Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dino.sue]

I'm going to be moving to Seoul to teach starting July. I like to run outdoors, and want to know if I can expect to find places to run in Seoul. Are there parks with trails? Or, would it be really weird for a white girl to be running for fitness? (I know when I've been in other countries, such as India, it was just culturally weird to run outdoors for fitness, especially as a woman!)

Thanks in advance!

[nolegirl]

How do you enjoy running??? I really don't get it.

Take up Kung-fu or something , that would at least be fun.

[the ireland]

seoul has great running spots, especially around the han river, you could run for hours and hours without having to turn around.

the runningtimes marathon forum has a lot of people living in seoul there.

http://runningtimes.com/forum/index.php?

lots of white people running around the han so i wouldn't worry about sticking out, you will get lots of friendly waves and hellos though.

[Lekker]

I run all the time on the han. watch out for dumbass bike riders who think they are lance armstrong but they are slowed down by the traction on their mountain bikes. They also sometimes don't give you the space you need, many times I have been brushed in the arm by some dickhead on a mountain bike with a ding ding bell on it. And everytime it was someone who is decked out in all the latest racing gear, but they're on a mountain bike. ???

[joeyinasia]

Get yourself a good partical mask so you don't fill your lungs with chit...

[ddeubel]

I started a running club with some others and we have a network at http://runkorea.ning.com

Meet on the Han Sat. mornings and others email and arrange meetings.

I've been injured and on hiatus and haven't checked the network for a bit....but I'll be back

Don't worry NO problems with a white girl running here! Lots of runners , female, male, inbetween

Message someone on the network and they can give you lots of info. Eoin, Percy, Chris ......

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

[CeleryMan]

Seoul is Prefontaine's paradise...

[cisco kid]

OP, what kind of running shoes do you wear/use?

[R-Seoul]

There is a fantastic 6km trail on Namsan mountain, which is exclusively for runners & walkers (no bikes allowed). It's a bit of a heart stopper getting to the trail in the first place but once up there there are fantastic views of the city below.
And yes plenty of female runners, you'll get the odd friendly wave from runners coming the other way too.

[cisco kid]

I'm not trying to hijack this thread, and I'll start another thread if that's what protocol calls for, but if anyone wants to answer this question...much appreciated.

I bought a pair of 160,000 won Nike running shoes last year and they don't fit that well. I'm not sure if it's the Asian sizes, I tried the equivalent of a 9.5 USA size and it was too small...I had to go up to the equivalent of a US size 11 - and the shoes are a little big...but the size 10 would've been too small.

Anyway, my question is twofold: 1. Has anyone else experienced this problem? 2. Has anyone found a place that sells running shoes in US sizes? Thanks very much for your help.


Oh, wait...question 3!

I've been running for about a month, and can only run 2-3 kilometers at a normal fast jog before I pass out from exhaustion...(I quit smoking a couple of months ago) how long will it take me (running every day) to get to say, 5-7 kilometers? Thanks again...

[hogwonguy1979]

[hogwonguy1979]

[cdninkorea]

I live at the foot of Namsan and twice a week run up, down, up again and down again. It's about 90 minutes and very intense.
Yes, you can run here but it would be weird in the middle of downtown, especially because the air quality in heavy traffic is bad.

[kimuchiii]

[cisco kid]