The athletes – men and women of all ages – were competing in the second episode of the innugural Columbia Trail Masters was held at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Centre (TSLC).
Yet despite a strong local showing, it was an elite group of Kenyan runners who dominated both the 10km and half marathon (21.5km) events.
The African athletes snatched first and second overall in the 10km race, as well as all three podium places in the main event.
The winner of the half marathon, Johnson Kipkosgeitarus, was jubilant after dominating in unfamiliar conditions. Having arrived in Thailand just four months ago, this was his first event running offroad.
“It was very slippery. Not easy. But it was fun, I like it,” he said.
Kipkosgeitarus, who completed the race in just one hour 26 minutes, said it was difficult to adjust to the varied terrain of an off road race.
“When I reached the end, I was very tired, more than normal [after a road race]. I also fell down three times.”
But this is what makes trail running so much more interesting, according to Neil Biggadike, Senior Trainer at Active Management Asia (AMA), who organised the race.
“Road runners can switch their brain off during the race and get into a rhythm. Trail running doesn’t work that way.
“Timing – forget it. You simply don’t know what the terrain is going to be like.”
He said when setting a trail running course, the event organisers look for a course that has dirt roads to start with and then goes into single track, preferably with as much forest and as many hills as possible.
“The beauty of off-road running is that it’s just more beautiful. You’re close to nature,” Biggadike said.
“We are the first company to bring off-road marathon to Thailand, and we would like to spread these events around the country... This is a sport that I think is going to grow.”
While the event has not been confirmed for next year, the success of last week’s Phuket event means it is “most likely”.
21.5km Overall Results
1 Johnson Tarus 1:26:58
2 Simion Ruto 1:27:31
3 Jared Mokua 1:32:03
10km Overall Results
1 Samson Tenhi 0:40:16
2 Sila Kipruio 0:40:49
3 Teerachai Rayabsri 0:42:00