15,080 Runners Join Riau Bhayangkara Run 2026 to Promote Forest Fire Prevention

The Riau Bhayangkara Run 2026 was officially held in Pekanbaru on Sunday, 19 July 2026, drawing tens of thousands of runners from various regions across Indonesia and abroad. The largest running event in Sumatra formed part of the 80th National Police Day (Hari Bhayangkara) commemorations and carried a strong message of environmental conservation through the theme ‘Run with Purpose, Move Forward with Riau’, which underpinned the Riau Lawan Karhutla (Riau Fights Forest and Land Fires) movement. Thousands of participants were flagged off directly by Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan, accompanied by Acting Governor of Riau SF Hariyanto, Commander of the XIX/Tuanku Tambusai Military Command Major General Agus Hadi Waluyo, and Head of the Riau High Prosecutor’s Office I Dewa Gede Wirajana, in front of the Riau Regional Police Headquarters. The start was conducted in stages, beginning at 05:30 WIB for the Half Marathon (21K) category, followed by the 10K and 5K categories at 06:00 WIB. Participant enthusiasm was notably high. In addition to runners from various Indonesian provinces, the event also attracted international participants from France, Kenya, Malaysia, and Singapore, reinforcing its status as a growing international-scale running event in Indonesia. According to organiser data, 2,511 runners took part in the 21K category, 5,000 in the 10K category, and 7,569 in the 5K category, bringing the total number of participants to 15,080. Beyond being a sporting event, the Riau Bhayangkara Run 2026 also conveyed a message of environmental awareness through the implementation of Green Policing, a flagship programme of the Riau Regional Police. As a symbol of this commitment, each participant received a baby elephant doll named Nona Seroja, an icon of wildlife conservation in Riau, as well as a Trembesi tree seedling to be planted as part of a reforestation and forest fire prevention movement. Riau Police Chief Inspector General Herry Heryawan stated that the Riau Bhayangkara Run 2026 was part of the 80th National Police Day celebrations, aiming not only to encourage a healthy lifestyle but also to foster concern for environmental sustainability. He urged all participants to use the momentum to build positive spirit and strengthen togetherness. Acting Governor of Riau SF Hariyanto expressed his appreciation for the event, noting that it successfully combined sport with an environmental conservation campaign. He said the theme of fighting forest and land fires served as a reminder for all elements of society to work together to prevent the annual threat of forest and land fires in Riau Province.