This is a review article based on materials provided by the broadcaster
'Chojja runner' Lee Jang-jun, Yul-hee, Sleepy, and Yang Se-hyung became real runners by completing the Sydney Marathon, one of the world's seven major marathons. Joining them, Sean, Lee Young-pyo, Go Han-min, and director Kwon Eun-joo, the core members of season 1 of "Run to Live," ran alongside as a strong support team and completed the arduous 42.195km journey as an emotional narrative.
On Monday the 17th, episode 2 of MBN's 'Run to Live in Sydney' aired, revealing the final chapter of the Sydney Marathon challenge, which was awarded as a prize for winning season 1. Season 1's Sean, Lee Young-pyo, Go Han-min, and director Kwon Eun-joo challenged the world stage together with the 'Run to Live crew' Lee Jang-jun, Yul-hee, Sleepy and Yang Se-hyung, who had been the season 1 commentators.
Forty-five minutes after the start, Lee Jang-jun and Go Han-min, meeting the Harbor Bridge again, said, "It's amazing that we ran and came down here," moved to tears. In the downtown section heading toward the Opera House, music such as 'Gangnam Style' and 'Eye of the Tiger' rang out, fueling an energetic run. Passing the same section, Yang Se-hyung also said on the scene, "I was goofing off and my heart rate went up to 150. I couldn't help it," and runners in various costumes, from movie heroes to others, appeared and created a festive atmosphere. Meanwhile, Sleepy, continuing a lonely struggle alone, experienced a sharp rise in early heart rate to 180 and suffered severe dizziness, facing a crisis. Fortunately, he found a group employing a 'walk-run' strategy aiming to finish in 5 hours 30 minutes and regained his pace running with them.
The biggest obstacle came for Director General Sean. Due to accumulated fatigue from running more than 800km over two months before participating in the Sydney Marathon, Achilles pain began from the 2km mark. Especially from the 10km mark, the pain became so severe that he stood unable to run. Sean confessed, "Each step was so painful. I've hardly ever run with persistent pain like this." Nevertheless, saying, "I'll finish even if I have to crawl," Sean began running again but cramped his calf with 1km to go and stopped once more. At that moment, spectators who saw Sean gave him loud encouragement and he found strength again. Draped in the Taegukgi handed to him by the production team, Sean made a final sprint and crossed the finish line in 3 hours 54 minutes 59 seconds. Although he fell short of his goal time of 3 hours 30 minutes, Sean said, "My physical condition could only have been like that. I'm glad I finished even in the worst condition."
Making his first official full marathon debut, Lee Jang-jun showed an upward trend by cutting his half marathon time by 8 minutes from before. But with 1km left to the finish, he collapsed from muscle cramps in both thighs. He blamed himself, "I always get excited and fail to pace myself. Today, when exciting music played, I danced and used up my energy. My heart rate went up to 200. It was crazy, and it's all my fault." Fortunately, Go Han-min quickly gave him a massage and helped him recover, and the two proceeded to the finish line together. As a result, Lee Jang-jun finished in 3 hours 35 minutes 48 seconds. Immediately after, he said, "It was ecstatic. There were so many fun things, almost too much," and Go Han-min said proudly, "It was the happiest full course I've ever run. Jang-jun ran well."
From the 39km mark, Yang Se-hyung experienced severe leg stiffness and pain, but he maintained his pace to the end, saying, "Walking would not allow my pride." Especially, seeing a runner attempting the challenge on one leg, he said, "I was moved by that sight and found new strength," and he finished in 4 hours 23 minutes 22 seconds, 7 minutes faster than his target, earning praise from director Kwon Eun-joo. Sleepy, who regained his pace running with a group that employed a 'walk-run' strategy, crossed the finish line in 5 hours 38 minutes 12 seconds, improving his previous record by a full 1 hour 6 minutes. Overcome with emotion, he cheerfully shouted, "The full course is now my life!"
The last finisher was Yul-hee. From the middle section, she was hit by whole-body pain in her toes, instep, and calves and at one point stopped. She confessed, "Because of the pain I debated tens of thousands of times whether to walk 1km and run again," but she steeled herself, saying, "I wanted to show that I can finish another full course to myself and to Deputy Director Lee Young-pyo, who chose me," and she crossed the finish line in 5 hours 39 minutes 38 seconds. Yul-hee said, "I'm disappointed my time was slow," but firmly vowed, "This experience makes me want to live more diligently."
The day after finishing, the 'Run to Live crew' enjoyed a recovery run at Bondi Beach. They also experienced sandboarding in the Port Stephens desert and savored Australia's scenery. On the last day, they shared their thoughts while enjoying a spectacular sunrise on a Hunter Valley hot-air balloon tour. Sean received applause when he said, "Recently, even the youngest child joined and now all six family members have started running. I dream of a Korea where 50 million people all run." Go Han-min described running as "a gift in my life." Yang Se-hyung said, "I think the direction and compass of life become clearer the more you run," and Lee Jang-jun said, "Running a marathon made me reflect on my life." Sleepy laughed, saying, "Now it's my fate to run." Yul-hee happily said, "Our broadcast's third child watched and cried a lot. Ayun and Arin also said they were moved,"
Meanwhile, MBN's 'Run to Live' season 2 will premiere on Monday the 24th at 10:10 p.m. in the first broadcast. In season 2, Sean, Lee Young-pyo, Yang Se-hyung, and Go Han-min will appear as runners, and actors Choi Young-joon, Lim Se-mi, Lee Gi-kwang, Im Soo-hyang, Jung Hye-in, and Yoo Seon-ho are joining, raising expectations.
[Photo] OSEN DB, MBN
[OSEN]