It started with a phone call.

The night before the race, Kristjan Chapman rang his dad to talk strategy. The plan was simple: sit back, save energy, let someone else take the lead early on.

But ten minutes into the race, that plan was already out the window.

“Ten minutes into the race, I already found myself out front when I reached the trailhead. From that point on, I decided to scrap that strategy, run my own race, push for first, and see what unfolds.”

In the misty chill of Cameron Highlands, the Icelandic-born runner took the front of the 100KM pack at CULTRA 2025 and never gave it back. For over 13 hours, he ran ahead of 140 competitors through dense jungle, jagged climbs, rooty descents, and endless loops through the highland tea fields. He didn’t just win. He dominated.

But the journey to that moment didn’t begin at the starting line.

From Iceland to the Highlands: A Different Kind of Training Ground

Kristjan moved to Malaysia some time ago, trading the icy winds of Iceland for the tropical chaos of Southeast Asia. It was here, he says, that he truly sharpened his edge as an ultra runner.

“Especially living here in Malaysia, I’ve had the opportunity to train hard in the heat and learn from experiences in other local races to prepare myself for a longer distance.”

For four months, CULTRA was on his calendar. The 60KM tempted him — a little safer, a little saner. But in the end, he wanted more.

“I was tempted to do the 60K but told myself I wanted a bigger challenge, and I ended up choosing the 100 instead!”

Kristjan isn’t flashy about his training, but the work shows. Though he puts in long solo efforts, his growth has been shaped by Malaysia’s trail scene, from the terrain to the people.

“I see Malaysia as my home and Asia, as a place I want to build my future. Being part of such a strong and growing trail-running community is something I value deeply.”

What he leans on more than splits or stats is mindset.

“You don’t quit when you are tired, you quit when you are done.”

That quote lives in his head. It comes up when he’s tempted to slow down. It comes up when he’s toeing the start line of a 100KM race with no clue how his body will hold up.

A Mental Game, A Community Lift

When you lead for over 13 hours, every step is shadowed by a question: How close is second place?

Kristjan didn’t know. Not until the final stretch, when the MC at the finish line casually mentioned his nearest competitor was still 90 minutes behind.

“That blew my mind,” he said. “The whole time I was running like they were right behind me.”

It wasn’t just physical effort. It was a mental war. Through every climb of Gunung Jasar, every tight forest trail and leg-sapping descent, the pressure never let up. But Kristjan didn’t crack. He leaned in.

“I told myself: Push on the flats. Push harder on the downhills. Push even harder on the uphills. That’s how you win.”

There’s a moment in the race he still thinks about. Threading behind a temple through a tight, technical single-track. The trail was packed with 30KM runners. Kristjan had to shout to make his way through.

“I was yelling, ‘100K runner coming through!’ and it just rippled through the pack. Everyone moved aside, cheering, making space. That moment, that’s what the trail community is all about.”

He wasn’t just running for himself anymore. He was carrying the noise, the energy, the shared belief of people who had never met him but saw what he was doing and knew it was special.

Kristjan crossed the line in 13:14:54, first in his category, first overall. And while the numbers will stay on record, that wasn’t the part that hit hardest.

“I’ve always wanted to be first in a 100K,” he said. “Not for the title. But just to prove to myself I could push that far.”

This race wasn’t just a win. It was a message to other runners, to the trail community, and most of all to himself.

 

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Aiming Higher

He’s already thinking bigger: Malaysia Ultra Trail by UTMB. More golden ticket races. Maybe a return to CULTRA — not to repeat, but to redefine.

“I’m not done with this course. I believe that more damage can be done.”

Kristjan doesn’t just want to be known as the guy who wins. He wants to be remembered as the one who pushed hard and cheered others on while doing it. The guy who proved it’s possible to be both fierce and kind. A competitor, but also a teammate to everyone suffering out there on the trails.

Because in his words:
“I like crushing my goals, but I love seeing others crush their goals and cross the finishing line regardless of their place!”