3.65km Shortened Marathon at Madeul Stadium Area for Seoul Elementary Students... Family Autumn Sports Day in the Afternoon... Creating a City of Lifelong Health by Enjoying Children's Running Joy and Today's Happiness
The '2024 Seoul Children’s Marathon (365 Child Run)' will be held on October 3rd in Nowon-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok).
This marathon, open to all elementary school students residing in Seoul, is organized by the Seoul Children’s Marathon Organizing Committee and supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Metropolitan Council, Seoul Sports Council, Nowon-gu, and Nowon-gu Council.
Under the theme of the '365 Days Project to Make Korea a Happy Place for Children,' the course is designed to be 3.65 km, allowing children to run comfortably without overexertion.
Starting with an opening ceremony at 10 a.m., children will begin at Nowon Madle Stadium (450 Deokrung-ro, Nowon-gu), run along the nearby Jungnangcheon riverside course, and return to Nowon Madle Stadium.
For safety, children will be grouped by age and start sequentially. Water stations and emergency vehicles will be stationed at mid-course points, and safety personnel will be assigned at major intersections. The organizers plan to award commemorative medals to all children who complete the race, not just the winners, to emphasize the joy and sense of achievement in running rather than competition.
After the awards ceremony and lunch provided through a lunchbox sharing event, an ‘Autumn Cheerful Sports Day’ with families will be held in the afternoon.
The sports day will begin with warm-up dance exercises and include simple and fun events such as shoe archery and leather ball games, as well as team activities like tug-of-war and globe rolling to foster cooperation and create a harmonious atmosphere.
Children wishing to participate in the event can pre-register through the official event website, and participation is free of charge. Registration is limited to the first 3,000 applicants, and those wishing to join the Autumn Cheerful Sports Day after the marathon can register on-site.
Meanwhile, Nowon Madle Stadium, where the event takes place, is located within Madle Sports Park, covering an area of 67,109 square meters. Through the Madle Sports Park revitalization project, the district has improved facilities for residents’ leisure and health, including a 780-meter elastic-paved circular walking trail suitable for all ages, an inclusive playground for children with disabilities, and a rest area for pet-owning families. Nearby Nohae Park has been developed as a ‘Youth Specialized Sports Park,’ expanding outdoor sports facilities by region to enhance the infrastructure for community sports accessible to everyone.
Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “We sincerely welcome the hosting of this event aimed at creating an environment where children can be healthy and happy 365 days a year,” adding, “We will continue to build Nowon into a place where children, teenagers, and adults can always enjoy running joyfully.”
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