The Extreme Crew entered Greenland ahead of the Arctic Polar Circle Marathon, raising the curtain on their final Race.
On the 11th (Sun) broadcast of MBC '극한84' (directed by Park Soo-bin·Kim Ki-ho·Jung Ji-woon) episode 7, the Extreme Crew was shown embarking on a full-scale journey toward their final challenge, the Arctic, drawing attention.
In particular, after arriving in Kangalussuaq, Greenland and facing the RUSSELL Glacier in person, the Extreme Crew, realizing the weight of the Arctic Race in the face of overwhelming nature, left a strong impression as the peak viewership rose to 5.9%. The 20–54 rating also rose to 2.1% compared with the previous week, and the household rating recorded 3.8% (Nielsen Korea, Seoul metropolitan area).
On that day's broadcast, having arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Extreme Crew, heading to the Arctic's first gateway, began the day with a surprise party for Kian84's birthday. Kwon Hwa Woon and Kangnam prepared the birthday table with an operation worthy of a spy film, and although they faced a crisis from an unexpected sloppy mistake, they showed their own rhythm and successfully pulled off the surprise party. Appearing at the party in underwear to add laughter, Kian84 tasted the seaweed soup prepared by his younger members and expressed sincere gratitude, adding warmth.
Then the Extreme Crew went for a city run in Copenhagen with a huge running crew of about 20,000 members worldwide. From streets reminiscent of medieval Europe to pastel-colored harbors, they ran a course connecting palaces and parks, experiencing a unique pleasure that combined running and travel. Kian84 enjoyed runner's high from the morning's birthday celebrations, Copenhagen's beauty and the sudden rain that led to a "wet run," delighting viewers.
But the Extreme Crew's happy mood changed abruptly at the expo site where they went to receive their bib numbers. Unlike the festive ordinary expos, participants appeared more tense than excited, making them realize the weight of the Arctic marathon. When the course was introduced — starting with about 10 km of ice, repeated climbs and descents through rough terrain, and extreme conditions where walking is difficult without crampons — Kian84 gave an awkward laugh in embarrassment. In particular, Kangnam, challenging his first marathon in life, also showed a flustered appearance, making the difficulty of the Arctic Race clear.
Meanwhile, at the expo, Kian84 attracted attention by reuniting with an Australian runner he had run with at the Big Five marathon. They set aside tension for a moment to share a warm greeting at the unexpected reunion after crossing the finish line together, and Kwon Hwa Woon, recalling that a rival Australian who had taken first place at the South Africa Big Five marathon would not participate, fired up his competitive spirit by saying, "I will be first in the Arctic," adding laughter.
After a long journey, the Extreme Crew arrived in Kangalussuaq, Greenland, the host site of the Arctic Marathon, and faced the Arctic landscape of an airport surrounded by snowy mountains, frozen ground and the short sunlight. On their first schedule, while heading out for a glacier tour, they took in muskoxen, reindeer and beautiful lakes, showing they were captivated by the mysterious Arctic nature. Kian84 could not hide his excitement, saying, "This is the place I like the most among the places I've been to so far."
But the admiration was short-lived: the endless climbs encountered on the glacier tour and the deepening cold as they approached the glacier brought the Extreme Crew back to reality. Confronted with the Arctic's bare face, Kian84 and Kwon Hwa Woon could not hide their bewilderment, and the sight of Kangnam, exhausted on a path where even walking is not easy, added to the poignancy.
When they finally faced the Russell Glacier in person, the Extreme Crew were left speechless before an overwhelming scale that seemed to have no end. The vast nature gave the three both expectation and fear and fully conveyed the weight of the Arctic Race they will face. Standing before the overpowering nature, whether the Extreme Crew will be able to complete the final Race remains a matter of anticipation.
The ultimate extreme journey unfolding in the Arctic can be seen on MBC '극한84,' broadcast every Sunday at 9:10 p.m.
[Photos] OSEN DB, '극한84'
[OSEN]