IMPORTANT NOTICE
NEW RACE DATE: 29/11 – 1/12/2024
Due to Typhoon Yagi. Runners: please check your emails for full details.
50km Ultra Marathon
IMPORTANT: Read the RACE RULES HERE.
Distance: 47.4km | Elevation gain 2,800m
Bib collection: 9:00-21:00 Friday 29/11 at Sapa Park (please see full details here). Please note, you must pick up your own bib.
Start time: 5:30, 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-OFFS: 15:00 at CP4 – 17:00 at CP5 – 20:00 at CP6 – 21:30 at CP7 – 00:00 at FINISH
50km DNF rate at VMM 2023: 14.9%
Age restriction: Entrants to VMM 50km must be at least 18 years old on race day.
Qualification: To run VMM 50km, you must have previously completed at least one chip timed trail race of 20km+. Virtual races 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.
BRING your luggage tag (given at the race pack collection), we will staple it for you.
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 7:00-12:00 on Sunday, September 22.
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 this time slot.
Age group runners receive trophies only.
Course description
Welcome to our tough, but spectacularly beautiful and rewarding 50km ultra trail. With 2,800m of gain, this is a race for those who truly love the mountains.
The course starts in the middle of Sapa where you can expect a huge atmosphere.
The race kicks off with a short, flat section to Sapa’s lake. You then climb out of town, before dropping down into the hidden valley of Suoi Ho. Despite its proximity to Sapa, very few people ever venture to this beautiful, rugged area of steep rice terraces and Hmong minority villages, CP M1.
You will then begin a long climb, much of it on single track trail, up to the summit of Cow Mountain (Nui Bo) at 2,300m.
The views get better and better the higher you go. This is an alternative route onto the Cow Mountain peak, differing from that used for pre-2023 races.
As you gain altitude, you will pass through a great variety of landscapes, including pine forests and grass fields.
On a clear day at the top, you will have stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, including Mount Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest peak. 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 where, steep trail awaits. Your reward at the top is another great view.
Then it’s time for the final hard downhill followed by a new trail section to the finish line and the warm welcome from the other runners at Topas Ecolodge, located on a beautiful hilltop. Here you can relax and enjoy the feeling of triumph together with all the other mountain runners.
MANDATORY KIT 50KM
VMM 50km is a 2-point qualifying race for ITRA, an ITRA National League race, and a 50K UTMB Index race.
- Read more about the Sapa Travel Packages
- Read more about the Topas Ecolodge Travel Packages
- Run Only Program