What Other Events KL Can Offer To Runners

Running is one of my favourite past time. Not many people like it because it may be monotonous if they did it on the same route and track each time. But to me, its a kind of test on endurance and self-discipline. I used to be serious in running few years back, where I can run 21km Half Marathon non-stop and yet ending the race still feeling energetic.

The Federal Territory Amateur Athletics Association (FTAAA) is an active sports body who takes the responsibility in organizing running events throughout the Klang Valley region. There are many running events in KL, and most of them are on flat grounds around the city centre. However, it may not be known to outsiders that KL also offers some interesting running events that could be unique to this city only.

1) Tower Run (KL Tower International Forest Towerthon)

It consists of running on hilly road and stairs. The run is flagged off at the car park near the main entrance gate, and runners are supposed to run almost 800m uphill towards the base of KL Tower. They then need to climb up 2508 steps before finishing at Tower Head 03 at the height of 288 metres from ground or 382 metres from sea level. The runners are released by batches, as not many people can squeeze into the tower at a certain point of time. This is going to be the most difficult run for novice. Based on my experience, they will sprint from the word go and tend to use up all their energy before reaching the first step of the tower stairs.

2) Office Attire Run (The Edge Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Rat Race)

This is a charity run event open that allows companies to sponsor their staff to participate, and one condition is to require the participants to dress as formally as possible. It covers 4.5 kilometres through the commercial heart of Kuala Lumpur starting from the Bursa Malaysia building, and there is also a 1-km race for CEOs held simultaneously on that day.

This is a one-of-a-kind of running event, where formality and hierarchy does not matter. The runners participate in a cheerful and sporting spirit, where company top management personnel mingle around, executives run with their ties on and in slacks, companies coming with big groups of supporters, and company mascot joining along the fun.


3) New Highway Run (Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKETHON)

Another type of running event popular in KL is the new highway run that might be held only once in a lifetime. Usually the highway owner or concessionaire organizes the race as a way to introduce their highway to the public before they are officially open to use. It is a rare chance for runners to be allowed to run freely on a highway and breathe on the fresh tarmac smell.

4) Staircase Run (Batu Caves Tanggathon)

This is another stairs climbing event that was held many years back, but discontinued for now. It was organized by Selangor AAA at the famous Batu Caves, located slightly outside KL. The starting point was at the bottom of the stairs, and runners need to tackle the 272 steps almost immediately after the gun. Based on my experience, this is another challenging event, as runners don't have the opportunity to stop and it was just jumping and speeding up. Anyone trying to stop or slow down will need to have a strong footing as a glance downwards may make the legs grow weaker.