Fadillah (eighth from left) and Lee (on his right) at the IJM Allianz Duo Highway Challenge.
THE sixth edition of the IJM Allianz Duo Highway Challenge concluded on a high note with over 10,000 participants displaying their determination and perseverance.
This year’s event introduced the 42.195km full marathon, which is Malaysia’s first on a highway, providing runners with a unique experience on the interconnected routes of the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) and Sungai Besi Expressway (Besraya).
Participants were flagged off by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, said a press statement.
For the first time, the NPE and Besraya runs were combined into a single event, rather than being held separately on different days as in previous editions.
Runners of the full marathon began their race at Sunway Pyramid at 3am, traversing the NPE through Templer and Kuchai Lama, then onto Besraya at Jalan Pandan 1 before looping back to Sunway Pyramid.
The runners comprised 80% Malaysians and 20% foreign participants.
Additional categories included the 21km, 10km, 5km and a newly introduced 1.5km junior event.
The Malaysia Book of Records awarded the event with certification for being the “First Full Marathon on a Highway” and “Longest Marathon Course on a Closed Highway.”
The certificate presentation took place during the full marathon prize-giving ceremony.
Organised in collaboration with IJM Corporation Bhd and Allianz Malaysia Bhd, the event ensured a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants.
The organising team, including New Pantai Expressway Sdn Bhd, Besraya (M) Sdn Bhd (both subsidiaries of IJM Corporation) and EC Pixels Asia, worked closely with relevant authorities, such as the Malaysian Highway Authority and the police to secure the route.
IJM Corporation group chief executive officer and managing director Datuk Lee Chun Fai said they were thrilled to bring back the IJM Allianz Duo Highway Challenge for its sixth edition, with the full marathon category adding a new level of challenge and excitement.
“For the first time, we have merged the NPE and Besraya routes into a single event, offering runners a unique and seamless running experience.
“This challenge reaffirms our commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle and creating memorable experiences for runners,” he said.
