After years of chasing numbers, Elinda found something better: joy.

There was a time when every run in Elinda Zulkipli’s calendar had to count for something. A faster pace. A longer distance. A personal best to chase. “I used to feel guilty if I did not beat myself,” she said. “Like the run did not matter unless it looked impressive on paper.”

But over time, the seasoned runner found herself pulled in a different direction. Not away from running, but back to its roots. Back to why she started in the first place.

This November, Elinda will toe the start line at the 2025 Garmin Run Asia Series in Putrajaya. It will be her second and final half marathon of the year. It is not part of a high-stakes race season. In fact, it is the opposite. Her new rule is simple: just two 21-kilometre races a year. A more intentional calendar. Fewer bibs. More meaning.

“I have learned that I do not need to show up at every race to feel like a runner,” said Elinda. “I just need to feel like myself when I run.”

That clarity did not come from burnout or injury. It came from experience and reflection. Over years of training, racing, and recovering, Elinda discovered that pushing harder did not always mean running better.

Now, she is racing smarter. Her lead-up to Garmin Run Asia includes a handful of 10-kilometre events, regular strength training, and enough rest to keep her motivated, not exhausted. “My consistent goal is to improve my timing without pushing myself to the point of injury.”

That mindset shift also changed how she eats, fuels, and approaches recovery. “Everything I do now is to avoid injury. I would rather show up feeling 80 per cent fit and happy than 100 per cent fit but broken.”

During taper week, Elinda focuses on carbohydrate loading and hydration. “I load up on good carbs and stay well hydrated.” On race day, she sticks to a reliable fuelling plan: one energy gel 20 minutes before flag-off, then every 40 minutes throughout the course. “I also make sure to sip water or isotonic drinks at every station to avoid dehydration.”

Her goal for Garmin Run Asia is simple. She wants to beat her previous half marathon time, not dramatically, just meaningfully. “I just want to beat my previous time. That is all.”

Putrajaya is familiar ground for Elinda. She has raced there more times than she can count. The undulating terrain, often a challenge for others, feels like home. “Putrajaya is my playground. I have run there a lot. Every race here includes hills, so my mantra is to run like I always train by taking small steps and focusing on breathing.”

 

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Just last month, Elinda added another milestone to her race log: POWERMAN Malaysia, a run-bike-run duathlon that pushed her beyond the comfort zone of the road. That effort, she said, reminded her of her strength and deepened her appreciation for the process. “If I can do POWERMAN, I can definitely conquer the road.”

But for Elinda, it is no longer about proving anything to anyone, not even to herself. “It is a feeling only runners understand — the personal goals, the adrenaline rush, the post-race joy. That sense of accomplishment keeps us going.”

More than anything, she wants her presence at the start line to mean something to someone else. “If my finish at Garmin Run Asia encourages even two or three people to start running, embrace a healthy lifestyle, and practise self-love, that is already a big win.”

When she runs in November, she will not be chasing the clock. She will be chasing a feeling. The one that reminded her why she laces up in the first place. “I have stopped running for the world,” Elinda said. “Now, I just run for me.”

And sometimes, that is when the real race begins.