Completing any race exceeding 42.195 km is no easy feat. So when Leong Wai Leng burst out crying after running 110.5 km in 24 hours during the Melaka 24H Ultramarathon 2025, it was tears of joy.
In August 2022, she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She had taken up running a few months earlier as a way to keep fit and relieve stress.
But after the diagnosis, the activity took on a deeper meaning. “Running became my therapy. It gave me strength and a way to reclaim control over my life and body,” Leong, 50, told FMT Lifestyle.
“Running taught me endurance – not just physical, but emotional and mental. Each step reminded me that I was alive and capable. When I ran, I felt free from the label “cancer patient”, she added.
Leong vividly remembers the day she was told she had cancer. “It was a devastating moment. I felt like my whole world collapsed. I was shocked, fearful and overwhelmed with uncertainty.
“But after the initial wave of emotions, I reminded myself that I had two children and a life to live. I had to fight, not just for myself – but for them,” said Leong, whose sons are aged 17 and 12 today.
She underwent surgery to remove her left breast in December 2022 on Christmas Day. And later, a reconstruction procedure. This was followed by six cycles of chemotherapy and 15 sessions of radiotherapy until September 2023.
Throughout the ordeal, she ran. In early December, just three weeks before her surgery, she completed her first full marathon – 42.195 km.
“I wanted to prove to myself that even with cancer, I could still achieve something extraordinary.
“Crossing the finish line before going into surgery felt like a powerful message, to myself and others, that cancer doesn’t define or stop us,” she said.
Even after the surgery, she ran. She has completed nearly 150 marathons, ultramarathons, a walkathon and trail runs across Malaysia – and even a few in the US and Thailand.
Her husband, Steven Im, has participated alongside her in each race. “When I’m struggling to finish, he’d say, I’ll wait for you at the finish line,” she said with a laugh, adding that his words were the motivation she needed to power through!
“My family, especially my husband and children, were my pillars of strength. Their support gave me the courage to push through the darkest times. I also held on to my faith, and the belief that I could still live a meaningful life despite the diagnosis,” she said.
Determined that their children not miss out on creating memories with their mother, the couple makes it a point to include them when they travel out of town for running events.
Leong is also grateful for the support of a running community she belongs to called the Malaysia Women Runners, and its founder, Safiah Galgo, as well as the organisations that sponsored her participation in several running events.
Looking back, Leong said that the 110.5 km ultramarathon – her longest distance to date – as “one of the toughest and most emotional experiences of her life”.
Running through the night, battling fatigue, cold, and knee pain, she added, pushed her to her edge. “But every step reminded me of my fight against cancer. I cried when I crossed the finish line.
“It wasn’t just a race; it was a celebration of life, strength and survival.”
On July 8, the Malaysia Book of Records named her the “first breast cancer survivor to complete an ultramarathon”, a well-deserved recognition.
Leong is eyeing an even greater challenge next: a 120 km run.
To others battling cancer, she shared this message: “Never let cancer define your limits. You are stronger than you think. I started with short walks after surgery and went on to complete a 110 km ultramarathon.
“Start small, believe in your healing and surround yourself with love and support. Life after cancer is not just possible – it can be powerful, beautiful and full of victories.”
Follow Leong Wai Leng’s adventures on YouTube.
