One of the early protagonists in our inaugural Asia Trail Master series is China's Yan Longfei. Winner of the Tsaigu Tangsi Plus 58km race in his home country's Linhai (Zhejiang Province) in April, Yan Longfei continued with another solo victory only one week later on the 50 km race distance in Dalian. Before that, he had already beaten the course record on the Vibram Hong Kong 100 in January. As successful Yan Longfei has been in Greater China, outside of Asia fortunes have been more mixed in his first season as an international elite. Modest by nature, Yan Longfei knows his current limits and continues to train and learn to push those limits ever further. A short Q & A with an impressive athlete. 

Translated from Mandarin by Xiaozhao Zhao

1）You run a 2:15 marathon and were part of the China National Team, what made you make the leap to trail running instead?

YLF: I chose to end my career as a professional road marathon runner in 2013 out of my free will. Because I think, as I get older, I am more and more eager to be myself and do not want to live under the regime of a team. My first trail race is the 2013 Hanghzou 100km, but due to little experience in training for trail running, I hurt my Achilles tendon one month before the race and had to quit after about 20km.  However, I fell in love with trail racing from then on.

2）You won't miss the possibility to go to an Olympic Games? 

Of course, I would try again with a full effort provided there is a chance. Running the Olympic Marathon for Team China has been a kind of honor and a boost to my self-esteem when I entered the professional team.

3）What is your main goal to achieve in trail running?

I do not have any specific target and just like to keep running like what I have been doing. I enjoy running and racing, fulfilling my deepest love of the sport.

4）Where do you usually train?

I usually train in Shanghai, where the atmosphere within the running community is very good. But Shanghai is a city and relatively flat. So I have to go to Hangzhou for training on proper trails.

5）What is your favourite type of terrain? High mountain, hilly or flattish?

Hilly terrain and mountain definitely. After trying trail running, I have found road running to be quite boring. Perhaps I ran too much flat courses before, I prefer the alpines now.

6）How do you prepare for a race the day before?

Nothing special. Just prepare the necessities and my favorite food for the race,  and then have a good rest.

7）Do you drink a lot during a 100k race? What do you eat? 

I do not need to drink much. 3 litres is enough, usually. I eat some gels and bananas, plus some nuts.

8）What made you start running and try to become a professional runner? Did you have any idols as a child or teenager? 

I was a naughty boy in my childhood. I started running because I did not like sitting down in the classroom all day. Since I have become a professional runner, I have not really had any idols. I just admire and respect some people and I hope I will be better than them in the future.

9）You have won the Tsaigu Tangsi Plus 58k race and the Dalian 50k race, so you have a high place in the Asia Trail Master ranking. Are you keen to take part in a 3rd race of the Asia Trail Master series to try and become the 2015 champion?

If I have enough time, I will try for sure.

10）What do you think about the Asia Trail Master series? Could this be a goal for the 2016 year? 

The more quality races the better. But together with my sponsors I have to negotiate and select races for my international calendar.

11）What have you learnt from your races outside of China, such as Gran Canaria and Australia?

Running abroad has made me more mature than before. I can feel my own growth in thinking. I have learnt a lot about oversea races and have had more opportunities to communicate with  and study from elite runners all over the world.

12）Your more experienced compatriot Yun Yanqiao finished ahead of you in TNF Australia. Does that bother you? Do you think you can beat him next time?

I think no one is perfect and will be invincible forever. Most important is to remain humble to be able to enjoy the races.

13）You have won Vibram Hong Kong 100 in a new record time (9:52:42), will you defend your title there or rather try to win the 170km Ultra Trail Hong Kong on 19 February?

I will again run the Vibram HK100 in 2016. I fear races longer than 100 km are too long for me at this stage of my career.

14）How long do you need to recover after a 100km race?

I need around two months for full recovery.

15）What should be improved in the organisation of trail running races? 

I think it is vital to understand the needs and demands of trail runners. For example, what do runners need specifically in a given race?

16）There are more and more trail running races in China, some better organised than others. Do you have any tips for organizers in China?

I hope the trail running scene in China can keep on developing and attracting more people to come and enjoy the trails and open nature. I support any endeavor which is good for our sport.

Earlier this month England's Joanna Plumbley was the first woman to cross the finish line of MF 42, short for Myamit Falls Marathon, a race in the Philippines that serves as a warm-up for the upcoming main event of the season: Clark-Myamit Falls 50 miles. That race will be organised already for the fifth time on 22 November, and is of course a points-scoring race in the Asia Trail Master series. But MF 42 is no walk in the park neither: Plumbley required 6h15' to cover the distance, 17 minutes quicker than second place Maricar Hiponia. 

With her victory in the bag, and CM 50 coming up, Joanna Plumbley is an excellent guest for our new 'Talking Trail Running'  interview series.Talking Trail Running will be published on our Asia Trail Master website on a regular basis, each episode with a different runner in the spotlight. A few weeks ago, we already focused on China's Yang Longfei. Join our RSS feed below to get notified when there's new material being published, and if you have any suggestions post them toinfo@asiatrailmaster.com or on our facebook discussion page. 

Q: First, about yourself, what brings you to the Philippines?

oanna Plumbley: I am out here with work. I work for Thales Australia and we are putting in a new Air Traffic Management system across 42 sites in the Philippines. It’s a big project so it keeps me pretty busy

Q: When and why did you decide to take part in  a trail running competition?

have been a runner for a long time – both on and off road- but here in the Philippines the trail running has just been the best way to see some of themore remote and beautiful locations that the Philippines has

Q: Where do you come from in England, and was running part of your upbringing as a child and teenager?

Running was not really part of my upbringing at all. I got into running when I joined the army reserves in my early twenties – I started from nothing but quickly became addicted

Q: How is life in Manila as an English woman? 

ot! But super friendly and some really beautiful locations – I hate the manila smog and traffic but when you get out of the city there is so much to explore – I love it

Q: What sort of training do you do to become a race winning trail runner?

I run as much as I can – less now I live in the city but I still try

Q: Have you ever run a road marathon (42.195km) and what was your time?

I have run many- my best time was in Belfast (Ireland) where I ran 3 hours 26 minutes.

Q: Do you have a specific objective in trail running, or you just wish to run for fun?

Mainly for fun – but I always love a new challenge– and there are still so many places in the world that I can explore. I love the feeling of accomplishing something I wasn’t sure I could finish- that is always the drive. Placing or winning is just a bonus if it ever happens – never the goal!

Q: Do you have any sports heroes? If yes, who and what is so special about him / her?

Many- from the world of triathlon Chrissie Wellington, and basically all the long distance cyclists (particularly the English ones – Bradley Wiggins/Chris Froome etc) The Tour de France is one of theultimate endurance races and I admire all of the participants

Q: What is your view on trail running in the Philippines and do you see differences with similar events in the UK?

It can be very different out here. You really never deal with really hot conditions in the UK so that is one major difference. We do have to deal with the cold though – ice and snow haven’t been a problem out here! In general the trails are muchtougher out here – steeper and less established.. I think in the UK the endurance running scene is more limited to a hardcore set of dedicated runers. I love the way that in the Philipines many ‘slower’ and less experienced runners also take on these tough courses and manage to complete them

Q: Dealing with the heat is a key aspect for elite trail running. How do you cope with it? Do you drink a lot during races? 

As an English runner I am NOT used to heat but I have adapted really well – it’s a strength for me out here. I don’t need to drink too muchso I haven’t had many problems. I love not shivering on the start line or freezing in mists and blizzards.

Q: Have you ever taken part in a race in another country, and did you feel any difference compared to racing in the Philippines?

I have raced in several countries, including the Himalayan 100 in India. Every race is different but again the main difference in the Philippines is the mass participation – even with the ridiculously early start times you have here!

Q: Are you aware of ITRA? Would you argue it a good thing that the IAAF, via ITRA, is trying to streamline the sport of trail running via new regulations and guidelines-to-follow? 

I am not really aware – but certainly interested

Q: Many trail running races in Asia have large to enormous levels of elevation gain. Is that your cup of tea, or would you rather see races that have more 'runnable'  courses?

I have found the severity ofthe runs out here a bit frustrating. A ‘challenge’ is great- but it's nice to get to really run as well. (The MF42 was excellent in that respect)

Q: What do you think about the Asia Trail Master series? Could this be a goal for your 2016 campaign? 

Certainly- I have only just started learning about it but the races look amazing. Time to start saving for some racecations!

The upcoming weekend is an important one for trail runners in the Philippines. The 5th edition of the popular Clark-Myamit Falls, also known as CM 50, takes place on Sunday and it is the penultimate race of this year's Asia Trail Master series. Last month, a preparatory race was organised by the same event management team around race director Jon Lacanlale. We already spoke with the best woman of that MF 42 race, Joanna Plumbley. Now we let the men's winner do the talking. A fascinating story, here is Mark Bryan Grey, a.k.a. Koi Grey. 

By Kris Van de Velde

Q: What does " Koi " stand for? Isn't Mark your real first name?

KG: Mark Bryan Grey is my real name but when I was younger, my friends used to call me MacKoy.  It was during those early times when I was still immature and when cigarettes and alcohol were part of my very existence.  I even smoked and drank while hiking.  But people evolve and experience has taught me a lot.  And so I started to fix those loose ends in my life, and eventually, my friends also cut my nickname (MacKoy) shorter, hence the name Koi.  I guess Filipinos are fond of such short cuts, abbreviations.

Q: When and why did you decide to take part in a trail running competition?

Back in 2011, in the local mountaineering community, there was once a competition called Nomads Challenge 30, 000 ft.  I dared myself and decided to join the competition.  Luckily, I got my personal record of hiking and conquering 20 summit peaks in 7 days.  But towards the end of the competition, I realized that my body had weakened due to so much alcohol and nicotine intake.  It was kind of an awakening for me.  So, that same year, I took another challenge which is to join the 5km trail run of Merrell.  I promised to myself that I would stop all my vices if, at least, I managed to get in the top 50 of that race.  I placed 26th and that’s the reason why I am all clean now.

Q: Where do you come from, and was running part of your upbringing as a child and teenager?

I grew up in Bulacan.  I was an asthmatic kid and I was restrained from joining any strenuous physical activities, so I never had the chance to be engaged in any kind of sports.

Q: What is your daily occupation?

I have part time jobs only: cycling courier, adventure guide and organizer.

Q: What do you do to become a race winning trail runner?

My idea of training doesn't really follow any scientific approach.  I am a mountaineer and immersion with nature is instinctive to me.  Mountain running isn’t about strength and power.  It is about appreciating God’s creation.  They are given as gifts to humans to help us in our daily lives and uplift our beings.  Adaptation and deep connection with the natural elements are my own ways of being grateful and thankful to those gifts.  When you give yourself and connect with your environment, strength and endurance just innately follow.  When you are one with the nature, nature itself will push you forward and bring you to the finish line.

Q: Have you ever run a road marathon (42.195km) and what was your time?

I never joined a road marathon.  My longest road run was 21 km and I suffered lots of injuries that made me decide not to run on roads anymore. 

Q: Do you have a specific objective in trail running, or you just wish to run for fun?

I was not really that much exposed to sports before because of my asthma.  Hence, I am a nature lover.  Mountain is my haven where I find peace and serenity.  I feel that I have a different kind of connection with the mountains and every living thing inside it – from the largest trunk of the trees to the smallest of the worms.  When I visit or explore a mountain, I do a combination of slow walking, so that I can reflect and appreciate the surroundings, and  I do fast hiking because I want to maximize my time and cover more distance to see and explore more places.  And so when I learned about trail running races, I told myself why not try something that I had been doing already.  So thank God for trail running, I finally found my sport.

Q: Do you have any sports heroes? If yes, who and what is so special about him / her?

Anatoli Boukreev and Reinhold Messner are my mountain heroes.   I admire their wisdom in mountaineering and life.   They both made a huge impact on mountaineering.

Reinhold Messner was known for his fast ascents in the Alps of the North Wall and championed the cause for ascending Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen.  He was able to climb all 14 eight-thousander peaks, without supplemental oxygen.  He is actually a living legend.

Anatoli Boukreev, on the other hand, is known to have made ascents of 10 eight-thousander peaks (8,000 masl mountains), also without supplemental oxygen.  But I admire him most for when he saved climbers during the 1996 Mt. Everest disaster. 

 Q: Where were you when Manny Pacquaio defeated Oscar De La Hoya?

I was in the mountains.

Q: Is Pacquaio important for you in your life, and why or why not?

Manny Pacquiao is important for every Filipino of today’s generation I guess.  So yes, he is also important to me.  He is a living proof that financial difficulties won’t hinder us in achieving our goals.  He upheld the values of perseverance, tenacity, hard work and faith, which are basically his key points in winning.  And despite of all his achievements, he has remained humble. He has inspired me because we share the same life story.  He also went through the same difficulties during his early boxing career.  We both started with nothing.  I remember using the same shoes for hiking and running and I have no idea of nutrition, such as power gels.  I eat honey and sweet potatoes as my sustenance, since I am also a purist.  I use the sticks/small branches that I pick on the trail as my aid.  My running shorts came from Ukay Ukay (thrift shop/second hand goods) with no brand.  Back then, all I want is to be in the mountain and run wild.

Q: What is your view on trail running in the Philippines? Is the popularity still growing?

Trail running in the Philippines is growing fast and is becoming popular nowadays.  Many TV personalities or celebrities have also been joining huge trail running races.  I think that this is a good sign because trail running is one way of showcasing the beautiful scenic views and the mountains, or nature as a whole, in our country.

Q: Who is the best trail runner in the Philippines (men / women)?

For men, I idolize Thumbie Remigio and Coach Ige Lopez.  For women, that's Marites Bitbit.

Q: Have you ever taken part in a race in another country, and did you feel any difference compared to racing in the Philippines?

Not yet but I have plans.  Hopefully, next year.

Q: Do you have any tips for race organisers?

I think race organizers should also be runners or athletes like us so that they have deeper knowledge of our needs during races,  and they understand our feelings, such as what challenges us most, what motivates us and what discourages us as well.  

Q: What is your favorite place in your country for running?  

My favorite place for running in the Philippines is Sibuyan Island, particularly Mt. Guiting Guiting.  G2 is acknowledged as the most technically challenging mountain to climb in the Philippines.  I see to it that I can visit G2 every year as often as possible.  So far, as of 2014, my personal record time on G2 (ascent  and descent) is 8 hours.

Q: In your opinion, what are the biggest issues facing the sport of trail running in the near future?

Due to massive growth of trail runners, there will certainly impact in terms of:  (1) nature itself / trail impact; (2) cultural impact; (3) and disturbances to local community life. 

The vast growing trail running community should be responsible enough in taking care of the environment.  We should respect the culture of the locals and be sensible enough to the local people’s life.  I think it would be best if race organizers and runners themselves are socially and environmentally responsible, so that we may be of help in creating awareness even to non-runners.  Respecting cultural differences is also a key factor to avoid problems in the near future.

Q: Is there a race you really NEVER want to do, and why?

Road races because they are not just for me.  My lungs get weak and my knees aren’t really for roads.

Q: What do you think about the Asia Trail Master series? Could this be a goal for the 2016 year?

Yes, this could be a goal for me next year.  It continuously inspires runners/athletes like me to achieve more.  It tests not just our capabilities but also our passion in the said sport.  The Asia Trail Master series is also a good platform to meet and learn from various types of runners, and a good opportunity to build a bigger trail running community. 

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. 

One of the protagonists in our inaugural Asia Trail Master series hails from India. Ullas Narayana has had a strong summer with an 8th place in the grueling Mount Rinjani Ultra in Indonesia early August, and a fantastic 2nd place in Colorcoil Borneo 100 TMBT in Malaysia just a few weeks later. In addition, he scored top placings in a couple of races in his resident country Singapore. Narayana currently ranks fifth in the Asia Trail Master ranking with 732 points and next weekend takes part in his first 100 miler, Bromo Tengger Semeru, where he will again challenge race favourites Arief Wismoyono and Jan Nilsen. 

First, please tell us a bit more about yourself, where you come from,what you do and what brought you to Singapore?
 
Hello. My name is Ullas. I grew up in Bangalore, India. After graduating in Australia I found work in Singapore as an animator for Lucasfilm Singapore. I have been here for 11 years and live here with wife, 2 kids and our puppy. 

You only started taking part in trail competitions not so long ago. When and why did you decide to start? What is so great about trail running? 

I decided to get back into running around the same time I started a family so I could be in good shape and be a good example to my kids. I should thank my friend Nigel and my wife Annie for encouraging me to sign up for my first race since college. That was a bit over 3 years ago. I enjoy running be it on roads or trails. I like trail running because it requires me to be more aware of my surroundings, to be more present on my runs. Other reasons why I like trail running .. the solitude, nature, the low key races, the list goes on. Endurance running suits me at this point in my life. 


Sport in India means cricket. Or how would you define sport in India, and does running take an important place in people's lives? 

There is a very active sports culture in schools and colleges in India. Growing up we played a large variety of sports. But sadly everything ends in Cricket. There is a lack of funding and support for athletes I believe. Maybe things have changed. I haven't lived in India for quite some time so I don't know what the current attitude is. But it seems running is catching on as a form of exercise. 

What made you take up running? 

My father took us running every morning. So the love for running started early. We were in a swim club. Had tennis lessons. He made sure we were active kids. I briefly had a running coach. Then high school took over. I didn't pick up running again until college. I had a bit of success running middle distance in college. I have been running on and off since. Running has always been a part of who I am. 

Do you have any sports heroes? If yes, who and what is so special about him / her?

Not really. Every time I race I find bits of heroes in people I compete with. 

There's a number of trail races in India, but they have not really become part of people's conciousness yet. Are there any events we should be aware of? 

The Bangalore Ultra and Kaveri Trail Marathon in the state of Karnataka are gaining popularity. Others I know of are the Oxfam Trailwalker India, Nilgiris Ultra(its mostly road but beautiful) and the LA Ultra. 

How is life in Singapore for you? 

Life is good. I wish there were bigger hills. 

What sort of training do you do to become a competitive trail runner? Singapore is flat, but you also do well in mountain races. 

At the moment I run 5-6 times a week. Lots of hill repeats where ever I can find them. I try out different workouts which I read about. I average 120-160km a week. I also make a lot of time for beer. 

You came eighth at MRU and a superb 2nd at Borneo 100 TMBT. What was the difference in those 2 races for you? 

MRU was a good first experience for the climbs and descents. I was out there longer than the 100k races I have run. TMBT was very runnable, which I like.

With hindsight, what would you do differently to beat Daved Simpat and win TMBT? 

Exercise a little patience at the start and not get lost. Save a little bit of something for the very end. 

Have you ever run a road marathon (42.195km) and what was your time? 

I ran a road marathon in July. It was less than a week after a trail marathon. My time was 2.53.
 
Your next big race is a 100-miler in Indonesia: Bromo Tengger Semeru (BTS). What are your ambitions? 

To finish. Its my first 100 miler. I just want to get a feel for the distance. I hope I don't end up a mess as I can get competitive come race day. 

Dealing with the heat is a key aspect for elite trail running. Would you say that being Indian you are used to the heat, or how do you cope with it? Do you drink a lot during races? 

I grew up in a temperate climate but living in the tropics for a decade has helped. Yes, I drink a lot during races. I get dehydrated quickly. My ancestors spent their days out in the fields. So I guess genes help me out a little. 

In your opinion, what are the biggest issues facing the sport of trail running in the near future? What would you like to change or see happening in terms of development? 

Not having enough trails. Being based in Singapore I am always concerned over the battle between nature and development.

Many trail running event in Asia seem to compete with each other to obtain the title of "the toughest race". Do you mind or would you rather see more trail races that have more 'runnable' courses? 

Doesn't bother me. I can always pick the ones that suit me. 

What do you think about the Asia Trail Master series? Could this be a goal for you in 2016? 

Its exciting for someone like me new to the trail running scene. I can easily find out about all these cool races in the region. I like that so many countries are represented in the series. While we are spoilt for choice in the region not everyone has the means to access these races either for the experience or for gaining points.

KIM YONGKEE

Q: Where are you from in Korea, and what do you do for a living?
KY: In Suwon City, and I am an engineer.
Q: When did you start running? And what has attracted you to do trail running?
In 2013. Actually I like mountain, river and nature. It’s very nice to run in open nature.
Q: Is running part of your family background?
Never. There are no runners in my family except me.
Q: Do you have any idols? Whose poster was hanging in your room as a teenager?
No.
Q: What is your best time in a road marathon? 
3:40:15
What feeling does running give you?
Happy, Happy and Happy.
Q: How many kilometers do you tend to run each week, and do you do anything special in your training when you have a trail race on your race calendar?
100k per week, 250k when training for a race.
Q: Do you follow a specific diet?
No.
Q: What was your best achievement in trail running so far, according to yourself?
The 1st place in the under 30 age group in Vietnam Mountain Marathon 2015.
Q: What is the longest distance you have run in a race?
100k.
Q: Will you attend Korea 50k next April and what do you think of the race course?
If I have a time, I will attend the race in 2016. Actually I don’t know about the race course. The race director of Korea 50k changed the course recently.
Q: Do you like mountainous races or would you like more runnable courses on the trail running calendar?
I love both.
Q: What race are you running in your dreams?
UTMB!!
Q: Trail running in Korea is very young, what is your favourite race in your country?
Ultra Trail Jeju 100k (a stage race for 3 days).
Q: What is your personal running ambition for 2016?
HK 100, UTMB and UTMF
Q: What do you think about the Asia Trail Master series? Could the 2016 championship be an objective for you?
Every race looks nice, valuable and well-organized. I will try all those races in the future. Now, I am just a slow runner.
Q: You have taken part in the Vietnam Mountain Marathon, why did you decide to take part in this specific international race?
I joined the Vietnam race because I needed the points for UTMB 2016. So I researched some races to score the points, and this one was most convenient

Trail running in South Korea is witnessing a boom, which will be clearly reflected in the 2016 Asia Trail Master series. Korea 50k, scheduled for 24 April, will be the first Korean race on our calendar and at least two more races will follow later in the year. High time to get to know some of the runners in the country, and we are happy to feature Gyesook Lee and Kim Yongkee in our Talking Trail Running series this week. 

The registrations for the 2nd edition of  Korea 50k, which takes place in Dongducheon City, close to the country's capital city Seoul, are open. You can read key details on our cover page, or go to the event website. The event makes for a great weekend getaway in spring with options for families! 

GYESOOK LEE

•   Q: Where are you from in Korea, and what do you do for a living?
GL: I am from Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea. Until last year, I worked at a securities company and currently I am a stage actress.
•    Q: When did you start running? And what has attracted you to do trail running? 
In 2010, I finished my first half marathon and on the same year I also finished the first full marathon. That’s how I started running. I had interests in trail running and desert races, because I wanted to try new unconventional running experiences.
•   Q:  Is running part of your family background? 
No, it is not.
•    Q: Do you have any idols? Whose poster was hanging in your room as a teenager?
I do not have any poster in my room, but I am a fan of the masters runner Jaeduk Sim. 
•    Q: What is your best time in a road marathon?
Doing a dead run in front of the finish line is the best part.
•    Q: What feeling does running give you?
Running gives me the feeling that I am energetically alive. Also I am so thankful that I can run.
•    Q: How many kilometers do you tend to run each week, and do you do anything special in your training when you have a trail race on your race calendar?
I usually run about 30km a week. When I have a trail race scheduled, then at least once a week I go for a training at a mountain site for 5 to 6 hours. 
•    Q: Do you follow a specific diet?
I do not have a specific diet.
•    Q: What was your best achievement in trail running so far, according to yourself? 
The biggest achievement I made in trail running is that my body became stronger and healthier. 
•    Q: What is the longest distance you have run in a race? 
80km
•    Q: Will you attend Korea 50k next April and what do you think of the race course?
Yes I will. I already registered. The course that crosses 5 tops of the mountains in Dongducheon is difficult, however running beautiful forests with nice sceneries is very wonderful.
•    Q: Do you like mountainous races or would you like more runnable courses on the trail running calendar?
I prefer the course that contains both styles. 
•    Q: What race are you running in your dreams?
Desert Race, UTMB
•    Q: Trail running in Korea is very young, what is your favourite race in your country?
KOREA 50K!
•    Q: What do you think of the establishment of  KTRA (Korean Trail Running Association) and the development of trail running in Korea? 
I think KTRA is an important foundation for runner-centered trail events. I assume, with KTRA’s contribution, Korean trail run races will be well prepared with a high degree of safety measures and professionalism that will lead to the best international standards. 
•    Q: What is your personal running ambition for 2016?
My goal is to finish all 4 races of the Trail Korea Championship.
•    Q: What do you think about the Asia Trail Master series? Could the 2016 championship be an objective for you?
I did not know Asia Trail Master series have various races from many countries that I would all love to participate in. But since I am a beginner of trail running, I am not aiming for the 2016 championship. I enjoy running. Results depend on my efforts and condition on the day, sometimes the mere enjoyment produces good results. I do not feel much pressure, since I put more meanings on own satisfaction rather than other people’s attention and expectation. 
•    Q: What tips would you give to other Korean female runners? 
Eating well and sleeping well are important. If you are training for a race, experiencing similar geographical features are helpful. When you run, you will find the answer.