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, half, 10 km and 5 km categories, and is known for a flat, fast coastal course.
What is the Borneo International Marathon?
The Borneo International Marathon, usually shortened to BIM, is Sabah's biggest and best-known running event. 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.
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, traditionally on the last weekend of the month. The host city is Kota Kinabalu, with the race centred on the Likas Stadium area where the start and finish lines are set up. The May timing places the event in Sabah's drier season, which helps with race-day conditions, though humidity remains a factor in the tropics.
Race categories and distances
BIM caters to every level of runner with four distances:
| Category | Distance | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Full marathon | 42.195 km | Experienced distance runners and PB seekers |
| Half marathon | 21.1 km | Regular runners building toward a full |
| 10 km | 10 km | Fitness runners and improvers |
| 5 km | 5 km | Families, beginners and fun runners |
Age-category awards are presented alongside overall champion prizes, so competitive runners in every age band have something to race for.
What the course is like
BIM's signature feature is its flat, fast coastal course. Starting and finishing at the Likas Stadium area, the route runs along Kota Kinabalu's waterfront, giving runners open views across the South China Sea. The minimal elevation change makes it one of the friendlier marathons in the region for chasing a personal best — provided you manage the tropical heat and humidity.
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 10,000-plus participants across the four distances in 2024, the atmosphere is part competition, part festival, especially around the shorter 5 km and 10 km events.
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 on the flat coastal route, 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.