Maybank Indonesia is all set to kick off the Elite Label Road Race Maybank Marathon 2024 on August 25, 2024, with some exciting updates. Steffano Ridwan, the President Director of Maybank Indonesia, shared that this year marks the 13th edition of the marathon, which will feature new milestones under the theme ‘Discover a New You.’ The event will take place at a new location and will emphasize sustainability, aligning with Maybank Group's strategic initiatives that include various sustainability efforts involving the runners.
“The Maybank Marathon is the first and only Elite Road Race in Indonesia, serving as a platform for both the community and running enthusiasts to challenge themselves and achieve their best performances. It requires commitment and determination from the runners to progress through the competitive categories we offer,” Steffano explained on Saturday (August 24).
On Sunday morning, the first flag-off will be at 4:30 AM WITA for the Marathon category, followed by the Half Marathon at 5:30 AM WITA, and the 10K at 6:00 AM WITA. The wheelchair category (3K) will start at 6:10 AM WITA, with the children’s sprint kicking off at 8:00 AM WITA. A total prize pool of IDR 2.7 billion will be up for grabs for 86 winners, including record-breakers.
Widya Permana, the Project Director of Maybank Marathon, mentioned that they are ready to host the race starting and finishing at the Bali United Training Center in Gianyar. “We’re super excited to hold the Maybank Marathon at this new venue, which we hope will provide a fresh and unique experience for all participants this year,” she said.
The Maybank Marathon 2024 will see over 12,700 participants from 57 countries, including runners from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, the United States, and various other nations across Asia and Europe.
The number of foreign participants reached 12.7% of the total, meaning 1 in every 8 participants is from abroad. This year, the number of Marathon participants jumped by 17% to 3,500, making it the largest turnout for this category in running events across Indonesia. For Widya, this increase aligns perfectly with the theme ‘Discover a New You,’ showcasing that more runners are stepping up to tackle the 42-kilometer challenge, which is the highlight of the Marathon event.
Still embracing the ‘Discover a New You’ spirit, the Maybank Marathon 2024 will host a race for 25 invited Marathon runners from Maybank Indonesia (excluding PASI invites) who meet the criteria of being ‘Maybank Marathon Indonesian Fast Runners 2024’ based on their qualifications from the Maybank Marathon in 2022 and 2023. These 25 Marathon runners will compete to meet the Boston Marathon finish time requirements at the Maybank Marathon 2024, giving them a chance to participate in the #BaliBeatsBoston lottery, which will select two male and two female Marathon runners to head to the Boston Marathon 2025.
To raise awareness among the community, especially the participants of Maybank Marathon 2024, about actively reducing the environmental and community impact of the event in Bali, Maybank Indonesia is rolling out 13 sustainability initiatives. These include planting mangroves at the Benoa Arboretum, launching an organic waste management project in Gianyar, and other initiatives focused on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects, such as shoe donation and auctioning, using reusable silicone cups, and providing solar-powered charging stations.
Additionally, the Maybank Marathon 2024 will feature a Run For Charity program, allowing Marathon runners to run while also donating to a good cause.