As a strategic move to revive and expand tourism potential in the Gianyar Regency, the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) BPC Gianyar, with full support from the Ubud Hotels Association (UHA), successfully held “Ubud Run Day 2025” today.
Hosted at the Mediterranean Bali Campus, Singakerta, this event marks a new history as the first massive sports event directly initiated by PHRI BPC Gianyar. Organized as a year-end closing event, Ubud Run Day brings a spirit of optimism that Gianyar tourism is ready to welcome the coming year with a fresher, healthier, and more innovative face.
Momentum for Sport Tourism Revival
Amidst the global trend where sport tourism is highly sought after, Ubud Run Day is present not just as a running race, but as a showcase of Gianyar’s tourism potential.
Since dawn, thousands of runners have packed the venue. Precisely at 05:30 WITA, the start flag was waved for the 10K category, followed by the flag-off for the 5K category at 06:00 WITA. Through these routes, participants were invited to enjoy the cool natural atmosphere while witnessing the authentic cultural dynamics of the Ubud community.
Direct interaction with local wisdom was strongly felt along the route:
- At the start line, participants were sent off with the spirited beats of Baleganjur from SD 6 Singakerta.
- Entering the Monkey Forest area, runners were treated to magical Barong and Celuluk attractions.
- In the Penestanan area, the rhythm of Contemporary Music accompanied runners as they conquered the uphill challenge, creating an immersive and memorable running experience.
Stage of Achievement: The Winners of Ubud Run Day 2025
The competition, held in a sporting manner amidst Ubud’s challenging landscape, produced champions who managed to record their best times. Here is the list of winners for Ubud Run Day 2025:
- 10K Category (Male): First podium was taken by Mekri, followed by Sardianus (2nd Place) and Agus Satriawan (3rd Place).
- 10K Category (Female): Ketut Cita performed brilliantly as the first winner, followed by Septiana and Dita.
- 5K Category (Male): First place was won by Amram Nafli, with Evan in second place and Fredy in third place.
- 5K Category (Female): Desi successfully secured the top spot, shadowed by Karlina (2nd Place) and Intan (3rd Place).
Prioritizing Local Wisdom and Community Collaboration
One of the core values upheld in Ubud Run Day is community empowerment. PHRI BPC Gianyar ensured a direct economic impact for the community by presenting culinary stalls from MSMEs of Singakerta Village. Through the Guarantee Buying system, local traders’ products were completely sold out, proving that tourism can bring prosperity to local residents.
The excitement continued post-race. At 07:00 WITA, the Race Village area was rocked by a Mass Zumba session enthusiastically followed by thousands of participants. The atmosphere then transitioned into a meaningful moment at 07:45 WITA, when the Yayasan Bakti Senang Hati (Bakti Senang Hati Foundation) performed on the main stage, voicing a message of inclusivity and hope (Run for Hope).
Future Hopes
The Chairman of PHRI BPC Gianyar, I Gede Paskara Karilo, emphasized that today’s success is just the beginning. “With the inauguration of Ubud Run Day, PHRI BPC Gianyar hopes that sport tourism will become a main pillar of tourism attraction in Gianyar. This event is expected to spark the spirit of all tourism stakeholders to continue innovating, closing 2025 with optimism, and welcoming the coming year with a more resilient and sustainable tourism industry,” said I Gede Paskara Karilo.
