FAQ
The questions people actually ask.
Pace, fitness, where to meet, what to bring, what happens when it rains, and how the Run & Talk English sessions work. If something is not answered here, message me and I will add it.
Before you book
Who is this for?
Adults who run, or who can comfortably jog for around 30–60 minutes with breaks. We host travellers passing through Seoul, expats who want a guide for routes they have not yet learned, and Koreans who want to practice English on a run. Not a fitness boot camp, not a sightseeing walk.
Do I need to be fit?
You should be able to keep an easy conversational pace for 30–60 minutes. If you can run a slow 5 km, you will be fine. If you cannot run yet, message before booking, a walk–run interval format works for most beginners and I am happy to set one up.
What is the difference between a private and a small-group run?
A private run is just you and anyone you bring, on a date and pace built around your trip. A small-group run is an open session on a fixed morning, capped at five runners. The guiding is the same; the difference is whether you want the morning shaped fully around you (private) or are happy to share it with a couple of others for a lower price (small group).
How much does it cost?
Founders rates apply through 2026: private runs are ₩40,000 per hour per person, Run & Talk is ₩45,000, and each extra runner after the first is 30% off. A place on a scheduled small-group morning is ₩20,000 flat, whatever the distance. You get the exact total in writing before you confirm, so there are no surprises on the day. The <a href="/pricing/">pricing page</a> has the full breakdown, or message me with your dates and group size for a precise number.
How far in advance do I need to book?
A week is comfortable. Two days is fine if my calendar is open. For race weekends, March Seoul Marathon, November JTBC, Chuncheon, book as soon as you have your bib.
Is the tour in English?
Yes. I run in English. If you would rather practice Korean, that works too, though Korean conversation lessons are not the offer, that is the Run & Talk line in the other direction.
On the run
Where do we meet?
I send a pinned subway-station meet point a day or two before the run, picked to be ten minutes or less from the actual start of the route. If you are staying somewhere awkward to reach, I can come to your hotel lobby instead.
What should I bring and wear?
Running clothes you can layer (Seoul mornings can be cool even in summer), shoes you have run in before, a phone, a card or a small amount of cash for coffee or water. Sunscreen in summer. I bring a small first-aid kit and water; you do not need to.
Where do I store my bag during the run?
Most of the routes have a locker at the start subway station that takes T-money or coins. Where they do not, the meet point is usually within walking distance of a cafe that will hold a small bag for an hour. I will tell you which option applies before you arrive.
Can I shower afterwards?
Not at the route end directly, Korean run-culture rinses off at home or at the gym. If you need a shower, I can route the run to finish near a public bathhouse (jjimjilbang) or a paid shower at one of the riverside swimming pools. Mention it when you book.
What if it rains?
Light rain, we run. Heavier rain or a thunderstorm forecast, I message you the morning of and you choose a free reschedule or a cancellation. You pay on the day, so a cancelled run costs you nothing, and where you have already paid, a full refund. Seoul rains hard in monsoon season (late June through July) and we plan around it.
Will you take photos?
If you would like, yes, a few on the route and one at the finish. I will share them with you the same day. If you prefer no photos, say so at the start and I will not.
Run & Talk (English conversation)
Is Run & Talk a group class?
No. Run & Talk is one to one, always. It is you and me for the whole run, so the talking stays yours the entire time. The sessions capped at five runners are the small-group guided tours, not the English ones.
How is Run & Talk different from a regular running tour?
A regular tour is a guided run for travellers. Run & Talk is an English conversation lesson that happens to be on a run, aimed at Korean learners. The pace is conversational on purpose; the route is secondary to the talking. See the /english-running page for the full picture.
Do I need to be a runner to do Run & Talk?
No. If you can walk briskly and jog occasionally, you can do the session. Many learners do a walk–jog interval rather than a continuous run.
About me
Who guides the runs?
I do, Quintin Willekens. I have lived in Seoul for ten years on an F6 visa, run these routes weekly, and taught English in Korea for about three years before moving into product and marketing. The full background is on /about.
Why a running tour instead of a walking tour?
You cover more, you see Seoul in motion rather than in postcards, and the pace puts the city in a different register, quieter, earlier, more like the version locals actually live in. Also: you were going to run anyway. This is a way to fold a workout into the trip without losing a morning.
Running with jet lag, does a morning run help?
Anecdotally, a lot. A morning run gets you onto Seoul time faster than a slow coffee day. Twenty minutes of daylight and motion is more useful than another nap. I can keep the pace easy on day one and we can finish near breakfast.
Still curious
Ask me anything.
The fastest answer is usually a message. Tell me your dates and what you want out of a run, and I will tell you whether it is a fit.