KUALA LUMPUR, June 9: Last year, visually impaired runner Adry Fazmi and his guide runner Ammar Naim captured the hearts of Malaysians after completing a half marathon together in a display of friendship, trust and determination that went viral on social media.
This year, Adry and Ammar are preparing to take things a step further as they set their sights on completing their first full marathon together at SCORE Marathon 2026 by AIA Vitality in Putrajaya on July 18-19.
Running without sight, Adry relies on his best friend Ammar’s guidance throughout races, with the pair communicating constantly and remaining connected throughout the course.
For Adry, the journey to the starting line has been anything but ordinary.
The 28-year-old project planner only took up running after an incident that changed his life, leaving his movement restricted and his confidence shaken.
“I started running in December 2024, which is about eight months after my incident,” said Adry.
“After the incident, my movement was quite restricted. Even when I’m on my stationary bike, my legs still felt weak.”
It was a conversation with Ammar that set him on a new path.
“One day, I told Ammar about it and he said, why don’t we try running?” said Adry.
“I wanted to rebuild my strength and my motivation came from the people that I love, which is my mum, my family, my fiancé Alia and my two best friends, Ammar and Aida.”
Ammar, who has been Adry’s best friend for the past 15 years, needed little convincing.
“When Adry first started wanting to join running, I didn’t hesitate to pull him into the sport and immediately say, let’s go,” said Ammar.
Just two months after taking up running, the pair completed their first 10km race together.
“Running with my fiancé Alia, my two best friends Ammar and Aida, it didn’t feel like a challenge. It felt like a team sport,” said Adry.
Their journey has not always been smooth.
“Training isn’t always smooth. There were times we tripped or even fell together, laughing the whole way,” said Ammar.
“Those moments taught me to stay alert and communicate better, but we still laughed it off every time.”
Adry added:
“Falling together makes the run more memorable. Even when I’m scared or tired, having Ammar there motivated me to keep going.”
Six months later, the duo took on their first half marathon together at SCORE Marathon, with Adry navigating the entire 21km distance through Ammar’s guidance and unwavering support.
Despite the challenges, they crossed the finish line in three hours, 59 minutes and 13 seconds — just 47 seconds before the official cut-off time.
“Running that distance without sight, you have to trust the person beside you completely. And luckily for me, that person is my best friend,” said Adry.
For Ammar, the experience left an equally lasting impression.
“Crossing that finishing line together, that was one of the proudest moments of our friendship,” he said.
“People might think guiding is the hard part. But the real challenge is Adry running without sight, trusting every step we take together. And that trust is what helped us cross that finish line.”
Having completed last year’s half marathon with just 47 seconds to spare before the cut-off, the pair are now preparing for an even bigger test — the 42km full marathon.
Despite everything he has been through, Ammar believes his friend remains the strongest person he knows.
“To be honest, even after everything Adry has been through, he still has the biggest courage. He still smiles. He still laughs.
“Just like he did before it all happened. If I were in his shoes, I don’t think I could handle it the way he does. Honestly, he’s the bravest person I’ve ever known.”
As they continue training for the full marathon, Adry hopes others will take that first step towards their own goals.
“I never thought I would get here, but having people by my side made all the difference,” he said.
“If I could give an advice, start small. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect.”Take the first step, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Running isn’t about pace or gadgets, especially when you just started running. You just have to show up, step by step.”
Their story is one of 10 featured under SCORE Marathon 2026 by AIA Vitality’s “10 Heroes, 10 Stories, One Shared Purpose” campaign, which shines a spotlight on inspiring individuals within the running community.
For SCORE Sports Management chief executive officer Patricia Tan, Adry and Ammar’s journey reflect the spirit of what the event has come to represent over the years.
“At SCORE Marathon, we believe running has the power to bring people together and inspire healthier, more active lifestyles. Adry and Ammar’s story is a beautiful example of that.
“Their friendship, resilience and determination remind us that when people come together through sport, something remarkable can happen.”SCORE Marathon 2026 by AIA Vitality is set to be its biggest edition yet after attracting a record-breaking 50,000 participants.
The event has grown significantly from 33,000 participants last year and is now in contention to be recognised as Malaysia’s largest running event through the Malaysia Book of Records.
SCORE Marathon is also a World Athletics Road Race Label event with an AIMS-measured route, placing it among a select group of races globally recognised for meeting international standards in race organisation and athlete experience.
The full “Adry & Ammar” story can be viewed via the following links:
Facebook:
https://web.facebook.com/share/v/1E3qvkEpur/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZMKiOokkuR/
For updates, visit scoremarathon.com or follow @scoremarathon on Instagram and SCORE Marathon on Facebook.
