Malaysia’s first World Heritage site, Kinabalu Park is hosting one of the toughest mountain races on October 23 and October 24, 2010.
The Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon is a global sporting event that attracts more than 300 athletes who seek to take on the challenge of the 4095m peak.
First held in the year 1987 as a recruitment programme for the rapid rescue squad by Sabah Parks, the Climbathon is regarded as the most demanding mountain race by climbers from around the world and is a test of human endurance to successfully complete the 21km climb.
For the average mountain climber, it would take around two days to climb to the top of Mount Kinabalu. For the Climbathon participants, however, it can take less than three hours to go up and down the mountain track.
The runners can compete in any of three categories: men, women and men’s veteran.
A hot favourite with European mountain runners, the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon attracts the best talent from the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), whose patron is the International Amateur Athletic Federations (IAAF). Malaysia is the first Asian Country to be the member of the WMRA.
Organised by the Sabah Tourism Board and its wholly owned subsidiary Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd, the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon is part of the prestigious Sky Runners World Series Circuit, and is the only race in this Circuit to be held outside Europe.
Its fame has been reaching new heights over the years, and this is the 10th consecutive year the competition is part of the Circuit. The Sky Runner World Series is regulated and coordinated by the Europe-based Federation for Sport at Altitude (FSA).
