The Gunsan Saemangeum International Marathon was on April 28th.
I got something like four and a half hours of sleep the night before because it was my good friend's last day and I had to wake up at 5:30 to make it to the opening ceremonies, so I was pretty nervous.
But one of my coworkers who had wanted to run but hadn't been able to figure out how to register online before the deadline came to run alongside me. He was even kind enough to carry my purse and jacket for me, since I'd misunderstood the website and thought there would be storage there.
There was a traditional-looking band with big drums, a “gag man” MC, and a helicopter filming everything (and us). There was also group stretching and warm-ups to music.
When the marathon began the gun to signal the start of the race was actually a huge explosion of colored smoke, fireworks, and confetti.
Then the 10K runners went and they, too, were sent off with a gut-quaking boom.
When it our turn, all the other 5K participants and I herded onto the track. I was relieved to see that young kids and older folks were all participating. It was actually like a big family event. There were young parents with strollers and everything. Some people ran, some people walked, and it was very casual and nice. I ran and walked and ran and walked, but even at my slow pace I was far from last.
I saw two of my students there. One was running with his family, and I'm sure he finished long before I did. Another was standing with other kids his age dressed similarly, and they were among the clumps of onlookers cheering people on.
That was the best part, really. There were all these people I didn't know shouting “Fighting!” and other encouraging remarks as we went past. No matter how tired I was, I always wanted to run harder, faster, when they cheered. It was a shockingly strong effect.
At some point some girls from Jeonju were going alongside us and seemed impressed that we were there. Afterwards they came and got their pictures taken with us and also gave us hot rice cakes.
The souvenir for finishing the 5K in less than an hour turned out to be a free can of Pocari Sweat, sort of like Gatorade. I came in at 42 minutes and 58 seconds, so now I can say I've had Pocari Sweat.
After stretching, resting, drinking (water), and eating our rice cakes, my coworker left so he could get to church on time. I'd told my church I probably wouldn't come due to the marathon, the weather was spectacular, and I just felt like I should stay there, so I stayed.
I saw the first-place marathon runner come in at amazing speed and also saw his awarding ceremony. The MC put him on the spot and asked him to sing the song of Kenya, where he's from, and it was really cool to hear him sing it.
I kept thinking about how much better and more alive I felt when people had been rooting for me, so I stuck around near the finish line and cheered for all the runners that came after me. The more time that passed, the less of a crowd there was to cheer, and yet, in my mind, how much more necessary a cheering crowd would be!
I can't image running a marathon period. But to be so exhausted and doggedly persevering to the end after you've been running for more than four hours...isn't that exactly when you need encouraging the most?
So I stayed for hours and just cheered for people. Meanwhile, there were ceremonies, bands, and drawings for giveaways.
I'm certain that my number wasn't picked, but at some point the MC pointed at me and asked me, in English, where I was from. I looked around but was assured by people next to me that he meant me. “미국 사람이에요,” I said, which means “I am American.” And he insisted on giving me a gift, which turned out to be a 4 kg bag of rice.
I'm still not sure why I got a prize, but the closest thing I can figure is that it's related to my standing there for hours cheering people on. At some point the camera man told me to wave so there may be a picture somewhere with me in it. Who knows?
When everything was said and done, I began the long walk home with my four-kilo sack of rice, got there an hour later, and was ready to die happy.
I might have to do this again sometime...
I got something like four and a half hours of sleep the night before because it was my good friend's last day and I had to wake up at 5:30 to make it to the opening ceremonies, so I was pretty nervous.
But one of my coworkers who had wanted to run but hadn't been able to figure out how to register online before the deadline came to run alongside me. He was even kind enough to carry my purse and jacket for me, since I'd misunderstood the website and thought there would be storage there.
There was a traditional-looking band with big drums, a “gag man” MC, and a helicopter filming everything (and us). There was also group stretching and warm-ups to music.
When the marathon began the gun to signal the start of the race was actually a huge explosion of colored smoke, fireworks, and confetti.
Then the 10K runners went and they, too, were sent off with a gut-quaking boom.
When it our turn, all the other 5K participants and I herded onto the track. I was relieved to see that young kids and older folks were all participating. It was actually like a big family event. There were young parents with strollers and everything. Some people ran, some people walked, and it was very casual and nice. I ran and walked and ran and walked, but even at my slow pace I was far from last.
I saw two of my students there. One was running with his family, and I'm sure he finished long before I did. Another was standing with other kids his age dressed similarly, and they were among the clumps of onlookers cheering people on.
That was the best part, really. There were all these people I didn't know shouting “Fighting!” and other encouraging remarks as we went past. No matter how tired I was, I always wanted to run harder, faster, when they cheered. It was a shockingly strong effect.
At some point some girls from Jeonju were going alongside us and seemed impressed that we were there. Afterwards they came and got their pictures taken with us and also gave us hot rice cakes.
The souvenir for finishing the 5K in less than an hour turned out to be a free can of Pocari Sweat, sort of like Gatorade. I came in at 42 minutes and 58 seconds, so now I can say I've had Pocari Sweat.
After stretching, resting, drinking (water), and eating our rice cakes, my coworker left so he could get to church on time. I'd told my church I probably wouldn't come due to the marathon, the weather was spectacular, and I just felt like I should stay there, so I stayed.
I saw the first-place marathon runner come in at amazing speed and also saw his awarding ceremony. The MC put him on the spot and asked him to sing the song of Kenya, where he's from, and it was really cool to hear him sing it.
I kept thinking about how much better and more alive I felt when people had been rooting for me, so I stuck around near the finish line and cheered for all the runners that came after me. The more time that passed, the less of a crowd there was to cheer, and yet, in my mind, how much more necessary a cheering crowd would be!
I can't image running a marathon period. But to be so exhausted and doggedly persevering to the end after you've been running for more than four hours...isn't that exactly when you need encouraging the most?
So I stayed for hours and just cheered for people. Meanwhile, there were ceremonies, bands, and drawings for giveaways.
I'm certain that my number wasn't picked, but at some point the MC pointed at me and asked me, in English, where I was from. I looked around but was assured by people next to me that he meant me. “미국 사람이에요,” I said, which means “I am American.” And he insisted on giving me a gift, which turned out to be a 4 kg bag of rice.
I'm still not sure why I got a prize, but the closest thing I can figure is that it's related to my standing there for hours cheering people on. At some point the camera man told me to wave so there may be a picture somewhere with me in it. Who knows?
When everything was said and done, I began the long walk home with my four-kilo sack of rice, got there an hour later, and was ready to die happy.
I might have to do this again sometime...
