Fitness and training are essential. The unsupported journey to the North Pole is deemed to be the “HARDEST PHYSICAL ADVENTURE IN THE WORLD”.

6 MONTHS
A minimum of a 6 months physical training programme is required to get your body into shape.

A variety of training exercises are required for the different demands that will be placed on your body.

GYM
To wrestle your 120kg sledges over the icy obstacle course of pressure ridges requires strength; this can only be achieved by muscle building and strengthening your body with regular gym sessions.

ENDURANCE
The long tiring days need endurance; the best training for this is long off-road runs and carrying heavy rucksacks up hills.

TYRE PULLING
The only specific training to simulate sledge pulling is dragging 2-3 car tyres behind you for hours on end. This strengthens the lower back and joints; but do try and do it away from the public gaze – it avoids embarrassed looks and difficult questions!

EATING LOTS!
Weight loss is a problem due to the extreme daily effort of pulling sledges in cold conditions. Conrad lost 42lbs skiing to the South Pole in 2004/5. Typically you should aim to be 14-18lbs heavier than normal when you start the expedition, with up to 20% body fat.

SKIING
Fluency and agility on skis is a distinct advantage to avoid falls and conserve energy. Years of cross country skiing helps, together with toning up the muscles on a Nordic Tracker. As an ex National x-c skiing champion, Richard will have no problems on skis. Although a good skier, Conrad will have to work harder!

ACCLIMATISING
Acclimatising to the extreme cold takes about 3 weeks and Conrad and Richard will spend February in Baffin Island (Arctic Canada) fine tuning equipment and acclimatising to the cold. The team did preliminary training in Ellesmere Island in May 2005 prior to launching the expedition.