Physical And Mental Preparation

The Arctic Training we undertook in 2010 in both Svalbard (78°North) and Frobisher Bay (Canadian Arctic) has prepared us very well for survival in the extreme cold and harsh environment of the Arctic.

However, what we need to work on, and what we can not experience until we actually start the expedition, is physical and mental strength. Physical is fairly obvious, the sledges will weigh 90Kg and the ice ridges can be very high (see the banner at the top). The mental preparation is something that will be new to us all. How can we possibly know how tough this expedition is going to be until we set foot on the ice? It will be a case of crossing our fingers and hoping that each of us has the determination to see this through.

For my physical training I am mixing it up in the gym (weights, running, rowing) and also doing regular tyre pulls to get the lower back used to the feeling of having an abnormal force applied to it. For the cardio I am aiming for at least 50mins hard cardio per session.

The good news is that for about two weeks before we set off we need only eat and get a bit fatter - this is more than just indulgent, it enables us to gather some reserves which will be burnt off very quickly on the ice.