Extreme Race in the Heart of the City... '2021 Seoul International Ultra Trail Running Competition' Held

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The '2021 Seoul International Ultra Trail Running Race - ,' where participants can fully experience Seoul's nature, history, and cultural landmarks while running?from the Dulle-gil trails to the Han River crossing the city center, the urban building forests, and famous mountains like Inwangsan and Bukhansan?will be held over three days on the 16th, 17th, and 23rd across Seoul, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 13th.

This hybrid non-face-to-face race features two 50K sections connecting Seoul’s representative mountains, the Han River, and the city center, designed considering total distance, elevation gain, and road ratio for each segment. The ‘SKY A’ course connects Seoul Plaza~Hanyangdoseong (Inwangsan)~Bukhansanseong (Bogukmun)~Tangchundaeseong~Bukhansan National Park Dobong Park Ranger Station, while the ‘SKY B’ course runs from Bukhansan National Park Dobong Park Ranger Station~Seoul Dulle-gil (Courses 1 and 2)~Han River~Cheonggyecheon~Seoul Plaza, emphasizing maximum enjoyment of Seoul’s nature, history, and culture.

Starting this year, finishers will also receive points from the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), which qualify them to participate in the world-renowned trail running event, the Ultra Trail Mont-Blanc (UTMB).

Participants can choose their preferred date and course, starting autonomously between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. from the starting point and must finish by 7 p.m. Since the ‘SKY B’ course has a lower cumulative elevation gain and a higher proportion of road sections compared to the ‘SKY A’ course, participants can select the section that best suits their ability.

Finishers will receive a completion medal along with a package including finishing apparel and souvenirs, and international points will be awarded per course. Completing the 50K ‘SKY A’ course grants 3 points, the ‘SKY B’ course grants 2 points, and those completing both courses for the 100K will receive the highest domestic event score of 5 points.

Due to restrictions on side events caused by COVID-19, various online prize events will be held for participants and citizens. Choi Kyung-ju, Director of the Seoul Tourism and Sports Bureau, stated, "Based on the unique appeal of , which rivals leading international trail running events worldwide, we will develop it into a world-class prestigious trail running race by integrating sports with history, culture, and tourism."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.