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Derrick Song

@derrickvsworld

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Season 4 “all in” happening now
Next: Sub 3 at @runcim262
5/7 @wmmajors🏅
5/7 continents 🌎
Coach: @leah.runs.dpt
Fam: @ostrich.running @aletheiarun

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SEOUL26: The Encore

I decided a long time ago that I would run the Tokyo and Seoul Marathons back to back. They’re only two weeks apart and an hour away from each other but more importantly, how am I going to run marathons around the world and skip the motherland?

The one thing about Korea is that I was a bit nervous about feeling accepted there. I’ve always been heavier on the “American” side of Korean-American. My Korean speaking sucks and in a lot of ways I disregarded the Korean side of my identity when I was younger.

Well, it turns out the mother country had way more love for me than I expected and it was amazing to experience life as part of the home team, living in a place where everyone looks like me and felt strangely at home despite not having been to Korea in almost 20 years.

All that energy, the culture, the Korean flavored version of the immaculate running community vibes that I’ve enjoyed for so long… it was so exciting to get a chance to do the thing I love most in front of and with a crowd of over 25,000 other Korean runners. It was a spiritual experience different than all the rest of my races so far. Of course I had to go out and smash this one.

In hindsight, I don’t think anything could have stopped me from breaking my PR with how much I wanted to show out for my people (fixing electrolyte deficiency helped). I destroyed this race to avenge 3:20 for me and @krittab, broke my personal record on the second half of a b2b in Asia, and my parents got to witness it in person. My life this past month has been a movie and I’m so happy I got to share it with y’all.

I told people if I landed anywhere near 3:15, that I would push for a BQ next season. Well, this was close enough. Ya boy is too confident now not to chase the sub-3 finish and I’m not getting any younger. I’ve got the blueprint from @leah.runs.dpt and 8 months to work. 3:17 -> 2:59? Why not? Could I be that dude? Why can’t it be me?

Only one way to find out!

Kit by @aletheiarun @ostrich.running @venicerunclub @on @banditrunning @asicsrunning @corosglobal

#seoulmarathon2026 taken in Seoul, South Korea by @derrickvsworld

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7 months ago

TOKYO26: Epilogue

How many people can say they’ve ran an international Abbott @wmmajors marathon with their best running pal?

Well, as of a few weeks ago, @krittab and I joined that club. We delivered 3:21:xx chip times side-by-side and ran the entire race next to each other, which was an insane life experience to have. It doesn’t feel quite real when I read it in writing. However, the race didn’t really feel like a W bc we wanted sub 3:20.

@krittab thinks she messed up some of the pacing at the end from misreading her watch. That her knee gave her issues on the back 6, and that she needed to pee from literally the beginning of the race.

I think I messed up because I missed a gel timing and completely forgot about electrolytes causing me to bonk hard at mile 22 but really starting mile 20. I was supposed to be her battery pack at the end of the race to unlock another gear in her and I failed at my mission there.

It says a lot about us as athletes and how far we’ve come to look at a 3:21 marathon finish and feel anything other than happiness, much less disappointment. When I met Krista 2 years ago (that’s it?), I hadn’t even broken 4 hours, much less 3:30. Krista wasn’t even sure if her body could hold up for 26.2 miles. And now look at us.

There’s always a silver lining. Runners like us aren’t really fueled by the satisfaction of victory. Rather, it’s the bitter taste of defeat that usually feeds the beast inside. It’s important to remember that not every race is a smash and that’s part of what makes crushing them so special.

That being said, this wasn’t a defeat. People out there would kill for a 3:21:xx marathon finish. It’s truly a privilege to be in this kind of shape, run like savages the way that we do, and get to perform on a stage as epic as a world major in Tokyo. We’re blessed, y’all. I wouldn’t have done it with anyone else and if I could do it all over again I wouldn’t change a thing.

The Japanese have a concept called “wabi sabi”. It means to find beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. I’m honored for this to be our “wabi sabi” story!

#tokyomarathon2026 taken in Tokyo, Japan by @derrickvsworld

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7 months ago

A tale of 9 marathons

I don’t know how many of y’all have clicked on my Marathon Tracker Google sheet in my linktree (in bio) but I wasn’t always this fast. I used to be slow as hell.

When I started running with @venicerunclub I was literally at the back of the pack. Nowadays I am closer to the front. It’s wild how much life can change over time. Dream big, don’t be scared. by @derrickvsworld

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9 months ago

We’re so back

It was hell being injured or sick for over a month but it’s already a distant memory and I’m happy as hell to be running healthy and pain free again

#marathontraining taken in Los Angeles, California by @derrickvsworld

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8 hours ago

Taking it easy on the early morning sunrise times and tried something new this week #marathontraining taken in Sand Dune Park by @derrickvsworld

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4 days ago

I tried to return to getting after it (again) last week. It was not successful. I’ll see you all again when I’m actually healthy for real. #marathontraining

Coach: @leah.runs.dpt
Hip tech: @aletheiarun
Hats/electrolytes: @ostrich.running
Diet: @gabbychildersrd
Mobility: @its.about.living
Chiro: @awechiropractic
Acu: @vibrant.acu taken in Los Angeles, California by @derrickvsworld

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16 days ago

Missing my friend @chonsteryo #trailrunning taken in Saddle Peak by @derrickvsworld

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21 days ago

I haven’t been doing well lately and I’m telling y’all why. Watch it or don’t, I don’t care. To the person whose friendship I screwed up last week, I’m sorry.

Rest in peace @chonsteryo, you will be missed. “all in” is now for you. #marathontraining by @derrickvsworld

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22 days ago

Missed the sunrise today but it was still good to get out in nature #trailrun taken in Canyonback Trail by @derrickvsworld

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a month ago

Back and running again, wanted to highlight the team supporting the derrickvsworld project, shout out to @aletheiarun @ostrich.running @awechiropractic @vibrant.acu @its.about.living @gabbychildersrd and @thebodyalchemist3 for joining me on last week’s New Trail Friday

Feeling a little under the weather so week 6 isn’t shaping up to be great either so I’ve really got to pick it up soon.

#marathontraining taken in Los Angeles, California by @derrickvsworld

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a month ago

Sandstone Peak is the highest summit in the Santa Monica Mountains and I finally checked it out because @thebodyalchemist3 is nuts

He is the second NTF guest to outcrazy me 😂 respect to my guy Nathan, this one was a blast even if we were an hour early to the sunrise oops #trailrun taken in Sandstone Peak by @derrickvsworld

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a month ago

Yapping length episodes continue. I was dumb this week but sharing is important

Feat. @trilljesus @arilee009 @its.about.living @zubdiggler @laurel.m.d @leah.runs.dpt

#marathontrainingplan taken in Los Angeles, California by @derrickvsworld

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a month ago