New on the Grandmaster Quest calendar this year was last weekend’s Pahang Eco. Taking place out of Kuantan on Malaysia’s east coast, Pahang Eco has been around for some years and was a Candidate Race just after the covid crisis. Now offering Grandmaster points, many runners took the call for the 100km race category. A race that lived up to its reputation as being one of the country’s toughest. Heat and humidity is obviously common in Malaysia’s trail racing scene, but during Pahang Eco it seems to hurt runners more than elsewhere.

The finishing times of the podium runners on the 100km distance reflect this as well. Race winner Adam Danial Zailani took top honours reaching the finish in 18h53. Last month, he also won the equally challenging Transnaning Ultra, also a race on the Grandmaster Quest calendar. One hour later, Johari Mohd Ali grabbed second place ahead of Hanafi Hasan.

First female runner was Nurul Emyra Fazira Isnariah Absi in 25h11. Just four weeks ago, she won the 100 Miles race at KAR Ultra. She’s having a great competitive season and with two more Championship Qualifiers to go in her home country - TMBT and Jagoi - she could still get herself in the top five of the ranking and get qualified for Team Malaysia in the upcoming ATM Championship Final in Vietnam on 3 October. At Pahang Eco, it got tough for her as well towards the end as her margin over Yee Mei Ang came down to just 14 minutes. Yee Mei Ang, herself in great shape this year, also scored her first Grandmaster star with her race finish last weekend. Third on the podium was Najah Adibah Ridzuan.

The next two weeks runners in Malaysia can continue to collect Grandmaster points in their home country at Borneo TMBT Ultra and its 109km category, and at Jagoi Ultra with its 70km category.

Adam Zailani is boosting his profile a lot in recent weeks

Just three weeks after KAR 100 Miles, Nurul Emyra again was the strongest in a tough 100k race

Ang Yee Mei scored her 1st Grandmaster star at Pahang Eco and a 2nd place in the race to boot

We are happy to announce that the 5th edition of Pahang Eco in peninsular Malaysia joins the ATM Grandmaster Quest calendar on the long weekend of 21 to 23 August 2026. Known as one of the toughest trail races in the country, Pahang Eco has gained a lot of prestige over the past four years. The event was an ATM Candidate back in 2023 as well.

Organised by Elpis Event Management, the race’s event blurb describes a journey that will take you across breathtaking landscapes, from pristine white sandy beaches and shady coastal pines to rugged cliffs and scenic trails through Bukit Pelindung Bukit Tokki and historical Bukit Galing. Along the way, you’ll experience the coastal charm of Pantai Pelindung, Pantai Beserah, and Pantai Batu Hitam. The start and finish venue is Teluk Cempedak. Trail runners should expect a good blend of tarmac, beach, and forest trails, featuring challenging hill sections designed to test your endurance and determination. Be sure to include hill training in your preparation so you can take on the climbs with confidence and maintain your strength throughout the race.

Also due to the typical Malaysian humidity and heat, Pahang Eco tends to have a high DNF rate on the longer distance, so proper preparation is indeed a must. Less ambitious runners can also go for the 50km, 23km or 12km - but note these obviously do not offer a GM point. Make sure you also check the mandatory gear list.

Pahang Eco takes place on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, in Kuantan. The town has plenty of accommodation options and is well-connected by highway to Kuala Lumpur.

Registration and all details can be found via the button below. You can also stay up to date via the event’s facebook and instagram pages.

Pahang Eco in Kuantan on Malaysia’ east coast proved once more that trail races do not need to be 100k to be extremely tough. The 50k race challenged even the most experienced of participants due to the technicality of the trails and the suffocating heat of the day. Sua Yih Huan was a convincing race winner in the men’s, and in the women’s it was Singapore-based Chinese Wei Xinshuang who took top honours. The winners’ finishing times says it all: 9h23 for Sua Yih Huan, 11h30 for Wei Xinshuang. This was just a 50k race…

The race venue was near the beach of Teluk Cempedak in Kuantan. Runners had to cross a few bukits such as Bukit Tokki and Bukit Pelindung, whereby the Tokki Hills turned out to be incredibly raw and tough. Another more relaxing feature is the section along the shoreline beach.

Achmad Aqwa Othman was an early leader in the race, which was interesting given that a week ago he still ran Cameron Ultra. Sua Yih Huan, however, would catch up with him and take command of the race to finish 30 minutes ahead of Aqwa Othman. Another half hour back was Syahmim Bin Nazmy in third place.

Chong Mei Tze was going well in the women’s race, but the high technical level of the trails was probably not in her favour. Grandmaster Siokhar Lim, on the other hand, is always very high up the leaderboard when things get really tough and rough. No surprise she came in ahead of Chong Mei Tze in second place. But the winner came from Singapore: Wei Xinshuang managed to put 19 minutes between herself and Siokhar Lim, and scored a great victory in the same way as her friend Vincere Zeng a week ago at Cultra.

The top 3 men & women of 2022 Pahang Eco

We are happy to announce another new ATM Candidate Race taking place on 23/24 July in Kuantan, on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. Pahang Eco, organised by Elpis Event Management, offers three main race categories of which the 50k is the longest. Start and finish is on Teluk Cempedak Beach, but the run in the hinterland is not to be underestimated. The 50k has a total advertised elevation gain of 2850 hm, which is considerable. Less ambitious runners can also choose the 25k or 12k options.

This race course traverses through the white sandy beach and beautiful pine trees lining the coast, with some rocky promontories facing the incessant waves of the South China Sea and beautiful trails of Bukit Pelindung and Bukit Tokki. The cut-off time at the finish is 18 hours.

The event aims to promote healthy lifestyle practices in the community, and provide exposure and awareness of the environment, especially coastal areas and forests that are still preserved. Pahang Eco also will help raise the image, and introduce Kuantan in particular as a holiday destination to outsiders.

Further details can be obtained on the official webpage, where you can also find the online registration.