Exclusive Story by WeirdKaya - Proper accreditation to WeirdKaya and consent from the interviewee are required.
For many of us, balancing a full time job with studies is already enough to leave us exhausted by the end of the week.
But for 27-year-old Loga Chandran Ramachandran, his packed schedule did not stop him from chasing a goal that would push both his body and mind to their limits.
Despite him suffering from severe leg pain, cramps and an allergic reaction that left his face swollen, Loga refused to let pain decide how his story would end.
The Sitiawan native, who works full time in Singapore while pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Forensics at Management and Science University (MSU), recently completed 12 Peaks in a week across seven states (12 peaks, 7 Days, 7 states), earning his second Malaysia Book of Records recognition.
Speaking exclusively to WeirdKaya, Loga shared how a hobby that started during lockdown eventually turned into a record breaking journey and a mission to inspire other Malaysians to push beyond what they believe they are capable of.
Started as a lockdown hobby
Like many people, Loga first picked up hiking in 2020 simply as a way to stay active during the lockdown period.
What began as an ordinary hobby slowly became something much bigger. The more time Loga spent exploring nature and challenging himself, the more he discovered that hiking was teaching him discipline, consistency, endurance and mental strength.
As the years passed, he began setting bigger goals for himself. In 2025, he completed his first major challenge by scaling nine different peaks in a week across seven different states (9 Peaks, 7 Days, 7 States), which earned him his first Malaysia Book of Records recognition.
However, Loga did not want that achievement to become the point where he stopped.
I asked myself, ‘What’s next? How much further can I go?’”
That question eventually led him to attempt an even bigger challenge in 2026, this time completing 12 peaks across seven states within seven days.
Trained while working 12-hour shifts
Completing 12 mountains peaks within such a tight schedule required months of preparation, but finding time to train was not exactly easy for Loga.
Besides studying part-time, he was also working 12-hour shifts. This meant training had to fit around his responsibilities rather than the other way around.
Physically, Loga focused heavily on endurance. He would walk between 30km and 50km, gradually increasing the distances so that his body could become accustomed to staying active for long periods of time.
His preparation also included cardio training, maintaining his diet, taking enough protein and making sure his body had sufficient recovery.
Whenever his schedule allowed, he would head to actual mountains to train as well, knowing that walking on a normal surface could never fully replicate the demands of a real trail.
Enduring pain
All the training in the world, however, could not prepare Loga for everything that would happen during the seven-day journey.
His toughest battle began as early as the second day while climbing Gunung Berembun, where he suffered severe muscle strain, leg cramps and nerve pain.
From then on, almost every step hurt. Yet the challenge was nowhere near complete. There were still more mountains to climb, long journeys between locations and very little time available for his body to recover.
Things eventually became even more difficult at Gunung Kerunai, where Loga was bitten by an insect and developed a serious allergic reaction that caused his face to swell. At the same time, both of his legs were cramping badly.
It became one of the most physically demanding moments of the entire challenge. There were moments where stopping entirely crossed his mind.
But instead of thinking about how many mountains were still waiting for him, Loga narrowed his focus down to something much smaller and was finally able to complete the ’12 peaks, 7 Days, 7 states’ challenge.
The timing of the challenge also carried special meaning as it took place during Merdeka week. Loga wanted the journey to represent the Malaysian spirit and show that ordinary Malaysians could contribute something meaningful to the country in their own ways.
Even within the intense schedule, he made time to visit SJKT Bukit Darah, where he met students and shared his journey with them. For him, inspiring the younger generation was just as meaningful as reaching the final peak.
‘This is not the finish line’
He hopes young Malaysians will see that having responsibilities does not automatically mean their dreams must be put aside.
His second record, therefore, is not something he sees as the end of the journey. Instead, it is another starting point.
This second record is not the finish line. It is proof that every achievement can become the starting point for something greater.”
For Loga, the message is simple: whatever situation life puts in front of you, do not surrender to it. Learn from it, grow through it and keep moving forward.
Exclusive Story by WeirdKaya – If you wish to reproduce this story, please ensure that you obtain consent from the interviewee to maintain factual accuracy and avoid the potential spread of misleading information.
If referencing or using any information from our story, we kindly ask that proper credit is given, along with a backlink to WeirdKaya, as acknowledgment of the efforts made by our editors in sourcing and conducting interviews.
READ ALSO:
I Nearly Quit Karate After A Painful Loss, Now I’m A 3x SEA Games Champion & World Championship Silver Medallist
