'Mapo Turtle Marathon' Held Online

The 12th Mapo Turtle Marathon Event Held to Commemorate the 41st Anniversary of Disability Day... From April 1 to June 30, 2021, the 'Walking Alone' Project Along the Mapo Han River Conducted

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Mapo-gu (Mayor Yudonggyun) is conducting the ‘12th Mapo Turtle Marathon’ event and the ‘2021 Mapo Hangang Solo Walking Project’ in a non-face-to-face manner to comply with social distancing and take care of residents' physical and mental health amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

The ‘Mapo Turtle Marathon,’ now in its 12th year, is held to commemorate the 41st anniversary of Disabled Persons Day and is organized by the Mapo Disabled Persons Comprehensive Welfare Center (Acting Director Kim Myungkyu) from April 19 to April 30 for two weeks.

Every April, the district has hosted a marathon event involving people with disabilities, their families, volunteers, and residents to commemorate Disabled Persons Day. However, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, this year’s event, like last year’s, will be held in a non-face-to-face format.

This year’s marathon event will be conducted over a total of four courses, adding two more courses than last year.

The courses include Course 1: Sky Park Walking Trail, Course 2: Hangang Pilgrimage Trail, Course 3: Bulgwangcheon Trail, and Course 4: Hongjecheon Trail. All selected sections are wheelchair accessible and offer excellent surrounding scenery to enjoy the full bloom of spring.

Those wishing to participate can apply by visiting the Mapo Disabled Persons Comprehensive Welfare Center from April 12 to 16.

The district will adjust schedules to prevent overlap among participants to comply with social distancing and will guide participation in groups of fewer than five people.

Additionally, to ensure thorough quarantine measures, all participants will be provided with masks, hand sanitizers, and quarantine guideline brochures.

Meanwhile, from April 1 to June 30, the district is also conducting the 2021 Mapo Hangang Solo Walking Project walking challenge to overcome COVID-19.

To participate in the walking challenge, install the ‘WalkOn’ app from Google Play or the App Store, then select the ‘Mapo Hangang Solo Walking Challenge’ under the challenge mode at the bottom. Participants can choose either Course 9: ‘Welcome! Is this your first time at Mapo Hangang?’ or Course 10: ‘Mapo Hangang’s Transformation is Innocent!’ walking courses.

Participants must maintain social distancing by securing personal safety distances and wearing masks. Residents who achieve the walking challenge goal will receive a challenge completion coupon (limited to the first 200 people) and a commemorative gift as part of the event.

Yudonggyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “We have prepared a non-face-to-face walking event for people with disabilities, their families, and local residents who may be physically and mentally exhausted due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that walking under the warm spring sunshine will help them take care of their health and revitalize their spirits.”