2024-02-24 03:00:00
“One day when there was a lot of snow, I climbed Baekundae on Bukhansan Mountain with my trail running friends, and they made fun of me because I was panting and struggling to climb up and down Bukhansan Mountain. It seems like he’s laughing at me… . I felt a kind of humiliation. She weighed 98 kg at the time. So I decided to lose weight.”
Park Sang-hyeon, Kakao Mobility’s marketing director, is running at Hangang Park in Ichon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. After a cycling accident, he was unable to exercise for a while and gained weight. He lost weight by running every day, and has now become a marathon enthusiast, completing the full course of 42.195km. Reporter Yang Jong-gu yjongk@donga.com
Park Sang-hyeon (49), Kakao Mobility Marketing Manager, had a smile on his face as he recalled what happened four years ago. Regardless of the motivation, he has now transformed into a healthy person who lost 18kg and completed the full marathon course of 42.195km. He said, “When I told my friends who made fun of me while running a marathon together, ‘I ran because of the humiliation you gave me,’ they mightn’t remember. Even if a frog gets beaten to death, it doesn’t remember the person who threw the stone… . Anyway, I’m having fun running with those friends now.”
Director Park was seriously injured in 2018 when he was hit by a car coming from behind while riding a bicycle on Namsan Road in Seoul. His left shoulder blade was broken and he had to undergo surgery. After that, he was so traumatized that he sold all six bicycles he owned. He gained weight because he stopped riding the bike he used to ride almost every day. He started walking and running following being teased by his friends in 2020, when the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) was spreading.
Director Sanghyun Park participated in the half marathon held in April last year. Provided by Director Park Sang-hyeon.
“I started by going to the Han River in Seoul and walking. It was a time when COVID-19 was rampant and indoor sports facilities such as fitness centers were closed. Roads, parks, and mountains were exceptions. But running wasn’t easy. I said I would run, but it took 10 minutes per kilometer. In fact, it was almost like walking. Still, I ran every day. Then I started losing weight. Running speed also became faster. After running for 3 years, I lost 15kg. After running alone for two years, I started running with friends. “I didn’t join a club, but I’m running with friends who made fun of me, as well as friends from school and society.”
I have been participating in competitions since last year. I first attempted the 42.195km full course at a marathon in March last year. He said, “I wanted to test myself, but it was difficult and I gave up at the 32km mark.” I finished the half marathon in April in 1 hour, 47 minutes and 28 seconds. And in November, I completed the full course in 4 hours, 46 minutes and 28 seconds. This is my first time completing the full course.
Director Park Sang-hyeon is sprinting in the full marathon course held in November last year. Provided by Director Park Sang-hyeon.
“After I finished the race, I thought, ‘Why did I buy it and go through all this trouble?’ but I also felt a sense of accomplishment, like, ‘Oh, I did it.’ For a week, she had aches and pains all over her body and thought, ‘If I do this once more, I’ll be crazy.’ I find myself signing up for a marathon even though I’m thinking, ‘I’ll never do this once more.’ Would you say it is an ambivalent feeling of achievement and regret? After completing the full course, I feel both a sense of accomplishment and regret and try once more. “I keep repeating it.”
Director Park enjoyed various sports from an early age to relieve daily stress. He graduated from college, got a job, and started boxing while receiving his MBA at New York University in 2005. He returned home and worked as a marketing manager at Citibank and Apple, but he never put his gloves down. He found the intense exercise burdensome and quit boxing at some point following he was over 40. He started doing Jeet Kune Do, inspired by his favorite childhood movie star, Bruce Lee, but it didn’t interest him. He started cycling regarding 7 years ago and had fun with it. He rode almost every day, and even rode around the east coast with friends for two days and one night from Samcheok, Gangwon-do to Goseong, Gyeongnam. However, he had a serious accident and suffered a bicycle trauma, which eventually led him to run a marathon.
Director Park Sang-hyun when he was riding a bicycle. Provided by Director Park Sang-hyeon.
Director Park’s day starts with a run. He said, “Every morning, I run 5 to 7 kilometers before going to work. If he doesn’t run and goes to work, he gets sore all day long and can’t do his work. Would you say he is addicted? “Now running has become a daily routine,” he said. “Actually, running every day is not easy. In winter, when I wake up early in the morning and go outside, it’s dark and cold and I don’t like running. However, if you clear away all of these obstacles and run, your body heats up and you feel better. I think I ran well. If you persevere and overcome it, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and your health will follow. “I feel life at the marathon.”
I mainly run along the Hangang Park and the northern trail of Namsan Mountain. He said, “The Han River is flat, so when I want to run uphill, I go to Namsan.” The northern trail of Namsan is a 7km round trip course with uphill and downhill paths, making it a famous training course for masters marathoners. Director Park runs long distances of 10 to 15 km on weekends. He, who is preparing for the full course of the Seoul Marathon and the 94th Donga Marathon to be held on March 17, said, “I run 30 to 35 km on the weekend before the competition.” To complete the full course, LSD (Long Slow Distance) training, which involves running over 30km, is essential.
Director Park Sang-hyeon is running through the Hangang Park in Ichon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Reporter Yang Jong-gu yjongk@donga.com
Director Park has now become a running evangelist.
“At first, I was surprised when I rode my bike to Paldang Dam. ‘I can’t believe I’m going this far by pedaling with my own two legs instead of riding in a car… ‘I was proud. Now I run over 30km. I feel more proud. Running is much easier than cycling. There is less financial burden. Above all, the exercise effect is good. I didn’t lose much weight when I rode a bike, but when I started running, I lost weight. “It’s the best for dieting.”
“On the weekends, I usually run with college friends who I persuaded to run. These were members who had ridden bikes together in the past, but they brought them into running. Running together is the goal, but another pleasure is choosing a good restaurant near the Han River and running there to eat delicious food. “Now I know almost all the restaurants and cafes near the Han River.”
Director Park Sang-hyun is giving a thumbs up following running at Ichon Hangang Park in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. He said, “It’s another pleasure to go for a run with friends and then go to a restaurant near the Han River and eat together.” Reporter Yang Jong-gu yjongk@donga.com
In the early morning of February 18th, Sunday, Director Park ran along the Han River with friends, gathered at Ichon Hangang Park, and then headed to Yongsan Pyeongyang Restaurant, famous for its intestine gomtang. He said, “Even though it’s breakfast, I also drink soju with it, so it’s a moment I can enjoy without pressure following running. Since I run every day, I don’t have to worry regarding gaining weight. “Now I might write a book regarding restaurants near the Han River that you can enjoy while running,” he said with a laugh.
Reporter Yang Jong-gu yjongk@donga.com
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