'Extreme 84' revealed the starting line for another extreme as the Médoc Marathon came to an end.
In the sixth episode of MBC's 'Extreme 84,' which aired on the 4th, the latter half of the Médoc Marathon race by the Extreme Crew and the process of preparing for their final challenge, the Arctic Marathon, were depicted. In particular, with the entire Extreme Crew succeeding in achieving their Médoc Marathon goals, Kian84 expressed his gratitude to the crew members and the moment of reflecting on the meaning of "our" recorded a peak minute rating of 4.9%, leaving a deep impression.
The latter half of the Médoc Marathon was a series of ordeals. From the start, suffering from the heat and a hangover, Kian84 began vomiting and collapsing as he reached the latter part, repeatedly sitting down. As runners dropped out one after another, Kian84 struggled to steady his body and mind and continued a solitary race. At the 41 km mark, holding an ice cream, Kian84 said it felt like meeting an angel and, overcome with emotion, swore, drawing laughter. Using that as a booster, Kian84 sprinted again and completed the race with a time of 5 hours, 4 minutes and 59 seconds, but he could not hide his disappointment with his time and his disappointment in himself, which was heartbreaking.
Tsuki also ran a difficult race. After passing the half point smoothly, she sprained her foot at the 28 km mark. Despite tears from persistent pain, Tsuki did not stop running. Kwon Hwa Woon, who appeared at that time, checked Tsuki's condition and sometimes pushed her from behind, playing the role of pacemaker admirably. The two who ran together until the end held hands and headed for the finish line, completing the race in 6 hours, 17 minutes and 45 seconds, adding to the emotion.
Earlier, Lee Eunji succeeded in her half marathon challenge, and the entire Extreme Crew achieved their respective goals. After finishing the race, the four expressed gratitude to one another and offered encouragement. Crew leader Kian84, while reflecting on his disappointment with his time, thanked Lee Eunji for following him, Tsuki for reminding him of the excitement of the first challenge, and Kwon Hwa Woon for quietly taking care of the crew members. The Médoc Marathon, run not alone but by the four together, made the Extreme Crew reflect on the meaning of 'our'.
Another challenge awaited the Extreme Crew after finishing the Médoc Marathon. It was the final race, the "Arctic Polar Circle Marathon." Known for its notorious course that requires running through subzero cold, blizzards, and endless glaciers and snowfields, it is an unimaginably brutal event. The Extreme Crew will participate in the race as the first Koreans to take on this event and challenge the limits of extreme endurance.
Meanwhile, the broadcast that day drew attention with the addition of a new crew member, Kangnam, who will join the Arctic Marathon. Kangnam, who said he got into running because of Kian84, recalled when Kian84 and Kwon Hwa Woon ran together and left him behind, saying, "At that time my pride was hurt, so I kept up and ended up running 20 km," adding laughter. In addition, his wife Lee Sanghwa also shared an extreme training episode in which she left Kangnam behind and made him run home, amusing the set.
Facing the Arctic Marathon with little available information, the Extreme Crew began full-scale preparations by consulting polar experts. Given the safety priorities of polar marathons, the experts emphasized the importance of equipment such as waterproof running shoes, layering and crampons, and as the survival-like preparation process continued, the crew members' expressions grew increasingly serious. Afterward, Kian84, Kwon Hwa Woon and Kangnam intensified their preparations by setting individual goals and strategies; Kwon Hwa Woon aimed for first place, while Kian84 and Kangnam set finishing within the time limit as their goals, foreshadowing another challenge to their limits.
As training and preparations continued for the first Korean attempt at the Arctic Polar Circle Marathon, 'Extreme 84's journey entered another new phase. Even in the process of packing, the three people's tendencies were sharply divided. Faced with increasing luggage and feeling perplexed, Kian84; Kwon Hwa Woon, who packed three suitcases with thorough preparation; and Kangnam, who finished preparing with the help of strategist Kwon Hwa Woon—each person's preparation for the Arctic was portrayed in their own way, adding interest.
In an unpredictable race on the snowfield and in a vast nature that does not easily yield to humans, what ending the Extreme Crew will meet is still unknown. Having completed two extreme marathons, interest is focused on what kind of race the Extreme Crew will run in the Arctic's ultraextreme environment and their final challenge.
The sights of Kian84 and the Extreme Crew challenging their limits up to the ultimate Arctic Polar Circle Marathon are revealed on MBC's 'Extreme 84,' which airs every Sunday night at 9:10 p.m.
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