KOTA KINABALU: Grandmother Ahineh Dainin will be one of the few runners to watch at the 31st Mount Kinabalu Climbathon in Kundasang this Sunday.
The 45-year-old mother of five and grandmother of two boys was given top billing among 60 runners in the elite women's category in the 26.6km race up and down the 4,095m summit.
She was second in the last climbathon in 2017, behind two-time champion Filipina Sandi Menchi Catlona Abahan.
She was already reputed to be a consistent top finisher in the race she first took part in 2008.
"I don't think I am as strong as I was before, but hopefully, I'll be able to do well.
"It's been quite a while since the last race," said the porter from Kampung Pahu-Sarayoh in Kundasang, playing down expectations.
"I didn't do any specific training for the race, but I have been carrying loads, three to four times weekly, to the Panalaban area," said Ahineh, a porter since 2004.
Ahineh said with the climbathon revived, new runners will shine this time around based on what she has seen in outdoor endurance races, but assured on her part, she will try to challenge them to the best of her ability.
"Running up and down the mountain is different compared to other races, so maybe some seasoned runners may have something to surprise everyone," she said.
Among them was 56-year-old Danny @ Kuilin Gongot, a past climbathon champion who will be in the lineup this weekend.
"I've seen her run the mountain trail before, very determined, very nimble, fast.
"In endurance races, 50km or 100km, I have seen many strong young runners too, but how they will fare in the climbathon, we'll see this weekend."
A total of 206 runners are expected for the race divided into three categories with a total purse of RM77,700.
The winner in each category will bag the RM8,000 cash prize.