Memories with Family over Records: Why 3,000 Runners Filled Cheongju's Musimcheon Stream

At the threshold of autumn, the night at Cheongju's Musimcheon Stream swayed with the footsteps of thousands. Last weekend, the 'Night Run Cheongju' night running festival was held, where approximately 3,000 runners gathered, cutting through the cool breeze. It was an event focused on the joy of running along with the atmosphere of the autumn night rather than intense competition for records.

Runners who chose 'together' instead of records

The appearance of the runners pouring out at the starting signal was different for each person. This competition was divided into a 5km course that could be enjoyed without pressure and a slightly more challenging 10km course. For the participants met on-site, the purpose of this race was not simple time reduction. One participant who came from Geochang, South Gyeongsang Province, placed meaning on making memories with family, saying that the weather was good and all four family members came together to have fun running.

The path running along the night view of Musimcheon Stream provided a completely different energy than during the day. One participant shared the charm of night running, saying it was much cooler and better to run while feeling the river breeze at night rather than running during the day. While replenishing energy at the checkpoints provided along the way, runners took in the scenery of Musimcheon Stream.

Healing and new challenges after finishing

As the darkness deepened and the night view of Musimcheon Stream lit up the path, the race rushed toward its end. On the faces of those who crossed the finish line, the sense of achievement from finishing came before fatigue. One participant, who said they had been worried about having weak physical strength, shared their thoughts, saying they were happy to have finished and felt they had improved their fitness. A student who ran while carrying academic stress showed a smile, saying that while running, they felt like they might study better and even get a perfect score on exams.

For those who usually enjoyed marathons in the morning, this Night Run was a new experience. Having discovered the joy of running through the evening air, some expressed their determination to build more physical strength and challenge the 10km course in the future. The celebratory performance that followed the end of the race doubled the joy of finishing. For those who ran while breathing in the cool night air with friends, this competition remained more than just exercise, becoming a form of 'healing.'

According to the KBS 'Live: Chungbuk Now' video, the autumn night in Cheongju concluded even more brightly with the passion of those running.