THE FIRST MARATHON IN SABAH WAS HELD IN 1984 AND IT WAS CALLED THE DAILY EXPRESS SABAH MARATHON.

The next marathon was held 23 years later in 2008 and it was called the Borneo International Marathon (BIM). BIM was organized by Championship Sport Events Sdn. Bhd., helmed by Mr. Andrew Voon as the Race Director as well as the person instrumental in organizing the Borneo International Marathon. The first BIM had a mere 529 runners.

In 2012, Kinabalu Running Club took over the organization of BIM from Championship Sport Events after the sudden passing of its founder. With a group of 10 volunteers, the event was able to continue and grow in popularity among local and international runners. In 2016, Borneo Marathon achieved its first milestone of 10,000 runners from over 50 countries.

Today, Borneo Marathon is a community-run event with over 1,000 volunteers. Since 2008, runners of Borneo Marathon have benefitted 25 charitable organizations and causes from around and outside of Sabah.

The course is certified by AIMS (Association of International Marathon and Distance Races) every year.

Runner's World Magazine listed Borneo Marathon in Sabah as one of the 50 best running races in the World in 2018. It is a destination race in the Borneo island known for its wilderness and exotic culture. At this charity run, runners are treated with a scenic course overlooking the islands on the South China Sea and the sun rising behind Mount Kinabalu. You can choose your vacation time in Sabah pre or post-race. In 2024, it's time to Run Wild in Borneo!