One week after UTHK, the second race of the 2016 Asia Trail Master series is already on the programme this Sunday with Brunei's first official trail marathon at Tungku Beach. The Beach Bunch Trail Challenge is a long-awaited event in the smallest but richest part of Borneo Island, and has environmental awareness as its key theme.

Beach Bunch is an NGO that aims to keep Brunei's beaches clean from pollution and has been very active on that front for a few years. The half marathon organised last year was a first test to see how local citizens respond to the idea of an endurance run on trails, and the result was: very positively! This weekend's race had sold out its available 300 slots already in December, which prompted the organiser, Rizan Latif -himself a trail runner- , to consider the possibility of 30 more slots. These also went out the door in no time. 

The Beach Bunch Trail Challenge is arguably not the hardest in terms of terrain, but the tropical heat (31 degrees and sunshine are forecast) will put each runner to a firm test. An army of volunteers will ensure that everyone stays hydrated at several checkpoints. Start and finish are on Tungku Beach, but the race does go inland into rainforest area with in total 630m of elevation gain. Fast runners with perhaps fewer technical skills have a chance at glory in this race, but will need to preserve adequate energy for the final 18km again run on potentially shoesucking beach sand. The locals will be cheering for Sefli, a very experienced road marathon runner with 2:41 as P.B. , and In the women's race for Melissa Woo, the 2015 Brunei Trail Master. From an Asia Trail Master championship perspective, last weekend's 4th placed UTHK 156k finisher Isaac Yuen Wan Ho is amazingly also racing in Brunei. A mere finish will already give him enough points to gain the lead in the Asia Trail Master standings ahead of his Hong Kong compatriot Raymond Ching! In the women's Malaysia's Tahira Najmunisaa is expected to open her points account in style on Sunday, and who knows with a race victory. It would not be her first: Tahira won Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra 100 in Indonesia last November. 

In any case, the event and all its participants will not go unnoticed. Media and government support is substantial, and already now there are more ideas circulating for the development of the sport in the country.

You can follow all the action this weekend via our facebook, instagram and twitter feeds. Stay tuned to Brunei's debut on the trail running scene!

Earlier today a press conference was held for the Beach Bunch Trail Challenge.

It is not only sand and beach during this race

The 2nd Asia Trail Master series are set to begin just after lunch in Hong Kong this Friday with a proper ultra trail race: UTHK. Participants from across Asia will either have 156km (7400 hm), 103km (4300 hm) or 54km (2800 hm) on their menus this weekend, and finishing will give them a handsome reward for the 2016 Asia Trail Master championship straightaway: UTHK is one of five SuperTrails in the series, which means 50 bonus points!  

Although the 156km longest race has a different starting venue, the centre of UTHK is the Duke of Edinburgh Training Camp site near Sha Tin in the New Territories, where the finish line of all races is drawn. There is a 48-hour cut off time for the 156k runners, and 32 hours for the 103km. Due to new regulations for trail running by the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, race organiser Augustine Wong has had to change his course significantly compared to last year. The result is good news for fast runners as the so-called 'runnable' sections have increased and the total elevation gain is less, although still very respectable. 

Quite a number of prominent runners from last year's Asia Trail Master series will be competing at UTHK this year, including Philippines' running star Manolito Devina (double winner of CM 50 Ultra), Thailand-based Norwegian Jan Nilsen (3rd in Borneo TMBT in Malaysia and 2nd in CM 50 Ultra), Thailand's Phairat Varesin (4th in Vietnam Mountain Marathon, and 7th in Borneo TMBT) and Indonesia's Mila Marlina (winner of MesaStila Peaks Challenge and Gede Pangrango Marathon). The latter will be a strong challenger for the women's victory on the longest distance, and we can expect a fantastic race with defending UTHK champion Yuen Kit Shan, who will also be at the starting line. From China, the recent winner of the Ultra Trail Gobi Race is taking part and another favourite for the men's 156km race. 

Last year's winner Yuen Kit Shan

The current weather forecast indicates that it will be significantly milder than a few weeks ago during the HK 100 event, which surely is pleasant news for all participants. 

The race can be followed live via Race Timing Solutions. If you have a specific favourite runner, you can track him/her as well. 

The UTHK event is the first of many already scheduled races on the 2016 Asia Trail Master calendar. Runners can score points for the championship ranking in at least 14 Asian countries, and this year we will also see the first runners who complete the Grandmaster Quest (6 races of 70+ km within 2 years) and enter the Asia Trail Master's Hall of Fame! Among the elite runners, the defending Asia Trail Master champions are Arief Wismoyono (Indonesia) and Ma Yanxing (China). 

After UTHK, the series continue one week later in Brunei (Beach Bunch Trail Challenge), and there is also a 2017 Candidate Race in the Philippines, the Rizal Mountain Run. (Candidate Races are races set to join the Asia Trail Master series in 2017). 

For more information: 

Our event cover page:
http://www.asiatrailmaster.com/#/uthk2016/

UTHK event website
http://www.ultratrailhk.com.hk/

One of this year's race favourites: Manolito Devina from the Philippines

Trail running in Hong Kong always means plenty of steps

The 2nd edition of Kazakhstan's maiden trail race, the Tengri Ultra Trail in the country's east and close to Almaty, is scheduled for 8 May. What was suggested months ago has recently been confirmed: the longest race distance has been extended to 70km and will be an 8-shape loop, with shorter distances of 35km and 15km also on the programme. Venue is still the campsite at the Ili River bank called Tamgaly Tas, where all participants can camp overnight. The course features grasslands, rocky climbs and canyons with high snowpeaked mountains looming in the background. Race registration is open via our website here and more details here. Below is a translation of an interview done by the Kazakh site Athletex with the event's race director Timur Artyukhin. 

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​Tengri Ultra Trail 2016  - What can you expect from Central Asia’s Leading Ultra?

Taken from Аthletex.kz / Translated from Russian by Pavel Toropov

The preparation to the unique ultra Tengri Ultra has started. Аthletex.kz decided to find out what can trailrunning enthusiasts expect this year, and so we asked one of the organizers of Tengri Ultra, Timur Artyukhin, a few questions. (Timur holds the titles of Master of Sports of Kazakhstan in orienteering, as well as that of the President of Kazakhstan Association of Skyrunning and Trailrunning). 

Hello Timur, could you tell us how you became an ultra runner?

It was very sudden! In grade 9 (15 years old) I barely passed the PE exam for 500m and so I decided to set things straight. I started by running 1 – 2km every morning. A year later I made it into the orienteering team of my city, and I started to train seriously. My first long race was an orienteering competition in East Kazakhstan and I had to cover the distance within 3 hours. These three hours seemed like an eternity to me, but I realized that I liked it. I started intensive preparations, training, reading up on the sport. The result was that I became a double nationallong-distance orienteering champion (8 hours of running, two man team), took part in 5 races around 100km in distance and in October 2015 I came 10th in a 110km ultra in Kapadokkia in Turkey.

Why do you like trail running?

It is the healthiest way to run, as well as the most interesting and the most productive. You run on natural trails, which is less damaging compared with running on concrete. Doing a trail run you are often surrounded by tremendous views, in nature, which you don’t get running in the concrete jungle.

You spend more effort running trail than road, which has a good effect on boosting your speed and endurance. Running on flat road after trail you feel faster than if you had only trained on the track and in the park. Another key part is the fresh air, which is something you don’t get when running in large cities. 

Did you get to see by yourself how popular trailrunning is outside Kazakhstan?

Yes, of course. I visited many countries, within and outside the former ex-USSR, and I can say with confidence that trailrunning is growing in popularity by day. People have an ever greater desire to get out of the concrete boxes where they spend most of their lives. To give you an example, I once raced in Sweden, and there were more than 20,000 participants! That would be great attendance even for a city marathon.

How did you get the idea to organize an ultra in Kazakhstan?

I wanted to share the emotions that I experience during an ultra with other people. There is great saying by a famous ultra-marathoner Dean Karnazes: “If you want to run, run a mile, if you want to experience a different life, run a marathon, if you want to talk to God, run an ultra.”

Travelling around the world, doing different races, I realized that Kazakhstan has more places where you can do hard, interesting, beautiful and long ultras, than in a lot of other countries. We have mountains, deserts and alpine grasslands. These thoughts led me to the idea to create an ultra in the great steppes - Tengri Ultra Trail.

How did you select the location and make the course for the first Tengri Ultra last year?

I wanted to show the people that there are new and interesting places right“next door”. I wanted to find a little-visited place, and make an interesting course, not too difficult. After having gone through suitable locations we settled on the region of Tamagly Tas – here you have a section of the ancient Silk Road, a real steppe and also the beautiful Ili River.

It is very convenient that the entire race course is accessible by car. This is also important to ensure the safety of the participants.

Who are the people who had the courage to take part in a racing event so unusual for Kazakhstan?

It was a very interesting selection of people. We had professional athletes, businessmen, soldiers, students, housewives. People who took a decision to make a change in their lives. It was great to see people from 12 different countries who came just to take part in Tengri Ultra .

For many this ultra was their first trail race. These people had never run off-road before. After the race many said that it was exactly what had been looking for. The Kazakhstani trailrunning scene exploded after Tengri Ultra. Many people started to train specifically for trail, and also teams appeared who train and go to races together. 

What can the participants of Tengri Ultra expect this year?

They can look forward to an awesome ultramarathon, to new trails and great views of the spring grasslands. The runners will follow the Ili River, traverse canyons and will be able to see the endless expanses of the steppe from the tops of the mountains.

In 2016 we offer a greater choice of distances – 15, 35 and 70km. Our race is the only ultra and Central Asia, it is unique and should not be missed. We also prepared entertainment programs for both racers and fans. We want everyone who comes to the races get into the spirit of the race, to absorb some of the culture of the steppe nomads. 

Race Director Timur Artyukhin and race winner Georgiy Shejko

Following the success of the first edition, the Tengri Ultra Trail returns to Tamgaly Tas in Kazakhstan on 8 May 2016 . One of the more remote races on our calendar, but therefore a unique chance for international runners to visit and enjoy the hospitality of the Kazakh people. The race course has been redesigned partially and the longest A race will measure 70 km in length. 

The inaugural edition in 2015 saw over 300 participants, amongst which a number of international runners from France, USA, Hong Kong, China and Belgium, spread out over three distances. There are good air connections to Almaty from various Asian neighbouring countries. Direct flights from Beijing, Seoul and Hong Kong are  a given. 

It is now possible to sign up for the 2016 edition via our online registration form. To find out more basic details about the event, you can check our cover page. Please note that this page will be further updated in January as information comes in from the organisation committee in Almaty.  For any specific queries, you can contact us at info@asiatrailmaster.com 

The Mesa Spa & Hotel Resort group is happy to officially announce the official date of the 2016 MesaStila Peaks Challenge event. On the weekend of 8/9 October, trail runners from Indonesia and abroad will compete with each other over the traditional distances of 100km, 65km, 42km, 21km or 11km against the amazingly beautiful backdrop of Central Java's volcanoes.

Start and finish of the 6th edition of the event will be the MesaStila Resort in Magelang, which is close by the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Borobudur. Runners have the option of pure comfort and stay in the resort, which is ideally suited for families also, but there is other more modest accommodation nearby. In 2015, participants labelled this event a "hidden gem", given it has been taking place in the shadow perhaps of the more illustrious Indonesian races on Mount Rinjani and Mount Bromo. 

The main race courses offer a good mix of pure climbing and runable sections over various kinds of terrain. The ultimate goal of the event is the MesaStila 5 Peaks Challenge: 100km and over 7500m of elevation gain, that takes participants up to Gunung Merapi volcano at a height of nearly 3000m above sea level. For the slightly less ambitious participants there is the option of skipping the ascent of Merapi and do the MesaStila 4 Peaks Challenge over 65km, or the MesaStila Marathon over 42km. All three races will provide finishers with points for the 2016 Asia Trail Master ranking, and the 100km also qualifies for the Grandmaster Quest. 

In 2015 Arief Wismoyono won the race and laid the foundation for his overall championship victory there. Mila Marlina was the best woman. 

The official race registration will open soon, but travel packages are already available for those who wish a hassle-free experience. Packages include the race registration and race services, park fees, airport transfers (from Solo or Yogyakarta) and 2,3 or 4 nights at MesaStila including breakfast in double, triple or quadruple bungalows. The 3 and 4-night packages also include a sightseeing tour to Borobudur. Interested? Please contact us on info@asiatrailmaster.com for further details. 

Meanwhile, check our event cover page , and watch the below video clip to get a first impression of the race. You can also link to the event website itself. 

The 2nd edition of Ijen Trail Running, scheduled for the weekend of 21/22 May 2016, has opened the online registration this week. The event in Indonesia's East Java region offers three race distances, of which the 70km and 42km options are points-scorers for the 2016 Asia Trail Master series. Last August, Alan Maulana and Asia Trail Master champion Arief Wismoyono finished a joint first in the inaugural event.

Ijen is a popular destination for adventure travellers and hikers, and relatively easy to reach from Bali as well. The race will be one of five Asia Trail Master races in Indonesia in 2016, and on paper it is the most runnable as having the least amount of elevation gain. Nevertheless, 2448 Hm over 70km is still considerable and the 16 hour cut off time is quite tight. Runners will reach an altitude of 2300m when climbing the Ijen volcano. The marathon race distance of 42km, which does not go all the way up to the summit but stays on the mountain sides, has a 10 hour deadline. 

The 70km race also offers finishers 1 point for the Grandmaster Quest. 

The event, organised by Egon Trails, is held on Ijen plateau, in Sempol, Bondowoso. The course passes by the picturesque Ijen volcano crater, the world's largest highly acidic lake and isthe site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining operation in which sulfur-laden baskets are hand-carried from the crater floor. Many other post-caldera cones and craters are located within the caldera or along its rim. The largest concentration of post-caldera cones forms an E-W-trending zone across the southern side of the caldera. Coffee plantations cover much of the Ijen caldera floor, and tourists are drawn to the waterfalls, hot springs, and dramatic volcanic scenery. 

Please find key information on our own event cover page,  or visit the event website.  Take note that the early bird rate for the event ends on 15 January 2016. 

One of the most applauded events in this year's Asia Trail Master series was Tsaigu Tangsi Plus, a 58km mountainous run in Eastern China that saw one of the country's biggest running stars, Yan Longfei, take a splendid victory. Participants from first to last talked about the great organisation and wonderful race trail, so it is no surprise that Tsaigu Tangsi Plus has been selected to be China's Super Trail in our 2016 Asia Trail Master series. The international registration has just been opened via our website form. 

Tsaigu Tangsi Plus is scheduled for 16 April 2016 and features an updated and extended main race course. Race director Cai Yu, himself a fervent runner, announced the new 50 mile (82km) distance last week as the main race of the event. Less ambitious participants can go for the 60km or 30km options, bearing in mind that elevation gain is considerable for all. In fact, on the new 50 miles no fewer than 5300 altitude metres need to be conquered, and this within 24 hours. 

Linhai again hosts the spectacular event. A relatively small town in Taizhou, which belongs to Zhejiang Province. International runners can fly into Hangzhou or Ningbo, from where there are easy railway or bus connections to Linhai. It's a tourist town on the banks of the Lin River, which also features an ancient great wall from the Jin Dynasty 1600 years ago. The wall is still 5km long and provides opportunities for exquisite photos. Get an idea of what Linhai looks like via this link. As our event cover page mentions, there are a few hotels in Linhai that can be booked via international websites such as Ctrip and Booking.com. 

Yan Longfei running towards the finish to win the 2015 edition of TT Plus

TT Plus, as the event is commonly called, is an Asia Trail Master Super Trail, so finishers will score 50 points more for the 2016 championship when they finish the race. Important for high level runners who wish to become next year's champion! Super Trail is a new addition to our points system in 2016. In total, there will be five Super Trails and each in a different country. All details of the 2016 points system and set-up will be announced next week upon completion of the Ancient Khmer Path in Cambodia, which is the final race of this year's Asia Trail Master series. 

As 50 miles exceeds 70 km, Tsaigu Tangsi Plus now also qualifies for 1 point in the Grandmaster Quest. 

Registrations are open and expected to sell out quickly. While international runners have a bit more time, do not wait too long to sign up for one of China's trail running highlights of the year!

Little known, but wonderful trail running terrain

Participants loved the 2015 edition of TT Plus

Another exciting new entry in the 2016 Asia Trail Master series is The Magnificent Merapoh Trail in peninsular Malaysia. The 2nd edition of the event has been scheduled for the last weekend of July and will be upgraded to have a 100 km as main race distance. And good news for the pure runners among you: the Magnificent Merapoh Trail is very runnable and has only limited elevation gain. 

In total, the event - organised by Running Project - offers three race distances:  100 km, 60km and 30km. Finishers on the two longest distances will score points for the 2016 Asia Trail Master championship, and finishers on the 100km will also earn 1 point for their Grandmaster Quest. 

Participants will run on beautiful trails through the Merapoh caves and wade through rivers, all in the immediate vicinity of Malaysia's famous Taman Negara National Park, which can be visited on a side trip before or after the race. As mentioned above, it is a fast course with few technical sections and caters for beginning trail runners as well. There is a cut off time of 20 hours for the main race, of 12 hours for the 60km and  of 10 hours for the 30km category. The section through the caves is obviously not that long, but definitely a unique highlight of the event. Participants in the inaugural race last September were thrilled! 

The Magnificent Merapoh Trail was founded as an event to save the Merapoh Caves. Our main objective is to preserve this national heritage, which includes  at least 85 precious limestone hills and dozens of rare species of flora and fauna. These national heritage is under the threat of destruction from a big-scale planned cement production project in the area.

The organiser is working closely with the local people in Merapoh to promote sport and outdoor events in supporting local eco-tourism. The next five years will be dedicated to create more events in Merapoh including trekking, trail running, MTB, caving and adventure trips.

Please read more details on our Magnificent Merapoh Trail cover page, which includes a link to the registration form and key info regarding logistics. 

This Saturday, 2 May, marks the first of four Asia Trail Master races in Indonesia on the calendar. The Gede Pangrango Marathon takes place in a beautiful national park in West Java, roughly 2,5 hours away from Jakarta, capital city of Indonesia. It is a race for mountain goats and nature lovers. The 42km distance covers no fewer than 4000 altitude metres and two big (volcanic) peaks, and is a points-scoring race for the Asia Trail Master ranking. Start and finish is in Cibodas. 

For non-domestic participants, please see a gentle reminder for the MANDATORY GEAR List, as published on the event organiser's social media pages. 

1. BIB (Running number)
2. Drinking Water 1.5 Liter
3. Food
4. Headlamps + extra batteries.
5. Emergency Survival Blanket (minimum 130cm x 200cm)
6. Whistle
7. Warm Outfits
8. First-Aid Kit

Participants also strongly advised to have Travel/Accident Insurance.

There will be shuttle bus to ferry runners on race day from a city location in Jakarta to the race venue inside the National Park.

For more information, please contact:
Contact: 081210000469 (Ary) atau 0817181187 (Rama)
Email: debrads.id@gmail.com

DEPARTURE
Location: In front of FX Sudirman (https://goo.gl/maps/wbuCW)
Date/Time:
Saturday, 2 May 2015 02:00 WIB (for 15K dan 21K)
Saturday, 2 May 2015 01:00 WIB (for 42K)

RETURN
Location: Race Central at Cibodas Botanical Garden
Date/Time:
Saturday, 2 May 2015 15:00 WIB (for 15K dan 21K)
Saturday, 2 May 2015 22:00 WIB (for 42K)

FEE:
IDR 150,000/pax (for 15K and 21K)
IDR 170,000/pax (for 42K)

Terms and Condition:
1. Available only to confirmed (paid, with BIB number) participants.
2. Fee is IDR 150,000/pax for 15K and 21K participants, IDR 170,000/pax for 42K participants.
3. You will be included in the passenger list only after we confirmed your payment.
4. Shuttle bus capacity is 48pax/bus for 15K and 21K, 15pax/bus for 42K.
5. You will be grouped based on total number of passengers.
6. Grouping will be based on paid passengers.
7. Minimum number for group departure is 38pax/group for 15K and 21K, 12pax/group for 42K.
8. If minimum number in 7) above not reached, the group's shuttle bus will be cancelled and all payments will be refunded.
9. Departure will be on 2 May 2015 02:00WIB for 15K and 21K, and 2 May 2015 01:00WIB for 42K.
10. Return trip will be on 2 May 2015 15:00WIB for 15K and 21K, and 2 May 2015 22:00WIB for 42K.
11. Snacks will be provided during the trip.
12. We take no responsibility on your belongings, please take care of your own stuffs.
13. No littering are allowed in the bus or out to the open street.
14. By registering for this shuttle bus service, you agree to the terms and condition.
15. Payment can be done by bank transfer to BCA 4761178886, Account holder's name is Diah Kirana Putri.
16. Send your registration information, with payment proof, to debrads.id@gmail.com. Please include:

• Name
• Race Category (15K, 21K or 42K)
• Bib Number (Check yours at http://www.gedepangrangomarathon.com/id/about-gpmarathon/entry-list)
• Contact Number
• Attachment of Payment Proof

NOTES:
Do not forget to upload a copy of you Photo ID for Park purposes

The Asia Trail Master series is heating up over the next weeks as spring time hits most parts of Asia. Within the next month runners will score points in races in China, Indonesia and Kazakhstan, and Bhutan a bit later in May. 

Tsaigu Tangsi Plus in Linhai, Zhejiang, has the honour of kicking off the series in mainland China, a country that will host at least four points-scoring races this season, giving Chinese trail runners plenty of chances to score points for the Asia Trail Master championship. The event in Central China has upped its long distance to 57km this year, and offers a course for mountain goats: at least 3500 elevation gain awaits the participants. Start of the race this Saturday morning is the tourist town of Linhai in Taizhou, approximately 150km south of coastal city Ningbo. After a short warm-up the trail will begin to go up for approx. 10km to an altitude of 900m above sea level. It is a rollercoaster from then onwards, but one that keeps rising gradually until about 1300m, before plunging into a spectacular descent into the finish line.  For sure, first up the mountain is no guarantee to be first down the mountain as well. The event is organised by Lerun Sports and directed by Kein Yu, himself an experienced trail runner. 

The winners of the men's and women's 57km A-race will return home with 457 points in the bags. The event also has a B-race over 28km, which will likewise award finishers with points for the Asia Trail Master ranking. 

We will be reporting live from the scene on Saturday via social media with text and images. An overview of the various channels will be found on the Tsaigu Tangsi Plus live page on this website. Livetracking of the runners is not available on this occasion, however.  In the course of next week, we will also publish a collection of high quality photos taken during the event. 

To all the participants in Tsaigu Tangsi Plus: GOOD LUCK and ENJOY! 

Only one week after Ultra Trail Hong Kong, the Asia Trail Master series continue with another inaugural event: the Wild Elephant Trail” from 6-14 March 2015 in Sri Lanka.  A country that, moreover, is quite new to the sport of trail running.

As the official press release by organiser Global Limits reads: 52 runners from 23 countries from all continents in the world, including top Sri Lankan marathon runner Sanath Bandara, will compete in the stage race.  The Asia Trail Master series team is happy to promote this new event, and assist in the development of running opportunities for athletes in Sri Lanka. 

The course is expected to be quite adventurous and technical in parts, but filled with cultural landmarks as well.  The press release continues: the 210km, 6 stages race begins at the rock fortress of Yapahuwa, the short-lived capital of medieval Sri Lanka.  The runners will then head to Sasseruwa, the giant Buddha in “Freedom from Fear” pose, the picturesque Ritigala Mountains, and the Kandalama Lake.  The finishing line is set at the top of the World Heritage Site, the Sigiriya, ”The Lion Rock”.  In between the stages, the runners will stay at local pilgrim halls, campsites, and local village houses.  

Finishers of the stage race will collect a significant haul of Asia Trail Master points, and by coincidence the distance points - 175 - are the same as for last weekend's single-stage UTHK race. The rule for stage races namely says that 175 is the maximum number of distance points that can be won, which aims to avoid all-too-easy gains. 

Progress of the stage race can be checked via the GlobalLimits website, but also here and on the Asia Trail Master series facebook, twitter and instagram sites. 

The 1st edition of Ultra Trail Hong Kong starts this Friday in the New Territories and also marks the true launch of the equally inaugural Asia Trail Master series (ATMs). Throughout the year, trail runners will score points for the Asia Trail Master ranking and championship when they finish a race on the ATMs calendar.

Ultra Trail Hong Kong was set up in the spirit of the unofficial trail running world championship in France, UTMB, and the equally popular Japanese equivalent UT Mount Fuji. Race organiser Augustine Wong wants to build the race up towards a genuine benchmark on the Asian and world calendar.  There's of course plenty of races in Hong Kong already, but UTHK is certainly one of the very toughest. Runners who finish the long distance this weekend will score no fewer than 175 distance points for the Asia Trail Master ranking, which by coincidence is also the maximum number of points runners will score when doing a stage race like the Wild Elephant Trail in Sri Lanka next week.  The second race at UTHK is also qualified for the series with a length of 92km. The performance points for the shorter distance are of course fewer than for the long one. If you are not sure about  the points system yet, just visit the ranking section of this website.

At the end of the year, before Christmas, the best performing runners in the series will be rewarded. The winner of the 2015 Asia Trail Master series, and therefore the 2015 champion, will score USD 1000, men and women. Cash prizes will be handed out to the top 3, with valuable sponsor and partner prizes for the entire top 10 of the ranking to boot. It will be a hot final month in December with points-scoring races scheduled in Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar! 

And let us not forget the honourary title of Grandmaster, which is obtainable not only for the fastest amongst runners, but for everyone. To become an Asia Trail Grandmaster, you need to finish six long distance races within two calendar years. Important here is that the minimum distance must be 70km, but if one event offers two different race distances, only the longest one counts. So, the 175km participants this weekend in Hong Kong get 1 finish point, but the 92km participants do not. 

You can stay up-to-date on all the latest ATMS news via social media, check out facebook, twitter, instagram, weibo and weixin, for starters. This weekend you can also follow the action in Hong Kong live via our website, courtesy of Race Timing Solutions. If you like taking photos, post them on instagram with the hashtag #Asiatrail , who knows you will win something!

Finally, we wish all runners good luck for UTHK and all the races that follow. Let's make this a great first Asia Trail Master year!