Borobudur Marathon Continues to Innovate

BOROBUDUR MARATHON 2018

Official photographer documentation of the 2018 Borobudur Marathon at the 2018 Borobudur Marathon in Magelang, Central Java, on Sunday (18/11/2018).

SEMARANG, KOMPAS — Borobudur Marathon is committed to consistently presenting new breakthroughs every year. This year, a number of innovations were enacted, one of which was the Bank Jateng Friendship Run with a distance of 5 kilometers in four different cities in Indonesia.

Borobudur Marathon 2022 powered by Bank Jateng will be held on 12-13 November. The running competition, which will be attended by around 5,000 participants, is a collaboration between the Central Java Provincial Government, Bank Jateng, Borobudur Marathon Foundation and Kompas daily.

This year the event was held in four cities, namely Semarang, Central Java; Jakarta; Medan, North Sumatra; and Makassar, South Sulawesi. In each city there are around 1,000 participants who take part in the Bank Jateng Friendship Run.

The Bank Jateng Friendship Run was held as a warm-up event ahead of the Borobudur Marathon. In previous years, the Bank Jateng Friendship Run was held in Magelang regency, East Java. This year the event was held in four cities, namely Semarang, Central Java; Jakarta; Medan, North Sumatra; and Makassar, South Sulawesi. In each city there are around 1,000 participants who take part in the Bank Jateng Friendship Run.

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"We are following the direction of Pak Ganjar [Pranowo, Governor of Central Java] that there should always be something new at the Borobudur Marathon, and we are implementing it now," said Deputy General Leader of Kompas Daily, Budiman Tanuredjo, on the sidelines of the Bank Jateng Friendship Run, on Sunday (21/8/2022), in Lawang Sewu, Semarang, Central Java.

Even though it was held outside Magelang, the organizers still tried to bring the nuance of Magelang into every Bank Jateng Friendship Run event. In the inaugural event in Semarang, for example, a harmony mini market was presented. There were seven micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM), Pawone culinary and three craft MSMEs. All of them are MSMEs assisted by Bank Jateng.

Another recent innovation in the Bank Jateng Friendship Run is the runners' jerseys. The jersey designs for the Bank Jateng Friendship Run participants were created by an artist from Magelang, Utami Atasia Ishii. Each city has a jersey with a different theme, adapted to the characteristics of the region. “In the city of Semarang, for example, there is an herbal medicine industry. The ornaments on the jerseys depict ginger and other roots and herbs. In metropolitan Jakarta, the design of the jerseys is in the form of buildings and the Monas monument," said Vice General Manager of Events for Kompas Daily, Budhi Sarwiadi.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Participants of the Bank Jateng Borobudur Marathon 2017 race took a selfie while passing through Borobudur Village, Borobudur District, Magelang Regency, Central Java, on Sunday (19/11/2017).

The Borobudur Marathon 2022 series has also innovated with a new competition category, namely Bank Jateng Young Talent. The competition complements the existing competitions in the previous years, namely the Borobudur Marathon Elite Race and the Central Java Bank Tilik Candi.

In Bank Jateng Young Talent, 30 runners aged 16-20 years take part in the competition. It is held to accommodate potential young athletes in addition to being an athlete-regeneration event.

This element describes the aspect that makes Borobudur Temple a building that stands strong.

The Borobudur Marathon 2022 will also present new jerseys and medals. This year's jerseys carry the theme: Stronger to Victory. This illustrates the unity of the energy of the runners and the community around Magelang, so that they become stronger, bring positive energy together and move forward toward victory. Meanwhile, the medals are inspired by elements of a rhombus (Javanese rice cake packed inside a diamond-shaped container of woven palm-leaf pouch) on the stupa of Borobudur Temple. This element describes the aspect that makes Borobudur Temple a building that stands strong.

Warming up

The Bank Jateng Friendship Run in Semarang is expected to be a warm-up for runners before participating in the Borobudur Marathon in Magelang, next November. Apart from participating in the Bank Jateng Friendship Run in Semarang, runners are also expected to take part in this activity in other cities.

"Hopefully the spirit of fellow runners can continue to the [Bank Jateng Friendship Run] in Jakarta, Medan and Makassar. I pray that all are well. Those who haven't been vaccinated, don't forget to get vaccinated three times," said Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo.

KANTOR KOMINFO UNTUK KOMPAS

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo

In the Borobudur Marathon 2022, the bubble system for runners and organizers is no longer implemented. However, participants are required to undergo a swab test and are required to have gotten the Covid-19 vaccine at least up to the third dose.

She wanted to experience the feeling of running again, along with other runners from various regions.

The runners were also enthusiastic about participating in the Bank Jateng Friendship Run in Semarang. Runner Anisa Raufia (34), for example, came from Yogyakarta to take part in this activity. She wanted to experience the feeling of running again, along with other runners from various regions.

"Besides that, I also use this event to prepare before running at Bank Jateng Tilik Candi 2022," said Anisa, who has participated in the Borobudur Marathon three times.

Ardha Kurniawan (27), another runner, was no less enthusiastic. He wore a striated cloth costume combined with an Iron Man mask. "It's my trademark when I run; I always wear a mask like this," he explained.

The model and Brand Ambassador of Borobudur Marathon, Kelly Tandiono, also admitted that she was happy to be able to participate in the running event. In addition to accommodating the hobbies of runners, this activity is also helpful to the economy of local MSME actors.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.