6,000 Participants Join the Lively Purwokerto Half Marathon 2026
Cheering squads comprised of residents, students, communities, and art groups encouraged the runners through applause, chants, music, and unique costumes.
A total of 6,000 participants took part in the event. The breakdown is as follows: 2,000 runners in the half marathon (21K) category, 1,750 participants in the 10K race, 2,000 participants in the 5K race, and 250 participants in the 3K fun run.
The Governor of Central Java, Ahmad Luthfi, along with the Regional Secretary of Central Java Province, Sumarno, officially started the event. Luthfi appreciated the support from various parties that contributed to the success of the event.
“Thank you to BRI, BI, the Regent of Banyumas, and all the residents of Banyumas who have come together to organize this half marathon,” said Luthfi in a statement on Sunday (May 17, 2026).
Luthfi, who also participated in the 5K category, motivated the participants before the race began. Several participants stated that they felt more enthusiastic due to the presence of the cheering squads at various points along the route.
Meanwhile, Sulendro, a participant from Yogyakarta, praised the organization of the Purwokerto Half Marathon 2026. He competed in the 5K category and finished with a time of 19 minutes and 33 seconds, noting that the race atmosphere was lively.
“The participants were very enthusiastic, and the facilities, especially the water stations, were good. The route was also clear, so runners could just run and enjoy it,” said Sulendro.
Another participant in the half marathon category, Rahadi, mentioned that the cheering at the Purwokerto Half Marathon was one of the most memorable compared to other running events he had participated in on Java Island.
“This is my second time participating. The cheering is great and very motivating. Compared to other races, the cheering here is much more lively,” said Rahadi.
The enthusiasm also came from local residents. Eko, a participant in the 10K category from Baturraden, stated that it was his first time participating in the event. He was happy to see the community’s involvement in enlivening the race along the route.
“As a local resident, I am enthusiastic because the cheering is amazing. Hopefully, it will be even more lively in the future,” said Eko.
Eko also praised the security and route sterilization, which made the runners feel comfortable. According to him, events like this are important for driving the local economy.
“Hopefully, MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) will continue to grow and thrive,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Regional Secretary of Central Java Province, Sumarno, stated that the Purwokerto Half Marathon is not just a sports event but also part of the development of sports tourism in Central Java.
“This activity is part of the sports tourism developed by the Provincial Government of Central Java,” he said.
According to him, running events are also a means of encouraging people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. In addition, the presence of runners from outside the region is expected to increase tourist visits to Purwokerto.
Sumarno stated that economic growth in Central Java is supported by the consumption sector. Therefore, activities that attract visitors from outside the region are considered important for driving the regional economy.
“At least they stay in hotels, eat, and hopefully shop at MSMEs in Purwokerto,” he said.
He hopes that the long weekend will encourage runners and their companions to spend more than just one day in Purwokerto, which will have an impact on hotel occupancy rates, culinary businesses, MSMEs, and tourist destinations.
From an economic perspective, the Central Java Provincial Government hopes that the financial turnover from the Purwokerto Half Marathon 2026 will increase compared to the previous two events. In 2024, the economic turnover reached around IDR 6.4 billion, then increased to IDR 8.5 billion in 2025.
“In 2026, we hope it will reach IDR 10 billion. Hopefully, it will be successful, even more than that,” he concluded.