UPCOMING TRAIL-RUNNING RACES!
Asia – Malaysia – Borneo Ultra Trail
The Borneo Ultra-Trail® Marathon 2020 is an extreme, ultra-trail marathon that will take runners through a combination of natural jungle settings and cultural landscapes. The place of all races during the event will be the trails, dirt tracks, and paths in the Kiulu Valley North of Kota Kinabalu on the Malaysian side of Borneo Island. Runners will be sweeping views over the surrounding ridges and valleys, as well as to the majestic Mount Kinabalu to the north-east of the area.
There will be five different races this year. The four previous year distances "100k", 50k, 30k, and 9k and finally 100-mile adventure - the race organized first time in the 2020 edition of the event. The short Sunday Family run has a nice variety of terrain. It's adapted for kids to allow families to take part in the shorter race. The route is different from the 30k and 50k races; the participants who sign up for the 9k as an "add-on" race to a longer distance might be sure to meet a different trail experience. Finally, the 9k distance finishes along the same route as the 100 km course, giving participants a chance to run together with the 100k race competitors.
The 100-mile course will initially follow most of the 100 km course, with an additional 62 km section, mainly on new trails and dirt road sections. The complete course of 100 Mile will resemble a clover with 3 leaves on three different loops. We hope it's the lucky sign for all participants!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Borneo-Ultra-Trail-Marathon-BUTM-915375448554890/
North America – California – the Marin Ultra Challenge
The Marin Ultra Challenge it's the biggest Marin County long-distance trail race.
March 14th marks the 8th edition of this tour of some of Marin's best trails. You can be sure that the effort went into the design of each course for the MUC to have a fantastic result; all three distances are physically demanding and exceptionally beautiful. The races begin at the black sands of Rodeo Beach, and traverses the Marin Headlands, Stinson-facing Mt. Tamalpais and Muir Woods, exhibiting a range of terrain, from exposed fire-roads with incredible coastal and inland views to tight, technical single-track. The organizer's team spent hours and weekends developing these spectacular courses, so there are very little trails overlaps. This gives participants a chance to discover different trails on each distance. Please do not wait and check it! You'll quickly realize why Marin County has become the trail runner's destination.
Location: Marin Headlands, Muir Woods, & Mt. Tamalpais State Park
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2020
Events: 25K, 50K & 50 Mile
Start Times: 25K, 50K & 50 Mile
- 50 Mile – 6:30 AM
- 50K – 6:30 AM
- 25K – 8:00 AM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsideTrail/
Oceania – New Zealand - Macpac Motatapu 2020
Date: 14-15 March 2020
Each year, for one weekend only, the trails of the Motatapu welcomes thousands of competitors to experience one of New Zealand's favorite sporting events.
The heart of the event is set in between stunning Wanaka and Queenstown high country. In the events, the participants will race through stunning high-country terrain in New Zealand, with four different courses to choose from over two days, depending on your appetite for scenery or expectations!
The longest race - Motatapu Ultra Run traverses the beautiful ridges and valleys of the Harris Mountain Range between Wanaka and Arrowtown. The racetrack covers 51km of exposed and physically challenging terrain across the Motatapu and Soho Stations on an old travelers' route that is soaked in New Zealand’s history.
Runners will ascend a total of 2790 meters over four peaks (the highest point being 1275m) and descend over rough areas, long, steep hills, and river crossings.
The Motatapu Ultra follows the well-known DOC Motatapu Track, which forms part of the Te Araroa Walking Trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff. The trail connects settlements, townships, and cities throughout New Zealand, showcasing a wide variety of experiences - natural, cultural, and historical.
On Sunday there are three other races organized:
Off-Road Marathon - 42 km
The Marathon starts at Motatapu Station near Lake Wanaka and finishes at historic Arrowtown. The track follows a route that the Maoris of New Zealand used to use for hunting, looking for food, and to mine Pounamu (Greenstone - the stones highly valued by the MÄori culture). The valley was not discovered by European explorers until around 1862, during the gold rush.
This course takes you on an iconic run through the magnificent Motatapu, Soho, and Glencoe Stations, which, thanks to the land's owners, are opened once a year to the public for this event.
Runners will go through numerous river crossings, climb some hills, and no doubt be awestruck with the spectacular views of these southern high-country valleys.
Sawpit Trail Run – 8,5 km
The Sawpit Gully track is a local's favorite that offers up stunning views, mountain creeks, beech forest, and beautiful hills all within an 8.5km loop. Located on Coronet Peak station, the trail was initially built as the transport track that linked early settlers to the Big Hill Track with the Quartz Mining town of Macetown. The continuous change in scenery and terrain make this course an exciting and challenging option for all levels of trail runners.
Miners Trail -15 km
It is a mountain-style course with varied terrain, including smooth farm tracks, narrow single-paths with short sections of steep ascent or downhills. Runners on this race need to be ready for the 11 river crossings that greet them on the final few KMs!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motatapu.event/
Joining the weekend will be a whole host of other sports including cycling and triathlon.
Registration is still open!
Photos: Race organizers