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. 

As 2015 is gradually coming to a close and Arief Wismoyono and Ma Yanxing have been crowned the inaugural Asia Trail Master champions, we can begin to look forward to next year. Whereas the core concept of the Asia Trail Master series remains the same, a few details are being amended. One of the biggest innovations for the points ranking and therefore the championship, is the creation of the SuperTrails. 

A SuperTrail race is a race in which finishers score 50 bonus points for their Asia Trail Master ranking. Looking at the final rankings of 2015, those 50 points can make a difference. The selected SuperTrail races take place in different countries. In 2016, there will be 5 SuperTrail events, selected on the basis of 2015 merits and future vision. 

• Ultra Trail Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
• Tsaigu Tangsi Plus (China)
• Malaysia Eco 100 (Malaysia)
• Mount Rinjani Ultra (Indonesia)
• Clark-Myamit Falls Ultra (Philippines)

The 50 SuperTrails points will be allocated on all race distances of these five events, as long as they meet the criteria for Asia Trail Master points. 

Please read more about the 2016 points allocation via our dedicated webpage. 

The Grandmaster Quest is not affected by the new SuperTrail category. Each Asia Trail Master race of 70km or more will give finishers 1 point on their path to reach Grandmaster status. More on the Grandmaster Quest in the coming days. 

The 2016 SuperTrails 

(click on the logo to go to the event's cover page)

February: Ultra Trail Hong Kong 

April: Tsaigu Tangsi Plus

May: Malaysia Eco 100

August: Mount Rinjani Ultra

November: Clark-Myamit Falls Ultra

Abroad bonus

Another novelty regarding the points allocation in Asia Trail Master races in 2016 is the abroad bonus. Runners who have finished and scored points in at least three races, will at the end of 2016 be credited with 50 bonus points if one of those three races was outside of their country of residence at the time of the race. 

Interaction between runners from all Asian communities is one of the key objectives of the Asia Trail Master series, and people who take the opportunity and initiative to travel and explore races in a different country deserve to be rewarded in points. 

Win points in C races as well 

A third significant amendment to our points system is the fact that runners can now also score finisher and performance points on an event's C-distance race, provided that event is 25km or longer. The treshold for a B-race distance has also been increased from 21km to 25km. The reason for this change is that several organisers are introducing a 100 miles race to their event. We feel it is justified that runners who do, for instance, a 70km (Bromo Tengger Semeru) or 50km (Malaysia Eco 100) race are entitled to points even if those races are only the third longest of the event. 

Organisers, join the 2016 Asia Trail Master series

While our race calendar has been shaping up nicely for 2016 already, event organisers are still welcome to approach us and apply for entry into our calendar. Please contact us on info@asiatrailmaster.com for further details. Note that we do not accept new entries for races that take place before 15 March 2016. 

On 28 February 2016, Beach Bunch will host the first major trail running race in Brunei, one of three countries on the large island of Borneo. The President of the environmental NGO is also the main organiser of the event, which will be the second points scoring race in the 2016 Asia Trail Master series. Mr Rizan Latif is himself an enthusiastic runner and therefore a great guest in our Talking Trail Running series. 

Q: Mr Latif, first, could you please tell us in a few words what Beach Bunch stands for, and what was the reason you launched this project.

RL: Beach Bunch is a registered Non-Government Organization who's objective is aimed at protecting Brunei's beaches from waste pollution. Our vision is to keep them clean and enjoyable to all including its coastal wildlife.

Our natural beaches have been pristine up until the last decade, especially so with the emergence of plastic waste. Something had to be done. In 2010, a group of friends and I gathered for a cleanup at Tungku and the rest is history. Now, we've done 31 cleanups and have had up to nearly 4,400 volunteers and have collected a not so great; waste collection of 16 tonnes. 

Q: Had the situation on Tungku Beach or in Brunei in general become so bad?

We've done lots of cleanups on various beaches in Brunei and the cleanliness varies from slightly dirty to OMG it's a dump situation. Tungku beach is the latter, it has and still requires a lot of TLC, not just from cleanliness end but waste management as well. It's chaotic on any given Sunday with the combination of food vendors on the beach and beach visitors.

Q: Where does the majority of the pollution come from?

The majority of the pollution is generated locally by visitors to the beach. This is mainly due to a lack of rubbish collection and disposal in designated areas.

Q: Beach Bunch aims to keep the beaches clean for humans and for wildlife. What kind of wildlife is there?

Wildlife that we've encountered on the coast are the sea turtles, mainly Olive Ridleys & Hawksbill as  well as seabirds where most of them are on the endangered and protected list. Dugongs and dolphins are also seen but they are more towards the marine coastline. We are doing conservation programs on the sea turtles in Brunei which includes youth camps and doing nightly night watches for sea turtle landing during the nesting period.

Q: Is there still a lot of cleaning-up work to be done?

Yes indeed. When Beach Bunch started getting into groove of things, we soon realized that no matter how many cleanups we do, the rubbish will come back again. We decided to take a different approach. Our cleanups are now more educational which involves the community; from schools, organisations and families, to get them down to the beach and be apart of that 'feel good' feeling.

Q: Why did you start with the organisation of a 21km half marathon trail run?

I was looking at how we could connect fitness and health with the beach environment, a healthy activity where people could enjoy the beautiful scenery of the beach. Running was the first activity that came to mind. I wanted it slightly challenging and to introduce locals to  long distance trail running. With that set in my mind, I started looking (running) around the beaches here and found the spot. A 21km loop going through 3 beaches; Empire, Tungku and Berakas Forest Reserve. 

Q: Do you also organise other types of events to raise funds or awareness for Beach Bunch?

Yes, I have led numerous beach cleanups, the largest being of 1,000 volunteers as well as a river and island cleanup. I've brought several groups of volunteers at night to the beach for sea turtle landing during the nesting season here.

Q: Is running a popular leisure activity in Brunei?

Open road running has been a popular leisure activity for the last 2 decades. This goes to short distance trail running too. Long distance road running came up over the  last decade or so and the 1st competitive full road marathon started back in 2005. To date, Brunei has only done 4 full road marathons and our event will not only be the fifth full marathon but also the first of its kind as a long distance trail run.

Q: What is the most popular sport in Brunei?

Like any Asian country, football has been the most popular sport in Brunei. Nuff said.

Q: You will be organising a workshop on the day before the race. Could you tell us a bit more about that?

Yes I'll be organizing a workshop for the 2 days prior to the race. I'm working on bringing in a professional international trail runner and not will not be forgetting the local flavor because we too have elite runners, the only difference is not being under the professional category. The aim of these workshops is to educate the runners on long distance trail running as well as to promote trail running. Most of the runners are local Bruneians who range from 2 extremes; from experienced long distance trail runners, road marathoners, ironmen to the other extreme where it would be their first ever marathon and on top of that, on trail!

Trail running has long been established here in Brunei due to our jungle and hilly terrain. Most of the local competitive trail events are of short distance. Long distance trail running is still new here and this will be the inaugural event to do so.

Q: Are you an active runner yourself, and if yes, what have been your main achievements

Yes. Back in the day I used to play football like any local in Brunei. I got into running back in 2012 and like most runners, I started off with a 5km run. To date, I've now done 3 full road marathons and 3 ultra marathons both local and international; the latest one was Sabah's The Most Beautiful Thing 50k category. I managed to finish it and grab first for the Bruneian 50k category.

Q: Do you have any specific trail running ambition yourself?

I'm now looking forward to the TNF's 100k in Australia which will be in May 2016. In terms of ambition, to me it's more about fun... serious fun and not forgetting the pain and suffering that comes with that fun. LOL

Q: The race course of the BB Trail Challenge looks very varied with several very distinct sections. What type of runner has the best chances of winning in your opinion? 

An experienced long distance road runner with a knowledge of the local terrain and weather will be able to win this. With the right strategy on pacing and nutrition/ hydration, this runner will be able to blaze through the course. This is due to route being relatively flat on the beaches and the elevation is of hilly variance rather than mountainous compared to normal ultra trail environment. 

Q: On the website we read that the temperatures in February are scorching, humidity is high and there is a high chance of rain. Should participants be afraid of the natural elements?

They SHOULDN'T be afraid of it but EMBRACE it like any natural outdoor loving person. Coming into the race with a well prepared body and mind through proper training regimen, and well equipped gear through the mandatory kit, participants should be enjoying the weather and the race.

Q: Hydration will be very important during the race. How many water stations are you planning, and what recommendations would you have for runners traveling in from colder climates? 

There will be 5 water stations throughout the route. Runners who are not acclimatized to the high humidity and temperature of Brunei, please adhere to the 1.5 liter current capacity of your hydration as part of your mandatory kit.

Q: Who do you regard as a favourite to win the races in the men's and women's categories? 

As a local brethren, I'm supporting our local elite long distance runners to win the race in both categories since the participants compromise 75% locals. But of course, the international elite runners will be a running for their money for the top spot! It will be exciting from start to finish!

Beach Bunch's Trail Challenge is open for registration. Careful: standard registration with a full gift package closes on 15 December. Click here to sign up for this great new addition to the Asian trail running scene. 

Arief Wismoyono from Indonesia and Ma Yanxin from China are our first ever Asia Trail Masters. Both champions managed to hold on to their points lead in the final races of the season, and are well-deserved champions with two big race victories on the Asia Trail Master circuit during the year. 

The final two months of the inaugural series brought great action and changing fortunes for the series'  protagonists. The Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra 100 miles race in East Java turned out to be the key to success for both Wismoyono and Ma Yanxin. Suffering from a knee injury, the Indonesian winner of Mount Rinjani Ultra (August) and MesaStila Peaks Challenge (October), had a very tough day in the lava fields to defend his points advantage in the ranking. In particular, India's Ullas Narayana, Norway's Jan Nilsen and his own compatriot Pramonosidi Wijanarko put up a major challenge. Aided by a few strong runners losing the right trail and Nilsen dropping out due to painful blisters, Wismoyono crossed the finish line in sixth place, which was just enough to stay ahead of race winner Narayana and claim the championship. 

After scoring in Dalian back in April, Shanghai resident Ma Yanxing grabbed her second 100km race win of the year in Dali, Yunnan at the very end of October, which placed her ahead of Mila Marlina in the women's ranking. Marlina tried to reverse the situation also in the Bromo race, but did not make it to the finish line and thus failed to score points. 

Arief Wismoyono and Ma Yanxing will receive their awards and prizes during Ultra Trail Hong Kong, the first race of the 2016 Asia Trail Master series from 19 to 21 February 2016. Next year's second edition promises to be at least as exciting with several new race entries and also in a few new destinations. We will also be celebrating the first Grandmasters, as a number of runners have already gathered 3 or 4 points out of the required 6. 

Stay tuned to our website, facebook and wechat channels to stay up to date for all news related to the 2016 Asia Trail Master series, including interviews with Arief Wismoyono and Ma Yanxing! 

Final ranking Men

Final ranking Women

The final winners of the year are known: British runners Jill Hamill and Thomas Watson turned out victorious in the 4th GlobalLimits' Ancient Khmer Path stage race in Cambodia as they crossed the finish in front of the famous Angkor Wat Temple. After six days of racing over 220km in total, Jill Hamill raised a lot of eyebrows by also being the champion.... overall.  A unique performance!

The podium in Cambodia was completed by Austria's Johannes Mohr and Leonard Dion from Australia in the men's competition, and Eufemia Coppi (Australia) and Christina Khinast-Sittenthaler (Austria) in the women's. Especially Mohr gave Watson quite a bit of a challenge in the second part of the week, with a stage victory on the 4th day, but eventually fell 38 minutes short. 

SIgnificant for the Asia Trail Master points ranking is the 7th place of Patrick Singh and 11th place of Leonard Stanmore, both of them finishing their third stage race of the year, which also implies they both already gathered 3 points for the Grandmaster Quest! 

The Ancient Khmer Path was the final race of the 2015 Asia Trail Master series. The official announcement of our first champions comes on Monday, 7 December. 

Credit: GlobalLimits

The inaugural edition of the much anticipated Shaman Trail has been scheduled for 1 October 2016 following the postponement due to the general elections in Myanmar last month. The event will be the country's first serious ultra trail run with a 70km main race distance from the Kalaw hills down to the great Inle Lake. 

The trail is purely ethnic and used on a daily basis by the many local villagers you will come across during the run. In some of the villages a traditional shaman will greet the runners and expel all the bad spirits - and maybe even those blisters and muscle cramps. 

Participants will gather the day before the race in Kalaw, a nice little town surrounded by hills, which has become the start or end point of many tourist trekking trips that are being organised in the area nowadays. While hikers take three to four days to get to the southern tip of Inle Lake, runners will do it in one day. The first part of the course is the most technical as you will be running through dense vegetation at times and there is some elevation gain as well. The second part is arguably more runnable as the terrain tends to be more flat and along various farm fields.  Here and there one will pass a monastery, too.  Just before the Lake there is still a rocky section before a descent towards the final kilometer of the race. The finish is right at the boat jetty. 

After they have finished, runners can take a small boat up the lake towards the Inle Sanctum Resort, which hosts the participants as well as the after party with ceremony in the evening. Inle Sanctum is a five star luxury resort, so a perfect spot to relax after the race. Runners who wish to stay there longer can do so and plan accordingly via the race organisation. 

The Shaman Trail event comes with a travel package that takes all hassle out of your race participation. You can find all information on the website. Registration goes via this link.  

The first section is quite mountainous and very green

Whereas the second part has more open and runnable terrain

Inle Lake is the destination, where you will undoubtedly also be kindly greeted

There's some stunning golden temples to visit in Myanmar and at the lake

You can register immediately via this link.  

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

And so we have already arrived at the final event of the 2015 Asia Trail Master series. GlobalLimits' Ancient Khmer Path will close the curtain next weekend (5 December) when runners enter Angkor, the famous temple site in Cambodia. This is a 6-day stage race in its 4th edition, and there's still a lot of points up for grabs for the 2015 ranking. 

The terrain of the race is quite flat and therefore very runnable, which makes this race in the GlobalLimits catalogue different from the other two events in Sri Lanka and Bhutan. As always, founder and race director Stefan Betzelt is doing his utmost to ensure all participants not only have a great run, but a very exciting time in Cambodia in general. 

The race begins on Sunday in Phnom Penh with a 30km long stage first stage. The longest stage is the third, when we are talking proper ultra running over more than 60 km. Throughout the week, runners will pass numerous authentic temples, waterfalls and bamboo forests. 

Whereas the top of our ranking seems fixed, a few participants might be able to still squeeze themselves into the top 10. A number of runners will also score their 3rd Grandmaster point in this event, which means only 3 to go in 2016 to obtain the honourary title and shield! 

We will be updating our social media pages throughout the week as news comes in from Cambodia. Stay tuned! 

Overview of the 6 stages in this year's Ancient Khmer Path

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. 

Following the conclusion of the successful Clark-Myamit Falls race in the Philippines last weekend, we are looking ahead to the final event of the Asia Trail Master year. The Ancient Khmer Path in Cambodia, a stage race over 6 running days starting next weekend. That means we will know who the first Asia Trail Masters, or the Asia Trail Master champions, will be.  Things are looking bright for Arief Wismoyono (Indonesia) and Ma Yanxin (China).

The updated rankings can be consulted now on our website: men / women . 

Meanwhile, also take a look at the exquisite photo album by our house photographer on Clark-Myamit Falls. 

We are happy to announce our latest partnership with Ultra Trail in France, a travel company that specialises in trail running events.  Ultra-trail in France (www.ultratrailinfrance.com) offers tailor-made solutions for runners who want to take part in French trails. The company, chaired by a very experienced ultra trail runner, will likewise be promoting the races on our Asia Trail Master calendar to its European customer database. 

“Ultratrail in France” is born out of growing frustration at having no choice but to participate in ‘one size fits all’ package of ultra-trails, mountain races, or marathon trails. These have often been impersonal and lack interesting add-ons besides the race in itself. As trailers, we forget the number of hours elapsed, the number of miles travelled, the elevation hurtled down and climbed back up, the number of pairs of worn shoes. However, we remember the intense joy, the solidarity between trailers, the comfort of the refreshment posts, … and of course the intense feeling of transcendence despite the blows of blues, bad weather, injuries, etc. Let Ultra Trail in France help you to preserve these great memories, don’t let the organisational problems of a package, ‘one size fits all’ holiday spoil your experience.

In particular, Ultra-trail in France offers you:

• The best French ultra-marathons and ultra-trails, including UTMB, 
• A winning combination of French specialist in "tailor-made travelling" with the passion of experienced trailers.
• Bespoke offers that completely meets your expectations at the most competitive price. From race pre-selection & registration, accommodation, and transportation to discovering the delights France has to offer.

Challenge yourself and enjoy French delicacies:

• Cultural & historical highlights of France such the UNESCO World Heritage, Palaces,  Museums, National Parks,...
•  Vineyards, cellars stills and experience wine, champagne, Armagnac tasting, accompanied by an oenologist
• Experiencing Gourmet dining, tasting regional products and flavours of the "French terroir", participating in local cooking class with star chefs.
• White water and sea sports, mountain and air sports, golf, horse riding, biking ...
• Relaxing in the spa,  with hydrotherapy, osteopathy and beauty treatments.

Trips can be designed exactly to fit your requirements as a runner travelling to France to take part in the country's many epic events.

As a practical example, the Grand Raid des Pyrenees
Race date: 20 to 23 AUGUST 2016
Distance / Elevation gain:160 km (+9,500 m), 120 km (+ 7,000m) or 80 km (+ 5,000m)

After successfully completing your race, you will have the opportunity to:

• Taste local wines (Madiran, Fronton, …) and participate in wine cellar tours,
• Sample gourmet dinners and discover other local delicacies,
• Experience the prestigious Armagnac tasting and visit regional stills,
• Following in the footsteps of the Tour de France, climb to the Tourmalet and the Pic du Midi or visit the Cirque de Gavarnie, Unesco World Heritage of Humanity,
• Visit Toulouse and Airbus Museum (A380 assembly chain),
• Hotels, private transport from your arrival to your departure point.

Highly recommended for all Asian trail runners who wish to get a more special and deeper experience in France. 

More details and questions can be directly referred to Ultra Trail in France. 

RD Jon Lacanlale (left) flanks the podium placers of this year's CM 50 race (excl. Jan Nilsen)

Filippino runners Manolito Divina and Maria Josephine Liao have successfully defended their titles in last weekend's Clark-Myamit Falls 50 miles race. Both finishes solo after a great day of running in splendid conditions.  In the men's Norway's Jan Nilsen made it to 2nd place,  and James Telias completed the podium in 3rd, edging out Koi Grey. Liao ran the course faster than Silamie Apolistar and Joanna Plumbley. In the Asia Trail Master ranking, Arief Wismoyono and Ma Yanxin retain their leading positions.

Before the top runners on the main 50 miles race distance arrived back in Clark, spectactors witnessed a rather unique performance by Meredith Edwards in the 60km race. The American girl won the race....overall! She beat all the men in 8h11! Edwards is of course very experienced and has scored top 10 at UTMB already, yet it remains an achievement.

The 5th edition of CM 50 was a fast one. Manolito Divina crossed the finish line in 9h22, which was almost half an hour before Jan Nilsen, who clearly had recovered well from the blisters that plagued him in Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra two weeks ago. He was able to keep up with Divina initially, but then had to let the local star go. James Telias came third in 10h22, which by all means is still a very quick time. The competition was of high standard as Koi Grey even had to settle for fourth place. 

CM 50 has a nighttime start

The champion: Manolito Divina

Maria Josephine Liao also won the women's race for the second year in a row