Base One

Apologies for the radio silence. As you'll note, I've spruced up the design of the site a bit (not least because there were a few similar-looking sites popping up, and it's good to raise the game now and again) and I've also managed to fix a few problems that have been bugging me for ages, mainly getting the archives and categories working properly.

Anyway, here it is. There are obvious gaps to be filled here and there, but do let me know if you spot any glaring errors.

The next expedition, SOUTH, is now less than six months away and I'm starting to feel the familiar sense of pressure as kick-off approaches. You'd think having a Yahoo! website and a Discovery Channel documentary lined up would have sponsors knocking at the door, but the truth is a little different and we're currently reeling from being turned down by a huge technology company that we'd been courting since February. At least the current exchange rate makes buying a mile of the expedition a bit of a bargain for those of you in the UK/Europe.

The physical preparation is going rather better, and I'm working with triathlon coach extraordinaire James Beckinsale in the build-up to our late-October departure for Antarctica. The current period of training, "base one", entails building my aerobic capacity and strengthening the supporting muscles that I use when I'm sledge-hauling. Lots of running, cycling and weight training, with a bit of roller-skiing thrown into the mix. I'll write more on the training shortly (and hope to start blogging it day-by-day) but right now I've just seen I'm horrendously late for a meeting. More soon…

— Filed under SOUTH