Ace Lee Jang-jun from "Running to Live" made a stunning debut at the "trail running" competition, finishing 22nd out of 1,300 participants.
In the episode of MBN's 30th anniversary special program "Running to Live" aired on the 14th, the "Running Team" made their first appearance in the "11 km trail running" competition and showcased their growth through the "tail catching" mission. In particular, ace Lee Jang-jun not only ranked first among the "Running Team" but also finished 22nd overall, signaling a positive outlook for the challenge of the "Sydney Marathon," which is everyone's dream.
That day, Lee Jang-jun maintained his first position in Group B and quickly surged ahead. He did not slow down even in the uphill sections, and when the mountain trails appeared, he said, "My parents' house is in Sobaek National Park, so I have been running around the mountains since I was a child," and continued to race steadily. He also remarked, "I'm going to go all out today. After running 21 km, 11 km feels manageable," and then he exploded with a final sprint, completing the "trail running" in just 49 minutes and 51 seconds. Lee Jang-jun's ranking was an impressive 22nd out of 1,300 participants, and he couldn't hide his joy, saying, "Now Sydney is truly within reach."
On the other hand, the remaining participants engaged in a fierce rivalry for the "tail catching" mission, where they needed to catch someone ahead of them to earn a badge. Yul-hee stated, "I will definitely defend my badge," and raised his speed from the start but collapsed briefly in the middle of the race. He shared, "I overpaced myself trying to pass An Seong-hoon and Kim Seung-jin on the mountain path. So, whether it was due to dehydration or low blood pressure, everything went black before my eyes. It was truly hell." Meanwhile, Jang Dong-seon and Han Sang-bo crossed the finish line in 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, defending their badges. Even though Yul-hee finished 4th, he expressed disappointment at having one badge taken by Jang Dong-seon.
The competition was fierce among the mid-tier participants as well. An Seong-hoon and Kim Seung-jin were running closely together when an accident occurred just 10 meters before the finish line due to a collision. At that moment, Kim Seung-jin, who got up first, reached out a hand to help An Seong-hoon up, and immediately afterward, the two joined hands to cross the finish line, providing a heartwarming ending. However, after video review, it was determined that Kim Seung-jin's chest crossed the finish line first, and he ultimately ranked ahead of An Seong-hoon.
Meanwhile, Sleepy and Jo Jin-hyung, as well as Bang Eun-hee and Choi Joon-seok, displayed an unwavering competitive rivalry, creating a "tension-filled chemistry." Sleepy and Jo Jin-hyung, who have been each other's pacemakers, revealed their instinct for a last-minute showdown. With about 3 km to the finish line, Jo Jin-hyung suddenly sprinted ahead of Sleepy. In response, Sleepy said, "Jo Jin-hyung, who had suggested running together, suddenly took off, and I was like, 'What the heck?'" Jo Jin-hyung replied, "My racing instinct just kicked in, so I couldn't help but..." Eventually, Sleepy could not close the gap and finished 11th, just behind Jo Jin-hyung in 10th place. Sleepy lamented, "I thought my marathon results were improving, but I dropped for the first time. My badges have decreased from 3 to 2."
Bang Eun-hee also vented her anger at being betrayed by Choi Joon-seok. After the announcement of the "tail catching" mission, when Choi Joon-seok said, "I'll give you my badge, sister," he then sprinted ahead of her. Bang Eun-hee exclaimed, "You bad XX! You said your knee wasn't good, but that was a complete lie! Choi Joon-seok, let's see each other after my toe injury heals!" Following them, the participant in the "lower rank group," Yang Joon-hyuk, mentioned, "I want to beat Bang Eun-hee, but she has never appeared in front of me during the races. Instead, I chose to focus on my own pace and not have my badge taken by Heo Jae." As a result, Yang Joon-hyuk finished 14th, and Heo Jae finished 15th, concluding the first "trail running" competition.
The "Running Team," having successfully completed the competition, strengthened their teamwork by enjoying a zipline experience and a traditional market tour in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province. The next day, they embarked on a "recovery run" at Donggang in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province. Before starting the "recovery run," legendary marathoner Lee Bong-joo made a surprise appearance. He shared, "I spent the last four years in hell due to muscle tension syndrome," revealing his battle with a condition that was deeply personal, and noted, "I am now 70-80% better due to consistent rehabilitation," moving everyone emotionally. Yang Joon-hyuk expressed admiration, saying, "I heard it was so difficult that they called it an incurable disease, but overcoming that is remarkable. Truly a human victory!"
Shortly after, Lee Bong-joo made a surprising suggestion to try out the marathon course in Donggang, Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, which will take place in September. However, a sudden downpour halted the schedule, and the "Running Team" waited for the rain to stop to conduct their "recovery run." Afterward, they participated in a mini sports day with students from Jeongseon Elementary School's branch. They had a delightful time engaging in activities such as "three-legged race" and "kangaroo relay," and Lee Bong-joo expressed gratitude, saying, "I am making great memories by running with the 'Running Team' and participating in the sports day together." Along with this, a preview was released featuring Lee Jang-jun, Kim Seung-jin, Han Sang-bo, Son Jeong-eun, and Yul-hee challenging the marathon full course, raising anticipation for the next broadcast.
[Photo] Capture from MBN 'Running to Live' broadcast
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