Tomorrow, 20,000 hearts will beat in downtown Seoul

The Seoul Half Marathon 2024 (co-organized by Chosun Ilbo, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Seoul Sports Federation) is just one day away. More than 20,000 runners, the largest number ever, will take off from Gwanghwamun Square at 8 a.m. on the 28th and run through the city's traffic-filled roads to Yeouido Park for the 10-kilometer race and Sangam World Cup Park Peace Plaza for the half marathon (21.0975 kilometers). The experience of crossing the two Han River bridges, Mapo Bridge and Yanghwa Bridge, in the middle of a strong wind (once over Mapo Bridge in the 10-kilometer race) is unforgettable. Along the way, acoustic bands and colorful song-and-dance busking teams will entertain you along the way.

With more than 20,000 runners in the center of Seoul, there are a few things to keep in mind. The roads will be closed from early morning on race day, so it's best to take the subway to get there. Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5, Seoul City Hall Station on Line 1-2, and Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3 are close to Gwanghwamun Square. Yeouido Park, the 10-kilometer finish line, is accessible from Yeouido Station on Line 5 and 9, while the half-marathon finish line, Sangam World Cup Park, is near the World Cup Stadium Station on Line 6. The start time is 8 a.m., but runners have until 7:20 a.m. to finish storing their items. After that, the storage vehicles will depart to their respective destinations. The half-marathon and 10-kilometer categories have different destinations, so it"s important to check which category you"ve signed up for.

At the start time, the four half marathon groups (A to D) will start one after the other, followed by the five 10 km groups (A to E). If you do not wear the official bib issued by the organizers or do not start in the designated group, your time will not be measured and you will be disqualified. If you feel unwell or see a participant who looks out of sorts, look for nearby emergency personnel. You can also call 911 for help. They will be wearing a green and white cross on their vests. The time limit for the half-marathon is 2 hours and 30 minutes, and 1 hour and 30 minutes for the 10 kilometers. If you don't finish within that time, you'll have to board a shuttle bus provided by the organizers.

It"s going to be sunny and hot in Seoul on the 28th, the day of the Seoul Half Marathon. It"ll feel like early summer with a daytime high of 29 degrees. The low in the morning will be 14 degrees, and the high will be around 20 degrees during the morning hours of the marathon. To prevent heat stroke, you'll need to stay hydrated during the run. There will be water stations every 5 kilometers. Fine dust levels are forecast to be 'moderate'.