Clark-Myamit Falls Ultra: showdown in the Philippines

It's the penultimate race of the 2015 Asia Trail Master series already this weekend, and the 5th edition of Clark-Myamit Falls Ultra, aka CM 50, promises to be a highlight of the season! The organisational team around race director Jon Lacanlale have spared no effort to establish another superb weekend of trail running in the Philippines. All winners of last year return to defend their titles, and they will face some stiff international competition. The scene is set for the run to the waterfall! 

Arief Wismoyono and Ma Yanxing are leading the Asia Trail Master ranking after the big Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra in Indonesia, and their respective positions should not come under threat in Clark when we look at the start list.  However, in particular Thailand's Phairat Varasin, currently 7th, could move himself up to the top 3 subject to a great race result on Sunday. Placing highly in both the Borneo 100 TMBT and the Vietnam Mountain Marathon, Varasin is a favourite to win the 50 miles race this weekend, but the local opposition will be significant. And Jan Nilsen is back as well. Two weeks ago, the Norwegian had to drop out with blisters in Indonesia while running together with eventual race winner Ullas Narayana, and he is keen to put that DNF result behind him. The course record was set last year by Manolito Divina in 10:23:48, and the Filipino runner is back to improve on that time even more. Also James Telias (fifth last year), Jerome Bautista (eighth) and Aleksis Capili (3rd on the 100km distance in Indonesia two weeks ago) are experienced runners capable of a strong results. 

In the women's competition we are likely to see a battle between defending champion Mary Josephine Liao and England's Joanna Plumbley. The latter won the preparatory MF 42 race in the beginning of October. 

As usual, we will be reporting from the event, subject to connectivity, via our social media channels. The race starts at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. 

The terrain for Sunday's CM 50 Ultra in the Philippines