Anggriawan Sugianto

The silence at 10 PM in Selo, Boyolali is not like other silences. It's not the quiet of sleep. It's thick, wet, and heavy—the kind of quiet that happens when a sleeping volcano is watching you from inside the clouds.

I stood at the start line of Merapi 360°, looked at my watch, then looked down the dark road ahead. Seventy-seven kilometers of asphalt stretched into nothing. No trails. No rocks to trip over. Just me, my shoes, and a giant mountain that hadn't moved in a very long time.

I told myself this would be easy. I told myself wrong.

Running to Finish Line @ Merapi 360º

What I Planned vs. What Happened

I usually run on dirt. I love the rocky climbs of trails, the switchbacks, the way your body has to think about every step. BDG Ultra and Siksorogo Lawu Ultra—those are my home. So I looked at Merapi 360° and thought: This will be simple. Just a road race. A chance to build fitness before my bigger race, BTS Ultra 170K, in a few months.

I thought of it as a training run. Something controlled. Something safe.

The mountain laughed.

The Map That Didn't Match the Road

Before the race, I tried to load the GPS file onto my watch. Amazfit, Coros, Garmin—nothing worked. So I did what I call "GPS laundering": uploaded it to Strava, downloaded it again, and finally got it onto my watch. It worked, but something was wrong with the map.

The GPS showed straight lines between points. The actual road was never straight.

This became a problem at 2 AM, when I was running through Boyolali/Klaten/Sleman in the dark. At every corner, I had to stop and look for a red painted arrow on the road. In the darkness, those arrows were nearly invisible. I would slow down, squint, wonder if I was lost, then see it: a faded red line pointing me forward.

Later, I thought about this. In my business, I see the same thing happen. You have a plan that looks perfect on paper. Clean lines. Clear directions. But when people actually try to use it—when they're tired, scared, and it's 2 AM—the plan falls apart. The arrows that seemed so clear in the office are invisible in real life.

The difference is that when a business plan is broken, people lose money. When a GPS is broken and you're running at night, you lose time. Both hurt, but one is more honest about it.

There is a specific kind of silence that only exists at 3:00 AM on a muddy trail in the middle of a race. Your headlamp is failing, your quads feel like they've been tenderized by a mallet, and your brain is screaming—rationally, logically—that you should stop.

Over the years, I've realized that the "algorithms" I learned in ITB and the "frameworks" I mastered in KAIST MBA are exactly what keep me moving on the trail. And conversely, the "grit" of the trail is what allows me to lead Suitmedia through the volatility of the Indonesian tech landscape.

Success is isomorphic. The same principles that scale a company win a mountain race. These are the mental models I live by, grouped into the pillars that define my world.

BTS Ultra 2025

I. How I Think

These are the foundational models for clarity. If my internal "Map" is wrong, no amount of speed will get me to the right destination.

1. The Logic of Truth

Before you can solve a problem, you have to see it clearly.

• First Principles Thinking: Strip a problem to the core truths. Don't reason by analogy; build your own logic from the ground up.
• Occam's Razor: When faced with two competing theories, the simplest one is usually the truth. Avoid over-engineering your life.
• Map vs. Territory: Your mental models, plans, and spreadsheets are just "maps." Never confuse the abstraction with the messy reality of the "territory."
• Circle of Competence: Be brutally honest about what you know and where your expertise ends. Play only in games where you have an edge.

2. Strategic Decision Making

Choosing the path when the fog of war (or mountain mist) is thick.

• Inversion: Instead of asking how to succeed, ask "How could I spectacularly fail?" Then, build systems to avoid those specific pitfalls.
• Probabilistic Thinking: Life is a game of odds, not certainties. Focus on making high-probability bets rather than chasing sure things.
• Regret Minimization: When at a crossroads, choose the path that your 80-year-old self would be most proud of.
• Sunk Cost Fallacy: Having the courage to walk away from a bad project or relationship, regardless of how much time or money you've already invested.

3. The Physics of Growth

How to ensure effort results in exponential progress.

• The Pareto Principle: Identify the 20% of inputs—habits, clients, or training—that produce 80% of your results. Ruthlessly cut the rest.
• Compounding: The most powerful force in the universe. Tiny, 1% gains repeated over a decade create exponential wealth, wisdom, and fitness.
• Velocity vs. Speed: Speed is how fast you move; Velocity is speed plus direction. It's better to crawl toward the right goal than sprint toward the wrong one.
• Theory of Constraints: Every system has one primary bottleneck. Improving anything else is an exercise in futility. Find the bottleneck; widen it.

4. Human & Social Dynamics

Navigating the "Human API" in leadership and life.

• Incentives: Show me the incentive, and I will show you the outcome. If you want to change behavior, change the reward structure.
• Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by neglect or a simple mistake. It saves a lot of unnecessary anger.
• Social Proof: We are biologically wired to mimic others. Use this awareness to choose mentors wisely and avoid groupthink traps.
• Pygmalion Effect: People generally live up to or down to the expectations we set for them. Lead with high belief in your team.

5. Systemic Resilience

Building a person in me that gets stronger under pressure.

• Antifragility: Designing your life so that you don't just survive the storm—you actually get stronger because of them.
• Feedback Loops: The shorter the gap between an action and its feedback, the faster you can iterate and improve.
• Margin of Safety: Always leave a buffer—in your schedule, your bank account, and your heart rate—for the unknown unknowns.
• The Power of Narrative: The stories we tell ourselves about our failures determine whether they become traumas or fuel for growth.

This post is about a 5-year journey that changed everything—and what it taught me about resilience, strategy, and becoming who you thought you couldn't.

Trans Jeju 100K Finisher Totem

The Impossible Beginning

In 2020, I was that guy: an ITB alumnus running a creative digital agency, completely sedentary, leaning hard into unhealthy habits. I wasn't sick, wasn't in crisis (yet), but I was fractured. The pandemic hit, and something in me broke open—not dramatically, but quietly. I hit Obese level 1. My cognitive function tanked. I remember calling it "slow thinking"—like my brain was running at half speed. I'd sit in strategic meetings and feel... foggy. Unreliable. Not myself.

In August 2020, something shifted. I decided to run 5 kilometers.

I remember telling people: "I'm going to run a marathon one day." They laughed. Not unkindly, but the kind of laugh that says sure, buddy. And honestly? I didn't believe it either. A marathon felt like claiming I'd climb Everest. A 100K? Laughable. Impossible.

But here's what I didn't understand then: impossibility is just a lack of systems.

By July 2023, I was running marathons with the ASICS Marathon Team. By 2024, I was a Pocari Sweat Marathon Pacer. And in 2025—just 5 years after that first terrifying 5K—I ran not one, but three 100K ultra-trail races in eight weeks.

When I delivered this presentation on October 30, 2025, I had already completed two of them: BDG Ultra and Trans Jeju by UTMB. I was mid-mission, riding the momentum toward the third race (BTS Ultra), still processing what was happening.

Now, writing this in January 2026, with all three finishes behind me, I can see the full arc of what happened.

100+ km. Done.

The journey wasn't about getting faster or stronger (though both happened). It was about discovering that the person I thought I was—sedentary, undisciplined, limited—was a fiction. And once you see through that fiction, you can't unsee it.

Along the way, I learned seven fundamental truths. Not secrets, exactly. More like operating principles—frameworks that work because they're rooted in how humans actually function, not how we wish we functioned.

These aren't just running principles. I've watched them reshape how I lead Suitmedia, how I make decisions under uncertainty, how I handle the scaling challenges of a growing business. They're transferable. And I think they might work for whatever your "100K" is.

Secret #1: The Power of Showing Up (Consistency Beats Intensity Every Time)

The Real Problem with Motivation

Let me tell you about motivation: it's a liar.

Everyone approaches running (or fitness, or any ambitious goal) the same way: they wait for motivation. They imagine themselves as the kind of person who loves running. They picture early mornings, sunrises, that runner's high. They motivate themselves into a frenzy and commit to running 5 days a week, 10km per session.

Then Tuesday comes, and they're tired. Wednesday, it rains. Thursday, work runs late. By Saturday, they've missed three sessions, feel like failures, and quit.

This is the motivation trap. And I fell into it hard in those first months.

What changed everything was understanding BJ Fogg's Behavior Model: Behavior = Motivation + Ability + Prompt. You can't rely on motivation because motivation is volatile. It spikes and crashes. But you can control ability and prompts.

Here's what I did differently:

I started absurdly small.

My first running routine wasn't 10km, 5 days a week. It was 15 minutes of walk-jog, 3 times a week. That's it. Not impressive. Not Instagram-worthy. But doable. Even on bad days, even when I was tired or stressed, 15 minutes felt achievable.

The magic wasn't in the 15 minutes themselves. It was in building the habit first, the pace later.

I treated running like a professional appointment—non-negotiable, scheduled, the same time each week. Not because I loved it, but because it was on the calendar, and I show up to calendar items. This sounds obvious, but most people don't do this. They think discipline comes from feeling like it. Discipline actually comes from removing the decision.

By month three, running 15 minutes 3x a week felt as normal as brushing my teeth. My brain stopped negotiating it. Then I extended to 20 minutes. Then to 5 days a week. Then the distances grew. But the foundation was the habit—showing up, even when it sucked.

The "Good Enough" Run

Here's something they don't tell you: not every run needs to be great.

In October 2025, I had completed a 266-week running streak—5+ years without missing a single week. Some of those runs were transcendent. Most were forgettable. Some were genuinely ugly. I remember a 6am run in Jakarta heat where I barely made it 5km and felt like I'd been hit by a bicycle. But I showed up. That run counted the same as the perfect long run on a cool morning.

The breakthrough moment came when I stopped chasing the perfect run and started celebrating the completion of effort. Some weeks, "showing up" meant a slow 8km jog in humidity. Some weeks it meant a brutal 30km weekend run. Both counted. Both built the streak.

This is counterintuitive but critical: Discipline is built by showing up on the bad days, not the good ones. The good days take care of themselves.

It was supposed to be the grand finale. The last battle in my 2025 ultra trail saga—a year packed with challenge and grit. Three 100K ultras in eight weeks. One race each month. I was tired, yes, but more than that, I was determined. This was the moment to seal the deal. Siksorogo Lawu Ultra 80K. The last dance of the year.

Campground Sekipan, Tawangmangu

I’m no stranger to this race. Not at all. My story with SLU began in 2023, a modest 30K that introduced me gently to the wild trails. It didn’t end there. I came back stronger, wilder, wetter in 2024. The rain never let up; it poured like the sky was determined to wash away every ounce of my hope. I slipped, I tripped, I fought. Yet I finished. Barely.

The 2024 race stats tell a brutal story. From 44 starters in the 120K only 6 finished, a gut-wrenching 14%. The 80K field saw just 51 of 145 make it through, about 35%. And the 50K? Even that, with nearly half dropping out. The median finish times crept close to cut-off, inching like shadows waiting to claim the weak.

Flag-off times laid out a rhythm, a precarious dance with darkness and daylight. Midnight for the longest, early mornings for the rest. These are not casual starts. They are invitations to suffer under the indifferent stars.

Then came 2025.

This year, something had shifted. The numbers were better. 23 finishers of 57 in the 120K, that’s 40%. The 80K grew to 65% finishers, and the 50K even higher. More runners standing tall, more stories of grit written into mountain dust.

Even the median finish times edged slower than 2024, but still comfortably under the cut-offs. That small difference means everything. Because every second counts when the body screams for mercy.

And, yes, the flag-off times in 2025 changed too. The 120K started on Friday night, earlier than before, the 80K at midnight, chasing night’s last breath, and the 50K at 5 a.m. No more leisurely dawn departures. This was battle mode.

Okay, let's be honest. After running two 100-kilometer ultra-trail races in just five weeks, my body should have been officially on strike. Most people would be horizontal, maybe with a nice warm compress and a long, philosophical stare at their ceiling.

BTS Ultra: The most beautiful ultra-race I ever run

Yet, here I was, standing at the BTS Ultra start line. This was the third, and final, monster in my slightly mad, self-imposed trilogy. The mountain air was sharp and cold, but also buzzing with a strange, electric energy. I expected a full choir of aches and doubts to greet me, a symphony of 'what ifs' and 'why did I dos' louder than a rock concert.

But instead? Silence. A surprising calm hummed beneath my skin. There was no overwhelming tiredness from BDG Ultra or Trans Jeju, those two beasts I'd already wrestled. Three full weeks I’d poured into recovery, focused entirely on healing, on preparing for Bromo’s unique challenge. My Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro had quietly tracked every training session, every recovery nap (almost!), giving me solid, data-backed confidence. It paid off. My internal optimists, usually a quiet bunch, were actually winning the argument for once.

Even with a third 100K looming, a crazy big task for most, and frankly, a bit bonkers for anyone, stress felt like a distant rumor. This wasn't just another race dot on my calendar. It was the legend. This famous 100K race, winding through ancient volcanic areas and tough peaks, felt less like a course and more like a sacred landscape where volcanoes stand guard. Where the earth breathes old fire and wisdom.

Third ultra trail 100K in 8 weeks

This race, I truly believe, is the most beautiful ultra-trail race I have ever run. Its natural beauty just pulls you in. Huge peaks touching the sky, the fresh, cold mountain air that wakes you up, the deep quiet before dawn that feels like the world is holding its breath. 

The race started at midnight. It was like a silent river of lights flowing from Artotel Cabin Bromo into the huge, dark night. My usual easy pace settled into a steady, calm rhythm. A quiet chat with the trail itself. We reached B29, a part that's known for being narrow. It’s a slow, careful shuffle up a steep hill, a forced lesson in working together. After that, the path went towards Ranu Pane. This part was sometimes "annoying" with its sunken tracks from motorbikes. Each careful step was a dance to avoid twisting an ankle, but my ASICS Gel-Trabuco 13 shoes, bless their grippy soles, held firm.

B29 Climb at Night

Then, the reward: Ranu Kumbolo (km 25). Even if its famous beauty was hidden in morning fog, its full glory veiled, just being near that calm lake was amazing. It felt like walking into a painting, a quick, dreamy moment of peace before the trail turned, going back to Ranu Pane. It was a short, beautiful break, a quiet promise of what was beyond the clouds.

Sebagai seorang pegiat ultra-endurance sport, yang telah menyelesaikan 9x marathon sejak 2023 dan baru saja menyelesaikan 100K ultra trail di BDG Ultra dan Trans Jeju by UTMB, saya menyadari betul krusialnya peran teknologi pendukung. Selama empat tahun terakhir, smartwatch lama saya telah menjadi instrumen esensial. Namun, di tengah tuntutan ultra trail race yang makin intens, saya mulai mengidentifikasi beberapa pain points:

1. Daya Tahan Baterai: Kebutuhan untuk mengisi daya di setiap checkpoint menjadi sebuah additional burden yang tidak ideal.
2. Navigasi: Fungsionalitas breadcrumb yang terbatas seringkali kurang memadai untuk jalur ultra trail yang kompleks, berpotensi menyebabkan nyasar di tengah hutan.
3. Visibilitas Layar: Layar yang relatif redup saat lari siang di bawah terik matahari mempersulit pembacaan data.

Tiga pain points tersebut membawa saya untuk mengeksplorasi solusi yang lebih optimal, hingga akhirnya menemukan Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro. Smartwatch ini menarik perhatian saya karena menawarkan berbagai fitur flagship yang umumnya ditemukan pada segmen harga lebih tinggi. Artikel ini akan menganalisis secara objektif, apakah Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro benar-benar memberikan nilai lebih dibandingkan pesaing selevelnya, seperti Fenix 8 atau Apex 2 Pro, khususnya dari perspektif seorang ultra trail runner.

Baterai T-Rex 3 Pro masih 18% setelah dipakai ultra trail 100K, lanjut tidur dan recovery walk.

⚠️ DISCLOSURE: Unit Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro yang saya gunakan ini adalah dukungan dari Amazfit Indonesia untuk persiapan dan pengujian di ultra trail race 100K di TransJeju by UTMB 2025. Penting untuk ditekankan bahwa analisis ini bersifat 100% objektif, tidak berbayar, dan murni berdasarkan pengalaman pribadi saya di lapangan.

Spesifikasi Teknis Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro

Sebelum membahas user experience, mari kita telaah data spesifikasi Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro. Angka-angka ini menunjukkan bagaimana smartwatch ini serius menantang smartwatch flagship lain yang harganya bisa dua hingga tiga kali lipat:

• Harga: Rp 6.599.000 (Cek promonya di Shopee atau Tokopedia)
• Navigasi: Peta Offline
• GPS: Dual-Band GNSS (6 Satelit)
• Baterai (Mode GPS Akurat): Hingga 47 jam
• Layar: AMOLED 1.5 inchi (Sapphire)
• Flashlight: LED Bawaan
• Material Bezel: Titanium Grade 5

There's a funny thing about pushing your limits: the moment you cross a finish line, part of you vows "never again." But then, a stubborn whisper begins, a quiet pull towards the next impossible dream.

TransJeju by UTMB 2025

After BDG Ultra 100K, my body definitely screamed for a proper break. Five weeks went by, letting my muscles heal and my mind catch up to the wild idea of doing it all again. The sharp pain from that first race slowly softened into a familiar ache, almost like an old friend I hadn't truly said goodbye to. My brain was perfectly content dreaming of endless naps, and my legs, after their strong protests, were finally considering working again. I was a 100K finisher, a title I felt both proud of and a little confused by. Honestly, I thought more rest was next, not another super long run.

But then, Trans Jeju by UTMB started calling. This wasn't just "another" race to tick off my crazy list. This was personal. Korea. Ah, Korea. It's a country I deeply love, full of memories from my KAIST days in Seoul. Running here, after so long, felt like coming home, even if I'd never been to Jeju Island before.

Beyond my feelings for Korea, there was the dream. This would be my very first UTMB World Series event. If you know anything about trail running, you've probably heard of Chamonix and Mont Blanc. Running 100 miles there is my biggest dream, my ultimate goal. Trans Jeju was the important first step, exciting and a little scary, towards that dream. My tired legs, bless them, were already complaining about my big plans. But my heart was set.

Hello, Jeju!

The lessons from BDG Ultra were my best guide: how to pace myself, how important nutrition and hydration are, and how to keep my mind strong. These quiet truths I carried with me into this new adventure.

I arrived at Jeju Island on Thursday, giving me a crucial night of proper sleep. This was a true blessing, as Friday night (D-1) for a big race like this usually brings me a symphony of nerves and very little actual sleep. My friends, Ramsky and Fathan, joined me on Friday, their arrival adding an extra layer of excitement to the calm before the storm. They signed up for the 20K, their very first trail race! Seeing their excitement for their "first time" was a great boost for me, even though my "first time" was just five weeks ago, and this was way longer.

TransJeju with Ramsky & Fathan

Knowing my body was still recovering, I knew I needed the best gears. My trusty Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro was ready to track every step and important number. My ASICS Gel Trabuco 13 gave my tired feet the grip and soft landing they needed. I knew it would be a long night, so my reliable Nitecore UT27 Headlamp and power bank were packed – getting lost in the dark is never fun. And feeling good in my LICA custom jersey always helps, even if I was secretly still wondering what I'd gotten myself into.

Team Amazfit Indonesia

Arriving in Jeju, an island I'd always dreamed of seeing, felt like stepping into a beautiful picture. The air was fresh, the scenery amazing, and the UTMB event had a special energy.

A Wild Leap of Faith – For a while now, running has been my happy place. It’s where my thoughts get sorted, my legs get a good workout, and sometimes, I find a deep truth hiding in the dust of a trail. I’ve run full marathons. I even managed to finish some ultra trail races. Last year, my BDG Ultra 64K felt like my own personal Mount Everest. It was my longest run ever, with the most climbing. I felt pretty proud of it, honestly. That was my "normal world" of running – comfortable, familiar, something I knew I could do. Little did I know, I was just looking at the base camp for something much bigger... and definitely crazier.

BDG Ultra 100K

Then, something just clicked. Or maybe a wire short-circuited in my brain! The idea started as a whisper, then shouted like a crazy person on a megaphone: three 100K ultras in eight weeks. Yes, you read that right. My brain, bless its hopeful, over-ambitious heart, thought this was a perfectly normal next step. Was it a brilliant idea? A mid-life moment of madness, but in cool running shoes? Probably a bit of both, seasoned with "why the heck not?"

BDG Ultra 100K became the first step in this wonderfully insane plan. It wasn't just an "upgrade" from my 64K. It was like going from a bicycle to a rocket ship with no instruction manual! Over 6000 meters of elevation gain? This wasn't just a race. This was THE race. My first 100K. My longest run ever. My highest climb. It was a leap into the completely unknown.

Leopards, Doubts, and Training Wisdom

The first rush of excitement quickly changed. It became a mix of "what have I done?" and "am I completely insane?" My inner critic, a rather loud and persuasive friend, started listing all the reasons this was a terrible idea. My feet, still aching from training, were staging their own silent protest.

And as if my self-doubt wasn't enough, just weeks before race day, news broke. A leopard had gone missing from Lembang Zoo. Right near Tangkuban Parahu – part of our race route! Suddenly, every rustle in the bushes wasn't just a friendly squirrel. It was a potentially stressed, hungry, 100K-curious leopard. Who wants to be a personal best for a leopard?

Despite my dramatic inner thoughts and leopard worries, I wasn't totally unprepared. My training wasn't just running; it was my teacher. Semarang Mountain Race 50K, Dieng Trail Run 60K, Maybank Bali Marathon – these weren't just races. They were wise old friends, teaching me patience, strength, and the art of putting one foot in front of the other. They built my foundation. Even if my sanity felt like it was resting on shaky stilts. This steady, sometimes very tough, effort became my guiding light. It prepared me for the beautifully terrifying unknown.

Hello there, fellow traveler on this wild journey called life! Or, in my case, on this wild journey called… a very, very busy running calendar. You know those moments when life throws you a delightful curveball, and suddenly your perfectly laid plans take an unexpected, exhilarating detour? Well, grab a cup of kopi, because that's pretty much the story of how I found myself toeing the starting line of the Maybank Bali Marathon 2025.

Maybank Marathon 2025

Truth be told, the Maybank Bali Marathon wasn't initially in my grand scheme of things. My 2025 calendar was already looking a tad ambitious, some might say borderline certifiably insane. We're talking: UI Trail Race (42K marathon trail, EG 2500m, on August 3rd – more dirt, more fun!), Dieng Trail Run (60K ultra trail, EG 4000m, on August 10th – just a week after UI? Why not!), then BDG Ultra (100K ultra trail, EG 6125m, on September 13th – the big one, my debut 100K.)

Yes, a glance at that list confirms I might have a slight problem. But hey, it's a good problem, right? Then, like a refreshing breeze on a particularly sweaty training run, an Instagram campaign from Pelita Air, a medium-service airline which is always on time, swooped into my feed on July 18th. "Yuk, ikutan Maybank Marathon 2025 #KeBaliLariBarengPelita," it cheerfully announced, offering free flights and running slots.

Now, Bali, you see, holds a special place in my runner's heart. It's truly my second home for running. There's always a new story unfolding there, a new personal best waiting to be shattered. Every step on that magical island feels infused with an extra surge of energy. So, when the possibility of another run there, with the added magic carpet ride courtesy of Pelita Air, presented itself, how could I resist? Especially when I knew this particular marathon could serve as a crucial piece of my preparation.

My motivation was crystal clear, and I shared it in my campaign entry on July 24th: "Ini peak training saya buat debut lari ultra trail 100K, tiga minggu setelahnya! Momen krusial buat uji fisik dan mental. Semoga saya bisa dapat slot Marathon!" Because clearly, my schedule wasn't already ambitious enough, so adding a full marathon three weeks before my first 100K ultra felt like a perfectly logical, albeit slightly mad, decision.

And then, the Instagram Stories arrived. On August 6th, the news dropped: I got the marathon ticket and flight ticket from Pelita Air! Suddenly, the unexpected became gloriously real. My dream got wings, as I put it, to fly high.

My rational brain often questions my decisions at 2 AM. Especially when I'm voluntarily running up a mountain in 11°C weather, having just put my legs through the wringer a mere seven days prior. But then, there's the call of the trails, a whisper that promises profound conversations with myself, a kind of madness that makes perfect sense to a runner's soul. And that, my friends, is the story of my Dieng Trail Run 2025.

Dieng Trail Run 2025

From Scorching Heat to Misty Heights

Just a week before Dieng, I found myself battling a completely different beast: the UI Trail Race. Forty-two kilometers, 2500m+ of elevation gain, under an intensely scorching sun. My body screamed, my mind argued, and every single step was an exercise in pure mental toughness and patience. 

I learned something crucial that day, a truth that would echo just a week later: resilience isn't pure adaptability. Sometimes it's shivering cold in the dark, sometimes sheer determination to keep moving under a scorching sun. My legs, still humming (or perhaps groaning quietly) from Sentul, were barely recalibrating for what Dieng had in store. The contrast was already a character in this unfolding drama.

A Masterclass in Beautiful Chaos

There's a certain kind of madness that pulls us back to the starting line, isn't there? For me, it's an enduring, slightly masochistic love affair with running, a relentless pursuit of new challenges, and perhaps, a quiet curiosity about how much more my body and mind can endure before they send a strongly worded letter of resignation. This year, the BTN Jakarta International Marathon (JAKIM) 2025 became my next great dance partner – a chance to tackle the vibrant, pulsating heart of my own city.

I stood there at the starting line, perhaps a little too confident in my pre-race crowd analysis, thinking I had this whole "city marathon" thing figured out. Oh, the sweet innocence of a runner before the gun goes off. It's a familiar story, really; we plan, we prepare, and then life (or 42.195 kilometers of it) decides to throw a party of its own, usually without consulting our meticulously crafted itineraries.

BTN JAKIM 2025

Sweat, Strategy, and Smart Recovery

Barely a sigh of relief after the epic Semarang Mountain Race – a beastly 50K ultra trail with a lung-busting 3500m elevation gain back on April 13th – I knew I needed to pivot. Fast. My body, still humming with the echoes of mountain paths, needed a smart transition. So, like any self-respecting tech enthusiast with a penchant for pain, I turned to AI. Yes, my personal 11-week marathon training plan, starting April 14th, was meticulously crafted by an artificial coach, all aimed at a lofty 3:52:00 finish for JAKIM, a crisp 5:30/km average pace.

My weeks quickly found a rhythm, a strategic dance of pavement and gym floor: Tuesday brought 10-12K at an easy pace, a chance for the legs to remember how to move without fighting gravity. Wednesday was the sharp, breathless sting of interval runs, building speed and grit. Thursday, the delightful soreness of strength training, reminding me that a runner needs more than just legs. Friday, a focused tempo run to practice holding that race-day pace, and then, the grand finale, Sunday's long run, always at least 21K, sometimes pushing much further.

The entire 11-week block was a meticulously planned crescendo: Week 1, a much-needed recovery to mourn the mountains. Then, weeks of building base and increasing intensity, followed by a peak mileage phase (hello, 30-32K long run on Week 8!) with a clever supercompensation dip on Week 5 to keep the body guessing and growing. Every stride, every pace, calculated by the venerable Jack Daniel's VDOT method – because apparently, even running has its own sophisticated cocktail of numbers. My weekly mileage consistently topped 50K, a testament to the idea that sometimes, you just have to show up and put in the work, even when your inner voice is bargaining for a nap.

You know, there’s something about mountains. They just stand there, silently calling our names, promising adventure, breathtaking views, and… well, a whole lot of sweat and pain. As a runner, especially one who keeps finding himself tackling ultra trails, I’ve often asked myself, "Why do I do these things? Ngapain siiih… mending tidur!! 😴" Honestly, who needs to stumble through a forest at 2 AM, seeing only a tiny circle of light from a headlamp, when a warm bed is calling?

Semarang Mountain Race 2025

But then I remember. That feeling when you push past what you thought was your limit. The incredible quiet of the pre-dawn trails. The wild, untamed beauty. And the simple truth that 100K training (or any serious training, for that matter) doesn’t happen on the couch. So, we embrace the "suck," we chase those distant peaks, and we sign up for races like the Semarang Mountain Race.

For me, the Semarang Mountain Race 50K wasn't just another dot on the calendar. It was my 5th ultra trail race and my second venture into the enigmatic, rock-and-root-filled world of night ultras, right after the epic CTC 80K. It’s an adventure that promises stunning natural trails, enchanting forests, and those gloriously "sadistic" inclines that make you question all your life choices – but in a good way, I promise!

Even Lunacy Needs a Plan

Now, some folks just run. They go with the flow, feel the vibe, and conquer the mountain with pure heart. And I admire that! But for me, with a tech background and a brain that loves a good puzzle, I can’t help but get a little… strategic. Especially with the experience of those previous ultras under my belt. So, for my SMR 50K, I decided to try something different, something a bit Anggriawan-style: I used AI to craft my race strategy.

Coast to Coast Ultra Night Trail. The name alone sends chills down my spine. I analyzed the data and pored over past races to understand this beast. It wasn't perfect. It was a wild, chaotic symphony of iron will, searing pain, and choices that flirt with deep regret, all set against the backdrop of Yogyakarta’s hidden beauty where every mile becomes a story told for years to come—a haunting song of survival.

CTC Ultra 80K

My race prep was not good. Other runners feasted on carbs and chased dreams of glory while I fought a losing battle against a common cold. I choked down ginger tea and braced myself for my first vitamin shot. Running an ultra while ill is a dangerous gamble, yet I stood at the line with no excuses and a body at war, knowing that if I could master the internal storm of my mind, the miles beneath my feet would eventually yield to the sheer force of my determination.

Section 1: Start To Queen South (0-6.8Km)

Four o’clock arrived. Traditional dancers moved with a haunting, rhythmic grace. We surged forward onto the Parangtritis sand like a pack of hopeful madmen. The sun blazed overhead while I chewed Degirol to keep my lungs open. I reached the first checkpoint, battling through a haze of grit and heat.

Section 2: Queen South To Alas Curukboto (6.8Km - 13.3Km)

I left Queen South with a flicker of hope. The next six kilometers were a trial of slippery roots and sudden drops. It took over an hour of relentless grinding. Eleven runners quit here. 

Section 3: Alas Curukboto To Palgading (13.3Km - 18.8Km)

The jungle finally released me. Palgading offered open fields and rolling hills. I climbed into 50th place. Two more runners surrendered to the night. I found a temporary rhythm in the clearing, feeling the breeze on my skin and watching the horizon expand, realizing that despite the bugs and the fatigue, there was a strange, haunting beauty in the way the landscape shifted beneath the darkening sky.

Section 4: Palgading To Omah Pojok (18.8Km - 26Km)

Shadows stretched across the fields. The path to Omah Pojok became a blur of fading light and gentle inclines. I hit the first major cutoff with time to spare. Eight runners walked away. I sat in the dirt and stared at a meager serving of a quarter egg, fueling my body not with calories, but with the cold, sharp desperation of a man who has traveled too far to turn back now.

Siksorogo. Namanya saja sudah bikin bulu kuduk merinding! Gunung Lawu bukan trek biasa, lho. Tempat ini punya reputasi tersendiri—mistis dan menantang, siap menguji mental kita. Saya mendaftar untuk kategori 50K, jalur yang membawa kami melewati keindahan alam dari Sekipan hingga Kebun Teh Kemuning.

Satu hari sebelum race, saya mengambil race pack di Sekipan sore-sore. Saat itu, gerimis sudah mulai turun. Hmm, apakah itu pertanda? Mungkin saja. Dalam keraguan, saya hanya bisa berdoa supaya cuaca tidak semakin buruk. Eh, malam itu hujan semakin deras!

Pagi hari saat flag off, langit masih meneteskan gerimis tipis, seperti tamu tak diundang yang nekat hadir di pesta. Saya menarik napas dalam-dalam dan bersiap. Atau setidaknya, saya berpikir sudah siap.

Siksorogo Lawu Ultra 50K - 2024

Sekipan jadi titik start yang penuh harapan. Tempat ini dikenal sejuk dan nyaman sebagai area perkemahan. Dari sinilah kami mulai berjuang, menyusuri jalur yang dipenuhi pepohonan rindang.

Memasuki Cemoro Wayang, jalurnya berkelok-kelok di antara pepohon. Banyak yang bilang tempat ini penuh aura mistis, walaupun saya merasa biasa-biasa saja. Lalu, ketika melewati Mongkrang, pemandangan perkebunan teh yang spektakuler menyapa kami. Aroma segar daun teh menambah semangat para pelari.

BDG100. Mendengar namanya saja lutut sudah terasa mau copot. Race ini terkenal dengan elevasi yang menantang, tanjakan yang membuat meringis, dan pemandangan yang menyegarkan jiwa. Tahun ini saya memutuskan untuk ikut gila. Mengapa? Karena di balik setiap tantangan fisik yang berat selalu tersembunyi pelajaran mental yang berharga. 🙈

Buat saya, BDG Ultra ini adalah pendakian yang panjang dan melelahkan. Jaraknya merupakan yang paling jauh yang pernah saya tempuh. Bayangkan saja tantangan menaklukkan 64K dengan elevasi 3600m+. Angka ini sedikit di bawah BTR Ultra 55K yang memiliki 3700m+. Namun tetap saja, statistik itu cukup untuk membuat dengkul gemetar.

BDG Ultra 64K

Persiapan yang Absurd

Kunci menaklukkan BDG Ultra adalah persiapan matang. Idealnya memang begitu. Namun persiapan saya kali ini terasa agak absurd. Semua gara-gara marathon. Latihan saya sebelumnya fokus ke Pocari Sweat Run sebagai pacer dan Maybank Bali Marathon sebagai peserta. Masalahnya adalah jarak kedua event tersebut sangat dekat dengan BDG Ultra.

Saya hanya sempat sekali latihan trail run dalam acara hash di Karangasem, Bali. Lucunya, sesi itu malah membuat performa saya di Bali Marathon ambyar. Ternyata kegagalan itu justru membantu saya di Bandung. Setelah Bali Marathon, saya hanya fokus pada pemulihan. Saya percaya pada konsep supercompensation. Saya berharap bisa secara ajaib tampil prima di kedua race tersebut. Namanya juga usaha.

Bali adalah pulau impian dengan sejuta pesona. Namun tahun ini, Maybank Bali Marathon bagi saya bukan sekadar lari di tengah pemandangan sawah dan deretan pura yang megah. Ini adalah sebuah kisah tentang paradoks. Ini tentang rencana yang berantakan tetapi menghasilkan akhir yang membahagiakan. Singkatnya, ini adalah cerita mengenai bagaimana saya berhasil meraih personal best meskipun hanya bermodalkan persiapan yang seadanya.

Race Pack Collection - Maybank Bali Marathon 2025

Dilema Persiapan

Lima minggu sebelum berangkat ke Bali, saya justru didapuk menjadi pacer di Pocari Sweat Run. Fokus untuk melatih diri sendiri seketika buyar. Energi saya terkuras habis demi membantu pelari lain mencapai target mereka. Secara teknis, ini jelas bukan persiapan terbaik untuk menghadapi sebuah full marathon. Namun hidup memang selalu penuh dengan kejutan yang tidak terduga.

Masa latihan saya pun terasa sangat relatif. Ada hari-hari ketika kaki ini rasanya ingin melayangkan protes keras. Ada saatnya pula semangat saya luntur tanpa bekas yang tersisa. Meskipun begitu, bayangan garis finish dengan catatan waktu baru selalu menjadi bahan bakar utama untuk terus melangkah maju.

Maraton bukanlah sekadar lomba lari, melainkan semacam ziarah jiwa. Ribuan kaki melangkah bersama, bukan hanya untuk mengejar catatan waktu, tetapi juga untuk menemukan kekuatan dalam diri, untuk menguji batas kemampuan, dan untuk saling menyemangati di sepanjang jalan. Di Pocari Sweat Run 2024, saya datang sebagai seorang pacer, seorang pemandu yang bertugas menjaga ritme. Namun, di tengah lautan manusia itu, saya menemukan bahwa peran saya lebih dari sekadar penunjuk waktu. Saya menjadi saksi perjuangan, harapan, dan kebaikan hati yang tak terduga.

Pocari Sweat Pacer - Marathon Sub 5:30

Pocari Sweat Run selalu menjadi acara yang istimewa dalam perjalanan lari saya. Dari berpartisipasi dalam half marathon hingga terpilih menjadi bagian dari ASICS Marathon Team 2023, saya selalu merasakan semangat yang luar biasa di acara ini. Setelah merasakan pengalaman menyenangkan berlari 42,2 km bersama teman-teman ASICS tahun lalu, saya terinspirasi untuk kembali menaklukkan jarak itu. Namun kali ini, bukan hanya untuk diri sendiri, melainkan untuk memberikan dukungan dan semangat kepada pelari lain sebagai seorang pacer.

Dengan pengalaman menyenangkan memimpin kelompok lari setiap minggu dalam program "Road to Pocari Sweat Run", saya membayangkan akan ada banyak pelari yang mengikuti kelompok pace saya. Saya berharap bisa merasakan kesenangan yang sama, atau bahkan lebih besar, di hari perlombaan.

Pada 11 Mei 2024, saya mencoba sesuatu yang baru dalam perjalanan lari saya dengan ikut serta di BTR Ultra di Kintamani, Bali. Ini adalah pengalaman pertama saya dalam ultra trail run, dengan jarak 55 km yang benar-benar menguji fisik dan mental saya. Jalurnya berada di sekitar Danau Batur, melewati Gunung Batur dan Gunung Abang, jadi selain tantangannya, saya juga disuguhi pemandangan yang luar biasa. Jujur, keputusan untuk ikut nggak gampang, terutama karena saya belum terlalu banyak latihan di medan trail. Tapi keinginan untuk menantang diri dan mencoba hal baru akhirnya membuat saya berdiri di garis start acara keren ini.

BTR Ultra 2024 | 📷 by Vikas Pananjaya

Latihan untuk BTR Ultra

Meskipun minim pengalaman di jalur trail, saya memiliki rutinitas latihan yang cukup intensif di jalan raya. Setiap minggu, saya konsisten berlari lebih dari 50 kilometer untuk menjaga stamina dan kekuatan fisik. Fokus utama latihan saya adalah pada daya tahan (endurance), dengan lari jarak jauh setiap akhir pekan dan sesi interval di tengah minggu untuk meningkatkan kecepatan. Walaupun jalur trail memiliki tantangan yang berbeda, seperti elevasi dan medan yang lebih teknikal, saya yakin bahwa dasar fisik yang kuat dari latihan di jalan raya dapat membantu saya beradaptasi dengan cepat.

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Borobudur Marathon merupakan salah satu ajang lari marathon terbesar di Indonesia, selain Bandung (PSRI), Bali (MBM), dan Jakarta Marathon. Melalui tulisan blog ini, saya mau berbagi pengalaman saya dalam berpartisipasi di marathon ketiga dalam hidup saya, setelah Tokyo dan Bandung.

Borobudur Marathon 2023

Bagian I : Persiapan Marathon

Setelah menjalani latihan intensif bersama ASICS Marathon Team, saya banyak belajar hal baru, terutama tentang bagaimana berlatih marathon dengan baik, serta jenis makanan (fueling) yang diperlukan oleh tubuh sebelum, selama, dan setelah lari. Saya bertekad untuk mencapai hasil terbaik di Borobudur Marathon, meskipun saya sadar bahwa rute di Borobudur lebih sulit daripada di Bandung, karena terdapat banyak tanjakan curam dan cuaca yang jauh lebih panas.

Mengingat pengalaman saya dalam latihan intensif untuk Pocari Sweat Run, saya memutuskan untuk membentuk sebuah komunitas kecil untuk berlatih bersama, yaitu dengan Iwan dan Adnan, keduanya adalah rekan kerja saya di Suitmedia yang juga mendaftar untuk Borobudur Marathon 2023. Saya membagikan menu latihan saya kepada mereka sebagai panduan untuk mempersiapkan diri selama 12 minggu sebelum hari perlombaan.

Suitmedia Marathon Team 2023

Secara dasar, menu latihan saya mirip dengan yang saya lakukan bersama coach Andriyanto, dengan sedikit penyesuaian pada jarak dan target pace. Menu latihan saya selama 12 minggu secara garis besar adalah: easy run 10 km (setiap Selasa dan Jumat), interval/tempo run (setiap Rabu), dan long run 16-30 km (setiap Minggu).

Week 1-3 : Base Building

Minggu pertama periode latihan saya bertepatan dengan minggu pemulihan setelah lomba half marathon di Maybank Marathon 2023, jadi jarak tempuh saya masih sedikit, hanya 35 km per minggu. Selama dua minggu di Bali, saya lebih banyak melakukan easy run, termasuk easy long run, sehingga target pace tidak terlalu ambisius. Saya baru bisa kembali melakukan long run dengan target pace yang sesungguhnya ketika sudah kembali ke Jakarta dan bergabung dalam long run bersama Road to Jakarta Marathon. Jarak tempuh mingguan saya pun perlahan-lahan naik menjadi 42-51 km.

Marathon bukan hanya tentang perlombaan lari, tetapi juga perihal perjalanan hidup yang mampu mengubah dan menginspirasi kita semua. Melalui keringat, kerja keras, dan konsistensi, pelari marathon dapat mengatasi setiap rintangan dan melampaui batas diri. Setiap langkah mereka adalah ungkapan nyata dari semangat manusia untuk meraih tujuan, mencapai mimpi, dan menemukan kekuatan sejati dalam diri mereka.

Tulisan ini menyajikan antologi pengalaman rekan-rekan ASICS Marathon Team di Pocari Sweat Run Indonesia (PSRI) 2023. Semoga kisah ini dapat menginspirasi kita untuk terus mencapai puncak prestasi dalam kehidupan kita.

ASICS Marathon Team 2023

Achillia Lisnawati

Ibu dari 2 anak; Karyawan Swasta

"Tidak ada yang tidak mungkin dalam berlari atau dalam apapun. Jangan biarkan kekurangan menjadi penghalang, tetapi jadikan sebagai tantangan untuk terus berkembang dan meraih mimpi."

Bagaimana perasaan Anda setelah menyelesaikan marathon?

Alhamdulillah.. senang, puas, dan terkejut karena hasil marathon di luar dugaan.

Apa saja tantangan yang dihadapi selama persiapan marathon?

Adanya latihan bersama dua kali seminggu dengan lokasi yang cukup jauh dari rumah itu menambah tantangan saat menjalani program. Saya menghadapinya dengan prinsip "listen to your body" dan "listen to your coach", serta mengutamakan asupan gizi dan vitamin.

Apa yang memotivasi Anda untuk terus maju dan pantang menyerah?

Alhamdulillah tidak pernah ingin menyerah sampai pada titik ini. Latihan panjang, pendek, pelan, cepat, siang, malam masih bisa dijalani. Sesekali memang tidak mood karena kecapaian, tapi masih dalam batasan wajar.

Apa pesan Anda bagi mereka yang ingin lari marathon?

Sabar dan disiplin sejauh 42 km dengan mendengarkan bahasa tubuh mengajarkan saya menjadi lebih peka dan lebih bersyukur betapa hebatnya tubuh kita selama ini. Lari marathon bersama tim itu lebih menyenangkan karena bisa mengingatkan satu sama lain dan saling support.

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