Join Andrew as he shares his thrilling adventure at the Gyeongju Marathon in South Korea. He discusses the excitement of the race day, highlights traditional Korean music, and reflects on the challenges faced, including a surprising knee injury. Hear about his carb-loading strategies and the emotional rollercoaster of unmet goals. Despite the hurdles, Andrew's positivity shines through as he vows to train harder for his next marathon. It's a heartfelt and inspirational journey filled with insights for runners and enthusiasts alike!
Andrew's experience highlights the importance of careful preparation, such as carb-loading, to enhance marathon performance and energy levels.
The unexpected challenges like knee pain and disappointing race times emphasize resilience and the commitment to training for future events.
Deep dives
The Journey to the Marathon
The host shares his excitement about participating in the 2024 Gyeongju Marathon, highlighting his love for running. He describes the road trip to Gyeongju with his running buddy, including their discussion about the upcoming marathon. However, their journey is marked by a sudden rainstorm, which raises concerns about the weather for the race. Despite the ominous conditions, they arrive at their hotel to find clearer skies, helping to ease their anxiety.
Carb-Loading Strategies
Before the marathon, the runners engage in carb-loading, a common practice among marathon participants to ensure they have enough energy. They meticulously plan their meals, aiming to consume the recommended amount of carbohydrates, including bagels, rice, and pasta. The host humorously recounts the challenges of meeting carb-loading guidelines, leading him to explore liquid sources of carbohydrates as an alternative. Ultimately, they choose to bring their own meals to avoid gastrointestinal issues that could arise from trying unfamiliar foods before the race.
Challenges During the Race
As the marathon begins, the host initially feels great and maintains his target pace, buoyed by the excitement of the event and the invigorating atmosphere. However, he soon begins to experience knee pain around the 12-kilometer mark, which escalates as he continues. Despite the discomfort, he pushes on, even considering finishing the half marathon instead of the full course. Ultimately, the knee pain becomes too much to handle, leading him to decide to withdraw from the race to avoid further injury.
Reflections on the Experience
After the marathon, the host expresses disappointment about both his and his friend's performance, as they both achieved personal worst times. They reflect on their hard training and the unforeseen challenges they encountered during the race, such as the weather conditions. Despite their frustrations, they remain committed to training for the upcoming 2025 Seoul Marathon, determined to improve. The host also plans to seek medical advice for his knee issues, indicating his intention to recover and continue running.
In this week's bonus episode, Andrew talks about his trip to Gyeongju, South Korea where he participated in the 2024 Gyeongju Marathon. From his pre-race planning and road trip with his friend Jimmy, to the excitement of race day morning, you'll hear all the details of his marathon experience. Andrew shares what it's like to be one of the few international runners at the event, introduces us to the traditional Korean music that welcomed runners at the start line, and opens up about dealing with an unexpected knee injury during the race. Despite the challenges, Andrew stays positive and already has his sights set on his next marathon.
How this episode will improve your English:
Listening practice: Improve your English by following along as Andrew tells a personal story about preparing for and running a marathon in Korea.
Vocabulary building: Learn useful sports and fitness terms like "carb loading," "dialed in" "hit your pace," and "acting up."
Idioms and expressions: Learn everyday idioms like "wasn't in the cards," "to be iffy," "TMI," and "empty the tank." See how these common expressions are used naturally in conversation.
English speaking practice: Join discussions with other listeners on the Culips Discord server for additional speaking practice.
Important links:
Become a Culips member
Study with the interactive transcript
Join the Culips Discord server
Small-group discussion class schedule (member only)
Get the Snipd podcast app
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