KUCHING, July 26 — Age is but a number — the Kuching Half Marathon Heritage Run 2026 served as another reminder that there are no limits to what one can achieve, only the determination and perseverance to keep moving forward.
The event concluded on Sunday morning with runners of all ages, races and nationalities coming together to celebrate fitness, heritage and community spirit, while honouring outstanding performances across various categories.
Among the participants, 82-year-old Lim Thiam Leng stood out as the eldest runner, earning special recognition as a veteran participant.
Having participated in various running events, Lim said his running journey only began after retirement when a friend invited him to join a race.
“After retiring, I did not have much to do, so I started joining marathons when I was 71 years old after being introduced to the sport by a friend.
“Since then, I have taken part in many running events, including the Kuching Half Marathon,” he told The Borneo Post.
Lim, who also competed in last year’s Kuching Half Marathon Heritage Run, said what started as a casual decision has since become a passion that keeps him active and motivated.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old twin brothers Syahrullah Safri and Hazarullah Safri once again proved themselves among the event’s top runners after both secured podium finishes, having also claimed victories in previous editions.
“This is my third time joining this event, and this year I emerged as the champion in the 21-kilometre (km) Men’s National category and won the third place in the Men Open category,” said Syahrullah.
Reflecting on his journey, Syahrullah recalled finishing second in the same category two years ago before finally claiming the title this year — a position previously held by his younger twin brother.
“In 2024 and 2025, I was the champion in the Men’s National category,” said Hazarullah, who finished as the first runner-up in this year’s 21km Men’s National category.
The brothers, who have competed together in numerous marathon events, completed the 21km race in impressive times of 1:16:55 and 1:17:54 respectively.
With their passion for running, the twins have already planned their next step, revealing that they will compete in another marathon in Bintulu next week.
Sharing his thoughts on promoting healthy lifestyles among young people, Hazarullah, who is a teacher, encouraged youths to stay active through sports.
“To all young people, I encourage you to get involved in sports. It doesn’t have to be running — any sport is good.
“By participating in sports and physical activities, we can keep ourselves away from negative social influences,” he said.
Syahrullah added that events such as marathons also provide opportunities to meet people from different communities while strengthening friendships and fostering closer bonds within society.
As runners like Lim and the Safri twins demonstrated, age is not a barrier to pursuing new challenges.
Whether taking the first step at 71 or chasing another podium finish in their twenties, the Kuching Half Marathon Heritage Run showed that passion, discipline and perseverance are what truly carry people across the finish line. — The Borneo Post
