Three years after the first edition of ‘Kiss the Rain’ - the nickname of the Ultra Trail Chiang Mai event - runners are again gathering at the Ban Noen Wittaya school, a couple of hours outside Chiang Mai City this weekend. Despite the predicted rainfall - it’s wet season - a lot of trail runners are attracted by the conditions and will toe the line in one of six race categories. Two of those matter for the ATM Championship points and the Grandmaster Quest. Competitive runners are aiming for the 104km and 65km races, GM chasers need to focus on the new 100 miles and the 104km. A lot of categories of course means the competitive field is spread out. It is great to see that the 2019 race winner of the 104km, Japan’s Yuta Matsuyama, is returning to Thailand to try and repeat his victory. He is joined by his partner Yuuka Maeno, who could be a podium candidate herself in the women’s race. She will have some stern competition from Malaysia’s Siokhar Lim and UTKC 100 winner Chonlada Kappiyanond. The former only three weeks ago completed the brutal Transnaning Adventure Challenge, but we know Siokhar Lim is able to digest a lot of mileage and elevation in a short timeframe. Moreover, she took part in UTCM already three years ago. Kappiyanond is one of the new names in Thailand, and with another strong race result could already secure her spot in Team Thailand for the ATM Championship Final on 17 December at Mt Apo in Philippines. Another woman who can boost her chances of entering her country’s team for that ATM Final, is Malaysia’s Halimatun Saadiah. With two third places this season already, she is aiming for at least the same in the 65km race this weekend. As usual in Thailand with such a huge population of trail runners, we will be getting to know many new names, too.

Yuta Matsuyama returns to UT Chiang Mai