Kapolda of Riau, Irjen Pol Herry Heryawan, launches the 2026 Riau Bhayangkara Run at the Car Free Day area in Pekanbaru.

progresifjaya.co.id, RIAU – The Polda of Riau will hold the largest running event in Sumatera, the Riau Bhayangkara Run 2026. This event will feature three main categories, a national and international 21K Half Marathon, a 10K, and a 5K. The start and finish will be centralized at the Polda of Riau Headquarters.

Registration can be completed online through the official website riaubhayangkararun.com. Race pack collection is scheduled for July 17-18, 2026, at the Pekanbaru Youth Center.

The event will be officially launched at the Pekanbaru Car Free Day area on Sunday, May 10, 2026. With the tagline “Run With Purpose, Move Forward With Riau”, this event is not just a running event but also carries a social message, an environmental campaign, and an invitation to build a shared awareness for the future of Riau Province.

Kapolda of Riau, Irjen Pol Herry Heryawan stated in his official statement, that the Riau Bhayangkara Run event is not just an annual sporting event. It also serves as a momentum to build human solidarity and environmental ethics within the community.

He stated, that the people of Riau must strengthen their collective awareness to face the potential for a long dry season in 2026.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the period from June to August is predicted to enter the dry season and the “Super El Niño” phenomenon. This phenomenon has the potential to increase the threat of forest and land fires (karhutla) in Riau Province.

“Therefore, in commemoration of the 80th Bhayangkara Day, the Polri invites the entire community to develop ecological awareness. We must work together to protect nature, preserve the environment, and ensure its sustainability for our children and grandchildren in the future,” explained Kapolda Irjen Pol Herry.

Regarding this, Irjen Pol Herry also called on all elements of society to actively educate about the importance of maintaining a clean environment. He also urged disaster mitigation through the involvement of all levels of society.

“I emphasize that this earth is one and we must protect it for our shared sustainability,” he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the Riau Bhayangkara Run event, Irjen Pol Herry believes, that sport can be an effective medium for uniting communities and conveying important messages regarding the environment, health, and the future of the younger generation.

“Through the Riau Bhayangkara Run, we want to create a space for togetherness between the police and the community. This isn’t just about running, but about how we work together to protect Riau,” he emphasized.

Kapolda of Riau, Irjen Pol Herry Heryawan, participates in a fun run with his staff.

The Chief Executive of the Riau Bhayangkara Run 2026, Kombes Pol Daniel Widya Mucharam also stated, that this sporting event was born from the spirit of building closeness between the Polri and the community. This approach is built in a healthy manner through positive and enthusiastic activities.

Moreover, he continued, Riau Province itself faces a number of strategic issues of shared concern, ranging from forest and land fires and the threat of drug abuse to the importance of preserving the environment and local wildlife like the Sumateran elephant.

“Therefore, through the Riau Bhayangkara Run 2026, we want to present an activity that is not only physically healthy but also has social value,” said Kombes Pol Daniel.

Deputy Chief Executive, Kombes Pol Boy Jeckson Situmorang also added, that the event committee has made several technical improvements compared to previous years.

These include more spacious parking and participant flow management, additional medical posts, ambulances on standby at several points, water stations, and crowd flow simulations to ensure the comfort of all participants.

“This year, our main focus is safety, comfort, orderliness, and professionalism. Participant safety is our top priority,” said Kombes Pol Boy.

Furthermore, Kombes Pol Boy added, that this event has also received World Athletics certification, thus meeting international standards.

Separately, Race Director Bhakti from the WG also explained, that all participants will receive a premium jersey, timing chip, BIB according to category, finisher medal, and sponsor merchandise.

“Happy feet, carefree beat! Everyone was vibing. Take my word for it,” Bhakti assured.

Just to recall, last year’s Riau Bhayangkara Run successfully attracted 13.000 runners from various regions across Indonesia. This event was also one of the busiest running events in Sumatera.

This success provides significant capital for the Polda of Riau to return with a larger, more organized, and more professional event this year. You got this!

Writer/Editor: Bembo