Kota Kinabalu: A young runner from Sabah, Noor Hafizah Zubaidi, better known as Fifiana , reached a personal milestone after making her debut in the prestigious Chiang Mai UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) from Dec 5 to 7 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The international event, organised by Running Connect Company Limited, is one of the main races in the UTMB World Series, regarded as the ultimate dream for trail runners around the world.
For her first UTMB appearance, Fifiana took on the extreme 160-kilometre challenge, testing both her physical endurance and mental resilience at the highest level.
The demanding course recorded a total elevation gain of 9,711 metres, with a strict 48-hour time limit and cut-off times at every water station and checkpoint, requiring unwavering focus to reach the finish line.
“This is the dream of every trail runner, and I wanted to fulfil my first dream of completing a 160KM race here,” she said.
Although this was her maiden UTMB outing, Fifiana had competed in nine road marathon events throughout the year in Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan, Kudat, Miri, Kuching, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur and Osaka, Japan.
The Tamparuli native has also participated in two trail marathon events in Sabah, namely the 60KM Kadamaian Adventure Race and the 50KM TMBT.
Her consistent participation in both road and trail running reflects her strong dedication to the sport.
Beyond competition, Fifiana also leads a running community in Kota Kinabalu known as RUNSYND.
The community organises both free and paid training sessions for new and experienced runners, while fostering knowledge sharing and promoting a healthy running culture in Sabah.
