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Triathlon writer Liz Barrett explains why this tough but spectacular tropical middle-distance triathlon should be added to your multisporting wishlist.
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Welcome to the jungle! Well, welcome to the tropical beachfront, futuristic cityscapes and a mangrove jungle, to be precise. Yes, Challenge Malaysia is a feast for all the senses and will require some excellent heat prep to tame.
Location - Futuristic city streets meet tropical beaches
Forest City is a unique township located in the state of Johor. It sits at the southern tip of Malaysia and is less than an hour’s drive from Johor Bharu Airport, which serves both international and domestic flights.
It’s also just an hour’s drive from Singapore airport, and is handily located next to the ‘Tuas Second Link’, a bridge that connects Malaysia to Singapore, making this event easy to reach from across the globe.
Forest City itself is a place of futuristic cityscapes, but on race day you’ll experience everything from ocean views to mangrove jungles before a tropical beachfront finish.
Why race... Challenge Malaysia
From it’s accessible location, to the family friendly atmosphere and the scenic – but demanding – race course. Here’s why you should add Challenge Malaysia to your race calendar.
Course - hot, hot, hot!
The Challenge Malaysia course is designed around spectator enjoyment as well as maximum athlete experience. Taking you from beach to mangroves to cityscapes, there’ll be no shortage of scenery. But be prepared to battle the heat and the humidity!
Swim - 1.9km
The beachfront, ocean swim will be toasty, with water temps usually matching air temps so you can definitely leave your wetsuit at home. It’s a mass start for the middle-distance race and is split over 4 x 480m laps. There's also a sprint distance race which is held over one 750m loop. The kids race and aquathlon both start with a pool swim.
BIke - 90km
The flat, two-loop middle-distance bike course traverses cityscapes, ocean views and mangrove jungles – all on smooth, fast roads. Participants in the middle distance race must maintain a minimum distance of 12m (40ft) from the cyclist in front. The sprint-distance event is draft-legal, but athletes are forbidden to draft off a different gender athlete or another vehicle.
Run - 21.1km run
The flat, four-loop half marathon takes athletes through the futuristic streets of Forest City, finishing in the tropical beachfront setting of the main race hub.
Race training & prep
This race is all about the heat prep – get that right and you’ll be cruising. Pool swim training will be more than adequate for this race – assuming you can find a pool that’s warm enough!
As for the bike and run training, make sure you do it during the hottest part of the day. And ensure you hydrate and fuel appropriately; we recommend getting a sweat test so you can really tailor your nutrition and hydration to perfection.
Travel & accommodation
Marina Hotel is the official event hotel, and is conveniently located at the race venue. But there are ample accommodation options in and around the site. The organisers have provided a few more options here.
Travel to the race site, as previously mentioned, is incredibly convenient from either the local Johor Bharu Airport or the bigger Singapore airport across the link bridge between the two countries.
Spectators - Never miss a second of the action
As with all Challenge events, the needs of the spectator have been put first and centre, allowing them to watch loved ones during the swim, bike and run.
If you fancy a slice of the competitive action, there’s also a sprint, aquathlon and kids triathlon taking place over the weekend.
For the young ones, there’s also a water park that’s handily located next to the finish line.
Race-cation - a tropical shopper’s paradise!
If you’re travelling far to race Challenge Malaysia then a staycation either pre- or post-event, or both, is a must.
The centre of Johor Bharu, the nearest main city to Forest City, is a great place to pick up some duty-free shopping before threading home – check out the Johor Premium Outlet (JPO) and The Zon.
Those with little ones can head over to Legoland Malaysia (an 18min drive from Forest City), Mount Austin Water Park (an hour’s drive) or Johor Zoo (30mins).
Challenge Malaysia offers a thrilling race through one of the world’s most scenic and demanding courses. Athletes will face intense competition, tropical heat, and stunning views, making it a unique and unforgettable race. Test your limits in this incredible event that has racing options for everyone!
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