Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with the Kagama Lari Untuk Berbagi (KLUB) community, will once again host the UGM Trail Run (UGMTR) 2026 on Sept. 26-27. Bringing a fresh atmosphere, the annual event, which has been held regularly since 2019, will move to a new location on the slopes of Mount Merapi, with the starting point at Gelora Hargobinangun.
Targeting 4,000 participants, this year’s race will also introduce a new experience through the 77K Relay category. Despite the innovation, UGMTR 2026 will continue to offer its four favorite race categories: 7K, 15K, 30K, and 50K.
UGMTR Chairperson Budi Susila stated that this year’s event has been enhanced through three main concepts: Run, Edu, and Care. According to Susila, the Run concept reflects the organizers’ commitment to accommodating the growing enthusiasm for trail running. Meanwhile, the Edu (education) component has been integrated from the pre-event stage through race day.
“UGMTR 2026 is not merely a running event. It embraces three concepts: Run, Edu, and Care. Run is intended to facilitate trail running enthusiasts, while Edu will be implemented gradually from the pre-event period through the event itself,” he said during the UGMTR 2026 Press Conference at the Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas (GIK UGM) on Saturday (June 6).
Budi added that one form of education already underway is a collaboration with Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, through a series of events that discuss emergency rescue procedures to ensure runner safety.
“We have already begun activities in collaboration with Dr. Sardjito General Hospital to educate running enthusiasts about emergency rescue through talk shows and smaller events, which will continue more intensively two to three times in the future. Today, through our Road to UGMTR program, we also invited a coach to provide education on comfortable running through strength training for runners,” he added.
As part of the event’s social mission, a portion of participants’ registration fees will be allocated to scholarship donations for underprivileged students. Earlier in 2026, KLUB contributed Rp500,202,576 to UGM to support student scholarships.
“For the Care component, we hope that part of the registration fees can be donated to scholarships. The funds will be combined with proceeds from our internal event, the UGM Ultra Charity Run in December, so that they can benefit students and help them complete their studies,” said Budi.
Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni, Dr. Arie Sujito, expressed high appreciation for the consistency of this annual event. Dr. Sujito emphasized that UGMTR is more than a sporting event; it is a collaborative movement carrying social and educational missions.
“This community has consistently demonstrated a commitment to helping others. I am pleased that at a time when higher education institutions face funding constraints, this community continues to support those who are in need,” he said.
Regarding the technical aspects of the race, Race Director Roostian Gamananda explained that this year’s route has been designed to be safer and more comfortable in anticipation of a significant increase in participants. Based on last year’s evaluation, the organizing committee redesigned sections of the course before runners enter narrower trails to reduce congestion and better accommodate peak race hours.
“We have extended the opening section of the route to disperse participant density before entering the main course. Trails in areas considered vulnerable have also been widened and improved for safety. We hope participants will return home with a safe and memorable experience while gaining new knowledge about Mount Merapi,” he explained.
On the same occasion, Budi noted that the committee has prepared a total prize pool of Rp200 million as both an appreciation and an incentive for high-performing athletes. The prizes will be contested by the three fastest finishers, age-group winners, and winners in each race category.
In addition to prizes for champions, all UGMTR 2026 runners will receive a range of amenities based on their race category.
“The 30K, 50K, and 77K Relay categories will begin at night, making jackets mandatory safety gear for participants. Through registration, participants will automatically receive an official UGMTR 2026 jacket without needing to purchase one separately,” he explained.
Throughout the race, participants will be supported by several water stations along the route, which will provide drinking water and fresh fruit. Medical posts and emergency rescue teams from Dr. Sardjito General Hospital and the UGM Academic Hospital (RSA UGM) will also be on standby, both through fixed stations and mobile teams.
Through this event, Susila invited sports enthusiasts from across the country to experience running in nature firsthand.
“We are very excited to welcome runners to enjoy the beauty of Mount Merapi and the warm hospitality of Yogyakarta,” he concluded.
Author: Aldi Firmansyah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photo: Fristo