Watch "The State of Play" on ATM facebook on 1 May
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The 2020 season continues to be seriously affected by the corona crisis. In the last two weeks, three more ATM Championship events have followed the 9 Dragons Ultra into announcing the outright cancellation of this year’s edition: Puncak Tanawan Mountain Ultra in Philippines, Echigo Country Trail in Japan and last Sunday even Mantra Summits Challenge in Indonesia. At present, the re-launch of the season has moved back to late June and Dalat Ultra Trail in Vietnam. Now here’s some good news: both the event management in Dalat and the following week’s Korea 50K remain upbeat about the chances of their events going ahead as scheduled. The covid 19 cases have been dropping or the situation is so far under control in these two countries that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

However, even if they can go ahead as scheduled, under which conditions?

Plenty of questions and on 1 May we will aim to get a few answers from the event teams themselves. Tune in to our ATM facebook page at 18:00 Hong Kong time (check your corresponding time in your personal country of residence). Kris will be talking to the people behind Dalat Ultra Trail, Korea 50K, Cordillera Mountain Ultra, MUSPO 50 and last but not least Cameron Ultra.

In addition, we will also be briefly putting the spotlight on a mystery guest, a person with pedigree in the Asia Trail Master history to find out how he or she is doing. Before the show, social media followers will have the opportunity to guess the identity of the mystery guest. More on this by the end of this work week.

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Mantra Summits Challenge cancelled
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It is still three months till the scheduled date, but unfortunately the event organisers of Mantra Summits Challenge in Malang, East Java, have already thrown in the towel for this year. The Indonesia SuperTrail in the 2020 Asia Trail Master Championship series has been cancelled.

The official communique reads as follows: "Considering the current situation and conditions related to the COVID19 pandemic, MSC 116-2020 which was originally to be carried out 11-12 July 2020, withheavy hearted we will postpone to 2021. This delay takes into account of health and safety factors of participants in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic which is still ongoing to today.

All participants who have registered with MSC 116-2020 will automatically be transferred their participation to the MSC 116-2021.

Any of you for some reason cannot join MSC 116-2021, your registration slot can be transferred to other runner at no charge. This transfer period will be notified later.

We know that you have prepared for this MSC 116, as well as we as the organizer. However, for the sake of greater interest - our safety and health – we expect your understanding for this decision."

Mantra Summits Challenge ranks amidst the toughest races on the Asia Trail Master calendar with its high elevation gain and peaks above 3000m altitude. Last year the event was dominated by Milton Amat in the men’s and Asuka Nakajima in the women’s.

HOKA ONE ONE the official shoe of Asia Trail Master!
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HONG KONG, April 17, 2020 – HOKA ONE ONE®, a division of Deckers Brands (NYSE: DECK), has today announced the signing of a one-year deal to become the official shoe of the 2020 Asia Trail Master Series.  

Asia Trail Master is an internationally acknowledged series of trail running races featuring 32 races across 12 Asian countries. It features an annual championship based on a points system of runners results across the series. 

As the Official Trail Running Shoe of Asia Trail Master the presence of HOKA on the Asian trail scene has rocketed in recent years, claiming the No.1 spot for shoe counts at several races across Asia, the latest sponsorship will help to boost its pedigree within the sport. 

“We are thrilled to sponsor the 2020 Asia Trail Master Series,” said Mike McManus, Director of Global Sports Marketing at HOKA ONE ONE. “With this, HOKA is able to extend its support of the development of trail running in Asia at the grassroots level, as well as its support of athletes across the globe.”

For more on HOKA, visit www.hokaoneone.com/ or follow @hokaoneone on Facebook and Instagram. 

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About HOKA ONE ONE® - HOKA ONE ONE® produces premium performance footwear for athletes of all types. HOKA ONE ONE shoes were initially distinguished by their oversized midsoles; today they are designed with the same enhanced cushioning, inherent stability and problem-solving inspiration to meet the running, walking, fitness and outdoor needs of a wide variety of users. With a bold and often unexpected approach, HOKA ONE ONE empowers athletes of all levels to feel like they can fly. For more information, visit hokaoneone.eu or follow @hokaoneone_eu #timetofly. 

About Deckers Brands - Deckers Brands is a global leader in designing, marketing and distributing innovative footwear, apparel and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance activities. The Company's portfolio of brands includes UGG®, KOOLABURRA®, HOKA ONE ONE®, Teva®, and Sanuk®. Deckers Brands products are sold in more than 50 countries and territories through select department and specialty stores, Company-owned and operated retail stores, and select online stores, including Company-owned websites. Deckers Brands has a 40-year history of building niche footwear brands into lifestyle market leaders attracting millions of loyal consumers globally. For more information, please visit www.deckers.com. 

No Echigo in 2020
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Echigo Country Trail in Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan unfortunately has to throw in the towel for this season. The event was scheduled for the weekend of 20/21 June as usual, but in the light of the corona situation it cannot be held on government orders, as announced officially today by the event organisation.

This is no postponement, but a cancellation. The event will return on the programme in 2021. 

Echigo is one of the more colourful events on the calendar, which also in Japan itself has grown in popularity over the years. The area of Oguni and Nagaoka is pre-alpine and may be devoid of high peaks, but the green countryside is hilly enough for a challenging run. What makes Echigo especially nice, though, is the heart-warming support of all the villages and its inhabitants along the course. These are mainly elderly people, however, and as we all know they make up the most vulnerable population group in times of corona today.

In terms of the Asia Trail Master Championship, this is the third event cancellation so far. We fear there may be more to come. How this will affect this year's Championship and Grandmaster Quest remains hard to say at this moment, as we wait and see how the situation in various countries evolves in the next weeks and months.

We’ll have to wait one more year before we can witness a new start of this colourful race in Niigata

We’ll have to wait one more year before we can witness a new start of this colourful race in Niigata

The Moon 100: Postponed to Q4
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After Monkeys Trail on Koh Samui got postponed a week ago, now we have also received the news that the Moon 100 on Koh Phangan cannot be held on the weekend of 20/21 June. In line with official Thai government regulations responding to the outbreak of Covid 19, Teelakow says the event will now be held at a date to be defined in Q4, ie. October-December.

Given that Teelakow is already very busy in the second semester with Ultra Trail Chiang Rai and its other trail and road events, it seems unlikely at this time that both Moon 100 and Monkeys Trail can be successfully re-integrated into this year’s race calendar. Stay tuned to our website and social media pages to hear more on this as soon as news becomes available.

Last year, the gruellingly hot and tough Moon 100 was won by Chiang Mai’s Job Tanapong and Hong Kong-based Filipino Fredelyn Alberto. Both runners scored their maiden ATM race victories on that weekend.

Regarding the Asia Trail Master Championship series, the weekend of 20/21 June still features two other events on our calendar: Dalat Ultra Trail in Vietnam and Echigo Country Trail in Japan. The organising team in Dalat remains optimistic for its major event to go ahead as planned, given that the crisis has been kept under control in Vietnam. Of course, it is too early to tell which extra conditions may need to be met. On the other hand, the team of Echigo is increasingly pessimistic given that the situation has been getting worse in Japan over the last few weeks. An official announcement is expected early next week.

We hope all runners and fans stay out of trouble in these very difficult times. Some of you are under a total lockdown at home. In order to keep your fitness level up, you could consider our new 12-week base & strength programme by The Locker Room. You can read our announcement on that here.

Last year Job Tanapong and Fredelyn Alberto grabbed their first ever ATM points race wins at Moon 100

Last year Job Tanapong and Fredelyn Alberto grabbed their first ever ATM points race wins at Moon 100

Base & Strength training with TBM Locker Room!
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In these difficult weeks of lockdowns, curfews, postponed and cancelled races, it is understandable many people lose motivation to stay in shape. We are therefore happy to announce our new partnership with the reputed online training portal TBM The Locker Room. Established in Sydney and linked with the successful Physiotherapy clinic, The Body Mechanic, The Locker Room provides specific trail training plans designed to help trail runners achieve their personal best and avoid injury. The portal is created by leading physiotherapist and elite endurance runner, Mark Green (no relation to T8’s co-founder with the same name). Green’s Ultra Base and Race Training Plans have been designed after years of helping runners achieve their personal best. He has helped over 15,000 athletes improve their running and achieve their race goals. His holistic approach to training, including strength, mobility, nutrition and running technique will have you moving better almost immediately.

With the first ATM points races still at least more than two months away from today, The Locker Room has built a Base and Strength training 12-week plan that they have already used very successfully in the lead up to the Ultra Trail Australia last year. To help you train smart all the way to race day, the Locker Room recommends you follow a 12 week base training block prior to starting a race training block. This will help you build the strength required to ramp up the pace and volume.

As the website reads, “Base training is the first phase of a training cycle. It helps you to develop the endurance and strength you need to prepare your body for the more challenging, race-specific workouts that come closer to race day. If you always train hard, it is likely, you will over train, burnout or injure yourself.”

The 12-week Base & Strength plan designed for trail runners in the Asia Trail Master Championship series will assist you to:

  • Improve your endurance – or aerobic capacity in a safe way

  • Train consistently, without breaking your body or over training. (Consistent training = improved performance)

  • Improve muscular strength to prevent injuries and smooth the transition to challenging workouts included in your race specific training phase

A weekly plan with increased weekly mileage as you build to your ultra race plan to ensure you stay on track. There are training options for beginner, intermediate and advanced runners, and you will also receive Information on trail running technique, how to incorporate "B" races into your training, how to use running poles plus more!

Sign up now for the plan offered to you at a very democratic price of AUD 59 (approx USD 37) only!

In a nutshell, this is what the TBM Locker Room provides you with:

  • 12 Week Base Training For Asia Trail Master Events

  • Build Strength and Endurance Before A Race Training Block

  • Easy to Follow Videos to Improve Your Trail Technique

  • Online Members Running Community To Keep You On Track

  • Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Training Program

  • Designed by Physio and Elite Trail Runner, Mark Green

Examples of The Locker Room 10-minute strength workouts:

For all details and registration to the Base & Strength Plan, please enter the Locker Room via clicking on the button below:

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Cancelled for 2020: Puncak Tanawan Mountain Ultra
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Like all of you, we are very much looking forward to the day when we can announce “the heat is back on!”, but sadly today we must announce another event cancellation. The Puncak Tanawan Mountain Ultra on Negros Oriental in the southern Philippines has been officially cancelled out of health safety precautions. The event was scheduled for the first week of June, but event director Rhodel Sarande and his team of Happy Feet are unable to guarantee a smooth organisation given the current ECQ (enhanced community quarantaine) and the uncertainty when this will be lifted. Even if this were to be lifted soon, local mountain communities are fragile and have expressed reasonable concerns, reflecting those in the Cordillera mountains up north. Happy Feet has therefore already decided to cancel this year’s third edition and look ahead to 2021 straightaway.

Puncak Tanawan Mountain Ultra was a newcomer in this year’s Asia Trail Master Championship following the unfortunate demise of the Mount Talinis Mountain Ultra at the end of last year.

It means the first points races on the ATM calendar have now become Dalat Ultra Trail, Moon 100 and Echigo Country Trail on 19-20-21 June.

Events update: Monkey Trail postponed to Q4
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It is probably no surprise that organisers teelakow yesterday had to inform us that their event The Monkeys Trail cannot be held next month yet. Established on the holiday island of Koh Samui in Thailand, the event was supposed to take place on 16/17 May but has now been postponed to a date-to-be-decided in Q4. As nearly every country, the Thai government has also imposed strict measures for its citizens and for anyone trying to get in the country.

The relaunch of the 2020 Asia Trail Master season is therefore now set back to early June and the Puncak Tanawan event on Negros Oriental in the Philippines. Let us hope that - indeed - the corona situation will be solved to the extent that mass events and travel can resume as normal.

The 9 Dragons enters Malaysia via Langkawi
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The 9 Dragons in Hong Kong has not only been a popular SuperTrail in the Asia Trail Master Championship since a couple of years, its 50/50 format has also become a trendsetter in Asia. Running 50 miles on Saturday, and backing that up with 50 km on Sunday is a serious challenge of anyone’s endurance ability - and not all people - even elites - can cope with that horrible period of rest between the two stages!

RaceBase Asia has created something that captures the imagination of the trail runner who likes to test his limits, and it is no wonder the event brand is now venturing beyond Hong Kong’s boundaries. Malaysia has the honour of being first to host its own 9 Dragons. Scheduled to take place on the exquisite holiday island of Langkawi to the north of Penang in the state of Kedah, the 9 Dragons Malaysia is a new collaboration between MMTF Consultant - organisers of TNF 100 in Taiping - and founders Race Base Asia. The inaugural edition is currently set for the weekend of 2-4 October and will be a 2021 Asia Trail Master Candidate Race.

The event has a wide range of race category options, but the main event of course is the 50/50, which starts at 23:00 on Friday night, 2 October. Elevation gain for the 50 miles is estimated at 3200 hm. Sunday’s 50km will offer about 2000 hm. Less ambitious runners can also go for 25K and 10K options. In fact, you can even do the short combo of 25K on Saturday and 10K on Sunday as well. The race will give every runner a chance of a lifetime to experience running through paddy fields and covering most of the peaks in Langkawi.

The event centre will be the Resort World Langkawi.

Registration is opening on 15 April. More details - also regarding mandatory gear - can be obtained via the official website.

Former Asia Trail Master Champion Steven Ong acts as the race director of the 9D Langkawi race

Former Asia Trail Master Champion Steven Ong acts as the race director of the 9D Langkawi race

Famous seaviews from the Langkawi hilltops

Famous seaviews from the Langkawi hilltops

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Register your Grandmaster Quest
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Runners aiming to launch their own Grandmaster Quest soon are kindly requested to read the following new regulation.

Please let us know when you wish to begin your Grandmaster Quest and at which event, so ATM can more easily follow your progress and also put you in the spotlights (if desired). This simple registration is also mandatory as of 1 April 2020 to allow for more transparency in general, also towards other runners. The count starts when you complete your first race and thus score your first GM point. If you DNF in your first race, you will need to register again next time you wish to begin your Quest.

To register (of course free of charge), please fill in the simple Google form by clicking on the button below. If you live in a place with limited access to Google, please email to info@asiatrailmaster.com

V Trail in Laos goes into third year
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The inaugural trail running event in Laos is already entering it’s third edition this season on 21/22 November. The V Trail in Vang Vieng, in the south of the country, has quickly established a reputation for being one of the most technical and adventurous trail races on our Asia Trail Master Championship calendar. The 85 km long main points race has about 5100 metres of elevation gain through often thick mountain jungle. The 2020 recipe remains unchanged after an initial plan by organisers Green Step/Teelakow to boost the distance to 100k was shelved for another year. Sharp observers will of course have noticed that the event is now scheduled two weeks later than usual.

Vang Vieng is a small town north of Vientiane, sitting alone the banks of the Nam Song River. It's surrounded by striking limestone mountains and caves. Previously known for its controversial backpacker party culture, the local government a few years ago decided to improve the reputation of the town and has gambled all-in on developing ecologically-friendly adventure travel. The V Trail event is part of that plan.

The online registration for the event is open now. Asia Trail Master point-seekers need to focus on the 85 km race. Less ambitious runners can also opt for one of the shorter distances.

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V Trail 2020 teaser video

Uglow 2020: check out the Capsule collection!
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Our apparel partner Uglow has just released its exciting new Capsule collection, available now on its own online store and in shops such as Gone Running. 100% stichfree garments as usual with unprecedented comfort for the runner, both professional and leisure. The new Capsule collection retains the high quality fabrics Uglow is known for and sees the brand experimenting with new designs creating an amazing harmony of various colours and textures. Founder Romain Jean de Dieu was assisted in the new design process by his sister Elsa, herself a highly successful trail runner and artist in Hong Kong.

Uglow remains highly committed to runners in the Asia Trail Master Championship series and the Grandmaster Quest also in 2020. It’s been a rocky start of the season for anyone involved in the event and apparel business, but the new Capsule collection by Uglow is a welcome highlight that makes us all look forward to the season re-launch even more!

Check and purchase Uglow’s Capsule collection easily online

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