KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 16 -- Imagine a group of runners arriving at a cafe flushed and winded, others stroll in with sweat cooling on their backs.

Inside, nutritious and hearty fare such as Gado Gado, a riot of vegetables bound by peanut sauce, and a loaded egg sando (wittily named Roti Telur 2.0) await them as a delicious way to refuel.

At Trailside Treats, located near the start of the Bukit Kiara Hill Walk, this is a typical scene on a weekend morning.

For the owners Carly Balmforth and Min Xiang Lee, their cafe was never just about coffee and food. It was about community - the kind that finishes a 10-kilometre run before most people have started their day.

Balmforth says, "I'm from the UK but I have been living in South-east Asia for ...