Jeju run

Last weekend some friends and I traveled to Jeju for the 12th Jeju Marathon Festival. Julia and I ran our first 10k races, and Sloane and Monique ran the half marathon (Monique's first half).

People in Jeju are really nice. Like, going-out-of-their-way-for-you nice, like the taxi driver who didn't charge me when he got confused about where to go and made sure I was in the right place, or the women who ran the hotel we were stayed in, or my friend's boss who drove me to the airport so I didn't have to run to catch the shuttle. Really great folks.

The night before the race:
We decided to make dinner in the hotel since we had a lovely little kitchenette, and there was much silliness.


I laughed a LOT. Like, got to the point where I was laughing because I couldn't stop laughing. Good times.

We woke to cold and gray. There were several muttered "screw-you Jeju!"'s as we got ready to head to the shuttle at 7:30 in the morning (!!!). I blame the early hour and nerves for the bus photos.

Pre-race:

Don't mess with us.


On the shuttle to the race

more bus silliness:



During the pre-race:
Those Canadian girls are tough


The four of us


The field before the race


There was one other Westerner running, and so while there was a Japanese translator (indicating there must have been a pretty big Japanese group there) we were a pretty visible minority. My friend Dan's boss wanted to meet us at the race, and as a way to tell her how to find us I said, "Well, we are a group of 4 tall white women. We should be pretty hard to miss." Indeed.

Race:
Right after the race started, the sun came out. It was a beautiful course, with waves crashing against white beaches and black lava rocks, and clear blue and green water that looked a bit unreal. There was enough of a breeze that although it ended up being hotter than I expected given the start to the day, it wasn't too bad at all.



The run felt good. Every time there was a camera on the course, it was aimed at me, but it was balanced by the kids and other folks cheering as I ran past. At the end, even the police officers lining the entrance to the stadium were clapping and shouting - it was awesome.

Finish:

dork-tastic, but happy

Julia and me after the race


This guy ran the race in this get-up. When we asked him why, he replied "I am Japanese," as if that was reason enough.


Post-race:
I had to leave to get to the airport soon after my friend Dan showed up at the race
,
but I was able to see Monique finish (I think I just missed Sloane's finish - dang it!) and his boss Michelle (popping in behind us) gave me a ride to the airport. I didn't get to see much of Jeju at all, but the race was awesome, I got to hang out with some pretty amazing friends, and I was able to do something I wasn't sure I was going to be able to accomplish.