ToughASIA

Just when you think you're tough enough

Redefining Strength: What an Ultra-Runner Teaches Us About Letting Go of Ego

We often think strength looks like going longer, pushing harder, or proving more. Especially in the trail and ultra-running world, where pain is a badge and distance is currency, choosing to “step down” can feel like stepping back. But what…

The Joy Returner: Elinda Zulkipli’s Happiest Running Season Yet

After years of chasing numbers, Elinda found something better: joy. There was a time when every run in Elinda Zulkipli’s calendar had to count for something. A faster pace. A longer distance. A personal best to chase. “I used to…

Zukarnain Mat Nor: From Cycling Crash to Ecotrail Putrajaya 2025 Men Open Champion

Zukarnain Mat Nor didn’t just show up at Ecotrail Putrajaya 2025, he showed up ready to own the trail. With months of calculated preparation and a clear target in mind, he powered through 80 kilometres to claim the Men Open…

What If Running Was About Discipline, Not Speed? Syafiq Tayeb Thinks So

At the 2025 Garmin Run Asia Series, he isn’t chasing pace — he’s honouring the quiet work behind every mile. There are runners who live for the chase. The podium, the pace, the personal best. Then there are runners like…

The Dual Citizen of Running: Aiman Haiqal’s Return to the Road

For years, Mohamad Aiman Haiqal bin Mohd Zani belonged to the trails. He learned how to suffer in silence, how to find peace among roots and ridgelines, how to listen to his breath when everything else fell away. Trail running…

35KM of Firsts: Yusuf’s Bold Step at Tunggul Melati Trail 2025

Muhammad Yusuf Jamil isn’t new to running, but when it comes to trail, he’s stepping into fresh terrain. After a seven-year gap since his first trail event, he’s returning to the dirt paths and steep climbs at Tunggul Melati Trail…

Redzman vs Desaru: His 113 International Triathlon Malaysia Comeback

For most, the 113 International Triathlon Desaru Malaysia 2025 is just another race on the calendar. For Redzman Bin Ridzuan, it’s personal. This weekend, he returns to a course that once tested every part of him: mentally, physically, and emotionally….

The Calm Before the Climb: Apek Sets His Focus on the Tunggul Melati Trail 2025

The inaugural edition of Tunggul Melati Trail 2025 is set to test the mettle of Malaysia’s trail-running community, and among the athletes toeing the line for the 55KM category is a runner who has quietly become one of the sport’s…

A Family That Races Together: The Kuans’ Journey Through Triathlon

In the Kuan household, triathlon isn’t just a sport. It’s family time in motion. What began as a shared dream between Ryan Kuan and his wife quietly simmered over the years, through half-marathons and duathlons, before being shelved for the…

Last-Minute Entry, Lifetime Win: Afiq Moni Conquers King of Sungai Lembing 2025

When you think of ultra trail champions, you probably imagine months of meticulous preparation, peak physical conditioning, and carefully calculated strategies. But for Afiq Moni, the newly crowned Men’s Open champion at the 2025 King of Sungai Lembing 50KM ultra,…