DENGKIL, Sept 11 — After debuting last year with 700 participants, the Tunggul Melati Trail (TMT) returned this year with more than double the participation on its rugged two-state course, signalling its emergence as an international sports tourism attraction.
Held from September 4 to 6, the race featured six categories — the 85km, 65km, 40km, 15km, and 10.5km Segment Challenge and a 5km route — taking runners through forested hills, rocky paths and spectacular panoramas across Sepang, Selangor, and Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
Parts of the course are reminiscent of safari landscapes and the Grand Canyon in the US.
But behind the scenic views was a gruelling test of endurance.
Runners had to dig deep on technical climbs, remain steady on steep, rocky descents and endure scorching heat and high humidity along exposed stretches.
The combination of demanding terrain, challenging conditions and diverse scenery gives TMT its distinctive character, attracting runners seeking an out-of-the-ordinary trail experience.
Despite being relatively new to Malaysia’s trail-running scene, TMT is gaining a foothold internationally. This year, participation more than doubled to 1,525 runners from 25 countries.
The event’s growing stature has also earned it a nomination for the Asia Trail Master 2026, a series of long-distance trail-running races held across Asia.
A test of endurance
On the trail, TMT first-timer Halimatun Saadiah Mat Nor quickly discovered just how demanding the challenge could be.
The 33-year-old tackled the 65km course, with its relentless climbs, steep descents and elevation gain of more than 2,300 metres.
Running through the night and navigating the trail in darkness added another layer of difficulty, demanding constant focus.
“The heat, humidity and seemingly endless rolling hills pushed me to my limit. Towards the end, I felt like crying and kept wondering when I would finally cross the finish line,” she said.
Despite the gruelling conditions, Halimatun prevailed to emerge champion in the Women’s Open 65km category, clocking 10:38:33.
The longer 85km course presented an even greater test, with Men’s Open champion Mohamad Amierul Amin Shamsul Kamal having to balance technical ability with careful race strategy across steep hills and more runnable stretches through forests, oil palm plantations and paved roads.
Amierul, who completed the race in 12:15:50, said the successive climbs and descents proved a bigger challenge than expected.
“The trail was highly technical, making it difficult to maintain a running pace. The continuous rolling hills really tested my mental strength and required me to carefully manage my pace and energy,” said the 31-year-old.
The 85km course proved equally demanding for returning runner Ritzy Amor Ectin of the Philippines, who stepped up from the 55km category last year.
“Last year, I joined the 55km race, and it left me completely exhausted. I came better prepared this year and expected a tougher challenge, but the route was far more technical than anticipated, making some sections almost impossible to run.
“Although I enjoy technical terrain, this course was particularly tough, especially when we had to run in the dark,” said the 35-year-old, who won the Women’s Open 85km category in 14:54:22.
TMT builds its sports tourism appeal
Organiser Pasak Adventure designed TMT to offer runners not only the physical challenge of completing a race but also the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature and experience something truly different along the trail.
Its director, Mohammad Fazreen Idham Mohd Jais, said the event also provided an economic boost to surrounding areas, with about 3,000 visitors generating an estimated RM900,000 to RM1.1 million in spending on accommodation, food and beverages, retail, transportation, logistics and other services.
Buoyed by the event’s rapid growth in only its second edition, Fazreen said the organiser now aims to establish TMT as a leading home-grown trail-running brand with international appeal.
“We do not want this journey to end here. We want TMT to return stronger in the coming years, establish its own identity in Malaysia’s increasingly competitive trail-running scene, and attract not only local runners but also a growing number of international participants,” he told Bernama.
