The third edition of Bukit Lawang’s Orang Utan Trail in North Sumatra this weekend is also Indonesia’s first ATM points race of the season. ‘BLOT’ is one of our series’ most exciting boutique events taking place in a remote but scenic river town catering for adventure, outdoor and - of course - orang utan enthusiasts. The race for ATM Championship points is the 50km, which is more or less a copy of last year’s with a runable first half through plantations followed by a technical second half through the jungle and into the orang utan’s natural habitat.

It’s an event that has always had a great vibe with a big marqee tent on the city square surrounded by local shops and restaurants and the wide range of sponsor booths. In order to minimise exposure to potential sun heat , the race start of the 50k has been moved forward this year to 4:30 am. Over the past two seasons, we have gotten to know several great trail talents from Sumatra, proving that there’s more to Indonesian trail running than just Java and Bali. Runners such as Erwin Simanjuntak and Andre Sinaga, last year’s excellent 1-2 in the men’s race ahead of established ATM protagonists such as Chris Timms, Jose Luis Alvelais and Thimo KIlberth was testimony to that fact. Unfortunately, it remains difficult for Sumatrans to take part in races elsewhere. Travel expense is often the main stumbleblock - even within Indonesia.

Andre Sinaga is confirmed as a participant again this weekend, at least on the start list. He will face David Longo, the Hong Kong-Australian from T8, in the battle for race victory in the men’s. Unless, as usual, there’s again new faces appearing on the scene. Risqi Kurniawan is unable to start due to injury sustained in another race two weeks ago. In the women’s 50k race, we will see 2018 ATM Champion Ruth Theresia back in action for the second time this season. Finishing this weekend means she gets the wild card for the ATM Final at TMBT on 14 September. She is the logical favourite to win as well, although Bangkok-based American Tara Savage may keep her focused during the race.

Stay tuned for our coverage of the event this weekend on our usual channels. The 50k race is scheduled for Sunday morning.

Vanja Cnops truly enjoyed her race last year

Local Sumatrans Andre Sinaga and Erwin Simanjuntak stole the show in the men’s race last year

The 3rd edition of Bukit Lawang Orang Utan Trail is set for Sunday morning, 12 May. The boutique event in the picturesque riverside town of Bukit Lawang in North Sumatra, Indonesia, has been one of the most popular newcomers on the ATM scene, offering a solid organisation in a great place featuring a fun arena with a big marquee tent, a varied running course and - of course - orang utans in the rainforest. Compared to last year, the start time of the 50km ATM points race has moved forward to 4:30 am, so more runners can avoid the heat of mid-day.

The race course is largely unchanged, which means a very runable first half around and through plantations followed by a technical second half characterised by single and hilly rainforest trails that can also be slippery. However, runners enjoy sliding on those descending trails in Bukit Lawang. The orang utans can be seen, too. They are roaming freely and approach the river in the early morning, so of course not every single runner may be fortunate to meet them. Incidentally, runners on the 25km and 10km short courses tend to have more luck in this.

The 50km race has seen the emergence of great young local trail talent over the past two years. Not in the least a year ago, when Erwin Simanjuntak and Andre Sinaga took the measure of a.o. Chris Timms and Luis Alvelais. Vanja Cnops was a very happy winner in the women’s race last season.

Accommodation is in local homestays, guesthouses or in one swiss-owned hotel on the other side of the riverbank for those looking for something more upmarket. It takes roughly 4 hours to reach Bukit Lawang from Medan airport and a shuttle bus will be arranged. For details on that you can contact the local organising team at Arras Adventures with info@asiatrailmaster.com in copy.

In Bukit Lawang we always discover new Indonesian trail talent

You can now watch the summary of the 50km race in Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra, which took place on Saturday, 27 May 2023. The new ATM points race in Indonesia saw local talent Erwin Simanjuntak beating his fellow Sumatran Andre Sinaga in the final section of the race, which runs through the natural habitat of the orang utan in the second half. Vanja Cnops was fastest female.

In the battle for points in the ATM rankings, Alex Tilley (4th) and Roan Bisuagen (2nd) did a great job and took the overall points lead. That means both are currently in a comfortable position to get qualified for the ATM Championship Final on 2 December at Siksorogo Lawu Ultra in Central Java.

The 2nd edition of the Orang Utan Trail in Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra, marks the first of four ATM points races in Indonesia ahead of the Championship Final in the country on 2/3 December. Domestic runners therefore have a great and easy opportunity to score points in their own country and get qualfiied for Team Indonesia at Siksorogo Lawu Ultra. On Saturday, however, most will be absent and it’s international athletes who start as favourites on the 50km course in the home jungle of the Sumatran Orang Utan, who will undoubtedly be watching the show with curious interest again.

A year ago, Bukit Lawang and organiser Arras Adventures delivered a great newcomer on the trail calendar and put the large island of Sumatra on the ATM map. The Candidate Race gave us a bunch of new running talent with locals like Ongkeh Saleh even winning the main event of 42 km ahead of established competitors like Arief Wismoyono. Arief is out of action due to covid at present, so he won’t be taking revenge on Saturday. Thimo Kilberth on the other hand will give it another go. The Bali-based German was third last year and ranks among the top contenders tomorrow, having fully recovered from his ankle injury sustained in Vietnam two months ago. The Japanese tandem of Fuminori Kondo and Seiji Morofuji, both ATM Finalists last year, will be important challengers for Kilberth. Especially Kondo is very familiar with Indonesian trails, having lived in Jakarta for a while now. Coming into Sumatra from Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia are Chris Timms, Jose Luis Alvelais and Alex Tilley. Timms made a fantastic debut on the ATM circuit late last year with places of honour in the highly competitive MMTF 100 (5th) and the Mount Apo Final (9th). Technically, that means he was ahead of Kondo, Kilberth and Morofuji in that race. Different country and different trails, however. No high mountains in Bukit Lawang but a nice divide between a flattish and runable first half and a technical and bumpy second half on single trails inside the proper rainforest. Alex Tilley showed in February he can handle the latter very well by winning the V Trail in Laos, ATM’s season opener. A good result this weekend will put Tilley on number 1 in the overall ATM Championship ranking, which makes him very much a benchmark already for all expats wishing to qualify for the ATM Final. Alvelais was a great third podium placer on the runable 42km of Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths in Vietnam. For the Mexican of Hong Kong’s Gone Running squad it’s his third ATM race of the season, being one of the unfortunate DNFs at Korea 50k a month ago.

In the women’s competition we look forward to the return of Belgium’s Vanja Cnops. The Singapore resident had a stellar 2022 campaign with a.o. 3 ATM race wins, but suffered a tough injury in the beginning of the year whilst training. The Orang Utan Trail will be her return to racing. Cnops has always been outstanding on the short and medium distance, so if she’s fit it’s hard to bet against her. Other podium contenders are Roan Gumangan, Larissa Nelson, Desi Aryani and Ratna Sudarga. In the case of Malaysia-based Filipino Gumangan, a podium would propel to the overall number 1 spot in the women’s ATM Championship ranking ahead of her compatriot Irish Glorioso. Orang Utan Trail will be her third race of the season.

ATM will be reporting live from Bukit Lawang on Saturday via the usual channels. Livestream of the start and finish - subject to connectivity - and video updates throughout the day.

Check out the race summary of last year’s Candidate Race:

Singapore’s Chris Timms was 9th in last year’s ATM Championship. A podium in Sumatra is on the cards!

Vanja Cnops had a great 2022 season, but a tough injury kept her away from racing so far this year

Thimo Kilberth was 3rd last year and could use that experience to maximum effect on Saturday

Japan’s Fuminori Kondo knows Indonesia well and will be a contender on a 50k like Orang Utan Trail