HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB®
HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB® – PAGODA 50-DAY
Doi Inthanon National Park HQ → F Doi Inthanon National Park Hq
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
The PAGODA 50-DAY is the 57 km mid-distance race of HOKA Chiang Mai Thailand by UTMB, a demanding loop that starts and finishes at Doi Inthanon National Park HQ. With 3379 m of climbing and a high point of 2152 m, it takes runners across the flanks of Thailand's highest mountain, delivering serious vertical and genuine altitude in a single long day. Starting at 1246 m, the PAGODA 50-DAY is defined by two big climbs separated by a deep valley plunge, culminating in an ascent to the Relic of the Buddha at 2144 m near the top of the massif. It is a substantial step above the shorter Inthanon distance — enough climbing to reward strong, patient mountain runners while still fitting inside a single 23:30 Saturday finish deadline. The 'DAY' variant name reflects its place in the festival's timetable, and the course rewards those who can hold effort on long ascents at altitude.
The Course and Terrain
From the start at Doi Inthanon National Park HQ (1246 m) the loop first drops to Mae Klang Luang School at 8.7 km (1083 m) before launching into its first major climb to Pha Tang Junction at 20 km (1585 m). It then holds high ground across to Mae Uam Water Resource Management Office at 29.1 km (1589 m), the roughly halfway point that sits near the top of the opening climbing block. The second half reshapes the day entirely. The course plunges to Mae Chaem Guard Unit at 40.6 km (1047 m), the race's low point, before the defining ascent to the Relic of the Buddha at 48.4 km (2144 m) — more than 1000 m of climb concentrated into under 8 km, up to the 2152 m high point. From that summit the route descends all the way back to the finish at Doi Inthanon National Park HQ at 57 km (1246 m). With 3379 m of total gain, this is a course built around two decisive climbs rather than continuous rolling terrain.
Where the Race Is Won and Lost
The race is decided on the brutal climb from Mae Chaem Guard Unit (40.6 km, 1047 m) up to the Relic of the Buddha (48.4 km, 2144 m). Gaining roughly 1100 m in under 8 km, and doing so at the highest altitude of the day near the 2152 m ceiling, this is the single hardest stretch of the PAGODA 50-DAY. It comes after the long descent into Mae Chaem, so runners who trashed their legs coming down will struggle badly on the way up. Managing the first climb to Pha Tang Junction (1585 m) conservatively is what buys you the strength to attack this final ascent. The closing move is the long descent from the 2144 m Relic of the Buddha back down to the 1246 m finish, nearly 900 m of drop over the last 8-plus kilometres. Fresh quads here turn a survival shuffle into a genuine race to the line; wrecked ones make it a slow, painful descent. Everything you do earlier in the loop should be aimed at arriving at the high point with legs still able to run down.
Pacing and Fueling to the Cut-offs
Three intermediate cut-offs govern the day: Mae Uam Water Resource Management Office at 29.1 km closes Sat 15:00, Mae Chaem Guard Unit at 40.6 km closes Sat 18:00, and the Relic of the Buddha at 48.4 km closes Sat 21:30, with the finish at 57 km closing Sat 23:30. The Relic of the Buddha gate is the tightest test because it sits at the top of the hardest climb — you must complete that 1100 m ascent before 21:30, so bank time on the more runnable first half rather than leaving the big climb against the clock. Aid points at Mae Klang Luang School (8.7 km), Pha Tang Junction (20 km), Mae Uam (29.1 km), Mae Chaem Guard Unit (40.6 km) and the Relic of the Buddha (48.4 km) break the loop into workable segments. The most important fueling decision is at Mae Chaem (40.6 km): the low point of the course and the last support before the 1100 m climb to the high point. Leave there fully topped up on calories and fluid, because the ascent to 2144 m is long, high and unforgiving, and you will not want to run short on that section.
Conditions to Expect
The PAGODA 50-DAY spans a huge vertical range, from the 1047 m low at Mae Chaem Guard Unit up to the 2152 m high point at the Relic of the Buddha, so conditions vary dramatically across the loop. The higher sections near Pha Tang Junction (1585 m) and the summit can be cool, misty and exposed, while the deeper valley around Mae Chaem tends to be warmer and more humid. Dress and fuel for both extremes, because you cross between them twice. Expect the classic Doi Inthanon combination of shaded forest trail, park roads and steeper mountain singletrack, with moisture and cloud common at altitude that can make the surface slick underfoot. With cut-offs extending to 23:30 on Saturday, slower runners will finish in darkness, so reliable lighting is a must for the long descent off the high point. Since the start and finish share the National Park HQ at 1246 m, crew logistics are simple, but the closing altitude and potential night finish mean you should carry layers for the cold high ground even on a warm Thai day.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 1246 m · —
8.7 km · 1083 m · —
20 km · 1585 m · —
29.1 km · 1589 m · Sat 15:00
40.6 km · 1047 m · Sat 18:00
48.4 km · 2144 m · Sat 21:30
57 km · 1246 m · Sat 23:30
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