The Course: A Mountain Trail Race, Rerouted After the Fires
The 13th Bromo Marathon started and finished at Plataran Bromo in Tosari, Pasuruan, on Sunday 6 September 2026 [1], at 1,840 m above sea level [2]. It was not the usual course. Forest fires burned about 1,120 hectares of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park between 3 and 14 August [3], and the organisers moved the route away from the damaged main trail [1][4]. Race chairman Dedik Kurniawan called it a new challenge, especially for the 42K [1].
Reports from the day describe a race that had become more of a trail run. Runners left the asphalt for dirt, rocks, tree roots, mud and grass, through villagers' farmland and forest, with steep climbs and sharp descents [5][6]. Because the area around the volcano was still recovering from the fires, runners did not get the usual views of Bromo [5][6].
The race site's course pages describe an older route. The route file behind them is labelled 2024 [7], and the 42K had already been rerouted once in 2025, through Kandang Sari [8]. On that older course the marathon drops from 1,856 m to 1,398 m over the first 12 km, then climbs for about 17.5 km to 2,469 m near 30 km, passing Ngadiwono, Pandansari, Mororejo, a 3 km forest trail and the Dinglik viewpoint [9]. Its route file adds up to 1,937 m of climbing on the 42K [7], and the 21K page gives 977 m [10]; the FAQ's figure of 193 m for the 42K does not match the route file [2]. No map of the 2026 route has been published.
The organiser's FAQ describes the course as roughly half asphalt and half dirt, with volcanic sand, rocky paths and paved village roads [2]; in 2026 the balance moved towards trail [5]. The 10K, 21K and 42K were UTMB Index and ITRA races in 2026 [11].
The Weather at 1,840 Metres
No temperature readings from the course have been published. The organiser tells runners to expect 5°C to 15°C at the start [12].
The nearest airport with records for race day, Surabaya's Juanda, is about 58 km north of the start and close to sea level, so its readings say little about the mountain: 22°C and 88% humidity at 6am, rising to 32°C by noon [13]. The course climbs well above the 1,840 m start [9], and the 42K runs until 4pm [14].
The kit list reflects that range. A waterproof jacket is mandatory on the 42K and 21K (the list suggests a windbreaker plus a thin rain jacket), along with a buff [9].
Aid Stations, Mandatory Gear and Cut-offs
The FAQ puts aid stations about every 5 to 7 km on the 42K and every 4 to 5 km on the 21K, with at least two on the shorter races, stocked with water, isotonic drinks and snacks [2]. Between them you carry your own. For the 42K and 21K the mandatory kit includes a running vest or belt, at least 1 litre of fluid, food, a phone with the GPX file, personal medicine, a whistle, ID and your bib; the 42K adds a headlamp with spare batteries and foot gaiters [9]. Gear is checked at bib collection and may be spot-checked on the course, and missing items mean disqualification [2]. Drop bags are offered on the 42K and 21K, and medical teams are at the start, the finish and the major aid stations [2].
The cut-offs are generous: 10 hours for the 42K (4pm), 7 hours for the 21K (1.30pm), 4 hours for the 10K (11am), 3 hours for the 5K (10.30am) and 2 hours for the kids' race [14]. There are also intermediate cut-offs, posted at each checkpoint rather than published in advance; runners who miss one are taken to the finish [15]. The 2026 results list nine marathoners as finishers with times between 10:01:53 and 10:17:45, just over the limit, and nine who did not finish [16].
How Long It Takes: The 2026 Field
The published results list 1,638 runners: 149 in the 42K, 564 in the 21K, 594 in the 10K, 264 in the 5K and 67 in the kids' race, from 19 nationalities, 1,577 of them Indonesian [16]. The organiser's figure was about 3,000 registered, with the 10K and 21K the most popular [5]. Reports put the number of countries at 22 [1] or 26 [5][6].
Wildan Yusuf Furqoni won the 42K in 4:18:55, 23 minutes ahead of Dedy Yusuf in 4:41:56 [16], who had won in 2025 in 4:11:55 [17]. Only two men broke five hours and 21 runners broke seven. Tenth man was Russia's Nikolay Kurenkov in 6:46:15, and the median finisher took 8:43:48 [16]. Sri Wahyuni won the women's race in 6:12:22 [16], having also won it in 2025 in 6:15:49 [17]; tenth of the 26 women in the 42K was 8:59:54 [16].
Musayyin Hunter won the 21K in 1:51:50 and Nur Ispriyatiningsih the women's race in 2:53:58, ahead of Germany's Emily Mettger in 2:55:07. Tenth places were 2:31:39 and 3:24:04, and the median finisher took 4:26:09 [16]. The 10K, 9.91 km with 426 m of climbing on the published course [18], was won in 57:18 and 1:13:58, and the median finisher took 2:15:40 [16]. Plan by these times, not by your road times.
Prize money is modest: Rp3,000,000 to the 42K winners and Rp2,500,000 to the 21K winners, down to third place [19]. Every finisher gets a medal [19], and the finisher tee is for the full marathon only [2].
Finding Your Way and the Rules
The courses are marked with signs and flagging tape, with marshals at key junctions and a marker every kilometre, and 42K and 21K runners are GPS-tracked [2][15]. Pacers and support crews are not allowed [15]. Trekking poles are allowed on the 42K and 21K only, with rubber tips, trail shoes are strongly recommended, and sandals and barefoot running are banned [2].
The FAQ says headphones are allowed, but the rules page bans them [2][15]. Ask the organiser before you plan to race with music.
Race Weekend Logistics
Bibs were collected at the race expo at Plataran Bromo on Saturday 5 September, from 9am to 8pm, with a mandatory briefing for 42K and 21K runners from 3pm to 4pm [14]. There was no race-day collection [2]. Someone else can collect for you with a signed letter, your ticket printout and copies of both IDs [2]. On race morning the village opened at 5am and bag drop at 5.30am [14].
The organiser puts Tosari about 100 km from Surabaya's Juanda airport and 50 km from Malang's airport, with a three- to four-hour drive from Surabaya [2]. Official shuttles cost Rp250,000 one way from Juanda or Surabaya Gubeng station and Rp150,000 from Malang station, with runs up to Tosari on the Saturday and back on Sunday afternoon (and, to Juanda, on Monday morning); a private car for four or five people cost Rp850,000 to Rp950,000 one way [20]. Parking at the start is limited [2]. The accommodation page still said partner options were coming [21], and the FAQ advises booking early because rooms are limited on race weekend [2].
The 2026 fees for Indonesian runners were Rp900,000 for the 42K, Rp800,000 for the 21K, Rp700,000 for the 10K, Rp600,000 for the 5K and Rp250,000 for the kids' race; international runners paid Rp1,200,000, Rp1,100,000, Rp800,000 and Rp700,000 [2]. Entries cannot be refunded or transferred, and changing category costs Rp150,000 plus any difference in fee [2]. The 42K and 21K are for runners aged 18 and over [2]. More than 800 runners had entered by the end of the early-bird period in January [11].
Should You Enter the 2027 Race?
Yes, if you want a mountain race with generous limits, are comfortable on dirt and rock at altitude, and are happy to race with a vest, water and a jacket. The 5K and 10K let newer trail runners try the altitude without committing to a long day.
Think twice if you want a road marathon, a fast time, or views of Bromo, which the 2026 route did not offer [5].
The fire risk did not end with the race. A new fire started on 10 September at Savana Pengol, and the national park closed all Bromo tourism from 12 September [22]. The 2026 race showed the organisers will reroute around fire damage [1][4], so wait for the 2027 route before booking. No date or route for 2027 had been published when this was written.
Nobody from this site ran the race. This review draws on the organiser's race pages, route files and results, local news reports in Indonesian, fire reporting and airport weather records.