At last, Kian84 and the Extreme Crew's final Race has begun.
On the 18th, the 8th episode of MBC's "극한84" depicted Kian84, Kwon Hwa Woon and Kangnam finally starting their final Race on the Arctic, the harshest stage. The Extreme Crew set off amid fear and tension, further raising expectations about whether they can complete the extreme Race to the end.
The broadcast that day recorded a household rating of 4.5%, setting a new personal best. Especially, the scene in the Arctic marathon where Kwon Hwa Woon, who had been leading in first place, was repeatedly overtaken surged to 7.1%. The 20-54 rating, a key channel competitiveness indicator reflecting changes in media consumption, also rose to 2.2%. (Nielsen Korea, metropolitan area)
A day before the event, the Extreme Crew and the runners participating in the Arctic marathon conducted a pre-inspection of the actual course for safety. Through the bus windows moving along the marathon course, endless steep slopes and canyon terrain unfolded, and as they neared the starting point, snow-covered runways and the Russell Glacier came into view. In such visibly formidable conditions, the Extreme Crew could not hide their mixed feelings.
Arriving at the starting point, the Extreme Crew admired the overwhelming scenery of nature while feeling the full weight of the Arctic marathon. Preparing for the actual Race, the three put on crampons and cold-weather gear and began test running on the glacier, experiencing the piercing Arctic cold, steep sections that cannot be climbed without holding ropes, and glacier stretches up to 10 km, gradually losing their words.
Especially, an unexpected crisis came for ace Kwon Hwa Woon. She repeatedly slipped on icy roads and could hardly move forward. Faced with things not going as planned, Kwon Hwa Woon could not hide her alarm, and Kian84 and Kangnam, who watched, also showed worried feelings. After the pre-inspection, Kwon Hwa Woon confessed, "Honestly, I have no confidence," and the sight of the ace, who always aimed for first place and was full of confidence, wavering shocked not only the Extreme Crew but also viewers.
At the subsequent marathon briefing, the harsh reality of the Arctic marathon was emphasized once again. Safety rules to prevent accidents were repeatedly explained, and the explanation, delivered without any hint of humor, made the Extreme Crew nervous in a completely different atmosphere from the Africa and France marathons.
Meanwhile, amid the tense atmosphere, Kian84 suggested making a wish using Kangnam's "lucky chest hair," producing unexpected laughter. In Japan there is a superstition that the longer the chest hair, the more luck follows, and Kangnam claimed, "I have never had a wish not come true when I prayed with my chest hair." In response, Kian84 plucked Kangnam's chest hair and shared it with Kwon Hwa Woon, and Kwon Hwa Woon grabbed the chest hair and wished for first place, prompting laughter.
With only a few hours left until the weather check, the accommodation was filled with silence. Kwon Hwa Woon candidly expressed her anxious feelings, saying, "Over the past year I have run full marathons many times, but I've never felt like this. I'm nervous and scared." Reflecting on past marathons and his own feelings, Kian84 calmly vowed, "I won't hope for a fluke; I'll go as far as I've run."
On the dawn of the event day, not only Kangnam, who was attempting the marathon for the first time, but also Kian84 showed nervousness, fumbling and even forgetting his bib number. On the way to the start, the bus carrying the runners stopped on ice, signaling the start of the arduous Arctic marathon, and the Extreme Crew could not hide their anxiety.
After twists and turns, the runners at the starting line had to prepare for the Race without even enough time for adequate stretching due to delays. At last the start signal sounded; Kangnam, flustered, joined the Race from the very back, and Kian84, letting go of the pressure and burden that had continued until the previous day, steadied himself, saying, "Let's just enjoy running again." Kian84's much more relaxed expression than before made even viewers smile.
Meanwhile, ace Kwon Hwa Woon sprinted to the front at the start and maintained early first place. However, she was repeatedly overtaken on slippery runways and in the glacier section that troubled her the previous day, dropping to third place. Despite trying to pick up speed, a scene at the end of the broadcast previewed Kwon Hwa Woon struggling and stopping the Race, heightening tension to the maximum. Attention is focused on whether Kian84, Kwon Hwa Woon and Kangnam can keep running to the end on the coldest and harshest stage, the Arctic.
[Photo] MBC's "극한84" broadcast capture
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