Marathon Brings Gonju City Together

The Fifth National Ekiden Marathon and the 2006 Dong-A Ilbo Baekje Marathon (sponsored by Gonju City, the Korea Athletics Federation, and Dong-A Ilbo) took place in Gongju City, Chungnam Province on Sunday.

The runners ran and shared the spirit of Baekje.

The Ekiden marathon relay, in which groups of six ran 42.195km, was a tribute to love. Kim Geun-nam (age: 37), Park Byung-jun (age: 39), and four others of the Chungnam Love Marathon Club won the event with a two hour, 20 minute, and 45 second record. Chungnam Love is a club created by 15 people from each area of the Chungnam Province to support track and field teams of Chungnam Province. This club donates their prize money to track and field teams. The club is planning to donate 1.5 million won worth of Asics products to middle school and high school track and field teams of Chungnam Province. Kim Geun-nam, who was the starter, said, “I am happy we won and even happier, because we were able to do some good.” Park Byung-jun, the final runner who closed in on and beat the Aia Marathon Club A (two hours, 25 minutes and 20 minutes) said, “Our trust and love for each other grew after all of us ran a part of the 42.195 km trail.

Kim Yeong-gap (age: 33), who became a masters veteran after losing both arms, ran with the Blue Runners Team and scored third (two hours, 28 minutes, and 57 seconds). Kim said, “Today was great, because we did not run for our personal records, but for others.”

In the men’s masters half course race, Lee Byung-hyo (age: 38, Paju City Hall) won with an hour, 15 minute, and 31 second time. In the women’s race, Park Seong-soon (age: 39, People Who Run on Ginseng Club) won with a time of an hour, 23 minutes and 35 seconds.

There were many family participants in the 5 km race. Lee Seong-gu (age: 36) and Seo Hwa-cheol (age: 36) couple ran with their son Jun-hee (age: 8) and daughter Ju-hee (age: 4).

Dong-A Ilbo decided to donate the fee that the 3,514 participants of the 5 km race paid to charities that Gonju City designates.

Meanwhile, in the men’s elite Ekiden marathon relay, Chungbuk Athletics High School won with a new Korean high school record of two hours, seven minutes, and 57 seconds. The second place team was Sunshim High School with two hours, 11 minutes, and 43 minutes. The third place team was from Baemoon High School, the four-time-straight winner up until last year (two hours, 12 minutes, and 38 seconds).

Four women ran 21.0975 km, collectively. The Jakjeon Girls’ High School team, which was formed last year, beat the high-seeded Sangji Girls’ High School (one hour, 13 minutes, and 32 seconds) team with an hour, 12 minute, and 38 second record. Chungbuk Athletics High School came in at third with an hour, 14 minute, and 53 second record.