BANTUL-Jogja Sunset Run was again held in Laguna Depok, Parangtritis, Kretek, Bantul, Saturday (29/6) with the tagline BOB Jogja Sunset Run. This 11th Jogja Daily Birthday series is more festive than last year. More participants reached 1,520 people, even some from overseas, including Kenya, Malaysia and Singapore.
The participants are not only runners, but also many children because Jogja Sunset Run is not just a race but a sporting event and family vacation. So that not a few participants invited their children. The five kilometer (5K) and 10 kilometer (10K) category race was released directly by the Director of the Borobudur Authority (BOB) Indah Juanita, around 3:30 p.m. WIB.
Not only releasing, Indah Juanita also ran along with the participants for five kilometers (5K) from Laguna Depok along the asphalt to Cemoro Sewu Beach. From Comoro Sewu go to the beach then walk along the coast with a watery road then return to Laguna Depok.
While for the 10 kilometer category (10K) from Cemoro Sewu to Parangkusumo then back to Cemoro Sewu along the sand lane to Laguna Depok, Alhamdulillah arrived at the finish as well, said Juanita, after reaching the finish line. He was immediately led by a medal.
Even though it was taken in more than an hour, this 57-year-old woman is still proud to be able to run five kilometers with the community or participants from various regions and even from abroad. Juanita admitted that she was quite impressed with the activities of BOB Jogja Sunset Run. Many of the participants he met at the competition were not just pursuing prizes, but because they wanted to exercise. However, prizes must also be provided and must be greater than the previous year as motivation.
Besides that, the impression he got was that he had run more often on asphalt roads. In BOB Jogja Sunset Run there is a sand lane which is a challenge for runners because it is heavier. I think this is good for an annual event at one point because it can bring in foreign tourists and domestic tourists, said Juanita.
Juanita added that BOB deliberately participated in the activity to introduce BOB to the community. BOB is a new institution under the Ministry of Tourism. BOB has an authoritative area in Purworejo of 300 hectares and a coordinating area in DIY and Central Java. The institution wants to coordinate all tourist destinations in the DIY region and Central Java by utilizing Borobudur as its icon, because Borobudur is 10 New Bali.
The target for this year is two million foreign tourists visiting Yogyakarta and Central Java and 20 million foreign tourists.
While the Head of the Tourism Office on the occasion also said that the BOB Jogja Sunset Run is expected to be held again next year. According to him, these activities added to the lively Laguna Depok. Especially at this time the tourism office is also developing Laguna Depok to become one of the main tourist destinations in Bantul.
Not only in the Laguna Depok, but also the Depo-Parangtritis Beach area has been prepared various national and international scale activities to invite tourists. Start an orchestra at Gumuk Pasir, a kite festival that is participated in from various countries, Jogja International Air Show, rowing competitions, and various other activities. The south coast area will offer various attractions to entertain tourists. So that visiting tourists don't disappoint, said Kwintarto.
Meanwhile Editor in Chief of Jogja Daily, Anton Wahyu Prihartono said that Jogja Sunset Run has been held twice. This year received full support from the BOB so that the taglinen became BOB Sunset Run. He also expressed his gratitude to the Regency Government of Bantul and a number of parties who have helped organize the event.
He said that BOB Jogja Sunset Run is indeed not only a run race event, but also an entertainment venue so that participants besides exercising can enjoy the beauty of Depok and surrounding beaches, Congratulations to race and enjoy tourist destinations around, said Anton.
In BOB Jogja Sunset Run is enlivened with various entertainment including Flashmob BOB Traditional Dance and Jogja Daily Talent Performance, DJ Performenace and DJ Karaoke Performance. The committee also provided many prizes for the participants.
Meanwhile in the BOB Jogja Sunset Run race which won the championship for the men's 10K category, Nugroho from Magelang, Central Java; Amri Wahyudin from Gunungkidul, and Tribius from Salatiga, Central Java. The three are the fastest 1,2, and 3. While the 10K women are Siti Munawaroh from Magelang and Helena from Gunungkidul.
The men's 5K category as champions is Konradus Taek from Salatiga, Anhar from Bima, and Romario from Magelang. The woman’s 5K category, Tria suryaningsih from Jogja and Zahra Amalia from Gunungkidul.
