Giann84 Completes New York Marathon Despite Vomiting and Fainting on 'I Live Alone'

On the November 22 episode of MBC's Friday variety show, I Live Alone (나 혼자 산다), Giann84 successfully completed the New York Marathon, although he fell short of his goal to finish within four hours.

Having missed a week of filming due to his participation in the marathon, Giann84 humorously remarked on his absence, prompting fellow cast member Park Na-rae to welcome him back, noting, "Didn’t Giann84 take a break? He’s back after just one week."

The New York Marathon, one of the six major marathons in the world, spans five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Giann84 described it as "the hippest international marathon" as he prepared for the event.

He shared his feelings about the pre-race assembly, likening it to the day before a college entrance exam, expressing relief that there were no administrative errors and affirming, "I’m going to run perfectly tomorrow."

Giann84 meticulously reviewed the marathon course, stating, "It’s still better than the Cheongju Marathon," and set his sights on completing the 42.195 km race in under four hours. After a year of training, he felt a sense of confidence.

Before the race began, he reflected on the significance of reaching the starting line, saying, "It felt monumental, like being a soldier in the Battle of Red Cliffs or walking the path to face judgment before the Jade Emperor. The scale of it was incredible."

However, shortly after the race commenced, he began to experience stomach pain before even reaching the 5 km mark. Despite this, he held onto the belief that his training would carry him through. "I was a bit nervous at the start, but I felt relaxed. I wanted to keep my promise to myself. It was the first time I worked so hard to uphold something," he explained. He noted that he completed 30 km in 2 hours and 50 minutes, feeling a sense of progress.

The challenge of running in a foreign country proved to be daunting. Giann84 struggled with jet lag, lack of sleep the night before, and even a cold. He expressed concern about his stamina, saying, "I’m already feeling exhausted, and it’s not even a half marathon yet," before attributing his discomfort to overeating the previous day.

As he crossed the 30 km mark, he faced severe challenges, including vomiting and fainting. "I promised myself I wouldn’t walk. If I walk, I won’t be able to run again," he lamented, visibly distressed by his condition. Eventually, he stopped, shaking his head in disbelief, and expressed frustration over not maintaining his earlier pace.

In the end, Giann84 embraced the Korean flag handed to him by a fellow Korean resident and completed the marathon. He reflected on the experience, saying, "After 30 km, the mystery of the limbs sets in. My limbs hurt, my neck disc hurts, the sky turns yellow, and my body doesn’t move as I wish. I was angry at myself. I wanted to run beautifully in my second marathon, but I couldn’t perform as well as I prepared for. But that’s my ability," he concluded, accepting the outcome with a sense of calm.