Korea...Fighting!

I ran another road race in Busan, this one a half marathon. This time I was legally entered into the race. The race went pretty well considering that I wasn't even planning on competing the day before when I was coughing up a lung and couldn't really breathe. But I decided to do the big boy thing and run it anyways. Seeing as I had trained for it, planned for it and paid for it. The biggest bummer of the race was the timing. I had to miss the USA-England soccer match/insult and drinking fest. Though I'm sure there will be upcoming drinking, soccer and insult fests that I can attend in the next few World Cup weeks.

So back to the race. it was real purdy. The course worked its way up a dirt road into the mountains outside of Busan. It was all on dirt roads and paths...and hills. not great for running super fast, but nice to look at. The Korean runners give lots of support too. It was an out and back, or should I say up and back course. On the way back, like 90% of the runners I intersected gave some sort of shout of encouragement, or a grunt or a V for victory sign. It put a smile on my face, which isn't that easy 8 miles into a half marathon.

I ended up running 1:20 and getting second place...and collecting 200,000 won in prize money, which is 165$. This was a nice surprise and something I knew nothing about. But it will definitially keep me training, as the competition here isn't too strong, but the prizes are.



So the World Cup started. you may not know this in America, but in Korea it's huge. For the opening match vs. Greece, Busan opened up their world cup stadium from 2002 ( which, by the way sits empty 350 days a year, just like the stadiums in South Africa will.) About 40,000 red dressed Red Devils turned out. Click on the little movie above and listen to the crowd after Korea's second goal. They go nuts. And that's not me screaming. Promise.


Some Korean girls showing their pride for the soccer team. I'm told girls take pictures with peace signs up by their face to try and make their face look smaller, which is a sign of beauty. Judge for yourself.


They put like 6 dancers in the middle of the field to liven up the crowd. They looked like little ants running around. They broadcast the game on the big screen at the other end of the field. It was a great atmosphere. You could bring all your own beer, sit in the stadium for free and make lots of noise. Unfortunately this was the last event of my night. Most of my friends used this as a warm up to the other games of the night, that didn't conclude until 6am. Next weekend, is what I say. I'll show those young kids how to party.


Here are a couple pictures of my local beach, Dadaepo beach at sunset. It's 4 miles away and a pleasant bike ride. There is a nightly fountain show with lights and music. Just imagine the Bellagio fountain with people sitting around it in beach chairs.

Also, the weather has been beautiful. I saw some Seattle folks post on Facebook about how great the weather was for 3 days. I wanted to respond that it has been that nice for the past 7 weeks here. It feels nice to experience my first spring.