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, victory wasn’t the result of long-term planning. It came from pure mental grit, spontaneous decision-making, and a deep well of determination.

“I still can’t believe it, honestly,” Afiq shared. “It wasn’t just about finishing first. It was about completing the race at all, especially under such extreme heat. That alone felt like a huge win for me.”

The most surprising part? He hadn’t even planned to run the race.

Afiq had just wrapped up a multi-day hiking trip across Trans Jerging when a friend unexpectedly offered him a race slot. With less than two weeks to go and no structured training under his belt, he said yes. “It was close to home and I was free on race day, so I figured why not. Even though I wasn’t in peak form, I told myself to switch on mentally and just enjoy it.”

Enjoying a 50KM trail ultra under the unforgiving heat of Sungai Lembing, however, is not for the faint of heart. “It wasn’t just physically exhausting. The heat really got to me emotionally too,” he admitted. “When my mind started to spiral, I would talk to myself and remember why I was doing this. I thought about my family and my friends, and I focused on every step. Sometimes I even counted up to 100 just to keep myself distracted.”

With no formal strategy and zero race-day planning, Afiq relied entirely on intuition. “I didn’t have any set plans. I just told myself to finish strong and maybe improve my timing a bit. From the start, I ran based on how my body felt. I monitored my heart rate and stayed focused on hydration and fuelling.”

This year, the infamous Bukit Panorama climb came early in the race, around kilometer five or six. And it hit hard. “The route was different this year, not like what my friends experienced before. The climb was steep and slippery because of rain the night before. I just focused on every step going up and down, and kept my breathing in check.”

Things got especially tough between 8.30 and 9 in the morning, when the sun was already blazing. “The trail was so exposed and it felt like the heat was frying my brain. I asked for ice at one of the water stations, but it hadn’t arrived yet. I ended up cooling myself off in a river, splashing water on my face and head. Then I took a deep breath and reminded myself why I started this.”

Afiq crossed the finish line with an official time of 5 hours and 32 minutes, though his own watch recorded it at 5:21. Either way, it was his best trail performance yet. “My previous 50KM races took me between seven to nine hours. So this was a huge improvement.”

His fuelling approach was simple but effective. “I took energy gels every 30 to 45 minutes, brought a few energy bars, and had electrolytes in a soft flask. I also made sure to refill my water every chance I got at the stations.”

Despite all the suffering, what carried him through were the people he thought about along the way. “My family and friends mean everything to me. When I feel like giving up, I think about them. Especially my family, who always worries but still supports me. My friend Amyrul always says, if you believe you can do it, go for it. If you don’t, then don’t force it. I hold onto those words.”

This race was also uniquely meaningful because it happened just one day before his birthday. “It felt like a gift to myself. Everything was imperfect — the last-minute entry, the intense heat — but I still gave my best. That made it extra special.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Afiq (@aslayters)

The unexpected win has now reshaped his goals. “It definitely gave me more confidence. Now I want to take on more technical races, and even look at 70K or 100K distances. I’m already scouting some events this year and next, especially ones with big elevation and extreme weather.”

So what keeps him coming back to the trails?

“For me, trail running is an escape from the outside world. Every race feels like an adventure. It’s not about beating others, it’s about challenging yourself. Ultras teach patience, resilience, and show you the beauty of nature. That’s why I always come back.”

And his advice to anyone facing their first ultra with nerves and fear?

“Don’t panic. Ultra running is not about speed. It’s about endurance, mentally and physically. Break the race into smaller sections and focus on what you can control — your steps, your food, your water, and your mindset. Most importantly, enjoy the process. You’ll discover parts of yourself that you never knew existed.”