Bangladeshi runner Imamur sets national mark in UTMB World Series
Bangladeshi trail runner Imamur Rahman has reached a new milestone in the country’s endurance sports history by completing two UTMB World Series 100K-category ultra trail races within just 24 days in China.
The achievement is being seen as a national record for Bangladesh in international trail running.
Representing Bangladesh on one of the world’s toughest trail-running platforms, Imamur completed the Ultra Trail Xiamen by UTMB and the Ultra Trail Mogan by UTMB, two demanding mountain ultramarathons under the UTMB World Series circuit.
The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, widely known as UTMB, began in 2003 in Chamonix, France, and has since grown into one of the most prestigious ultra trail-running events in the world.
The UTMB World Series was launched in 2022 to bring leading trail races across different continents under one international framework and create a qualification pathway for the UTMB Finals in Chamonix.
UTMB races are considered among the toughest endurance events because they combine long-distance running with extreme elevation, technical mountain trails, unpredictable weather and intense mental pressure. Many races cover more than 100 kilometres, while some exceed 170 kilometres, forcing runners to spend 20 to 40 hours or more on mountain courses.
Imamur’s first major race in China was the Ultra Trail Xiamen by UTMB, held on March 14, 2026. He completed the 97-kilometre course, which included more than 7,000 metres of elevation gain. The race tested runners across steep climbs, technical trails and difficult endurance conditions.
Only 24 days later, he finished the Ultra Trail Mogan by UTMB on April 10, 2026. The race covered 82 kilometres with more than 4,600 metres of elevation gain.
The Mogan race became even more challenging after a severe storm hit the course soon after the start. Freezing winds and heavy rain turned the mountain trails into muddy and dangerous paths for nearly 12 continuous hours.
Despite the conditions, Imamur completed the race in 20 hours and 3 minutes. Many runners, including experienced competitors, were forced to withdraw from the event.
During the same competitive period in China, Imamur also took part in the Conghua 30K Trail Race on March 29, 2026. He completed 28.5 kilometres with more than 1,800 metres of elevation gain.
Across the three races, Imamur covered more than 207 kilometres of mountain racing and climbed over 13,400 metres in cumulative elevation gain.
His performance has highlighted the growing presence of Bangladeshi athletes in international endurance sports, especially in trail running, a discipline that remains relatively new in Bangladesh.
Imamur Rahman, a Bangladeshi businessman, has continued to compete internationally without institutional sponsorship.
He has carried the national flag in several major trail-running platforms, including the UTMB Finals, UTMB Asia Major and UTMB World Series events in the 100K category.
His latest achievement marks another important step for Bangladesh in global trail running and shows how individual athletes are pushing the country’s sporting identity beyond traditional fields.
For Imamur, the record is not only a personal achievement but also a message for aspiring endurance athletes in Bangladesh: international mountain racing may be difficult, but it is no longer out of reach.
