Leading female marathoner to leap forward via Seoul Int`l Marathon

2 hours 27 minutes 20 seconds. This is the personal best record of Korea’s leading female marathoner Kim Seong-eun (Samsung Electronics) set in the 2013 Seoul International Marathon. With this record, Kim has become the closest among active female marathoners in Korea to the nation’s best record (2:26:12) set by Kwon Eun-joo in 1997. However, Kim’s goal for the 2015 Seoul International Marathon is not just setting a new domestic record in 18 years. Kim, who has been in training at Jeju Island for some 50 days, said on Monday, “My goal is to overcome myself.”

Kim was under big pressure for a good record last year. Although the star marathoner has won domestic women’s races for three consecutive times by winning the 2014 Seoul International Marathon, Kim couldn’t smile because of her disappointing record. In the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, she came in eighth, far from medal contention. “I felt that my physical strength was not good enough to achieve a record of 2 hours and 26 minutes. That moment, I realized it is more important to grow up as an athlete rather than focusing on setting a new record in the domestic women’s marathon,” she said.

Kim’s ultimate goal is to set a record around 2 hours and 23 minutes. To achieve this goal, an interim target was set to finish the race at 2 hours and 25 minutes. “I want to take this game as a springboard for another leap forward. Training has become more enjoyable after giving up the goal of setting a new domestic best record,” Kim said with a smile.

The training has been changed. First of all, the entire training amount has been increased. Kim and her coaches focus on developing physical endurance to maintain the pace in sections after 30 kilometers. From this month, Kim started training to boost up the speed. “I think physical strength has improved, better than last year. I am fully participating the training without getting injured,” the 26-years-old marathoner said.

Seoul International Marathon is a special game to Kim. Except for the 2011 race that she couldn’t compete due to an injury, Kim has been participating in this competition since 2010. Kim still cherishes the memory of setting her personal best record in the race of 2013. “The Seoul International Marathon is a rare competition held in Korea in which many high-level athletes participate. As the race is held in March, not a hot season, it is good to set a good record.”

“These days, I feel the way I felt in 2013. It seems a good sign. I feel more comfortable than that time, which I think is better. I believe a good result will come out when I enjoy the race, running in good condition, without attempting too much,” she expressed her commitment.