Nobody's ever walked from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back before, so I'm doing it later this year with friend and fellow adventurer John Wilton-Davies. What's more, to make it even more 'interesting', we'll be doing it with no assistance or support, so we'll be dragging everything with us in sleds weighing around 200kg. Once completed, the 2,200km will also become the longest unsupported polar journey in history.
Training for this is 'interesting' to say the least. As a fitness trainer I've worked with a massive range of clients at all levels including footballers, bodybuilders, cyclists and runners, but I've never worked with anyone attempting to do anything like this before.
With twenty-odd years working in fitness I've tried my hand all all sorts from powerlifting to endurance sports, and that's given me a superb foundation on which to build, but it was a daunting prospect when I stepped back and thought about just what I would need to do to prepare for this trek.
When I broke it down, it looked so much easier. What would I need?
I need to make my body as efficient as possible at the exertion weight required to pull the sled; in other words, I don't want my body eating calories for no reason (more calories required means more weight to pull, or the other option, going in to negative calorie balance really isn't a good idea - dieting is hard enough as it is without being forced to do it in those conditions!). So, pecs, delts, and bulging biceps (ok, maybe they didn't bulge, but I do have arms!) are no longer required - muscle in the wrong places eat precious calories. Detraining to lose muscle is actually quite hard, not just physically, but imagine watching the muscle that you've spent years building vanishing on purpose!
So losing weight, lean and fat tissue, is part of the process.
Then I have to think about cardio-vascular fitness, core strength and muscular endurance. Choosing the type of cardio is fairly easy - running, walking, biking, cross-trainer, skiing (obviously!), but putting in the time isn't. As a habitual gym user I've got used to training for not really any longer than 60 -90 mins at the most, but suddenly I've plunged into a situation where, when I do hit the gym because it's too cold or wet outside (I know... I'm going to feel it much colder!) my workouts can last anywhere up to four or even six hours (gym instructors in places that I haven't been before have a fit when they see me bashing out hour after hour!).
Generally speaking, my 'running' training follows a schedule not too dissimilar to a marathon runner, but the distances are longer, the means of travel can alter (to combat boredom), and the odd 'curve-ball' mammoth session thrown in for good measure (like running 120 miles in three days).
Core training makes a welcome change. Fit-balls are great to use, and quite a few floor exercises. I'm not in to bashing out thousand upon thousand of reps, so try to keep sessions as short and productive as possible. Another great exercise for building core strength is, believe it or not, dragging tyres attactched to my harness. A few hours of dragging tyres around won't leave you out of breath, and you'll feel great - that is until you sit down for an hour or so and then try to move again. I thought I could name every muscle in the body, but I think I've just discovered some more!
I'm off the weights until about a month or so before I go. Using weights maintains far too much 'bulk' in areas that it isn't wanted, so I have to be careful about what I do. I do use a few weight exercises in circuit classes, but not too much and the temptation to get in and pump the iron is just SO strong!
Anyway, if anyone wants to chat about training, my nutrition plan (in training and for the event), chuck some ideas my way for variations (it doesn't matter who you are and what you know, there'll always be someone with an idea that you haven't thought of), or even meet up for a session or two then please do drop me a line.
Catch you soon
Justin
www.lastgreatchallenge.com PS. Oh yeah, we're also about to launch a national health and fitness initiative with the British Heart Foundation called the 'Great Heart Challenge' - look out for it in schools, colleges, and the national chain of Spirit Health Clubs
<message edited by Midget Motivator on 17 March 2010 14:55>