There are so many trail run events in the region these days that chances are, you can find one every weekend!

But it is also worth noting that not all events are created equal. Some are small community events, while others are big, reliable, prestigious and is part of a bigger umbrella of events, such as the Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB.

The 2023 edition of Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB saw a total of 2,513 participants. In 2024, the event attracted an impressive 3,519 runners, showcasing its growing popularity. Among the international participants in 2024, Malaysians led with 513 runners, marking a 20% increase from the previous year. Chinese participants saw a remarkable surge of 612%, with 185 runners. Singaporeans also showed significant growth, with 47 participants, an 81% increase from 2023.

Singapore to Betong

Travelling from Singapore to Betong

Betong is located in Yala, the southernmost province in Thailand.

Singaporeans may be familiar with Hatyai, the biggest city in the south with direct flights from Singapore. And guess that this would be a good transit point to Betong. However, Hatyai is a good 270km from Betong, while Penang in Malaysia is only 120km away.

So, you can fly from Singapore to Penang. Lots of flight options for the 1.5hr journey and return flights can be as low as SGD130. Then, you can board the shuttle buses provided by the race organiser from Penang airport. It costs about SGD60 for a return trip. Do note though that traffic on the Penang bridge can be horrendous. And that border crossing from Malaysia to Thailand is also a hit-and-miss affair. On the return trip, the Malaysian immigration only had one opened counter, sn that process alone took more than 90 mins.

Dionne Lee on her first trail race

Amazean Jungle by UTMB was our first ever trail running race (both local and overseas). 

We were less prepared than we would have liked, but we ran more at MacRitchie over the last two weeks. 

The terrain was much more rugged than what we’re used to, and the inclines were so intense and steep! The view at the top was very rewarding though, and the energy of the locals who came out to cheer for us really kept us going. 

We were looking through all the potential races on the way home and the locations all look amazing. Maybe CULTRA for a start! But our goal is to do OCC one day.

First 50km “by UTMB” race for F Jerand

I’m new (and hooked) to trail running with less than a year experience. My first ultra was the local Salomon 50K last October 2023 and then, Trans Mt. Lambak Trail (Mix Duo 6 Hours) in Johor. But, this is my baptism by fire – a full UTMB race, and my first ever ultra outside of Singapore!

I’ve been hitting the local trails and joining weekend trips to Johor with Singapore Xtrailblazers. The terrain, tips from other trail runners, guides, and personal experience helped a lot, especially learning about navigating technical descents.

The course is both beautiful and brutal – challenging climbs, breathtaking scenery, slippery downhills. It’s a whole new experience. The scorching heat at AS2 almost made me throw in the towel, but for some reason, I dug deep and kept moving. Every step was a mental battle, pushing past the physical exhaustion.

Taking a few days to recover is definitely on the agenda, then it’s back to training in Johor before I fly to the northern Philippines. There, I’ll be exploring a couple of mountains to rack up some much-needed elevation gains and mileage. For now, I’m already penned for Kailas Tioman Ultra 50, UTSG50, Jeju50K, and TransLantau50. And who knows, I might go for HMong50 in Chiang Mai to cap this busy but exciting year.

I’d like to thank the Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB organizers for the opportunity and having won the free slot facilitated by Trail Runners Singapore. And to all the volunteers, fellow runners, and the all the people who went out and greeted us along the route. Thanks Thailand, hope to see you again soon!