A Korean American couple from Fullerton has completed all six World Marathon Majors after running side by side for over 16 years. Ryu Jae-Choon and his wife Kyung-Hee, both 66, crossed the finish line of the Tokyo Marathon on March 2, to applause from fellow runners and organizers.
Their journey began on January 1, 2009, when Ryu, then 50, decided to start running after seeing his weight spike to 201 pounds after a year-end party. His wife agreed to join him if he could keep it up for a week. That decision marked the start of a long-running partnership that has defined their lives.
From Boston to Tokyo: 6 Marathons, 3 Years
The couple trained and ran every race together. Over 16 years and 3 months, they completed the six major world marathons—Boston, Berlin, London, Chicago, New York, and Tokyo—over the course of three years, starting in 2022 and finishing in March 2025.
They now plan to run the Sydney Marathon in late August 2025, aiming to join the exclusive group of runners who complete all seven. After Sydney, they also plan to participate in the Shanghai and Cape Town Marathons.
Ryu’s personal best marathon time is 3 hours and 40 minutes, while Kyung-Hee’s is 3 hours and 50 minutes.
Running Strengthened Their Health and Marriage
“Running made us healthier and deepened our bond. Being able to run together for 16 years is a blessing,” said Ryu, who operates Ace 5000 Supply, a restaurant supply business in Buena Park, with his wife.
Ryu, now 161 pounds, says he’s back to the same weight he was in college. “My neck size went down by an inch and my waist by four to five inches,” he said. He also believes running helped correct his posture, relieving stress on his knees and hips.
Leading the Local Running Community
Ryu is active in two running clubs: he’s a member of Happy Runners and serves as team leader and coach for TT Runners. The club trains regularly:
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Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 a.m. at Ralph B. Clark Park in Buena Park
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Saturdays at 6 a.m. at Parks Junior High in Fullerton
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Sundays at 6 a.m. at Cerritos Regional Park
Those interested can call 562-412-8807 for more information.
“Anyone is welcome to join us to walk or run while breathing in forest air early in the morning,” said Ryu.
BY SANGHWAN LIM [lim.sanghwan@koreadaily.com]
