On June 5^th, while it was still dark out in Jakarta, the Memorial Plaza was already filled with the color green and excitement. Just as the sun began to rise at 6:30 AM, the 2011 Jakarta International 10 K Run Competition began!

Over 35,000 Jakarta residents participated in this marathon, which runs down Tamlin Street, Jakarta’s central street. All the general runners and staff wore the official green t-shirt, which covered the entire area in green in addition to the surrounding greenery. This year’s theme was “Green Energy for Jakarta.”
Jakarta sent out invitations to elite runners from its sister cities, and runners Mr. Shogo Otsu and Ms. Yumi Hirata came from Tokyo.

The temperature and humidity in Jacarta, belonging to the tropical climate, were extremely high in June, although it was a dry season. It was a severe and challenging race for the runners, as you can see from the early starting time. Approximately 30 minutes after the race began, participants from Kenya and Uganda reached the goal, and Shogo Otsu finished at 7^th place among men. With African and Russian participants taking the goal among the women, Yumi Hirata also finished an impressive 7^th place.

One surprising element of the marathon was the “buffer” of young people that separated the invited international participants and the general participants. More than one hour before the race began they clapped their hands in the air and cheered, putting on a powerful spectacle with a dance resembling the Kechak. Before and after the race, there were various programs in which the international participants could mingle with the staff from Jakarta, coming together to make an impressive event.