2025 Chiang Mai by UTMB not only marked the close of the Asian trail running season, but also served as a major year-end gathering. This year the Chinese contingent was particularly strong and large, with 3,692 runners assembling in Chiang Mai for the 2025 Asian trail running season finale.
Chinese elite runners also enjoyed strong results, delivering a fine season finale.
The 50 km category race is actually 56 km in total, with 2,400 m of cumulative ascent. The field of international and Chinese athletes is very strong. 2024 CCC champion Hayden HAWKS and 2025 ETC champion Alain SANTAMARIA will line up, and on the Chinese side Asian stars Luo Tao and Li Anna will go head-to-head. Meng Guangfu and Ueda Rui meet again in Chiang Mai. Also participating are trail specialists Wu Erqing, Guan Yousheng, Zhao Hu, Zhang Sheng, Shi Aiai and many others.
In their fourth direct meeting, HOKA elite athlete Meng Guangfu reclaimed the four minutes from last year, winning the men's 50 km category in 04:31:58. In the post-race interview he said he learned from last year's experience: "Last year I was dropped by four minutes on the first climb and the gap remained; today I planned to stick with him." He ultimately took the win, with Ueda Rui second in 04:35:46.
Last week Meng Guangfu was at the Shanghai Marathon, eating, having fun and interacting with spectators, and he ran a 2:39 full marathon. Although he came to Chiang Mai this time to relax and his pre-race vlog looked very laid-back, facing so many top competitors his damn competitive streak returned! “My rivalry with Ueda will continue for another four or five years.”
American runner Hayden Hawks (04:38:18) finished third in the men's race.
In the women's race, ASICS elite athlete Maude Mathys from Switzerland led from the start and ultimately won in 05:03:33, finishing a full 23 minutes clear of second place. Robyn Lesh was second in 05:26:55. HOKA elite athlete, Chinese runner Lei Yan, once again pushed herself to the limit after Ninghai and took third in 05:31:21, returning to the podium on a big stage.
Congratulations to Meng Guangfu and Lei Yan!
In the 100-mile category, the total distance is 168 kilometers, with cumulative ascent 8,100 meters.The men's runner-up was Zhao Jiaju, a Kailas Fuga elite athlete.
Despite contracting influenza A before the race, after his condition improved slightly, Zhao Jiaju did not give up and still fought to take second with a time of 21:40:09. After the race he said, "If there's something you want to do in life you must go for it — what if you succeed?" He also thanked everyone who supported him on the course and in front of the screens during a post-race interview.
The men’s 100-mile title was claimed by Russian runner Aleksei Beresnev in 21:14:01, moving up 10 places from last year. This is Aleksei’s most significant victory since switching from skiing and the marathon to trail running. Japanese runner Masatoshi Obara placed third in 21:58:16.
On the women's side, the champion was also Russia's Antonina Iushina, who successfully defended her Chiang Mai 100-mile women's title in 22:34:21 and after the race said "I'll be back next year"! It's worth noting that both the men's and women's champions come from the same club, Running Heroes Russia. American runner Careth Arnold took second in 24:33:35.
The women's third place went to VIBRAM elite athlete, China's "Maizi" Deng Ronghua, who claimed third with an excellent time of 26:07:12! Last week she finished seventh in the Inthanon 50 category; to make the podium this week, she said today's performance exceeded her expectations.
Congratulations also to Zhao Jiaju and Deng Ronghua — their runner-up and third-place finishes were hard-earned.
The 100 km category covered a total distance of 96 km, with a cumulative elevation gain of 4,600 m.Looking back at the 100 km race, Kailas FUGA elite athlete Miguel Arsenio from Portugal arrived in Chiang Mai a month early to train and ultimately claimed first place with an impressive time of 09:14:20, taking his second straight victory in two weeks!
Chinese athletes performed strongly. Outopia elite athlete Zhou Kao regained form in the second half, chased down several runners, and ultimately finished second with a time of 09:51:39. After the race he said he was "on fire". This marks the Outopia team's return to the podium in the 100 km category at Chiang Mai by UTMB, following Bai Hui's victory in Chiang Mai last year.
And newly married Yan Longfei, due to stomach discomfort, ultimately finished fifth — but Yan Longfei’s condition also signaled that the familiar “Feige” is back.
On the women's side, 凯乐石 FUGA elite athlete and Vietnam's "Hua Jie," Hau HA THI, remained dominant. Leading the race all the way, she won the women's title with a time of 10:43:28 — afterward she said, "Chiang Mai is a blessed place; I look forward to coming back next year."After winning the 105 km at Chaigutangsi, Vietnam's leading runner "Hua Jie" Hau HA THI's reputation has only grown louder.
Russian athlete Ekaterina Mityaeva 11:02:02 finished second, and Japanese athlete Yuri Yoshizumi 11:30:39 placed third.
Finally, among the more than 3,000 Chinese participants, were you among them? Whose performance surprised you the most?
