Muhammad Haris Iman Bin Shuhaimi claimed victory in the 10KM Men’s Open category at SCORE Marathon 2025, crossing the finish line in 36 minutes and 17 seconds to secure first place overall, first in gender, and first in his age group.

The Putrajaya course proved to be more punishing than expected, with its rolling terrain forcing runners to adjust their pacing strategy. Haris started strong, clocking 3 minutes 11 seconds per kilometre through the opening 2.8KM but admitted that the hills took a toll in the latter stages. “Fast flat roads? I think you’re mistaken, those hills were brutal!” he said with a laugh after the race.

Haris had set a target of running under 35 minutes and initially aimed to maintain a sub 3 minutes 30 seconds per kilometre pace. However, as the course wore on, adjustments were necessary. “My strategy was simple, stick to the right pace, not too fast, not too slow,” he explained. “The pacing went well early on, just as I wanted. For the last few kilometres, I gave it everything and managed to catch up with the competitors ahead.”

By the 5.6KM mark, Haris was holding steady at 3 minutes 35 seconds per kilometre, but from 9.2KM onward, the undulating course forced a more conservative closing split of 4 minutes 40 seconds per kilometre. His average pace across the full 10KM was approximately 3 minutes 37 seconds per kilometre.

Behind his winning performance was a disciplined training block that combined speedwork, threshold runs, endurance mileage and strength training, with weekly mileage reaching up to 85 kilometres. “I always switch things up in training, speed, endurance, strength, so my body keeps adapting,” he said. “Strength work really showed today, especially on those hills.”

This victory forms part of Haris’ larger ambitions as he prepares for SUKMA 2026. His focus remains on refining his speed across shorter distances throughout the year. “This win really motivates me to work harder for what’s next. I’ve already signed up for more races this year. The journey’s far from over.”

Haris credits his family, friends, supporters and the athletes he looks up to for fuelling his motivation, although he admits that running is ultimately a personal challenge. “I run to prove to myself that I’m strong. That I can do hard things.”

For others looking to follow in his footsteps, Haris keeps his advice simple and grounded. “Just keep working. Your time will come. Be patient. Trust the process. Do the work properly and the results will come.”