2026 Warhorse Ultra-Trail Xiamen by UTMB®
2026 Warhorse Ultra-Trail Xiamen by UTMB® – SXM 20K
Fantian Cultural Square
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The SXM 20K is the short-course option of the 2026 Warhorse Ultra-Trail Xiamen by UTMB, a 29 km loop out of Fantian Cultural Square with 988 m of positive climbing and a high point of just 414 m. It is the most approachable distance in the Xiamen line-up, but with nearly a thousand metres of climbing over the distance it is far from a flat fun run: the same short, punchy Fujian hills that define the longer races are all present here in concentrated form. Starting near sea level, the course loops out through Silin Village to Anlu and back, giving newer trail runners a genuine taste of a UTMB-series event over a manageable distance. With a generous 16:00 Sunday finish cut-off, the SXM 20K is well suited to those stepping up to trail from the road or using the weekend as a first ultra-style experience, while still demanding real climbing legs and heat management.
The course: a short but hilly coastal loop
The SXM 20K covers 29 km from Fantian Cultural Square and back, with 988 m of total ascent and a high point of 414 m. The start sits essentially at sea level (recorded at -12 m), so the climbing is all accumulated over the loop through a series of short, steep pitches rather than one big ascent, giving the course a busy, rolling feel throughout. The checkpoints are straightforward: from the square the route reaches Silin Village at 6.4 km (16 m), climbs to Anlu at 16.4 km (78 m), then returns via Silin Village again at 22.7 km (39 m) to the finish at 28.9 km. Although the checkpoint elevations are all low, the ground between them carries almost all of the 988 m of climbing, with the high point of 414 m reached out on the middle of the loop around the Anlu section.
Where the race is decided: the middle loop to Anlu
For a course this short, the decisive part is simply the central section on the way out to and around Anlu at 16.4 km, where the high point of 414 m sits and where most of the climbing is concentrated. Getting to Anlu comfortably, without having emptied the tank on the early hills, sets up a strong second half back to the square. The return leg through Silin Village at 22.7 km is lower and more runnable, so runners with something left can finish quickly. The cut-offs are relaxed by ultra standards: Anlu at 16.4 km must be reached by 11:41 Sunday, and the finish at 28.9 km by 16:00. That gives a wide window and makes the SXM 20K forgiving of a cautious start. The tactical priority, therefore, is not fighting the clock but managing effort on the repeated short climbs so that the hills of the middle loop do not turn a manageable 29 km into a grind.
Pacing and fuelling
With checkpoints at Silin Village (6.4 km), Anlu (16.4 km) and Silin Village again (22.7 km), aid is well spaced for the distance and you should never be far from support. The sensible plan is to start conservatively on the early hills, use the first Silin Village checkpoint to settle into fuelling, and save enough for the climbing that peaks around Anlu before enjoying the more runnable run home. Even over 29 km the coastal heat matters, so treat hydration and electrolytes as a real part of the plan rather than an afterthought, especially if you are newer to trail racing. Carry enough fluid between aid stations for warm conditions and eat little and often on the climbs. The comfortable cut-offs, Anlu by 11:41 and the finish by 16:00, mean there is no need to chase time; a steady, well-fuelled effort will bring most prepared runners home with margin to spare.
Conditions to expect
The SXM 20K is a low-altitude, coastal race topping out at just 414 m, so the environmental challenge is heat and humidity rather than altitude or technical high-mountain terrain. Run in the Sunday daytime with a 16:00 cut-off, the whole event takes place in daylight, so no night gear is required, but the warmth of a southern-China coastal day is a genuine factor over 29 km of repeated climbing. The terrain is the same short, steep Fujian hill pattern found across the Xiamen distances, delivered here in a compact loop with runnable ground between the pitches. There is no single technical crux to fear, which makes the SXM 20K a good introduction to the UTMB-series experience, but the 988 m of climbing means runners should respect the cumulative effect of the hills and come prepared to hike the steeper sections rather than expecting to run the entire course.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · -12 m · —
6.4 km · 16 m · —
16.4 km · 78 m · Sun 11:41
22.7 km · 39 m · —
28.9 km · 25 m · Sun 16:00
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