GEORGE TOWN — Tower runner Soh Wai Ching set a new record by completing the 3-kilometer Heritage Trail climb to the peak of Penang Hill in 25 minutes and 55.25 seconds, significantly faster than the typical one-hour hiking time.

Soh, 32, who trains primarily by running up stairwells, described the climb as a challenging but enjoyable experience due to the natural surroundings and favorable weather conditions. Despite the cool weather without rain or haze, some steep stretches forced him to switch from running to brisk walking to conserve energy. He credited the encouragement from his team members and other hikers for helping him reach the summit.

The Heritage Trail is among Penang Hill's oldest paths, running parallel to the century-old funicular railway that leads to the summit. Soh celebrated his accomplishment at the hilltop alongside his wife Chan Yee Chin, also 32, and their nine-month-old son, Victor Soh Yi Sheng.

This achievement marks Soh’s fifth record recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) this year. His previous feats include scaling The Exchange 106 at TRX—106 floors in 13 minutes and seven seconds—Merdeka 118, where he climbed 2,845 steps in 16 minutes and three seconds, and the Tangga Putrajaya Steps with 198 steps in 41.5 seconds. Just days prior, he broke his own record by running up Komtar’s 68 floors in seven minutes and two seconds, covering all 1,356 steps from the ground floor to the 68th floor.

Ranked as the top male runner by the Towerrunning World Association, which tracks athletes competing in skyscraper and tower climbs worldwide, Soh plans to attempt another record later this year. He has submitted a formal request to KLCC management to climb the Petronas Twin Towers, aiming to complete his set of six record attempts for 2026. He likened the effort to the Marvel character Thanos collecting six Infinity Stones, with the Petronas Twin Towers climb as his final challenge.

Soh emphasized that stair climbing is an accessible and inexpensive sport, requiring only stairwells in apartments or offices for training, and unaffected by environmental factors like haze. With safety protocols in place, he hopes to make the KLCC climb a reality in the coming months.