Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon Guide
What is the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon?
The Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon is an annual October mountain race, run since 1987, covering about 24.5 km up and down Mount Kinabalu with around 2,629 m of climbing — one of Asia's oldest and toughest summit races.
What is the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon?
The Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon is a mountain running race held on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu, Sabah's iconic peak inside Kinabalu Park. Run each October, it sends athletes racing toward the summit and back down again, testing speed, endurance, and the ability to cope with steep granite terrain and thin mountain air.
It is widely regarded as one of Asia's oldest mountain races, having been staged annually since 1987. Over the decades it has become a magnet for elite skyrunners and mountain athletes from around the world, drawn by the chance to race to the top of one of the region's most famous mountains.
The course and elevation
The elite course is roughly 24.5 kilometres, combining the ascent toward Low's Peak (4,095.2 m) with the return descent. Runners face approximately 2,629 metres of elevation gain, much of it on the exposed granite slabs that make Mount Kinabalu so distinctive. The mix of steep climbing, technical downhill, and altitude makes this one of the most punishing race profiles in Asian mountain running.
Race categories
The Climbathon is run in two main categories. The Elite (summit) category is the headline race, with athletes pushing all the way to the summit area. The shorter Mountain Kinabalu category offers a less extreme ascent for runners who want the Climbathon experience without the full summit assault. The elite field regularly features international mountain-running specialists.
Course records
The speed of the front-runners underlines how elite this race is:
| Category | 2025 record | Holder |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 03:05:41 | Ghiano Gianluca (Italy) |
| Women | 03:46:13 | — |
Covering 24.5 km of mountain terrain with more than 2,600 m of climbing in close to three hours is an extraordinary athletic feat.
History of the race
The Climbathon has been held annually since 1987, making it a cornerstone of Sabah's sporting heritage and one of the longest-running mountain races in Asia. Its enduring appeal lies in its unique selling point: a race to the summit of the highest peak between the Himalayas and New Guinea, on a mountain already famous worldwide for trekking.
How to enter the Climbathon
Because the race takes place in a high-altitude national park, entries run through Sabah Parks and the field is strictly capped for safety. Conditions on the summit plateau can change fast, and the cap helps manage crowding and risk on exposed sections.
This is not a beginner event. Mountain weather can turn quickly, with low cloud and cold on the upper slopes. Build serious hill and downhill fitness, prepare for rapid weather changes, and register early through the official Sabah Parks channel, as places are limited.