Thanks to his older brothers, Dex fulfilled his bucket list in 'Born to Travel the World 4.'
The episode aired on MBC's entertainment program 'Born to Travel the World 4' (hereafter 'Born to Travel 4'), showcasing the members' struggle to push their limits as they challenged the 'Doko Race,' a pinnacle of the world's strongest Gurkha training.
On this day, Lee Si-eon, Kian84, Pani Bottle, and Dex took on the 'Doko Race,' considered the most brutal training among Gurkha trainings. Members filled bags with sand according to their condition. Among them, Dex, who aimed to regain his pride, filled his bag with 15kg of sand, committing himself as he said, 'I'm going to make up for it today,' adding, 'I haven't been able to sleep well. I'm upset because I couldn't train. I haven't felt this way in a while.'
In a subsequent interview, Dex explained, 'I wanted to make up for my disappointment from yesterday, and I think it was a test for myself. This weight is not something you hold with your legs or strength; it's a weight you endure with mental strength. I didn't think my mental strength would be lower than 15kg. I was determined to do 15kg from yesterday.'
As the Doko Race began, Dex took the lead. Following him were Kian84, Lee Si-eon, and Pani Bottle, who were running in turn. During the race, Kian84 humorously noted, 'We have a 5-day overseas trip, but carrying luggage for 3 days is something else.' He continued, 'It's a strange experience because I'm in a training camp I've never heard of in a town I don't know. It really feels like a trip.'
With about 200 meters left to the finish line, Dex felt the limits of his strength on the last steep uphill. He remarked, 'I blew it. That was the turning point. I was getting further from the leader, and my breathing was getting heavier.'
'Honestly, I wanted to cry,' Dex said, adding, 'My breathing and legs were finished. I held on for the last 200 meters with mental strength. I wanted to be first at all costs, honestly because I thought it would make me feel better about myself. It might seem silly, but I was determined to be first from the start.'
Making a final sprint, Dex recorded an impressive time of 20 minutes and 59 seconds, finishing 4th among 33 participants. Following him were Kian84, Lee Si-eon, and Pani Bottle, who crossed the finish line.
Kian84 expressed gratitude, saying, 'It was warm and helpful having someone pulling me along,' while Pani Bottle noted, 'I almost used 99% of my leg strength, but when they helped me up, I felt like I had to meet their expectations. So I tried to keep my pace.' He added, 'I felt proud for not giving up,' reflecting on the finish.
Dex commented on his brothers' finish, saying, 'I thought everyone would give up. When I reached the finish line, I saw Kian coming, and then I didn't hear anything for a while, so I thought he had dropped out, but then Si-eon arrived. Shortly after, Pani came up as well. It was great to see that our brothers had the determination and resilient spirit beyond the records.'
Meanwhile, Jang Doyoun noted, 'There's good news. If you don't complete the 3km Doko Race in under 21 minutes, you don't pass; Dex finished in 20 minutes and 59 seconds, qualifying according to Gurkha standards.' To this, Dex jokingly replied, 'I might re-enlist soon.'
Above all, on this day, Dex recalled his past UDT days through the Gurkha training. He stated, 'There was pure passion. It felt like I was seeing my past self. Back then, I didn't care about money or fame; this was my life goal. It feels like those friends are doing the same thing now,' adding, 'I had forgotten that, so I was glad to remember it after a long time.'
Lee Si-eon also remarked, 'I thought a lot about the military,' and Kian84 agreed, saying, 'It was nice to overlap with my youth.'
Afterward, the members felt a strong camaraderie as they spent their last moments exchanging gifts with the friends they had made and following each other on social media. Dex said, 'This was the best trip I've ever taken. It felt like I rediscovered my past self,' and Kian84 added, 'I was happy to find the old me in Nonsan,' reminiscing about his military days.
[Photo] Screenshot from 'Born to Travel the World 4.'
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