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Seoul invites world to ‘take it easy’ in ultimate anti-competitive triathlon

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By Jhoo Dong-chan
  • Published Jun 2, 2026 2:52 pm KST
A promotional poster for the third MY PACE Hangang Triathlon Festival / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

A promotional poster for the third MY PACE Hangang Triathlon Festival / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

For those who find the grueling, lung-searing intensity of a traditional triathlon a bit too much, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has an alternative.

Starting Friday, the city will host the 2026 MY PACE Han River Triathlon Festival along the Ttukseom and Jamsil waterfronts. It is an athletic competition designed specifically for people who would never consider entering a traditional competition.

In a radical departure from normal sports competitions, this three-day event features no official timers, no podiums and a guarantee that no one will be crowned the winner. Instead, organizers are promising a “healing race” where participants are actively encouraged to move at a snail's pace.

The race metrics have been adjusted to accommodate the truly unconditioned.

To complete the cycling portion, participants do not even need to own a bicycle. The city is deploying a fleet of its utilitarian public "Ttareungyi" rental bikes. Should ambition outpace cardiovascular capacity, riders can simply stop mid-route and contemplate life.

The reward for completing the event is a modular medal tinted in a color called "green aurora" that the city says represents "the leisure of the Han River."

The festival’s true piece de resistance is "Haechi Island," a massive, floating inflatable playground anchored directly on the river.

Afterward, the city is hosting an event called "Haechi Maek" featuring acoustic ballads, non-alcoholic beer and fried chicken. The first 1,000 non-participants to show up at the food stalls will receive a 5,000 won ($3.30) discount coupon for a local food delivery app. There is also a dedicated kiosk where visitors can determine their "Ramen MBTI" to create a bespoke instant noodle profile.

City officials have assured the public that the Han River is perfectly safe to enter. Furthermore, the city is installing 13 "smart unmanned scanners" to monitor crowd density via data analytics.

"This is a festival where everyone can enjoy sports and relaxation at their own pace," said Kim Myung-joo, the head of Seoul’s Tourism and Sports Bureau.

The event concludes Sunday evening.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.