This Saturday we have a new ATM Candidate Race in Ifugao, famous for its lush rice terraces, in the northern part of the cordilleras in the Philippines. The Amuyao Mountain Ultra offers a 50 Miles and a 50K as main race categories.

The 50 miles race is serious business with 6700 metres of elevation gain. Ifugao is still part of the Cordillera mountain region. The highest peak in the province is Mount Amuyao at an altitude of 2702m above sea level, and it’s the mountain that lends its name to the event.

Candidate Races are often a great occasion to get to know new names in the competitive trail scene, and Amuyao 50 looks like it may offer exactly that. There’s not that many races in this part of the Philippines so, as we saw two weeks ago in Jumla Rara Ultra in Nepal, we may be up for a few surprises. On the start list of the 50 miles (85km) race we at least also have two very familiar names: Grandmaster Cheryl Bihag and Romando Cumahling.

The Banaue Rice Terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its breathtaking beauty and intricate agricultural engineering. The route typically winds through the terraces and the surrounding mountainous landscapes, offering participants a unique and challenging running experience. The event not only promotes physical fitness and sportsmanship but also serves as a platform to showcase the natural and cultural wonders of the region.

Stay tuned for news and updates of the Amuyao 50 event via our ATM facebook and Instagram pages.

Bukidnon Province in the northcentral part of Mindanao in the southern Philippines is increasingly profiling itself as a trail running hub in the country and beyond. A few years ago, events such as MUSPO and Mt Kalatungan Ultra put the region on the map - also in ATM - and since then plenty of runners have emerged. Think of Yoyong Sacayle and Mary Joy Sumanda, just to name two competitive athletes in our ATM Championship circuit. More runners means more opportunities to set up new trail events, too. Hence, Point Trail on 8/9 June. Directed by the aforementioned ATM race winner and 2023 Finalist Yoyong Sacayle, Point Trail is centred around Bukidnon’s capital city Malaybalay and has applied for Candidate Race status. The event offers three race distances, of which the 50km is the main one. Less ambitious runners can also choose the 30km and 15km. The 50km course map and profile reveal a total elevation of 2360 hm and basically seven distinct ‘peaks’ , of which the second, third and fifth stand out. Along the way, runners will be treated to magnificent views across the area. Bukidnon means “highlander” or “mountain dweller” so you know what to expect. In fact, the province is one of the country’s leading rice, corn and pineapple producers, too, and is stated as one of the Philippines’ fastest growing economies.

To reach Malaybalay from outside Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro is arguably the easiest and closest as it is a main domestic flight hub.

Via the official facebook page you can stay up-to-date with the latest news about the new event. Registration can be done via the link below.

ATM race winner and Finalist Yoyong Sacayle is the RD of Point Trail Ultra

We are happy to announce the latest ATM Candidate Race event in the Philippines, scheduled for 27/28 April: the Altra 50 Amuyao Mountain Ultra. This is bound to be a very scenic trail run as it takes place through the great natural landscapes and heritage culture of the Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao, northeast of Baguio.

Runners can look forward to a 50 miles (approx 87km) race as the longest distance category. Less ambitious runners can also opt for the shorter varieties of 42k, 25km and 10km. The 50 miles race is serious business with 6700 metres of elevation gain. Ifugao is still part of the Cordillera mountain region. The highest peak in the province is Mount Amuyao at an altitude of 2702m above sea level. Views from the summit area are breathtaking.

The Banaue Rice Terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its breathtaking beauty and intricate agricultural engineering. The route typically winds through the terraces and the surrounding mountainous landscapes, offering participants a unique and challenging running experience. The event not only promotes physical fitness and sportsmanship but also serves as a platform to showcase the natural and cultural wonders of the region. The event is scheduled at the beginning of planting season, when the terrace fields are bursting with green and the weather is fairly predictable. The course features breathtaking sceneries, ancient rice paddies, forest trails, and steep mountains that will surely captivate and challenge outdoor sports enthusiasts from local and abroad.

The event aims to position the Banaue as being one of the prime destinations in the Philippines.

To get to the event, you first make your way from Manila or Clark to Baguio City.

Check all the details on the official event website, and register soon. The official number of participants is restricted so get your bib as soon as you can!

Brunei Darussalam Ultra Trail Marathon has claimed a rightful spot on the trail calendar with its daring loop concept. The inaugural event last weekend had received the ATM Candidate label and saw a fine competition on a 5km loop course that was - as so often in Brunei - more challenging than most had anticipated. Race-wise, we saw an impressive performance by Sabah’s Wilsen Singgin, who of course always thrives when the trails are tough. Singgin took victory on the 50km by passing local hero Sefli Ahar on the last lap. In the women’s competition, Mailin Salungin -also from Sabah- was the strong winner.

BDUTM took place at night time in the Tasek Lama Recreational Park and had over 3000hm of elevation gain for the 10-lap 50km race. Other than the 50km, there were also shorter distance categories, with Milton Amat winning the 30km, for instance, as he prepares for his upcoming ATM points races BUTM 50 and Lantau 70.

As in almost every race he starts, Sefli Ahar decided to set the pace from the beginning. A multiple race winner in ATM in the early seasons, Ahar returned to the scene at TMBT last year and scored second behind John Ray Onifa on the 50km. Now approaching 50 years of age, Sefli is still very fast, but the much younger and technically very skilled Wilsen Singgin turned out to have a little more power left at the end. Singgin will also be featuring at BUTM 50 and Lantau 70 in March. Sefli Ahar came second ahead of his countryman and ATM Grandmaster Alexander Chung Kwei Ming.

The experienced Mailin Salungin, who has scored podium places in a.o. TMBT in the past, was leading most of the race, with Kona Liau and Jennyifer Townsend joining her on the 50km podium.

In early June, runners can score ATM Championship points in Brunei as well at the Simpur Ultra event.

This weekend there is also an interesting ATM Candidate Race on the programme in Brunei. BDUTM, shot for Brunei Darussalam Ultra Trail Marathon, is taking place in the capital city on a 5 km loop course, which should create a running festival atmosphere. The longest race is 50km, i.e. 10 loops. The start of the main race is at 21:00 local time on Saturday, which implies a night time race in cooler temperatures.

The event is organised by HJ Khai Event Management and is centred around the Tasek Lama Recreational Park. BDUTM is meant to promote the country as an outdoor and trail running destination with the Tasek Lama Park being the most iconic region to do so. Estimated elevation gain for the 50km is 3100 hm, which is considerable! Moreover, people who have been running in Brunei know the hills are often quite steep and more technical than expected.

The event has attracted very competitive field for its first edition, mainly coming from Brunei itself and other parts of Borneo island. That includes, amongst others, Wilsen Singgin and Gustin Tiam. Both from Sabah and unafraid to test the waters of something new. They will face very well-known local stars such as good old Sefli Ahar, last season still second at TMBT 50 behind John Ray Onifa. Sefli certainly has home advantage and could be the top favourite for the victory. Amirul Tuah and Alexander Chung are other ATM Grandmasters who can shine this weekend.

Also the women’s 50km looks very good on paper. Here we find Sarawak’s Sally Yap on the start list. Still young for trail standards, Sally was the 2022 vice -ATM champion. 2023 did not really go as planned - from a racing point of view - and Sally has also picked up further university studies again, restricting her options to travel and compete. It will be interesting to see how she fares this weekend, as the extra rest between races might actually do her some good. Experienced Sahabans Kona Liau and Mailin Salungin are other contenders, and Laslin Sarawi cannot be underestimated either.

ATM will be reporting live from the BDUTM event from start to finish on our usual channels.

We are happy to announce that the redesigned Pacific Mountain Coast Trail Festival in Luzon, Philippines, has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label for the event on 6/7 July. General Nakar is a large municipality located to the east of Manila in Quezon Province, passed the Rizal mountains. On the event programme we find 100km and 50km as main race categories, but less ambitious runners can also choose for the 25km or 12km. There is also a kids race foreseen. This event coincides with the towns' founding anniversary, celebrating bounties and culture through the Gapo and Palusong Festival.

The new PCMTF event is in a way not brand new. A previous version was held back in 2018 under a different management. Back then, the event had a runable terrain, but according to the new race director there will be more technicality in the hinterland this time around. General Nakar itself, of course, lies by the sea. The precise course map will be made available soon.

You can find more information via the webpage and the facebook page linked below.

The first Danao City International Ultra Trail in Cebu, Philippines proved to be a great addition to the Filipino trail calendar and was a successful ATM Candidate with promising years ahead. Andy Toniacao and Chloe Base won a very tough 100km race, but performance-wise it was probably Larry Apolinario who raised eyebrows the most with a stunningly dominant win on the 50km, 1h35’ ahead of second place…

The new event received large support from the Danao City authorities and featured a start & finish arena in the centre of town, which always boosts the festival atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the local population to be involved. Runners were given a technical course that was well-appreciated, including well-stocked aid stations that had about anything you could imagine. Especially the 100km ultra distance turned out to be a genuine challenge for the majority of participants. The 6300 metres of elevation gain were a warning sign on paper, but those numbers never say anything about technicality and gradients - both uphill and downhill. Experienced Filipino runners argued that Danao 100 comes close to being the toughest 100k trail in the country - and it was not even raining. The race winner’s finishing time of 20 hours and 37 minutes of course already says a lot. That winner is Andy Toniacao, a well-known and respected competitive trail runner in the Visayas region of the Philippines. Not a so-called nobody. He was in the lead from the start and soon build up a big advantage over the other runners. Despite slowing down slightly in the final sections - it was Toniacao’s debut on the 100 km - he arrived back in the bustling city centre of Danao on Saturday evening with an advantage of 1h15’ over Jensen Pasaforte and Juan Salang. Only one female runner managed to beat the 30 hours cut-off time: Chloe Base. She was probably the one who managed her efforts in the most efficient way, as during the whole of Saturday she was never reported to be inside the top three.

While the 100km was clearly a race for the toughest of trail runners, the 50km and 30km races were more manageable for the standard runner. Mind you, also the 50k was reviewed as ‘technical to very technical’. All the more impressive was Larry Apolinario’s pace as he blasted away from everyone else. At CP2, he already led the field by 25 minutes after just 15 kilometres. The majority of runners struggled their way to the finish, but Apolinario looked as if he had just gone for his regular Sunday’s jog. His race performances outside the Philippines, particulary in ATM races, have somehow been mostly below-par but on home soil he has firmly set his foot besides Onifa and Macaneras. His finish time was 6h25. Dante Soreno, all cramped up, finished second in 8h00’ , followed by Rodney Ortega in 8h16’.

The women’s 50km saw a very nice dual between local hero Kathleen Ligan, from Compostela - the town between Cebu City and Danao City - and the established competitor Cecille Wael. Both stayed together until aid stations 3 just over halfway. Then, Wael went off course for too long to still have a fighting chance against Ligan. Both of them were in good shape, finishing fifth and seventh overall. Let’s see if Ligan can build on this victory to become yet another contender for the already strong Pilipinas Team in our ATM Championship. From her side, Wael, was happy to have finished a technical race without the injury pains that plagued most of her 2023 season.

For once, the 30km category also attracted a lot of interest from trail followers due to the presence of reigning ATM Champion John Ray Onifa and the young up-and-comer, some would say ‘The Prince’ , Godwin Mirar. Still only 23 years of age, Godwin caught everyone’s eye already back in 2019 when he finished fourth behind Kitamura, Macaneras and John Ellis in the Punisher 80k race on Babak Samal island. One of those talents with a potentially big future in the sport. Godwin Mirar has been doing things the smart way: no long ultras for him yet, it’s all about body development, speed training and gaining technical experience in shorter races first. Already in VMM last year he showed the progress he had made since 2019. On the 50km he finished third behind Onifa and Joergensen, but just a mere 11 minutes behind. In Danao, Godwin Mirar could have a go at John Ray Onifa. It’s only 30km and Onifa is in recovery from a serious 100km in Hong Kong a week ago. Indeed, the Prince put the pressure on the King. At CP2, Godwin Mirar arrived a minute ahead of Onifa, who did twist his ankle just before. The ATM Champion realised he was in a serious race, grit his teeth together and managed to catch him again before opening up a gap. Mirar also missed a marker somewhere to eliminate his victory chances, but his bravery of taking the fight to Onifa can only be applauded. At the same time, John Ray Onifa showed his resilience to continue racing with a damaged ankle. After he crossed the line, he went straight into the ambulance. Luckily, it soon turned out to be relatively okay despite a swelling. His participation in the 9 Dragoons in three weeks is not in danger.

Chloe Base as the only female finisher of the 100 km

Kathleen Ligan: impressive victory on the 50km

Larry Apolinario: man of the weekend?

The 1st edition of the Danao City Ultra Trail in Cebu, Philippines, can look forward to the participation of reigning ATM male champion John Ray Onifa this Sunday. Being more or less at home in the Visayas, Onifa will be running the 30km shorter distance race of the ATM Candidate event, which also offers 100km and 50km categories. Onifa is probably hoping for a calm race, having just done a highly competitive 100km in Hong Kong last weekend, but will have the 23-year-old up-and-comer Godwin Mirar on his tail this Sunday.

The new event Danao City Ultra Trail has been set up under the direction of Bitbit Marites Sotto, a former highly successful adventure, MTB and trail running racer. The ambition seems clear: make this the stand-out trail running event in the Visayas. Runners can look forward to lush forests, rocky trails, and stunning vistas. The 100km ultra will certainly not be the easiest race to complete, looking at its continuously ondulating profile and the more than 6000 hm of elevation gain. Cut off time has been set at 30 hours with start at midnight. Ezekiel Cheruiyot from Kenya will be one to look out for. As one of few in his country of runners to have a clear focus on long distance trail ultras, Cheruiyot has been on the ATM scene before - collecting a second place in the 100 miles race of Ultra Trail Chiang Mai in Thailand in 2022. Looking at the start list, amongst the known competitors, we find Noy Gentoleo - always a contender for podium or at least top five. Florence Alave, recently third on Mt Apo Sky Race 100, will certainly also be in the mix.

On the 50km eyes will be focused on Larry Apolinario and Cecille Wael in the men’s and women’s races, respectively. Both had a rollercoaster year in 2023 with great race performances alternating with injury-related struggles. Apolinario is also one of those young local stars trying to stay in the slipstream of John Ray Onifa and Arnie Macaneras in the hope of one day taking over the crown.

ATM will be providing live race coverage all weekend from Danao City. You can follow the action as usual primarily on ATM Facebook, but also on ATM Instagram, ATM YouTube and ATM X channels.

John Ray Onifa kicks off his 2024 ATM season with the 30k at Danao City Candidate Race, but will face some strong opposition by the name of upcoming youngster Godwin Mirar

Cecille Wael will be aiming for success on the 50km having taken it easy over the past two months to allow her persistent ankle injury to heal

Larry Apolinario when he impressively won MUSPO 100 in July 2022. He will be on the 50k this weekend.

We are happy to announce that the 2nd edition of Trail des Gombak in Selangor is a new ATM Candidate Race in peninsular Malaysia on the weekend of 22/23 June. The event is organised by Projek Hijo and offers traditional race distance categories of 100km and 50 km , alongside shorter versions of 30 km and 15 km. The 100km can also be done in duo format.

Gombak is located near Kuala Lumpur and to the Batu Caves, a touristic hotspot, making it a very convenient event from a logistical point of view. The event location is the Orang Asli settlement. The race courses consist of jungle trails, hills, waterfalls and much more of what the Gombak area has to offer. On paper, Trail des Gombak is not the most difficult with approx 3600 hm of elevation gain for the 100k and 1800 hm for the 50k, but as usual numbers never tell the whole story. The 100km starts at day time, 11am on Saturday, and there’s a cut-off time of 32 hours. The 50km has a 3am start on Sunday with 15 hours as the time limit. Runners should be aware of the mandatory gear requirements before signing up.

Registration can be done via Checkpoint Spot Asia, which you can access via a click on the button below. More event details can be obtained via the event website and facebook page.

Malico Grand Ultra in Santa Maria West, Pangasinan, in the West of Luzon a little south of Baguio, was held for the first time as an ATM Candidate Race last weekend. Organised by the Maharlika Team that also brings you Sierra Madre Trail Ultra in March, Malico turned out to be quite a tough and technical course with the 75 km long distance winner requiring 15h39’ to complete the distance. Miguel Carranza is not a soft cookie, though! The weather was cold in parts, but Carranza likes long ultras and was in his element to take the measure of a strong Bhert Orpiada, who took second and Sai Tonog II , one of last year’s Filipino protagonists who narrowly missed out on qualification for the ATM Final. One of the Finalists and pre-race favourites, Avelino Versola III suffered from hypothermia in the cold weather and decided to DNF with a long season ahead.

A great newcomer on the ultra distance has won the women’s Candidate Race: Michella Aradanas! She managed to outpace none other than last year’s Sierra Madre winner Ann Jilian Pulanco on the technical terrain. Pulanco came second. As you can hear in the post-race chat, Aradanas has a background in ultra cycling and bodybuilding training, so the basic fitness level is clearly there!

The next Filipino Candidate Race is already coming up in 2 weeks in Cebu: Danao City Ultra Marathon, which will have several big names at the start. The first ATM Championship points race in the Philippines will be Bagtit Ultra next month, followed relatively quickly by Mt Kalatungan Ultra and Sierra Madre Trail in March. The first quarter is indeed the trail high season in the country.

The men’s Top 3 on the Podium of the 75 km race with Miguel Carranza as winner

Michella Aradanas scored a nice win of AJ Pulanco in one of her first ultra races

Last year’s Sierra Madre winner Ann Jilian Pulanco had to settle for second

The Candidate Race in Santa Cruz, easily enough titled ‘SC 70’ , saw quite a number of new faces from Mindanao’s ever growing trail running community. The 70km main race, which had 4000 metres of elevation, featured several regional peaks but avoided Mount Apo. Youngsters Eldy Bulod and Shally Yuson emerged victorious.

Organised by the experienced Team Jegol Runners, SC 70 flagged off in the afternoon for what then mainly turned into a nighttime race. Eldy Bulod and Isaiah Paraiso set the pace with Anthony Paladin initially as the closest chaser. Bulod and Paraiso stayed together across the hills until the final section, which was 10km flattish back to the race venue. Bulod had the fastest legs and won ahead of Paraiso, who also scored second in Matanao Mountain Marathon last month behind Yoyong Sacayle. Good old Angelito Vertudazo - ATM Finalist last year - eventually claimed the third step on the podium.

Shally Yuson led the women’s race from an early stage, but was pushed forward most of the way by Manilyn Mamugay, who is reaching her best competitive level again after a few years off. Yuson was second in Matanao a month ago behind Cecille Wael. Beberly Lim and Cherry Fuentes were third and fourth.

We are happy to announce that the inaugural Danao City International Ultra Trail in Cebu, Philippines, has acquired the ATM Candidate Race label. The new event takes place on 27/28 January and is keen on entering the trail running scene with a big bang. It will be the first time Asia Trail Master is involved with an event on Cebu island.

Bitbit Marites Sotto is one of the founders of Danao City International Ultra Trail, and many will remember her as one of Southeast Asia’s best female mountainbikers, adventure racers and trail runners not so long ago. Marites lives and breathes outdoor sports and is very determined to develop Danao as a premium trail event in the Philippines and the wider region. The first edition will likely see the participation of some of the country’s most celebrated runners.

The event offers four distance categories to runners, of which the 100km and 50km are the main races. There is also a 30km and 15km for the slightly less ambitious. The 100km Ultra Trail covers Danao’s four breathtaking peaks: Mt. Licos, Manghilao Peak, Mt. Lantawan and Mt. Mago . Podium placers can expect cash prizes and product prizes.

Danao City has emerged as a prominent destination for sports tourism. With its beautiful landscapes, challenging terrains, friendly locals. and strong commitment to outdoor sports. It will be a place for cultural exchange, friendly competition and the spirit of adventure that Danao City stands for — offering unique and unforgettable experience while respecting the environment and preserving its rich heritage.

Registration is open and you can access via a click on the button below. More details on the event can be obtained via the Danao City facebook page. You can also watch the teaser video and the press conference that took place on 25 October further down below.