If you can’t live without contemporary music and would travel any distance to attend a John Legend concert, relax. You don’t have to leave home. Legend will bring his Darkness and Light tour to Malaysia—specifically Resorts World Genting in Pahang—on 17 March 2018.

Need the incentive to treat yourself and someone you love to concert tickets?

How about showing up a week earlier to participate in Run Out Pahang, the largest annual East Coast marathon held in “the hood,” and a great place to set your own records for the year ahead?

Start your adventure by registering at Spacebib to secure placement at the Run Out Pahang start line. Then, reward yourself for completing your event by grabbing John Legend tickets.

Photo Credit: John Legend

Too much excitement for one week?

Of course not. Your passion for running and your love of music needn’t cancel each other out because you’re clever enough to make your plans now—before you’re left out of either event.

Must you wear a John Legend tour t-shirt at the Run Out Pahang to show your devotion to the internationally-popular star when you run a week later? Of course not. You’ll receive a commemorative shirt courtesy of Brooks Running Malaysia as part of the race pack goodies you’ll retrieve before the big day.

Why all of the excitement associated with the Run Out Pahang? For starters, there’s history to be respected. This sporting event was launched as the Kuantan Run 2013, attracting only around 500 runners, but there was no shortage of enthusiasm among these athletes.

When the rest of the running world got wind of this small but successful marathon, they piled on for 2014, registering in numbers that still impress: around 2,000! And so, a tradition was born.

Photo Credit: Run Out Pahang International Marathon

If you haven’t been to Malaysia, why wait?

Whether time away from your job to attend both the Legend concert and participate in Run Out Pahang may not be long enough to afford you both opportunities, you won’t suffer from lack of entertainment if come just for the run.

All routes associated with the 5km Fun Run, 10km, 21km or 42km distances will take you through some of the gorgeous landscape and historical landmarks you’ve ever seen.

As a matter of fact, the area’s expansive beauty and cultural wonders are part of the reason runners keep returning to this race year-after-year.

Further, organizers have learned a lot since the days they had only 500 runners to worry about! The 2018 Pahang event is likely to be one of the most efficiently-run distance events you’ve attended of late, and you have myriad options when it comes to the division of races that suit citizens and visitors alike.

Photo Credit: 123rf

There are 8 categories from which to choose

Whether you're coming from outside Malaysia and plan to run either the 21km or 42km or you will represent your home country by tackling either distance, you'll have your choice of 8 Men’s and Women’s Open and Veteran classifications. There’s only one 5km Fun Run on the menu, but if 10km is your distance, there are 4 separate tracks here, too. In sum, if you can't find a category that you suits you, it may not exist.

Should you decide that the 42km race in your category is an ideal fit, we’d like to deliver the bad news first. You’re going to have to get out of bed early. Really early. Assembly time is 2:15 a.m. with the official flag off taking place at 3 a.m. Folks electing to run the other three distances get to sleep in as the next three waves leave the start line at 5 a.m., 6:20 a.m. and 6:40 a.m., respectively.

Photo Credit: Run Out Pahang International Marathon

Don't show up just to run when you can see the sights, too

• Take a post-marathon rest on Cherating Beach—better yet, spend the night at one of this area’s resorts because rates range from affordable to luxurious.
• Feed your curiousity at Sungai Lembing, where hanging bridges and waterfalls engage all of your senses.
• Visit Pulau Tioman, a volcanic island that’s a popular snorkeling and diving spot.
• Travel to Gunyng Senyum (Smiling Mountain), home to 25-caves you can explore.
• Hand-feed elephants at the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary.
• Headquarter in Genting if you like to gamble or you’re dedicated to checking out every theme park on the planet.
• We don't have to remind you about that concert a week afterward, do we?

How frequently do you choose a marathon because it gives you an excuse to become a world traveler? Or are you so focused on your sport, you only come to run?