On December 11th, I participated in the annual Santa Festival Running Race at Olympic park with a bunch of teacher friends from all over South Korea. We were team "Santa's Sprinters" and together we participated in the 5 and 10km runs to raise money for charity.
It was possibly the colllllllddddddeeeeessssssstttttttttttt day of the year so far in Seoul -10oC!!!! with the windshield and gearing up for the race was rather painfully cold. However the Korean chearleaders were fearless in their mini-shirts as they led the crowd through a choreographed warm up. Nothing like watching 100 people do scissor kicks in unison.
ANNNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDDD stretch!!!!!
It was cool! I have never participated in an event where I needed a number pinned to me. I was always in sports that were organized in pre-seated heats. It was freazing though! Our fingers kept going numb before we could manage all 4 pins! lol
Braving the cold to help each other get ready for the race.
Thankfully the race fee included a complimentary scarf and santa hat which I took advantage of immediately! Red, warm and fuzzy. This race was especially great for me for two reasons. First, it gave me a bit of motivation to get out of the house and get active and secondly, it was super convenient being held at Mongchontoseong stn. at the peace gates right accross the street from my house!!
In true Korean fashion it was increadibly confusing and difficult to find our check in station, but in the end we got there.
They also seemed to have the running event sponsored by choco-pie and cookie companies that were giving out copious amounts of their product with coffee. HAHAHAHA! Come and run and then have a cookie, oh the rationalism of this country never fails to amuse me. 
I met some really great people during this event including Stacy Kirk (on the right) and Mayra Vargas (pictured with me at top).
A view of the Peace Gates at Olympic park. This was an extremely good day and a very worthwhile event. I have to thank Dominic Luther who organized this entire event and got everyone involved in this race. It was my first running race, and after this experice I know that a) I am dreadfully out of shape, but b) i would totally do it again. My competitive nature got the best of me. As soon as the gun went off, so did i at a run and I managed to run the ENTIRE THING!!!!!!!!!! 5km in 0:34:00 minutes!!! I was really surprised and quite pleased with myself. Large credit is due to Stacy who matched my pace exactly and chatted with me thw entire way. Thanks Stacy! After wards we celebrated with italian food and beer for lunch. Then it was off home for a shower and a nap! Good times and something new. Yay and MERRY CHRISTMAS! HOHOHO!!
haha! That was supposed to say -10oc with the windshield. but it felt like -100, just kidding!
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