General

BUTM 2025 is on 22-23 February.

The information below is based on the 2024 courses general info. We will maintain the same overall distance categories of 100k, 50k, 30k and a short course (9k in 2023). We are, however, looking into potential course updates to give repeat runners a new experience. We are also looking at adding a very short race for kids only. There is still significant testing to be done for this, and information will be provided gradually with final course details provided well before the race.

Effects of Covid-19

There are currently no particular restrictions and requirements related to Covid-19, and we are optimistic that this will be the case for the race.

We are, however, all responsible to look after each other, and if you should be infected leading up to the race, we trust that you will take the responsible decision not to show up for the race. We encourage all participants to take a self test before turning up for racepack collection.

Please refer to the registration page for details on refund policies if we should be forced to postpone or cancel the event.

Race Outline & Categories

The Borneo Ultra-Trail® Marathon is an extreme, outdoor ultra trail marathon that will take runners through a combination of natural jungle settings and cultural landscapes via trails, dirt tracks and back-roads in the Kiulu Valley North of Kota Kinabalu. There will be sweeping views over the surrounding ridges and valleys as well as to the majestic Mount Kinabalu to the north-east of the area.

The BUTM 2024 routes are further outlined under COURSE MAPS & PROFILES. We are looking into course optimisation and potential changes to give repeat runners a new experience as stated above.

Race Categories

DISTANCE CATEGORIES

The BUTM 2025 will have the following approximate distance categories:

106 km
55 km
32 km
9 km

The 106, 55 and 32 km categories start on Saturday morning, while the 9 km race starts on Sunday morning. The 9 km category is designed to allow newcomers to experience the thrills of trail running. The 32 km and 55 km categories are designed for intermediate trail runners while the full 106 km category is catering for experienced trail runners.

The 9 km course may be entered as a stand-alone race or as an "add-on" race to one of the other race categories at a discounted rate (please refer to registrations). There are no age restrictions for children accompanied by a parent or guardian on the 9 km route, and we will have a special category for accompanied youth (12 years or younger) for this distance category. Maps and race course stats are shown under "Route Profile".

AGE CATEGORIES

For each of the Male and Female genders, there will be 2 age categories in the 30, 50 and 106 km with an additional youth category in the 9 km category:

The "OVERALL" category includes all runners of the gender taking part in the race. Podium finishers for the 100, 50 and 30k categories will be awarded prizes.
The "VETERAN" category is for participants 45 years and above on race date. Podium finishers will be awarded a certificate and/or gift.
The "YOUTH" category in the 9 km race for participants 12 years or younger on race day.

Following the above, both veteran and youth runners do obviously also take part in the OVERALL ranking.

Please note that the "Short Course" (currently 9k) is intended as a family-oriented non-competitive event. All runners who finish the course will be given finisher medals, but except for the Youth category, there will be no prices or trophies.

Qualifiers and Championship Points

The current 2024 routes are ITRA rated with 5 points for the 100k, 3 points for the 55k and 2 points for the 32k routes. Mountain ratings are 6 for the 100 km and 5 for the 50 and 30 km courses - see below. The courses will count towards the ITRA elite runner rating and the ITRA National League for 2025 which determines who is invited to take part in the ITRA World Championship from Malaysia.

BUTM 2025 is part of the Asia Trail Masters (ATM) Championship Serious 2025 with the 100k and 50k categories valid for points for the ATM Championship ranking. The 100k also offers a point for the ATM Grandmaster Quest. Refer to http://www.asiatrailmaster.com for further details.

The ITRA rated courses will also be qualifying courses for the UTMB world series events and courses using the ITRA course certification for qualifying such as for instance the Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji. In addition to this, the BUTM 2025 100 km course is a qualifying course for the 2026 edition of the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run. For WS-100, the cutoff time to qualify is slightly reduced at 32 hours for the 106 km course.

Please note that to have your qualifying and championship points properly registered, it is crucial that you provide correct and accurate information in your registration of your profile in Racematix. The registration of qualifying points under ITRA and for the ITRA National League for instance requires accurate information on your name (first and family) as well as your date of birth. Your personal data is not passed by us to any third party except your name, date of birth and race placing for documenting results. Borneo Ultra Trails will not be held responsible for any wrong data submitted to ITRA, UTMB, WS or any other organization as this is solely generated from your Racematix profile.

Cutoff times for BUTM 2025:

Cutoff times are introduced at selected aid stations to facilitate the safe management of competitors during the race. Please refer to COURSE MAPS & PROFILES for the details for each course, including cutoff times. Please note that for intermediate stations, the competitor must leave the station before the cutoff time to remain in the race. The final cutoff times expressed in hours from race start at the finish line are listed below.

9k (Sunday) : 6 hours from race start.
30k: 12 hours from race start.
55k: 18 hours from race start.
100k: 34 hours from race start (please note the cutoff for qualifying for the Western States 100 miles is 32 hours).

Entry Fees & Conditions

For entry fees and entitlement, please refer to the registration page.

Age requirements for BUTM 2025

Borneo Ultra Trails are keen to also encourage the younger generations to get out and experience trail running and Sabah's beautiful back-country. We would like to encourage parents to bring their kids out on the shorter route under guidance. The age requirements for BUTM are:

Competitor Responsibilities and Requirements

Runners are required to be self-sufficient on the race course with water/aid stations (W) set up to cater for re-filling of hydration packs or water bottles at intervals of about 10km along the marked race course. Participants must carry a set of mandatory safety kit according to their category as stated in the mandatory kit list. Runners are expected to be physically conditioned for their category and distance they will be participating in.

Runners upon registering for the event agree to:

Adhere to all regulations and requirements related to any required Covid-19 specific SOPs
Adhere to the event rules and regulations at all times during participation
Adhere to the mandatory kit and the rules pertaining to the use of the items
Accept the risks associated with ultra trail running and the outdoors
To compete in a fair and sensible manner without resorting to any form of cheating or going against the spirit of the race
To compete and complete the event drug free (i.e. without resorting to illegal medicines or substances)
Adhere to the environmental policy of no littering on the race course - all litter must be appropriately disposed off at the aid stations.

All runners must adhere to the set rules and regulations, as well as the medical requirements stated on the registration form that they do not suffer from any of the stated medical conditions in order to participate in this event.

Runners suffering the following medical conditions ARE NOT ALLOWED to participate in this event:
1) Congenital or rheumatic heart conditions
2) Hypertension (not allowed to compete in the 50k, 100k and 100M categories.)
3) Myocarditis and other heart conditions
4) Coronary heart disease, coronary arterial disease
5) Serious arrhythmia
6) Diabetes
7) Any other disease which can be aggravated by running

Mandatory Kit List

Please note the mandatory kit list has been updated with penalties if a runner is found to not carry the required equipment for the distance category during any time of the race. There will be spot checks at selected locations along the race course, and all top 10 runners as a minimum will be checked with no excuses accepted. The mandatory equipment list is included under Rules & Regulations, and available for downloading at the link below.

Please note that there are two main guiding principles for the management of Mandatory Equipment:

Safety. Whereas we in principle wish to keep the mandatory equipment to a minimum for the convenience for runners, we set the mandatory equipment list based on safety considerations for the entire race field.
Equality. Whereas we fully recognize that the top competitors and a large proportion of the field will not require a good portion of the mandatory kit (such as for instance the headlamps for the 50k and 30k) - everybody need to carry the same minimum kit to establish a fair and equal race.

We stress that this is unconditional, and there are no exceptions. Borneo Ultra Trails are enforcing a strict policy on this in line with international best practice, and time penalties and disqualifications affected the podiums of both the BUTM and the TMBT in past races. We sincerely hope that all participants will take this seriously for all future races and we will not have to issue any further penalties. Please note that all items on the compulsory list are individual items and cannot double up. A phone can for instance NOT replace a torch or backup torch, and a backup headlamp (for the 50 km and 100 km courses) with a blinker function cannot replace a blinker light. All items must we carried at all times during the race. You are allowed to exchange equipment at the half-way station (for instance change your jacket to a thicker one, exchange batteries, etc), but THE FULL LIST OF COMPULSORY EQUIPMENT MUST BE CARRIED THROUGHOUT THE RACE FROM START TO FINISH. We have previously had to give time penalties to participants who did not carry a spare headlamp or batteries etc. during the first part of the 100 km course with the excuse that they would pick it up at the half-way station. Sorry this is not in line with the clearly stated rules and will be penalised.

Download the compulsory equipment list Here.

Itinerary

Please Refer to the ITINERARY PAGE.

Registration

All registrations are via Racematix. Each runner who does not already have a profile on Racematix must establish a race profile. This is free and easy. Accurate personal details per passport/IC must be entered to avoid any confusion during registration and race pack collection. The personal information is also used for registration of points for the various circuits (such as the Malaysian Ultra League Championship) and/or for qualifying points for other races (e.g. ITRA). BUT does not submit personal information to any third parties except name and date of birth to ITRA and MUL for points collection.

There are two payment options provided on Racematix: 1) Via direct transfer to the BUT bank account (details provided below). 2) Payment via Paypal / Credit Card, which incurs bank charges.

For registration for the event, please proceed to the registration page, which will direct you to the Racematix registration page.