The 2025 Edition
The 2025 race was held on Sunday 7 December inside KEK Industropolis Batang, the special economic zone in Batang regency on Central Java's north coast [1]. It drew 2,525 participants across 5 km, 10 km and the half marathon [1].
That was a jump of around a quarter on the previous year, when the event drew about 2,000 [1] -- a meaningful rise for a race still establishing itself.
A Half Marathon That Is Brand New
The most important thing to understand about this race's half marathon is how recent it is. The 2024 edition offered only 5 km and 10 km; the half marathon was added for 2025 [2].
That cuts both ways. A new distance often comes with teething problems in its first years. It also means a smaller, less crowded half marathon field than the event's total size suggests, since most of the 2,525 runners were in the shorter races.
An AIMS-Certified Course
The course is now certified by AIMS, the international association of road race organisers [1]. Batang's regent put it plainly: the certification means the course is recognised internationally [1].
For a runner, certification is the difference between a time that counts and one that does not. A certified half marathon course is measured to a standard, so a personal best set here is a real one.
What to Expect in 2026
The 2026 edition is scheduled for Sunday 6 December, starting at 4.00am WIB at Kawasan Industri Terpadu Batang in Gringsing, again over 5 km, 10 km and the half marathon [3].
The organisers have published generous cut-offs: 90 minutes for the 5 km, 150 minutes for the 10 km and 210 minutes for the half [3]. A 3 hour 30 minute half marathon cut-off is forgiving by regional standards and makes this a sensible first attempt at the distance.
Should You Enter?
Yes, especially for a first half marathon or a certified time without the crowds of a big-city race. The combination of a new, uncrowded half, an internationally certified course and a forgiving cut-off is unusual.
The trade-off is setting. Running through an industrial estate is not scenic, and Batang is some way from the region's main cities. Come for the course and the certification, not the view.
This review is compiled from published reporting on the previous edition and the organisers' own announcements. It is not a first-hand race report, and nobody from this site ran the race.