The sincerity of residents when greeting runners became a memorable moment during the Borobudur Marathon. They presented the runners what they possessed: spontaneous simplicity on the running track.
By
HARIS FIRDAUS/PRAYOGI D SULISTYO/KRISTI DWI UTAMI
·4 minutes read
Mukholid, 52, ran slowly when he arrived at Kilometer 16 during the 2019 Borobudur Marathon Powered by Bank Jateng run race in Magelang regency, Central Java, on Sunday (17/11/2019) morning. When he arrived at Jangkungan hamlet, Deyangan village, he saw a row of glasses filled with warm tea and snacks at the terrace of one of the residents\' houses.
"May I have some hot tea, sir?" Mukholid said while stopping his run.
After being welcome, he took a glass of warm tea. Not only warm tea, the runner from Cilacap, Central Java, also took dodol jenang.
"May I take two pieces, sir? I haven\'t had breakfast yet," Mukholid said laughing. While eating jenang and drinking warm tea, he then chatted for a moment with a resident of Jangkungan hamlet.
The foods and drinks enjoyed by Mukholid were presented for free by the local people.
"This is the first time I’ve joined the Borobudur Marathon. Local people are very enthusiastic; they even served warm tea and snacks. Hopefully, next year I can participate again," said Mukholid.
The Borobudur Marathon was held in collaboration with the Central Java provincial administration, Bank Jateng and Kompas daily. This year, the Borobudur Marathon saw the participation of 10,366 participants from 35 countries divided into three categories, namely 10 km, half marathon or 21 km and marathon.
This is a personal initiative. I\'m glad the runners passed in front of the house. This is to welcome them.
Jangkungan hamlet resident Mardiyanto, 59, said he voluntarily served snacks and drinks for the runners. Since 5 a.m., he and his family were ready on their porch to serve warm tea, water, fried sweet potatoes and jenang dodol. The drinks and food were also "selling well" because many runners stopped by.
"This is a personal initiative. I\'m glad the runners passed in front of the house. This is to welcome them," he said.
Actually, the Borobudur Marathon organizing committee set up posts for drinking along the race route to help runners stay hydrated. The committee also prepared some fruits the runners could take to add to their strength. However, residents who live around the route still took the initiative to serve additional food and drinks for the runners.
Apart from Jangkungan hamlet, food and drinks were also available in other areas where runners passed by. In Bletukan hamlet, Kalinegoro village, Mertoyudan district, for example, a number of residents provided food and drinks for the marathon runners.
Art show
In addition to snacks and drinks, the enthusiasm of the community was also reflected in various arts performances that were held to encourage the runners. Based on committee data, a total of 32 schools and 19 villages were involved in activities to cheer up or encourage the runners.
The forms of activities were varied, for example dance shows, music and making slogans in the style of soccer supporters. In Pletukan hamlet, Sidoagung village, Tempuran district, Magelang, parents, teenagers and children performed dances accompanied by music to welcome the runners. Some wore costumes made from blarak or green coconut leaves, while others wore traditional Javanese clothing.
"We hope that when watching this dance, the runners will be even more enthusiastic about running," said chairman of Karang Taruna in Pletukan hamlet Irfan Daryono.
Interesting interactions occurred when runners run passed Pletukan hamlet. Malaysian runner Azhar bin Omran, who ran past the hamlet, for example, was welcomed by residents with the Cendol Dawet dance to the song "Pamer Bojo" created by singer Didi Kempot. Even though he didn\'t understand the lyrics of the Javanese song, Azhar decided to pause and sway.
We hope that when watching this dance, the runners will be even more enthusiastic about running.
Swiss runner Jakob Ulrich Bader was also impressed by the enthusiasm of the residents of Pletukan hamlet.
"I am very impressed with the efforts of the people to give encouragement. The free fruits that they provide is also very useful for maintaining stamina," he said.
The same enthusiasm was shown by Indonesian Christian High School students in Magelang who came from several regions. They performed a Papuan Yospan dance, with an art installation titled Garuda by Magelang artist Surawan Marcelino as their background.
One of the runners, Dewi Ganda, 42, said the cheering ignited the spirit of the runners.
"Tos [high five] with small children was the most encouraging. They were very sincere," he said.