Ten Days on the Ice

2009-06-25T19:36:00.003-07:00

Hi everyone.
I now have a new blog at http://amurray-watson.blogspot.com
Please check it out and subscribe if you are interested!

2007-07-02T04:35:00.000-07:00

Recruitment for nextyear's trip is open. If you are interested, get in touch with me and I can forward your details to the right person. Its great fun, honest!

2007-04-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

THE FINISH!!!

2007-04-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

If only we had followed this advice!

2007-04-24T09:21:00.000-07:00

Nick Gold, restaranteur, style icon and gentleman. He just couldn't grow that beard, although as you can see from the photo he had loads of hair growing out of his ears.

2007-04-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

James. Well, at least I think its James. We all looked the same when we had the full kit on.

2007-04-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Our leader! He had just farted. How we laughed.

2007-04-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

I love this picture. It gives you a great idea of the terrain. That is snow rushing across the ground.

2007-04-24T09:15:00.000-07:00

Jamie finds his supply of loo roll!

2007-04-24T09:13:00.001-07:00

Another picture of our hero!

2007-04-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

This picture gives you an idea of what it was like when it was windy. Actually, its not that bad on this morning. Cameras froze when it got really cold.

2007-04-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

Jamie falls in the toilet hole!

2007-04-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

Jamie and Lydia. Jamie is on the right.

2007-04-24T09:08:00.001-07:00

Paul and Jason following.

2007-04-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

Martin! He had a nickname. But I am not allowed to tell anyone. It wasn't very nice. But he did deserve it.

2007-04-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

Jason! He always managed to get the best icey bits on his beard.

2007-04-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

The moment when we were told that we weren't going to make it to our destination. Click here to view. We had lost three days because of bad weather and had we contonued along our planned course, then there was no way we could be extracted if anything else had gone wrong. It was a very sad moment in a way. We had got half way, and then had to trek all the way back. But we had no choice. You get an idea of what the weather was like, but that was actually one of the easier days. Only about -40C in the wind.

2007-04-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Who is this handsome chap?!

2007-04-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

James Ashton, of the Daily Mail, finds a quality newspaper in a small supermarket in Incaluit. He must be reading the business pages. Top marks to the Independent on Sunday's distribution department!

2007-04-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

James Ashton of the Daily Mail in typically heroic pose. He really is the housewife's favourite.

2007-04-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

I think was on about the second or third day.

2007-04-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

Me and my tent posse. That's Jamie at the back, Ben the womble in the front and Mark Davey, group leader, on the right. What a team!

2007-04-24T08:33:00.000-07:00

See, it wasn't all terrible!

2007-04-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

The Northern Lights overlooking the hill on our first night. Alot more to follow!

2007-04-01T04:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Well we are back in the UK - more of less in one piece. The flight landed at 6:30am this morning and amazingly wasn't delayed by blizzards, caribou on the runway or any other Arctic obstacles. When I get over the jetlag, I will write a full report of our trip here.
Right now I am going back to bed!

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2007-03-29T09:36:00.001-07:00

We met our extraction team yesterday afternoon about 5:00 & after a very uncomfortable 4 hrs, ___ arrived back into town. We spent last night in the InnsNorth(?) Hotel. Had a lovely hot breakfast this morning. Flying out this afternoon back to unpronounceable name & then back to Ottawa on Sat morning. Hope everyone is well, looking forward to getting back.

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2007-03-25T15:32:00.001-07:00

So we now heading back the way we came, back to our starting points. We're hoping to be extracted on Wed afternoon. We should have enough time to get back. If the weather does not get bad again. But everyone's phoned it's folks(?), no major concerns & something to look forward to. Getting back to the UK on Sun. Bye.

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2007-03-25T15:28:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was the worst weather yet. I've been walking in a village ___ mile & I hope, perhaps camp early. Perhaps, gather with the day we lost before we got here it's the right flight. Now that we don't have no time to reach our destination, so reluctantly we've decided to head back to the starting point through the valley & then the snow mobile back into town. Everyone's at this point, but there's no real ___ we've ___ the luck with the weather.

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2007-03-24T06:16:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone, 3rd day on the ice now. 1st day was very, very tough some very tired & exhausted people but all in good spirits now & looking forward to a day's ___ ahead of us. Temperature is minus 58 with a wind chill, there is a nice layer of ice on the inside of our tent as I speak but wonders of hot tea are keeping us going. ___ bye.

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2007-03-19T15:18:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone, the weather has got really bad so we've been stop in the ___ today we should of phone up to our starting point this morning but hopefully the blizzard will break more & we'll fly tomorrow morning. All is well & Lydia said lots of love to Isabel & Jessica & Ben(?) & Charles & I say lots of love to Hannah & keep reading. Bye bye.

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2007-03-17T17:11:00.001-07:00

The good news is, we've arrived in Canada. The bad news is, we're not in Ottawa where we suppose to be, but in Montreal. Our flight this morning is cancelled, we spent about 8 hrs waiting at Heathrow but we're now here. So we're just gonna get some high vehicles & drivers ___ & we will be back on schedule.

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2007-03-17T04:04:00.000-07:00

Itinerary for the trip

Saturday 17th March

Heathrow flight departs 1030hrs

arrives Halifax 1420hrs

Depart Halifax 1705hrs

arrive Ottowa 1758hrs

Sunday 18th March

Ottowa flight departs 0905hrs

arrives Iqualuit 1215hrs

Monday 19th March

Iqualuit flight departs 0800hrs

arrives Qikiqtarjuaq 1015hrs

Transit to North Pang Fiord by snow machine and make camp

Tuesday 20th March

North Pang Fiord - Owl River

Walk and make camp

Wednesday 21st March

Owl River - June Valley

Walk and make camp

Thursday 22nd March

June Valley - Glacier Lake

Walk and make camp

Friday 23rd March

Glacier Lake - Summit Lake

Walk and make camp

Saturday 24th March

Summit Lake - Thor Peak

Walk and make camp

Sunday 25th March

Thor Peak - Crater Lake

Walk and make camp

Monday 26th March

Crater Lake - Overlord Cabin

Walk and make camp

Tuesday 27th March

Overlord Cabin - Pangnirtung

Walk and lay my weary head down on a real bed at Auyuittuq Lodge

(Wednesday 28th March

Spare bad weather day, for any extra travel needed through delays.

Or alternatively another night at Auyuittuq Lodge)

Thursday 29th March

Flight departs Pangnirtung 1855hrs

arrives Iqualuit 1955hrs

Friday 30th March

Flight departs Iqualuit 1345hrs

arrives Ottowa 1650hrs

Saturday 31st March

Flight departs Ottowa 1830hrs

transit overnight

Sunday 1st April

Flight arrives Heathrow 0625hrs

2007-03-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Martin, one of the expedition leaders (see below). Martin is out in Baffin Island right now setting things up. The picture was taken five minutes after Martin ventured outdoors.
I am now officially bricking it. Ho ho, we all thought, lets go to Baffin Island, it will be fun. Oh yes, bound to be a bit chilly, but nothing too brutal. Well, according to the weather forecast, its expected to be -61C on Sunday when we set out. That's with the windchill taken into account you understand. Only -30C otherwise. Still, it will be colder than the freezer in your kitchen. Exposed skin will go black after a few minutes and any minor problem can become life threatening very quickly. Suddenly this jaunt has got very real. None of us going on this trek has ever experienced anything like the conditions out there.
After the months of preparing to go to Baffin, there are only a few days left before we fly out. It has become impossible not to think about it anymore. I don't suppose I have trained enough and I am nervous to say the least.
Any last minute donations will be much appreciated. Click here to go to the Justgiving page. Be generous.
Thanks to the nice people at Spinvox, I will be updating the blog every three days or so while I am trekking across the ice. I will ring a special number from the satellite phone we will have and Spinvox converts by voice message to text. The results are not perfect, but they are not bad (see below).
I think they call this sort of thing a "Once In a Lifetime Adventure", because you would have to be insane to do it twice.
So please keep coming back to this blog to check up on our progress. Assuming I get back with enough fingers to be able to type, I will provide a transcript of my Ice Diary when I return. Until then, thanks for reading and wish us all luck!!

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2007-03-14T05:21:00.001-07:00

This is a test. It's Mark Glogg(?). Let's hope it appears. Bye.

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2007-03-14T04:58:00.001-07:00

Hello Andrew, this is Marc Harris leaving a test message of you Spin-my-Blog Service. I hope to see this on screen on your Blob site shortly. Thank you.

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2007-03-07T11:03:00.000-08:00

Well, the final countdown has started. In 10 days or so I will be standing on Baffin Island. Frankly, the whole thing has got a bit scary.
Anyway, the launch party is tomorrow evening. You too can go. Click here for details.
Photos from the event will appear here by the end of the week.

2007-01-30T15:21:00.000-08:00

A few pics from the weekend in Wales. Boyo.

This is Jason. He is the one doing the yoga (se previous post). Don't ask about the hat. It would take too long to explain. Really. He is quite happy at making it out of the car park.

The back of James Ashton (Daily Mail). We did this wading through icy water quite a lot! I think I was standing just to the right of James, cursing like a naavy with my trousers rolled up to my knees.

The gang on top of a quite a large hill. From left to right: Mark, Jason, Me (sitting), James, Lydia, the other Mark and Jason (sitting). Mark on the left is the expedition leader. He is actually as bonkers as this picture makes out.

Marching up the mountain with a fake injured colleague.

From left to right: Mark, Jamie, Jason and me!

2007-01-29T07:17:00.000-08:00

Just back from a training weekend with the trek gang in darkest Wales (the Brecon Beacons).
The purpose was mainly to get to know the group a bit better but also to try out some of the kit we will be using on the ice.
We can now all put up the tents (see here) as well as light one of the special stoves that will heat the water we will need to hydrate the food packs and to make tea etc.
The weather wasn't bad for January. On the Saturday we did a bunch of bonding exercises before trying our hand at a spot of light canyoning. This involved sliding down various waterfalls on a very cold and fast running mountain river. We had no wetsuits, so you can imagine what it was like to sit under a waterfall while tonnes of icy water cascade onto your head. Actually, unless you have done it, you can't imagine what it is like. The phrase "takes the breath away" is much used, but sitting under a frigid torrent, I actually found it very hard to draw breath.
But the funny think was that after getting out of the river, and screaming every curse imaginable, my body actually started to get warm again. Out waterproof walking gear acted a bit like a wetsuit in that the water trapped between the skin and the nylon did heat up quite quickly. That is not to say that I will be willing to repeat the experience any time in the near future. Actually, I would rather dance the foxtrot with a polar bear that do that again.
Anyhow, we all now know what it is like to fix camp while cold and wet and tired.
Yesterday we went for a 10 mile hike on the Beacons, which in comparison with the Saturday, was straightforward and a good guage of fitness. On that note, I discovered that one of my team mates has been taking his training very seriously: He has taken up smoking again. And that's it. Another compadre is still lighting up at every opportunity but has stepped up his yoga classes. I guess that means he will still be able to hold a One-Legged King Pigeon position while he freezes to death.

I also went skiing two weeks ago, which did wonders to toughen up the thighs. However the gallons of red wine in the chalet may have offset any benefits. Hello to Sarah and Katherine, who did their best to kill me by taking me down Mont Vallon in a whiteout.

The celeb-tastic trek launch party is happening very soon. Email/message me at andymw@gmail.com if you want to come along.

2007-01-08T13:33:00.000-08:00

No posts for ages and then two come along at once!!
I have to step up the fundraising effort and would like to draw your attention to this link that will send you through to my Justigving page.
The Mitchemp Trust is a wonderful cause and anything you can give would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

2007-01-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, its official, I am rubbish at updating my blog.
Christmas has been and gone and left everyone - me included - with that extra bit of flab around the middle. This is fine as its compulsory to overeat at Christmas and I gather that second helping of Christmas pudding is good for the immune system.
Anyway, the nice people at the posh Mayfair gym (see previous post) have given me my own training programme. Everyday I have to be either at the gym, pounding the streets of SW London in my trainers, or doing circuit training in my sitting room. That latter is referred to as "Home" in the training schedule.

Here ae my instructions for this week:
Monday: Day off – remember good foods
Tuesday: Gym session
Wednesday: 35 minute jog at >6 mph
Thursday: 1.25 hour walk at 5 mph & Home
Friday: Day off – remember good foods
Saturday: 45 minute jog at >6 mph

Included in instructions for my "Home" workout is the following: "Upright rows with rubber band, 15 reps x 3"
I have absolutely no idea what this means and it really doesn't sound like something one should attempt by oneself! Anyone who knows what this lycra clad fool is on about can get in touch - anonymously.
Other than working out like the Duracell Bunny, I have given up every vice. This includes no more alcohol under after the trek and no more of any other vice that my mother doesn't know about either!
Frankly, I am in danger of going ever-so-slightly crackers! But, I did go for a 35 minute run with my flatmate lat night. The flatmate may look slightly like a younger version of Ken Clarke MP, but is actually quite fit and does silly things like marathons on a fairly regular basis.
To picture the pair of us just imagine the old 118 118 adverts, but then add about 150lbs.
So the forceful eviction of all vices from my life is having a positive effect, although I did dream about red wine last night...

2006-12-07T15:16:00.000-08:00

Forget about the training regime blog for two minutes and click here for the perfect Christmas present!!!!
I know I am baised, but they are seriously the nicest chocolates you will ever eat!!!

2006-11-26T13:27:00.000-08:00

Weight: 104.9k
Total weight loss: 4.2kg.

Apologies for taking so long to update my blog. The new job has taken up a great deal of time and I have basically been a bit crap at finding the time. Call it blogger's block if you like.
Anyway, the good news is that the weight is still coming down.
The other exciting news is that all 12 of us on the expedition have been offered the services of a very update gym. Click here for details. It is not so much a gym, as a shrine to the body. I may have desecrated the place just by entering the hallowed portals. Certainly my old favourite gym t-shirt may have to be traded in for something sleeveless in white.
We now all have our own personal trainer, who is neither Australian or over enthusiastic. They are used to fat chief executives in there so I think toning up the muscles of the Arctic troupe is an interesting change for them as well.
Also the fundraising is going well. A big thanks to BT for stumping up £2,000 in sponsorship. Anyone else who would like to make a contribution can follow the link at the right hand side of the page.
I have decided that skiing would be good training for the expedition so I have booked two separate weeks off after Christmas to hit the piste. My companion for the holiday has never skiied before, but is eager to learn. So she will be enrolled in ski school while I weave my way down the mountain.
I have also decided that it would be futile to give up booze in the midst of the Christmas party season, so have postponed D-Day (Dry Day) until January 1.
So apologies again for not updating the blog in weeks, and I promise to update again soon!

2006-11-01T16:16:00.000-08:00

The arctic clothing is something else.
I went for the fitting on Monday at a restaurant in Knightsbridge managed by someone else on the trek.
First off there is the thermal underlayer: longjohns and T-shirt. Then there is the outer thermal layer and then a fleece layer. Sweating like a fiend, I then had to don the windproof boiler suit thingy and then a duck down jacket on top of that. Feeling a bit like the Michelin man after Christmas dinner, I then had to put on the balaclava, wooly hat, inner thermal gloves, huge mittens, two pairs of thermal socks and giant ice boots.
I looked like a cross between a yeti and a bouncy castle.
I am sure it does a marvelous drop at keeping out the cold, but wearing the full garb in a warm restaurant was not a pleasent experience. However I don't have to worry about ponging after my 10 days trapsing about an icesheet, because apparently at those extreme low temperatures, wiffs do not bother the nostrils. Thinking about this, it may be because the nostrils are not working.
What happens when we warm up upon finally return to our hotel rooms after 144 miles is beyond contemplation.
Here is a link to the eBay auction for the last place on the expedition. Anyone who feels flush can bid.

Now an apology: I may have given the impression in an earlier post that somebody who had read this blog was so inspired that she was contemplating running the next London marathon.
I have since met the person in question and she informs me that she was playing with the idea of running "a London marathon" but not necersarily the next one. I am happy to put the record straight. Anyway, anyone who wants to encourage her, can reach her at... on second thoughts maybe not.

My new lush gym has underfloor heating in the changing rooms. Perfect!!

2006-10-26T14:34:00.001-07:00

Started a new, very challenging job on Tuesday and my feet have not touched the ground since. I have also lost the benefit of having a company gym two floors below me. My new employer does have a subsidised gym membership scheme, but predictably its full right now.
Which means I am about to sign up to a very expensive unsubsidised membership at the Holmes Places down the road.
At £107 per month, I fully expect somebody to do the working out for me! But I guess it will be worth it in the long run.
The trek team has now raised about £30,000 for the expedition through a mixture of corporate sponsorship and some donations from some seriously generous people.
Getting kitted out on Monday with all my Arctic gear, and I can't wait.
Tried to go for a run yesterday, but discovered it was cold outdoors...

2006-10-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

I have a cold. Proper, full blown man flu. Runny nose, aches etc etc. Going to bed tonight and not waking up till Monday. I think it is a direct result of salad overdose. Sniff.
On a brighter note, I did meet all my fellow trekkers on Thursday night. They seem a very good bunch and I think we will all get on.
Meeting everybody has made it all a lot more real. The reality of what we are proposing to do has kicked in and its all quiet scary.
But most of the effort at the moment is still focused on raising money (see link on right!!)
Getting kitted out with the proper Arctic survival gear on Monday week.

2006-10-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

I NEED DONATIONS!!!!
Hi guys,
You may have noticed the link on the right hand side of this page which directs you to the fundraising page. I have checked the link, and it is working. Please use the link to add your kind donation to the cause. I have no idea which posting on this blog gave you the impression that I was doing this ludicrous trek for fun?! So please please help out if you can.
Did I mention that Sophie Anderton is taking part in this trek as well? The largest donation gets a picture of Sophie being eaten by a polar bear. Probably. I have linked a lovely photo of her here. She does seem to be quite popular on the internet.
And no, I didn't watch Love Island, but I am sure it was edited to make her look like a bunny boiler and that she is actually a very nice person.
And if you were wondering, I have not updated my latest weight for a good reason. So there!

On the ever-so-dull exercise front, I am still going to the gym, but need to do more over the weekend, which I regard as time off from all arduous activities, such as work and exercise. This needs to change.
Thanks for reading, good night and good luck.

2006-10-10T08:44:00.000-07:00

Dear generous friends,
I am deeply in need of sponsorship for this little jaunt. Each of the 12 people on this trip have been asked to raise £6,000 and the fundraising starts here!
Think about it, you don't really need that new car or that nice new Ikea kitchen. Give your money to me instead! Click here to go to the secure website that makes donating your cash really easy.

2006-10-09T04:34:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,

The last week has been quite difficult. I took a week off work and went back to parents for a few days. Then I trekked over to Copenhagen for a few days for a media award ceremony. I met up with some mad Slovenians, and went partying with them, which mean alcohol intake was somewhat higher than normal. Well done me!

Anyway, the point I am making, is that it is very difficult to stick to a training regime when your normal routine is disrupted. Its straightforward to go to the gym when at work and buy a salad rather than a fat sandwich at lunchtime. But it's harder when an established framework gets disrupted.

Which got me thinking about habits and how habits are formed. We all have habits - most of them bad - which provide a structure to the day. Most of them are not addictive in themselves, but rather are comforting in their familiarity.

Which brings me back to training and forming new habits and the best environment for changing habits. It seems to me one of the hardest parts about training is that it disrupts old habits. Going for a run means not watching TV or somesuch. It's not so much a question of whether I would prefer to go for a run rather than slump on the sofa, its more an issue of leaving behind one established pattern of behaviour in favour of another.

I was told yesterday by a friend on the trek that sweating in the Arctic is BAD. Apparantly, sweat never evaporates. Rather it freezes. And stays frozen until the end of the 140 miles. So those that sweat like a pig in heat will have a layer of ice on the inside of their clothes. Lovely.

Went for a run this morning. It was the normal route to the park and back. This time I made it to the park and most of the way back. Progress!

Another thrilling instalment tomorrow.

2006-10-05T03:47:00.000-07:00

Huge apologies guys, I have this week off work, which means that I am running around doing things and seeing people and not blogging!
Just about to run to the airport to go to Copenhagen. Long post when I get back on Saturday.
Until then,
AMW

2006-09-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

So another weekend approaches fast. Weekends are always tricky because the company gym is so far away. I do go running, but it is SO boring. And there is always some marathon freak that passes you like you were standing still.
Anyway, I am officially one belt notch thinner than I was two weeks ago and now that I can measure the progress, the motivation is coming back. For anyone starting on any sort of fitness regime I would say that the first 10 days are always going to be hard because there are few signs that all the sweat is making any difference. But trust me, it is.
A special thanks to the reader that emailed me to say that having read this blog, she was now actively considering running the London marathon next year. Her basic line of argument was that if chunky old me could trek across the Arctic, even she could run 26 miles. I am not sure if I should be flattered or offended. Maybe I am over doing it on the self-depreciation!
I will post an update on Monday, but wanted to leave you with this. Anyone offended by ripe language should keep well away, but everyone else, especially those that have had a run in with BT in the past should check it out!
And if anyone has suggestions on how to make a salad more interesting then leave your suggestions here. Ditto those with receipes for tasty salad dressing.
Have a great weekend guys.

2006-09-27T10:06:00.000-07:00

This is a picture from last year's Baffin Island expedition. Good thing I am a skier not a boarder!

2006-09-27T06:23:00.000-07:00

Weight: 107.2kg (16 stone 13 lb)
Weight lost in last week: 0.5kg (1.1lb)
Total Weight loss: 2.1kg (4.5lb)

So I thought it was about time I told you all about the charity that will be benefiting from this sponsored madness. The Mitchemp Trust is a children's charity that turns hoodies into respectable young people by taking them to the countryside.
Actually, that is my somewhat crass and simplistic interpretation of what it does.
According to its own website the Mitchemp Trust is a "youth development charity working with vulnerable children who are between the ages of 11 and 14 years".
It aims to "improve their confidence, self esteem and ability to take responsibility for themselves.We accomplish this by providing adventure camps, involving exciting outdoor activities that enable the children to succeed and achieve."
The Trust's motto is "If you think you can, you probably will. If you think you can't, you definitely won't"
Well I definitely think that I probably can do this trek. So there!
Anyway, I slightly fell off the wagon at the weekend and may have accidentily ordered pizza. Firezza does wicked and genuinely Italian pizza all across London. Think very thin, lots of fresh basil, tomato etc and not covered in three inches of cheese like the variety of pizza favoured by fatboy Americans. Speaking of Americans, wasn't the Ryder Cup just fantastic!!
I may have visited a well known American fast food chain that sounds like "NacDonalds" as well. Well, I didn't have any food in the fridge, what was I supposed to do?
I think I am allowed one (large) plateful of carbs and fat per week! The good news is the weight is still creeping down, albeit at a slower rate. I wonder what 4.5lb looks like? Four bags of sugar? Answers on a postcard please.
The training plan from the fitness instructor on the trip is only 10 weeks long, which means that I am already ahead of schedule.
The other good news is that we may have a sponsor lined up to fund the whole £90,000 cost of the expedition. Fingers crossed.
On a different note, it is very interesting to see who is reading this blog. I seem to have regular readers as far afield as California. So don't be shy, leave comments and any wisdom you may wish to share.

2006-09-21T04:33:00.000-07:00

I have either been for a run or at the gym for the last three days, so today I am giving my aching limbs a day off.
Various muscle groups have been sending urgent messages to my brain.
One typical missive from my knees said: "Dear brain, I thought we had an agreement that we would not be required to do this sort of thing anymore. The ligaments down here are kicking up an awful fuss and somebody is going to snap!"
One correspondence from an unhappy right ankle tendon simply said: "I am not sure she can take much more Captain."
And I won't even go into the spam emails I am getting from my stomach.
The fitness instructor in the expediton group is promising to send us all a fitness plan. Words can not express the excitement about that!

2006-09-19T05:20:00.000-07:00

Training Day 4:
Weight: 107.7kg (17 stone)
Total weight loss: 1.6kg (3.5lb)

So back to work at the Sunday Telegraph this morning after a fairly boozy weekend. I made sure I only drank champage last night (see previous post) and went for the healthy pudding option at this really nice little restaurant in Soho called Andrew Edmunds. Here is the link http://www.london-eating.co.uk/171.htm Its shabby and French and the food tastes great.
But I still can't quite bring myself to ask for slimline tonic with my gin. It just seems, well, wrong on so many levels.

So despite falling off the wagon somewhat over the weekend, I have lost 1.6kg in the last week. This can only be seen as an encouraging start. But I am not going to believe its more than a blip (shurely a blimp? Ed.) until the next weigh-in.

Herr Barbie downstairs in the gym is Very Enthusiastic and tells me I am doing A Good Job before going back to her protein shake and rivita. Usual combination of running, cycling and X-training machine in the gym today as per Barbie's instructions.

Friday night saw a meeting of the whole group going on this expedition. I was at work, and couldn't make it. But I gather that the expedition needs a name. Any suggests gratefully received. There will be a great prize for the winning entry (subject to secret conditions and eligibility).

Oh, and we also need a corporate sponsor!

Thought for the day: What is the point of mangos? They may taste like cake mix, but have you ever tried cutting one?

2006-09-18T07:44:00.000-07:00

Training day 3:

So the first week of the "New Regime" is now over. I have successfully cut down on the booze and I have made it to the gym quite a lot.

But the initial enthusiam and excitement about getting fit for this madcap Arctic adventure has well and truely worn off. It has dawned on me that this is a going to be a long hard slog. I decided that I would go for a run in Brockwell Park this morning. Its about a mile from the flat. The plan was to run to the park, do a lap and run back. It didn't quite work out like that. I managed to run to the park, but I was so knackered that I had to then walk through the park and then stagger home for a lie down. I think its going to take a wee while before I start seeing a noticeable improvement in performance.

Anyway, I am also starting to have worrying dreams about this expedition (see photo). It is not helped by a friend who emailed me a story about a chap who climbed Everest. He had lost both legs below the knee in a car accident but had somehow decided that climbing the heightest mountain in the world was still a good idea. Unfortunately he got caught in bad weather and lost two fingers with frostbite. However, he said that having lost two legs, a couple of fingers wasn't going to make much difference. I am not sure if the car accident had damaged his mental faculties or if he was the bravest chap on the planet. Either way, horrific stories of limb loss in freezing mountain conditions are not helpful! So all gleeful emails containing similar tales from "friends" can now stop thankyou!

Further update tomorrow.

2006-09-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

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2006-09-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

Training Day 2
Weight: 109.2kg (17 stone, 3lbs)

A friend at Sandhurst is kind enough to get in touch with some helpful advise.
"Alcohol is a pivotal part of the military approach to fitness," she writes. "I think you should follow suit."
The friend in question has an Oliver Reed approach to alcohol and a body that would make Cameron Diaz weep hot tears of envy, so I am inclined to take her advice.
I discover from female friends (clearly girls give this sort of thing a great deal of thought), the least fattening booze is champagne and vodka & slimline tonics. Though not together, clearly. Well at least I don't think so.
I don't really like V&Ts so I have no choice but to drink fizz all the time. Suddenly this fitness malarky is not looking so bad.
On that note, I received my new training routine from the Aussie health fascist that lives in the company gym. Let us just say that it is challenging! It basicallly involves an hour of cardio work (treadmill, bike, X-country etc) about 4 times a week. I did tell Herr Kylie (actually I don't know her name and I really should by now) that I have to work for a living as well, but she said that the gym opens at 6:30am and I would have plenty of time to train before breakfast.
Marvelous.

2006-09-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

Training Day 1
Weight: 109.2kg (17 stone 3 lbs)
There is something very satisfying about stepping on a treadmill for a good reason. People tend to do it because we are vain and don't want to be too rotund. But most of the time apathy and the imagined taste of lager give vanity a good mental kicking and most of us end up going to the pub with mates at lunchtime instead. Of is that just me?
Anyway, now I have a real motivation to go to the gym. And you know what? It is still a shitty experience and hurts like hell. But it did feel good to get the new regime underway. The Australian fitness instructor in the gym (why are they always Australian?!) is of course ever-so-enthusiastic about my jaunt across the Arctic ice. Well, that said, there was a moment after I told her when she looked like she was about to burst into laughter, but we will gloss over that.
She has agreed to design my a fitness programme and we are to go over the plan in the gym tomorrow morning at 8:30am. Well, may as well use up this enthusiasm before it wears off!
I have told her I want to lose two stone in weight and after a brief visual scrutiny, she agreed that it was a very realistic target. Bitch.
So today has gone as well as could be expected. Glowered at the waiter when he asked if I wanted chips to go with my steak at lunch and now feeling quite smug. Won't last I expect.