For the past several years, Nurfathin Zahrolayali, better known in the trail community as Zest, has stood on the sidelines of the UiTM Ultra, a quiet observer of the “bonk.” As a support crew member, she has watched elite runners succumb to the psychological grind of the Shah Alam loop, their resolve dissolving under the stadium lights.

But on 24 January 2026, the observer becomes the subject. Stepping onto the start line of the UiTM Ultra Vol. 8 for her 104KM debut, Zest is not just running a race; she is testing a hypothesis formed from years of watching others navigate the limits of human endurance.

This transition from crew to competitor comes at a delicate time. Following a high-mileage victory at the Route 68 Ultra 100km earlier in 2025, Zest faced a significant physical setback—a lingering injury following an August race that forced a radical deconstruction of her training.

“This build-up has been very conservative,” she admits. “I cut down from around 100km per week to about 30km. Physically, I’m not at peak race fitness, but I feel healthy, controlled, and more aware of my body.” For Zest, the 104KM is a test of structural integrity over raw speed.

 

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The UiTM Ultra is a unique psychological experiment: 18 identical laps of a 5.8km campus circuit. Without the shifting terrain of a mountain trail to offer distraction, the runner is forced into a sterile, repetitive confrontation with the self.

Zest identifies this repetition as the race’s true technical hurdle. “You see the same stretch again and again, and that’s where your mind starts negotiating with you to stop,” she observes. “There’s no ‘new scenery’ to distract you. It’s just you, the loop, and your thoughts.”

Her advantage lies in her history as a “fixer” for other athletes. Having managed the nutritional and physical crises of runners in previous editions, she brings a crew-chief’s clinical eye to her own logistics.

Her strategy is built on the basics: the energy return of reliable road shoes, anti-chafe measures for skin protection, and a mandatory sock change at the 50km mark. She approaches her debut with the pragmatism of someone who has seen exactly how a race can fall apart at the seams when the small details are ignored.

 

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When the clock hits 3:00 AM and the stadium atmosphere shifts into what she calls the “zombie hour,” Zest relies on a linguistic anchor to bypass the pain. Her mantra is devoid of the usual ultra-marathon sentimentality: “Lagi sikit, habiskan. Lepas ni boleh tidur.” (Just a bit more, finish it. After this, you can sleep.)

“Everyone becomes a zombie at that hour, but the zombie still needs to move,” she notes. “I don’t overthink it. I just keep going, step by step, loop by loop, until it’s done.”

Ultimately, Zest’s presence at UiTM Ultra 2026 is a celebration of the community she has served for years. Describing the event as “Raya for ultra runners,” she views the 104KM as a meaningful homecoming.

Her goal is not the podium, but the completion of an educational arc. “This race is more about gaining experience, staying healthy, and learning as much as I can from the process.” In the repetitive silence of the Shah Alam night, Zest will finally discover if the lessons learnt on the sidelines are enough to carry her across the line.

Event Summary: UiTM Ultra 2026 (Vol. 8)

• Date: 24–25 January 2026
• Venue: Stadium UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor
• Category: 104 KM (24-Hour Cut-off)
• Format: 5.8 KM Campus Loop (18 Loops)
• Organiser: Zuddin Event & Pusat Sukan UiTM