Borneo International Marathon (BIM): Runner's Guide
What is the Borneo International Marathon?
The Borneo International Marathon (BIM) is Sabah's flagship road race, held each May in Kota Kinabalu. It is AIMS-sanctioned, offers full marathon, half marathon and 10 km categories, and starts at Likas Stadium.
What is the Borneo International Marathon?
The Borneo International Marathon, usually shortened to BIM, is one of Sabah's biggest and best-known running events. It is a city marathon staged in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital, and has grown into a fixture of the Southeast Asian running calendar. The race combines a competitive, internationally certified full marathon with shorter distances that welcome thousands of recreational runners and families.
The race was first held on 12 October 2008 and is organised by the Kinabalu Running Club (Borneo International Marathon, checked 7 October 2026). Because it is sanctioned by AIMS, the course is measured to international standards — a detail that matters to serious runners but that also signals the event's organisational quality to first-timers and overseas visitors.
When and where is BIM held?
BIM takes place annually in May. The 2026 edition ran from 7 to 10 May, with race day on 10 May 2026 at Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu. The venue opened at midnight and the full marathon was flagged off at 2:00 am (BIM Help Center, checked 7 October 2026). Humidity is a factor in the tropics whatever the month.
Race categories and distances
BIM 2026 offered three distances (BIM eligibility page, checked 7 October 2026):
| Category | Distance | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| Full marathon | 42 km | 18 |
| Half marathon | 21 km | 16 |
| 10 km | 10 km | 13 |
Each distance has age groups (Open, Veteran and, for the full and half, Senior Veteran), and the organisers award prizes to age-group winners as well as overall finishers.
What the course is like
The organisers describe the course as mostly flat with gentle rolling hills. The full marathon tours the city centre, coastal roads and suburban areas, the half marathon follows a coastal route with a city-centre finish, and the 10 km is a city-centre circuit with waterfront views. Water stations are set every 2 to 3 km (BIM route map, checked 7 October 2026).
Who runs BIM?
The field is a broad mix. Local Sabahan and Peninsular Malaysian runners make up the core, but BIM also attracts a notable international contingent — runners who combine the race with a tropical holiday. With more than 10,000 runners a year, according to the organisers, the atmosphere is part competition, part festival, especially around the 10 km.
Tips for running BIM
The biggest challenge at BIM is not the course profile but the climate. Hydration and early pacing matter more here than on a temperate marathon.
Even with pre-dawn start times, humidity builds quickly after sunrise. Start conservatively, take fluids at every station, and acclimatise with a few days in Kota Kinabalu before race day. Book accommodation near Likas early — race weekend fills the city.