KUALA LUMPUR — Ahead of the upcoming Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) 2026, ASICS Malaysia officially introduced its 42-member pacer squad and unveiled the exclusive “Unity in Motion” footwear and apparel collection during an event at TRX City Park. Designed by local creative Wilson Ng, the special-edition gear combines performance technology with Malaysian design elements to celebrate national identity and community movement.
‘Unity in Motion’ Footwear Design and Cultural Motifs
The centerpiece of the launch is the special-edition ASICS NOVABLAST™ 6, featuring a design concept titled “Unity in Motion.” Constructed on an off-white upper with a clean white midsole, the silhouette incorporates accent colors derived directly from the Malaysian flag:
- Red: Symbolizing courage
- Blue: Representing national unity
- Yellow: Denoting prosperity
- White: Signifying purity
The shoe includes a custom sock liner with an abstract “KL” print inspired by national colors. The design aims to serve as a shared visual canvas for runners of varying backgrounds and pace groups participating in the nation’s marquee distance event.
Apparel Collections and Local Narrative Themes
Alongside the footwear, ASICS unveiled the official ASICS x KLSCM 2026 Apparel Collection, structured around two localized design concepts:
- RUNKL City Edition (Where the City Meets the Stride): Reimagines Kuala Lumpur’s urban landscape, turning iconic skyscrapers into visual pace markers and city streets into marathon course routes.
- RUNKL Local Food Edition (The Flavours That Run With Us): Integrates artistic graphics of traditional Malaysian dishes, including satay, kopi, and nasi lemak, into functional running tops.
The core apparel lineup launched across ASICS retail outlets nationwide on September 5, 2026. Two event-exclusive cotton t-shirts will be available strictly at the official KLSCM Expo.
42-Member Pacer Squad and Technical Footwear Deployment
To guide participants toward their target finish times across the 10KM, 21KM Half Marathon, and 42KM Full Marathon categories, ASICS introduced the 42 official KLSCM 2026 pacers. The squad underwent a standardized qualification assessment managed by event owner Dirigo Events to ensure course leadership, pace discipline, and athlete safety.
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The pacers will be outfitted in high-visibility, lightweight official pacer apparel and equipped with ASICS performance footwear tailored to course demands:
- NOVABLAST™ 6: Features lightweight construction and responsive cushioning designed for bouncy energy return across varied distances.
- SONICBLAST™ 2: Combines FF BLAST™ MAX cushioning with FF TURBO™ SQUARED foam and a redesigned forked ASTROPLATE™ to provide propulsive forward momentum for faster pace groups.
The event concluded with a “Rise and Shine” trial run at TRX City Park, giving attendees an advance trial of the SONICBLAST™ 2. The shoe officially launches across ASICS retail stores and online on September 18, 2026, at a retail price of RM829.
