The first Indian event on the Asia Trail Master Championship calendar opens the registration books this Friday, 1 July. Malnad Ultra welcomes runners from across the continent to run in the heartland of Indian coffee at elevations ranging from 800m to 1500m above sea level.

The 6th edition of this event, one of the country’s biggest trail events -if not the biggest -, is scheduled for the last weekend of November on the 26th and 27th. Taking place in the Western Ghats region of southern India, the routes on offer will be 100 km, 50 km and 30 km, whereby the two longest categories offer ATM Championship points.

The origin of the name Malnad is attributed to Male meaning Hill and Nadu meaning Land. So, Malnad is the land of the hills. The organisation is in the capable hands of the Global Initiative for Restructuring Environment and Management (GIREM), and further driven by a large team of enthusiastic volunteers. The races are challenging and across various types of terrain with accumulated elevation gain of approx 3400 hm for the 100 km and 1700 hm for the 50 km. In fact, it’s a 50km loop that 100k runners do twice. The courses take runners through the Mudigere area in the State of Karnataka, which has Bengaluru (previously known as Bengalore) as its capital. That big city is also the international gateway to the event. From there, busses will take runners to Attigundi, roughly 6 hours away, where the event is held. Please note Malnad Ultra is a real trail adventure and takes place in a remote area so allow for enough time to reach the final destination. International runners are recommended to email the event organisation or Asia Trail Master directly for details about transportation options to the event site. Accommodation is mostly homestays and are plentiful in the area. Detailed information about travel, accommodation and touristic options are available on the official website of Malnad Ultra now.

Alongside the three Vietnamese classics in the Asia Trail Master Championship series, we have a new points race this year that takes place in a stunning landscape as well: Mu Cang Chai Trail Ultra. The event, which will be organised for the 2nd time, is scheduled for 24 September and has a 50k as the main race category.

Mu Cang Chai is located in the Northwest of Vietnam, albeit somewhat lower than Sapa, the famous trekking and tourism town that functions as host of the Vietnam Mountain Marathon every year. This is hilly, if not mountainous, terrain and so one does need to spend some time on a motorised vehicle to reach it. Furtunately, the event organisation is having shuttle busses from Hanoi, and one package option also includes already the local homestay in Mu Cang Chai. The logistical details can be checked below and via the official event registration page.

ATM Championship contenders need to sign up for the 50k race to score points in their attempt to enter Team Vietnam for the ATM Final in December. Less ambitious runners can also opt for the 25k or 15k options. Great to see is also that the 50k main race will start at 5am, meaning participants actually get to see the breathtaking landscape of Mu Cang Chai. The precise route will be made public in due course. Registration is already open.

The rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai at their most stunning

Good news coming from Japan also after last weekend’s Echigo Country Trail: the iconic Izu Trail Journey is confirmed as a points race for the 2022 Asia Trail Master Championship series. ‘ITJ’ is scheduled for the second Sunday of December as usual, i.e. 11 December. The route takes runners across the Izu Peninsula south of Tokyo, and goes from A to B on an old pilgrimage route of 72 km in length. While many sections are runable, there’s typically over 4000 metres of elevation gain to be conquered here often in cold conditions. A few editions even had snow, making it a special race for South East Asians especially. Unforgettable are the majestic views of Mount Fuji and the Bay along the famous Nishina Pass.

The precise route of the 2022 edition will be made available in due course, and registrations are expected to open next month in the middle of July.

With Hakuba Trails still unconfirmed for this season’s ATM Championship series, Izu Trail Journey could be an important race for Japanese elites aiming to get a spot on their national country team at the ATM Final a week later.

Alessandro Sherpa and Salva Rambla had a good time in Tokyo before their dual to determine the outcome of the 2018 ATM Championship in the ITJ race

Hisashi Kitamura and Pablo Diago Gonzales had a good scrap at Izu in 2018

The Izu Peninsula is the home territory of Tomohiro Mizukoshi

2019 vice-ATM Champion Hisashi Kitamura proved to everyone last Sunday he may be better than ever this season by winning the Echigo Country Trail in Nagaoka, Niigata. It was the Kuala Lumpur-based Japanese runner’s first race victory in his native country. Kitamura had to work hard for it, however, as he was challenged by renowned ultra road running specialist Kiyotaka Imai. After 63 km in hot conditions, he was able to do his trademark karate kick into the finish, with Imai four minutes back in second place. Earlier this season, Hisashi Kitamura also crossed the finish line first at BUTM in Sabah, beating Milton Amat, but he got relegated to third place in that race due to a time penalty for missing a checkpoint and a mandatory gear item. Victory tasted sweet at Echigo, however, and the UGLOW Asia leader made no mistake about his ambition to win the 2022 Asia Trail Master Championship in December, three years after coming so close in the battle against John Ellis.

Another ATM protagonist of the pre-pandemic era made a highly remarkable comeback to trail racing: Tomohiro Mizukoshi came in third and scored the podium! A result that probably he himself had never aspired before the weekend, given over two years of hardship due to severe respiratory illness in 2020 and injuries afterwards as he was trying to get back in running shape. Echigo was his kind of trail race with its longer runable sections, and ideal to try a comeback. Tomohiro grabbed the opportunity with both hands and banked his first 425 ATM Championship points of the year.

The women’s race was won by Asami Komio, ahead of Motoko Ugajin and Mizue Ashida.

The 2022 Echigo Country Trail was held with Japanese and Japan-based runners only, still as a result of the covid 19 measures in the country. The event has been a points race in ATM since 2016 and we highly recommend it to everyone keen on having a Japanese trail experience next year.

It was Hisashi Kitamura’s first race victory in his native Japan

The Echigo Country Trail around Nagaoka in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo, has been the traditional first Japanese points race in the Asia Trail Master Championship series since Season II in 2016. Several top runners have gone there for a weekend of what can best be described as sheer trail running pleasure. The race course has now been extended from 52 km to 63 km , but it remains one of the more manageable races on our ATM calendar despite the often very steep “muscle biters” inside the forests. Pre-summer heat, as is again forecast for this weekend, makes the race often harder than many expect it to be. Niigata is a region north of the well-known Japanese Alps.

The event is traditionally preceeded by a great welcoming party in the host town’s main hall, and many runners choose to stay also in a local homestay. After 2 years of cancellations due to covid, it is fantastic that the event is starting again.

Japan is still basically closed for foreign entries, so the race will see mainly Japanese and expat runners. As always in Japan - a country where people quite simply love running - we may see a surprising podium, but two ATM protagonists are determined to score a great result on Sunday: Hisashi Kitamura and the returning Tomohiro Mizukoshi. UGLOW Ace Kitamura will be entering his second ATM points race of the 2022 season after his 3rd place in BUTM (following time penalties). The Karate Kit is clearly in top shape as a recent string of excellent performances in high-level Japanese races have shown. Echigo might as well be his first ever Japanese race victory this Sunday! The ATM Championship is very much his 2022 goal, and Tomohiro Mizukoshi could become a very welcome ally in that masterplan. More experienced than Kitamura and a former race winner himself - think Plataran X Trail Bali in 2018 - Mizukoshi is coming back from serious illness and injury that plagued him throughout the covid crisis. His recent runs on training suggest that he is gradually getting back to his high level of 2018, but Echigo might still come a few months too early to compete with the younger armada.

Echigo will be an important race for Japanese elites in the context of qualifying for the ATM Championship Final in December. Given the ongoing restrictions on entering the country, races such as Hakuba Trails in September are not yet confirmed for ATM Championship points this season.

For Tomohiro Mizukoshi Echigo is a return to the ATM front after two very tough years

In-form Hisashi Kitamura is looking for a top result in Echigo this year

Tokyo-based Carole Fuchs was a protagonist in Niigata before the covid crisis

One of the most-anticipated events on the ATM calendar is now open for registration following the pandemic: Ulju Trail Nine Peaks in South Korea. Scheduled for 29/20 October, ‘UTNP’ is directed and promoted by Jsceno, known from Korea 50K, and offers an extensive programme with two race categories that provide ATM Championship ranking points. Long distance runners can look forward to a challenging 124km with over 9210 metres of elevation gain, which on paper makes this one of the toughest races on our calendar this season. Faster-paced medium distance enthusiasts can also opt for the 44km race (Ulju Trail Five Peaks), which nevertheless also has more than 3500 hm! Shorter distances are also available with ‘2 Peaks’ or ‘1 Peak’ , but these have no ATM points. People with more time on their hands and happy to stay in Ulju for some days can also choose to do the ‘9 Peaks’ in different stages (5 days, 4 nights).

It will be a tough but beautiful day in the office in the southeastern part of the country. International access is easiest via Busan, an enjoyable major city to visit in its own right. However, you could also fly to Seoul and take a train from there. The races of Ulju Trail Nine Peaks will offer you sweeping views of forested valleys and silverglass fields.

Registration for runners outside of Korea goes via an online form first, following which you will receive a payment link. Good news: enter ‘ATM’ in the field ‘affiliated organisation’ and get a 15% discount on the registration fee. Moreover, for visitors from outside Korea there are hotel options with free shuttle transportation and a free touristic tour! Practical details can be obtained via Jsceno