05/05/2026
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11th edition of T**i Ultra has several βnotableβ features which contributed together somehow to a record year in terms of the high DNF rates across all categories except for 50km. However, itβs almost seems like a continuing trend, almost a carbon copy of the 10th edition in 2025l.
Instead of elaborating on almost all aspects of T**i Ultra, we will share our thoughts on certain pertinent issues on ultra road running races in both general sense and may be also specific to this yearβs edition. We also found ourselves having to repeat some of the pertinent points on how to have a higher successful rate (lower DNF rates), in the hope that we will see marked improvement in 2027.
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Although the route is simple (especially if you have attended the race briefing), there were still some unfortunate isolated incidents happened.
1). There are only a few major junctions (only TWO to be precise) on T**i routes, some runners still managed to take the wrong turn at Sungai Lui/ Semenyih and the Bukit Hantu junctions ON their ways back, having done the routes when going out from the starting point to T**i town.
2). Some runners even had their GPS watches ON and claimed to be using that tyo navigate. We know for a fact that some runners rely totally on βsignagesβ instead of their own memories/understanding/study of the routes. Many of which didnβt seem to do their homework. We provided the route maps and GPX files to help preventing incidents of getting lost. In this race, some signages were removed/stolen/sabotaged which could cause confusion to the runners.
3). Blinking lights are not always practical since they may run out of batteries, and in some cases, stolen as well.
Imagine how big a problem this could be in a trail race if the runners canβt handle a simple route like T**i Ultra? If majority of the runners did not get lost, why did some manage to get lost?
4). On the other hand, did these runners study the Runners Guide carefully in detail, and listen to the race briefing where the RDs focused on the route description? If either or both have happened, no one would lose their way on such a simple route with few junctions.
Anyway, itβs our responsibility to make sure signages and marshals are correctly positioned in all races.
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Generally, the F&B in this edition are adequate in quantities and varieties at all CPs and Start/Finish points, during and after the races.
One important change this year is the merger of the old CP1 Dam and old CP2 Sungai Lui. The new CP sat in between these two old CPs, making the distances between CPs longer. We reminded runners to always eat and drink enough, and to carry more supplies before leaving the water stations. Still, we heard some runners running out of water and food. Yes, less water stations make the race harder, but runners need to learn to manage that effectively. Itβs part of race preparation, and ex*****on.
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We only have a potential issue with Power of 4 arrangement. As part of our cost saving exercise, we reduced the number of checkpoints where we had the timing system. That means that one timing bib must be passed on from the 1st runner to the 2nd, then to the 3rd and 4th runner. There is no timing of individual relay runner. Thereβll be only one time, the overall time. No 4 different chips being detected and timed. We would have no idea who ran which legs from our record, whether each runner has run at least twice during the race. Who knows that there could be a fifth runner helping in the relay run.
Just to clarify on the rules for the Power of 4, it is OK for the order of the run to be changed, so that as each runner gets to run twice during the race. Having a runner run 3 legs, and 1 runner run just one wouldnβt be a smart move as the average speed will be slow.
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When Kazuya Sato from Japan won the 100km category in 9:59:12 in 2024, a sub 10 hrs. result on elevation gain of 1500m, we doubted our claim a bit. How could this be the toughest road ultra if this man can run such excellent timing which only a few Malaysians runners could achieve on much flatter landscape?
Then during those hours before 10am Sun 28th Apr, DNF data came in after another, some much more prematurely than we expected. Many cited heat strokes as the culprit, others blaming the 8hrs COT at T**i Town (50km) point as being overly tight.
After the dust has finally settled down, we have these grim race statistics staring right at our face:
TOTAL Registered Participants = 462 (T**i Ultra ride has 240 participants)
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2026
50km = 89/ 96/ 102
100km = 35/ 61/ 65
100 miles = 6/ 24/ 26
200 km = 4/ 16/ 18 /plus 2 downgraded from 200km
250 km = 2/ 11/ 14 /2 downgraded to 200km
Power of 4 = 20/20/20 teams
2025
50km = 215/ 260/ 270
100km = 109/ 153/ 160
100 miles = 12/ 41/ 44
200 km = 9/ 30/ 32
250 km = 4/ 17/ 24
Power of 4 = 20/ 20/ 20 teams
π°π΅ %, πππ πππππππππππ πππππππ ππππππ
ππ ππ πππππ:
50km = 89/96 = 92.7% (82.7% in 2025)
100km = 35/61 = 57.4% (71.2% in 2025)
100 miles = 6/24 = 25.0% (29% in 2025)
200km = 4/16 = 25.0% (30% in 2025)
250km = 2/11 = 18.2.7% (23.5% in 2025)
πΆππππππ πππππππππ πΉπππ= 136 / 208 = 65% (70% ππ 2025)
The 50km is actually an improvement over 2025 (92.7% vs 91% in 2025). If youβre running the 50km, youβre almost certain to finish except for that 9% who may have DNFed for reasons like insufficient training (it canβt be the heat as the race started at 1am Sunday). With due respect, with 9hrs given as the Cut Off Time, a strong walker can finish the race with an average speed faster than 5.6km/hr (pace of 10m42s/km).
As for 100km category, DNF rate of 42.6% is a new high indeed after the 36.4% DNF rate in 2025 which we said then was not disastrous. 42.6% this year could qualify to be disastrous. It was also super hot in 2025, whatβs changed? We increased the cutoff time at T**i Town ((50km mark) from 8hrs to 8.5hrs, expecting the finishing rate to improve. But then, higher % DNF instead.
Well, in 2025, 63.6% of the runners had no problem meeting that 8hrs cutoff. In 2024, when 71 years old Michiro Kimura crossed the 100km finish line in 17h26m, we wondered about his secret in handling the heat and the 8hrs cutoff at T**i town. What could the 42.6% DNFers have learned from him?
The 100 miles and above (200km and 250km) categories are different stories altogether. The 100milers have seen improvement from only 1x 100 miles finisher out of 23 starters in 2025, we have 6 finishers out of 24 starters this year. In 200km, 4 out of 16 finished, although only 2 out of 11 starters finished the 250km even though we have extended the cutoff to 46hrs. All in all, these are depressing numbers. What went wrong? The 100 miles race started at 2am Saturday, runners would have 5-6hrs to condition themselves to the stress and demand placed on their bodies by then. Couldnβt they find a way to cool themselves down and keeping their heartrate in check? Constantly watering the head and body, holding ice cubes in their hands, covering the heads and faces with bandanas/ buffs, wearing the arm sleeves to protect from sunburnt which would tire off the runners, are just some of the common tactics in handling hot conditions. Have they not trained under similarly hot conditions while training for this T**i race? They probably should have thought of that while training for this race.
Or is it the intimidatingly long distance that is beyond the insufficiently trained runners? Have the runners toeing the starting lines trained enough to handle such a long-distance brisk walking? Some may not know, but itβs safe to say that most needs to train faster and longer in terms of mileage and time-on-foot. Most probably never trained power walking too.
Both Kazuya Satu (the fastest at 9:59:12) and Michuro Kimura (the oldest at 71 years old) are 100km finishers from Japan. Is there something we Malaysians the local tropical can learn from them perhaps?
Thatβs not to say that we are contradicting ourselves in claiming that T**i Ultra is probably the toughest road ultra in Malaysia. It is tough of course, but youβll only make it tougher by not respecting it enough to train seriously for it. For the 100km, we have changed the COT at T**i Town to 8.5hrs. We have extended the COT for 250km to 46 hours from 44hours to see if there would be more finishers in 2025 and 2026. What more can be done?
With early preparation, harder dedication, smarter training, and wiser race ex*****on, more runners can make it to the finish line. You donβt have to be as fast as Kazuya Sato, or as old as Michuro Kimura.
You just need to toe the starting well trained and ready and find the ways to beat the elements on race day.
See everyone on 23-25th April 2027!
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