KAR Ultra: Where Mount Kinabalu Watches Dreams Unfold 🇲🇾
Kadamaian: Your Gateway to Borneo's Trail Running Soul
In the heart of Malaysian Borneo, beneath the watchful gaze of Mount Kinabalu, lies Kadamaian - a secluded gem just 80 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu. The air here is thick with the scent of tropical flowers and fresh earth, while the rhythmic hum of cicadas fills the silence. Traditional kampungs merge with untamed jungle trails, offering the ideal stage for what locals call "One Touch of Nature”- and the unforgettable KAR Ultra.
KAR Ultra transforms you into an explorer, threading through terrain untouched by time. Starting from Kampung Tambatuon at Mount Nungkok's foot (Mount Kinabalu's child), you'll traverse natural mountain trails showcasing lush forests, crystal-clear rivers, rice fields, and the magnificent Aki Nabalu.
KAR ULTRA
The race you never knew you needed becomes the adventure you'll never forget.
The Race: KAR Ultra 60km - Your Borneo Baptism
Distance: 60km
Elevation Gain: 2,400m+
Starting Line: Kampung Tambatuon, Kota Belud, Sabah
Time Limit: 12 hours
ITRA Points: 3 points
Type: Asia Trail Master Championship Race
With its rugged, unpredictable terrain and the overwhelming beauty of Borneo’s wilderness, the KAR Ultra isn’t just a test of endurance — it’s a pilgrimage into nature itself.
Course Character: Technical Beauty Meets Tropical Challenge
The route commands respect, especially on Bogung Hill where ropes become lifelines on steep sections. Your journey winds through Borneo's lush tapestry: dense canopies echoing with hornbill calls, rustic bridges that sway with each step and tangled lianas brushing your shoulders like jungle whispers. But don’t be deceived by the beauty — nature here is unforgiving.
You'll run through rubber plantations with mesmerizing geometric patterns, then plunge into primary rainforest where every sound hints at unseen wildlife. The real magic happens on exposed ridges - crystal-clear skies blessed this year's race with unobstructed, stunning Mount Kinabalu views throughout the entire course. No clouds meant perfect visibility... and no mercy from the tropical sun. There were moments when the heat felt unbearable, and every step felt like a battle against our body. But then, we’d catch a glimpse of the mountain, and we’d remember why we were here.
The course challenges you with technical rope sections, relentless humidity, and intense heat—made even more unforgiving by cloudless skies.
Race Day Reality: When Mount Kinabalu Calls Your Name
Pre-Dawn Magic: The 5:30am Start & Sacred Blessing
At 5:30am, you'll join over 1,500 runners from nearly 20 countries - a sunrise start like no other. The 2025 edition brought together a vibrant mix of nationalities and elites united by one goal : to conquer the wild trails of Borneo.
But first, something magical happens. A priest offers a blessing, creating profound unity transcending language and competition. This sacred pause transforms nervous energy into shared reverence - you're beginning a pilgrimage, not just a race.
The flag-off at 5:30am erupts with spectacular fireworks, following the 110km ultra marathoners who departed at 5:20am. As Sia's "Unstoppable" pumps through the sound system, the energy becomes electric - the perfect anthem for what's about to unfold. The warmth of Malaysian hospitality greets you in three languages - Bahasa Malaysia, local dialects, and English create a symphony of encouragement. Learning key phrases like "Boleh saya minta air"(Please, Can I have some water) instantly connects you with local volunteers and earns delighted smiles.
Headlamps and blinkers dance like fireflies as elite athletes and recreational runners alike check hydration systems one final time. The tropical air sits heavy with humidity even at 5am, hinting at the furnace waiting once the sun rises. Sabahan runners exude quiet confidence, offering both tips and heartfelt encouragement to international participants. "Selamat datang!" (Welcome!) echoes through the starting area as the trail running family forms organically.
Francis stands among the elite field, knowing the next 7+ hours will push every limit he's trained to expand, while Elisabeth prepares for her 10+ hour jungle conversation with herself.
The First 10km: Jungle Immersion Meets Village Soul
As the sun rises and the starting gun fires, you’ll realize that the first 10 kilometers are more than just the beginning of the race — they’re the gateway into the heart of Borneo.
Your adventure begins through kampung roads where locals don't just wave - they cheer, clap, and offer genuine encouragement. Children run alongside runners briefly, their laughter mixing with morning bird calls, creating community celebration rather than competitive race atmosphere.
What makes KAR Ultra truly magical isn’t just the technical challenge but the warmth and encouragement of the local community. Village elders offer blessings at traditional spots - this isn't just their race, it's their gift to the world.
After almost 8km of gravel road, soon you're threading through rubber plantations and crossing suspended rustic bridges that sway gently under your feet. The engineering feels authentically local— sturdy enough for safety, rustic enough to remind you this is a real adventure, not a manufactured experience. Wildlife calls echo from invisible sources in the canopy above, creating nature's soundtrack as you disappear deeper into Borneo's green heart. The jungle closes in around you, thick with the sounds of unseen creatures — but there’s still warmth here, too. Villagers’ laughter and encouragement cut through the dense greenery, offering the promise of something even more profound than the landscape.
Kilometer 10-45: The Bogung Hill & Aid Station Angels
This is where KAR Ultra earns its reputation. Bogung Hill becomes a formidable obstacle testing your physical and mental strength, serving up technical climbs where ropes become essential lifelines on the steepest ascents and descents. As Elisabeth recalls “The sun was blazing, and there was barely any shade — it was intense.” The route mixed technical climbs with long gravel sections, each step testing your endurance under the unforgiving tropical sky.
Francis pushes his limits harder than ever in the elite field, battling not just the terrain but the relentless tropical heat that tests every physiological system. The cloudless skies that provide stunning Mount Kinabalu views also create an unforgiving furnace with nowhere to hide. Your body pleads for mercy while your eyes feast on vistas that belong in National Geographic. 🌄
📸 by Wilsone (MTK Guide) from http://www.MountKinabalu.com
Eight strategically placed aid stations emerge like five-star oases throughout the course. This is where KAR Ultra's organization truly shines - each station feels like a mini-festival with volunteers who cheer you, local delicacies that energize both body and spirit, and supplies that never run short. Elisabeth consistently rated the aid stations 10/10: "All aid stations had sufficient food and drinks" - a testament to the incredible logistics in remote jungle locations.
The volunteers don't just serve - they celebrate. Every runner receives personalized encouragement, ice cubes for overheated necks, and genuine care that transforms pit stops into family reunions. Local vendors along the route offer extra hydration - a unique KAR Ultra touch. Locals help refill bottles while others offer local fruits, traditional snacks, and homemade refreshments you won’t find in any European races.
The Final 15km: Where Champions Are Made
Fatigue meets beauty in the final stretch. “The heat was absolutely brutal,” Elisabeth recalls. “I suffered big time, but I pushed through and gave everything I had. So incredibly proud for not giving up.” Meanwhile, Francis continues pushing elite-level limits, refusing to back down despite the tropical furnace that challenges every athlete regardless of caliber.
This is where mental strength separates finishers from champions. Your body pleads for mercy while your eyes feast on unobstructed Mount Kinabalu panoramas - the crystal-clear skies that created the heat wave also delivered once-in-a-lifetime visibility. It’s a battle of mind over muscle. Each step feels like a choice: surrender to exhaustion, or dig deep and push forward. The descent off the last hills tests different muscles, demanding technical precision when your legs feel like jelly, with jungle root sections and gravel/rocky road requiring full concentration and trust in the excellent marking measures.
"These jungle miles are teaching me so much about my limits and my strength," Francis reflects post-race. The final kilometers become a conversation with yourself. “When your legs wanted to quit”, the energy from local supporters - and the sheer, stubborn will to see what lies beyond your limits - kept you moving forward. Every step becomes a choice: give up or go on. I could almost hear my shoes whisper, “Fly, human. Fly.” (Thanks Hoka for the perfect quote 😉)
Crossing the finish line in Kampung Tambatuon? Pure magic. For Elisabeth, it came after 9h16:59 of intense effort — 4th woman overall, 20th out of 368. “Still can’t believe it,” she said, radiating pride.
Francis, finishing 3rd in the elite field with 6h53, showed that even the toughest aren’t spared by the heat — but true champions find a way. These were hours of grit, resilience, and raw self-discovery.
Post-Race Euphoria: Where Trail Family Is Born
The finish line feels like the end of a long dream. Your medal, heavy with meaning, drapes across your chest as you collapse into shade, finally appreciating what you’ve accomplished. For a moment, you sit in silence — everything fades into stillness. And then, the floodgates open. The celebration isn’t rushed; it’s savored.
Nobody thinks of leaving despite exhaustion and oppressive heat. The finish area transforms into authentic celebration where every finisher shares their adventure with genuine passion, faces marked by effort and sun. Here, every runner — regardless of time or placing — is part of something bigger. The cheers are not just for the fastest, but for the spirit of resilience that ties the whole trail family together.
The strong spirit of community characteristic of Sabah shines brightest in these moments. Fellow runners become instant friends, sharing stories from the trail while volunteers continue to spoil you with attention typically reserved for VIP guests. Cold drinks flow freely, local delicacies appear as if by magic, and conversations bridge language barriers through shared smiles and universal exhaustion - "Terima kasih" becomes your passport to instant friendship with volunteer families.
What joy to connect with incredible runners from across Southeast Asia! The KAR Ultra community draws athletes from Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Brunei, and all corners of Sabah. We spend hours talking, connecting, and sharing stories with amazing people like Jason, Ubai, Nikolas, Kai, Cyril, Trevor, Rija, Eva, Adib and so many more - each bringing their own trail adventures and cultural perspectives to this melting pot of endurance passion.
The awards ceremony celebrates every category with equal enthusiasm - no runner is forgotten, no achievement minimized. Local Malaysian talent dominates the podiums, but applause rings equally loud for every nationality, every age group, every personal victory achieved on these demanding trails. Elisabeth's 4th place finish was celebrated like a victory lap, with genuine appreciation for international athletes who traveled thousands of miles to experience their jungle home.
What joy to reconnect with Francis after his battle, and to meet the incredible athletes who became trail family during those 60 grueling kilometers. The warm embraces multiply as our circle expands - local Malaysian champions mixing with weekend trailers from Singapore, elite KL runners sharing tips with Brunei adventurers. Our debrief quickly transforms into a festival of hilarious anecdotes and shared exploits - everyone remembering those brutal final kilometers where each step became a negotiation with exhausted legs, but the view from the ridge was worth every drop of salt lost!
Our Final Word: The UltraNomades Spirit
In Borneo, we didn't just find a race; we found the living embodiment of our mission. To run is to move, but to connect with the trail, the people, and the soul of a place like Kadamaian is to be transformed. The miles etched in our muscles and the views of Mount Kinabalu seared into our memories are secondary to the warmth of the Sabahan trail family we are now a part of. This is not just an event. It’s a life-changing experience that invites you to discover a deeper connection with nature, yourself, and the community.
UltraNomades embodies the perfect blend of athletic challenge and human connection—where every finish line reveals a deeper sense of purpose. So, are you ready to answer the jungle’s call? To push your limits and join the trail family in Borneo?
KAR Ultra awaits your footsteps. Here : "I can't wait to discover more about myself in the years ahead" slowly becomes "I can't wait to return - to our Sabahan family."
Race Preparation & Cultural Immersion Guide
Recovery & Reflection: The Sabahan Homestay Experience
Your adventure doesn't end at the finish line - it deepens into authentic Malaysian hospitality. We experienced the heart of Sabah, from Tambatuon Homestay for our test run to Walai Tundorongon for race days, and dining at De'Sawah Tambatuon Guesthouse where banana flowers, local dry fish, and papaya became our introduction to authentic Sabahan flavors. Here, the true magic of the region lies in its people. Special gratitude goes to Miya, Mazlin, Emily, Chinj and Irene - whose warmth and generosity transformed our journey from race participation into a genuine cultural exchange.
The return to Kota Kinabalu organizes itself with new friends, leading you to hidden gems: the best laksa in town, sunrise viewpoints that rival any trail vista, and stories that help you understand why Sabah produces such phenomenal trail athletes while maintaining such warm hearts.
We already promise to return "Kopiruba kawagu!" (a Dusun expression) - not just for challenge ourselves, but because we want to see our friends again and experience this fantastic organization that makes every runner feel like family.
Performance Insights & Preparation 🏃♀️
Elisabeth's 4th place finish and Francis's 6h53 elite performance demonstrate that smart preparation conquers even the most challenging tropical conditions. Months of dedicated training, 4 weeks heat adaptation and technical ascent/descent training under Coach Yann Alarcon's guidance (Fartleck Coaching) proved the difference between struggle and success. “It wasn’t just about physical endurance,” Elisabeth reflects. “It was about mental resilience — staying cool, calm, and focused when everything inside me screamed to stop.”
KAR Ultra sets the standard for trail races with its impeccable route marking and flawless official GPX files , ensuring you'll never lose your way through Borneo's dense jungle. Effective preparation is key: heat acclimatization through sauna sessions or hot, humid training 🌡️, technical descent practice under fatigue ⛰️, terrain simulations, and strategic hydration 💧.
Quality trail shoes with great grip are a must for mixed terrain that demands both precision and cushioning. Likewise, lightweight sun protection and high-SPF sunscreen (reapplied at aid stations) go from being mere comforts to survival essentials. Multi-bottle hydration systems prove their worth when constant fluid access without breaking stride makes the difference between thriving and merely surviving. Francis’ gear was more than a strategy; it was a lifeline: his Ciele/Naäk cap shielded him from the brutal sun, and his Salomon hydration vest, with multiple bottle access, ensured he could stay hydrated — a vital lifeline in the relentless furnace-like heat of Borneo.
Whether you're gunning for an elite finish or aiming to simply finish the race, adapting to Borneo’s extreme conditions is a must. Smart preparation, paired with mental resilience, is your ticket to success in a race where both physical strength and mental fortitude are equally tested.
Race Details & Registration 📋
Next Edition: July 2026 (dates TBA) 📅 , Be quick — spots are limited and early bird entries usually sell out fast.
Registration: Opens January 2026 via CheckPointSpot 💻
International Travel: Fly into Kota Kinabalu (BKI), 1.5-hour drive to race venue ✈️
Elisabeth's Strava: KAR Ultra 60km on Strava 📊
Pro Tips: 💡
Organize a test run with race officials 1-2 weeks before - invaluable for terrain and heat preparation
Book your homestay early — options near the starting line are limited, and staying with locals provides true cultural immersion.
Connect with local trail community via social media before arrival
UltraNomades We ®️U.N.
