hour of the two protagonists. Abbugao is quite unknown on the ATM circuit, so he certainly left his name card on the table! Ronnel Valero and Rowein Diokno were fourth and fifth, before the women’s race winner Angelie Cabalo. Cabalo came in more or less together with Bukidnon’s well-known Yoyong Sacayle, himself a race winner and multiple podium placer in ATM just a couple of years ago.

As expected, Cabalo was in a league of her own although the question remained whether she could keep it going for 100 miles. The answer was a firm ‘yes’. Coming in in a time of 37h05, she took another win on the ATM circuit and is finding herself in a good position for qualification for the ATM Championship Final in Vietnam on 3 October. The same applies for second-place Kimberly Flores, already a double race winner this season, and who was a late addition to the start list. The youngster also made her debut on the miler distance. Flores was smart and did not attempt to keep pace with Caballo, and focused on making it through. She did it in style in 39h55, and ahead of very established long ultra specialists Mia Revilla - winner of BUTM 100 last month - and Ann Jilian Pulanco.

When multiple distance categories are on offer at an event, there’s usually also a medium distance race labelled as an ATM Championship qualifier. The H60K race replaced the Mt Ugo Marathon from last year on the programme of PMTF, but interestingly had fewer starters than the 100 miler. It’s a tough 60K course that eventually saw Ahmeer Francis Raza take the win in 12h40. That was 19 minutes faster than the first female, who came second overall, LJ Benitez! A remarkable performance once again by Benitez, who seems to have a subscription on second places in ATM promoted races. Surely, a first victory is just behind the corner, though. Clarisse Yeung was third overall and second female, also for her another strong result this season. Lloyd Magundayao and Crosby Quilino were second and third on the men’s podium, while Irene Buyuccan completed the women’s top 3.

With the unfortunate cancellation of Point Trail Ultra, the next Filipino ATM Championship Qualifier will be MUSPO 100.

Season 11 of the ATM Championship continues this weekend in the Philippines with the Philippine Mountain Trail Festival in Nueva Vizcaya, Luzon. Organised by Intrepid Spirit, PMTF includes the legendary Hardcore 100 Miles (H1) and H60K, the successor of the Mt Ugo Marathon. These two race distance categories offer points for the ATM Championship ranking. Interestingly, nearly all who has name and fame in the country is going for the big one: H1.

It’s the 100 Miles race that nearly every trail runner in the Philippines hopes to finish once. Last year, Rhys Pawid and Shally Yuson claimed victory, both of them are not on the start list this year. Arguably the runners to beat this year are no less solid, though. Kik Suello and Angelie Cabalo have both just won Sierra Madre Trail Ultra 75 a few weeks ago and have set their sights on H1 for this year, too. Cabalo has been a female benchmark for a few years already in Southeast Asia, and Kik Suello has stepped up to that level in recent months, operating perhaps a bit in the shadow of Onifa, Macaneras and Mirar but he’s only just right behind them now, even beating the likes of Kristian Joergensen three times in a row already. Suello is not the only Mindanao runner who has become increasingly competitive. Jomarc Ferrer is another one with high hopes for this weekend. Already a multiple race winner in ATM races this season, Ferrer could join Suello on that highest level plateau. Others to watch out for in the context of potential podium finishers are in-form Jordan Bugnay, Yoyong Sacayle, good old Koi Grey, Henry Joe Cottilon and Sean Aying.

Angelie Cabalo may have too much sheer pace for the other women in the race, but when the going gets tough she may need to keep an eye out for Singapore-based Mia Revilla, who just won BUTM 100 in Malaysia a few weeks ago, long ultra specialist Ann-Jilian Pulanco and -why not- KIm Flores. The latter is a youngster who has been winning a number of races this season, but H1 is definitely a step up in terms of technical course and distance. But running pace, that she certainly has.

H60K is the other ATM Championship qualifier, as per tradition: one long ultra and one medium distance. On paper the 60k race may be more open than H1. In the women’s race, LJ Benitez and Clarissa Yeung start as favourites.

ATM will be reporting live from PMTF all weekend, connectivity-permitting. This event does take place in a remote area.

We are delighted to announce that Fishtail 100 Ultra in Pokhara, Nepal, has joined the ATM Championship cand Grandmaster Quest calendar on the weekend of 16/17 May. The event is organised by the experienced Himalayan Trail Running company and already had several editions over the years. Fishtail 100 features a 100km and 50km that serve as ATM Championship Qualifiers, with the 100km of course also offering a Grandmaster point for finishers. It’s the third Nepalese event after Manjushree Trail Race and Jumla Rara Ultra. This year’s edition aims to place the spotlight on the event with a view to next year.

The 100km starts in Ghachowk and ends in Dhampus in Pokhara. As the race in Jumla, Fishtail reaches very high altitudes during the race, going well over 3500m above sea level. It’s a mountain trail, often technical, so the 100km here cannot be your first 100k race. Total elevation for the 100km is approx 7600 hm.

The 50km may be among the toughest of the entire ATM season. Elevation gain is estimated at over 5000 hm!

Both the 100k and 50k races start on Saturday morning at 5:30 am and 5:40 am respectively.

The organising team can assist with any queries on how to get to Pokhara and on accommodation requirements. All details can be found on their website page and facebook page 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.