Donga-A Ilbo Gyeongju Marathon Turns International

Run a marathon in the high altitudes of Gyeongju and get a chance to improve your record.

Master marathoners’ personal records are as important as the joy they get from running a marathon. What makes runners fall in love with marathons is the satisfaction they get from shortening their records. This is what they are running so hard for. When they reach their goal, they feel like they are on top of the world. This is why marathon has such a strong grip on its advocates.

How would you go about improving your marathon record? There are three basic ways. A well-planned training routine, an easy running course, and weather. The only constant in this function is the running course. No matter how hard a runner trains, he or she may be failed by poor conditions. You never know when the weather will turn on you. And this leaves the running course as the most trustworthy element to target.

The Dong-A Ilbo 2007 Gyeongju International Marathon (October 21), which will be reintroduced as an international marathon, will offer Korea’s flattest running course. The new marathon course will give both master marathoners and elite marathoners a chance to lower their time.

From the starting line at Gyeongju People’s Stadium to the end, there are no rises or falls in the course. The 4 km uphill stretch, situated towards the end of the course, which was present until last year, has now been removed. Even the windy parts of the course have been excluded. The maximum difference in altitude is 10 meters for every kilometer. This course is the optimum course for setting a new record.

“This is the flattest course I have ever seen. It will be possible for not only elite marathoners, but masters marathoners to shorten their records, “said Committee Deputy Chairman Yoo Moon-jong of the Korea Athletics Federation, after inspecting the course.

This course is set in the midst of the past Shilla dynasty and offers a detailed history lesson as well as ideal running conditions. Runners can set their eyes on Cheomseongdae, Daeneungwon, Anapji, Gyeongju National Museum and, Seokbinggo. The fallen leaves of the Gyeongju’s autumn will make the run even more enjoyable.

The Dong-A Ilbo Gyeongju International Marathon, which started out in 1993 and was the first tournament to start a masters division the next year, is hailed as a marathon mecca. When Dong-A Marathon moved to Seoul to become Seoul International Marathon in 2000, Dong-A Ilbo Gyeongju International Marathon became the course for master marathoners. This year, it will become an international event. Twelve thousand runners will be able to participate in 10 km, half course, and full course runs. Those interested can visit donga-marathon.com to apply.

yjongk@donga.com