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When we first went to the arctic in 2006 for the SPRI
challenge no-one had been before, and so the advice
given to us was based on the trip run by Across the
Divide run to walk to the base of Everest. Now I'm not
knocking anyone who has done that experience, but I
can tell you that being able to walk for long periods
over rocky terrain does not in any way prepare you for
how to get a loaded wooden sled and a team of mad huskies
to the top of a snow covered ridge!
What is most important is stamina because after you
have managed the very last hill there is always one
more! Fresh snowfall looks picturesque but it is a real
energy sapper, and you need to be ready for it. You
do not need to be super fit or have thighs like tree
trunks, but you do have to be able to push a sled uphill
because your dogs won't pull if you are not contributing
- they are not daft! The main issue is good lung capacity
as you will be breathing cold air and therefore the
less you need to exert yourself the less you will breath
in. This is beneficial because cold air cools the core
body temperature and saps energy reserves.
 Its
important to enjoy the training, and get a buzz from
doing it. At 6.00am on a winter's morning, with the
sun coming up, and a cold bite in the air, there is
nothing like putting in the effort to get fit for the
challenge ahead.
Could you walk up and down stairs 30 times with a backpack,
parka, and wellies on? Could you go up and down a steep
sand dune 10 times without breaking sweat? If yes you
will be fine. If not you need to get out onto sand or
mud and walk until your legs burn, and get all the practice
you can on hills if you have them, or stairs if you
don't. Or even a stepper if that's all you have, but
above all push yourself regularly but don't pull muscles.
Unfortunately its likely that you will have to train
alone, and unless the discipline is in your head to
do it well you will give in and not bother. Let me tell
you, when you are struggling to get your team up a hill
and the rest of the mushers are getting cold behind
you waiting for their turn, your lack of preparation
will be all too obvious to everyone and you won't be
too popular!
 I'm
lucky as I have soft sand to train on and believe me
its a killer substance, but so like soft snow that its
brilliant for training the leg muscles to accept the
punishment. Whatever you have available make full use
of it and get out there and burn some calories!!
Next -
Hygiene. Believe me I have experience
of how important this is!
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