World Trail Runners Conquer Yeongnam Alps... 'Ulju Trail Nine Peaks Race'

The 1st ITRA Asia Pacific Trail Running Championship Held Together from 24th to 27th

Ulsan City’s Ulju County announced on the 22nd that it will host the “2024 Ulju Trail Nine Peaks (UTNP) Competition,” where trail runners from around the world will gather, from the 24th to the 27th in the scenic Yeongnam Alps at an altitude of 1000 meters.

The Ulju Trail Nine Peaks is the highest difficulty race certified with 6 points by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA). It is famous for its longest domestic course of 121 km (9PEAKS). Completing the race grants eligibility to participate in the TOR 330 competition held in Italy.

This year’s event will be held on a global scale alongside international competitions such as the “1st ITRA Asia-Pacific Trail Running Championship” by the International Trail Running Association and the “SKY RUNNING World Series” by the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF), starting with the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. on the 24th and continuing until the 27th.

As of the 30th of last month, a total of 2,519 athletes applied, showing explosive enthusiasm, with 398 foreign athletes from 38 countries registered, laying the foundation for the event to advance as an international competition.

In particular, Ulju County has the honor of being selected as the first host of the “Asia-Pacific Trail Running Championship,” held for the first time this year. This competition features 212 elite runners representing 21 countries from the Asia-Pacific region competing in Short Trail (41 km) and Long Trail (76 km) categories, with a U23 (14 km) course also prepared for athletes under 23 years old.

Additionally, Ulju County is the only place in Korea to host the “SKY RUNNING World Series” organized by the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF). This series, held at only 21 events worldwide, requires a high-difficulty course and will take place on the 2PEAKS (26 km) course of the Ulju Trail Nine Peaks competition.

This year, the Ulju Trail Nine Peaks competition selected Kolon Sports as the official sponsor, providing some of the athletes’ participation souvenirs as Kolon Sports products and conducting promotional activities for the event. At the venue, promotional booths of 17 outdoor brands, including Kolon Sports, will be set up.

Moreover, during the competition period, various side programs such as an expo zone, food truck zone, and experience zone will be offered, providing spectators with a rich variety of sights and entertainment.

The awards ceremony will be held on the 26th, and the event will conclude with the kids’ race on the 27th.

An official from Ulju County said, “We ask for much interest and support for the ‘2024 Ulju Trail Nine Peaks Competition,’ which is growing into a global event beyond Korea,” adding, “We will prioritize the safety of the athletes and make every effort to successfully operate the competition.”

Ulju-gun is hosting the 'Ulju Trail Nine Peaks Competition,' where trail runners from around the world gather in one place.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.