World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand taking shape

Further details of this year’s Amazing Thailand World Mountain and Trail Running Championships have been announced.

The event in Chiang Mai, which was originally planned for 2021 but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be held on 3-6 November.

A total of 900 athletes and 43 teams have already submitted preliminary entries, but in a bid to provide flexibility for nations amid travel uncertainty, the deadline for entries has been extended until at least the end of August.

$4,000 win money on offer

$4,000 is on offer to the winners of each race, with prize money paid five deep and equal for men’s, women’s, trail and mountain.

The event is organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in cooperation with the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), under the general coordination of World Athletics.

IAU General Secretary Dr Hilary Walker explained at a media briefing in Spain that each team will receive $5,000 in travel subsidies.

Unique location

Team Great Britain mountain runner Andrew Douglas was also at the press conference and added: “Racing in new places is always exciting and I am particularly looking forward to this one.”

“It’s a landscape-based sport so we’re always curious to discover new places, terrains and challenges. The 2019 Worlds in Argentina were fabulous, and I am sure this one too will hit every runner’s imagination.”

WMRA President Tomo Šarf echoed Douglas in hailing the unique location for the races: “It’s special. You’ve got a distinct feeling.

“The vegetation, the terrain and the villages the race crosses – everything reminds you that you’re racing in an unusual place, and that’s the richness of our sport.

“It’s not high-altitude, it’s not alpine, but challenging all the same.”