For the past couple months, a group of friends and I have been training several times a week for the June 14th, Jeju "marathon" (all races here, no matter the length, are called Marathons). The winter season this year turned out to be an inactive one for me when it comes to running. So, training for the 21 km started at ground zero this spring and couldn't have sprung forth without the encouragement and enthusiasm of a few delightful Chamdan gals!
Five days a week at 8 am, I have ridden my bike fifteen minutes to Erin's house in Chamdan to run with Erin, Jenni, and Anne-Mari. At the beginning, we would only roam the streets for about twenty minutes. On some days, we would run a few times around a 840 meter spongy path at the Sangam park. The length of the runs started to increase after we all signed up for the half marathon on Jeju Island, "Korea's Hawaii" and honey moon destination. With new shoes and a determined attitude, we all started putting in around an hour of running four times during the week and committing to a longer run on Saturday. The streets were difficult for me to get used to since I normally try to run on dirt trails without busy traffic and never ending stoplights, but we found cushiony and less "stop and go" paths between apartment buildings and at parks.
The Sangam park has felt the pounding of our steps a monton in the last few months! Running around the pretty pond surrounded by flowers, trees, and several other people indulged in various activities, has been a great place to keep track of distance and time. Every Saturday, we would increase our distance until we ran 20 laps (17 km) two weeks before our race day. Not only were we strange because of the amount of running we did in a culture that stresses how walking and hiking is better than running, but we were four female "way-guks" (foreigners) together at one time!
On one Saturday, a school was having a "trash pick-up" day at the park. It's nice to see people when running, but I have never been "hi", "hello", "bye"-ed so many times in my life! One kid even ran next to us so his friend could take a picture further along the path. We were quite a spectacle and no matter how much you repeated "hello" back, you would get the same kid repeating their "hello" while giggling uncontrollably. It was quite silly, but completely harmless. It will be weird going back to such a mixing pot of a country and blending in after standing out so much in here.
So after all the hard work, fun running stories, spaghetti dinners, Saturday post-running ginormous breakfasts; we arrived at the race day weekend! Jeju Island is located directly south of South Korea and about an hour flight from Gwangju.
WE MADE IT.... now, what do you want to do?
Minbak (home stay) with are gracious 아저씨 Grandfather.
My Carroll College friend and Korean tutor, Kim Mi-Young, encouraged me to meet her at her home in Jeju city after returning back from the US this past January. It is amazing how well it worked out to meet her and her family in South Korea after knowing her in Montana. Although, her husband was busy with business meetings, I was able to have lunch with her and her two sons at a Samgyupsal restaurant, Korean pork barbecue.
Samgyupsal
Although, Miyoung says it feels great being back home, no longer stretched financially under the US dollar, her two sons really miss Montana and their friends. Shortly after lunch, her oldest had to go to school to study on his off Saturday (usually students have school on every other Saturday). The pressure these boys have, especially in their performance in English since they lived in the US, is extremely high, Miyoung told me. Although, they speak English well in comparison to others their age, their test scores aren't above average due to the emphasis on written grammar and memory. Testing and grades here in Korea are so different in comparison to the US. Personally, I don't think creativity is encouraged enough here, but kids are quite advanced in mathematics, science, and critical thinking skills.
Later in the afternoon on Saturday, Miyoung and Grandpa 아저씨 took us to nearby Lava tubes, cave like channels where lava once flowed.
The Grand Finale at the end of the Tube.
We also enjoyed getting lost in a local maze!
Erin and I going back into time~~~~
"Coach Gerry" from South Africa. Gerhard is a great friend who joined our Jeju crew with great enthusiasm for seeing the Island. He gave us amazing support, as well as, a fresh Gatorade at the finish line!
"Same-Same" Couple Set lost in the Maze!
Jenni outwardly showing disappointment at having to turn around!
Miyoung enjoyed our silliness.
RACE DAY!!!
Jenni, Erin, Anne-Mari, Me, and an Orange slice.
Our Minbak was a five minute walk from the starting line, so it was an easy going morning and then a stroll to the stadium at 8:30 am. At the stadium, there were drums and traditional dancers and people everywhere getting warmed up. It was amazing to see so many people and I really enjoy the attitude and energy of running events.
With some time to spare, an aerobics lady marched up to the stage and directed everyone with an microphone through a stretch/mini aerobics warm up. I wasn't sure what was going on, since normally I'm used to individuals who warm up on their own, but soon enough I was one out of hundreds of men and women engaged in the enthusiastic punches in the air and steps to the right, left, front, and back! I don't know how many people were there, but they were all doing the same moves as if we were in an choreographed class. So strange, but neat at the same time, because it's not something that happens very often in the US.
The 21 km (13.1 miles) along the northeast coast of Jeju was absolutely amazing. The salty, cool air from the water refreshed us, and the overcast sky kept us from burning. People would sit outside their houses near the street and yell "fighting" to the runners as we went past. There were some grandmas spreading various types of seaweed, shells, and garlic bulbs out to dry near the road, who waved and smiled, as well. Students, at a nearby school, must have volunteered to help with the race, because every few kilometers there were tables where the students would serve runners water and wet sponges . Overall, the race had a great set up, it was well organized, and very fun to run with many picturesque views and happy people to see.
Most of the race, we ran around a 5:30 per km pace. Unfortunately, with two kilometers left till the finish, our friend Erin started showing signs of fatigue and mentioned that she was getting tired. Al through she remembers none of this, she started striding saying her muscles were tight until she slowed into a staggering walk. Her color completely left her face and she had to be caught by surrounding walkers before falling. Luckily, an ambulance was driving right past us when this happened and was able to turn around pick her up, put an IV into her, and bring her back to stadium. What a great friend, she kept saying over and over, "go, finish the race. Keep going!" as she was given medical attention. It's amazing how far the mind and body will go even with lack of consciousness. Although, her body was quite fatigued and sensitive to the food and liquids she consumed the rest of that day, Erin recovered and we were all able to get medals and bags at the finish line.
My race time ended up being 1:58:14.
BEACH TIME!!!
"Korea" (Hanguk)
Later on we went to a little beach near our house after making a good lunch. It was so convenient being so close to our Minbak and the sun came out in perfect timing!
Gerry and Jenni playing in a sand pile.
Everywhere you look there are lava rocks. Jeju Island is famous for them, especially, because it is the material people use to make fences around their fields and homes. It's amazing because even during the stormy season these tall fences, or lava rock walls, stay in tact without any use of cement or other materials.
The colors in the water were so pretty!
Even at the beach you can't get away from construction!! It's everywhere!
Jenni leaving her signature angel.
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