"Pink Ribbon Love Marathon" in Gwangju, June 20th; other upcoming runs and deadlines.

Poster for Busan's Pink Ribbon Marathon, coming Sunday the 18th.

Thanks to Gwangju-based Kimchi and Cornbread for bringing word of the "Pink Ribbon Love Marathon" (핑크리본사랑마라톤) coming to Gwangju on June 20th. There are runs under this Pink Ribbon name in Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Seoul throughout the year, to benefit breast cancer, a run about which Google will tell you more. The event in Gwangju will take place at the World Cup Stadium and will have 10K and 5K runs (maps here), and it costs 10,000 won to enter. Kimchi and Cornbread walks you through registering in Korean if you need some assistance. Just note that the marathon website says registration opened on March 15th and will continue until 3,000 have signed up, so if you're interested get in quick because the spots will no doubt go.

Also on her post she writes:

If you are a runner in Korea it can be quite difficult to hear about and register for organized races. This hit home when last week I planned a group run in Gwangju at the exact same time a major marathon was going on in my neighborhood. Even being slightly in the know and being able to recognize the Korean word for marathon, at no point had I heard about this run.

I wrote about the Honam International Marathon twice---on January 1st and March 8th---and once the year before, so there are resources for English-speaking runners in Jeollanam-do [insert winking smiley]. As far as other big races in the area:

* There's one more day left to sign up for the Jangseong Hong Gil-dong Marathon (장성홍길동마라톤대회) on May 2nd.

* Registration for the June 13th Yeonggwang Marathon (2010 굴비골영광마라톤대회) ends on May 29th.

* Registration for the September 4th Suncheon Bay Ultra Marathon (순천만울트라마라톤대회) started on April 1st.

* The Geumseongsan Mountain Trail Marathon (금성산산길마라톤축제) takes place in Naju on September 12th, with registration going until August 15th. As with last time, the man in charge is willing to help:

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen from overseas!

Please register for Geumsungsan Mt. Marathon Race online.
If the online registration system doesn't work, please e-mail your information to me!
I will help you to register.
My e-mail address is ncs6745@hanamil.net
Sincerely,
Chun-Soo NA
Diretor of Naju Marathon Office

* Sign-up for the October 2nd Gangjin Celadon Ultra Marathon (강진청자 울트라마라톤) begins on May 1st.

* Registration for the "regular" Gangjin Marathon (강진청자전국마라톤대회) on October 31st, with the variety of races you can expect at these runs, goes from March until October 1st.

* No information for registration given for the Hwasun Goindol Marathon (화순고인돌마라톤대회) on October 31st, but you should be fine.

* The Suncheon Marathon (순천남승룡마라톤대회) takes place on November 13th, registration open until September 30th.

* On November 14th is the Damyang Metasequoia Marathon (담양메타세쿼이아전국마라톤), named after the scenic road in the county lined with largish trees. The website has information about 2009's run, but I guess you should sign up in the summer or early fall if you want to do it.

There are several websites that list races in Korean, and I do my best on this site to keep track of races and registration deadlines for southwestern Korea, so keep checking back. Time permitting I'll profile some of these in greater detail as the registration deadlines approach.

Those of you in and around Seoul should take a look at the Seoul Flyers Running Club page.