| Distance raced: 35 kilometers | Distances available: 15/35/65 kilometers | Overall impression: Great! |
Doi Chang Trail 2022- Quick overview
This was the second edition of the Doi Chang Trail. This year the organizers added an ultra distance of 65km, besides the already existing routes of 15km and 35km. I decided to step up from the 15km distance I did last year and go for the 35km course. The organization was great again, and the trail was amazing. I will be marking the dates in my calendar as soon as the dates are announced for next year’s edition!
Check out the video:
The Organization
Everything was well taken care of again, and with covid now behind us, everything was a little bit more relaxed compared to last year. Despite being a lesser-known race, the organization really stands out.
Doi Chang Trail Race pack collection and start
The race pack collection was very fast and efficient, the fact that it is possible to pick up the bib over a full day and a half definitely helps to spread out the crowds. That being said, the checking of the mandatory gear could be a lot stricter. The mandatory gear check literally was done verbally. In my opinion, if you are going to implement a mandatory gear list, you should also enforce it.
Like last year, the pick up was at the starting point at the Doi Chang Coffee Estate. There were a good number of shops around, but this time around the atmosphere was a bit quieter. But maybe that could be because of the time we went to pick up the race pack.
The start was at 06.00 am, and as the race took place during June, this meant that the sun was already up. So no need for a headlamp (although it was on the mandatory gear list). This year it was a regular start with everyone leaving at the same time. Like last year, there was also chip tuning, which is always a nice extra to know the exact time after the run.
Staff and support
There was also plenty of staff everywhere, and they did what they were supposed to do. On the few occasions where we crossed the road, there were police blocking the traffic. Photographers were also plentiful, almost to the point of there being too many of them. Maybe it was because I did a longer distance, but there seemed to be fewer photographers this year. Still plenty enough to get some nice photo souvenirs.
There were 3 aid stations along the 35-kilometer route, which in my opinion is adequate. The staff was professional and helped out as much as they could. It is also good to hear that they take medical cases seriously. A friend got a bee sting behind his ear, and when the officials were alerted about this, they took good care. Instead of taking any risk he got anti-histamines and had to stay around for observation for a while. The subsequent aid stations also were aware of it and kept a close eye on him. Not great for my friend, but great work from the support team.
The Route of Doi Chang Trail
This year I did the 35-kilometer course but it overlapped largely with the 15-kilometer course I did last year, with extra loops and bits added to it. The starting section was great again and thanks to the cool, cloudy weather the views were super crisp. A great way to start the race. After descending along a double track it was back up through the villages, which was the only part of the route that was on paved road. After the villages, it was all offroad goodness (and also suffering).
The first challenge of the route was the main climb of the 15-kilometer route. It’s a real beast with sections as steep as 35%! But there are also amazing views behind you as you make your way up. After the climb, the course changed a little bit compared to the last edition. This time the organizers added fun but extremely steep downhill section added as a bonus compared to the last edition. After the first aid station, the 35k split off from the 15k route as we went on to more downhills.
The course continued with cool single-track sections through the forest, with breathtaking views thrown in for good measure. Although less steep than the first uphill, the second climb of the course was also demanding, luckily the 2nd aid station was waiting near the top to refuel and keep going.
What goes up, must come down. This was no different with the Doi Chang Trail 35km course. After the 2nd climb, there was another long downhill stretch, and it was during this section that my legs started to feel burned out from all the pounding going downhill.
The final checkpoint of the race was located at the beginning of the final push, at 8km from the finish line, but with another 400 meters of elevation to cover. I took the time to stretch a bit and get some life back into my legs. It worked partially. But still, climbing the final ascent felt like walking a tightrope between cramping up or going at a snail’s pace. Some controlled breathing and self-motivational pep talks helped me get to the top. Despite the tired legs, I was able to pick up some speed again on the last stretch. No podium this time, but still happy with 12th place overall.
Atmosphere and Surroundings
I would say the atmosphere and surroundings are probably the two biggest selling points of Doi Chang Trail. The area is extremely beautiful with scenic views on multiple occasions along the course. There were also some places where the route passed through local villages, which I always enjoy. Besides a climb to the first village, the whole route was entirely on trails, which is a big plus. The trail sections between areas with scenic views were often very fun single-track trails that were very fun to run on.
Another thing I really liked about the Doi Chang Trail 2022 is how they put local culture in focus. They use local people to help out with the organization, and it was nice to see some traditional hill-tribe attire here and there.
Recommendations:
As you can read above, it was a great event overall. Some small minor improvements could be:
- The departure time of the 65km race at 22.00h seems like a very strange choice. It means that runners have to tun through the night, effectively missing out on a lot of nice views along the course. A very early departure, like 03.00 am or even as early as 01.00 am. Running most of the course really seems like a wasted opportunity, and it was one of the reasons why I didn’t go for the ultra distance (besides not having trained for such a long distance!).
- The course was perfect, but with some rain, it could turn into a real nightmare. Organizing the race in June is quite risky, as there is a real chance of rain.
- The post-race food was a step down from the first edition. At the last edition, the food was simple but good, with attention to minimizing plastic waste. It was a bit disappointing to see that this year the food was very average and served in plastic and foam containers.
- If you want to start trail running in Northern Thailand, check out our Trail Database. We have mapped different trails all over the region.
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