Running past paddy fields: a scenic weekend in Sekinchan

Sekinchan is better known for rice fields and seafood than long-distance running, but for one weekend in October, its flat agricultural roads became the setting for runners chasing distances of up to 100km.

Held on Oct 24 and 25, the Sekinchan Ultra bills itself as “The Flattest Ultra Marathon in Malaysia”, a distinction recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records. The timing could hardly have been better: after weeks of hazy skies, the arrival of genuinely clear weather gave the weekend an unexpectedly celebratory feel.

Sekinchan sits on the west coast of Selangor, about a two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur – a quick recharge from the city that feels like a world away. Despite its modest size, the town is one of Malaysia’s major rice-producing areas, and visitors are greeted by vast, irrigated, meticulously organised green paddy fields stretching to the horizon.

The event made full use of this backdrop, offering categories that catered to everyone from casual weekend joggers to seasoned ultramarathoners.

For many, the weekend began a day early. Runners arrived on the eve of the race to explore the town, visiting the Paddy Gallery to learn about the region’s agricultural heritage, dining at the numerous cafes that dot the area, and taking in the scenery at a more leisurely pace.

The atmosphere was less that of a hard-nosed competitive event and more of a community gathering with a running problem – a distinction that suited the setting perfectly.

When flat does not mean easy

The flattest course in the country, as it turns out, brings its own particular brand of suffering. One participant, Nina, 45, completed her maiden 50km and was candid about the experience.

“The flatness was challenging in itself,” she said. “You use the same muscles, so there is more strain compared to routes with an incline.”

It is a counterintuitive truth familiar to distance runners: without variation in gradient, the body doesn’t get much chance to shift the load, and the monotony of effort becomes its own test of endurance.

Longer-distance runners were treated to showers during their hours on the road, which provided their own set of challenges – wet gear, slippery surfaces and the mental toll of running through the rain.

But they were compensated handsomely: a sunrise that rose above the paddy fields, painting the green expanse in gold and turning the irrigation canals into ribbons of light.

Shorter-distance runners, meanwhile, had a rather more leisurely experience. They were able to canter around the course at a pace that still left time to actually look at the scenery around them.

As the morning wore on and the race came to an end, there was a palpable sense of satisfaction among participants – and, for at least one runner, a twinge of regret.

This writer, having signed up for a shorter category, found herself wishing she had upgraded to a longer distance. As much as speed was the goal for the shorter race, the change of scenery made the time fly by; the kilometres, it seemed, had passed too quickly.

The post-race hours were spent in a manner befitting a coastal rice-growing town: with seafood eaten overlooking the paddy fields, a meal that tasted all the better for having been earned.

For a town known chiefly for its rice, Sekinchan repeatedly proves itself adept at hosting a weekend of running. Indeed, much of the event’s appeal lies in its sense of place – the paddy fields, the local food, the easy pace of the town, and the simple pleasure of being somewhere completely different for a day or two.

It is a race that doubles as a getaway, and a getaway that happens to include a race. With the haze having lifted, even if briefly, the Sekinchan Ultra offered a timely reminder of how lovely this corner of Selangor can be – and how much pleasure there is in simply running through it.

This article was written by Nayli Nasran, a freelance writer specialising in poetry, lifestyle, film analyses, social issues, and event coverage. She can be contacted here.

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