Tag: Mount Kinabalu climbathon

Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon has not lost its shine after a six-year absence

Top mountain runners have made a beeline for the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon which is making a comeback on October 6 after a six-year absence. And this proves that the world’s toughest race up and down Malaysia’s tallest peak at 4,095 metres (13, 435 feet) in Sabah has not become less appealing although the field has been kept small. They include Spain’s record-breaking Kilian Jornet Burgada, 36, who was the fastest man at the 2007 race by clocking two hours, 39 minutes and 10 seconds over a 21-km (13-mile) distance. He also holds the record for being the fastest man at the Matterhorn (4,478 metres) and Mont Blanc (4,805 metres) in the Alps in Europe. There are 206 participants, six more than targeted, in three categories: men (74), women (60) and veteran men (72). There is no veteran women category because previous races weren’t encouraging, according to the race officials. The distance for this year’s race is 26km. Before the 2015 earthquake which killed 18 people on the mountain, the climbathon, held over two days, attracted 700 runners