Run It Fast®

Well you have run a marathon in every state and on every continent. And now you can run a marathon in North Korea. There is only the slightest catch as you will find out below.

North Korea has opened up the Pyongyang Marathon to recreational runners, including Americans, for the very first time. That’s right, now you can run a marathon in North Korea if you finish it in 3 hours or less. If you are still running after three hours you will be shot forced to quit (unless you traveled into the country with Dennis Rodman. He will then sing you Happy Birthday and call on special favors from North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un…and you will still be forced to stop at 3 hours).

North Korea’s human rights record has been described as one of the world’s worst by the U.S. State Department, which recommends against all travel by American citizens to North Korea.

North Korea has detained at least seven Americans since 2009, including Kenneth Bae, 45, who was arrested in November 2012 while leading a tour group. He was accused of crimes against the state and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. He was moved to a hospital last summer in poor health.

As noted in the article, the 3 hour cutoff is faster than every qualifying time for the prestigious Boston Marathon.  A rough estimate of 0.000005% of Marathon Maniacs would be able to finish the Pyongyang Marathon in less than 3 hours.

You’d probably be better off signing up for the cheaper, more scenic, and challenging Cummins Falls Marathon on February 22, 2014.

This medal is part 2 of 3 for the Skyline 10K series that was held on January 19, 2014 in Bath, United Kingdom.

Runners who complete the series will have medals that join together to make Sham Castle. Very cool! Check out the photo of the completed series medals here. You can see the first part here:

Skyline 10K Medal (2013)

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[medal photo submitted by Martyn Ewers – follow him on Twitter @greasygringo666]

This is the finisher’s medal for the Race Around The Lake held on December 22, 2013 in Camlough, Northern Ireland.

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[medal photo submitted by Mark Ramsey. – follow him on Twitter @Amarkramsey]

This is the cute finisher’s medal for the Santa Run 5K that was held on December 8, 2013 in Exeter, United Kingdom.

I love Halloween and Christmas race medals. Lot of cool stuff there. And this one is awesome with Rudolph!

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[medal photo submitted by Martyn Ewers – follow him on Twitter @greasygringo666]

This is the finisher’s medal for the Istanbul Marathon that was held on November 17, 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey.

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[medal photo submitted by Carol Goodwin – follow her on Twitter @BellyDanceCarol]

This is the finisher’s medal for the Last Chance Half Marathon that took place on November 10, 2013 in Calgary, Canada.

Kudos to  RIF #244 Susan (whose hair froze) and all the brave finishers of this snowy, cold half marathon!

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[medal photo submitted by RIF #244 Susan Warcholak – follow her on Twitter @dothingsalways]

This is the finisher’s medal for the Plymouth 10K that was held on November 3, 2013 in Plymouth, United Kingdom.

Love the motto and how they worked 10 into Plymouth. Very solid 10k medal.

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[medal photo submitted by Martyn Ewers – follow him on Twitter @greasygringo666]

This is the finisher’s medal for the Great South Run 10 Miler that was held on October 27, 2013 in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

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[medal photo submitted by Martyn Ewers – follow him on Twitter @greasygringo666]

This is the finisher’s medal for the Dublin Marathon that was held on October 28, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland.

Here is another view of the medal.

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[Medal photos submitted by Stuart Smyth – follow on Twitter @ets321 and by Niall Coppinger – follow on Twitter @standupdouble]

This is the finisher’s medal for the Ashton Court 10K that was held on October 26, 2013 in Bristol, United Kingdom.

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[medal photo submitted by Martyn Ewers – follow him on Twitter @greasygringo666]