Natural Charms that Enthrall the World

ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

· 5 minutes read

The Borobudur Marathon returns in a harmony of natural, tourism and sporting charm. Improvements have been made in preparation for the world-class running event. The moment of truth will arrive on Sunday.

Silence wrapped around Borobudur Temple in Magelang regency, Central Java, on Sunday (16/11/2018) morning. The thin veil of fog slowly dissipated as the sun rose higher. Cool air gushed over my feet as I walked on the asphalt road, still wet from the rain the previous night.

On Jl. Medang Kamulan, some 800 meters to the north of the temple, six people were warming up before trying the route of the Borobudur Marathon that will be held on Sunday (18/11).

All six accompanied Kompas in trying the 10K route. However, that morning, only five kilometers were traversed. The route is filled with modest sights and mostly goes through traditional villages. All along the route, the runners will never get bored, as they can immerse themselves in the serene vistas of paddy fields and small rivers.

Locals will warmly welcome all runners. Their smiles will create an atmosphere of friendliness. The scenery on the slopes of the Menoreh Hills will amaze them.

“We have chosen the most ideal route. We’ve considered many aspects, including road infrastructure, natural beauty and road traffic,” said Alex Fajar, a prominent member of the Magelang Runners who is involved in organizing the Borobudur Marathon.

There are spots with great views that were not chosen because of heavy road traffic. Meanwhile, other spots had great scenery and no traffic but they were not chosen because the roads were not smooth.

“We chose the most ideal [route] based on various factors. Because of this, the Borobudur Marathon’s route has obtained international certification,” said race director Andreas Kansil.

This is to boost Borobudur Marathon’s image as a tourism-based race. The natural charms along the route and the unique rural atmosphere are the marathon’s main selling points. This is maintained to ensure the marathon’s uniqueness among similar races.

All of these are magnets for the 10,000 local and foreign runners who will take part in the marathon. Runner Vina Basyuni, 31, from Timika, West Papua, said that she had first participated in the marathon in 2017, specifically in the half marathon (21K) category. “I found that the place was really great. It’s not just about running but also about tourism and seeing local art and cultures,” said Vina, who will join in the full marathon (42K) category this year.

Improve rules

Despite the marathon’s superiority in terms of its natural charms and unique atmosphere, the organizers said that they would not become complacent and neglect the run’s organization. Since 2017, they have continuously improved the marathon’s management. As a result, they have obtained national and international recognition.

Andreas said that in order to improve the marathon’s quality, the organizing committee had upgraded the race’s rules. This year, a strict cut-off time (COT) and cut-off point (COP) will be implemented. The COT for the marathon will be seven hours. Meanwhile, there will be two COPs, namely at kilometers 21.1 and 35.

For the half-marathon, the COT will be four hours and the COP will be at kilometer 15. For the 10K run, the COT will be two hours. “Last year, we were still a little bit loose with the rules. This year, once we get past the COT, [runners who still have not gotten past the COP] will be brought out,” he said.

Yogyakarta-based runner Dipo, who will participate in the half marathon, said that he appreciated the new rule. Without a strict time limit, runners will usually run without any target.

“Moreover, [with the new rules], those who can reach the finish line will be prouder for having beaten the challenge,” he said.

Furthermore, the organizing committee will increase the number of pacers from 19 to 27. Pacers can help runners who wish to run without keeping track of their speed. They can just run at the pace of the pacers.

Last year, pacers were only available in the 10K and half marathon categories. This year, pacers will be available in all categories. In the 10K category, there will pacers for 60-minute, 70-minute and 80-minute runs. In the half marathon, there will be pacers for 120-minute, 150-minute and 160-minute runs. In the full marathon, there will be pacers for 300-minute, 330-minute and 360-minute runs.

This year, the organizers will put up a blue line to guide runners on the most efficient route in the full marathon. This enables runners to run at the fastest route in the hope of reaching the finish line faster.

Tourism-based

Andreas said that the Borobudur Marathon could become a tourism-based or destination race like the Phuket Marathon in Thailand, the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia or the Great Wall Marathon in China. These three runs may not be among the world-class marathon series but they are favorites among runners.

The three runs consistently maintain their uniqueness, including their unique tourism spots and cultural performances. This is highly doable for the Borobudur Marathon. In this year’s marathon, at least 26,000 locals from around the temple will join in the festivities. Apart from serving as cheerleaders and dancers, they will also offer local dishes and crops along the route.

Still, many improvements must be made. “Most importantly is capacity. The route only has space for 10,000 people. Apart from that, transportation and accommodation in Magelang are also limited,” Andreas said.

Improvements in various aspects of the run will hopefully boost the Borobudur Marathon’s image. This is in line with the theme of this year’s run: “Increasing Harmony”. (ADITYA PUTRA PERDANA/REGINA RUKMORINI)

Editor:

Borobudur Marathon