The Busan Night Walk 42K, held on August 31, 2024, at APEC Naru Park, is a nighttime walking event in Busan, South Korea. With three course options (16K, 22K, and 42K) starting at different times, it accommodates various fitness levels. I enjoy challenging myself occasionally, so I chose the 42K course. (Note: If the 2025 event is announced, this post will be updated with new details for relevance.)
Sign-up and Goodie Bag
Registering for the Busan Night Walk was straightforward. I signed up through the Urban Sports website, where I selected the 42K course and my T-shirt size for the Busan Night Walk T-shirt. The goodie bag and medal are highlights of these events, right? The goodie bag was mailed to my address and included a T-shirt, an LED armband, a sturdy yet lightweight backpack, socks, snacks, and a bib with my participant number.
Gathering at the Event and Exploring Booths
On August 31, I arrived at APEC Naru Park, where the atmosphere was electric. The 42K group gathered at 6:00 PM, earlier than the 16K (8:00 PM) and 22K (7:00 PM) groups due to the longer course. Music and sponsor booths created a festive vibe. I explored the booths, collecting freebies like energy drinks, granola bars, and wristbands. The backpack from the goodie bag was perfect for carrying these extras, though I grabbed more than I could realistically carry for the entire course. Arrive early to enjoy the pre-event energy and snag freebies.
Walking the 42K Course
The 42K walk began at 6:00 PM. The route, starting at APEC Naru Park and following the Suyeong River, offered stunning sunset views. The course featured several checkpoints where participants collected badges to prevent shortcutting.
Midway through, organizers announced via text that flooding had made parts of the 42K route unsafe, reducing the course by 6km to 36km. Somewhere around the 5K checkpoint we crossed the river and skipped checkpoints 6-12. To be honest I was completely fine with this in the end, as my legs were exhausted. I doubted I could have managed the full 42K.
At the first checkpoint, there was some confusion. Likely due to the course being shortened, the checkpoint wasn’t fully set up yet. We nearly walked past it, missing the badge, and no snacks were available at that point. Later checkpoints offered snacks like cookies and spicy dried fish.
After about 7 hours, we finished at 1:00 AM at Gwangan Beach. Volunteers cheered and awarded a medal, and I could collect any missed checkpoint badges due to the flooding if I wanted. My feet ached, but the accomplishment felt amazing.
Recommendation
The Busan Night Walk 42K blended challenge with Busan’s nighttime charm. For most, the 16K or 22K courses offer the same vibrant experience without the physical toll. Unless you’re up for a serious challenge, I recommend choosing a shorter course. Whichever you pick, prepare with long training walks and wear comfortable walking shoes!
