When Aisyah steps up to a starting line, she’s often met with sideways glances. Soft-spoken, petite, and standing quietly among the front pack, it’s easy to assume she’s there for the experience rather than performance. But assumptions vanish the moment the race begins.

“All the time,” she says, when asked if people underestimate her. “Sometimes people think I’m just here for a fun run, even when I’m up front at the starting line. People say, ‘small but mighty.’ But honestly, I’m still quite new to running. There’s still a lot I need to improve.”

This August, Aisyah will toe the line at the Selangor Marathon 2025, contesting the 10KM at Sepang International Circuit. It’s a race that marks another chapter in her steady rise through Malaysia’s distance running scene.

Ironically, Aisyah never saw herself as an athlete. “I used to hate running,” she admits. “My dad would always invite me to go run, but I wasn’t interested.” It wasn’t until she stumbled into the world of community running that something shifted. She joined events, met runners who welcomed her, and slowly began experimenting with short jogs. In the beginning, even a single kilometre was a challenge. “I had to alternate between running and walking,” she says. “But when I made it a routine and stayed consistent, I eventually built up. Now I can run more than 21KM.”

That transformation from reluctance to rhythm speaks volumes about her character. Each race became not just a physical test, but a personal breakthrough.

For Aisyah, the body is only part of the equation. Her deepest strength comes from within. “A lot of people don’t realize that mental strength is more important than physical,” she explains. “When your body’s tired, it’s your mindset that pushes you forward.” She credits running with teaching her how to conquer the inner voice of doubt, the same voice many runners face mid-race. “Once you beat that voice, you become stronger, not just in running, but in life.” It’s a philosophy she lives by, anchored by a mantra that guides her: “If you work hard, you move forward. If you’re lazy, you get left behind.”

Her training for the Selangor Marathon 10KM is strategic and measured. “I always follow the 80 percent easy, 20 percent hard rule,” she explains. “For a 10KM race, I don’t do as much mileage as I would for a half marathon, so I focus more on improving speed.” To complement her running, she incorporates strength training as a crucial layer of injury prevention. “The key is consistency,” she adds.

That same consistency extends to her race week routine. She prepares with intention, both physically and mentally. “The night before a race, I go to bed early, prepare all my gear, and make sure I eat meals high in carbs and protein,” she says. “On race morning, I wake up early, do some stretching, and focus on calming my mind so I can stay mentally positive.”

Her fueling strategy is equally deliberate. Carbohydrates like rice, bread and pasta form the base of her training diet. After every session, she refuels with protein. On race day, she uses energy gels and electrolytes to keep her body stable and responsive. “I’ll take an energy gel like DEVER every 40 minutes to sustain energy, and I use Dever Electrolyte Salt Tablet during taper week and one hour before the race to avoid cramps or dehydration.”

 

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Among her proudest achievements is her performance at Boom+ Putrajaya Run 2024, where she earned a personal best and a spot on the podium. “I really trained hard for that race and managed to hit the target I wanted,” she says. “That moment made me feel satisfied. The hard work paid off.”

But more than medals or personal bests, Aisyah wants to be a voice of encouragement, especially for women who feel like they don’t look like runners. “I used to struggle to run even 1KM,” she says. “But I believe if you’re willing to put in the effort, you’ll get there. We all start from the bottom, no matter your age, size or weight. Hard work brings results, so never give up.”

As Selangor Marathon 2025 approaches, Aisyah isn’t focused on the competition. She’s focused on the finish line and what it means to finish strong. “My hope is to finish strong. No injuries, and to cross the line with a big smile,” she says. “The podium would be a bonus. If it’s meant to be, it will come.”

Behind every stride is a quiet resolve. And for Aisyah, each finish line is just another beginning.