The Philippine Trail Running Championship Qualifier Events will take place across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao from January to December 2025. These races are organized by accredited trail running organizers and serve as official qualifiers for the 2025 PHILTRA Performance Ranking.

A list of the official qualifying races is available [here].

FOR ORGANIZERS

The PHILTRA Championship Qualifiers hosting rights per province will be awarded to high-quality mountain, ultra, and trail running event organizers.

LOCATION: Events must be held in accessible areas within each respective island group-Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.  There should be a minimum of three qualifying events per island group, maximum of one per region - unless there is no other application received and the event is within a two-month gap.

DISTANCE CATEGORIES: There are three qualifying distances:  1) 10 km – 15km; 2) 21-32 km and 3) 40km to 60 km. The event should be able to host at least two distance categories.

WHO CAN APPLY:  All organizers of existing or planned events are welcome to apply.

EVALUATION PROCESS:  The PHILTRA Executive Committee will evaluate and approve selected events as part of the official series. Once approved, the status is valid for two years, unless concerns arise regarding the execution of the event.

All approved applicants will be officially recognized as PHILTRA-CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER

EVALUATION & RATING CRITERIA

Selection will be based on a point system (+5 per compliance, -1 for deficiencies), and a 50/50 split between rating and trustee vote.

  1. RATING SYSTEM (50% of total score)

Criteria

Maximum Points

Experience in staging events

10

Quality and ethics of organizing team

8

City and community support

8

Course mapping, marking, and marshaling

8

Accessibility and quality of venue

6

Security and medical services plan

10
  1. TRUSTEES’ VOTE (50%)

The remaining score will be determined by the PHILTRA Board of Trustees.

REQUIRED SUBMISSION DETAILS

  • Event Name
  • Event Date
  • Nature of Event
  • Organizer’s Name
  • Registered Entity Name
  • Organizing Team (names and positions)
  • Optional: Budget
  • Target Number of Participants
  • List of Previous Events (name and date)
  • Community Impact Plan (How will your event contribute to the local community?)
  • Disclosure of Any Pending Issues with LGUs or local communities from previous events
  • Course Map
  • Venue and Activity Area Details
  • Accessibility (transportation, accommodations, food availability)
  • Security and Medical Plan (attach if available)

BENEFITS FOR ORGANIZERS OF QUALIFYING EVENTS

  • Opportunity to be part of the talent identification platform for trail running
  • Championship and ranking points for all event participants
  • Assistance with onboarding to ITRA, if needed
  • Support in the conduct of the event, requests to be discussed
  • Event promotion via PHILTRA’s national channels
  • Priority hosting rights for three years within their region (unless expectations are not met)
  • Option to bid for hosting the PHILTRA Championship, provided the event is scheduled at the end of the year or during the first quarter of the following year

DEADLINE:  Must confirm intent to host for the following year by April 2025 by sending an email to info@philtra.ph

FOR ATHLETES

QUALIFIERS Performance Ranking and Qualification

  • Participants of these qualifier events will be included in the 2025 PHILTRA Performance Ranking, which is based on ITRA performance points earned during each qualifying race.
  • Results from all qualifying races will be consolidated and ranked. Rankings will be available for overall and age group categories.
  • Points are cumulative, but only the top two performances will be considered if an athlete participates in more than two events.

Qualification for the Philippine National Trail Running Championships

  • The Top 10 Male and Female athletes, with at least two qualifying races and a minimum performance score of:
    • Male: 600 points
    • Female: 500 points
      will qualify for the Philippine National Trail Running Championships.
  • Top athlete in each age group will receive a free slot to the Open Category of the Philippine National Trail Running Championships.

Important Reminder for Participants

It is the athlete’s responsibility to ensure that their name and age are correctly entered during event registration. These details are critical for ranking and eligibility.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

Athletes who competed in the Philippine National Trail Running Championships will get their equivalent ITRA performance points based on their championship results.

FINAL NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION POINTS

The final National Team Selection points will be based on the average of the following:

Qualifier ITRA Performance Points (Top 2 Races Performance Points/2) + Championship ITRA Performance Points. 

SELECTION FOR THE NATIONAL TEAM:

  • Athletes in the top three for Short and Long Trail with a minimum point of 750 for male and 520 for female will be selected to the team. (effective 2025)
  • Automatic selection will be given to male and female athletes who have won Gold in the Asia Pacific Trail Running Championships or is in the top 30 in their category of the WORLD MOUNTAIN TRAIL RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS.
  • Athletes will be in the roster of the team for the year based on their total championship qualifiers and finals points and provided that they have achieved the minimum qualifying time standards indicated below.
  • In case of tie in the points gathered, PHILTRA Board will decide based on Coaching Team recommendation, athlete's performance and Board Votes.

Other Matters:

  • PHILTRA Board has the discretion to include an athlete in the roster of the National Team or Training Pool.
  • PHILTRA Board has the final decision the final roster of National team members.
  • PHILTRA Board will decide on the number of athletes and the minimum eligibility requirements for the National Team based on upcoming competitions and Philtra's Athlete Fund Budget. 
  • PHILTRA Trustees may make amendments which will be announced publicly via our social media channels.

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL TRAIL RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 (PNTRC)

The PNTRC is the annual national championship event for trail running in the Philippines.
The event is organized by the Philippine Trail Running Association (PHILTRA) and the selected Local Organizing Host.

The application process for the Philippine National Trail Running Championship 2026 (PNTRC2025) is now open. The event must be conducted between January to March 2026. Interested hosts are invited to submit their expression of interest along with a comprehensive proposal showcasing their capability to deliver a successful championship.  Event must have hosted at least one qualifier event to be considered.

Key Hosting Requirements:

  • Trail Race:
    Bidders must present suitable trails that can accommodate a high volume of participants. Courses should include approximate distances of 10km, 40km, and 80km. The organizer should be able to establish a course and the capacity to organize a race in accordance with World Athletics Rule No. 57
  • Transportation:
    A detailed transportation plan must be provided, covering transfers for athletes, officials, and media between the airport, accommodations, and event venues.
  • Accommodation:
    Bidders must guarantee full-board accommodations (shared room basis) for 70 individuals—including athletes, officials, and media—for 4 nights.
  • Participant Capacity:
    Hosts should demonstrate the ability to welcome around a minimum of 500 open category participants, along with approximately 50 athletes from various regions.
  • Hosting Fee:
    There is no hosting fee required.
  • Commercial Rights:
    The selected Local Organizing Committee (LOC) will retain full commercial rights, including title sponsorship, partnerships, media and broadcast rights, expo sales, and open category entry fees.

For inquiries and to express interest, email info@philtra.ph.

 

Minimum Eligibility Requirements for the Philippine Trail Running Team

The following guidelines outline the standards for consideration for the members of the PHILIPPINE TRAIL RUNNING TEAM:

  1. Eligibility: To be eligible, runners must be citizens of the Republic of the Philippines and current PHILTRA members.  With this, only Filipino citizens may join the championships.
  2. Selection: National teams will be selected annually through the Philtra Championships Qualifiers and Philippine National Trail Running Championships. The selection guidelines will be published in the website and any updates released via social media and updated in the website. Runners who meet the minimum eligibility requirements and are selected to the team will be eligible for one year provided that they comply with the matters stated below.
  3. Training and preparation: National team members will undergo an intensive training program to prepare for any local and international competitions. Team members are expected to work closely with designated coaches and the team manager.
  4. Competition: National teams represent the Philippines in international competitions such as the SEA Trail Running Cup, Asia Pacific Trail Running Championships and the World Mountain Trail Running Championships and other local and international competitions. The selection of athletes who will represent the Philippines will be based on their current performance and the nature of the competition.
  5. Benefits:  National team members are beneficiaries of PHILTRA.  PHILTRA will discuss with the team members on an annual basis.  This will be based on the PHILTRA Athlete fund available.  All National Team members will get ITRA Membership and insurance.
  6. Code of conduct: National team athletes are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner both on and off the field. This includes following team rules and regulations, maintaining high levels of fitness and health, and showing respect to teammates, competitors, and officials.
  7. Representation of the Association: National team athletes are ambassadors for PHILTRA, an affiliate member of PATAFA, the recognized National Sports Association of the World Athletics and the Philippine Sports Commission. As athletes, they are expected to represent PHILTRA with mutual respect and dignity, while maintaining open communication with PHILTRA officers.
  8. Representation of the country: National team athletes are ambassadors for the Philippines and are expected to represent the country with pride and dignity. They should show respect for the national flag and anthem and behave in a way that reflects positively on the Philippines.

For inquiries and to express interest, email info@philtra.ph.