RUN on volcanoes and through the rainforests of Java and Lombok 

We are delighted to introduce four fantastic new events in Indonesia to the 2015 Asia Trail Master series calendar. Four races that are breathtaking in beauty but also in difficulty: the Gede Pangrango Marathon, Mount Rinjani Ultra, Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra and the Mesastila Ultra. 

As in most countries, trail running is still a young activity in Indonesia, and joining an international event circuit like the Asia Trail Master series, which of course has a unique focus on the Asian continent, fits the growth strategy of the organisers at FOneSport perfectly. The aim is to attract runners from all over Asia and the world, but also to boost the domestic running scene. By inserting four key races into the calendar, Indonesian runners get an excellent opportunity to place themselves into the spotlights as one just needs three strong race results to finish high in the ATMs championship ranking at the end of the year.

But of course it is about more than just raking up points. It is also about discovering the endless beauty of the Indonesian islands, all with its own distinct historical and cultural heritage. And about connecting with the local running communities. In 2015 the four races are concentrated on the main island of Java, which hosts the country's capital Jakarta, and on Lombok - the small sister island of Bali.

The first race is the closest to Jakarta in West Java, and also the shortest: the Gede Pangrango Marathon on 2 May is indeed 42 km in length. However, the race isn't short and sweet: no fewer than 4000 metres of altitude are on the day's menu! Participants do have a 16-hour-allowance to complete the trail, though, which should give people the chance to enjoy the relatively little known National Park centred on the volcanoes Gede and Pangrango at a desired pace. 

The Mount Rinjani Ultra on Lombok is arguably the best known Indonesian trail race to date, and has been welcoming hundreds of runners already. A bit longer than Gede Pangrango Marathon at 52km, this race also goes up and down a majestic volcano. Gunung Rinjani just towers over the tiny island of Lombok at a height of 3726 metres. The race has a total altitude gain of 5800 hm, but you will be stunned more by the awesome crater views at the summit. And after the race you can go to one of Lombok's many beachside resorts to relax those tired muscles.

In Autumn, the focus in Indonesia will be on the Mesastila Challenge in Magelang, Central Java, for a 65km and over 4400 hm trail race that can be described as technical given some "difficult terrain and intimidating bridges" as described on the event website. In order to get to the event area, runners may need to fly into Yogyakarta or Solo (Surakarta), two cities that host impressive cultural and historical artifacts and host town Magelan is also the gateway to Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple complex. The event is scheduled for 10 October.

The final Indonesian race in this year's Asia Trail Master series is also the longest: the Bromo Tengger Semeru Trail in East Java is a genuine ultra race as it covers 170 km and over 10.000 altitude metres! Also the B-race is a serious one with 102km and 5265 Hm. Note that you need to have experience before you can enter this race. The event is scheduled to start on 7 November.  

Please note that registrations for the Gede Pangrango Marathon and the Mount Rinjani Ultra are already being accepted. Runners should be aware of the registration deadlines, which in the case of the West Javan race is on 9 March already. The registration module for Mesastila and Bromo Tengger Semeru will open soon. 

The Asia Trail Master series team is looking forward to a great cooperation with FoneSport and the further development of the trail running industry in Indonesia!  

The registration for the inaugural Japanese stage race Trans Kansai is now open via the event website. The race takes place from 3 to 11 October and begins in Osaka with a warm-up urban run, followed by seven timed stages for a total of approx. 200 km. 

The registration fee includes all accommodation, most meals and all standard race provisions. Local runners can also take part and sign up for two individual stages: stages 5 and 8. These are the two longest stages of 50km each in the western and northern areas of Kyoto respectively. 

As the event is part of the Asia Trail Master series, finishers of the stage race can score 175 distance points (cap rule), as well as a fair number of performance points. Note that the performance points will only be attributed to runners who have concluded all stages and are ranked in the final result of the race. Similarly, participants who do not complete all stages score distance points only for the stages they do finish and only for a maximum of 125  points. 

Trans Kansai is a unique runner's holiday through amazing scenery in Japan's cultural heart. This event is obviously more than just a race. Sign up early as places are limited. 

The Dali Ultra in Yunnan Province, China, has been moved forward by one week and will now start on 31 October 2015. The race is organised by the same company that does the Dalian race on 18 April, and full details on the 2015 route will come following inspection by the end of March. 

Non-domestic runners need to sign up for the Dali race via this website. Details are also expected by the end of next month. 

EXCLUSIVE: 15 STARTING PLACES ON OFFER FOR 100K TRAIL 

We are proud to welcome another big race and a new country in the inaugural Asia Trail Master series: the TMBT Ultra Trail Marathon on Borneo in Malaysia joins the calendar on 29 August. Arguably the biggest trail run in the country, The Most Beautiful Thing, to say TMBT in full, is a genuine rainforest run on and around Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South East Asia. Runners can choose between 100km and 55km race distances, and for beginners there is also a shorter version available. Finishers on the two longest distances will score points for the Asia Trail Master ranking and championship. 

Sabah is known as a fantastic adventure holiday destination, and you will be amazed by the natural beauty of Kinabalu National Park. The trail course does not include a summit climb for safety reasons, yet has an impressive total of 6000 altitude metres. The 55km route is equally hard with 3500 Hm. Consider in addition the tropical climate and you understand that this race should not be your first 100k race. 

Although TMBT is anything but a walk in the park, the local running community loves it and the event has sold out very quickly in Malaysia. However,  international runners have an exclusive chance to still register for this year via Asia Trail Master. Fifteen places are on offer for the 100km main event and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. You can sign up via our online form. 

The race registration fee is USD 180 and includes: 

-Race participation
-Bus Transfer (return journey) from Kota Kinabalu 
-Event T-Shirt
-Event Finishers Medal
-Event Finisher's T-shirt

Note that you will need to collect your bib and participant bag on Friday,28 August 2015 between 9.00am and 4.00pm, and only at Pacific Sutera Harbour Resort. No bags will be given after the 4.00pm deadline as the organizing team packs up for a 2 hour 30 minute journey to the finish point of the race at Mount Kinabalu and the Ranau district. Please keep in mind when signing up and making your travel plans. 

You can find all event information in a nutshell on our cover page, for specific details please check out the official event website. The route map and profile can be checked here. 

Kuai Sports Promotions and the Asia Trail Master series team are happy to announce the cooperation with another fantastic young trail race: the North Face Cappadocia Ultra Trail in Turkey! The 2nd edition follows a successful start last year and will be held in Urgup on the autumn weekend of 24/25 October 2015. 

Cappadocia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the central part of the large country known for its 'natural wonders' and a rich cultural heritage. Tourists tend to fly over the area in hot air balloons, trail runners will traverse the Cappadocia valleys and conquer the hills on foot for a truly amazing experience. On offer are three different courses and race distances with the longest one being 110km in length with an altitude gain of 3350hm. The medium course is 60km (1850hm) and the short is 30km (900hm). 

At Kuai Sports Promotions we are happy to offer interested runners assistance for their registration for the race and for optional multi-day tourist package extensions or just a balloon trip over the area. The travel packages are either Cappadocia-only, or a 1-week trip that includes visits to Istanbul and/or Ephesus. Please see details and pricing for the travel packages and side-trips in the PDF brochures below. If you wish to book one of these, please contact us for details. 

To register for the race only, please note that in order to gain access to our special conditions you need to enter a code in the online form that you can find on the event website. The registration code depends on the race distance you choose. Alternatively, just email us at kris@kuaisports.com and we do the race registration for you. 

REGISTRATION CODE

110km: CUT-JVDQHZ
60km: CUT-RYLQR4
30km: CUT-F6ZD6X

Please be careful that you enter the exact code as given above if you register yourself. 

RACE REGISTRATION FEE

100km: EUR 45
60km: EUR 25
30km: EUR 20

TRAVEL & TRIP PACKAGES

CAPPADOCIA ONLY PACKAGE 22-25 OCTOBER

PRE RACE PACKAGE 19-25 OCTOBER

POST RACE PACKAGE 23-30 OCTOBER 

BALLOON TRIP 

Please email us if you wish to book one of the packages or trips above. 

The event is organised by Argeus Travel and The North Face is title sponsor. It is bound to become a classic on the world trail running scene very soon. Read the following testimony of a participant in last year's first edition. 

The Asia Trail Master series team will also be present at the Cappadocia event this year. Find out more about great trail races we cooperate with in the Beyond Asia section of this website. 

Official TNF Cappadocia website

The Vietnam Mountain Marathon, the biggest trail race in the country, has joined the 2015 Asia Trail Master series with its event on 26 September. The event features a 70km ultra distance, as well as a 42km marathon distance, both of which qualify for the ATMS ranking. Beginning runners can also opt for the shorter 21km or 10km distances.

The event takes place in the mountainous region of northern Vietnam, with start and finish close to popular tourist town Sapa, famous for its rice fields, water buffaloes and colourful ethnic minority people. 2015 will be the third edition of the Vietnam Mountain Marathon and is organised by Topas Travel. The 70km longest race is a tough one with 3000m of altitude gain, and should not be taken lightly. Also on the other distances there is quite a bit of climbing to be done along the well-marked courses through the Hoang Lien National Park.

Registration for the Vietnam Mountain Marathon goes via the official event website. Some key facts of the race can as usual be consulted also via our cover page.  

The crew of the Asia Trail Master series is happy to see the Vietnam Mountain Marathon enter its inaugural race calendar, and to be able to also give local Vietnamese runners a chance to become part of the growing Asian trail running community.

For more information, please go to the event website or send an email to kris@kuaisports.com  

As announced via our twitter and facebook channels over the weekend, Nepal's Annapurna 100 event has been postponed by the local race organiser due to the current political situation in the country. Originally scheduled for the opening weekend of the Asia Trail Master series on 28 February, it has now been decided to hold the Annapurna 100 - the oldest trail run in Nepal, by thew way - on 10 October 2015.

Please see the official statement of the organiser as also published on  the event website:

The decision was taken in the interest of preserving a positive experience for incoming runners, even though their safety would hardly be at risk. The new event date in autumn of this year is open for registrations, and you can conveniently sign up via our website. 

 

The Asia Trail Master series contain plenty of fantastic events, but from time to time you may also wish to go beyond Asia  and spend some time running on another continent. Therefore, we happily provide a few holiday tips and recommended trail runs in our 'Beyond Asia' section of this website. 

Kuai Sports Promotions has officially partnered or has strong links with the events we present in the Beyond Asia section, and in most cases we can even offer discounts on the registration fees. Right now, for example, we are happy to offer discount rates for the spectacular 8-day stage race in Portugal, Europe, the Peneda Gerés Trail Adventure from 28 April to 3 May 2015. The race attracts some of the best trail runners and covers a total distance of 280 km. 

Go to the Beyond Asia section and watch the promotional video of the event. If you want to sign up and score a EUR 50 discount on the registration fee, shoot us an email on kris@kuaisports.com 

MEDIA RELEASE - Kuai Sports Promotions and Venture Travel are happy to announce the birth of a new foot stage race through the magnificent Kansai region of Japan this autumn. From 3 to 11 October 2015 runners from Asia and the rest of the world will cover a total distance of 200km in 8 days starting in Osaka and ending in Kyoto. Trans Kansai is a member of the inaugural Asia Trail Master series to boot. 

The event will commence with a non-timed warm-up urban run in Osaka to the legendary 16th century castle, before the real task begins with a 20km stage in Nara through the Kasagayama Virgin Forest. Other highlights during the week are the Diamond Trai and the ascents of Mount Atago, Daimonji and Hiei in the Kyoto region. Kyoto is the former imperial capital of Japan for more than a thousand years and the city is filled with historical buildings, shrines and other impressive cultural sites. The region around the city is characterised by green forests, hills and lakes, and lends itself perfectly to trail running. 

The stage race has a variety of long and short distance stages, with stages 5 and 8 measuring up to 50 km in length. Participants will enjoy great hospitality at their local accommodation, plenty of onsen (hot springs) and local food that is both delicious and healthy. It is the first trail race of this kind in Japan and a perfect short holiday away from work. 

Registrations for the first edition of Trans Kansai are opening soon via the official website. On the site you can already read all details of the various running stages, as well as check out the logistics and discover some background facts on the Kansai region. For the first edition of the event there will be a restricted number of runners, so early sign-up is required. 

Each finisher of the stage race will obtain 175 distance points for the Asia Trail Master ranking (see ATMS regulations), and added to that will be the performance points according to the participant's race result.

Kuai Sports Promotions is a sports event management company based in Hong Kong and founder of the Asia Trail Master series, a continental-wide series of trail running races featuring an annual championship and a lifetime achievement award. Venture Travel is an Australian-Japanese company specialised in active outdoor travelling with over a decade of experience in Kansai. 

Who has not yet heard of the Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset race in the remote west of the mythical country and the Hovsgol National Park to be precise. For 17 years this classic 100km trail race has been a dream for many a runner around the world. We are therefore delighted to announce that Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset is a new entry in the inaugural Asia Trail Master series. ATMS points can be scored on 5 August, but most of all participation means supporting the National Park and the Mongolian running scene, which remains in an early stage of development. 

Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset (MS2S) is a non-profit race and all profits go to and are managed by ecoLeap foundation, registered in Switzerland. MS2S was first held in 1999 and the race fist project was to raise money to buy a garbage truck to help with the waste management in the park. The funds from the race continue to support keeping Hovsgol National Park as beautiful and pristine as we found it in 1999.

The race starts at sunrise (4 a.m.) and ends at sunset (10 p.m.). This timeframe allows most runners to finish the distance, despite a significant altitude gain of over 3000m on the century run.  Apart from the long 100km trail, less ambitious runners can also opt for a 42km marathon distance. Given the remoteness and lack of transportation options, the race is part of a one-week tour package in the Park, where participants will get a true feel of ethnic Mongolian life. All details can be read on the very good event website, where you can also register for the event.  

The Asia Trail Master series' first event in mainland China is the Dalian 100 Ultra Endurance Race on 18 April. An event that has rapidly gained appeal, and not only because of the domestic popularity of race organiser Yu Lei. Dalian offers something that few trail races offer:infinite seascapes!

The race course starts on the beach and then twists and turns in the hills along the famous Binhai lu, or coastal road, and is close to the city centre, making it an ideal weekend trip for the whole family. Dalian is ranked among the most relaxing and enjoyable of China's main cities and has a solid reputation for sports, be it running, football, cycling or triathlon. 

The race begins at 6 a.m. on Saturday and the trails go up and down continuously, resulting in significant altitude gain over 100km and even over 50km. There's plenty of refreshment stations and the event is known for its hospitality. Race organiser Yu Lei has participated himself in some of the biggest ultra trails in the world, such as UTMB and UTMF, and we are delighted to partner up with him. 

International runners can sign up easily via the ATMs website and settle the registration fee via credit card. Note that the event is technically already sold out for mainland Chinese, as participation is limited to 1000 (sold out in 2 days, which shows how popular the race is in China!). International runners should also not hesitate and sign up very soon. For further logistical and other info, just drop us an email. 

Meanwhile, the registrations for the Ultra Trail Hong Kong on 27/28 February, the first event of the 2015 Asia Trail Master series, are going well. Remember, the registrations for this event close already at the end of January! On the same weekend in Nepal the oldest trail race of the Himalayan country, the Annapurna 100 and 50k is being held, another race where you can open your ATMS points' account!

 

We proudly welcome the Annapurna 100, Nepal's oldest trail running event, as second event in the inaugural Asia Trail Master series in 2015. The event, taking place in Pokhara, will be held for the 9th time on 28 February and offers 100km and 50km race distances. 

The Annapurna is a well-known trail for mountain hikers , but now you also have a chance to run it and be part of a great event. What's more, you score points for the Asia Trail Master championship and the Grandmaster lifetime achievement award when you reach the finish line.  

As we can read on the official event website, the Annapurna 100 race has got big Himalayan mountain views, forest trails, village culture and it's probably the only ultra race where you get a tikka on your forehead at 20 km and a khata around your neck. It is Nepal's original ultra trail race, having been organised for the first time in  1995, twenty years ago! 

You can sign up easily via this website, especially if you wish to conduct an online payment of the race fee, otherwise you go via the official event website and do an offline wire transfer. 

For further logistical and other info, just drop us an email on kris@kuaisports.com