I did not run at this year’s Gyeongju International Marathon for the first time in three years. The recent persistence of hypotension and some personal circumstances have abruptly cut off the 12-week training for what would have been my half marathon. But I was there at gun time - to witness the rush of adrenaline as thousands of runners disperse into the distance, and to cheer for my two young daughters who proudly pinned a tiny Philippine flag on their race bib.
Jajah and Marxia running their second Gyeongju International Marathon
Two years ago, I also wrote an article about running as my life’s metaphor. Running is all about endurance, and that is basically how I get through life’s difficulties as well. What I like about running is the common ground among runners – the silent motivation to reach one’s goals without the dictates of competition (except for elite runners). The race sets off and you race against time, and not against each other. 
The elite runners at gun time.
Running is a favorite pastime among Koreans, being avid about wellness and sports. Their overt fondness for marathons draws admiration. You see flocks of spruced up girls running alongside, a couple at their senescence, a paraplegic on a wheelchair – all dauntlessly weathering the distance.
Their fondness for the sport is understandable. Running bears a significant part in the Korean history during the 1936 Berlin Olympics when Sohn Kee Chung took the gold. But Japan had the official gold credit since Korea was under the rule of the Japanese Empire. Sohn expressed his dissent by refusing to sign his name in Japanese characters and bowed his head in protest at the awarding ceremony. He later became a heroic symbol of nationalism and patriotic sentiments.
Sohn Kee Chung holding the oak leaves
to cover the Japanese flag emblazoned on his chest.
Running also brings a patriotic wave for me. I wear my flag conspicuously above my race bib - my tradition each time I run in Korea - which is the best part of the race. I hope to get back to running soon. Again, I will run against myself and my own time. I will also run with others who live the same metaphor as mine. After all, it is a discipline that has nothing to do with speed, social status, educational achievements, or political affiliations. It is about enduring the painful process of getting to the finish line that bears witness to the persevering spirit.
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