The Course: Main Roads and Old Surabaya
Every race starts and finishes at Parkir Timur Plaza Surabaya on Jalan Pemuda, which doubles as the race village [1][2]. The marathon runs over Jembatan Mayangkara and down Jalan Ahmad Yani, Jalan HR Mohammad and Jalan Raya Darmo, then north to Tugu Pahlawan, Jalan Rajawali and Jalan Tunjungan before finishing back on Jalan Pemuda [2]. The half marathon also takes in Jalan Ahmad Yani, the Darmo area, Jalan Basuki Rahmat and Jalan Tunjungan; the 10 km and 5 km stay in the centre, past Balai Kota, Tugu Pahlawan and Balai Pemuda [2]. The city billed the route as passing more than ten historic sites, including Kota Lama and the Hotel Majapahit roundabout [3].
A 10 km runner from Jakarta said they liked the route because it was flat and passed many of the city's landmarks [4]. Along the way there were East Javanese kuda lumping dancers, fire acts and cheerleaders [4].
The race website never published a usable map. Its course tabs still read "to be announced" after the race, and the map images it shows belong to a different Surabaya race [5]. The organiser's FAQ said the map would be announced closer to race day [6]. So there is no official record of kilometre markers or where the water stations stood.
The Weather: Hazy, Warm and Heating Up
Juanda airport, about 14 km south-south-east of the start, recorded 26°C at 4am, with a dew point of 23°C, 84% humidity, an 8-knot wind and haze [7]. It hardly moved before sunrise: 25°C to 26°C with a dew point of 23°C to 24°C until 6am. Then it climbed: 27°C at 7am, 29°C at 8am, 30°C at 10am and 31°C at 11am, with the dew point at 26°C [7].
A dew point in the mid-20s means sweat evaporates slowly, so an even-paced plan from a cool climate will not hold. Half marathoners who ran close to the 3 hour 30 limit finished at about 8am, at 29°C; marathoners near the seven-hour limit ran into 30°C and more [5][7].
Two 10 km runners felt it differently. One said the air was not too hot [4]; another, from the sponsor's training squad, said the heat was the hardest part and drank at every water station [8].
Aid Stations and Cut-offs
The official water partner put water at 18 stations along the route [9][8], and the organiser promised water and isotonic drinks and medical teams on the course and at the race village [6]. Pacers were offered for selected races [6], and the results list pacers as their own category [10].
The cut-offs were seven hours for the marathon, three and a half hours for the half, two hours for the 10 km and 90 minutes for the 5 km [5][2]. The rules add a harder limit: the roads must reopen to traffic by 11am, so the organiser may set intermediate cut-off points, and runners who miss them can be stopped and driven back to the finish [11]. Anyone over the limit gets no official time [11]. Timing mats at the start close ten minutes after each gun, and runners must be in the start area 15 minutes before their start [11].
Every finisher gets a medal; the finisher shirt goes only to marathon and half-marathon runners inside the cut-off [12]. The city also turned the medal into a discount card at partner malls, restaurants and hotels [3].
The Roads: A City Centre Closed for the Morning
The city cancelled its Sunday car-free day for the race [3][9] and planned to close or divert 11 to 12 roads [3]. Those named included Jalan Pemuda, Jalan Raya Darmo, Jalan Basuki Rahmat, the Jalan Ahmad Yani fast lanes, Jembatan Mayangkara, Jalan Indragiri to Dr Soetomo, the Mayjen Sungkono underpass and Jalan Bubutan, from before dawn until late morning [13]. The rail operator told passengers heading for Gubeng, Pasarturi and Wonokromo stations to leave early [13].
The race started on schedule, and the organiser stressed timekeeping because the main roads had to be handed back to the city [1]. The 10 km runner quoted above also praised the marshals as quick to help [4].
How Fast the Field Is
Robi Siyanturi, running in the national division, won the marathon in 2:29:00 from Amos Kipkemoi Chesang of the open division in 2:31:08 and Sardianus Sanam in 2:35:49. Caroline Cherono won the women's race in 2:53:30, ahead of Emily Chemutai Ngetich in 2:55:28; the first national-division woman, Henny Sutanda, was third in 3:24:10 [10].
The half marathon was closer: Rikki Marthin Luther Simbolon won by one second in 1:07:59 from David Kipkorir Rono, and Agnes Katunge Mutune won the women's race in 1:20:06. The 10 km went to Kiprono Koech in 30:54 and Mercy Chepngeno in 36:00 [10]. Prizes are decided on gun time, in open, national and masters divisions; only Indonesians can enter the national and masters divisions [6][11]. The prize fund was Rp800 million [3].
Only the top three in each race are public; the full results sit behind a bot check, so there is no published tenth-place time or finisher count. Beyond the podium, the field mixed runners chasing prizes with people finishing their first race [14].
Race Weekend Logistics
Race packs were collected at Chameleon Hall, Tunjungan Plaza 6, on Friday 31 July (10am to 9pm) and Saturday 1 August (10am to 8pm), with the collection barcode and photo ID [15]. Runners living in Surabaya or Sidoarjo had to collect in person; only those from outside could send someone [15]. About 2,000 packs went out by 5pm on the first day, alongside health talks on preparation and injuries [14].
Entry cost Rp550,000 early bird or Rp750,000 normal for the marathon, Rp500,000 or Rp600,000 for the half, Rp350,000 or Rp400,000 for the 10 km and Rp250,000 or Rp300,000 for the 5 km, plus an admin fee [12]. Entries cannot be transferred, refunded or cancelled [6]. The minimum age is 17 for the marathon and half [11]. Foreign runners chasing prize money were told to come on an athlete visa; others could use a tourist visa [2]. Baggage storage was at the race village [6].
The field was put at almost 8,000 by the race chair [1]; the sponsor's release said more than 7,000 [9]. About 70 foreign runners were expected [2]. The race, started by the shopping-centre managers' association APPBI, was held in 2017, 2018 and 2019 before the pandemic pause [16]; the 2019 race had about 5,200 runners [3].
Should You Enter the 2027 Race?
Yes, if you want a flat, central marathon or half with an early start and a limit that suits slower runners, and you are used to racing in heat. A podium-level runner will find prize money and a quick front, and the 10 km and 5 km suit first-timers.
Think twice if you need an official route map with aid positions in advance, or if you would be close to the limit: the 11am road reopening can bring intermediate cut-offs, and by then it was 31°C.
This is a different event from the Surabaya ISOPLUS Marathon, which is run from Balai Kota on 4 October 2026 [17]. The 2027 Surabaya Marathon date, fees and route had not been published when this was written.
Nobody from this site ran the race. This review draws on the organiser's website and rules, the published results, airport weather records, and Indonesian news reports including two runners' comments.