KLSCM 2026

A very different race. First of all, this is only my third race this year (as the previous race - PJ Half 30km was cancelled due to bad weather- Haze). The previous race being Score Half Marathon in July, which I did poorly- 2 hour 11 mins (Pace 6'12). Due to lack of training, my target for this race is Pace 6'00.

This is my first KL Std Chartered Half Marathon. The previous races are 10km and Full Marathon. The race itself has difficult route, and the Haze is pretty bad too (close to 150 points). As a result, many did not do well. I did alright as I can able to complete the race at my target pace without any drop off. Final time is 2 hour 6 mins+ (Pace 5'53) at over distance of 21.53km. 

This is also the very first race in which I run with a Mobile Phone (thanks to Flipbelt - good pants). 

Score Half Marathon 2026

Pretty disappointing race as I "bon" after 11km and start walking at 17km mark.

Final result is 2'11 with average pace of 6'12 (versus target of 2'06). This is my 9th fastest race in 12 total races. 

Score Half Marathon 2026- Pre-race

Score Half Marathon 2026 coming up. This is my second race of the year and the first half marathon of the year. Very low or absolutely no expectations due to the combination of (1) injuries to the left IT band (2) low running millege (3) no intense workout/training (4) overweight. 

This will be my 12th Half Marathon race. My target is below Pace of 6'00 and time of 2'06. Should I achieved this goal, it would be my 8th fastest time out of the 12 race. 

Rank 11:    Generali 2024 (Pace: 6'52, Time: 2'24) *

Rank 10:    Twin City 2024 (Pace: 6'19, Time: 2'14) *

Rank 9:    Twin City 2022 (Pace: 6'13, Time: 2'12) **

Rank 8:    Garmin 2022 (Pace: 6'04, Time: 2'10) ***

Rank 7:    XiaoMi 2026 (Pace: 5'58 Time: 2'03) ***

Rank 6:    Penang Bridge 2022 (Pace: 5'53, Time: 2'05) *****

Rank 5:    Generali 2025 (Pace 5'50, Time 2'03)  ****

Rank 4:    KL City Day 2023 (Pace: 5'46, Time: 2'02) ****

Rank 3:    NPE Highway 2023  (Pace: 5'41, Time: 1'59)  *****

Rank 2:    Hatyai 2023 (Pace: 5'40, Time: 2'00) ****

Rank 1:    Cybercity 2023 (Pace: 5'38, Time: 1'59) *****

Turtle Run - GPX Art

We did the legendary Turtle Route - GPX Art. It's a 10km route with the arms, leg and tail at slight uphill. There are many more famous GPX Art such as the boy with the balloon and the snail. 

This isn't exactly the first GPX art for me. Afterall, KLSCM is Dinosaur route in a way. 

 

Xtep Time Trial - Results

The Race is over! Although it is not as good as my personal best, it is still worth celebrating. The final result is 55 mins 51 seconds, (avg 5'35), much faster than the goal time of 58 mins. Final few km is particularly encouraging. The final ranking, however, is 530 versus total runners of 1066. That's 50 percentile, one of my worst result. This race is really filled with elites and members of running clubs. 

Xtep Time Trial

8th of May 2026 will mark the first running race this year. Its a FOC 10km race. With the "form" I am in now, my goal is relatively low.

Gold: 55 mins or 5'30 min/km

Silver: 58 mins or 5'48 min/km   

Bronze: 60 mins or 6'00 min/km

Note that even the gold level is no way close to my personal best. 

Shoes Analyzing June 2023 - May 2025

 

Running Shoes No 13- Asic Evoride 3

This shoes are so comfortable and casual and that I used it so often that it reach the end of its lifetime much sooner than I thought. I have never used this shoes for a competition but it is really an excellent trainer. Overall a A-.

Running Shoes No 14- Puma Deviate Elite 2

The most expensive shoes I have bought to-date. RM 328 (from Lazada 9.9), huge discount from retail price of RM 929. This is the shoes that Puma sponsor professional runner to compete in Major Marathon. I am, however, quite disappointed at the shoes. The shoes are good looking and its not that it is slow. In fact, it still hold my top 3 best time for 10km race. The main issue is with the cutting, which is not suitable for my right foot. After the first 5km, I will start feeling uncomfortable on the right foot as if part of my right foot is outside the 'comfort' zone of the shoes. The shoes is still active after two years plus due to low usage. Overall a B+.

Running Shoes No 15- Pegasus 40

Another disappointment especially when I have high expectations after a good Pegasus 38. This shoes is heavy, not comfortable and low durability. The only good thing about this shoes? I bought it at a huge discount in Lazada- RM 150 versus retail RM 549. Overall a B-.

Running Shoes No 16- Given to Hong Yi

Running Shoes No 17- Xtep 2000km

The first China brand that I bought and its a disaster. First of all, the shoes are much bigger than advertised. Second and most importantly, the shoes are very hard and my foot skin will peel off after wearing it. And it happen twice under different period of time. This is really not my shoes. I have given up after only using it for 75km. Overall a F.

Running Shoes No 18 & 19- Velociti Nitro 3

Love this shoes so much that I bought two of them (of different colour). In fact I have been wearing both as normal casual shoes after their retirement and they have been travelling with me all over the world. Nothing to complain. Its comfortable, its speedy, its not expensive. Hasn't got any record under this shoes, but I did complete a Marathon (3rd fastest) with this shoes. Overall an A

KLSCM- Afterthought

What I have learn in this full marathon is that the strategy of Full and Half Marathon are totally different. Half Marathon is simple. You run as fast as you can while not hitting heart rate at critical rate and ensuring you have sufficient energy to complete the race at even pace. Refuel at one or two station. On top of it, take a salt tablet or two. 

Full Marathon, on the other hand, is completely different. First of all, its about how you can delay hitting the wall. To me, all my four previous experiences happened around the 24-25km. My first challenge is when will the 4:30 pacer surpass me, and it is always around the same area. For the latest experience, the pacer surpass me around the 24km mark, which is the earliest and therefore I actually ran the slowest at the first part of the race in the four marathon. 

In my opinion, the second part of the race commence at the 24/25km mark, which is the starting of 'real marathon'. Instead of managing your 'heart-rate' and 'energy', the full marathon is about managing 'muscle' and 'energy'. A muscle cramp would totally ruin the race therefore pushing as far back as possible or even totally eliminate it. It is wiser to run 'relax', and therefore slower, than to run stronger, risking a cramp that lead to slower time in the later stage and suffering and pain and bad experience. 

Fuel intake and salt intake need to be plan prior to the race and followed to the dot. Drinking of water should be adequate but not too much. Banana is essential to avoid 'empty stomach'. Most important thing is relax and keep your mind busy by thinking of 'something else, something that require lengthy time for deep thinking or argument'. Time will go by faster than imagine. Most importantly, enjoy the race, relax and smile. Finish the race as if it is just another walk in the park. 

Official and AI photos

Official photos from KLSCM 2025 are much better than other amateur photographer.

The watermark is unfortunately destroy the photo. We therefore employ AI watermark removed technology to beautify the photo.

Attached photos of original and "AI removed watermark photo".

      

And lastly, my favourite photo of them all- the runner that appears to be just walking around the park after a Full Marathon. 

Marathon Photos

Despite tens of photographer and hundreds of photo taken in KLSCM event, there are hardly any good photo taken. This is due to huge number of runners, my timing (which is among the biggest crowd), limited good photo shot location (which is limitation of KL City) and really the skills of the photographer.

Here are some of the "not so good" photo, but still shortlisted due to really poor selection pool. In comparison, there are some good photo taken in KLSCM 2024 but there are even lesser and worse photos in KLSCM 2023. 

KLSCM Full Marathon 2025

It is finally here. Full Marathon of the year. I do not have sufficient training for this race and therefore has no expectation / target for the race. My broad target is anything below 5 hour mark. The main difference in this race is that I did not look at the watch, since there is no 'target' time. As a result, I can truly enjoy the race. 

I started the race at reasonable pace, as I have a target to run ahead of the 4'30 pacer at the 25km mark, the place where they overtook me in last few FM races. This year the 4'30 pacer overtook me at around 24km mark, therefore I am approximately 1-2 minute slower than the previous few races at 25km mark.

From 25-42km, its all about managing cramp. I slow down significantly when I 'feel' cramp is coming, and accelerate as the cramp feeling disappear. As a result, I complete the race without cramp, therefore no major slow/down time at any point in the race. This is the first time I ran the FM without a real cramp (although i have near cramp near finishing) and I am reasonably aware of the entire races from start to end. It is therefore most enjoyable as I do not feel significant pain until the last few km. 

The final result is unexpected as I achieve a Personal Best in Full Marathon. Truly 'slowly but surely'. 

Overall Time = 4'44 (6:30 min/km), this is Personal Best plus achieved a "High Distinction" from my goal set a month ago.

Overall Ranking = 2876 (of 12147)

Overall Men =  2491 (of 9998)

Coming Soon- KLSCM 2025

Oh no! Full Marathon is just around the corner and I am not ready for it. I am constantly fatigue over the last few months and the training volume is light and low. I would be surprise if I can even finish the race in less than 5 hours. I am almost definitely certain that I will encounter major cramp and pain during the race. 

I can blame it on many factors- the Kraby trip (that disrupt a week's training), badminton training and competition (that affect a week to two's training), the low mileage (of 35km per week over the last 16 weeks, which is low for training period), the inadequate LSD and most importantly the missing of Tempo/Interval Run in the mid-week with running group like Asic, which I have plenty in the last two years. The age and general fitness is probably the biggest factor as the 'fatigue' is coming from nowhere and does not go away even with sufficient rest. 

Target for the race:

High Distinction:< 4'46'36 or < 6:46min/km

Distinction: <4'50'00 or < 6:52min/km

Credit: <4'55'00 or 7:00min/km

Pass: Satisfactory: <5'00'00 or 7:06min/km

Stategy:

Follow the 4'30 min pacer for the first 25km, then try to finish the balance 17km as close to 7min/km as possible. 

XiaoMi Pop Run 2025 Half Marathon

Final result is 2 hours 2 minutes 28 seconds, in an under distance race of 20.5km, therefore average pace is 5 min 58 seconds per km.

This is my 11th Half Marathon Race. The final result is 7th (out of 11) in terms of pace but 5th (out of 11) in terms of total time due to under distance. 

The below average performance is mainly due to lack of training and stamina as a result. I am able to run sub 5'50 in the first 8km, but drop to around 6'00 mark from 9-12km. Pace is slow at 6'05-6'35 from 13-19km and back to sub 6'00 in the final 1.5km. 

Always happy after a race irrespective of results. YY's pace drop off in the final 5km therefore finished 2'04. Lee is as good as ever, finished at around 1'54. Wei Bin did a 10km run instead. 

Xian Jing Run 2025

It is an individual running competition, yet it is also kind of a team event as different association is competing against each other.  

For the team, TC Sports Club finished 2nd, 4th, 11th & 12th (although podium finish is only for top 10) whilst Hokkien has 4 in the podium including 3rd & 5th. Therefore its a slight improvement for us.

In terms of personal performances, I finished between 13th-15th, which is at least 3 minutes out of the podium time. However, the 51 minutes finishing time is already 3 minutes faster than the 54 minutes last year. As a matter, I recorded a PB for 5km during the run (probably in the first 5km). Overall 10km results is not my best, however, the route is very hilly and probably one of the toughest race.