Ground for challenge and festival - 2011 Daegu International Marathon Race review

The 2011 Daegu international marathon race was hosted on last Sunday, 10 Apr.

This event attracted people’s attention for participating elite runners ahead of the IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011. In fact, we were wondering more how many runners will finish the marathon except elite athletes. Actually, there are many elite runners dropping out for pace control problem.

We were surprised at the fact that many ordinary peoples challenged for this race. 

We will relay the scene of that day. 

It was a hectic morning in Gukchae-bosang Memorial Park and due to traffic control for race preparation, a lot of people poured into the park.

At 8 am, everything is ready perfectly. Some people are exercising by twos and threes and others taking photos. The ceremony was presided over by comedian Dong Sung Bae from 8:30 a.m. and there was the opening event before the starting.

The Air Force Logistics Command Band performed next to the starting line and also there was Daegu-based Samsung Lions baseball cheerleader team’s exciting stage.

A lot of VIP members including the president of IAAF, Lamine Diack and vice-president, Sergey Nazarovich Bubka were participated in the event.

After the introduction of VIP members, president of IAAF had brief interview. 

During the interview, elite athletes were warming up and waiting for the departure.

The coach, Young Jo Hwang came and checked the status of runners in person.

Upon hearing the bell-tolling of Dalgubeol Grand Bell, elite athletes started.

Masters full course and 10km course runners were followed.

Many marathon club members were running in master’s full course and ordinary student, office worker and children were joined in 10 km course.

In fact, around 14,000 public peoples were participated in this race and it took long time to see the tail of running flock.

Less than 30 minutes, the participants in 10 km course began to cross the finishing line. Moreover, we were all surprised at women winner’s record of 37 minutes.

Volunteers in past the finish line were busy for distributing water and tissue to the finished Elite runners. They were running one lap when ordinary runners were just going to have a rest. 

We see the face of athlete Min Kim in leading group in early stage but he failed to control his running pace.

After 2 hours and 8 minutes, the first runner in elite course crossed the finish line finally.

Chebll Songoka was the winner in men’s and Atsede Besuye took the first place in women’s. In the interview with winners, Songoka said he could get good record because of fine weather and course and would like to get better result in Championships 2011.

Unexpectedly, the flat course was difficult for her and she was delighted to have won the competition in Korea for the first time.

In awards ceremony, LOC co-president, Bum Il Kim and president of IAAF delivered laurel, bouquet and prize to men’s winner and LOC co-president Hae Nyung Cho and vice-president of IAAF awarded to women’s winner.

I really admire the look of runners without surrender to the end.

This is the only start for upcoming challenge.