KOTA KINABALU – Sabah ultrarunner Noor Hafizah Zubaidi, better known as Fifiana, has once again made Sabah proud after successfully completing the challenging BTR Ultra Mt. Batur 2026 in Bali, Indonesia.
The prestigious event, organized by Bali Trail Running and presented by ASICS, was held from 15 to 17 May 2026 in Kintamani, Bangli, Bali, attracting trail runners from around the world to take on one of the toughest ultra trail races in the region.
Fifiana, who serves as Team Captain of Runsynd Running Club, stood out as the only female participant from Sabah competing in the 100km category.
Conquering Bali’s Toughest Terrain
The BTR Ultra 100km category required participants to climb three mountains – Mt. Batur, Mt. Agung, and Mt. Abang – along with Pedahan Hill, covering a total distance of 106.2km with a demanding 7,244m accumulated elevation gain.
Participants also had to meet strict Cut-Off Times (COT) at three checkpoints, with an overall completion limit of 34 hours.
Fifiana successfully completed the race in 31 hours, 45 minutes, and 55 seconds (31:45:55), earning 2nd place in her age category and finishing 9th overall female.
According to the official event information, the 7th Edition of BTR Ultra 2026 challenged runners through an unforgettable Volcano-to-Volcano ultra trail journey across Bali’s breathtaking landscapes, combining raw nature, local culture, and endurance.
Participants traversed volcanic terrains, dense forests, sacred routes, and traditional villages in what is known as a “Brutal Trail Race”.
First BTR Ultra and First Race in Indonesia
Despite this being her first participation in BTR Ultra and also her first race in Indonesia, Fifiana described the race as the most difficult 100km challenge she has ever faced.
“This is my fourth 100km race, but I would say this is the hardest 100km I have ever faced. Even compared to my last 100-mile achievement at UTMB Chiang Mai last year, this BTR Ultra route was far more difficult and challenging,” she shared.
Fifiana revealed that her participation came through a complimentary slot awarded by TWTMarathon.
“When I was announced as one of the winners, I was afraid I might not make it to the finish line. But at the same time, I was happy and accepted the challenge,” she said.
Intensive Racing as Preparation
In preparation for BTR Ultra, Fifiana balanced her training with work commitments, focusing mainly on strength training at the gym alongside easy runs of 5–10km after work.
She also treated competitive races as part of her training programme, earlier this year, she participated in the Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon (BUTM) 100km in April 2026, where she secured 5th place in the women’s open category and 7th overall female with a time of 25:54:09.
In May 2026, she achieved 2nd place in the women’s open category and 3rd overall female at the Silabur Ultra 100km, setting a new personal best time of 19:22:07, just two weeks before BTR Ultra.
A week before competing in Bali, Fifiana also took part in the Borneo International Marathon 2026 (42km) and finished 10th in the women’s open category with a time of 4:20:00.
“Every race that I join, I take it as part of my training. It becomes my preparation for a major event such as BTR Ultra,” she explained.
Gratitude to Family, Team, and Sponsors
Following her achievement, Fifiana expressed heartfelt appreciation to her family, teammates, and sponsors for their continuous support.
She extended special thanks to her mother Massiti Juria, sister Nina Syafira, brother Syafiee, younger sister Syafika, and younger brother Shobree for their prayers throughout her time in Bali and during the race.
She also remembered her late father, Zubaidi Baden, saying he remains close to her heart during every competition.
“For me, my late father is always waiting for me at the finish line,” she said emotionally.
Fifiana also thanked all members of Runsynd Running Club, friends, and colleagues for their prayers and encouragement, as well as sponsors Suunto Malaysia and T8 Malaysia for their continuous support throughout her racing journey.
Looking ahead, Fifiana is set to compete in the Southeast Asia Trail Running Confederation (SEATRC) 2026, scheduled to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia, this coming July.
She also congratulated fellow Sabahans who successfully conquered the BTR Ultra 100km, namely Rizuan, Adib, Mahilul, Datu, Zulharith, Rofiuddin, Shahril, and Lai, as well as 60km participants Jason Fu, Ina, Mira, and Satin, and Immie, Sabah’s sole participant in the 30km category.
