Trail Running Triumph: Lee Jang-jun Shines in Debut Race, Eyes Sydney Marathon

In a remarkable debut, Lee Jang-jun, the ace of 'Run to Survive,' secured 22nd place out of 1,300 participants in his first 'trail running' competition.

The 9th episode of MBN's 30th-anniversary special, 'Run to Survive,' aired on the night of the 14th, featuring the 'Run Crew' making their first appearance in an '11km Trail Running' event. The episode showcased their growth through a 'tag mission.'

Lee Jang-jun, the standout performer, not only led the 'Run Crew' but also finished 22nd overall, signaling a promising start for their dream of competing in the 'Sydney Marathon.'

Lee maintained his lead in Group B, showcasing his speed even on uphill sections. He shared, "I grew up running in the mountains as my parents' house is in Songnisan National Park," demonstrating his stable race performance.

Confidently stating, "I'm going to make a mark today," Lee completed the trail run in 49 minutes and 51 seconds, having previously run 21km, making the 11km distance manageable. His impressive finish left him optimistic about the Sydney Marathon, saying, "Sydney is now truly within sight."

Meanwhile, other participants engaged in a fierce 'tag mission,' where catching someone ahead earned them a badge. Yul-hee, determined to keep her badge, started strong but collapsed mid-race. She explained, "I overpaced trying to overtake An Sung-hoon and Kim Seung-jin on the mountain path," leading to a near blackout from dehydration or low blood pressure. Jang Dong-sun and Han Sang-bo secured 2nd and 3rd places, respectively, while Yul-hee, despite finishing 4th, lost a badge to Jang Dong-sun.

The competition was intense in the middle ranks as well. An Sung-hoon and Kim Seung-jin, running closely, collided 10 meters from the finish line. Kim, who got up first, helped An up, and they crossed the finish line hand in hand. However, video review showed Kim's chest crossed first, placing him ahead of An.

Elsewhere, Sleepy and Jo Jin-hyung, along with Bang Eun-hee and Choi Jun-seok, displayed their 'bickering chemistry' in a no-holds-barred showdown. Sleepy, surprised by Jo's sudden sprint, remarked, "I was taken aback when Jo, who suggested we run together, suddenly surged ahead." Jo sheepishly admitted, "My competitive instinct kicked in." Sleepy finished 11th, just behind Jo in 10th, lamenting, "My results were improving, but this time I dropped, and my badges decreased from three to two."

Bang Eun-hee also expressed frustration after being 'betrayed' by Choi Jun-seok, who had promised to give her his badge but surged ahead. She humorously declared, "Liar! He said his knee was bad! I'll see you once my toe heals." Meanwhile, Yang Joon-hyuk, trailing behind, focused on not losing his badge to Heo Jae, finishing 14th, with Heo Jae in 15th.

After the race, the 'Run Crew' enjoyed zip-lining and a traditional market tour in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, strengthening their teamwork. The next day, they embarked on a recovery run along the Donggang River, joined by legendary marathoner Lee Bong-ju. Lee shared his battle with dystonia over the past four years, stating, "Through consistent rehabilitation, I'm now 70-80% better," moving everyone.

Lee then suggested a preview of the Jeongseon Donggang Marathon course, set for September. However, a sudden downpour halted the plan, and the 'Run Crew' waited for the rain to stop before continuing their recovery run.

Later, they participated in a mini sports day with students from Jeongseon Elementary School's branch, enjoying activities like a three-person horse race and kangaroo relay. Lee expressed gratitude, saying, "I made great memories running and participating in the sports day with the Run Crew." The preview also teased the next episode, featuring Lee Jang-jun, Kim Seung-jin, Han Sang-bo, Son Jeong-eun, and Yul-hee tackling a full marathon course.

The 'Run Crew's' first full marathon challenge will air on the 21st at 8:20 PM on MBN's 'Run to Survive' episode 10.





Im Chae-ryeong, Ten Asia Reporter syjj426@tenasia.co.kr