Marathon Details - Dong-A Ilbo Gyeongju International Marathon

International Marathons > Korea (South) > Hwangsung > Dong-A Ilbo Gyeongju International Marathon

Dong-A Ilbo Gyeongju International Marathon

Dong-A Ilbo Gyeongju International Marathon & HM, 10K, 5K

Hwangsung, Korea (South)

October 19, 2024

http://www.gyeongjumarathon.com

News

Marathon Results

Top 3 Finishers by Year

Contact Information

Name:	Wha-Kyung Choi
Address:	139 Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-715 Korea
Phone Number:	+82-2-2020-0311
Fax Number:	+82-2-2020-1639
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (1)

Course 4.0

Organization 3.0

Spectators 3.0

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Number of comments: 1

L. S. from Singapore (11/20/2019)

"Marathon in the ancient City of Gyeongju" (about: 2019)

50+ previous marathons | 1 Dong-A Ilbo Gyeongju International Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3

The Gyeongju Marathon is held annually in mid-October at the ancient capital of South Korean's Kingdom Of Silla (57BC-935AD). It is fast marathon with a cut-off of FM 5hrs & HM 2.5hrs. They have a rudimentary English mobile page but clicking on the 'English version' in their desktop website brings you to a third party "World Marathons" site to register.

The start & finish of this year's marathon was at the Gyeongju Civic Stadium. The majority of the marathon bibs were sent to Korean addresses by post. There was only a one page list of foreigners collecting our numbers on the day of our run. The baggage deposit was smooth & efficient, staffed by energetic students & volunteers. The atmosphere at the marathon village was cheerful & enthusiastic, with a stage performance by young Korean dancers. The temperature was 11C & misty.

The marathon started promptly at 9am. Distance markers were regular & accurate. First Aiders featured very prominently during the run. They dragged white, helium balloons marked with a red cross. They ran, spaced out at different speeds, to cover the whole marathon. Pacer groups are few & far between due to short cut-offs.

The course brought us to the countryside, past a few UNESCO sites & over the tributary of the Hyeongsan River. Mostly flat & along roadways, we ran past rice & vegetable plantations in colorful autumn scenery. Refreshment counters & first aid stations came as promised, but they didn't serve energy bars. There were two sponge stations & 5 traditional percussion groups along the HM route that I ran.

At 5km, we ran past the Donggung Palace & Anapji Pond. We then turned left to Gyeongju's Cheomseongda, a cultural heritage site with its astronomical observatory, the oldest in East Asia during Queen Silla's reign. Along the main road Geumseong-ro, we ran past by Gyeongju's wet market to double back to Hyeongsan River at 10km, and Silla Oreung. This was the location of Silla Tombs. Then along the river we turned left to the main road Wonhwa-ro at 16km, and towards Gyeongju's Main Train Station, before returning to the marathon village.

Due to their stringent cut-offs, most runners were fast & fit. It is likely that the FM route will bring runners to more cultural sites of Gyeongju, an ancient city known as "the museum without walls".