The 1st edition of Ultra Trail Hong Kong starts this Friday in the New Territories and also marks the true launch of the equally inaugural Asia Trail Master series (ATMs). Throughout the year, trail runners will score points for the Asia Trail Master ranking and championship when they finish a race on the ATMs calendar.

Ultra Trail Hong Kong was set up in the spirit of the unofficial trail running world championship in France, UTMB, and the equally popular Japanese equivalent UT Mount Fuji. Race organiser Augustine Wong wants to build the race up towards a genuine benchmark on the Asian and world calendar.  There's of course plenty of races in Hong Kong already, but UTHK is certainly one of the very toughest. Runners who finish the long distance this weekend will score no fewer than 175 distance points for the Asia Trail Master ranking, which by coincidence is also the maximum number of points runners will score when doing a stage race like the Wild Elephant Trail in Sri Lanka next week.  The second race at UTHK is also qualified for the series with a length of 92km. The performance points for the shorter distance are of course fewer than for the long one. If you are not sure about  the points system yet, just visit the ranking section of this website.

At the end of the year, before Christmas, the best performing runners in the series will be rewarded. The winner of the 2015 Asia Trail Master series, and therefore the 2015 champion, will score USD 1000, men and women. Cash prizes will be handed out to the top 3, with valuable sponsor and partner prizes for the entire top 10 of the ranking to boot. It will be a hot final month in December with points-scoring races scheduled in Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar! 

And let us not forget the honourary title of Grandmaster, which is obtainable not only for the fastest amongst runners, but for everyone. To become an Asia Trail Grandmaster, you need to finish six long distance races within two calendar years. Important here is that the minimum distance must be 70km, but if one event offers two different race distances, only the longest one counts. So, the 175km participants this weekend in Hong Kong get 1 finish point, but the 92km participants do not. 

You can stay up-to-date on all the latest ATMS news via social media, check out facebook, twitter, instagram, weibo and weixin, for starters. This weekend you can also follow the action in Hong Kong live via our website, courtesy of Race Timing Solutions. If you like taking photos, post them on instagram with the hashtag #Asiatrail , who knows you will win something!

Finally, we wish all runners good luck for UTHK and all the races that follow. Let's make this a great first Asia Trail Master year!

A select group of runners will aim to find out the sport's 'Last Secret' in Bhutan as of 29 May. Organised by Global Limits, the company that specializes in quality 'boutique-style' trail running races in unique areas of Asia, it is the kind of experience you will never forget. For this year's edition, only a couple of places remain free on the start list. Grab this chance now to run 6 days in the world's 'happiest' country, and gain a decent number of Asia Trail Master points as well. Note, it is really a last-minute chance. 

Registration and payment runs via the official event website, but we can guide you as well if you have any questions.  

Check out our cover page for some key details on the event. 

RUN on volcanoes and through the rainforests of Java and Lombok 

We are delighted to introduce four fantastic new events in Indonesia to the 2015 Asia Trail Master series calendar. Four races that are breathtaking in beauty but also in difficulty: the Gede Pangrango Marathon, Mount Rinjani Ultra, Bromo Tengger Semeru Ultra and the Mesastila Ultra. 

As in most countries, trail running is still a young activity in Indonesia, and joining an international event circuit like the Asia Trail Master series, which of course has a unique focus on the Asian continent, fits the growth strategy of the organisers at FOneSport perfectly. The aim is to attract runners from all over Asia and the world, but also to boost the domestic running scene. By inserting four key races into the calendar, Indonesian runners get an excellent opportunity to place themselves into the spotlights as one just needs three strong race results to finish high in the ATMs championship ranking at the end of the year.

But of course it is about more than just raking up points. It is also about discovering the endless beauty of the Indonesian islands, all with its own distinct historical and cultural heritage. And about connecting with the local running communities. In 2015 the four races are concentrated on the main island of Java, which hosts the country's capital Jakarta, and on Lombok - the small sister island of Bali.

The first race is the closest to Jakarta in West Java, and also the shortest: the Gede Pangrango Marathon on 2 May is indeed 42 km in length. However, the race isn't short and sweet: no fewer than 4000 metres of altitude are on the day's menu! Participants do have a 16-hour-allowance to complete the trail, though, which should give people the chance to enjoy the relatively little known National Park centred on the volcanoes Gede and Pangrango at a desired pace. 

The Mount Rinjani Ultra on Lombok is arguably the best known Indonesian trail race to date, and has been welcoming hundreds of runners already. A bit longer than Gede Pangrango Marathon at 52km, this race also goes up and down a majestic volcano. Gunung Rinjani just towers over the tiny island of Lombok at a height of 3726 metres. The race has a total altitude gain of 5800 hm, but you will be stunned more by the awesome crater views at the summit. And after the race you can go to one of Lombok's many beachside resorts to relax those tired muscles.

In Autumn, the focus in Indonesia will be on the Mesastila Challenge in Magelang, Central Java, for a 65km and over 4400 hm trail race that can be described as technical given some "difficult terrain and intimidating bridges" as described on the event website. In order to get to the event area, runners may need to fly into Yogyakarta or Solo (Surakarta), two cities that host impressive cultural and historical artifacts and host town Magelan is also the gateway to Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple complex. The event is scheduled for 10 October.

The final Indonesian race in this year's Asia Trail Master series is also the longest: the Bromo Tengger Semeru Trail in East Java is a genuine ultra race as it covers 170 km and over 10.000 altitude metres! Also the B-race is a serious one with 102km and 5265 Hm. Note that you need to have experience before you can enter this race. The event is scheduled to start on 7 November.  

Please note that registrations for the Gede Pangrango Marathon and the Mount Rinjani Ultra are already being accepted. Runners should be aware of the registration deadlines, which in the case of the West Javan race is on 9 March already. The registration module for Mesastila and Bromo Tengger Semeru will open soon. 

The Asia Trail Master series team is looking forward to a great cooperation with FoneSport and the further development of the trail running industry in Indonesia!  

The registration for the inaugural Japanese stage race Trans Kansai is now open via the event website. The race takes place from 3 to 11 October and begins in Osaka with a warm-up urban run, followed by seven timed stages for a total of approx. 200 km. 

The registration fee includes all accommodation, most meals and all standard race provisions. Local runners can also take part and sign up for two individual stages: stages 5 and 8. These are the two longest stages of 50km each in the western and northern areas of Kyoto respectively. 

As the event is part of the Asia Trail Master series, finishers of the stage race can score 175 distance points (cap rule), as well as a fair number of performance points. Note that the performance points will only be attributed to runners who have concluded all stages and are ranked in the final result of the race. Similarly, participants who do not complete all stages score distance points only for the stages they do finish and only for a maximum of 125  points. 

Trans Kansai is a unique runner's holiday through amazing scenery in Japan's cultural heart. This event is obviously more than just a race. Sign up early as places are limited. 

The Dali Ultra in Yunnan Province, China, has been moved forward by one week and will now start on 31 October 2015. The race is organised by the same company that does the Dalian race on 18 April, and full details on the 2015 route will come following inspection by the end of March. 

Non-domestic runners need to sign up for the Dali race via this website. Details are also expected by the end of next month. 

EXCLUSIVE: 15 STARTING PLACES ON OFFER FOR 100K TRAIL 

We are proud to welcome another big race and a new country in the inaugural Asia Trail Master series: the TMBT Ultra Trail Marathon on Borneo in Malaysia joins the calendar on 29 August. Arguably the biggest trail run in the country, The Most Beautiful Thing, to say TMBT in full, is a genuine rainforest run on and around Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South East Asia. Runners can choose between 100km and 55km race distances, and for beginners there is also a shorter version available. Finishers on the two longest distances will score points for the Asia Trail Master ranking and championship. 

Sabah is known as a fantastic adventure holiday destination, and you will be amazed by the natural beauty of Kinabalu National Park. The trail course does not include a summit climb for safety reasons, yet has an impressive total of 6000 altitude metres. The 55km route is equally hard with 3500 Hm. Consider in addition the tropical climate and you understand that this race should not be your first 100k race. 

Although TMBT is anything but a walk in the park, the local running community loves it and the event has sold out very quickly in Malaysia. However,  international runners have an exclusive chance to still register for this year via Asia Trail Master. Fifteen places are on offer for the 100km main event and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. You can sign up via our online form. 

The race registration fee is USD 180 and includes: 

-Race participation
-Bus Transfer (return journey) from Kota Kinabalu 
-Event T-Shirt
-Event Finishers Medal
-Event Finisher's T-shirt

Note that you will need to collect your bib and participant bag on Friday,28 August 2015 between 9.00am and 4.00pm, and only at Pacific Sutera Harbour Resort. No bags will be given after the 4.00pm deadline as the organizing team packs up for a 2 hour 30 minute journey to the finish point of the race at Mount Kinabalu and the Ranau district. Please keep in mind when signing up and making your travel plans. 

You can find all event information in a nutshell on our cover page, for specific details please check out the official event website. The route map and profile can be checked here. 

Kuai Sports Promotions and the Asia Trail Master series team are happy to announce the cooperation with another fantastic young trail race: the North Face Cappadocia Ultra Trail in Turkey! The 2nd edition follows a successful start last year and will be held in Urgup on the autumn weekend of 24/25 October 2015. 

Cappadocia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the central part of the large country known for its 'natural wonders' and a rich cultural heritage. Tourists tend to fly over the area in hot air balloons, trail runners will traverse the Cappadocia valleys and conquer the hills on foot for a truly amazing experience. On offer are three different courses and race distances with the longest one being 110km in length with an altitude gain of 3350hm. The medium course is 60km (1850hm) and the short is 30km (900hm). 

At Kuai Sports Promotions we are happy to offer interested runners assistance for their registration for the race and for optional multi-day tourist package extensions or just a balloon trip over the area. The travel packages are either Cappadocia-only, or a 1-week trip that includes visits to Istanbul and/or Ephesus. Please see details and pricing for the travel packages and side-trips in the PDF brochures below. If you wish to book one of these, please contact us for details. 

To register for the race only, please note that in order to gain access to our special conditions you need to enter a code in the online form that you can find on the event website. The registration code depends on the race distance you choose. Alternatively, just email us at kris@kuaisports.com and we do the race registration for you. 

REGISTRATION CODE

110km: CUT-JVDQHZ
60km: CUT-RYLQR4
30km: CUT-F6ZD6X

Please be careful that you enter the exact code as given above if you register yourself. 

RACE REGISTRATION FEE

100km: EUR 45
60km: EUR 25
30km: EUR 20

TRAVEL & TRIP PACKAGES

CAPPADOCIA ONLY PACKAGE 22-25 OCTOBER

PRE RACE PACKAGE 19-25 OCTOBER

POST RACE PACKAGE 23-30 OCTOBER 

BALLOON TRIP 

Please email us if you wish to book one of the packages or trips above. 

The event is organised by Argeus Travel and The North Face is title sponsor. It is bound to become a classic on the world trail running scene very soon. Read the following testimony of a participant in last year's first edition. 

The Asia Trail Master series team will also be present at the Cappadocia event this year. Find out more about great trail races we cooperate with in the Beyond Asia section of this website. 

Official TNF Cappadocia website

The Vietnam Mountain Marathon, the biggest trail race in the country, has joined the 2015 Asia Trail Master series with its event on 26 September. The event features a 70km ultra distance, as well as a 42km marathon distance, both of which qualify for the ATMS ranking. Beginning runners can also opt for the shorter 21km or 10km distances.

The event takes place in the mountainous region of northern Vietnam, with start and finish close to popular tourist town Sapa, famous for its rice fields, water buffaloes and colourful ethnic minority people. 2015 will be the third edition of the Vietnam Mountain Marathon and is organised by Topas Travel. The 70km longest race is a tough one with 3000m of altitude gain, and should not be taken lightly. Also on the other distances there is quite a bit of climbing to be done along the well-marked courses through the Hoang Lien National Park.

Registration for the Vietnam Mountain Marathon goes via the official event website. Some key facts of the race can as usual be consulted also via our cover page.  

The crew of the Asia Trail Master series is happy to see the Vietnam Mountain Marathon enter its inaugural race calendar, and to be able to also give local Vietnamese runners a chance to become part of the growing Asian trail running community.

For more information, please go to the event website or send an email to kris@kuaisports.com  

As announced via our twitter and facebook channels over the weekend, Nepal's Annapurna 100 event has been postponed by the local race organiser due to the current political situation in the country. Originally scheduled for the opening weekend of the Asia Trail Master series on 28 February, it has now been decided to hold the Annapurna 100 - the oldest trail run in Nepal, by thew way - on 10 October 2015.

Please see the official statement of the organiser as also published on  the event website:

The decision was taken in the interest of preserving a positive experience for incoming runners, even though their safety would hardly be at risk. The new event date in autumn of this year is open for registrations, and you can conveniently sign up via our website.