On the Run

On this day exactly two years ago I laced up my ill-fitting Adidas sneakers and took my first run, a two mile out-and-back from the home where I stayed while teaching in England. Stressful teaching and a non-existent social life pushed me out the door for some much needed focus, positivity, and whatever vitamin D the gray skies could offer. Little did I know, that two mile run (okay, half walk/half run) would become part of my daily routine, and over the course of a few months I worked myself up to an uninterrupted five-miler. It's amazing what a rainy season in England can do to the one's mental stability…I actually looked forward to physical exertion! Whaaaa?

Thatch roof cottages along my England running route.

Battling the elements: Sun, rain, hail all during a single run.

 The rain jacket was a must-have for UK living, whether it be rain or my tears of sadness over the complete lack of sunshine. Mehhhhhh.

When I settled back in Bloomington my five-milers became practically a million-milers thanks to my BARA buddies! The Bloomington Area Runners Association held bi-weekly runs for runners of all ages, paces, and faces, either training for races or just body-movin'. Whether or I liked it or not, I got to know my running buddies pretty well. What else is there to do on a twenty-mile run but shoot the shit and tell funny stories? (Many of them involving, well, shit.) Thanks to my running buddies I learned everything I needed to know about how to run, when to run, where to run, what to wear on a run, what to eat on a run, how to drink after a run, how not to die on a run, etc. Thanks to my running buddies I ran my first 5k, 10k, half-marathon, and full marathon with only one year of running experience. Thanks to my running buddies I remained sane, optimistic, and grounded when running seemed like the only constant thing in my ever-changing, post-graduating, confusing life as a twenty-something. Man, I miss those running buddies a lot.

So many good times...

… and good post-race food…

… and god awful race photos shared with these amazing people!

(Note: the dude behind me is a complete stranger but probably an

 amazing person because he's running a marathon, too.)

But here I am on the opposite side of the world and I'm so glad to say that I'm still on my running game! Running in Korea is a bit…different. So I've compiled a list of the fun surprises and various oddities I've encountered since running here.

Running Attire

Whether we like it or not, runners in America love to wear running tights. And running tights leave little to the imagination. However, in Korea, the name of the game seems to be wearing as many layers as one possibly can while on a run. This often includes tights with shorts, a long-sleeve shirt with some kind of windbreaker, gloves, a buff over the face, and a hat to top it all off. My running partner Lauren and I just discussed this today, and we are not sure if runners do this because they are used to the hot, hot heat of humid Korean summers, thus feeling extra chilled when the temperature is below 50 degrees, or if they are literally terrified of allowing any sun to touch their skin. Lauren said runners (almost always men…I can count on one hand how many female runners I've seen in my city) will sport this running attire throughout the year, no matter what the temperature is. Regardless, I am looking forward to wearings shorts again and I'm sure my Bloomington runners feel the same way.

As you can see, my running girls and 

me still rock the tights. And Lauren always 

runs with approximately 2-3 buffs at a time.

Encouragement from Strangers

Strange things happen to me as a foreigner, and this often includes extra stares and attention not only while running but also simply existing under the gaze of the public eye. (It sounds creepy but you get used to it.) Sure, people look at runners around Bloomington, but never have I received the waves, thumbs up, fist pumps, or words of encouragement that I get from the Koreans. They love it! And I love it! There is nothing better than feeling tired during a run and having some old man wave you down from the sidelines just to say, "HEY! Keep going, foreign lady!" << not a direct translation. 

Running Sites

Running in the company of mountains and fresh water was a huge change compared to Bloomington. My weekly routes often includes a view of Mun-su Mountain, as well as the Taewah River. Running along the Taewah is amazing because it goes for miles. Plus, the running path is made of the squishy material which feels like heaven and kind of reminds me of my childhood at Discovery Zone. Sometimes Lauren, Beth, and I see exotic animals in the river. And other times we see men practicing their trumpet in the bamboo forest. Sometimes we see ajummas powerwalking in packs. And we often see ajashees riding their bike while listening to the radio.

The bamboo forest is a perfect place

 to practice any brass instrument.

A view of my neighborhood from 

the opposite side of the river.

One of the many available bridges, which makes 

the river an ideal place for any length of run.

A traditional Korean home along 

a pond near my neighborhood.

On a recent long run to Costco (we planned to run there, eat pizza, and taxi back), the three of us were accompanied by an older Korean man slowly riding his bike. After a mile of shadowing it became clear that he wanted to stick with us, and we were all for it. I love extra running company! He wasn't offended by my frequent snot rockets, either, and he let us drink from his own water bottle. Sure, he lead us way past Costco and the 14-miler turned into a 17-miler, but what's three extra miles when you make a new Korean friend who serenades you from his bicycle? 

Yep...that really happened.

Here is Beth's photo to prove it.

And in case you were wondering, 

we got the pizza.

Races

Races here are cheap. Real cheap. Like, 75 percent less expensive than at home. The Carmel Marathon cost roughly 100 US dollars to register. The Gyeongju Cherry Blossom marathon? Thirty dollars. (Yes, I signed up for another marathon. Lauren made me.) The best part is that the 5k and 10k are ten dollars cheaper than the full. WHAT KIND OF CRAZY WORLD AM I LIVING IN? Anyway, the marathon will be my second official race in Korea, because two weeks ago I completed the Ulsan Half Marathon right here in my own backyard!

"Sarah Powe"

Because English names are longer than Korean names.

The race was amazing, the weather was perfect for running, and the starting line was literally ten minutes from my doorstep. It was Beth's first official race so we stuck together for most of it, and I'm glad we did because stuff was weird! In a great way! The first difference occurred at the starting line. There were no corrals and the crowd formed alongside the runners in a supportive, organic fashion. I felt neither separate from nor constricted by the spectators. It was beautiful. Next, moments before starting, all the runners began a series of stretches together lead by the emcee. These stretches were more meant for fun than for the sake of actually stretching, but I really enjoyed it. After stretching individually all the runners formed rows and massaged the shoulders of the runner in front of them. Then we all turned around and returned the favor. Then we all counted down and yelled "Fighting!" over and over until the gun went off. I'M NOT EVEN MAKING THIS UP, YOU GUYS. It was incredible. 

The race itself was really cool, too, because a lot of it was similar to races I've done at home. There were water stops (only water, no sports drinks) and at the 10k mark they had banana slices (no Gu or energy supplements). We had chips in our bibs to track our progress and log our times, and musicians played alongside the course just like they do at home. Rather than running to rock bands, however, traditional Korean drums and cymbals lead me through the race. And lead me they did, right past some perturbed Asian men who were not the least bit happy to be passed on a uphill by some silly American girl. (Sorry, dudes! Can't stop, won't stop.) Perhaps the greatest part, though, was the extra cheers I received from spectators either because I am foreign or female...or maybe both. I totally felt like a celebrity nearing the finish line! Some women even ran next to me or extended their arms to touch me. Why? I'll never know exactly, but it is the closest thing I'll get to feeling famous. All in all, the race was a success and Lauren, Beth, and I all came in under our 2:00 goal. 

Beth and I made friends with this guy

around the 7 mile mark. We knew he spoke English

because we caught him laughing at our running gossip.

My official time was 1:52.

"FIGHTING!"

The thought of moving to a new country and not being able to run was a real concern, as running has become part of my daily routine. Yet I'm so lucky to have beautiful new sights to see and beautiful new friends to see them with. Sure, I've gotten creative with running fuel (raw honey!) and running clothes (they're clean until I can see salt deposits!) but at the end of the day, I run because it makes me feel good and we all deserve time in the day to make ourselves feel good. That, and how else can I get the soju out of my blood stream if I don't sweat it out? (HA! Just kidding.) Find something you love, love finding time for yourself, and enjoy the sights, people, and adventures along the way. 

In memory of my wonderful grandmother, Lucille,

who always made time for her greatest loves:

crosswords, peanut butter, 

and grandchildren.