Arctic Dog Sled for Amnesty International

Photos

2009-03-09T17:39:00.005Z

Photos now available...

Enjoy, but be warned, there are a lot of pictures of huskies and snow.

Snapfish Photos

Read all about it, read all about it...

2009-02-08T21:37:00.003Z

I have I hope finally corrected all the errors and typos!

Anyway, thanks for you interest and here is my report on my Arctic Adventure

I will now start getting on with sorting out the photos...

Tense moments

2009-02-03T11:42:00.002Z

My little report is pretty much done, I confused myself by writing it in two tenses at once, which took rather a lot of unpicking... sigh... anyway - nearly done!

I found this accidentally,

http://alumni.swan.ac.uk/news/news_item.asp?news_id=11344

Apparently they do remember me!

Quick Update

2009-01-30T13:23:00.004Z

Just to let you know that I am working on my "report" for you all, and will get it finished and available within the week I hope!

In the meantime here are another couple of (quick and low-res) photos....

Quick Pic 2

2009-01-25T21:10:00.000Z

quick pic

2009-01-25T21:07:00.000Z

Just a picture off the phone, but something to be going on with.

220km. done.

2009-01-25T20:36:00.000Z

In fact i'm now sitting on the train back from London, we just arrived back in the UK. All tired, some a little bruised or frost-bitten, but all happy.
The last section of the sledding was amazing, as we had been warned, it tested all the skills we had learnt in the week. There was a long downhill section through the trees with hairpin bends, ditches, low hanging branches and all sorts of little surprises!
It was quite strange coming back to taps, indoor toilets and hot showers! Amazing how having to put on an Arctic suit and trudge up and down steep hills to the frozen lake for a bucket of water will make you value fresh water and the miracle of cold water taps!
Hopefully over the next few days i can get some photos, videos and soundbites loaded up for anyone interested. You must hear the sound of 70 huskies wanting to be off and running!
Thanks again to everyone who has sponsored and supported me!

N 69.7546 E 23.9345

2009-01-23T17:16:00.000Z

Day 4, and i guess day 3. Since the last blog I guess we've done 120 km or somewhere about there.
The weather has been kinder to us, which has helped... i can't begin to explain what an amazing experience this is... But i promise i'll tell you all about it when i get back.

69.4261 N 23.6847 E

2009-01-21T21:01:00.000Z

Day 2. We've safely completed another 30km and are holed up in a cabin somewhere near Mazi.
The weather was a lot better today, and the route was more protected by trees (mainly a sparse brush of birch), so it was a much more enjoyable experience. Many more hills for us to deal with which meant a good lot of pushing. We're all working a lot be better as a group and all the spills, crashes and loose dogs and sleds were deal with much better... These dogs don't want to stop until they catch up to the leaders.
We also had to deal with snowdrifts and a brief but scary section down a road.
Water had to be collected by filling buckets with a ladle dipped through a hole drilled through the ice of the frozen lake this evening, the bucket then carried up a very steep hill. All of this in the dark.
So much more to tell, but i need to sleep. Tomorrow is a very long hard day we've been told. 50-60km over a mountain. We'll leave in the dark and arrive in the dark.

69.5879 N 23.5289 E

2009-01-20T22:39:00.000Z

Not sure of the name of the place we are staying at, so just the coordinates I'm afraid.
Where to start? This morning i guess! Up early to meet and feed the seventy dogs that will take us on our travels. The first thing i see it 140 eyes reflecting my headtorch amidst the howling of seventy hungrey huskies in the dark of the arctic morning... That was some start to the day.
So then, after they're fed it's our turn, then after dumping half our kit and fully suited up it's time to harness up the multitude of excited dogs... I can't even begin to describe the sound and the chaos involved, the dogs are amazing but they're not pets.
Eventually we're all ready... And we're off... Probably within 15 minutes we hit the blizzard... It lasted for the whole day... And well into the dark... About 30 km apparently...
Not sure what to tell you about it all... the depth of ice in the goggles rendering them completely useless? the new skill i learn (how to defrost your eyelids so you can open them)? The most amazing skill the dogs have to tangle their lines? Why one of my dogs is called 'Tractor'? One of my fellow survivors talking to a rock because she thought it was a fallen comrade? The odd effects all this has on your mind? How real this whole experience suddenly became?
It was a really hard day for all of us, but everyone came through more or less intact and we all learnt an awful lot about dog sledding.
Ok, well, i gotta in sleep, i'm on dog feeding duty first thing!

lat 69.8063 gargia base

2009-01-19T22:53:00.000Z

We're here. Well and truely in the Arctic. We are finally at our base in Gargia. It was a fairly turbulent landing at Alta, which is really just a small town. From there a bus took us to our base here at Gargia.

This will be the first outing for the dogs this year so they're raring to go and although we haven't met them yet we can hear them!
It's pretty darn cold, but calm and clear. For dinner we had cabbage soup and reindeer stew, sorry Santa...
We've been briefed and had our suits issued. Tomorrow morning we're up early to feed the dogs then breakfast for ourselves..
Hoping to be learning to drive by nine tomorrow...

60.194 N - Oslo Airport

2009-01-19T14:22:00.000Z

Not in the arctic yet... But there is an awful lot of snow! Makes it seem a lot more real. The group all seem a good lot... First snowball fight has been had, we have only lost 5 of the team so far!

Latitude 51.4832 N

2009-01-18T18:48:00.000Z

If this works, which i will have to assume it does, this will be the first mobile blog. So far so good. I have made it to the Heathrow Sheraton bar and an happily sitting here reading The Mammoth Book of Polar Journeys. It's crazy what some of those guys went though... Eating lichen and leather to stay alive!
I'm proud to announce my first corporate sponsor - Kate's Taxis. If you are ever in the Box and Corsham area and need a taxi then you can reach them on 01225 810404.
In terms of Adventure, so far things have been fairly straightforward. There was a minor encounter with a policeman, a unexpectedly free bus ride and I forgot to pay the taxi. You may attempt to fill in the blanks yourselves.
I should meet one of my fellow sleddees later, so looking forward to that.

All Packed - Ready to go!

2009-01-17T22:45:00.003Z

OK, well this will probably be the last blog before I leave. I'm all packed, repacked, unpacked, and finally, packed. I had to ditch some of the chocolate, it's surprising heavy! I suppose I had more than I really needed. I have however added some pork scratchings, as according to local knowledge due to their rather high fat content they're pretty good for such things.
Total weight of kit - 20.8 kg, which I thinks not too bad.
I have discovered many new things about my rucksack today (ok this is probably not the most interesting moment in this blog), including how many bits can be detached... I'm not 100% sure I've reattached everything the way it originally was, but it's close enough.
Keep an eye on this page as I'm hoping I may be able to send the odd blog via my phone while I'm away, the Norweigian phone coverage maps seem to indicate this is possible - but I'll have to wait and see I think.
I bought myself a Norweigian phrase book today, I thought it might be useful to learn "Excuse me, have you seen my huskies?"

More Publicity

2009-01-15T16:01:00.004Z

that was scary... I just did a phone interview with the local radio station (GWR FM Bristol and Bath)... didn't expect that!

Apparently - clips from the interview are due to be included in GWR Bath's news bulletins on Sunday morning - these are on the hour between 8am and 11am.

Publicity...

2009-01-14T19:10:00.007Z

Wow, I've now made it into two papers! I even got page three in the East Lothian Courier! Hehe - I've always wanted to be a Page 3 model... ok.. maybe not, but I suppose for a sufficient amount of sponsorship a "red speedos in the Arctic" picture could be organised. If you don't know the history of the red speedos please don't ask...
http://www.eastlothiancourier.com/articles/1/32602

http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Tales-adventures-Arctic/article-611245-detail/article.html
The Bath Chronicle combined the piece about me with someone who has repeatedly made it all the way to the North pole.... I assume she is the one that the photographer had been talking about? Not really quite the same thing, although I would quite like to get to the pole(s)! Very impressive - I wonder if I can go along next time?

Maybe a little extra sponsorship might arise from the publicity? I can but hope.

Seven Sleeps to Go

2009-01-12T23:44:00.002Z

Only seven sleeps and I'll be in the Arctic Circle! I think I have everything ready now, right down to the piles of chocolate bars (polar exploration fuel bars that is - well, ok, maybe just lots of chocolate bars).
I have been planning to eat a lot this week, and not sure if it's the because I've been thinking that, or because the heating is down, but I've been eating like a horse this week already (haha - no not hay - yuk!).
I had a photographer for the local paper (the Bath Cronicle) come round today to take some photos, so I spent most of the time asking him about taking photos in the Arctic, not that he'd ever been there, but he gave me some good tips - well - they sounded like good tips anyway! He reckoned white balance was a bit of a challange as everything was rather blueish - so it's as well I'm planning to use RAW format. I need to find a lens hood though.. hopefully as they are just bits of plastic they will be cheap!
He did rather put my mini adventure in it's place by mentioning he had just come from photographing some woman who had been dragging her own sled around the Antartic... ah well... Still, one thing at a time... lets see if I can survive my week!
I have spent the evening making up collection tins for the local pubs... a bit late I know... but well, better late than never. Actually, if I die a miserable lonely frostbitten death in the bitter frozen wastes that can be my epitath ,"Better late than never" - seems suitable! ;)

One week to go

2009-01-09T22:45:00.005Z

Wow, it's only one week until I go... I have to admit I'm getting excited and a little nervous too I guess. I've been all organised this evening and put together a packing list, with everything on it I'm taking, if I have it (100% for sure), and what I'm packing it in. I've got 99% of what I need, so just a quick shopping trip tomorrow to get the remaining items... Most of them are additions to the first aid kit and things like sunblock, so shouldn't be too much of a problem to find.

I've packed both bags, and checked the weights, my main pack is just over 11kg so I'm qute proud of that, and the day pack (containing the camera kit) is about 6 kg. So all in all I reckon considering the kit I have to carry that not too bad a weight to go with.

The photo by the way was one I had to take for the local paper (where I grew up)... I am smiling on the inside - honest! Note the two vital elements... First Aid Kit + Hand Warmers

GAZA CRISIS: IMMEDIATE TRUCE NEEDED TO STOP HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE

2009-01-09T10:12:00.001Z

As the civilian death toll rises, the people of Gaza are in dire need of emergency food and medical aid.
The newly introduced Israeli 3 hour cessation arrangement is woefully inadequate. Palestinians are using the brief respite in a desperate search for food and medicines, even to bury their dead relatives. But what use is a three hour lull amidst the horror?
Amnesty International are urging the UK government to lead the call for an immediate and comprehensive humanitarian truce. This is essential to allow desperately-needed humanitarian assistance through, to evacuate the wounded, and provide safe refuge for civilians wishing to flee the conflict zone.
Act now for the innocent people of Gaza and Israel

Send a message to the UK government to lead the call for an immediate and comprehensive humanitarian truce.

A weight off my mind

2009-01-08T12:00:00.002Z

After some investigation in this 15kg limit, it would appear this is a baggage limit for a flight, which I suppose must be the flight between Oslo and Alta, anyway, this makes things a bit easier as it means it doesn't include my heavy jacket, heavy shoes, carried liquid,or I guess my hand luggage... so I think I shall be just fine.
Of course, we've still got to dump as much stuff as possible at the Base in Gargia, so I've still got to pack as light as possible and keep seperate kit for the return flights (etc) - so sense in carrying that around with us.
I got some publicity in the East Lothian Courier today, so that was good, Mum sent them an email mentioning I'd been a student at the local school etc... not sure if it'll bring in any extra sponsorship but it won't do any harm, perhaps an old school friend or teacher might pop some pennies in the jar? ;)

Hot and Cold

2008-12-30T18:08:00.002Z

Well, it's well past time for an update I'd say, so here it is.
Christmas has come and gone, and thanks to everyone who sent me warm stuff... I think I'll need it! However, isn't it funny how if you actually DO want socks for Christmas you don't get any?
Training wise, well, hurt my knee again a bit just before Christmas - oops... but have taken care of it and it seems ok. I've been trying out all my new warm clothes and camera by going for long walks in the hills, and that's good exercise and doesn't seem to be hurting my knee. I don't want any last minute injuries. I've been experimenting with the camera, as I want to take some good shots of the northern lights (etc) when I'm there, so I'll try and post any ok practise pictures here (just to brighten up the blog).
The latest challenge is weight... personal kit (during most of the event) is limited to 15kg. This is turning out not to be very much at all so I am having to shed weight here there and everywhere.
For example, a 1 litres water bottle is 1 kg when full.... perhaps I shall eat snow like the huskies instead...
I'm getting excited about this now... I had a dream about huskies last night!

Sunrise and Sunset

2008-12-18T11:14:00.003Z

Just as someone mentioned it, I thought I'd see exactly how dark it's going to be in January...
The good news is that when I'm there there will be a sunrise and sunset!
I think on the first day we are there the day will be almost 1 hour long, yes - 1 whole hour with the sun properly above the horizon! However, the twilight (ie dusk til dawn) will last around 6 hours.... I think that's going to be bizarre...

Anyway, I've always thought that the inbetween parts of the days are the best, just like the inbetween places...

Rising and setting times for the Sun
________________________Length_of_day_________Solar_noon________
Date_____Sunrise_Sunset_This_day___Difference_Time_Alt._Distance
19 Jan 2008 10:51 12:59 2h 07m 34s + 19m 45s 11:55 0.4° 147.181
20 Jan 2008 10:43 13:08 2h 25m 09s + 17m 34s 11:55 0.6° 147.192
21 Jan 2008 10:35 13:16 2h 41m 19s + 16m 10s 11:55 0.7° 147.205
22 Jan 2008 10:28 13:24 2h 56m 25s + 15m 05s 11:55 0.9° 147.218
23 Jan 2008 10:21 13:32 3h 10m 42s + 14m 17s 11:56 1.1° 147.232
24 Jan 2008 10:14 13:39 3h 24m 21s + 13m 38s 11:56 1.4° 147.247
25 Jan 2008 10:08 13:45 3h 37m 28s + 13m 07s 11:56 1.6° 147.263
26 Jan 2008 10:02 13:52 3h 50m 08s + 12m 39s 11:56 1.8° 147.280

1010

2008-12-16T22:19:00.003Z

No, it's not me being geeky and talking in binary (1010 would be binary equivalent to decimal 10 which is the binary equivalent to two which is really not very interesting)....
No, this is far more interesting... today my fundraising reached the £1000 mark (it's now £1010 excluding the Gift Aid)! This, I think, is worth celebrating with a wee dram (ok any excuse...).
Thank you all! Now, if I can only get to the 2000 mark before I leave.... ;)

60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

2008-12-10T10:43:00.002Z

The 10th of December marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This is a big day for Amnesty, and more importantly, for everyone who stands up for human rights worldwide.

Happy Birthday Human Rights!

Please take a look at http://www.protectthehuman.com/articles/udhr

Systems are go... MUSH MUSH

2008-12-10T10:02:00.002Z

Hehey! Good news today. The doctor has signed off my medical form so I'm good to go! Woohoo! Still under rather strict instructions regarding the training regime... but that's one thing off my mind!

Quick Update and a Small Celebration

2008-11-27T23:11:00.003Z

hey look! That's over two months (2 months and 83 hours to be precise) since I've smoked a cigarette! So, if that isn't a good reason to sponsor me I'll just have to find a better one.
Anyway, leg and ITBFS is a bit of a pain, but am now able to get a good hour workout on the cross-trainer so that's good progress. Gotta keep at it now - train/stretch/ice/rest/repeat.
So anway, just as the leg seems to be recovering, I now appear to have tennis elbow (I know - HOW?) - which is just plain annoying, but not really a problem.
I need to put some serious effort into the money raising.... sadly, my employer point blank refused any sponsorship.... ah well, everyone hates them anyway (just joking, they actually do an awful lot with UNICEF, so I suppose that's fair enough).

New Shoes and a Cross Trainer?

2008-11-16T15:48:00.002Z

Been doing some research... so anyway this is the reason for the pain.. Iliotibial band syndrome
It's Sunday. Should really be running, but not allowed to yet. I have however got the new shoes. The guy in the shop was very helpful, and understood exactly what it was I needed, even if he did make me run up and down outside the shop with my trousers rolled up... The shoes are VERY shiney (hahah or should that be shiny)?
I have also taken delivery of a cross traininer, which I'm allowed to use on a low-resistance setting, so at least I'm getting some cardiovascular training done.

Knees and toes, knees and toes...

2008-11-13T16:08:00.004Z

OK, well knee is functioning a bit better now, as I can get up AND down the stairs ok, but it's taken until today.
Went to see the doctor yesterday, who wasn't very sure but referred me to another doctor who was more "sporty"...?... anyway that appointment was towards the end of the month and I can't wait that long.
So I went to the osteopath over the road (who also specialises in sport medicine). She was very good and seemed to figure out what the problem was (ok - now I didn't know this, but I'm bow-legged apparently). Anyway, what she said made sense and what she did was rather painful I have to say (but in fairness she did warn me).
The good news is that she seemed pretty sure we can sort it out. First item on the list is a new pair of shoes. I've got some exercises to do, I'm allowed to swim, but currently am banned from running and cycling.
Back to see her on Tuesday with my new shoes to get the OK to run again... hopefully...
I ordered a cross-trainer (eliptical trainer) this week, as it's low-impact, and apparently that will be ok so long as I set the resistance low to begin with.

Technically it isn't a knee thing, it's a tendon that runs down the front outside of the leg - I think it is the "extensor digitorum longus" thing

The odd thing is that I'm really missing the exercise now, I'm noticing a real difference in my mood. I'm happier and have more energy when I'm exercising, and it's a real good "stressbuster"... anyway, that's what they all say isn't it...

It's Children in Need this weekend. Make sure you donate to something!

Then come back here and sponsor me! ;)

And the toes? Ah yes, I also managed to smash my left food into the door frame yesterday... oh yes.... mmnnnn.....

Long time no blog...

2008-11-10T18:42:00.002Z

OK, well I suppose it's more than time for an update...
I won't bother listing all my training runs, but it's been on and off, some weeks very good, others nothing at all (ooops). In my defense I was sick for a week, and haven't quite got back up to speed.
On the plus side I haven't had a single cigarette, so I think I can safely say as I'm at over six weeks that I've stopped for good - so I'm feeling quite proud of that!
However, bad news... I went for a run yesterday, not a huge long one (6k or so) and it wasn't even a tough route, but half way through my left knee started playing up... suffice to say I was swearing like a trooper by the time I was home, and I can hardly get up and down the stairs today... I have no idea what I've done.... Nothing went ping or anything like that - it just got progressively more and more painful; today I can't seem to work my left knee properly and it hurts a lot if I try.
I'll give it a day or so to fix itself otherwise it's down to the doctors to see what the (*&(*&( uis going on...

About not smoking...

2008-09-27T16:14:00.003+01:00

OK - I've done it. I've stopped smoking. Quit for good.
72 hours down and I'm feeling in control. No nicotine replacements. The odd mood swing - but I have them anyway, mainly been feeling a bit spaced out - oddly.... la la lah.... huh?
Training wise - in total about 30km cycled and 13 km run...
http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=437702
http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=437676
http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=444464
http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=446619
Most done in the last week, as the week before was a bit rubbish... ah well. I'm enjoying the runs a bit more (on average) and they're getting longer... I'm hoping the lack of smoking will help too!

Waister

2008-09-12T19:22:00.004+01:00

Ok, time for an update I guess.
So since the 28th what have I achieved?
30th Aug - 5Mi Cycling , 5th Sept - 2.6M Running , 8th Sept - 12.3M Cycling , 9th Sept - 1 hour swimming , 10th Sept - Fire Spinning (better exercise that you'd think!) , 12th Sept - 2.7M Running
Last week was a bit of a washout, mainly due to work (boo!) - but this week's been a lot better I think. The second hill in the 2.7M run is a horrendously steep hill, which first time I could hardly even walk up. Third time up that hill was today, and I managed to run all the way up - so that felt really good (once I'd recovered a bit)!
Discovered a bit of a problem today though - all my nice new shiny running kit has suddenly become a little loose around the waist, which could become embarrassing! Still I guess that's a good sign?
On that note, waist 35', belly 36' - I think things are getting better distributed.... if not much smaller... sigh...

An ankle, a bank holiday, some fire and a bull

2008-08-28T21:43:00.005+01:00

Ok, so one week later and how am I doing? Well, ok I guess. I managed to sprain my ankle last week so that rather dented the plans. Nevertheless, cycled into Bath on Saturday... I took the taxi back the next morning though I have to admit (there were extenuating circumstances ). The bank holiday interrupted Monday (Box Rocks), and then a swim on Tuesday, fire swinging on Wednesday and then a run tonight. Slight issue on tonight's route (large angry bull in field)... which led to a rather rapid change of running direction! No map of route tonight due to a technical issue ;)

Darn hilll....

2008-08-20T18:31:00.003+01:00

Up the hill again... this time on the bike, then round the hill (8.1 km).
Click here to view
I think I'm getting a little fitter, but my muscle seem to be constantly aching and stiff these days...hey, at least they take turns! Next time I think I'll try and do 2 laps... wish me luck!
Time for belly check... oh well... it's more or less the same... 36.5' maybe? Mind you, I'm using a proper tape measure now, rather than one of those metal ones, so I guess it's more accurate? Apparently I'm losing the weight off my face first.... I didn't realise I had a fat face though :(

Hills and blisters

2008-08-18T20:00:00.003+01:00

Well I have to say I only managed the single run last week, but it was a busy week! Anyway to make up for that I did over 7km today and nearly bit off more than I could chew....
You can see here....
http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=369396
note the very steep climb - that's not something I'm able to run up... 100m in a very short distance; but I kept moving. Some other more intelligent jogger was going down this hill as I was going up - she was a proper jogger as she had headphones on.... maybe I should get an ipod? Before you ask, of course it rained.... mind you - considering where I am intending to go I shouldn't be worried about the UK weather!
I'm going to hurt a bit tomorrow I fear, but I'm doing my stretching and I'll try and walk down to the coop a bit later. It seems to help. I shall post some pictures of my blisters later.... you know what they say - no pain no gain...
I'm a bit worried no one has sponsored me yet (apart from Mum - Thanks!) - so please don't hold off waiting for Christmas (cos you'll have no money then)! I'm obviously going to have to get a bit more creative in my money raising efforts.... I shall put my thinking hat on...

GPS Tracking of the Jon

2008-08-12T17:57:00.004+01:00

I've been working on sorting out some GPS tracking that's lightweight and portable, with some way to upload photos along the way... hopefully by January you'll be able to track my progress across the arctic in real(ish) time with photos... that's the plan...
Click here to see todays training run.
You can also see this in the tracker (bottom right of the page).
As you can see from the (low-res) photos - it was raining a bit...

Blog now mirrored to Facebook

2008-08-11T17:57:00.001+01:00

This blog should now also as if by magic appear on my Facebook profile. Thanks for the suggestion!

Knees and Shoulders

2008-08-11T17:43:00.000+01:00

Apparently I used my knees and shoulders to do all the cycling yesterday... not sure I'm doing it right...

Mission sortof accomplished...

2008-08-10T23:28:00.002+01:00

OK, so it's Sunday, and to report back I think I pretty much managed what I set out to do. I did only run up the hill once, but I did do the swimming, and I also cycled all the way into Bath and back (about 12 miles) - so I reckon that makes up for the missing run. God the bike a bit sorted out - some road tires and new inner tubes.
Got some lycra too (lovely huh?) so feel like a proper sporty person now!
I'm actually starting to enjoy it all a bit more now, feeling a little fitter and better... So, plan is, roughly same again next week - maybe extend the distances a little bit!

That's two

2008-08-06T19:49:00.002+01:00

That's two - ran up the hill and back. Got all the way to the bus stop at the top this time, so that's 2.6 miles there and back. I really struggled in bits, but on the way back down I managed to forget I was running - I think that's good! I'm going to have a little rest now....

A Map of The Arctic Circle

2008-08-06T09:49:00.005+01:00

Spotted this today, it's a map of the Arctic Circle, mainly showing who owns which bit (or doesn't as the case may be). I thought it was quite interesting.

Arctic Boundaries Map (PDF)

That's one...

2008-08-04T21:04:00.004+01:00

Well, good start to the week - I dragged myself up the hill (but the scruff of my car keys) to the swimming pool. So, I'm feeling quite proud of myself as I managed to stay swimming for over an hour and I reckon I did at about 60 lengths - which amazingly (for me) is 1.5km! Considering I swim like a fish walks, that's not a bad start; the only problem is I think I'm going to end up swapping my beer belly for a chlorine belly.
And on that subject I found a tape measure... beer belly currently stands at 37'
- which is a good 3' more than my waist :(
"They" say, "If this [your waist] is over 37 inches/94 cms (for the average adult man) or over 32 inches/81 cms (for the average adult woman) you're at a higher risk of health problems." - they don't say how this works out for above or below average men...
Even worse than that, apparently I'm "apple shaped" as I carry my weight in my middle rather than my hips, and they say, "If you're overweight and apple-shaped you are at higher risk of health problems than if you're overweight and pear-shaped."
So apparently it's just as well I'm doing this... bye bye beer belly!!!
And on that subject I'm off to the fridge.

Where I'll be

2008-08-03T17:06:00.002+01:00

This is roughly where I'll be...

View Larger Map

OK - online

2008-08-03T16:02:00.002+01:00

Ok, well I've finally got the blog and justgiving website setup. This is a start suppose.
I'm all set to start as they say...
Well, so far I've run up the nearest hill twice, the first time near enough killed me (1 mile, and 1 mile back down)... the second time was (I'm pleased to report) a bit easier and I added a half mile. Apart from that, I suppose I've managed a longish walk in Cornwall, but I'm going to have to start training a bit harder.
I've been reading up on the info they sent me about the expedition and it says that during March (note I'm going at the end of January) the daylight will last 12 - 16 hours and the temperature will generally range between -5C and -35C.... the coldest I've ever been in is -8C and that was really very very cold....
Someone mentioned wind-chill to me last night when chatting about the cold - I dread to think what that might subtract from the temperature!

I guess I should plan my week here and set some tasks for myself - hopefully that'll help get me out of the door and doing some exercise. So, this week I want to run up the hill and back down twice, go swimming once and fix the slow puncture in my bikes rear tyre.

I was going to measure my beer belly and post that also, but I can't find a tape measure... honest...