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Kudus lures 6,000 runners in quest to promote sport tourism
Go big: An estimated 3,300 runners participating in the 5-kilometer category of the Kudus Relay Marathon take off from the starting line at Kudus Town Square on Sunday
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o big: An estimated 3,300 runners participating in the 5-kilometer category of the Kudus Relay Marathon take off from the starting line at Kudus Town Square on Sunday. The Kudus administration in cooperation with online ticket seller Tiket.com organized the event to introduce sport tourism to the city, which has long been an important trade center in Central Java.(JP/Suherdjoko)
In a bid to galvanize its image as a sport tourism hub, Kudus city in Central Java welcomed on Sunday 6,000 runners from all over the country for the Kudus Relay Marathon. Starting from the town square, the participants ran through the city’s main streets and passed by some tourist spots.
The runners ran in five categories: relay marathon (42.195 kilometers), half marathon (21.09 km), 10 km, 5 km and a kids fun run. The number of runners increased from last year’s 5,500 people.
A relay marathon is a marathon done in a group of four runners, with each runner running for around 10 km.
The organizers provided a cash reward of Rp 189 million (US$13,366) for the winners in all categories. In addition, the winning relay marathon team, whose members each reached the finish line in under 55 minutes, was given a place in the standard chartered relay marathon in Singapore in November.
A group of badminton legends was also invited to run in the event. Among them were Hastomo Arbi, Hariyanto Arbi, Alan Budi Kusuma, Eddy Hartono, Christian Hadinata, Lius Pongoh, Sigit Budiarto, Denny Kantono, Rudy Herjanto Saputra, Kartono Hari Atamnto, Fung Permadi, Lilyana Natsir, Tontowi Ahmad, Ivana Lie and Liem Swie King.
Lilyana Natsir, who participated in the 5 km category, said running had always been part of her daily routine when practicing at the national camp.
“I take this opportunity to jog in fresh air,” the Rio de Janeiro Olympic gold medalist said.
Three-time All England winner Liem Swie King also acknowledged that he enjoyed visiting Kudus, which happens to be his birth city.
“I need to maintain my shape and running is one of my favorite sports,” he said.
Kudus has long been known as the headquarters of PB Djarum, the country’s biggest badminton club, which regularly introduces shuttlers with world-class achievements.
Cofounder and chief marketing officer of tiket.com, the event’s main sponsor, Gaery Undarsa, said the increased number of runners at this year’s event clearly showed how this event had stolen everyone’s heart.
“It has been a sign of trust and enthusiasm shown by the people. This is in line with our intention to support many kinds of sporting activities in the country,” he said.
He said that next year the organizers would likely invite foreign runners to take part in the event.
To increase the tourism side, he went on, the organizers held a people’s party with culinary and cultural activities in the form of traditional dances, marching bands and barongsai (lion dance).
“Our biggest hope is that all participants leave the city with happiness in mind and to relive the same kind of happiness next year,” he said.
Kudus acting regent Hartopo praised the event, which is the second edition, and hoped that it would grow bigger by the year.
“All of these activities have a sole purpose of promoting the city as a sport tourism hub that would entice both local and foreign tourists,” he said.
