The Course: Chuping Valley, Felda Rimba Mas and the Border Town
The 22 km starts and finishes at the parking area of Masjid Solahuddin Al-Ayubbi in Padang Besar [1]. On the organiser's map it heads south-west over a flyover into the Chuping valley, then runs out and back along the road past the Perlis Inland Port to a timing point at the far end, passing the same water station, beside the LKTN kenaf farm, at 4 km and 9 km [1]. From there it goes north to Felda Rimba Mas at 12 km, loops west past Masjid Osmaniah, and comes back along a second flyover into town, past the health clinic at 16 km and the customs complex to a turn near the KTMB Padang Besar station, before returning to the mosque [1]. Utusan Malaysia's report names the same ground: Padang Besar town, Chuping Valley, Felda Rimba Emas and Kampung Kok Mak [2].
It is billed as 22 km, but the organiser's flag-off chart lists it at 21.4 km and its route map at 21.5 km, with 90 m of elevation gain [1]. Ninety metres over 21 km is a gentle course. The 12 km (11.9 km on the chart, 83 m of gain) skips the Chuping valley: it reaches Felda Rimba Mas at 3.4 km and then follows the same loop through town [1].
At the Padang Besar roundabout runners passed a lion dance, Siamese long drums, silat drums and Indian urumi melam drumming [2]; the organiser's programme said cultural performances would be held at the main checkpoints on the route [1].
The Weather: No Sun, but No Relief
Hat Yai airport in Thailand, about 31 km north-north-east of the start, recorded 27°C with a dew point of 25°C and 89% humidity at 12.30am, when the 22 km started, and a wind of 1 knot [3]. By 1am it was 26°C and 94%, and it stayed at 25°C to 26°C with a dew point of 24°C to 25°C until the 5am cut-off, when the air was still [3]. Alor Setar airport, about 53 km south, was a degree warmer: 28°C and 94% humidity at midnight, and 27°C and 94% at 5am [4].
Running at night takes the sun out of the race, not the humidity. With a dew point of 24°C to 25°C sweat barely evaporates, and there was almost no wind to help. The organiser recommends carrying at least 500 ml of water [1], which makes sense on a course where stations are 3 to 5 km apart.
The Night Schedule and Cut-offs
The 5 km Night Fun Run (4.4 km) started at 10pm on Friday 7 August with a two-hour limit. The 22 km started at 12.30am on Saturday 8 August with four and a half hours (5am), and the 12 km at 1.15am with three hours (4.15am); each start gate closed 20 minutes after its flag-off [1]. Utusan described the whole event as running from 10pm to 4am [2].
The limits were not tight in 2026. The slowest 22 km finisher on the results list took 4:06:17, and every 12 km finisher was inside three hours [5].
The organiser's own schedules disagree on the prize-giving: 4am on the printed programme, which told potential winners to be ready 15 minutes early, and 7.30am on the flag-off chart [1]. If you might place, check which applies before you go back to your hotel.
Aid Stations and Compulsory Kit
On the 22 km map there are water and medical points at 4 km and 9 km (the same spot, passed twice), at 12 km, at 16 km and at one more point in town near the KTMB station, with timing points at the far end of the Inland Port road and at 12 km [1]. On the 12 km they are at 3.4 km, 6.4 km and 9.8 km [1].
Two items are compulsory on the 22 km and 12 km: a headlamp of at least 100 lumens and identification, either the original or a digital copy. A 500 ml hydration system, a blinker, a reflector vest, a mobile phone, a cup and a bowl are recommended, as is modest attire for Muslim runners [1]. You also have to sign and hand in the mandatory-items list when you collect your pack [1].
How Fast the Field Is
Utusan reported more than 900 participants of many backgrounds, including runners from five countries [2]. The organiser's online lists show 683 confirmed entries: 204 in the 22 km, 193 in the 12 km and 286 in the 5 km [6]. Manual registration was also offered at MEPRINTZ in Kangar [1], which may account for some of the difference.
The results list 170 finishers in the 22 km and 148 in the 12 km [5]. Mohammad Izwan Mohammad Fouzee won the 22 km in 1:30:38, ahead of Azri bin Azif in 1:32:48, and the fastest senior man, Muhammad Akmal bin Abdul Manaf, ran 1:34:07. The fastest woman was Chuah Lay Nah of the senior category in 1:53:26, just ahead of the women's open winner, Nur Syazwani bt Abdul Rasid, in 1:53:48 [5]. Tenth place in the open categories was 1:55:18 for men and 3:04:17 for women. The median 22 km finish was 2:51:12, and only 24 runners broke two hours [5].
The 12 km was won by Rahimi Radzi in 41:37; the fastest woman was Tan Meng Yen, a senior, in 58:49 [5].
Trophies go to the top 12 in each of four categories (open and senior, men and women), with cash for the top three: RM600, RM500 and RM300 in the 22 km, and RM400, RM300 and RM200 in the 12 km [1]. In a field this size that is a real chance: the 22 km women's senior category had 20 finishers [5], so 12 of them could take home a trophy.
Race Weekend Logistics
Packs were collected only on Friday 7 August, from 3pm to 7pm on Padang Besar Street, with no early or late collection, including on race night [1]. Bring your identity card or passport, the signed confirmation slip, the indemnity form and the signed mandatory-items list [1]. Bib transfers were allowed from 1 to 20 July; running on another person's bib without a transfer gets you barred [1].
Normal entry cost RM129 for the 22 km, RM89 for the 12 km and RM45 for the 5 km, plus a 7% admin fee [1], and fees are not refunded [7]. Every entrant got event apparel (a windbreaker or t-shirt), a medal, an e-certificate, a goodie bag and post-race refreshments; only the 22 km came with a finisher t-shirt, and the 5 km had no timing chip or results [1].
The race was part of the first Festival Padang Besar, which the organisers expected to draw 30,000 people over two days on Padang Besar Street, with the rock band XPDC playing from 5pm on the Saturday [8].
Should You Enter the 2027 Race?
Yes, if you want a small, inexpensive night race with generous limits, a gentle course and a real chance of an age-group trophy, with a border-town festival around it. The 12 km, with three hours to cover 11.9 km, suits newer runners who want to try a night race.
Think twice if you need a big field to pace off, an exact half-marathon distance for a qualifying time, or dry air. And plan how you will get back to your bed at 4am or 5am.
MEP21, which ran registration and timing, presented the race at an international road-race forum in September 2026 as one of its three main Perlis events [9]. The organiser had not listed a 2027 edition on its registration site when this was written, so check the date, start times and fees there before booking.
Nobody from this site ran the race. This review draws on the organiser's race information, route maps and results, airport weather records and Malay-language press reports.