[비즈한국] The casual running festival ‘Burning Run Story Eleven,’ hosted by BizHankook and RunStory.com, concluded successfully on November 30 at the Pyeonghwa Square of the World Cup Park in Sangam. Having been held since 2018, the Burning Run series featured its first-ever ‘winter’ event this year. Despite the chilly weather, World Cup Park was heated by the enthusiasm of some 3,000 runners.
On a bright and clear Sunday morning at 8:00 AM, the Pyeonghwa Square at World Cup Park began to fill up with runners wearing Burning Run’s ‘Workup running vests.’ With the smooth and expert hosting of comedian MC Kim Wan-ki, the participants’ faces were filled with excitement.
The race offered 5km and 10km courses. The 5km course turned at Nanjicheon Park, while the 10km course turned at the Nanji Hangang Park Summer Police Station.
All participants were provided with a running vest, a finisher medal, a timing chip (for 10km participants), a bib, a digital record certificate, snacks, and beverages.
At 9:00 AM, the 10km participants began their race, and the winners crossed the finish line in just over 30 minutes. In the 10km course, Kim Yeda-eun took first place for women with 37 minutes and 5 seconds, and Kim Min-jun took first place for men with 32 minutes and 29 seconds. Both received a cash prize of 800,000 KRW along with additional prizes. Second place went to Kim Ju-yeon (women) and Yu Mun-jin (men), while third place went to Hong Seo-rin (women) and An Bong-jun (men). Second-place finishers received 600,000 KRW and prizes, third-place 400,000 KRW and prizes, and fourth/fifth-place finishers received prizes. The prizes were jumpsuits from BoldWorks.
Kim Yeda-eun, who took first place in the women’s division, said, “I was worried because the Pyeonghwa Square course, which runs around the Haneul Park trail, is quite challenging, but I’m happy to have achieved a good result.” Kim Min-jun, the men’s winner who trains every week for running events, stated, “I was worried as the course was somewhat more difficult than other competitions, so I am very happy to have placed first.”
Following the awards ceremony, various programs and events were held. Partner companies including Monomano, Lexi, Green Monster, Choco Health, Solar, Intuskin, Soyjoy, Reebok, Pigeon, Dowon Water, Good Luck, and Lotte Chilsung Beverage005300 provided various products to participants at their respective event booths.
Many participants in this year’s event signed up in groups, such as large families and workplace colleagues. Park Myeong-hee, who participated with 12 family members and acquaintances, said with a smile, “I’ve been running four times a year with my family since 2022. This year, my youngest, who is 10, joined us for the first time. It’s a family event where people from their teens to their 30s run together.”
One participant who came with a graduate school friend remarked, “I thought it would be cold because it’s winter, but the weather was actually great. I was actually hot after running. I plan to participate again next time.”
There were also those who were participating in a running event for the first time. Yun Da-i, an international participant who was the first to finish in the 5km race, said, “A friend suggested I run, so I decided to participate in a competition for the first time, and it was a decision I don’t regret.”
The finale of the event was the ‘Burning Run Story After-Party,’ celebrated for its hip sensibility. As Burning Run’s signature differentiated content, the after-party featured EDM performances, various games, and spontaneous events that boosted the participants' excitement. Various giveaway events, including the ‘SNS Ranking Competition’ where participants posted verification photos at the designated photo zones with the hashtags ‘#BurningRun’ and ‘#BurningRunStory,’ also received a great response.
Next year’s Burning Run is scheduled to be held on May 25, 2026, at the Mulbit Stage in Yeouido Hangang Park.