Pyongyang Marathon

if you're being serious, you should look into running Seoul instead. You'll have a much better time.

It was a serious question! I'm not looking to run a marathon particularly soon. Maybe in a couple of years, maybe a decade. So even if I could I'm not sure I want take the opportunity to run in Pyongyang, but I was just really intrigued about the race.

I've seen several documentaries about North Korea. You can go to Pyongyang, but you are only allowed to visit certain places and must always be accompanied by an official tourguide. I suppose this is what you'd expect if you go over for the marathon too. I do wonder why they put on the race. But there are a few decent runners, 2:10-15 men, 2:25-2:30 women, and I suppose this way they don't have to go abroad as often.

Regarding your suggestion, do you mean that I'd have a better time or just run a better time? Apparently both marathons are IAAF Bronze Label Road Races.

I'd love to run a marathon in Pyongyang, just to do it. I'd get the hell outta there as soon as I finished, though. And I'd keep my trap shut. No spouting about how great life is in America!

I always enjoy reading stuff about North Korea. I have one friend (American) who has been there and he says it was bizarre.

There was a window of opportunity in 2001 to run the Pyongyang Marathon, for one year only. The price was something like $1200 or $1500 for everything, flight from Beijing, 3 night hotel stay, race entry, even food, and yes, Americans were welcome.

I visited the North Korean embassy in Vientiane Laos in 2003 to try to get into the Pyongyang marathon but my inquiry went nowhere. I tried calling the sports federation in 2004 to try to get in, but that went nowhere as well.

The closest I ever got to Pyongyang was meeting the North Korean delegation to the Xiamen Marathon in 2004. Interesting people. The women were absolutely the most homely gals that I have ever seen.

Stay in touch w/ a guy named Nick Bonner who runs Koryo Tours in Beijing.

Nick lived in DPRK in the 90s, and is very close to many people there. He will tell you the skinny, and what is and is not feasible.

I went in 2002 as an American, which was a rare opportunity (Jason's friend). Nick blasted out an email to all US citizens he knew, and we had 2 weeks to get ready for a 4 day 3 night tour.

Pics

http://www.pbase.com/walsh888/north_korea

Strangest place in the world....

Just to add to what "Off the Grid" had to say...yes I have spoken on the phone with Nick Bonner, and he's able to offer an "Americans Only" tour for the "Mass Games" but not the marathon.

I haven't inquired about running the Pyongyang marathon since 2005. I don't think that the political situation has improved much, and has probably gotten worse.

I know 2 guys who have run their PR's in Pyongyang, Uli Steidl (German living in Seattle, 2:13) and Kim Gilliard of Australia , 2:15.

Thanks for the info. I'm English, not American, so I imagine that might make it a little easier for me to enter the country.

Does anyone know if there is more comprehensive results anywhere (there is a link on wikipedia which has top 10 or 20). I'm just wondering if it would be a suitable race if I were going for 2:40-2:50, if men and women run together etc.

Try Nick. He is a very low temperature dude, and will steer you in the right direction

Pyongyang is pancake flat, and I am sure the citizenry will be out. They almost never see foreigners. So support would be adequate (if 1970s vintage) but this is not a mass participation event. Most people walk to work because there is no other way to get there. The DPRK is running out of everything except weapons. I never saw anybody exercising for the hell of it. This would be a waste of calorie, and city dwellers are most at risk of starvation.

Its a cruel, sad place. What precious little we saw of regular North Korea people convinced me that they are very simple and genuine. It did not take a lot to get them to warm up, despite us being evil Americans. I will be extremely happy when the Kim dynasty ends w/ all of them being put up against the wall.

I went to North Korea with a Chinese tour group last year and really fell in love with that country. Very friendly, nice, hospitable people. Definitly not the American style of live, but I prefer a world with diversity.

I also would be interested to participate in the Pyongyang Marathon. As I am living in Beijing, travelling there is not such a big issue in terms of time and cost (closer than Shanghai).

If anyone has any information how to participate in the 2012 event, please send me a message.

Except becoming admitted, the challenge is the date of the event. A Marathon in April means preparation has to start in January. Not a pleasant time to run in Beijing.

I have tried to travel to Pyongyang for the Pyongyang Marathon for the last 10 years, without luck. This year I contacted the folks at the Koryo Group (koryotours.com) and they sent me an application form which I duly submitted, but it was mysteriously "lost" by someone along the line. My own conclusion is that Americans are officially "welcome" to run but unofficially banned. Just one more place along with certain gyms in Bangkok where I am BANNED.

Sounds like you've got quite the reputation Jason :)

Bump

It's going to be a wide open field this year since Kim Jong-Il is no longer able to win it....

Here is a report in German from the agent of this year's winner Oleksandr Matviychuk:

http://www.wochenblatt.de/nachrichten/altoetting/regionales/Nordkorea-Marathon-Pyongyang-Eiserner-Vorhang-Vogl

;art22,109135

...and here's a video of this year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDDX3z4Wh0s

I checked it out on Wikipedia and I was expecting to see Kim Jong Il as the frequent winner.

Dicky Henderson wrote:

Does anyone know anything about the Pyongyang Marathon? It appears to be quite a decent international race with quite a few Kenyans and others from other countries running decent times. Seems like an interesting race to do, but there isn't any information on any website as far as I can see. Does anyone know anything, like if it is invitation only?

I would avoid NK as a travel destination. All it takes is one heated conflict with the U.S and you'll be round up and thrown in as a political prisoner in the blink of an eye. It's a no go.

Had to be done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYBCgV6a5kE

(Not a Rick Roll)

High Wire wrote:

Had to be done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYBCgV6a5kE

(Not a Rick Roll)

Korean Rick Roll - same thing.