Kian84 broke the limits until the end of "Extreme 84."
On the 1st episode aired of the MBC variety show "Extreme 84" episode 10 (final episode), Kian84 and the Extreme crew's final marathon course, the "Arctic Marathon" full course, unfolded.
On that day, the rookie runner of the Extreme crew, Kangnam, challenged himself to complete a full marathon for the first time. Leg cramps began, making it impossible to muster strength. Kangnam muttered "Sang-hwa, Sang-hwa" as he moved his exhausted body. He kept repeating the name of his wife, Lee Sang-hwa.
Kangnam said, "My wife brought honor to the country in the skating world, so if her husband came and gave up in the middle, it would feel like failing to do his duty. That's why I was able to run to the end," which moved viewers to tears. Even Kian84 said, "I keep... I can't speak," to the point of being speechless.
Arriving at the 30km water station, Kangnam received cheers from other participants who were supporting him. He ran shouting "I can do it" in response to encouragement from a 57-year-old middle-aged woman who urged, "I do it too, so you can do it as well."
Kangnam said, "Sang-hwa always said that when people cheer you on, you get strength," recalling his wife's advice even at that moment, and despite leg cramps that continued for more than 5km, he surpassed 32km and completed his first full course.
Meanwhile, true champ Kian84 struggled, even chewing on Arctic ice, and after fighting through, succeeded in completing the Arctic Marathon full course with a mid-to-upper ranking of 44th out of 125. He embraced crew member Kwon Hwa Woon, who had finished earlier in fifth place, and shared the joy of completion.
But soon he burst into tears, moving viewers. Kian84 said, "Africa failed, I drank in France, I was trying to do well with this. I should have done better," expressing remorse and apology with words full of regret.
In fact, Kian84 had felt strong pressure in the Arctic Marathon due to a past experience of vomiting when completing a full marathon, but he overcame it and finished. Moreover, despite finishing the race with a respectable mid-to-upper ranking, he felt sorry to crew member Kwon Hwa Woon, who always looked after him first.
He admitted, "I tried not to cry. I didn't want to look bad. But when Hwa Woon watched, I welled up," Kian84 said. Kian84 expressed deep gratitude to Kwon Hwa Woon, saying, "To me, this kid has a very good character. When I wonder, 'Why can't I run?' she says, 'Try changing the energy gel,' 'Let's do mountain training together.'"
Kian84 even praised Kwon Hwa Woon's character, saying, "On days we scheduled training, even when she had already completed her own training, she would come to run with me. She didn't just run; she planned the course for me."
Although he finished the final Arctic Marathon, Kian84's journey was not over. Kwon Hwa Woon and Kangnam returned to Korea earlier due to personal schedules, and Kian84 went further into the Arctic from Greenland. He went to Ilulissat.
At Ilulissat, Kian84 anticipated a final Arctic run and aurora viewing. He enjoyed cruising by boat among giant glaciers and ice floes. He moved viewers by even scooping a 250,000-year-old Arctic glacier with a net to have with whiskey as "glacier on the rocks." He even indulged in the luxury of scooping up a huge piece of ice floe, melting it at his lodging, and using it as water to cook instant noodles.
After viewing the aurora, he ran alone across the Arctic snowfields. Staring at the sunset hanging at the edge of the snow, Kian84, absorbed in the moment, said, "It feels like a video game ending," leaving him speechless.
In a place with no people and only the sound of footsteps, quiet, cold, and full of thoughts, Kian84 ran alone, thinking of the crew members he had been with. His final destination, having shattered the limits, delivered a resonant impression.
[Photo] Provided by MBC.
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