Malaysia UltraTrail 2025 by UTMB 50K Review

I signed up for this race because I got the "runner's blues." A week after my UTMB in Japan, I felt the itch to do it all over again. That same week, I started searching for another UTMB in my part of Asia. I might even enter the lottery next year to get those stones! Malaysia's date seemed perfect for me, both the distance and transportation worked out, so it was an ideal way to squeeze in another UTMB in the same year.

The timing was spot on, at the end of September, and with a long weekend in Taiwan, I realized I could do the race without taking any days off. After a quick search, I booked flights to Kuala Lumpur, a train to Taiping, and sorted out accommodation. The race location is super convenient and easy to reach.

Let's kick things off with the Expo and overall organization. Honestly, it's the best I've seen in any UTMB race I've done. The whole city is buzzing with race excitement (even every Grab driver I met chatted with me about it!). The Expo is massive, and you can snag some great deals on products. Plus, there's a cool little pop-up market where you can grab some local Malaysian food after you're done shopping at the Expo. And get this—there's a free welcome dinner for all runners the night before the race, right after the briefing! I took a bit of a gamble and had some curry the day before the race... but thankfully, everything turned out just fine!

The day began early at 5 AM, with a promising weather forecast indicating no rain at the beginning of the race. At the starting line, I recognized some familiar faces from my hotel. It felt like the entire city was overtaken by runners this weekend.

The start was awesome because it was a "pinch" start, letting us stretch out a lot. Plus, we were split into four different waves. The beginning was smooth and easy to run until we hit the first climb, but thanks to the organizers, there weren't any traffic jams like in other races. I got to the first aid station while it was still dark. After leaving and crossing my first river, the sun started to rise, and the jungle came alive with the sounds of wildlife.

The next part was pretty flat and not too tricky, so I could run most of it. Before long, we reached the old railway tunnel. I walked through it with another runner who had already packed away his headlight. I still had mine in my pocket, and when I shined it on the ceiling, we saw hundreds of bats sleeping. It was the first time I’d seen anything like that :)

Between aid stations 2 and 3 was the toughest part of the course. Running on the main road with scooters, cars, and no shade was really tough, and a lot of people slowed down there. It was a 5km stretch before we hit AS3, a huge aid station where everyone could finally restock, refresh, and cool down, just like this:

I've hung out at this aid station for a while, cooling off, grabbing some food and drinks, and chatting with one of the runner support crew I met at my hotel :) Trail running is such a social thing!

The next part of the race got pretty tough because it was getting hotter and more humid. Before reaching the next station, I bumped into a Polish lady and her Swiss partner. We spent the next 5 km running, walking, and chatting together. It turned out later that he had to drop out at the last station because of the heat, but we found out we were staying at the same hotel! As for me, the last part of the race was a bit of a struggle with some minor stomach issues (probably not the best idea to have ice cream at AS4) and trying not to overheat. I did take a few breaks to soak in the beautiful views and enjoy the jungle-like roads! 😊

The final part of the run was mostly through the city and wasn't all that exciting, but I pushed myself to finish in under 10 hours. I did it in 9h 56m 35s (my Garmin showed a bit longer since it took me a moment to stop it;)).

Following the race, I spent a good amount of time at the rest area (which, by the way, was fantastic!!). I chatted with some fellow runners, got my medal engraved, and relaxed! Overall, it was a wonderful event :)

UPDATE: It appears I've won a free entry for the 2026 edition through a lucky draw, simply because I completed the post-race survey. It seems the universe is encouraging me to attempt the 100k this year :)

Pros:

• The atmosphere was among the best of the UTMB races, with the entry fee covering a welcome dinner for all runners, providing a great chance to mingle and meet new people. There was also a pop-up market selling local products.

• A large expo offered everything you might need at excellent prices, featuring many promotions.

• Generous cutoff time of 17 hours for the 50km race.

• The aid stations were exceptional, offering a wide variety of fresh food, snacks, and drinks. One even served ice cream!

• The route was interesting, except for one part, featuring river crossings, fun sections to run on, and an old railway tunnel filled with bats.

• There was no congestion on the trails.

• The post-race recovery area offered great food with a wide selection of freshly made dishes and drinks.

Cons:

• I mentioned that the route was quite interesting, BUT... there was a section about 6km long on a tarred road filled with scooters and traffic, and with no shade, which was almost unbearable. Fortunately, at the end of that stretch, there was a large aid station with an ice bath and plenty of food and drinks. I know many people struggle with that part (UPDATE: the new route for 2026 has been altered, and that 6km segment has been redirected to a smaller road along the railway track!).

• The last point is the weather (not much the race director can do about it). If you can't handle heat and rain, this race isn't for you. The heat and humidity in this region are intense...

Overall:

If you're thinking about tackling your first 50k, this race could be just what you're looking for. It's easy to get to, has a fantastic vibe, and the race director really cares about all the runners, whether they're fast or slow. The aid stations are great, and the route is pretty solid (except for that 6km stretch). Plus, there's a long cutoff time and not a ton of elevation gain, making it perfect for anyone wanting to dip their toes into ultras or trail running. I can't say much about the 100k race, except that a lot of people had to finish in heavy rain. Just a heads up about the weather—it can be hot, humid, and totally unpredictable. There have been times when races were canceled or shortened because of it.