It’s a summer night when the heat approaches 36 degrees. After a drink with friends, I walk along the river to soothe my sentimental mood. It’s hot, but the gentle river breeze fills my empty heart. But only for a moment. I have to step aside to avoid a crowd running from the opposite direction. Just as I catch my breath, another group runs by. From far away, I see one team, followed by another, moving in perfect harmony like during my military days. Why are they running on such a hot summer night?
Recently, running has become more than just exercise; it’s a social trend. Various running clubs are booming, and running shoe brands are gaining popularity. This trend is likely to expand further. Reflecting on the running craze culturally, I reconsider why I run as an amateur runner.
Humans have to run to survive.
We’ve often heard that humans are animals developed to run. Since prehistoric times, humans have lived by hunting animals, for which running was an essential skill. Humans have been running for tens of thousands of years.
If I don’t run today, my loved ones will go hungry. In such situations, humans had to run for days and hunt large animals. They had to run with all their might to escape predators and keep running endlessly. Humans and running have always been inseparably close.
The romance of the marathon, the legend of the Greek Pheidippides
The marathon is an indispensable part of running stories. It is the ultimate phase of running, covering a distance of 42.195 kilometers. While it might be familiar from webtoon artist Gian84’s successful challenge, running 42.195 kilometers is like running from Seoul to Suwon purely by foot. For some, it’s a great distance that appears on their bucket list.
The marathon’s origin dates back to about 2,500 years ago, to 490 BC, during the Battle of Marathon between Athens and the Persian Empire. Athens was only a small city-state, equivalent to a district in Seoul today. On the other hand, Persia was a vast empire spanning Asia and Europe. The outcome was an unexpected surprise: Athens defeated the great empire.
A soldier named Pheidippides was chosen to deliver the victory news. He ran breathlessly with armor and weapons to the Athenians and shouted, “We won!” However, at that moment, he collapsed and died. Later generations recorded his run as about 42 kilometers, marking the beginning of the marathon legend.
Of course, this story combines history and legend. According to actual records, Pheidippides ran not from Marathon to Athens but from Athens to Sparta to request reinforcements over 240 kilometers. Yet, the story of the soldier who became the ‘messenger of death’ remains more vividly in people’s memories. And that legend was revived in the first modern Olympic marathon in 1896.
Today, the marathon is more than a sport; it’s a symbol of testing human limits. City-marathon events are now festivals, and running has become a way of life beyond health. The legend of a soldier from 2,500 years ago still makes our hearts race today.
Run, Forrest, run
In the movie Forrest Gump, the female protagonist Jenny shouts to young Forrest, chased by bullies, “Run, Forrest, run!” From that moment, running changes his life. Forrest escapes bullying through running, catches the eye of a football coach, and enters college. In the Vietnam War, he ran through the jungle, saving his comrades. In his youth, his runs always had a clear purpose.
However, in the latter part of the movie, Forrest’s running has no reason. His beloved Jenny has left, his mother has passed away, and his business is well-managed by his business partner, Lieutenant Dan. He no longer runs for anything, just across the American continent. People asked, “Why are you running, Forrest?” But he couldn’t answer.
Similarly, Korea’s running craze might mirror this. Many young people today run, burdened with struggles and untold stories, each fighting their battles. For some, running doesn’t require an explanation. They are just many ‘Korean Forrest Gumps’ running their paths.
During the COVID era, young people who flocked to golf clubs returned.
During the COVID era, a golf craze surged among young people. Many in their 20s and 30s flocked to golf clubs, and related brand products sold like hotcakes. For a while, this trend seemed unbreakable. However, once COVID weakened, the situation changed. The young generation’s golf craze quickly subsided.
The biggest reason was cost. Like luxury consumption, golf was feasible for ‘SNS certification,’ but maintaining it for years was economically infeasible. The high entry barriers of luxury sports eventually made the MZ generation retreat.
What filled the void was running. Running is the oldest, most accessible exercise that requires no special equipment or venue. Anyone can immediately put on sneakers and hit the streets. With fashion and branding added, running is no longer just exercise but a culture.
Running shoes and related fashion items have become a style among young people, leading a new trend. This indicates that the running craze isn’t just a local phenomenon in Korea but a global trend.
The legacy of the COVID era isn’t just memories of quarantine. It remains a ‘golf boom memory’ for some and ‘the beginning of running’ for others. Now, countless young runners on the streets physically demonstrate this change.
Why do we have to run?
It’s hard to answer the question “Why run?” immediately. However, the scientific benefits of running have been proven countless times. Preventing cardiovascular diseases, avoiding adult diseases, and the effects of dopamine secretion—running’s benefits have been emphasized throughout the ages. Its medical value will continue for decades.
But our enthusiasm for running isn’t just due to medical effects. Running is fundamental to human physical activity. The roughest athletes, like MMA fighters, must run for 25 minutes over five rounds. Boxers needing more extreme movements must run in the ring for 40 minutes. Mountain climbers, dancers, or even ordinary walks are pieces of running. Running is both a means to reach goals quickly and a process of self-reflection.
Hence, running is often considered a metaphor for life. Everyone runs the same path, but their speed, rhythm, posture, and destinations vary. Some run quickly, passing many landscapes, while others run slowly, lost in thought on the road. That difference reflects life.
An endless running craze. However, this fervent wind will keep us healthy, thoughtful, and make society more vibrant. You don’t have to run a full marathon; how about jogging along the Han River in nice weather?
For all our healthy mornings, I, too, intend to step beyond passive running and start running properly.
Run, everybody, run!