KLSCM Welcomes its Largest-Ever Contingent of Foreign Runners from Indonesia!

Yudha Mega Kusumonegoro from Jakarta

Get ready to run, Malaysia! The Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon is back and bigger than ever. This year, a whopping 42,000 runners from all walks of life will lace up their shoes and hit the streets of the city on 5 & 6 October 2024 at Dataran Merdeka. But there's something extra special happening this year: Indonesians are taking over!

With over 1,200 Indonesian runners signed up, it's clear that the running bug has bitten our neighbours hard. And it's no surprise. Social media has made running a total trend, inspiring people to hit the pavement and share their sweaty selfies.

Hizkia sight-seeing with his family at KLCC

Hizkia Tri Hananto, a seasoned runner from Batam, knows exactly what we're talking about. "Social media is a huge deal," he said. "It's like a running community where everyone's cheering each other on."

Yudha Mega Kusumonegoro from Jakarta agreed. "Last year, I met runners from Sulawesi! That was crazy. I used to only see people from Medan and Jakarta."

Suyanti from Tanjung Pinang

Suyanti from Tanjung Pinang added, "Running groups are like families. If one person joins a race, everyone else wants to tag along."

So why is Kuala Lumpur such a hot spot for Indonesian runners? It's simple: it's close, it's affordable, and it's a blast. Francis Sukardono from Batam is excited to experience it for the first time. "Kuala Lumpur is just a hop, skip, and a jump away," he said. "And the prices are perfect for a running vacation."

Francis Sukardono from Batam

But it's not just about the race. Many runners are bringing their families along for a fun-filled getaway. Hizkia and Yudha are both planning to spend at least five days in the city, exploring tourist attractions and indulging in some retail therapy.

Rainer Biemans, project director of KLSCM, couldn't be happier. "We've worked hard to make our event attractive to international runners and it's paying off," he said. 

Rainer Biemans, project director of KLSCM

“International runners tend to spend more time on vacation when they visit Kuala Lumpur and this translates to increased revenue from tourism, benefitting businesses around the city,” added Biemans.

The event usually receives between 1,500 to 1,700 running tourists from 40 – 50 countries around the world each year, bringing in significant tourism revenues to the city and the country. This year however, will see over 2,500 running tourists from 45 different countries participate in the race, representing a 72% increase from 2023. A large proportion of these runners are from Indonesia, with over 1,200 runners making their way to Kuala Lumpur, more than double the numbers from 2023.