2005 Seoul International Marathon Feature Story

With just two days before the 2005 Seoul International Marathon and the 76th Dong-A Marathon, athletes are making their vows at a press conference held on March 11. From the left is Gounichika Domoaki from Japan, Joshua Chelanga and William Kipsang from Kenya, Gurt Thys from Republic of South Africa, Eom Hyo-seok from Korea, Helena Javornik from Slovenia, Zhou Chun-xiu from China, and Worknesh Tola from Ethiopia. The competition, which begins at 8:00 a.m., March 13, from the front of the Seoul Sejong Center for the Performing Arts to Chamsil Main Stadium (a 42.195km course) includes Korea’s top athletes and 20,915 master marathoners, the biggest number of participants yet in a national marathon. Traffic will be regulated on that day on the marathon course. Also, as temperatures are expected to fall below zero centigrade, players must prepare cold-weather running attire.

Chul-Min An acm08@donga.com