Working It Out

One of the things we love most about our life in Busan is how active it is.  Since the buses are insanely crowded most of the time, if it’s less than twenty minutes away, we walk there. After a couple years of trekking up and down these hills with backpacks full of all our groceries, we should both have killer legs to show off when we get back to the States. 

That said, this week we got restless enough to seek out an actual workout, besides the 45 minutes or so we spend walking every day.  Busan is city of coastline and rivers, and the river nearest our house has an amazing greenway built into it that follows the river through most of the city.  

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We have both lived in towns with really beautiful green spaces before, but both of us agree they have nothing on Busan.  This greenway runs down both sides of the river, with footbridges that span the water at regular intervals.  It has little circuit training stations along the way with weight benches, chin up bars, and all manner of strange fitness equipment.  More than that, people are actually out there using it…all the time.  Not just fitness freaks or teenagers…everyone.  We legit saw a lady older than my grandparents out for a stroll with her daughter… and she was pushing her wheelchair.  Little ajummas in enormous sun visors and track suits are powerwalking all over the place, their husbands following reluctantly behind.  Everyone works out here in one way or another, although runners are relatively rare.  (We are frequently the only two we see.) So, when in Rome…

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By the way, it is totally common to see women covered from head to toe outside here, even in 85 degree weather and 90% humidity.  Korean women fear the sun, and this fear seems to intensify the older they get. This is probably why I routinely pass grandmothers who have fewer wrinkles than I do.  Turns out the ancient Chinese (or in this case Korean) secret to aging gracefully is sunscreen and the largest visors I have ever seen.  

In addition to these cool little mini-gyms, our greenway has a basketball court, an in-line skating rink, gazebos and seating everywhere, a sand volleyball court, and a public swimming pool.  There are separate biking and foot traffic lanes.  However, the highlight of our trip were the foot acupressure stations. After walking, the Koreans stop at these little stations, take their shoes off, and walk over a variety of bumpy surfaces and rollers designed to massage your feet.  

Easily the best free, public workout area around.  Lenoir Greenway, eat your heart out.  


Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Busan, Korea