On a chilly Saturday morning at the Hangang River’s waterside park in Seoul, I was gearing up for the 10-kilometer run of the Savings Day Marathons.

The emcees were screaming over loud background music. Those running the half-course of the Oct. 19 event had already left and it was my turn, along with several hundred others, to start. I tightened the laces of my trainers once again, checked whether the brim of my cap could block the blinding sunrays, and did some simple stretching. And to the sound of a gun, I ran.

For about 7 kilometers, it was not a big problem. The weather was nice, people were chatting with each other and everything felt all right. I jog about 5 kilometers about 2-3 days a week and it was just a little stretch from my normal routine, I thought.

At around 8 kilometers, I first felt my feet hurt. Blisters on my soles ― my strangely formed feet always have them ― were swollen and my muscles were tightening. By the time I reached 9 kilometers, it wasn’t fun anymore. I kept asking myself, “Why am I doing this when I am not getting paid?” I was perspiring and thirsty. But all I could do was run to the finish line so I could get some rest.

But surprisingly, when I reached the end, all I could think was, “I could have done more!” At the end of the day, over a glass of beer and fried shrimp, I vowed to feel that invigoration and fresh air against my cheeks again. I have since signed up for another event ― this time, a half-course of 21.0975 km.

Running boom

Korea is currently seeing an astoundingly rapid increase in the number of marathoners or runners. Field insiders estimate around 4 million people to be some sort of runner. And in October alone, which is said to be the best season for running, more than 100 marathons or running competitions are held around the country.

“We get about 15 new members every year. It is surprising that most of them have run by themselves in the past by jogging and on the first day when we take a 14-kilometer run from Seocho-dong in southern Seoul to Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, people take it quite well,” said Lee Jong-seok, a seasoned member of a Seoul marathon club.

“The well-being boom has definitely affected people. Instead of wasting time on drinking and binge eating, people put on their trainers and run on the weekends.”

Motivation for running varies, but the majority start for health reasons.

Former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer wrote in his book “My Long Race Towards Myself” how he started running one day, leading him to eventually drop 37 kilograms within a year. He tried a marathon less than a year after he started running and completed it, which dramatically improved his health and more importantly, his self-esteem.

“Before, my incontrollable lifestyle of binge eating and mingling without exercising grew on me, resulting in obesity and even more serious problems, lethargy and self-loathing. That’s not there anymore,” he wrote, adding that he always tries to find the best jogging course wherever he goes.

Running has great health benefits because it involves all parts of the body to enhance endurance and muscle strength, said Park Won-hah, a doctor at Samsung Seoul Hospital.

“It also burns a lot of calories in a short period of time, which helps you lose weight. In the first 30 minutes of exercise, your body consumes glycogen but after that, the body burns fat. It helps your blood circulation, too, and that’s good for prevention of adult diseases,” he said.

“One other notable thing is that you can experience a ‘runner’s high’ which helps to keep you running despite the fatigue, boredom and discomfort,” he added.

Why run?

But there must be more than losing weight or staying in shape that has hundreds of thousands of people giving up sleeping in to run.

“When I first ran, I was quite devastated and frustrated about personal issues. I needed to concentrate on one thing,” says an office worker, who declined to be named. She said running has helped her cultivate a new life.

“I wasn’t exactly a sports person. I wasn’t good at any sport. But running was simple. Just run until you are burnt out. I liked that. But as soon as I started running, I realized there is something more than simply moving your legs. My mind got clearer and I felt happier. It’s not the runner’s high but it was a great and consoling moment. And since then I just want to run, run and run. I am not aiming for medals and trophies. There’s just something great about running,” she added.

So maybe there’s something more to exercising, losing weight, feeling rejuvenated and more. Not many people can say for sure what their goal is.

Famed novelist Haruki Murakami, who is also an everyday jogger and full-course marathon runner, said in his book, “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running,” that “To a runner like me, the most important thing is to finish each course with my legs. Convince myself that I had tried my best and endured everything that I can .... At least I didn’t walk a bit.”

“That sounds like it,” said Lee.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)