KOTA KINABALU: The 2024 Asia Trail Master Championship (ATM) season's final will be held around the world heritage site of Mount Kinabalu on Sept 14.
It will be the second time the ATM final takes place in Malaysia.
The first final race was in 2019, which was held to coincide with the Malaysia Mountain Trail Festival in Taiping, Perak.
On a website, ATM stated that the final race would be the classic and popular "The Most Beautiful Thing" (TMBT) Ultra event in Sabah.
"The event hardly needs an introduction. TMBT is the oldest trail event in Malaysia and one of the oldest in Southeast Asia overall.
"The ATM Championship final race will take place on a special and dedicated course with qualified runners only.
"The total race distance will - as usual - measure around 78 km and the total elevation gain is estimated at over 4,500 hectometers, which is significant."
Although most of the trails are runnable, there are some jungle trail sections.
The main obstacle for many participants will likely be the heat and humidity of the region.
Each Asian country can nominate up to five male and five female runners who have accumulated the highest points to participate in the final race.
To qualify, each nominee must have completed a minimum of two ATM races.
At press time, Malaysians listed in the top ATM points ranking include Milton Amat, Wilsen Singgin, Shamiera Auther and Rejlen James.
TMBT also features the traditional 100km, 50km, 30 km, 37 km Night Run, 12km and 7.5 km family run for the general public.