By Zaki Salleh
KUALA KANGSAR: The 2025 Sultan Nazrin Shah Birthday Run (LHKSNS) at Dataran Pavilion Kuala Kangsar set its own record with the participation of 9,381 runners.
Participants joined according to categories, with the 15km attracting the highest number at 4,910 runners, followed by the 10km (2,906) and 7km (1,565).
For the 15km category, the first-place winner received RM800 and a plaque, second place RM700 and a plaque, while third place received RM600 and a plaque.
In the 10km category, prizes were RM600 and a plaque for the champion, RM500 and a plaque for second place, and RM400 and a plaque for third place.
Along the race route which passed through villages in Mukim Sayong, Kota Lama Kanan, and the Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah Bridge, participants were treated to various community activities and cultural performances.
Highlights included traditional games such as gasing (top-spinning) and sepak raga, a demonstration of labu sayong crafting, and performances featuring the rebana drum, as well as Chinese and Indian drums.
There were also rows of stalls offering a variety of local kuih and traditional gulai kawah dishes.
The event was enlivened by a band performance from the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) students and a performance by Kumpulan Jentari from Sekolah Seni Malaysia Perak.
Earlier, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin, graced the event and joined the run.
Also present were the Raja Permaisuri Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, and the Raja DiHilir Perak, Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain.
LHKSNS began as early as 6:50 a.m., with the Sultan of Perak flagging off the participants for the 15km, 10km, and 7km categories.
Meanwhile, participant Irfan Rayyan shared that he had travelled to Kuala Kangsar at 6 p.m. the day before to avoid congestion and spent the night there.
He said that LHKSNS was a much-anticipated running event due to its uniqueness, as participants pass through village areas in Kuala Kangsar with beautiful scenery.
Another participant, Zamir Faris, came from Kuala Lumpur by commuter train with friends to join LHKSNS.
They took part in the 7km category at a relaxed pace and hoped the event would be continued next year with similar activities.
