THAILAND BY UTMB
The global expansion of the UTMB franchise, and loosening of travel restrictions, can give you a starring role in a trip-of-a-lifetime ultra
UTMB, or Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc to give the event its full title, is without doubt one of the biggest and most iconic races in trail running. Seen by many as the World Cup of the sport it not only attracts the very best in the game, but you’ll be sure find it on the bucket list of many trail runners including myself. The Alpine event, beyond being tough to finish, has earned a reputation for being just as tough to get on the start line for. But that is about to change with the new UTMB World Series.
For those wanting to experience that UTMB atmosphere, the new series offers the chance to do so at 30 races worldwide, giving trail runners on every continent the opportunity to get a taste of UTMB at some iconic locations, each with its own twist. One of these races is Thailand by UTMB.
The race is based around the highest mountain in the country, Doi Inthanon, which takes runners to the ‘rooftop of Thailand’. Doi Inthanon is situated in Northern Thailand in the Chiang Mai Province, approximately 50 miles from Chiang Mai itself. Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand, the second largest in the country behind Bangkok, and is known affectionately as The Rose of The North. It is a modern city that has grown up around the ancient city of Chiang Mai and an absolute must for visitors to the country even if running isn’t on their agenda.
If you drive in a straight line in any direction from Chiang Mai you will soon find yourself in the countryside with unspoilt rainforests, elephant sanctuaries and magnificent waterfalls such as the Wachirathan waterfall –a majestic, multi-level sight to behold contained within the Doi Inthanon national park.
Doi Inthanon is part of the Himalayan mountain range and is one of the country’s most popular national parks covering a massive area of almost 500 square kilometres. You can see why it
