When Malaysia was formed on September 16 of 1963, three stripes were added to the Jalur Gemilang (at the time, Bendera Malaysia) as well as three more points to the Malaysian flag’s 11-point star; both to signify the addition of Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore. The fourteenth stripe and point, which remained upon Singapore’s leaving on August 9, 1965, eventually came to be associated with Malaysia’s federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya. Four years ago on the Malaysia Day of 2018, against a backdrop of Australia’s Sydney Opera House, Jalur Gemilang sprinted to a Guinness World Record (GWR) – figuratively, on the back of Yayasan MSU scholar Mohd Syahidan Alias.
The citizen runner currently undertaking Bachelor in Education (Physical Education and Health) (Hons) studies via the Micro-Credential programme at the Management and Science University (MSU) School of Education and Social Sciences (SESS) clocked 2 hours, 54 minutes, 34 seconds to set the GWR for the Fastest Full Marathon Dressed in National Flag Costume at the Blackmores Running Festival in Sydney. Shattering a previous record of 3 hours 29 minutes, his was one of four feats that included a costume - the other three record setters were dressed as a surfer, a French maid, and a monk.
“It was a challenge all its own as it was a windy day and I felt my body swaying from side to side every time the wind blew! The drag was so strong but when I heard people cheering me on with ‘Go Malaysia!’ the goosebumps I got just spurred me on!”
Describing himself as a citizen runner because he is a working adult with a passion for running, Mohd Syahidan is professionally as well as popularly and affectionately called Edan Syah. Born in Terengganu but raised in Selangor, Edan had started running on his own and at a later age. Growing up with both his parents as schoolteachers, Edan had otherwise never had sports as his natural environment or a career option. Yet the regular guy with a day job as Coach at Smart Athletics Club (SAC), who himself had self-trained to save on coaching fees, went on to make a name in the arena.
“Dreams are good only if you commit to them. I dared to dream because I dared to work towards them. There is no shortcut to excellence; hard work beats talent. With discipline and time management, have faith that the magic will happen.”
Ever since Edan began running full marathons in 2011, he has been travelling the world for nearly ten years now with the support of sponsors. Other than to Australia, he has also been to Japan, Germany, England, the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Myanmar.
He went into the Abbott World Marathon Majors with a goal of clocking below the three-hour mark, and finished all six (Berlin Marathon, Boston Marathon twice, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, New York Marathon, and Tokyo Marathon) in four years. He even finished his first Boston Marathon in 2015 as the youngest and fastest Malaysian marathoner. In 2016, Edan was honoured with ‘Malaysia's Top Marathoner’, and became the first independent Malaysian marathoner to qualify for the SEA Games Marathon 2017 on merit as well as selected for the National Kita Juara Program at the age of 30.
On his maiden ultramarathon in 2018, at the Great Ocean Road Running Festival (GORRF) of Apollo Bay, Australia, representing Malaysia with the support of Visit Victoria, Edan emerged the Men Open Champion and set a new record with his 4 hours 29 minutes – the best performance by an Asian against the event’s 60km distance. And all that he had set out to do was only to complete the distance strong.
“During the 5-month prior training, I had pain in one foot that hurt the longer I ran and it really affected my training as well as my motivation level. For me to be able to sustain my pace during GORRF, what more to emerge the male champion – and this was my debut ultramarathon – was surreal! It only goes to show that only good things can happen if you don’t give up!”
Inspired by Japanese citizen runner Yuki Kawauchi – the Boston Marathon 2018’s Men’s Champion – Edan has completed 33 full marathons to date and records a personal best of 2 hours 30 minutes; which he achieved at the Gold Coast Australia Marathon in 2017.
“I would like to thank MSU president Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Wira Dr Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid for his trust and confidence in me to pursue my higher education with the support of Yayasan MSU. I had never expected to return to university at the age of 35. It was challenging at first to juggle classes, assignments, projects, exams and presentations with my current coaching job, while also working at improving my running fitness for future marathons. Yet, I've had a fantastic time working with my classmates over the past six months, and I'm surprised that I’ve been able to balance my studies and obtain decent grades in my first semester.”
Because the best kind of learning does not train you to win but instead teaches you what winning might mean – build your capacity to act, for example – Edan keeps running not only towards his dreams but also towards where he can help.
“Physical education has become even more vital and critical for society, what with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. We are built to move, and many of our body's systems perform better when we exercise regularly. I want to inspire and assist future generations in improving personal health through physical education. Eventually, I’d like for everyone to learn to run smart, but my current mission is to encourage everyone to stay active through physical activity. I hope more school athletes and fitness enthusiasts will join me on the Bachelor in Education (Physical Education and Health) (Hons) programme at MSU, and become transformational leaders educating society about health and physical education.”
Mohd Syahidan Alias or Edan Syah is the Head Coach responsible in bringing MSU its first athletics medal via the 3,000km Steeplechase event of SUKIPT 2022. Edan was a key facilitator/participant in the MSU Malaysia Book of Record ‘The Longest Non-Stop Baton Relay Run’ (168 hours; 2,352km; 7 days, 2 nights) in conjunction with MSU’s AIDS Awareness Campaign of 2009. He led flag bearers comprising medallists of SUKIPT 2022 into the MSU Chancellor Hall at the closing ceremony of MSU MyDay.
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When Malaysia was formed on September 16 of 1963, three stripes were added to the Jalur Gemilang (at the time, Bendera Malaysia) as well as three more points to the Malaysian flag’s 11-point star; both to signify the addition of Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore. The fourteenth stripe and point, which remained upon Singapore’s leaving on August 9, 1965, eventually came to be associated with Malaysia’s federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya. Four years ago on the Malaysia Day of 2018, against a backdrop of Australia’s Sydney Opera House, Jalur Gemilang sprinted to a Guinness World Record (GWR) – figuratively, on the back of Yayasan MSU scholar Mohd Syahidan Alias.
The citizen runner currently undertaking Bachelor in Education (Physical Education and Health) (Hons) studies via the Micro-Credential programme at the Management and Science University (MSU) School of Education and Social Sciences (SESS) clocked 2 hours, 54 minutes, 34 seconds to set the GWR for the Fastest Full Marathon Dressed in National Flag Costume at the Blackmores Running Festival in Sydney. Shattering a previous record of 3 hours 29 minutes, his was one of four feats that included a costume - the other three record setters were dressed as a surfer, a French maid, and a monk.
“It was a challenge all its own as it was a windy day and I felt my body swaying from side to side every time the wind blew! The drag was so strong but when I heard people cheering me on with ‘Go Malaysia!’ the goosebumps I got just spurred me on!”
Describing himself as a citizen runner because he is a working adult with a passion for running, Mohd Syahidan is professionally as well as popularly and affectionately called Edan Syah. Born in Terengganu but raised in Selangor, Edan had started running on his own and at a later age. Growing up with both his parents as schoolteachers, Edan had otherwise never had sports as his natural environment or a career option. Yet the regular guy with a day job as Coach at Smart Athletics Club (SAC), who himself had self-trained to save on coaching fees, went on to make a name in the arena.
“Dreams are good only if you commit to them. I dared to dream because I dared to work towards them. There is no shortcut to excellence; hard work beats talent. With discipline and time management, have faith that the magic will happen.”
Ever since Edan began running full marathons in 2011, he has been travelling the world for nearly ten years now with the support of sponsors. Other than to Australia, he has also been to Japan, Germany, England, the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Myanmar.
He went into the Abbott World Marathon Majors with a goal of clocking below the three-hour mark, and finished all six (Berlin Marathon, Boston Marathon twice, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, New York Marathon, and Tokyo Marathon) in four years. He even finished his first Boston Marathon in 2015 as the youngest and fastest Malaysian marathoner. In 2016, Edan was honoured with ‘Malaysia's Top Marathoner’, and became the first independent Malaysian marathoner to qualify for the SEA Games Marathon 2017 on merit as well as selected for the National Kita Juara Program at the age of 30.
On his maiden ultramarathon in 2018, at the Great Ocean Road Running Festival (GORRF) of Apollo Bay, Australia, representing Malaysia with the support of Visit Victoria, Edan emerged the Men Open Champion and set a new record with his 4 hours 29 minutes – the best performance by an Asian against the event’s 60km distance. And all that he had set out to do was only to complete the distance strong.
“During the 5-month prior training, I had pain in one foot that hurt the longer I ran and it really affected my training as well as my motivation level. For me to be able to sustain my pace during GORRF, what more to emerge the male champion – and this was my debut ultramarathon – was surreal! It only goes to show that only good things can happen if you don’t give up!”
Inspired by Japanese citizen runner Yuki Kawauchi – the Boston Marathon 2018’s Men’s Champion – Edan has completed 33 full marathons to date and records a personal best of 2 hours 30 minutes; which he achieved at the Gold Coast Australia Marathon in 2017.
“I would like to thank MSU president Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Wira Dr Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid for his trust and confidence in me to pursue my higher education with the support of Yayasan MSU. I had never expected to return to university at the age of 35. It was challenging at first to juggle classes, assignments, projects, exams and presentations with my current coaching job, while also working at improving my running fitness for future marathons. Yet, I've had a fantastic time working with my classmates over the past six months, and I'm surprised that I’ve been able to balance my studies and obtain decent grades in my first semester.”
Because the best kind of learning does not train you to win but instead teaches you what winning might mean – build your capacity to act, for example – Edan keeps running not only towards his dreams but also towards where he can help.
“Physical education has become even more vital and critical for society, what with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. We are built to move, and many of our body's systems perform better when we exercise regularly. I want to inspire and assist future generations in improving personal health through physical education. Eventually, I’d like for everyone to learn to run smart, but my current mission is to encourage everyone to stay active through physical activity. I hope more school athletes and fitness enthusiasts will join me on the Bachelor in Education (Physical Education and Health) (Hons) programme at MSU, and become transformational leaders educating society about health and physical education.”
Mohd Syahidan Alias or Edan Syah is the Head Coach responsible in bringing MSU its first athletics medal via the 3,000km Steeplechase event of SUKIPT 2022. Edan was a key facilitator/participant in the MSU Malaysia Book of Record ‘The Longest Non-Stop Baton Relay Run’ (168 hours; 2,352km; 7 days, 2 nights) in conjunction with MSU’s AIDS Awareness Campaign of 2009. He led flag bearers comprising medallists of SUKIPT 2022 into the MSU Chancellor Hall at the closing ceremony of MSU MyDay.
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