KLSCM 2025 - New Location and Brand Sponsor Reveal?

As everyone knows, Malaysia's premier running event, the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon 2025 is set to take place on 4-5 Oct 2025 in a yet to be confirmed location. For the first time in a long time, KLSCM has to change its iconic venue due to renovation works happening at Dataran Merdeka this year. 

Personally, as one who has been working closely with KLSCM for several years, I have had the privilege of speaking with the team from Dirigo. Most of the time, the delay is out of their control as they are collaborating with many crucial parties to make this happen. So cut the team a break la ya. 

New Race Venue and Start line  

KLCC pops up as an iconic venue given that it has been the prime race venue for several sarong party girl music runs recently. But with Tour de Langkawi ending in KLCC on 5 Oct, it was a definite no go. 

Also, come on la. The space isn't sufficient to host 50,000 runners safely. 

As of now, my best tip and also echoing what KLSCM race director, Rainer Biemans cited on social media: Book the same hotel you got last year. 

The hint is literally written into the text. 

New Brand Sponsor
Over the years KLSCM has worked with multiple brand partners from Adidas to Under Armour to its most recent, Brooks and Pressio. So will we see a new brand sponsor this year? 

We know Puma and Asics have been going hard on their running clubs (hello ARC member here) and their ambassadors, snatching up Malaysian runners left and right. From my perspective as a basic recreational runner, Asics is winning the brand awareness game thanks to their aggressive sponsorship in the 2024 Olympic Games and in many renowned race events worldwide. 

Puma however is no slacker on Malaysia grounds, snatching up some of the best runners in the country including last year's KLSCM champion, Muhaizar Mohamad. 

Priority Registration

By the way, you can check out if you're eligible for priority registration for KLSCM 2025 at this link. This means you can sign up for your preferred race before the rest of Malaysia (which as this point, it feels like the whole country has priority registration) 

If you're stressing out over getting your race slot, then here's a tip. Sign up via Run for a Reason. Granted you pay slightly more but it goes to a good cause. And let's face it, KLSCM races - charity or not - is still more affordable than many international races (Tokyo Marathon, I am looking at you) 

Stay tuned for 16 April 2025 for more exciting updates on KLSCM 2025! I promise all my hints here will make sense.