1. Running started when my body began to break down
It started as something that barely looked like running.
Frequent overseas business trips,
Uncontrolled drinking.
At some point,
I felt like my body was barely holding together.
My colds lasted over a month,
Even brushing lightly against a box made my skin turn red.
At that time, my thought was simple.
“Just do something.”
That was how running started.
I was in my early to mid-30s.
The elementary school track near my house.
I just pretended to run 10 laps.
But back then,
“I did what I planned to do today.”
That alone was enough to feel satisfied.
The first time I ran outside the track was along Hakui Stream.
After two or three months,
The track became boring.
For the first time,
I ran along Hakui Stream in the dark.
Instead of staring at a track,
Watching the scenery change along the stream
Somehow made running less boring.
Around that time,
I once visited Hakui Stream with my family.
My kids and my wife walked on the paved road,
While I ran briefly on the dirt path next to them.
My wife laughed and said:
“Why are you swinging your arms side to side like that?
Are you even running?
Why aren’t you getting farther away from us?”
At the time, I thought she was joking.
Looking back now,
Because I ran alone,
My posture and pace
Were probably all over the place.
2. The period of chasing records — and the limits I set for myself
5 km in 30 minutes — back then, it felt like a huge achievement
There was a season when it rained often.
I skipped morning runs frequently,
And eventually joined a gym near my house.
Treadmill speed 8.
That was my standard.
Then one day,
I saw someone running at speed 12.
That was the first time I realized:
“Ah… so that’s possible too.”
Increasing speed was much harder than I expected.
But a few weeks later,
I finally ran 5 km in 30 minutes.
At the time,
I thought it was an incredible achievement.
That’s how I ran — on and off — for 10 years.
Hakui Stream → Anyang Stream
5 km on weekdays
7 km on weekends
Then three years ago,
I pushed myself and ran 20 km.
And got injured.
Eventually,
I gave up
Speed
And distance.
That was when my mindset changed.
“Just run enough to sweat.”
A limit I set for myself.
Back then, I truly believed:
“10 km in 50 minutes has nothing to do with me.”
And that became
A fixed standard inside me.
3. The moment I realized the limits of running alone
2 months in a running club — and a late realization
By chance,
I joined a running club.
For the first time,
I experienced what “training” really meant.
During the last 5 laps,
I ran only watching the club leader’s feet.
My mind was filled only with numbers.
One lap.
Another lap.
And one thought kept repeating:
“Just hold on until the end.”
A record I could never have achieved alone.
Once,
I ran 10 km in 47 minutes.
It was so hard,
I never tried again.
But during club training,
I ran close to that record again.
If I had been alone,
I never could have done it.
4. What I finally realized
Something a new young member said today:
“When I run alone, I quit.
When I run with others, I don’t quit.”
After believing the opposite for over 10 years,
I felt a little regret.
“Why join a running club?
Running alone is enough.”
But still,
I’m glad I realized it now.
Even if it might be a little late.
