Taiping set to welcome runners from 63 nations for UTMB race

KUALA LUMPUR: Over 2,700 runners from 63 nations have registered for the Malaysia Ultra-Trail by UTMB in Taiping from September 10-13. More than 1,000 of these international runners will bolster the anticipated turnout for Malaysia's sole UTMB World Series event. Held at Dataran Warisan Taiping, the race is part of the 2026 UTMB World Series, which will see 64 events across 23 countries.

Ewegene Tan, race director, attributes this international interest to the event's growth since it began as the Malaysian Mountain Trail Festival in 2018 and joined the UTMB World Series in 2024. Tan emphasized that the aim is to connect Malaysian runners with the global trail-running community while showcasing Taiping and Malaysia's offerings.

With registration still open, Tan is optimistic about welcoming an even larger, more diverse field in September. The race offers five categories for different ages and abilities: MY100, MY50, MY25, MY13, and MYKIDS. The MY100 covers 97.7km with 4,802m of elevation gain across tropical rainforest trails, while the MY50 features 54.5km with 1,977m of elevation gain.

MY25 includes 25.9km with 1,012m of climbing, and MY13 and MYKIDS cater to beginners and children. This year, the Vertical Kilometre challenge has been integrated into the MY100. Malaysian runners have previously performed well, with Milton Amat placing third in the MY100 in 2024 and Wilsen Singgin winning the MY50 last year. International competitors include runners from Nepal, China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

The event also features adaptive athletes, such as a one-legged runner and a deaf runner. Organisers have focused on environmental conservation, replanting over 5,500 trees and implementing waste segregation. The event has a significant socio-economic impact on Taiping, generating over RM20 million annually through sports tourism.