"We will hold TOTK again next year with the hope that it has been licensed under the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB)."
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Trail of The Kings (TOTK) Zero Edition running event was successfully held in Samosir, Lake Toba, with the participation of 736 runners from 12 countries.

The activity that took place on May 4-5, 2024, was carried out by the Lake Toba Authority Implementation Agency (BPODT), with categories of Fun Run 5K and 10K, and Trail Run 27K and 50K.

Seeing the enthusiasm of the community and the positive impact the event caused on the area around Lake Toba, BPODT President Director Jimmy Bernando Panjaitan in a statement here on Sunday promised that his side will hold a similar event next year.

"We will hold TOTK again next year with the hope that it has been licensed under the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB). The TOTK is an environmentally friendly event involving local communities in 12 villages that were traversed by the running track,” he said.

According to him, the local communities were benefited by the running event because they were involved as runners marshall, food and drink providers, cleaning personnel, and others.

"Their skills increased because they were given the role in this world-scale running event, so that the community was empowered," he added.

Meanwhile, the UMTB is a global cross-country running competition, with its distances of 27K and 50K.

While the 5K and 10K are fun run categories that were held to attract beginner and recreational runners.

One of the participants, Hendra Lim, voiced his joy to have participated in the TOTK Zero Edition event.

"The route traveled was very beautiful, the track was neat and challenging. Running while passing through hills, rivers, descending and inclining roads, to waterfalls, I did not feel tired because the scenery was charming," he said.

Related news: BPODT targets inclusion of "Trail of The Kings" in UTMB Calendar
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Translator: Adipati, Kenzu
Editor: Arie Novarina
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