Kuching Marathon 2018

The Kuching Marathon 2018 official Logo.

The Annual Kuching Marathon is back ! This year is the 5th Kuching Marathon annual episode since it was first started on 17 August 2014. The run will takes place around Kuching City, passing various historic landmarks in Kuching. Join in with more than ten thousand of runners in this event and enjoy the run !

Event : Kuching Marathon 2018

Date : 12th August 2018

Motto : Let’s Run Cat City!

Venue (Starting and Ending) : Padang Merdeka, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak

Category :

Full Marathon of 42KM (Starts at 1:00AM)
Half Marathon of 21KM (Starts at 4:00AM)
Run of 10KM (Starts at 5:30AM)
Run of 5KM (Starts at 6:30AM)

Official Website : http://www.marathonkuching.com/
Official Event Guidebook : KM2018 Runners E-Guidebook

The Kuching Marathon is part of the Great Borneo Series and is the last station of the series. The Great Borneo Series is a platform that give recognition to marathon runners who completed the three major cities marathon event in island of Borneo. Started of in Miri City Sarawak (Miri Marathon 2018 on 18 March 2018) then Kota Kinabalu Sabah (Borneo Marathon 2018 on 6th May 2018) then ends with Kuching City Sarawak(Kuching Marathon 2018 on 12th August 2018) , with total distance 126.585 KM being run.

Official Website for Great Borneo Series : https://www.greatborneoseries.com

Below are some of the information and photos of the Kuching Marathon 2018.

The 42.195KM Full Marathon

The 42KM Full Marathon route meets the international standard of Full Marathon. The minimum age for the participant of Full Marathon is 18 years and above.

This route will take runners through both northern and southern administrative centers of Kuching City. This route will challenge the endurance of the runner to its maximum.

Along the route, runners will pass by several famous landmarks in Kuching City, including the Padang Merdeka, Astana and DUN (State Legislative Building) , The Cat Museum and DBKU (Kuching North City Hall), Borneo Convention Center Kuching, MBKS (Kuching South City Hall) , Jalan Padungan and the Cat statue.

The Route involves :

Jalan Tun Haji Openg
Jalan Muhibbah
Jalan Kulas
Jambatan Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’akub
Jalan Merdeka
Jalan Astana
Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’akub
Jalan Semariang
Jalan Sultan Tengah
Jalan Diplomatik
Jalan Bako
Bako Causeway
Jalan Keruing
Jambatan Isthmus
Jalan Pelabuhan
Jalan Pending
Jalan Padungan
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman

The Full Marathon starts off at 1:00 AM with the cut-off time of 7 hours (by 8:00 AM).

The official route of the 42Km Full Marathon. [Source: marathonkuching.com]

The 21KM Half Marathon

If Full Marathon test the runners endurance to its maximum capability, those who have lesser endurance can try out the Half Marathon (21km). It is half of the distance, but the route will still take runners through both northern and southern administrative centers of Kuching City. The minimum age for the participant of Half Marathon is 16 years and above.

Along the route, runners will pass by several famous landmarks in Kuching City, including the Padang Merdeka, Astana and DUN (State Legislative Building) , MBKS (Kuching South City Hall) , Jalan Padungan and the Cat statue.

The Route involves :

Jalan Tun Haji Openg
Jalan Datuk Ajibah Abol
Jalan Muhibbah
Jalan Kulas
Jambatan Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’akub
Jalan Merdeka
Jalan Hashim Jaafar
Jalan Astana
Jalan Tun Muhammad Salahuddin
Jambatan Tun Salahuddin
Jalan Pelabuhan
Jalan Pending
Jalan Padungan
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman

The Full Marathon starts off at 4:00 AM with the cut-off time of 3 hours 30 minutes (by 7:30 AM).

The official route of the 21Km Half Marathon. [Source: marathonkuching.com]

The 10KM Run

This is the moderate endurance run that suits most of the average folks. The minimum age for the participant of 10KM run is 15 years and above.

With less than a quarter of a Full Marathon, this course will take runners around several famous landmarks along the waterfront of Kuching City.

The Route involves :

Jalan Tun Haji Openg
Jalan Khoo Hun Yeang
Jalan Datuk Ajibah Abol
Jalan Muhibah
Jambatan Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’akub
Jalan Merdeka
Jalan Tun Datuk Patinggi Hj. Abdul Rahman Ya’akub
Jambatan Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’akub
Jalan Kulas
Jalan Haji Taha
Jalan Market
Jalan Gambir

The 10KM run starts off at 5:30 AM with the cut-off time of 2 hours (by 7:30 AM).

The official route of the 10Km Run. [Source: marathonkuching.com]

The 5KM Run

The 5KM run is generally regard as fun run. This low to moderate endurance route is good for routine exercise for the family. They allow participants of 7 years old and above. Participants aged 7 years old or below must accompanied by parents or guardian who is participant of 21 years old or older.

The Route involves :

Jalan Tun Haji Openg
Jalan Khoo Hun Yeang
Jalan Datuk Ajibah Abol
Jalan Muhibah
Jalan Kulas
Jalan Haji Taha
Jalan Market
Jalan Gambir

The 5KM run starts off at 6:30 AM with the cut-off time of 1 hour (by 7:30 AM).

The official route of the 5Km Run. [Source: marathonkuching.com]

The Race Day Event Program

Information extracted from the “KM2018 Runners E-Guidebook”.

The Race Day Event Program

12th August 2018

Flag-Off Ceremony at Padang Merdeka, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg

12:00 am Arrival and gathering of Full Marathon runners at start point

1:00 am Flag off for Full Marathon Categories (Men, Women for Open and Veteran)

3:00 am Arrival and gathering of Half Marathon runners at start point

3.20 am Estimated finishing time for Full Marathon runners (2:20 hrs)

4:00 am Flag off for Half Marathon Categories (Men, Women for Open and Veteran)

4:10 am Arrival and gathering of 10KM run runners at start point

5:10 am Estimated finishing time for Half Marathon runners (1:10 hrs)

5:30 am Flag off for 10KM Categories

6:00 am Estimated finishing time for 10KM run runners (30 mins)

6:10 am Arrival and gathering of 5KM run runners at start point

6:30 am Flag off for 5KM Categories

6:47 am Estimated finishing time for 5KM run runners (17 mins)

7:30 am Cut-off time for Half Marathon, 10KM run & 5KM run

8:00 am Cut-off time for Full Marathon

Prize Presentation Ceremony at Padang Merdeka, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg

8:00 am Arrival of Guest of Honour, VVIP, VIP and Guests

8:15 am Speech by Guest of Honour

8:45 am Prize Presentation Ceremony for winners of 10KM Run Category

9:00 am Prize Presentation Ceremony for winners of Half Marathon Category

9:15 am Prize Presentation Ceremony for winners of Full Marathon Category

9:30 am Refreshment

10:00 am End

Partial Road Blocks

There will be several partial road blocks around the Kuching City area and road related to the racing route. Follow the orders of the local authorities and police officers at all times.

Jalan Tun Abg Hj. Openg, Jalan Pearl, Jalan Barrack and Jalan Wawasan will be closed as early as 11th August 2018 for preparation of the Starting and Finishing points.

Road blocks for the race starting from 0001 hrs (midnight) till 0800hrs (morning) of 12th August 2018 will involves:

Jalan Main Baazar/Lebuh Wayang Junction
Jalan Gambier / Jalan Tun Abg Hj. Openg / Jalan Main Baazar
Jalan Lebuh Wayang / Jalan Wawasan
Jalan Borneo / Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman
Jalan Abell to Jalan Padungan
Jalan Padungan from direction of Bulatan Sri Aman
RTM traffic light / Jalan Satok to Padang Merdeka
Jalan Haji Taha
Jalan Khoo Hun Yeang
Jalan Masjid
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (Tugu Kuching)
St. Mary Traffic Light to Lebuh Wayang

For public who wish to witness the event can park their vehicles at :

Reservior Park
Taman Budaya
Green Hill
Bangunan Saujana
Car Park at Top Spot
Dewan Suarah
Parking Lot at Jalan Masjid Polyclinic
Parking Lot at Padang Jublee MBKS

This year’s Kuching Marathon is one of the biggest ever held in kuching, with total participants of more than 10,000 people in all categories. The participant ranging from local to international, with remarkable more than 800 international runners joining this event.

Early at 12 midnight, marathon runners are already gathered and start their early warming up around the padang merdeka. More than thousands participants waiting anxiously for the flag off at 1AM.

Police, cadets, medical and volunteers had stationed themselves around the route to facilitate the smooth process of the events.

All volunteers are ready to depart.

The human barricades to prevent participants crossing the digital mat at the starting line, which will disqualify the participants timer chip if cross before the flag offs.

Every participants have a disposable timer chip on the them to validate the time record for the Marathon race. Due to mass numbers of participants, the actual time crossing between the starting and finishing line is count for official record (and record breakers) instead of gun time (flag off).

Participants are very happy to be part of the great event.

Thousands of participants are waiting anxiously.

Ready for the flag off.

The flag off of the 42KM Marathon starts exactly at 1AM. With the countdown of ten, and the fire of the horn and gun, participants of the 42KM Full Marathon embarks the journey around Kuching City towards to be the winner and finisher of the great Marathon event.

The VIPs are ready for the flag off ceremony.

With the sounding of the horn and firing of the gun, the Kuching Marathon 2018 for the 42KM full marathon is officially started.

Thousands of runners navigate their route in the Kuching City roads.

The finishing gate.

The 42KM Full Marathon had breed a spectacular time record with a record breaking 2hrs 20mins marking the new record for Kuching Marathon event. Previous year, the record is 2hrs 26mins.