The MBN marathon entertainment show "You Have to Run" delivered a touching experience with a different dimension through the heartfelt and passionate marathon challenges of "beginner runners."
The first episode of the special project celebrating MBN's 30th anniversary, broadcast on the 19th, vividly captured the launching ceremony and the first competition participation scene of 16 "beginner runners" as they began the fight against themselves to overcome their limits through marathon. In particular, the emotional marathon completion of "sixty" sports legend Heo Jae and "the youngest" Yulhee's quiet determination to run with grit left the viewers deeply moved.
The 16 "beginner crew" gathered for the launching ceremony appeared with representative phrases for themselves. Yang Jun-hyuk, who appeared with the keyword "Let's go for a second," revealed, "I had my first daughter at 55 years old," and noted, "When I got married, I was the "Sperm King," but now my (Namsung levels) have reportedly dropped by 70%. I was told that if I don't manage it, having a second child would be difficult, but I met this program as if by fate." Next, Choi Jun-seok, who appeared with the keyword "20 billion won disaster," shared, "I was scammed out of 2 billion won, and I feel sorry for my family. I wanted to gain hope that I could get back up again, which is why I challenged myself to the marathon. I will not give up until the end." Following that, the keywords and stories of those like Sleepy, who said he would run for his soon-to-be-born second child, Bae Yoon-jung, who suffered from "postpartum depression," and Son Jeong-eun, who had a tough time due to the death of her father and divorce, were revealed, while "the youngest" Yulhee said, "I had the toughest year of my life after going through a divorce last year, but I want to open a new chapter in my life through running a marathon," heating up the scene.
After introducing all 16 members of the "Running Crew," MC Bae Sung-jae, Yang Se-hyung, along with Director General Sean and Deputy Director General Lee Young-pyo, appeared. Director General Sean declared, "We plan to hold a 'donation marathon' where we donate as much as we run. Our ultimate goal is to complete a full marathon." Deputy Director General Lee Young-pyo noted, "If you follow our planned training properly, it is possible to complete a half marathon in 3 months and a full marathon in 6 months," which surprised the "beginner runners." Immediately afterward, Sean stated, "There are 85 general runners waiting outside. They will participate in the 5km marathon right away," announcing the first mission. Lee Young-pyo informed, "If you finish the 5km in under 35 minutes, you will receive a special reward, but if you fail, you will be eliminated and must return home immediately." Amid the sudden first mission, everyone was anxious as the scene of the "5km marathon" competition held in Yeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, was revealed.
As a total of 100 runners gathered at the starting line, the whistle blew, and Sleepy, who was treated as the "weakest link," quickly took the lead alone. Meanwhile, Heo Jae was seen sweating and shedding tears, saying from the start, "I feel like I can't breathe." Yang Jun-hyuk and Choi Jun-seok also formed the lower ranks. After a while, Sleepy fell behind due to a lack of stamina, while Yulhee demonstrated an unyielding spirit of determination, stating, "Even if I fall, I will cross the finish line first." Bang Eun-hee, exhausted, tried to stop in the middle but continued running with Lee Young-pyo's close coaching. The leading group consisted of Jang Dong-seon, who showed a steady race, and "young blood" Lee Jang-jun, who created a surprise by sprinting to surpass Jang Dong-seon with just about 50 meters remaining. Upon witnessing this, commentators Bae Sung-jae and Yang Se-chan marveled at Lee Jang-jun's clever strategy, while commentator Kwon Eun-joo explained, "Among amateurs, such a strategy is expressed as "draining blood,"" which made everyone burst into laughter. The first place among women and overall third was Yulhee, while Bang Eun-hee broke down in tears of joy after crossing the finish line, expressing, "I have gained hope for a better tomorrow." Heo Jae, Yang Jun-hyuk, and Choi Jun-seok, who engaged in a struggle for the lower ranks, also successfully completed the race, receiving a warm round of applause.
Finally, the moment for the first competition results and MVP announcement arrived. Prior to this, Director General Sean stated, "Today, I was greatly moved that there were no eliminations." Deputy Director General Lee Young-pyo remarked, "Still, as former athletes, I thought it was a little disappointing to see the lower three struggling, but I believe they can surely complete the full marathon if they continue training diligently." Yang Jun-hyuk humorously replied, "If I just lose my belly fat, I'm done!" This sparked laughter in the studio. The much-anticipated first "MVP" was Lee Jang-jun, who secured first place. The MVP, who showed impressive performances in each mission, was rewarded with a badge, and the final individual would receive an entry into the "Sydney Marathon," one of the World's seven major marathons, stimulating the competitive spirit of the "Running Crew." Thus, from the first episode, "You Have to Run" showcased a genuine marathon challenge that not only brought laughter and emotion but also reminded the entire nation of the charm of marathons, raising anticipation for the next episode with the announcement of the joining of "Running Crew" member Ahn Seong-hoon, who was absent on that day.
[Photo] MBN "You Have to Run" broadcast capture
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