Thailand paves way to becoming top trail running destination

[snoop1130]

Thailand paves way to becoming top trail running destination

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - Trail running events in Thailand have been increasingly popular, attracting more and more runners in the past few years. The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) has joined forces with a leading global brand in trail running, Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), to promote Thailand as the top trail running destination in Asia.

 

SAT governor Kongsak Yodmanee and UTMB co-founder Catherine Poletti signed a memorandum of understanding, recording the details of the “THAILAND BY UTMB” project, which covers a big trail running event to be held in Thailand at the end of this year. Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan also attended the signing ceremony to express his support.

 

The UTMB co-founder shared her confidence that, with UTMB support, Thailand will become one of the best trail running destinations of Asia. The upcoming THAILAND BY UTMB race this October is expected to help put Thailand on the map of world-class trail running races.

 

The THAILAND BY UTMB event is scheduled for October 30th – November 1st, 2020. The routes are in the region of Chiang Mai province’s Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand, which will offer runners the opportunity to experience some exotic adventures along the tracks. Trail runners can choose from four distances; the 175km ultra-race, the 119km race, the 81km race and the easier 24km race.

 

Registration will open March 10th. For more information and updates, visit the Facebook page: Thailand by UTMB.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2020-02-27

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[leither69]

And to help the runners go faster, plan to have soi dogs at regular intervals.

[Orton Rd]

Running in the air pollution around CM, not a healthy thing to do surely?

[roo860]

4 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Running in the air pollution around CM, not a healthy thing to do surely?

Should be ok in Oct, Nov. 

????

[Pedrogaz]

Why not make it the "HUB" of trail running? One could argue that pollution is good for runners so they can go much faster when they return to the clean air of other countries....kinda like training at altitude.

[Cake Monster]

I live close to a piece of " Reservation Land, and the land around it, and indeed the land itself is frequently used by Trail Runners, Walkers, Mountain Bikers and Enduro Motorcyclists.

I am convinced that every persons enjoyment of these places would be increased immensely if only all the Trash were regularly cleaned up.

The trash is everywhere, and blights the Landscape all around.

Its OK to have all these people enjoying the facilities, but they have to be responsible, and many are not.

The Authorities need to have a system of " Rangers " in place who Police and clean the area for all to enjoy.

There Salaries would be self funding if charges were put on people to use the facilities, and money would also be available to repair damaged Trails.

 

[spidermike007]

These runs will have to be limited to the seasonal variety, as we do not want runners passing out from PM. 2.5 levels of 150 plus, and AQI of well over 300. Those levels can cause lung failure, especially during a long race. 

 

Nothing, absolutely nothing is being done to improve the air quality here. This administration is the least progressive one could even imagine. If they were the slightest big interested in improving the quality of life here, there are a dozen things they could be doing, starting with discouraging the purchase of new diesel vehicles. Most nations are already wising up to that. Then? How about burning? 

 

There is a very simple solution to this problem. If the authorities were interested in solutions. The burning has to stop. There are alternatives, to this 19th century technique of burning after the sugar cane harvest. Either the government starts to encourage farmers to switch to more environmentally friendly crops, or they start to penalize farmers for burning. This heinous burning, is leading to a tremendous degree of environmental degradation, and alot of lung disease. So here is what I propose-

 

1. Fine the farmers 5,000 baht for a first offense, and give them a stern warning, that burning is now prohibited, and the second fine will be very harsh.

2. For a second offense, fine the farmer 100,000 baht, and warn them that if the burning continues, their land will be confiscated.

3. On the 3rd offense, confiscate their land. Period. No questions. No legal proceeding or appeals on the part of the farmers. Allow others to come in and purchase the land at a fair price, with the caveat that sugar is prohibited as a crop to be grown on that land. 

The news would travel faster than the toxic smoke, and farmers would change their ways overnight, and move into the 21st century. 

[WalkingOrders]

in this air?

 

[cornishcarlos]

Surely if Thailand "paves the way" it will no longer be a trail race ??

 

Anyway, I think it's a great move. I did the first Thailand Ultra Marathon a few years back up in Mae Hong Son and it was amazing... We need more big events that are organised properly !!

[CNXexpat]

Good idea. Sport and especially running is sooooo healthy in these air...

[CNXexpat]

3 hours ago, roo860 said:

Should be ok in Oct, Nov. 

????

October is still rain season. Not so much fun to run.

[Redline]

2 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

I live close to a piece of " Reservation Land, and the land around it, and indeed the land itself is frequently used by Trail Runners, Walkers, Mountain Bikers and Enduro Motorcyclists.

I am convinced that every persons enjoyment of these places would be increased immensely if only all the Trash were regularly cleaned up.

The trash is everywhere, and blights the Landscape all around.

Its OK to have all these people enjoying the facilities, but they have to be responsible, and many are not.

The Authorities need to have a system of " Rangers " in place who Police and clean the area for all to enjoy.

There Salaries would be self funding if charges were put on people to use the facilities, and money would also be available to repair damaged Trails.

 

Never happen, unfortunately 

[Benmart]

3 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

I live close to a piece of " Reservation Land, and the land around it, and indeed the land itself is frequently used by Trail Runners, Walkers, Mountain Bikers and Enduro Motorcyclists.

I am convinced that every persons enjoyment of these places would be increased immensely if only all the Trash were regularly cleaned up.

The trash is everywhere, and blights the Landscape all around.

Its OK to have all these people enjoying the facilities, but they have to be responsible, and many are not.

The Authorities need to have a system of " Rangers " in place who Police and clean the area for all to enjoy.

There Salaries would be self funding if charges were put on people to use the facilities, and money would also be available to repair damaged Trails.

 

The LoS, has become the Land of Slag heaps. Very sad to see rubbish, often in great piles, throughout the land.

[roo860]

2 hours ago, CNXexpat said:

October is still rain season. Not so much fun to run.

I return about the middle of October every year, find it quite pleasant. 

[Scot123]

The right people must be involved now!!! I remember a few years ago an event/s had been organised then it was cancelled by the authority using things/excuses like the environment. The environment musny be a concern now or like I said the right people running the events.