Echigo Country Trail in Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan unfortunately has to throw in the towel for this season. The event was scheduled for the weekend of 20/21 June as usual, but in the light of the corona situation it cannot be held on government orders, as announced officially today by the event organisation.

This is no postponement, but a cancellation. The event will return on the programme in 2021. 

Echigo is one of the more colourful events on the calendar, which also in Japan itself has grown in popularity over the years. The area of Oguni and Nagaoka is pre-alpine and may be devoid of high peaks, but the green countryside is hilly enough for a challenging run. What makes Echigo especially nice, though, is the heart-warming support of all the villages and its inhabitants along the course. These are mainly elderly people, however, and as we all know they make up the most vulnerable population group in times of corona today.

In terms of the Asia Trail Master Championship, this is the third event cancellation so far. We fear there may be more to come. How this will affect this year's Championship and Grandmaster Quest remains hard to say at this moment, as we wait and see how the situation in various countries evolves in the next weeks and months.

We’ll have to wait one more year before we can witness a new start of this colourful race in Niigata

After Monkeys Trail on Koh Samui got postponed a week ago, now we have also received the news that the Moon 100 on Koh Phangan cannot be held on the weekend of 20/21 June. In line with official Thai government regulations responding to the outbreak of Covid 19, Teelakow says the event will now be held at a date to be defined in Q4, ie. October-December.

Given that Teelakow is already very busy in the second semester with Ultra Trail Chiang Rai and its other trail and road events, it seems unlikely at this time that both Moon 100 and Monkeys Trail can be successfully re-integrated into this year’s race calendar. Stay tuned to our website and social media pages to hear more on this as soon as news becomes available.

Last year, the gruellingly hot and tough Moon 100 was won by Chiang Mai’s Job Tanapong and Hong Kong-based Filipino Fredelyn Alberto. Both runners scored their maiden ATM race victories on that weekend.

Regarding the Asia Trail Master Championship series, the weekend of 20/21 June still features two other events on our calendar: Dalat Ultra Trail in Vietnam and Echigo Country Trail in Japan. The organising team in Dalat remains optimistic for its major event to go ahead as planned, given that the crisis has been kept under control in Vietnam. Of course, it is too early to tell which extra conditions may need to be met. On the other hand, the team of Echigo is increasingly pessimistic given that the situation has been getting worse in Japan over the last few weeks. An official announcement is expected early next week.

We hope all runners and fans stay out of trouble in these very difficult times. Some of you are under a total lockdown at home. In order to keep your fitness level up, you could consider our new 12-week base & strength programme by The Locker Room. You can read our announcement on that here.

Last year Job Tanapong and Fredelyn Alberto grabbed their first ever ATM points race wins at Moon 100

In these difficult weeks of lockdowns, curfews, postponed and cancelled races, it is understandable many people lose motivation to stay in shape. We are therefore happy to announce our new partnership with the reputed online training portal TBM The Locker Room. Established in Sydney and linked with the successful Physiotherapy clinic, The Body Mechanic, The Locker Room provides specific trail training plans designed to help trail runners achieve their personal best and avoid injury. The portal is created by leading physiotherapist and elite endurance runner, Mark Green (no relation to T8’s co-founder with the same name). Green’s Ultra Base and Race Training Plans have been designed after years of helping runners achieve their personal best. He has helped over 15,000 athletes improve their running and achieve their race goals. His holistic approach to training, including strength, mobility, nutrition and running technique will have you moving better almost immediately.

With the first ATM points races still at least more than two months away from today, The Locker Room has built a Base and Strength training 12-week plan that they have already used very successfully in the lead up to the Ultra Trail Australia last year. To help you train smart all the way to race day, the Locker Room recommends you follow a 12 week base training block prior to starting a race training block. This will help you build the strength required to ramp up the pace and volume.

As the website reads, “Base training is the first phase of a training cycle. It helps you to develop the endurance and strength you need to prepare your body for the more challenging, race-specific workouts that come closer to race day. If you always train hard, it is likely, you will over train, burnout or injure yourself.”

The 12-week Base & Strength plan designed for trail runners in the Asia Trail Master Championship series will assist you to:

• Improve your endurance – or aerobic capacity in a safe way

• Train consistently, without breaking your body or over training. (Consistent training = improved performance)

• Improve muscular strength to prevent injuries and smooth the transition to challenging workouts included in your race specific training phase

A weekly plan with increased weekly mileage as you build to your ultra race plan to ensure you stay on track. There are training options for beginner, intermediate and advanced runners, and you will also receive Information on trail running technique, how to incorporate "B" races into your training, how to use running poles plus more!

Sign up now for the plan offered to you at a very democratic price of AUD 59 (approx USD 37) only!

In a nutshell, this is what the TBM Locker Room provides you with:

• 12 Week Base Training For Asia Trail Master Events

• Build Strength and Endurance Before A Race Training Block

• Easy to Follow Videos to Improve Your Trail Technique

• Online Members Running Community To Keep You On Track

• Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Training Program

• Designed by Physio and Elite Trail Runner, Mark Green

Examples of The Locker Room 10-minute strength workouts:

• Essential core work out for runners

• 10 Min Kettlebell Workout For Runners

• 10-Minute Medicine Ball Workout For Runners

For all details and registration to the Base & Strength Plan, please enter the Locker Room via clicking on the button below:

TBM Locker Room from TBM Locker Room on Vimeo.

Like all of you, we are very much looking forward to the day when we can announce “the heat is back on!”, but sadly today we must announce another event cancellation. The Puncak Tanawan Mountain Ultra on Negros Oriental in the southern Philippines has been officially cancelled out of health safety precautions. The event was scheduled for the first week of June, but event director Rhodel Sarande and his team of Happy Feet are unable to guarantee a smooth organisation given the current ECQ (enhanced community quarantaine) and the uncertainty when this will be lifted. Even if this were to be lifted soon, local mountain communities are fragile and have expressed reasonable concerns, reflecting those in the Cordillera mountains up north. Happy Feet has therefore already decided to cancel this year’s third edition and look ahead to 2021 straightaway.

Puncak Tanawan Mountain Ultra was a newcomer in this year’s Asia Trail Master Championship following the unfortunate demise of the Mount Talinis Mountain Ultra at the end of last year.

It means the first points races on the ATM calendar have now become Dalat Ultra Trail, Moon 100 and Echigo Country Trail on 19-20-21 June.

It is probably no surprise that organisers teelakow yesterday had to inform us that their event The Monkeys Trail cannot be held next month yet. Established on the holiday island of Koh Samui in Thailand, the event was supposed to take place on 16/17 May but has now been postponed to a date-to-be-decided in Q4. As nearly every country, the Thai government has also imposed strict measures for its citizens and for anyone trying to get in the country.

The relaunch of the 2020 Asia Trail Master season is therefore now set back to early June and the Puncak Tanawan event on Negros Oriental in the Philippines. Let us hope that - indeed - the corona situation will be solved to the extent that mass events and travel can resume as normal.

The 9 Dragons in Hong Kong has not only been a popular SuperTrail in the Asia Trail Master Championship since a couple of years, its 50/50 format has also become a trendsetter in Asia. Running 50 miles on Saturday, and backing that up with 50 km on Sunday is a serious challenge of anyone’s endurance ability - and not all people - even elites - can cope with that horrible period of rest between the two stages!

RaceBase Asia has created something that captures the imagination of the trail runner who likes to test his limits, and it is no wonder the event brand is now venturing beyond Hong Kong’s boundaries. Malaysia has the honour of being first to host its own 9 Dragons. Scheduled to take place on the exquisite holiday island of Langkawi to the north of Penang in the state of Kedah, the 9 Dragons Malaysia is a new collaboration between MMTF Consultant - organisers of TNF 100 in Taiping - and founders Race Base Asia. The inaugural edition is currently set for the weekend of 2-4 October and will be a 2021 Asia Trail Master Candidate Race.

The event has a wide range of race category options, but the main event of course is the 50/50, which starts at 23:00 on Friday night, 2 October. Elevation gain for the 50 miles is estimated at 3200 hm. Sunday’s 50km will offer about 2000 hm. Less ambitious runners can also go for 25K and 10K options. In fact, you can even do the short combo of 25K on Saturday and 10K on Sunday as well. The race will give every runner a chance of a lifetime to experience running through paddy fields and covering most of the peaks in Langkawi.

The event centre will be the Resort World Langkawi.

Registration is opening on 15 April. More details - also regarding mandatory gear - can be obtained via the official website.

Former Asia Trail Master Champion Steven Ong acts as the race director of the 9D Langkawi race

Famous seaviews from the Langkawi hilltops

Runners aiming to launch their own Grandmaster Quest soon are kindly requested to read the following new regulation.

Please let us know when you wish to begin your Grandmaster Quest and at which event, so ATM can more easily follow your progress and also put you in the spotlights (if desired). This simple registration is also mandatory as of 1 April 2020 to allow for more transparency in general, also towards other runners. The count starts when you complete your first race and thus score your first GM point. If you DNF in your first race, you will need to register again next time you wish to begin your Quest.

To register (of course free of charge), please fill in the simple Google form by clicking on the button below. If you live in a place with limited access to Google, please email to info@asiatrailmaster.com

The inaugural trail running event in Laos is already entering it’s third edition this season on 21/22 November. The V Trail in Vang Vieng, in the south of the country, has quickly established a reputation for being one of the most technical and adventurous trail races on our Asia Trail Master Championship calendar. The 85 km long main points race has about 5100 metres of elevation gain through often thick mountain jungle. The 2020 recipe remains unchanged after an initial plan by organisers Green Step/Teelakow to boost the distance to 100k was shelved for another year. Sharp observers will of course have noticed that the event is now scheduled two weeks later than usual.

Vang Vieng is a small town north of Vientiane, sitting alone the banks of the Nam Song River. It's surrounded by striking limestone mountains and caves. Previously known for its controversial backpacker party culture, the local government a few years ago decided to improve the reputation of the town and has gambled all-in on developing ecologically-friendly adventure travel. The V Trail event is part of that plan.

The online registration for the event is open now. Asia Trail Master point-seekers need to focus on the 85 km race. Less ambitious runners can also opt for one of the shorter distances.

V Trail 2020 teaser video

Our apparel partner Uglow has just released its exciting new Capsule collection, available now on its own online store and in shops such as Gone Running. 100% stichfree garments as usual with unprecedented comfort for the runner, both professional and leisure. The new Capsule collection retains the high quality fabrics Uglow is known for and sees the brand experimenting with new designs creating an amazing harmony of various colours and textures. Founder Romain Jean de Dieu was assisted in the new design process by his sister Elsa, herself a highly successful trail runner and artist in Hong Kong.

Uglow remains highly committed to runners in the Asia Trail Master Championship series and the Grandmaster Quest also in 2020. It’s been a rocky start of the season for anyone involved in the event and apparel business, but the new Capsule collection by Uglow is a welcome highlight that makes us all look forward to the season re-launch even more!

Check and purchase Uglow’s Capsule collection easily online

The Grandmaster Quest has been increasing in popularity as every trail runner’s individual challenge of choice. Every time a runner, regardless of ranking or performance, finishes an ATM-promoted race of 70 kilometres or more, he scores a point. If you manage to collect six of those points within two years, you become an official Asia Trail Grandmaster. Now in its fourth year since the inauguration in 2016, three runners have almost reached the fourth and highest level of the Grandmaster Quest: four stars or 20 races!

Indonesia’s Ruth Theresia was the first runner overall who reached the plateau of 15 Grandmaster points in Nan in her championship-winning year 2018. Last year, the Bandung Explorer ace and Indonesian flag holder was joined by two great Japanese athletes, first Masafumi Yamamoto and then Hisashi Kitamura. While Ruth Theresia and Hisashi Kitamura are well-known as competitive elites gunning for our annual Championship, Masafumi Yamamoto is evidence that the Grandmaster Quest is made for everyone willing to grit his or her teeth together. Having finished more than 15 ultras is an incredible achievement that has spanned two years for them and slightly more than three years for Ruth, but of course she took a sabbatical last year.

Looking ahead, it is highly likely that they will reach the fourth star in the course of 2020, as soon as the corona crisis has been conquered. Ruth is only 3 Grandmaster points away from it, and our two Japanese friends even only two points.

Twelve trail runners are now at level 2. That means these runners continued to race and complete ten relevant races after they had become an Asia Trail Grandmaster (six 70+km races in 2 years). They are Aleksis Capili, Lily Suryani, Isaac Yuen Wan Ho, Milton Amat, Yim Heng Fatt, Jassica Lintanga, Ali Ajis Rasil, Rene Amigleo, Alessandro Sherpa, Tomohiro Mizukoshi, Arief Wismoyono and last but not least Cheryl Bihag.

Our ATM Hall of Fame is being updated these days and is the place where you can discover more about these amazing athletes’ achievements under the banner of the Asia Trail Master Championship series.

Grandmaster Quest

The global corona pandemic is causing serious problems for society as a whole and certainly for the event industry as well. Over the past weeks, several points races for the Asia Trail Master Championship and Grandmaster Quest have been postponed or even cancelled all together. Initially, everyone had hoped that the worst would be over by mid-April, but while this may be the case for China, the rest of the world is increasingly affected now. Following the postponements of Korea 50K and the Mount Apo Sky Race, the first points race on the ATM schedule is now the Monkeys Trail on Koh Samui island in Thailand on 16/17 May - which seems an eternity away. The 2021 Candidate Race on Bohol in the Philippines, Alicia Ultra, has also been postponed for the second time already to an as yet undefined new date.

Assuming the corona virus will, eventually, be conquered in the next weeks, we will be looking at a very dense race calendar in the second half of 2020. This is not new for ATM - it has always been busier from July to December than in the first semester. Of course, a number of the postponed events now also feature in Q3 or Q4 and - unfortunately - a few organisers are bound by local authorities’ demands. As such, we will have weekends with two or even three ATM points races. This will not help their media exposure as everyone knows it is much more intense and absorbing to watch one movie instead of two or three movies at the same time.

Nevertheless, we have decided that all postponed races on our calendar remain points races for the 2020 ATM Championship and Grandmaster Quest no matter what. Event organisers have forwarded registrations to the new event dates and we do not wish to punish any runner who had planned to score his or her points in those races.

In addition, for the Grandmaster Quest, we will be implementing a two-months-freeze of the time requirement to reach the first level, a.k.a. the Grandmaster 1-star level. According to the regulation, runners have a two-year-timeframe in which they need to obtain 6 points to become an Asia Trail Grandmaster. The two-months ‘bonus’ is of course only valid for runners who already today have completed minimum 1 Grandmaster race distance.

There are no changes as regards to the regulations of the 2020 Asia Trail Master Championship, given only one race got cancelled (9 Dragons Ultra) and the Lantau 70 has come in as the Hong Kong SuperTrail on 31 October. Looking at the calendar today, it should still be more than feasible to compete and score results in five races before the end of the season in mid-December.

The updated race calendar in PDF is downloadable here. The basic event details and links to the official event websites are as usual available via our dropdown menu on this website.

In a nutshell: the event changes

• The 9 Dragons Ultra (Hong Kong) : cancelled

• Cordillera Mountain Ultra (Philippines): postponed to 28 June

• Dalat Ultra Trail (Vietnam): postponed to 20 June

• Ultimate Tsaigu (China): postponed to 24 October

• Mount Apo Sky Race (Philippines): postponed to a date to be confirmed

• Korea 50K (South Korea): postponed to 27 June

• Vietnam Jungle Marathon (Vietnam): postponed to 24 October

The 2020 Asia Trail Master Championship Final

Keen observers may have seen for a while that on our event calendar there is a special ‘ATM Final’ event foreseen on Saturday, 19 December 2020. Sadly, the corona situation has also had an unexpected impact here, and we are currently still unable to confirm the race venue and details. We hope to do so by the end of this month.

At present, the final confirmed race on the 2020 ATM Calendar is Japan’s SuperTrail, the Izu Trail Journey, which already hosted the ATM Final twice before in 2017 and 2018. Last season, the Malaysia Mountain Trail Festival took the honour, but that event has been moved forward to 5 December and renamed TNF 100 Malaysia.

The Mount Apo Sky Race in Santa Cruz, Davao sul Sur, is supposed to be celebrating its 5th anniversary this coming 25 April. The corona virus epidemic has, unfortunately, thrown a spanner in the works. The event has been postponed upon governmental order to a new date later this year, which will be announced before the end of March. The Mount Apo Sky Race is an iconic event in the Philippines because Mount Apo is the highest peak of the country at 2954m above sea level. Situated near the coast and Davao, the biggest city on the large southern island of Mindanao, the higher slopes of the mountain als offer amazing vistas of the surrounding region. Mount Apo captures the imagination, not only for local and Filipino trail runners, but also from those across the Asian continent. Climbing the mountain is very tough in its own right, and having to do it as part of a trail race that has developed into a 100K ultra is a challenge for everyone at each single attempt. Moreover, the area is sensitive and not always open for hikers and tourists. Being part of a field of maximum 100 runners on the 100K category is already reason to be happy for many. Time to take a look back at the Mount Apo Sky Race and those runners who have managed to crown themselves as race champions since its inauguration in 2015. Ten days ago we put the spotlight on the women, today in this second episode, we focus on the four men who conquered the Mount Apo Sky Race: Jonathan Pido (2015), Pablo Diago Gonzales (2017), David Gianelli (2018) and Ronie Torlao (2019). But first, we talk to the founder and race director, Mr Doi Calbes.

By Kris Van de Velde

Romualdo Calbes, better known as Doi Calbes, is the founder of Vertical 2 Sky based in Davao and has been organising quite a number of trail running events on Mindanao island in the southern Philippines for quite some years by now. Calbes runs himself, too. He is an ATM Grandmaster since 30 September 2018 and has a particular taste for the really long ultra distances.

ATM: What brought you on the idea to set up the Mt Apo Sky Race in 2015?
Calbes: All I want was to bring the sport of trail running here to Mindanao, to prove that mountain running exists and it is possible to do it.
ATM: Mt Apo is usually closed for tourists. Is that still the case, and how did you get the approval to hold the race back then? Yup! Every Holy Week in the month of April Mt. APO Sta Cruz trail is closed for tourist and hikers, and its only open for the race. Thanks to the LGU Sta Cruz & PAMB DENR for letting us to use the National Park at least a day or two for the event.
ATM: What are the technical difficulties of managing this race?
When it comes to technicalities it is 100% loveliness. But of course, three days without sleep has never been enough to manage this race. I am always thankful for all the support from the Local Government, volunteers, rescue teams, and the local tribes around Mt Apo.
ATM: The 100k race is limited to 100 runners. What is the main reason for that? Do you think this number can be increased in the future?
The main reason to limit the participants is to minimize the impact to our National Park. I think 100 runners is enough, it is also what makes this race prestigious and special. Getting in is tough, let alone winning it.
What is the local response to the short distance categories?
Yes, no sweat for them locals running on a short distance, for them 50k is the new 5k, haha! 100k and other ultramarathon distances are really mainstream now a days. We have had different winners on the long distance every year, both in the male and female category.
Is there any winner who stands out for you as the “most impressive”?
Yup! Torlao .
What do you expect of the race this year? Still awesome and lovely even though we a have an issue around the globe with this virus. We will have a meeting with all local stakeholders in the course of the next two weeks and come up with a new date, hopefully. We welcome everyone and are aiming for a huge success. See you all soon at the starting line!!

2015: Jonathan Pido

“A 100% YES that I saw myself as a potential race winner”

— Jonathan Pido

Jonathan Pido was the winner of the inaugural editon of the Mount Apo Sky Race. “It was promoted as a major event,” says Pido. “I gladly joined as the trail route was really challenging but also had beautiful views. A 100% YES that I saw myself as a potential winner, too! At the start I was only 10th in rank in the first few kilometres of the race, but then as it went on, I was able to slowly get ahead of the others and eventually I was the first one to cross the finish line. I remember as I reached the summit it was very cold, but despite that I was able to witness an amazing, beautiful view that Mt. Apo gives us.”

Pido’s victory had a deeper meaning also for him: “Aside from being able to truly appreciate the nature around me, I became a nature lover as they say, I was also able to prove to myself that I am someone that can achieve the things that I am determined to accomplish. A conqueror of different obstacles that I am confronted with, and finally, I became a Certified Trail Runner that day. “

If given an opportunity, Jonathan Pido would happily run the Mt Apo Sky Race again, five years after his glory day. But Pido is a busy bee and does not restrict himself to trail running in his free time. “ After I won the 2015 Mt. Apo, I participated in several local competitions and was able to place first in for example Mt. Kalatungan Trail Challenge, The Punisher on Babak Samal, and three times the Mapawa Trail Run. I was also able to participate in an international event. Aside from trail running, I also participate in Ultramarathon Road Events and became champion in 50km, 80km, 100km, 260km, 300km, and 400km events. Right now I am focusing mainly on Triathlon, and especially the Iron Man type events.

2017: Pablo Diago Gonzales

“ I definitively place Mt Apo’s 2017 victory as one of my best sporting achievements so far. ”

— Pablo Diago Gonzales

“One of the things I enjoy most about trail running is discovering new places, “ says Pablo Diago Gonzales. The Spaniard works and lives in Singapore and has been a multiple race winner and podium placer across the continent in our Asia Trail Master series. He also ended the 2017 and 2018 ATM Championship seasons as 4th and 5th respectively. So far, 2017 was his Grand Cru, the year when he also won the Mount Apo Sky Race.

“ In 2017 I hadn’t done any races in Philippines yet so when I saw the event on the ATM calendar it caught my attention.  It’s no secret that I enjoy mountain races, especially those involving challenging climbs and Mt Apo certainly qualifies as challenging.  I also liked the fact that it was the highest mountain in the country and we were climbing it all the way from sea level.  Easy logistics were a plus, luckily Mt Apo is easily accessed from Davao and I have direct flights there from Singapore.”

“At the time of the event I was slowly getting back into shape following some rest. At my previous race a few weeks before (Sungai Menyala in Malaysia) I had hit the wall very hard so I wasn’t overly confident about my fitness.  I knew the mountain terrain and cooler weather would favour my strengths so I was hoping to at least have a much better day.  Before the event I thought I could be a contender for the podium if everything went to plan.”

The weather turned nasty on the day with just a few hours till the start at midnight. Pablo recalls: “Before the start there was a big storm, but luckily Rene Amigleo and his family had taken me to shelter were they were staying.  We got to the start with just enough time to get ready before the gun went off.  The first part of the race was relatively runnable and Rexel Aguirre took off like a bullet. I stayed behind with Aleksis Capili and other runners, including a horse that didn’t allow us to overtake him for a few minutes!”

“As we continued climbing, the terrain became more technical and it was challenging to find the way in the dark especially across a couple of rivers that probably had more water than usual.  I didn’t see Rexel on the way up, but when I reached the last stop before summit attack I was told that I was in the lead. Later I found out that he had missed an intersection on the way up.  The boulder face was as challenging as expected, I thought I was making only slow progress, but I didn’t come across anyone until after the boulder section coming back down again, so I realized I had a healthy lead.  On the way back I enjoyed crossing paths with the rest of the field (it’s an out and back course), shaking hands and even stopping for pictures with some participants.  The last few km were tough, it was getting very hot and I was worried someone would come from behind so I was really relieved when I reached the finish line. “

Pablo enjoyed his moment at the summit of Mount Apo: “I took a short breather to take in the view, because the last section of the climb is hard. I got to the top in the early hours of the day and was lucky to have beautiful weather. Mt Apo is not that high but it’s very close to the coast and doesn’t have other similar size mountains around so the views are very special.”

Gonzales is a bit of an all-round athlete and has always been quite successful in competition. “I’ve been racing MTB and running since 1996 so I know how difficult it is to win any event; so the few times I’ve been in that position are very special moments.  Winning a tough ultra is even more satisfying; I definitively place Mt Apo’s 2017 victory as one of my best sporting achievements so far. “

The Spaniard is one of those who enjoys returning to an event he likes. “For example, there is a MTB race in Spain that I have done 13 times, even twice when I had already moved to Singapore! So, a year after winning Apo, I went back to try and win it again, but David Gianelli and Jag Lanante were stronger on the day.  This year I’m finding it difficult to plan with all the event cancellation/deferrals, Mt Apo is one of the options I’m considering at the moment and if I go I’d like to be competitive.”

2018: David Gianelli

“It was a really beautiful day. Winning was just the cherry on the pie”

— David Gianelli

Do you remember David Gianelli? Before Alessandro Sherpa entered the ATM scene, he was the first Italian making headlines in our series with a strong 100K race win in Indonesia prior to attacking the Mount Apo Sky Race in April 2018. As Pablo Diago Gonzales mentions above, two years ago the sympathetic David Gianelli was just too strong for everyone else. With hindsight, it was also his last moment of glory in trail running.

“I had always wanted to visit the Philippines,” David Giannelli says. “My girlfriend is Philipina, and the timing in April 2018 was perfect with me leaving Australia, where I had been working, around then. Going to the top of the highest mountain in Philippines was atttractive, so the choice to run was quite easy to make. But I never expected anything before a race. I never thought about the finish line until I actually crossed it, because you never knew what could happen. I can't deny that I was pretty confident after my race preparation, but I was concerned about the heat. So I went in with an open mind.

2018 was an edition that had its fair share of unforeseen circumstances. In one area of the course, political unrest developed on race day and a few runners, including Gianelli, even came face-to-face with army soldiers. “The race for me started really well. I felt good and the chilly temperature of the night really helped me to keep a good pace. I was just keeping steady behind two local runners. Thank God I had decided to stay with them at first because when we suddenly faced the soldiers, those local runners were able to communicate properly with them so there was no bigger problem and we are allowed to continue. The Apo climb then, there was some passage really steep and technical, but really nice. I don't exactly remember when I took the lead, but it was still before halfway and going up the mountain. Unfortunately, during the climb a race steward - I guess - sent me in the wrong direction so I followed the signs of another multisport competition that was taking place on the same day. I lost 20 minutes or so , so when I came back on the right trail I pushed soo much because I thought I lost some positions. For me the real challenge then started when the sun came out and started burning. I got really exhausted by the heat until I approached the summit where luckily it was slightly windy. That last part of the Apo climb was so hard that I really couldn't enjoy the beautiful view. I did it for only a few seconds and I started to descend.

Once back down the race was halted by race director Doi Calbes at the km 80 mark for security reasons. Nobody complained, and in any case David Gianelli was far ahead in the lead.

“it was a beautiful day with friends, and where I met beautiful people, with really incredible hospitality I couldn't have asked for nothing more. Winning was just a cherry on top of the pie!,” says the Italian, who reshuffled his life not long after adding his name to the Mt Apo record book.

“Today, I am in Koh Tao in Thailand. Since I started my career as a diving instructor I have given up running. After the disappointing adventure in Penang Eco 100 about a month after Apo (where he DNFd after losing the right trail but was never in contention for a podium finish, kvdv), I decided that I don't have the motivation anymore… I don't think I'll ever run a competition anymore. I may restart running but I think I'll not race anymore in a competitive way.. even though I do miss the feeling at times.” .

2019: Ronie Torlao

Pic: Ronie Torlao

“It was my first 100km race!”

— Ronie Torlao

Last year saw the emergence of Ronie Torlao as a new ultra force to be reckoned with in Philippines and beyond. Ronie was the fastest using his experience of the terrain as a mountain guide on Mt Apo.

“It was my dream to run a 100km trail race, not just the Mt. APO Skyrace but also other races outside the Philippines. I did not expect anything when I went to the starting area. All I wanted was to finish. I would already have been happy with that,” says Ronie Torlao. “After flag off, for the first ten kilometres I was with the 10 frontrunners. I still had no intention to lead by myself because it was my first 100km trail race ever. Koi Grey and Julito were with me. After aid station 5 around 40km, that was the time I broke away even though I felt tired and already had quite some body aches. But I was able to build a gap. Reaching the summit of Apo, I was enlightened and felt rejuvinated because there was a clear blue sky and a perfect view.”

It was indeed quite amazing that Ronie Torlao left behind an established top runner as Koi Grey in his first try at a 100k trail race. “For me it was a dream come true and it was really a great achievement to win”
Will Ronie be back to try and win it again this year? “I will try my best and hopefully I can do it again!