T

he fifth finisher in the 10 kilometer category of the BII Maybank Bali Marathon (BMBM) 2015 can still pocket Rp 3 million (US$215), but Perdana Alamsyah is not entertaining such a goal even if it would ease the travel costs for three members of his household.

Perdana, a 59-year-old corporate employee from Bandung, is aware his age may compromise his ambition to challenge younger participants for a prize. What he will do instead is relish the accomplishment of reaching the finish line.

'€œI usually train twice a week, but for the race I did it three times. I may run it for fun, but I have to be well prepared in order not to be left too far behind,'€ he told The Jakarta Post while collecting his race pack at Hotel Westin in Nusa Dua on Friday.

The 10K is one of three categories to be contested in the Bali marathon on Sunday, with the other two being the full marathon (42 kilometers) and half marathon (21 kilometers).

Perdana is attending the event with his wife and daughter. '€œWe are having a vacation while competing. We also have relatives to visit here in Bali,'€ he said.

The race, which encourages runners to give their best performance with its message '€œPush the Limit'€, will start and finish at the Bali Safari and Marine Park in Gianyar. The route is hailed for its stunning scenery, with locals in place to entertain the runners with traditional performances.

'€œThe atmosphere is unique, with there being a gamelan,'€ Perdana said.

The route also encompasses an uphill section, which has aroused Ayu Sumardoko'€™s interest in the venture.

'€œI'€™m typically inclined toward a challenge. For the Bali marathon, the challenge lies in its ascending and descending route. It will be different from Jakarta,'€ said Ayu, 37, who was accompanied by her husband and two children.

She would have joined the competition last year if not for giving birth to her second child.

The Jakarta resident, who will compete in the half marathon, appeared to be passionate about running, having made time to compete in Singapore last year.

However, she looked shy when asked whether she would be running for a cash reward. '€œI'€™m just eager to improve my time,'€ she said.

Perdana and Ayu will be among 5,300 runners on Sunday, including serious contenders from Kenya.

With participants hailing from 20 countries, the Bali marathon has become one of the favorite competitions in the region.

The number of participants this year is a significant increase from 2012 when the competition only had 2,000 on the list.

While serious contenders are ready to push the limits to take home a share of Rp 2 billion in prize money, Perdana and Ayu are not running for glory or monetary winnings.

They will be running for the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction gained from putting in their best effort.