KOTA KINABALU: When the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon was last held in 2017, mountain guide Safrey Sumping was at his peak.
That time, he was the winner of the race for the second consecutive year and created a record as the fastest climber to ascend and descend the mountain.
To honour his achievements, his name was etched on a signboard at the start of the Timpohon trail, the route that hundreds of climbers take to scale the 4,095m mountain everyday.
This Sunday, he'll be back to compete in the veteran men's category in the race that has been revived for the 31st edition in Kundasang near here..
"It's been seven years. I'm 41 now… a veteran," he said, hoping that it would be a good race.
Safrey, a mountain guide from Kampung Bundu Tuhan, Kundasang, said his work gave him a slight advantage over the other competitors on the high altitude and weather conditions.
"The same with other guides, porters and Mosar members (Mountain Search-and-Rescue Unit members from the Fire and Rescue Department).
"I know of some 20-odd locals from this group who will be running this weekend, and they are capable (of surprises)," he said.
"This mountain race is different and tougher compared with outdoor trail races. The steep ascent and descent, the high altitude, low oxygen level, extreme weather, wooden steps, slippery boulders and even visibility comes into play.
"It's good to have the race back," Safrey said.
Winners in each of the three categories of the race will take home RM8,000 – the elite men, elite women and veteran men.
A total of 206 runners have signed up for the 26.6km race up and down the summit via the Timpohon trail and back to the finish line near the park headquarters.
If the weather is bad, the race will be cut short, where the runners will turn back from the Panalaban checkpoint (3,200m) instead of the peak.
Among the favourites in the elite men's race is porter Walter Herman, 35, who, despite playing down his billing, said he would be giving his challengers a run for their money.
"I took part in four outdoor endurance races this year and did not do that well.
"But I've been training regularly on the mountain and work has kept me busy," said Walter who even managed to slot in a load up to Panalaban on Thursday afternoon.
Walter, from Kampung Pantok, Kiulu, had competed in outdoor endurance races in the last 10 years and a few climbathon races with respectable top 10 finishes when he was younger.
He predicted a strong challenge from his younger brother Roger, 33, who was also an accomplished outdoor race competitor.
The others were Oswald Maikol and Vinson Ramos from the Philippines, as well as Indonesian Putra Julio Ekdo Badayu.
"They are strong runners. If they can complete the trail smoothly, then the final stretch on the run to the finish line will be a breeze," he said.