Dong-A Seoul International Marathon

The Dong-a Seoul Marathon is attempting to resurrect itself post-pandemic, following several years of virtual installments. Bizarrely, they capped the number of full-course runners at 3,000 and instituted a diabolically confusing lottery system. The website is Kafka-esque (see https://en.seoul-marathon.com/register/?idx=2). After making it onto the waiting list, I received an email intstructing me to pick up my race pack at the marathon expo, the day before the event. After several months of steady training, I called to ask about the location of the expo, and they told me that the email they'd sent was a 'mistake'. I wasn't able to participate after all! Very frustrating, to say the least. I ran this marathon in 2019 and 2017. Those years, the big problem was a huge lack of bathroom facilities. Before the start, there were literally hundreds of men urinating in odd corners of the starting plaza. The baggage storage trucks stopped accepting bags about 30 to 45 minutes before the start time and drove off, leaving some people inconvenienced. As for the course, it's alright if you like concrete and bland architecture. Also, be prepared for very toxic levels of fine dust in the air (unless you get a lucky break with the weather systems). The course is very flat, though, which can be a boon.