Part store, part community, and entirely runner-focused, the New Balance Run Hub at Suria KLCC is where passion meets purpose. Runners Esther Joy and Asyraf tell us what makes it so special.

In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, just steps away from the buzz of the city and the curve of KLCC Park,&nbsp;the New Balance Run Hub&nbsp;at Suria KLCC redefines what a sports store can be. More than just a place to buy shoes, it&rsquo;s a cultural and community hub, a meeting point for runners who live for the early-morning miles, the post-run coffee, and the shared language of movement. Here, you can gear up, connect with runners, and even lace up a pair of New Balance kicks for a real run around the park before making them yours. For <a href="https://www.instagram.com/estherxjoy/?hl=en">Esther Joy</a>, 22, a Kuala Lumpur-born triathlete with nearly four years in the sport, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/asyr4f/?hl=en">Asyraf</a>, 27, a seasoned runner from Shah Alam who&rsquo;s been pounding the pavement across the Klang Valley for a decade, the Run Hub represents something bigger than retail. It&rsquo;s a space that celebrates their discipline, fuels their motivation, and reminds them why they fell in love with running in the first place. Here, runners Esther Joy and Asyraf share what makes the New Balance Run Hub special to them and how the brand continues to support their journey, both on and off the road.

What first sparked your love for running, and how has the relationship changed over the years? Esther Joy (EJ): Honestly, it started by accident. Back in high school, one of my teachers signed me up for a race, and I won. That led to state-level competitions, and then nationals, all without any real training. I was just doing it for fun. Later, I joined the national wushu team but still kept running on the side until COVID hit. I stopped for a while but came back to it to earn some pocket money, and that&rsquo;s when the passion really kicked in again. That love for running eventually led me to triathlon, and I started training properly after that. Asyraf (A): For me, it began with wanting to stay fit. I started running competitively in high school during MSSD (Majlis Sukan Sekolah-sekolah Daerah) meets, and after SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia), I got into road races. Along the way, I met a lot of like-minded runners and we&rsquo;d share tips, experiences, everything. Over time, running became more than just a hobby. It&rsquo;s part of my lifestyle now. I run every day and keep pushing my distance a little further.

What is it about running that you're most excited about? A: Definitely the community. Running with friends makes it so much more enjoyable, you forget about the distance or pace and just live in the moment. We even do &ldquo;runcations,&rdquo; where we travel somewhere new for a race and reward ourselves with a mini holiday after. Esther, do you prefer running solo or with a group? EJ: I&rsquo;m a little too competitive, so I prefer running alone most of the time, especially for my easy runs. But when it comes to intervals or track sessions, I love having teammates around. They push me to go faster. Following that, how do you stay motivated when you&rsquo;re training solo? EJ: I usually follow set programs like if it&rsquo;s a 90-minute long run, I stick to it. But sometimes, I&rsquo;ll go beyond that because running is therapeutic for me. It&rsquo;s when I can tune out the world and focus on myself.

Track, city run, or treadmill. What&rsquo;s your pick? A: Track for sure. I find treadmills boring, especially for long runs. I love being outdoors, the wind, the rhythm, the feeling of moving through space. EJ: I&rsquo;m the total opposite [laughs]. I&rsquo;m team treadmill all the way. I even do my long runs on it while watching movies. I&rsquo;ll run anywhere, just not on a track. What were your first impressions of the new New Balance Run Hub? A: I was excited! It&rsquo;s the first Run Hub by New Balance in Southeast Asia, and it&rsquo;s unlike any other sports store. The shoe rental program is genius, you can actually test the shoes by running around KLCC Park. It&rsquo;s a great concept for both seasoned runners and beginners. EJ: Totally agree. The space feels fresh, warm, and inviting, not your typical sports store vibe. It makes running more accessible, especially with expert guidance on picking the right shoes. Speaking of shoes, what would you recommend for new runners? A: For training, I&rsquo;d go with the&nbsp;FuelCell Rebel v5, and for races or speed sessions, the&nbsp;FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5. The Rebel v5 is such a reliable all-rounder, while the SuperComp Elite v5 helped me achieve my personal best marathon time. It&rsquo;s a real gamechanger. EJ: For beginners, I&rsquo;d suggest the&nbsp;Fresh Foam X 1080. They&rsquo;re super comfy, versatile, and help reduce injury risk. You can wear them for casual walks, hikes, or runs. Personally, I rotate between the 1080s for easy runs, the Rebel v5 for intervals, and the SuperComp Elite v5 for races.

What does &ldquo;Run Your Way&rdquo; mean to you? EJ: To me, it means embracing your individuality. Everyone&rsquo;s built differently physically, mentally, emotionally. The idea invites people from all walks of life to run their own way, at their own pace. I love that New Balance designs shoes to support that uniqueness. What&rsquo;s your advice for people just starting out? A: Start small and stay consistent. Run or jog for 15&ndash;20 minutes a day, mix it with walking if you need to. Gradually build your pace and distance. Most importantly, focus on good form to avoid injury. Enjoy every little win along the way. EJ: I agree. Go at your own pace. Don&rsquo;t get too caught up with what you see online. Whether you prefer running solo or in a group, just make sure you&rsquo;re having fun. Anything you don&rsquo;t like about running? EJ: I&rsquo;ve lost a few toenails along the way [laughs]. A: The commitment! If I skip running for even three days, my performance drops. Rest days are fine just not too many of them.

How do New Balance&rsquo;s running outfits support your performance? A: New Balance really pays attention to detail. Their gear isn&rsquo;t just comfortable, it&rsquo;s functional. The RC Shorts, for example, are designed to prevent thigh blisters during long runs. Little things like that make a big difference. EJ: Same here! I used to struggle with chafing, but the RC Shorts solved that. Now I own about 20 pairs. They&rsquo;re literally the only shorts I run in. To wrap this up, do you have a question for each other? A: Esther, how long do you see yourself staying in triathlon? EJ: Hard to say, but I&rsquo;ll evaluate my progress in the next two years. I&rsquo;m curious to see how far I can push myself. Only time will tell. What about you, Asyraf. What&rsquo;s your next big goal? A:&nbsp;A full marathon next year. Target time: two hours and forty minutes.

Inside New Balance's first Run Hub in Southeast Asia with Esther Joy and Asyraf

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