Race Media

Asia’s top runners praise the best, toughest Malaysian trail course ever

Malaysians Simpat and Chong crowned 50km male and female champions respectively

The inaugural Malaysia Action Asia 50 showed no mercy on Asia’s top runners with its relentless hills and slippery, muddy trails over a technical 50 kilometre course. Flagged off this morning at 5am at Cherengin Hills Convention & Spa Resort, Malaysian elite runner David Simpat clinched the overall champion title in a blistering 5 hours 1 minute and 3 seconds, while Chong Hsiao Shiang claimed the women’s title in 7:36:40. Among the Malaysian elites, Safrey Sumping from The North Face Adventure Team and Mohamad Affindi Bin Nudin from Mizuno Malaysia took part in the fience 50km race, grabbing overall men 2^nd place (5:14:49) and 4^th place (5:28:09).

The event was a success thanks to the great support from the Malaysia Government, including Malaysia Tourism, Forestry Department, Bentong Police Department and the support from the whole Janda Baik district government.

Simpat, of The North Face Adventure Team, spoke highly of the event - his first 50km race in Peninsula Malaysia. “The race was perfect with clear directions and markings. The course was quite challenging and I was really exhausted, but still, it was very enjoyable and I would definitely recommend the race to my friends.”

Women’s champion Chong, who had taken part in the shorter courses of the 2014 and 2016 Action Asia Malaysia Trail Run, displayed tremendous perseverance and grit in her win. “The hot and humid weather together with the 2,400 elevation gainmade the race really challenging,” she said. “I had even thought of giving up but I told myself to hang in there and I tried my best to finish the whole course. It was a great race and I will definitely recommend it to my friends.”

The Malaysia Action Asia 50 also offered two shorter distances, 22km and 10km. Iranian Iman Koushki claimed victory in the 22km in 1:56:25. Calling it “a perfect experience”, he added: “This is a wonderful race, and also a challenging one with the muddy trails. Overall, I found the course very nice, and I’m happy I participated in it.”

Malaysian Nor Mahizatul Aziera Md Ramlan bagged the 22km female title in 2:59:25. She said: “Compared to last year’s 18km course, this year’s is much tougher and challenging with more muddy trails, but I found it very enjoyable!”

A fierce battle went on in the 10km race. Malaysian Mohd Azizi Shah won in 1:05:41, only 15 seconds before Briton Jenny Abbott, with Dane Aksel Martin Larsen a further 20 seconds back. Mohd said: “The course was challenging as the trails were slippery and muddy, yet it was a nice race.”

Abbott, who was second overall but first female, said: “The course was amazing with stunning scenery, I am really happy with this perfect race.”

With three distances on offer to cater for all ages and fitness abilities, the Malaysia Action Asia 50 was a chance for everyone and anyone to be immersed in nature’s beauty.

The 10km route for beginners and novice trail runners offered a varied terrain of hills and flats, dirt trails and paved road, and a total of 425m of elevation gain with the highest point at 516m. The 22km was more challenging with more than double the elevation gain (887m total) and a lot more dirt trails.

The 50km course had a whopping 2,433m elevation gain - equivalent to climbing KL’s iconic Petronas Towers more than five times. The course began by following the 22km route until a river crossing, followed by a section of dirt and single track along a gorgeous quiet valley. Here runners found themselves surrounded by almost 100 per cent pristine rainforest with monkeys leaping from trees, the sound of very loud crickets, and just absolute ideal running conditions that put runners in that zone they’ve long lived for. At Bentong, runners turned around and returned on the same route to the river crossing, offering an opportunity to cheer on others coming in the opposite direction. Back at the river crossing the route rejoined the 22km course to the finish.

To minimise environmental damage to the natural route and maintain a clean green environment in Malaysia, the Malaysia Action Asia 50 operated a strict no cup policy. Runners were advised to bring the their own water bottles or hydration packs and refill them at the water checkpoints throughout the course.

The Malaysia Action Asia 50 is organised by Action Asia Events and the event is possible only through the valuable support of Cherengin Hills Convention & Spa resort, Hoka One One, Action X Store, World of Sports, Lucozade Sport, Ribena, Palm Cove Centre, Compressport, Run Society, JKKK and Action Asia Foundation.

 

Race Results

Malaysia Action Asia 50

50km Top 5 Men

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. David Simpat – Malaysia – The North Face Adventure Team – 5:01:03

2. Safrey Sumping – Malaysia – The North Face Adventure Team – 5:14:49

3. Alessandro Rizzetto Chini – Italy – Dynafit – 5:15:46

4. Mohamad Affindi Bin Nudin – Malaysia – MIZUNO MALAYSIA – 5:28:09

5. Hisashi Kitamura – Japan – 5:59:03

 

50km Top 5 Women

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Hsiao Shiang Chong – Malaysia – 7:36:40

2. Noor Hidayah Abdullah – Malaysia – 7:53:10

3. Xin Shuang Wei – Malaysia – GoUpNoPowerGoDownNoBreak – 8:08:46

4. Choi Li Cheah – Malaysia – 8:37:02

5. Yun Mee Siow – Malaysia – 8:37:07

 

22km Top 3 Men

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Iman Koushki – Iran – 1:56:25

2. Muhammad Asdi Weding – Malaysia – 2:13:19

3. Kevin Morisseau – France – MKRC – 2:17:34

 

22km Top 3 Women

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Nor Mahizatul Aziera Md Ramlan – Malaysia – 2:59:25

2. Norull Ashikin Shikin – Malaysia – tok gajah runners – 3:01:55

3. Hui Mathews – Malaysia – ash be nimble – 3:05:37

 

10km Top 3 Men

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor –Time

1. Mohd Azizi Shah – Malaysia – 1:05:41

2. Aksel Martin Larsen – Denmark – 1:06:16

3. Todd Thornback – Britain – 1:06:45

 

10km Top 3 Women

Name - Nationality – Team/Sponsor - Time

1. Jenny Abbott – Britain – 1:05:56

2. Bee Lian Seah – Malaysia – 1:17:22

3. Laura Whyms – Britain – 1:24:21

 

Race Info:

Event:	Malaysia Action Asia 50
Date:	November 19, 2017 (Sunday)
Time:	50km – 5:00 a.m 22km – 7:00 a.m 10km – 7:15 a.m
Location:	Cherengin Hills Convention & Spa resort, Janda Baik, Malaysia
Distance:	10 km, 22 km, 50km
website:	www.actionasiaevents.com

 

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About Action Asia Foundation

Since its inception in 1997 the Action Asia Foundation has promoted the idea that outdoor activities can play a crucial part in fostering an individual’s personal development. Proceeds from Action Asia events help the work of the Foundation. The goals of the foundation include: developing personal development opportunities for young people in Asia through organising outdoor adventure activities; raising the quality of life for disadvantaged young people in Asia by funding health clinics, schools and activity centres; promoting cultural interchange through adventure programmes and events; and developing permanent facilities for youth adventure training. The foundation’s achievements so far include funding a day-care and health facilities in Nepal, and organising kayaking, climbing and other outdoor activities for handicapped and underprivileged youth in Hong Kong.