At the halfway mark of Gunung Pulai, where the gradient turned brutal and his legs started to scream, Muhammad Hazim Zuhairi found himself repeating the same words in his head.

“You’ve done this before. You belong here.”

It wasn’t some dramatic mantra. It was survival. A reminder to stay calm when doubt crept in, when fatigue started to argue louder than ambition.

But this is what Hazim showed up for.

Standing at the foot of Gunung Pulai weeks earlier, Hazim had set himself a clear, sharp goal. A sub-30-minute finish on the 5.3-kilometre vertical course with 527 metres of elevation gain. A time goal, simple in theory. But Gunung Pulai had other plans. Steep climbs, unforgiving tarmac terrain, gradients designed to break rhythm and confidence alike.

“When I realised the terrain was a lot more challenging than expected, I had to shift focus quickly,” he said. “Instead of chasing the clock, I told myself just race smart, stay composed, and fight for position.”

That adaptability wasn’t born overnight. Years of failure, progress, and deliberate training shaped it. Today, Hazim stands as World No. 13 in the Towerrunning World Association (TWA) Rankings. It is a position earned through consistency, resilience, and an appetite for the kind of pain most athletes avoid.

Vertical running strips you down to your core. There’s no hiding behind pacers, no shortcuts through flat kilometres. It’s you against gravity, against yourself. And for Hazim, that’s exactly the appeal.

“It’s raw. It’s primal. Every step upwards is a fight, and I love that feeling of being on the edge,” he said.

Preparing for Gunung Pulai was as methodical as it was painful. Technical hill repeats, stair intervals, sessions designed to push him to the redline. Long hike-run combinations stacked with elevation to build physical and mental resilience. He even went as far as visualising the pain zones of the course so the shock wouldn’t hit mid-race.

“I wanted to know exactly when it was going to hurt,” he said. “That way, I wouldn’t be surprised when it came.”

His fueling was simple and precise. A DEVER Electrolyte Salt Tablet beforehand and a DEVER Energy Gel just before the start. For gear, he chose a lightweight vest and grippy trail shoes built for unforgiving terrain. No overthinking, just efficient choices.

Though he crossed the finish line outside his goal time, Hazim walked away as the Overall Champion of the Vertical Run category. Success, he’s learned, is rarely measured in just minutes.

“For me, it’s layered. Time is always a goal, but success is more about execution and heart,” he said. “Did I give everything I had? Did I stay focused and resilient? Did I race with purpose? That’s how I measure it.”

Beyond Gunung Pulai, Hazim’s ambitions reach higher. The Empire State Building Run-Up, Shanghai Tower, La Verticale de la Tour Eiffel. These are races that combine prestige and pain, landmarks where only the best toe the line.

Being ranked World No. 13 fuels the hunger. Top 10 is close. But numbers alone aren’t why he climbs.

“It’s about consistently showing up, racing hard, and representing Malaysia on the global stage. I want to keep pushing the limits of what’s possible,” he said.

Behind the scenes, his support network keeps him grounded. Family comes first. Training partners suffer through the brutal sessions with him. Sponsors believe in his potential. Organisers provide the platforms to grow.

“This journey isn’t mine alone,” he said.

 

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For younger Malaysian athletes looking at stairwells or mountains and wondering where to start, Hazim’s advice is practical. Show up. Stay consistent. You don’t need fancy gear. You need stairs. Hills. Reps. The grit will follow.

“The pain is temporary. The growth stays with you.”

And after races like this? Recovery isn’t about luxury. Light hiking. Cycling. Good sleep. Better nutrition. Reflection too, not just on what went well, but where improvement hides.

During the hardest climbs, when fatigue screams loudest, Hazim keeps it simple.

“One more step. One more breath.”

It’s not profound. It’s not poetic. It just works.

Because in vertical running, there’s only one direction worth moving.

And Hazim Zuhairi isn’t done climbing yet.