70km Ultra Marathon

IMPORTANT: Read the RACE RULES HERE.

Distance: 70.2km | Elevation gain 4,000m

Bib collection: 9:00-21:00 Friday at Sapa Park (please see full details here). Please note, you must pick up your own bib.

Start time: 3:00, Saturday, 30-11-2024

Start location: Sapa Park (next to Sapa Square – Google maps)

Finish location: Topas Ecolodge – Google maps

Outside Assistance: Not permitted at: CP Sapa, CP M6, CP3, CP7.
Permitted at all other checkpoints for 50km – 100 mile runners. In the designated area only. Please note: no flags / banners / advertising of any sort at checkpoints.

CUT-OFF: 12:00 at CP3 – 15:00 at CP4 – 17:00 at CP5 – 20:00 at CP6 – 21:30 at CP7 – 00:00 at FINISH

70km DNF rate at VMM 2023: 35.9%

Age restriction: Entrants to 70km must be at least 18 years old on race day.

Qualification: To run VMM 70km, you must have previously completed at least one chip timed 40km+ ultra mountain race with significant elevation. Virtual races do not qualify. Loop/lap trail events with laps under 20km do not qualify.

On registration, please provide a URL link to your qualifying result (Topas result link, UTMB Index, ITRA Index, or similar). If you plan to complete a qualifying race between now and race day, you must send us your result by 30 days prior to the race date.

Failure to provide evidence of a qualifying past performance will result in refusal of entry and the refund terms stand.

FINISH BAG

01 bag/runner

Handing in your bag: at the START LINE

Please prepare your own bag. Bags must be sealed/closed.

Do not include valuables – the organiser cannot be held responsible for any loss.

ATTACH your luggage tag (given at the race pack collection) on your finish bag before bringing it to the start line.

Picking up your bag after the race: at the FINISH

*If you DNF, then you can also pick up your finish bag in Sapa Park (next to Sapa Square) from 7:00-11:00 on Sunday.

Note: no individual requests for bag transfers can be facilitated. ALL bags are moved together.

AGE GROUP AWARDS

Age categories are: Under 30; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70+

The overall top 3 are excluded from the age group awards.

On race day, you can check your ranking at FINISH RESULTS here.

Top 3 male/female runners can collect their trophies at a special Age Group Trophy Collection booth at the finish area: Topas Ecolodge (Saturday). We cannot ship trophies to those who do not come and collect them during these two time slots.

Age group runners receive trophies only.

Course description

This is an extremely hard ultra-trail marathon covering all types of landscapes of the Sapa mountain range. Please refer to the elevation chart and cut offs before signing up.

The 70km route begins in Sapa town center. Your route starts with a climb up to Ham Rong mountain above Sapa, before a rolling downhill to CP M2 in the village of Hang Da. The next section descends from the mountain to the bottom of the valley at Lao Chai for CP1.

The climb from CP1 – CP2 is updated, extending it higher up the mountainside. You will pass some remote Hmong villages with panoramic views of the valley.

You will run past rivers, farms and many villages of different ethnic groups.

After CP3 at O Quy Ho you head onto what is many runners’ favourite part of our course – Cow Mountain (Núi Bò). After an initial climb through farmland you will emerge onto the rugged ridge line, with single track trail taking you to the peak.

On a clear day at the top, you will have stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, including Mount Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest summit. For us, this is one of the most jaw dropping vistas of the course and indeed, all of Vietnam.

If you have good legs, the following descent is a sheer joy, especially in the dry; in the wet however, it can be challenging. In the dry, much of it is runnable and the views are incredible. You’ll finish your downhill in Ta Phin village at CP4. From here, the character of the course changes again, with a riverside trail section, then some forest on your way to CP5.

The trail from CP5 (31 Bridge) takes you through Sau Chua village on great quality, but very challenging trail with some seriously steep uphill. On a clear day, the views here will help take the edge off the challenge, we promise!

From CP6 you will enjoy a net downhill to CP7. You’ll run through lots of small villages as well as some bamboo forest sections.

After CP7 comes the infamous Mount Silverstone climb on steep trail. Your reward at the top is another great view.

From here it’s time for the final section to the finish line and the famous welcome at Topas Ecolodge. Here you can relax and enjoy the feeling of triumph together with your fellow mountain runners.