The final episode of MBC's 'Extreme 84' aired on Sunday, showcasing the grueling course and the relentless pain endured by Kian84 and the Extreme Crew as they successfully completed the marathon, marking the pinnacle of their journey.
The episode recorded a 2.4% viewership rating among viewers aged 20-54 and a 4.7% household rating. Notably, the scene where Kian84, left alone in the Arctic, reflects on the meaning of running amidst the vast wilderness, achieved a peak rating of 7.1%, serving as the grand finale of the long journey. (Nielsen Korea, Seoul metropolitan area)
Upon receiving his completion medal, Kian84 expressed gratitude to Kwon Hwa-woon, saying, "I thought of you a lot while running," and shed tears. Having prepared strategically for the event, he achieved a personal best time of 5 hours, 9 minutes, and 54 seconds, finishing 44th out of 125 participants, showcasing his growth and adding to the emotional impact.
Kangnam also succeeded in completing his first full marathon. Despite increasing leg pain towards the end of the race, he persevered by calling out his wife Lee Sang-hwa's name with each step. Even when he collapsed due to cramps, the encouragement from fellow runners to "go together" motivated him to rise again, experiencing the power of support firsthand. Kangnam crossed the finish line with a time of 5 hours, 57 minutes, and 37 seconds, an hour before the cutoff, surprising everyone.
A surprise award ceremony after the race was another highlight of the final episode. For Kwon Hwa-woon, who finished 5th due to muscle cramps, Kian84 and Kangnam prepared a handmade trophy and medal, conveying their heartfelt message, "You are always number one to us." Touched by the unexpected event, Kwon Hwa-woon expressed his happiness in meeting his teammates, stating, "We will continue together in the future," adding to the emotional resonance.
The next day, Kian84's final running log was revealed, showing him running alone through snowy mountains and glaciers. He shared, "Running is not about defeating myself, but understanding myself," and added, "Just as glaciers move towards unknown seas, I will continue to run somewhere," leaving a lasting impression.
First aired in November last year, MBC's 'Extreme 84' is an extreme running variety show where Kian84 takes on unimaginable marathon courses, testing himself in extreme conditions and persevering to the end.
In this journey, Kian84, along with the Extreme Crew, ran across the world. From the Big 5 Marathon in South Africa, where wildlife roams, to the Medoc Marathon in France, experiencing both festivity and limits, and finally the ultimate Arctic Polar Circle Marathon. The relentless journey of Kian84 and the Extreme Crew conveyed laughter, sincerity, and the meaning of challenge, concluding with deep emotion and exhilaration.
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr