Getting fit is just another of the many things that must be done before setting off on an expedition.  It would be foolish to set off without a reasonable level of fitness and failure would almost certainly be guaranteed.  It will be the very start of our trip that will stress our bodies the most - harshest weather, lowest temperatures, paulks at their heaviest, and an uphill climb - and we must arrive ready for this heavy work.

It is now less than five months until we leave for Greenland and I have a training regime in place.  One of the main objectives asides from “getting fit” during these coming months, will be to remain injury free.  Injury during training is the most frustrating thing and can put you back weeks and weeks or worse still will stop you going on the trip.  I always try and remain fairly fit and will walk and bike on a regular basis.  This is my way of remaining “in condition” but if starting out without that base level of fitness it would be vital to do small amounts of regular exercise to condition the body.  Doing too much too soon is a sure way to injury and the frustrations of being laid up unable to train.

My conditioning is ongoing and I always look for little opportunities in my daily life and take them as they come.  I walk to and from work every day, not very far but works out about an hour walking each day.  I cut all our wood by hand for our fire at home. I am building a wall and mix all the concrete by hand.  If I have to go somewhere I will walk or bike.  If I go out with my family I will take my pack and walk home.  These may seem like minor things but all help to condition the body and also fit into my family life.

Asides from the little daily things, I do three main training events each week.  Two evenings a week I go out with my pack on with about 15kg of weight in it.  I have a route that takes me around the beaches and onto the cliff paths.  This takes about 1.5 hours and I try and mix in different exercises.  I usually do about 5 or 6 sets of 10 press ups which I will increase as I feel I can.  I also run along a gravel beach which is a good burn for the legs and importantly for me is low impact.  Getting home I have a punch bag in my garage and will spend about 20 minutes beating that - great fun and good for the upper body! 

My main event each week is a long walk early each Sunday morning.  I will walk for at least 4 hours and again carrying my pack.  This takes me right around Alderney and I stick to the paths and beaches as much as possible.  I will do this whatever the weather and am usually out shortly after 6 am.  I find this is good mind training as well as body, as it forces you to do something you would rather not be doing!  Mental strength is as important as physical strength on these expeditions and training in the evenings and early mornings through the winter is good mental training.  The bulk of this training is not overly aerobic but we are taking on a long sapping challenge not training for a sprint!

The final thing that I do every other day is a “core strength” routine.  This takes place in the luxury of my sitting room in front of the TV!  I have a Swiss ball and do a series of exercises that takes about 15 min’s and focuses on stomach, sides and back strength.

That’s about it really, no personal trainer, no gym, no nutritionist and no expense.  I just try to listen to my body, train accordingly and try and remain injury free.  Start well before the expedition, start easy, condition the body and build up.  Add a little weight to the pack, do a few extra press ups, walk a little longer but only when you feel you can.  Get out early, when the weather’s bad, when everyone else is sleeping and it will toughen the mind as well as the body.  Enjoy, and if you are really keen there is always the dreaded tyre pulling!!

Steve training with some helpers!