I quit ultra running for five years.
Not because I decided to quit.
I just slowly stopped showing up.

Last week, I walked into JPO Kulai for massive year end sales
And somehow…
I walked out with two pairs of Hoka trail shoes.

That was the moment I knew.
Okay lah. It’s time.

Fifteen years ago,
I started running with Brooks.
Glycerin for road. Cascadia for trail.

Those shoes brought me into my first ultra.
Into my first 50km then 100km
My first sunrise on the trail.

Then Brooks shoes became more high-tech.
More performance. More science.

My feet became more confused.
Lost the feeling

I tried minimalist shoes.
Altra Zero-drop. Very natural. Very scientific.
My feet replied: “Natural is okay, but this one is torture.”

Then came maximalist shoes.
Thick soles. Soft cushion.
Strange chunky look.
People laughed at first.
Then everyone followed.
Ironman wore them.
Ultra runners wore them.

So I wore them too.

When I was really into running back then before MCO, I was quite gila.

Different shoes for different days.
Long ultra shoe. Normal trail shoe.
Mud shoe. Hard trail shoe.
LSD road shoe. Recovery shoe.

My shoe rack looked like Decathon shoe rack.

I even bought half a size bigger.
11.5 instead of 10.5.
Because after 50km, your feet don’t just swell.
I become The Incredible Hulk with big feet

Then life happened.
MCO came.
ITBS came on both legs.
Then motorbikes came.

From ultra runner… to petrol station regular.
I stopped racing.

Not because I wanted to quit.
But because my body asked me to pause.
And life quietly pulled me somewhere else.

2025 became my recovery year.
Six months of rest.
RPA injections.
Gym. A lot of squat.
A lot of patience.

Now my legs feel better.
And suddenly… I miss the trail.

Not the medals.
Not the photos.
Not the “achievement”.

I miss the ultra community and people.
The quiet kindness at checkpoints.
The tired smiles.

That’s why I bought those shoes.
Not to be fast.
Not to win.

Just to return.
So yes, I hope to run an ultra again in 2026.

PS :
I am still House Hash Harriers for two days
Just that every year, the distance becomes a bit shorter. Aging is undefeated 😄

PS :
I only wear two brands for running Brooks and Hoka.
So please don’t ask me about Nike, Puma, or Adidas. I honestly don’t know 😄