The prime trail race in South Korea is again open for registration. In 2018, Korea 50K takes place on the usual weekend in April with the race day on Sunday, 22 April. The venue and race course has remained largely the same, although the official distance is currently reduced by 1k to 58K. This is a hilly race in the forests around DDC, a suburb of capital capity Seoul, to which it is connected by subway. 

The registration is open and it is suggested not to wait too long, as in its third year of Asia Trail Master, it has become one of the more popular races on the tour given its convenient location. 

Registration Link:

http://en.korea50k.com/03/

This weekend all eyes are set on Thailand for the second time this season, as both Ultra Trail Chiang Rai and Ultra Trail Nan are points races in the 2017 Asia Trail Master Championship series.    Just ike UTKC in February, this Thai “blockbuster” looks set to leave a firm mark with Malaysians Steven Soonseng Ong and Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid both in a position to reach out to the Asia Trail Master championship title. 

Two ATM points races in the same country and on the same weekend seems odd. COMPRESSPORT, one of our main sponsors, is supporting both events, however, and therefore so do we for this year. The field of participants in both Chiang Rai and Nan is quite strong with several ATM protagonists and aspiring Thai runners ready to compete on quite tough courses. 

Beginning with UT Chiang Rai, Steven Ong and Tahira Najmunisaa lead the pack on paper for the 122 km race that has a total elevation gain of over 5000 hm. It looks like the ideal race for 40-year-old Ong, who this year has taken plenty of trail runners to school. Two weeks ago at Mesastila Peaks Challenge he lost the lead in the ATM points championship to Arief Wismoyono, but a fine result in his fifth race of the year will put him back on top. Wrapping up the championship at Chiang Rai is mathematically impossible, though. Still, Ong would put all the other title contenders on the defensive with just 6 races to go. Tahira Najmunisaa is in exactly the same situation. After her repeat victory at Mesastila, she finally reclaimed the top spot in the female championship, and another win in Thailand this weekend can boost her total by another 50 points. It’s her sixth points race - only the best five results count - and 500 points for winning Chiang Rai is better than the 450 she scored by winning the 50K in Brunei’s Beach Bunch Trail Challenge last February. Besides, Tahira can stay undefeated on the ATM tour in already 11 races… 

Both start as clear favourites for the win, yet in Ultra Trail anything can happen, especially as the weather in Chiang Rai is forecast to be hot and humid. Other strong runners ranked high in the ATM championship are Yohanis Hiareij and Yim Heng Fatt, while we look forward to getting to know many local Thai runners! In the women’s, there is a chance of an all-Malaysian and all-Malatra podium as the Lintanga sisters Adelinah and Jassica are joining Tahira to Chiang Rai. Joanna Kruk, Tan Hongpin, Lily Suryani, Cheryl Bihag and local Montha Sunthornwit are podium challengers on a good day as well. 

UT Nan takes place in the Northeast of Thailand and is the home area of one of Asia Trail Master’s most celebrated runners. Grandmaster Jan Nilsen hails from Norway but has been living in this part of Thailand for a while and is of course taking part in the 100K this weekend. Nilsen is still struggling with his foot injury and is no guaranteed winner, though. Thailand’s own runners Phairat Varesin and Sanya Khanchai are just two who know how to win ultra trail races as well. In the women’s race here, Phitchanan Mahachot is another local runner to watch out for as she makes her debut in the Asia Trail Master series. 

We will be reporting live from both events this weekend. Stay tuned to our facebook, twitter and instagram channels as usual. 

Pharait Varesin is among the top favourites in UT Nan this weekend

Grandmaster Jan Nilsen will be running in home region in UT Nan

Steven Ong ready to reclaim the number 1 spot in the ATM Championship

Adelinah Lintanga is a podium candidate in Chiang Rai, and can re-enter the top 5 in the women's ATM Championship

Definitely one of the most underestimated races on our Asia Trail Master calendar is Penang Eco 100. Runners look at the profile and elevation gain of the 100 miles and 100K and expect one of their easier ultras of the season. To their surprise, finishing Penang Eco 100, however, is a real challenge. Course-wise, the venom is in the tail and the unrelenting heat and humidity will teach you a thing or two about proper hydration during races. Penang Eco 100 is a well-deserved Malaysia SuperTrail race also in 2018.

The event stays on the same weekend in the middle of May, which means 13/14 May 2018. The two core distances for ATM points remain, 100 miles and 100K, and less ambitious runners can also opt for 50K or 35K. Please note that at this event, there are NO ATM championship points for the two just mentioned shortest distances.

Bukit Mertajam is still the host town, which provides comfortable accommodation nearby, but you can also just stay in Georgetown and Penang, and take advantage of shuttle bus options. 

For detail, please check our cover page or the official event website, where you can also sign up already.  

http://endurancenature.com.my/index.php/penangeco1002018/

XX/10 - Penang Eco (MAS)

Eastern Russia, and in particular the Vladivostok-Primorye region, is gradually becoming a hub for outdoor sports in this part of the year. Autumn turns the landscape in this part of the world to its most beautiful, with many different colours everywhere. For the second time, Asia Trail Master is happy to promote a modest but great trail race here in its championship series. The Mount Falaza Ultra Trail is a 50K run through forests and a rocky mountain, Falaza, with an elevation that will get the respect of the more technical trail runners in the field of participants. This weekend's main race, which starts and finishes at the Gribanovka Ski Resort, measures 60 km and an elevation gain of 1830 hm. Shorter distances are also available for the less ambitious. 

Race director Alexey Chacklov is himself an excellent multisport athlete, who is known for his exploits in adventure racing in China, as well as on the MTB. Mount Falaza Ultra Trail is one of his event babies, and him and his team are looking forward to welcoming ever more international runners to his event. This year's race favourites are expected to be locals with Vladimir Popov arguably as the man to beat. Nadezhda Hosanenko is another one to watch out for. 

The Indonesia SuperTrail, Mesastila Peaks Challenge, as expected shook up the ranking for the Asia Trail Master Championship. Both male and female standings saw a new leader at the end of the tough volcano race. They are familiar faces as well: Arief Wismoyono was the 2015 Asia Trail Master Champion, and Tahira Najmunisaa is of course the defending 2016 women's champion. Both athletes are not done yet for the season, and certainly look strong contenders for this year's title. 

The full ranking can be consulted via Race Timing Solutions in Hong Kong: http://m.racetimingsolutions.com/rankings/2017

MALE ATM RANKING
As of 10 October (provisional)

1.  Arief Wismoyono (INA) 2400 (5) 
2.  Isaac Wan Ho Yuen   (HKG)  2210 (5). 
3.  Soonseng Ong (MAS)  2125(4) 
4.  Yim Heng Fatt (MAS) 2040 (5+)
5.   Pablo  Diago Gonzalez (ESP) 1935 (5)   
6    Cao Ngoc Ha (VIE)   1900    (4)
7    Hendra    Siswanto (INA)    1870    (5)
8    Manolito Lupig  Divina (INA) 1500   (3)
9    Gaspard    Dessy  (BEL)   1300    (3)
10   Aleksis    Capili  (THA)  1205  (3)
11    Yohanis    Hiariej  (INA)  1180    
12   Norman    Koh (SIN)   1090    
13  Aris Sopiandi    Muklis  (INA)  1020    
14  Sefli    Ahar (BRU)   1000    
15  Tran    Duy Quang  (VIE)  950  
16    Jun    Kaise  (JPN)  925    
17    Affindi Bin Nudin (MAS)   915    
18    Wilnar    Iglesia   (PHI) 890    
19    Arnold    Lozano  (PHI)  875    
19     Rexel    Aguirre  (PHI)  875    
21     Kris    Van De Velde (BEL)   867    
22     Ari    Masrudi (INA)   820    
22     Duc Quang    Nguyen  (VIE)  820    
24     Joseph    Sibal   (PHI) 797    
25     Jan    Nilsen (NOR)   795

ATM Women:
 
1       Tahira    Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid  (MAS)  2600    
2       Kim    Matthews   (AUS)  2585    
3       Ruth    Theresia  (INA)  2575    
4       Shindy    Patricia  (INA)  2250  
5.      Lily Suryani (INA) 2225  
6       Cheryl    Bihag  (PHI)  1820    
7       Adelinah    Lintanga (MAS)    1800    
8       Mila    Marlina   (INA) 1500    
9       Siawhua    Lim (MAS)   1325    
10       Le Phuong    Vy   (VIE) 1145    
11       Ina    Budiyarni  (INA)  1125    
12       Kwan Yee Jocelyn    Cheung  (HKG)  1030    
13       Sandi Menchi    Catlona Abahan    1000    
13       Yelena    Mitrofanova  (RUS) 50K1000    
15       Christine    Loh Woon Chze   (MAS) 995    
16       Jassica    Lintangga  (MAS)  900    
17       Thi Duong    Nguyen (PHI)   925    
18       Manilyn Napone    Mamugay   (PHI) 900  
19       Bo Young    Jan  (KOR)  100    
20       Eni    Rosita (INA)    790    
20       Patricia Ann    Morota  (PHI)     
22       Irah    Hernandez (PHI)   770    
23       Thi Tieu Phuong    Nguyen (VIE)  740    
24       Islami Fitri    Zahra (INA)   730    
25       Moana    O'Sullivan (NZL)    725

David Giannelli doing a Bolt - a fantastic winner of this year's Mesastila 5 Peaks

Italy's David Gianelli was the surprise winner of last weekend's Mesastila 5 Peaks Challenge in the beautiful Mesastila Resort & Spa in Central Java, Indonesia. Giannelli, who hails from northwestern Lombardy but recently moved to Australia, was part of a leading trio consisting also of Jason Robinson and local hero Arief Wismoyono, which decided the pace of the race from the get-go. Other favourites such as Fandhi Achmad, Wilnar Iglesia and Isaac Yuen Wan Ho missed the early breakaway and never got into contention for the victory. Achmad struggled with his poles, and Yuen Wan Ho with a knee injury sustained halfway in a fall. On th way up to Merbabu Giannelli managed to go solo with Wismoyono and Robinson still close behind him. After a short dip in pace during the Merapi descent, Gianelli steadily increased his advantage again on the second Merbabu climb and the remaining Telemoyo ascent to win in 18:12! Indonesia's own Arief Wismoyono arrived a superb second in 20:05. The 2015 ATM Champion, who won this race two years ago, managed to drop Jason Robinson in a descent. He is back at his best level and regains the top spot in the ATM Championship ranking with 2400 points in five races. Robinson struggled with stomach cramps in the final stages to complete the course in 21:33:43. In fourth was Fandhi Achmad in 22:31:49. Muhammad Fauzi had a strong second half and came home fifth (23:09:22). The same applies for Aris Sopiandi Muklis, who was number six in 23:53:34, overtaking Philippines ' Wilnar Iglesia in the last section (24: 54:09). Malaysia 's Yim Heng Fatt edged out Isaac Yuen Wan Ho for 9th place. The Hong Kong runner got an injured knee that prevented him from running in the last 30k. Isaac moves up to third place in the ATM Championship, still behind Steven Ong, but ahead of Yim Heng Fatt.  

Arief Wismoyono took the bull by the horns and with success: 2nd and new leader in the ATM Championship!

As last season, Malaysia's Tahira Najmunisaa won the women's race in 25:01:15. She dominated from start to finish, but got sick and suffered from fever in the final hours. Tahira is back on top of the ATM Championship ranking and remains undefeated in 10 ATM points races! Ruth Theresia and Shindy Patricia completed the podium, but well behind the Malaysian. Theresia deserves great credit as she actually tried to keep up with her ATM championship rival, but had to let go and as she was 'rebooting' , Shindy Patricia caught up and the Compressport duo stayed together for the rest of the race. Jocelyn Cheung from Hong Kong is a fantastic fourth place today. Lily Suryani came in fifth. One place behind Suryani, who finished her seventh race of the season! - was the astonishing Eni Rosita. One year after being victim of a crazy acid attack, Eni returned to Mesastila to finish the race she could not finish last year.  Respect. 

Tahira: still undefeated in the ATM series and again on top of the ranking!

Shindy and Ruth came home together for second, but well behind Tahira

On the 65k, Pablo Diago Gonzales eventually had the better of young Malaysia talent Mohammad Affindi in 11:16. After a tight battle between the two runners, the Spaniard went solo on the last climb of the race and still scored a gap of 31 minutes. It is Pablo's third ATM race victory of the season and he does a great job for the ATM Championship ranking! Indonesia 's Yurika Chen - also in just his third trail race ever - completes the men's podium in third place. Vincent Chalias is a great fourth place today. Dzaki Wardana did not make it to the finish, missing out in a lot of ATM Championship points. 

Kim Matthews was the fastest 65k woman in just over 14 hours. Two weeks after winning the Vietnam Mountain Marathon, Matthews is the closest competitor to new championship leader Tahira Najmunisaa! It's very close between the top 3 women now: 1. Tahira 2600 (5), 2. Kim Matthews 2585 (5), 3. Ruth 2575 (5)

Pablo Diago Gonzales watches the finish of Malaysia's Mohamad Affindi after both competed hard for the victory on the 65K 4 Peaks race. 

A new face in the Indonesian ultra trail scene: Yurika Chen

We have just received the information from the local organisers of the Vietnam Jungle Marathon that the event has been moved forward from end of May to 14/15 April 2018. Registrations have also been opened this week, so you can start planning this beautiful 70K race in northern Vietnam. The event venue remains the Po Luong Nature Reserve, roughly 140 km southwest of Hanoi. The course is expected to remain largely the same as in 2017, with 3100 hm. This year, victory went to local hero Cao Ngoc Ha, ahead of Quang Tran. 

You can find more details of the race via our cover page, from where you can also link to the official event website and sign up. 

15/10 - Vietnam Jungle Marathon (VIE)

The registration for the penultimate SuperTrail of the 2017 Asia Trail Master Championship is ending soon. Everyone who wishes to do the Clark-Miyamit Falls Ultra 50 miles in Clark, Philippines, on 26 November should submit his details online by 15 October.  

The event is a classic on the Philipines' race calendar and over the years has seen only the best of winners. Last year it was the scene of a great battle between Manolito Divina and Jan Nilsen for the men's Asia Trail Master Championship. This year promises no less. 

Registration is possible via this website link. 

More info on CM 50 Ultra via:

The Indonesia SuperTrail in the 2017 Asia Trail Master Championship series brings a fantastic cast to the Mesastila resort in Magelang, Central Java, this weekend. Not only the top of the Indonesian trail scene signs present, but also plenty of regional trail stars keen on battling it out for the championship, and the prestigious honour of winning or scoring a podium in this by all means very tough race. Not just the main 100K, in fact, but also the 65K B-race will be hotly contested by well-known runners. 

Let's commence, of course, with the 100K that starts in the early hours of Saturday morning. Last year's champion and King of Indonesia (for winning Rinjani 100, MesaStila 5 Peaks and BTS Ultra 100 miles) Jan Nilsen will be back to defend his title after a season plagued by injury. Nilsen looked competitive at the end of July in the Mantra Summits Challenge, wherein he was overtaken by Fandhi Achmad only in the last flat section to the finish. But just how well his foot has healed remains a question, and the same Fandhi Achmad could again be his main foe this weekend.... only over double the distance as at Mantra. The Jakartian runner is making a move now on the Asia Trail Master Championship tour after winning two Candidate Races in six weeks. Three weeks ago, Fandhi Achmad also claimed the technical Bandung Ultra 100 win and races like Mesastila and BTS Ultra are definitely his cup of tea. While he is unlikely to still feature for the overall ATM Championship title this season, Fandhi Achmand can take points away from the others, such as his compatriot Arief Wismoyono. The 2015 Asia Trail Master champion - and winner of Mesastila Peaks Challenge that year - is currently in third place in the ATM standings and will be competing with Hong Kong's Isaac Yuen Wan Ho for the points lead in the absence of Steven Soonseng Ong. The Malaysian returns to action in Thailand soon at UT Chiang Rai, and may see both Wismoyono and Yuen Wan Ho overtake him as they finish their fifth points race of the year.  It will be interesting to see how they fare this weekend. Can Wismoyono at last grab another big win against top opposition, and can Yuen Wan Ho finally get rid of his label as "the nearly man". The sympathetic Hong Konger has a subscription on podium places in the ATM tour but so far he has only scored one victory: HK 168 last season. Fr sure, Yuen Wan Ho will recognise another runner at the start line this weekend, because he finished second behind him in the Magnificent Merapoh Trail race last year. Jason Robinson is another top international runner to watch out for. While Mesastila has about six times the elevation gain of Merapoh, Robinson is no rookie in trail running and might as well benefit from the fact he is relatively unknown on the ATM circuit. The same applies for a Filipino runner, who is coming over from Manila to show something: WIlnar Iglesia. According to insiders, Iglesia is no underdog to Manolito Divina when it gets rough and tough. Moreover, at Penang Eco 100K this year, he proved he can run a fast pace, too. Iglesia finished second behind Ong last May. Iglesia and Robinson are the main dark horses for the race win this weekend. Other contenders for the podium in this kind of mountain ultra are as always Yim Heng Fatt, still second in the ATM Championship with already five race results in his pocket this season, in-form Hendra Siswanto, Muhammad Fauzi - third last year - , Pramonosidi Wijanarko, Alan Maulana, Aris Sopiando Muklis and Abdul Aziz. 

A year ago Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid crowned herself as the Asia Trail Master champion here at Mesastila with a superb win in extreme conditions. This weekend that will certainly not yet happen, although the Malaysian can haul herself back to the top spot of the ranking in her fifth points race of the season. Interestingly enough, her main rivals to date are ALL present at Mesastila as well. Championship leader Lily Suryani will take part in her seventh points race of the season and will be looking to improve on her 4th place of Tahura Trail and Merapoh Trail. Second-placed Ruth Theresia started her remarkable performance progress at this event last year, and by all means she should be able to stay closer to Tahira on this occasion. Could an upset be in the making? In an ultra everything is possible. Ruth looked tremendous in February, but in races over summer some fatigue seemed to have slipped in. The Bandung Explorer has taken it easier since last month, and she may benefit from that now. Another important female runner to watch is Australia's Kim Matthews. The winner of the Vietnam Mountain Marathon two weeks ago will be doing the 65K this weekend to preserve energy for the final big races this year. If she wins that, it could prove to be a smart move because also in the female 100K there is a 'guest runner' who in the very least can challenge for the podium. Sydney-based Indonesian Valin Helam may be a few years older than her contenders, but she has the wherewithal to deliver a lesson to the youngsters on a good day. The same applies, albeit to a slightly lesser extent perhaps, to Shindy Patricia. The Malang runner is always a podium candidate and can do a good job for her own ATM ranking this weekend. 

Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid

Ruth Theresia

The 65K for men carries a lot of weight as well. The three top favourites are all serious ATM protagonists as well: Pablo Diago Gonzales is a double 70K race winner this year, and Yogyakarta's Dzaki Wardana won the 100K Ijen Trail last May. Moreover, Wardana was second behind Jan Nilsen on the 100K at Mesastila last season. Both of them will need to watch out for up-and-comer Mohammad Affindi from Malaysia, a teammate of Tahira at Malatra. Affindi delivered quite a statement last August to compete with Sefli Ahar at the Merapoh 100 in only his first 100K trail ultra! Again, Merapoh and Mesastila are two different animals, but Affindi himself claims he is even stronger at higher elevation trails! 

As usual you can follow the action live on facebook and instagram this weekend. 

It is always exciting to announce the opening of registration for the first event of the new season. Tahura Trail will once again launch the Asia Trail Master Championship in 2018 on 20 January. Close to two thousand runnes will be expected in the Forest Park in Bandung, Indonesia, of whom the majority will engage in the 42k trail marathon - the points race for the ATM Championship. As of this week, you can commit yourself to the first challenge of 2018 since the organisers of Indonesia Biking Adventure have opened the books. 

The 42k race has a good mixture of everything trail running is about. Nevertheless participants need to take potential rain showers and muddy trails into account when they venture to West Java at that time of year. A drop of rain won't stop the party at Tahura, though, and it is one of the relatively few events that makes for a splendid weekend outing for the whole family. The outskirts of Bandung are picturesque enough and the area is full of spas and other types of comfortable accommodation facilities. 

For more details of the race, visit our cover page or go straight to the event website, where you can also register. 

Female podium of this year's 42K race with ATM Champion Tahira on the top step

After Hakuba International Trails in Nagano three weeks ago, the Shinjo-Hiruzen Super Trail in Okayama was the second 2018 Japanese Asia Trail Master Candidate Race in less than a month. A very exciting development, and we are looking forward to opening more doors to Japanese events, because after all, if there is one Asian country that can be associated with running it is the Land of the Rising Sun. 

The Shinjo-Hiruzen is essentially a 74 km race across the Shiruzen Highlands. Total elevation gain is 3200 Hm, which is not nothing yet seemingly unspectacular neither. As usual, numbers never tell the whole story, as several climbs on the course of Shinjo-Hiruzen are so steep ropes are a must, and one cannot imagine what it would be like if it were wet and muddy on race day. The 350 participants on the long course (about 300 took part in a short race as well) certainly felt their legs and feet afterwards. 

The first part of the course is arguably the most scenic, with beautiful horizon views along the hilly trail. Last Sunday, runners even discovered themselves to be above the clouds. The highest peak was 1200m+ above sea level, after all. The second part, especially beyond km 45 is pure forest trail that goes continuously up an down. 

The event was very well-organised and also benefited from the strong local community support, which was illustrated by the nice pre-race welcoming dinner party on Saturday late afternoon. The Shinjo-Hiruzen area proclaims itself to be the most beautiful village are of Japan, and in fact it is indeed a very popular tourist area, particularly in autumn when the forest turns magnificent orange and yellow. For the culinary enthusiasts among the trail runners, Okayama Prefecture is not far away from Kobe, and the beef tastes just as exquisite!  

The 2018 Cordillera Mountain Ultra in Dalupirip is scheduled for the weekend of 3/4 March. The traditional 50K course features the ascent and descent of Mt Ugo and has been described as one of the most beautiful courses on the ATM tour.  

Registration opens on 1 November 2017.