Last Entry - (1st May 2005)

This is the last diary entry I will make before departing for Greenland on 5th May. Afterwards I hope you will track my progress across the icecap through the recently launched Expedition News Centre.

On Thursday I will meet (for the first time) my co-expeditioners and the expedition guides. We have an international team with representation from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and (of course) Scotland. Our guides are Icelandic.

Weather permitting we will be transported by helicopter to the icecap on Sunday 8th May. From there we will begin the arduous haul to an altitude of 2200m, by which time we will have reached the main plateau and will be half way into the expedition (despite having only traveled one third of the distance).

I'd like to thank everybody for making Friday's "Going Away" party such a terrific and memorable event. I hope you all enjoy looking through the photographs and reading the "prize winning" captions from the Caption Competition. Not only did we have a great party, collectively we raised £1,827 for Orchid. This includes many generous donations from numerous people that couldn't be there on the night.

Check out the "Party Page" for more details.

I look forward to returning to Scotland with tales and pictures to chill you to the core and inspire you to follow your dreams!

April - Last Four Weeks of Preparations

I returned to the UK on Sunday 3rd April with my new-found knowledge and a list of final preparations to take care of before setting off for the actual expedition on Thursday 5th May. I am pleased to say that, despite "whiteout" storm conditions of a nature I have only ever witnessed in an epic movie, I am not even marginally put off the idea of the expedition that lies ahead. Indeed, I remain excited and challenged at the prospect.

The primary focus for April, apart from: finalising all of my kit and equipment requirements, getting my skis serviced, seeing family and friends, winding down my work, attending various fundraising events....oh the list is long, I need to focus on eating, sleeping and increasing my level of fitness.

To this end I have been running more frequently and for longer, I have been sled-hauling through the lovely morning dew at Arthur's Seat and fitting in the occasional weights session at the gym to maintain strength.

I'm doing a great job of increasing my food intake (and loving every minute of it) and given any opportunity I will "cat nap" here and there so give me a nudge if you see me dropping off at the wrong times.

I will continue regular web site updates during the expedition via satellite phone communications. I hope you will all stay connected to www.osuch.com to witness the conclusion of many months of preparation and training when put to the ultimate test in the extreme and uncompromising Arctic climate.

Week 5 – (28th March 2005)

On Friday 25th March I traveled to Reykjavik to meet Jon Russill and Matt Spenceley of Tunu and commence our Arctic training programme.

Our onward journey to Kulusuk, Greenland was delayed by two days due to heavy snow fall in Kulusuk. It's not unusual for your travel plans to and from Greenland to be changed, delayed or cancelled. When traveling in that part of the world you just get used to it.

Read this "Expedition Report" (PDF 567K) for full details of our training in Kulusuk.

Week 6 – (21st March 2005)

Packing and preparing for going to Greenland for Arctic training has been the main focus of this week. There is knack to packing that I can't say I've mastered yet but I have no doubt that I will learn very quickly - necessity requires it. However, I am chuffed that I managed to get everything in to my bag on the first attempt.

On Friday 25th March I will be flying off to Reykjavik to meet Jon and Matt (Tunu) before we head up to Kulusuk and out on to the ice for seven days. I must remember to take some creme eggs for us to share on Sunday - apparently they don't freeze in sub-zero temperatures!

I am excited at the prospect of returning to Greenland - especially to a part of the country that I have not experienced before. I guess this will be a week of many new experiences for me. Apart from the fact that I have not slept overnight in a tent since I was about 8 years old, neither have I ever learnt crevasse rescue techniques (images of Touching The Void flash through my mind at this point!).

I will return on the 3rd of April ready for my final four-week countdown of training, fundraising, eating, fixing or adjustment of my kit and equipment and plenty of sleep before my final departure on the 5th of May.

Week 7 – (14th March 2005)

There is so much going on just now I find it difficult not to write three pages of notes here. I'll try to keep it brief (not one of my specialities)!

Going Away Party - There's loads going on here. Tickets for the party are selling fast so if you have not already reserved or bought your tickets email me now louise@tidalfire.com - you really don't want to miss this one - it's going to be a lot of FUN!

Donations - As more and more people hear about the expedition and are inspired, either by the journey or the charity, donations are coming in on a regular basis. Thank you all for your generosity.

Remember, making a contribution is easy. You can do it online, or you can simply sent a cheque (payableto "Greenland Icecap Crossing 2005") to me c/o Tidalfire, 91 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DJ.

"Bulking up" - One of my objectives over the remaining 6 weeks is to "bulk up", by about 1 stone. Under normal conditions, this would be easy, I've certainly never had any trouble in the past putting on a bit of extra weight. But this time it's different.

Fortunately, I have some help. Tony Gay from EAS UK has supplied nutritional advice along with various drinks rich in protein and carbohydrates. These supplements, combined with an eating plan to increase my calorie consumption, will enable me to bulk up using protein, carbohydrates and essential fats.

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Week 8 – (7th March 2005)

Training continues and in addition my preparations are now starting to focus on the pre-expedition training week that will take place between 25th March and 3rd April in Greenland.

Training will be provided by Matt and Jon from Tunu. We will spend a week working on all technical and practical aspects of living on the ice, including:

But before I finally leave for the expedition we are having a big "going away" party. Everybody is welcome - this is a fundraiser for The Orchid Cancer Appeal with the emphasis firmly on FUN!

Please come along and bring your friends. See here for more details.

Week 9 – (28th February 2005)

Thanks to a good covering of snow mid-week I headed up to Carrbridge and spent Saturday ski-ing in the beautiful, scenic woodlands of the Slochd. It was good ski practice and very hot work in the afternoon sun.

On Sunday I spent a couple of hours sled hauling. This was my first experience of sled-hauling - it was hot, physically exhausting and would have been almost impossible if I did not have skins on my skis.

Thanks again go to Ian Bishop at Slochd Nordic Ski Centre for his help, advice and the wooden logs which were loaded onto the sled for me to haul.

Week 10 – (21st February 2005)

Well, my wish for snow was answered mid-week when Scotland (in fact most of the UK) was covered in more snow than we have seen in years. Unfortunately, it got significantly warmer after the snow fell and by Friday you would never know that it had happened. Nevertheless, there is still plenty of the beautiful white stuff further north and on high ground.

Weight training this week was focused on increasing the weights and introducing a few different exercises to continue building upper and core body strength. I can't find the words to explain the pain of some exercises, particularly bicep curls which make the muscles in my forearms feel like they are on fire. However, I can see and feel the benefit of it all and when I look back at what I was lifting when I started, the difference is significant. Maybe I should raise some money for Orchid by doing a few arm-wrestling challenges!

Rowen deserves an award for tolerance. For more than three months he's been getting himself out of bed at 6am to train and help prepare me for this expedition. I bet the last couple of months can't pass fast enough for him!

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Week 11 – (14th February 2005)

As the expedition over the Greenland icecap will be done predominantly on skis it is time to focus on ski instruction. Let me put this into perspective for you. The last time I had skis on I was about 20 years old (that's 18 years ago!) and I was learning to "snow plough" down the easy runs at Aviemore.

Trecking across the icecap with skis on whilst hauling my sled up-hill is quite a different undertaking.

I spent the weekend in Carrbridge getting ski instruction from Ian Bishop at Slochd Nordic Ski Centre. It was fantastic. I learnt so much in the one-to-one instruction sessions and benefited from getting outside and using my boots, skis and various items of clothing. I was quite pleased to return to Edinburgh with only one bruise on my leg from falling over and no injuries or blisters.

All I need now is plenty more snow so that I can make ski-ing a regular weekend activity and built up a degree of competence before my training week in Greenland at the end of March.

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Week 12 – (7th February 2005)

Shopping for kit and equipment for a polar expedition is an experience and a half. Fortunately I’ve been provided with a very specific list of “what to take” and the basic rule is that you don’t deviate from the list. Also, I know from speaking to others that have done similar expeditions that, the last thing you want to do is haul unnecessary belongings 340 miles across the arctic! The minimalist approach is the one to take.

With invaluable help, advice and support from Catriona at Blues, Ian at Tiso, Steve at Mountain Spirit and Robert at Robert Callander Optician, my "shopping" is almost complete. Here’s my equipment checklist. This excludes central items such as stove, tent, sled and the, all-important, food supplies but effectively makes up the contents of my sled for 30 days:

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Week 13 – (31st January 2005)

There’s nothing like a deadline looming large to prompt you into action. I’ve set myself a number of deadlines to do with my preparations for Greenland and, as you can guess, they are all starting to close in on me now.

Training is one of them. I need to make sure that my strength, power and fitness are at the requisite level by mid-March. I will be training for eight days in Greenland at the end of March and I need to be as fit and ready for the training week as I would be for the expedition itself. Also, April needs to be “maintenance” month where I am not trying to increase my level of fitness or strength, just maintaining it whilst resting and eating well in preparation for my departure on the 5th of May.

April also happens to be the month that most of the fundraising events will be taking place - so maybe it’s just as well that I can miss a few mornings of running up and down Playfair Steps.

Fundraising events are coming together and we will be posting details of dates, venues and how to get involved in the next couple of weeks.

Sounds to me like April is going to be a whole lot of fun from beginning to end!

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Week 14 – (24th January 2005)

I think I'm beginning to enjoy running up and down Playfair Steps at 7 o'clock in the morning! Well, perhaps "enjoy" is not the right choice of word here. The first time is the worst - a shock to the system - after that, once you know what to expect you can really challenge yourself and push yourself harder. You can also immediately recognise progress. A very basic exercise but very beneficial. Fortunately, due to the lack of daylight, you can't really see the pain on my face in this picture!

I'm making great progress in getting my kit and equipment together. Thanks to a tremendous amount of advice and support from Ian White at Tiso. I have a list as long as my arm of specific kit and equipment required for the expedition. I cannot really deviate from what we have been instructed to take other than small personal luxuries. At the moment my personal luxury will be a silk balaclava! I'm not going to explain that one - just assume it's one of my quirks.

It will be interesting packing for a month away and not taking the obligatory soap bag full of body lotions, hair products and make up. A few basics (I'll leave out the detail here) and some necessary first aid products will do the job. I keep getting asked "what are you going to do with your hair?" I've considered shaving it off (could raise some money for charity) but instead I've decided that I'll shove a balaclava (preferably a silk one) over my head, a couple of hats and let nature take its course. I mean, it's hardly a time to be vain, right? I think the state of my hair will be the least of my concerns.

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Week 15 – (17th January 2005)

A couple of new experiences to describe this week. On Monday, being granted a “rest day” from weight training, I decided it would be a good opportunity to try a spinning class. For the uninitiated, spinning is the equivalent to cycling like a maniac on a static bike to loud music with a beat to help you along, oh and plenty resistance to create hills of the like found in the Tour de France!

I’m pleased to say, I survived the class and, thankfully, did not crumble in a heap on the floor when I dismounted my bike.

On Tuesday, in some appropriate arctic conditions, I did a 60 minute run. I’m sure you’ve heard it said how a cold water/ice bath can be good for repairing the muscles – well, I decided to give it a try.

It was not the most comfortable experience I’ve ever had. Sinking my legs into a bath filled to my middle with water from the cold tap. Once you overcome the initial pain, it becomes tolerable…..but never pleasant!

I have to trust that it is a basic remedy that’s good for you. Let’s face it, if Paula Radcliffe is an advocate of ice water baths after a long run then that’s good enough advice for me. Although it’s not for the feint hearted.

And on Friday, ensuring that my training regime does not get boring, we spent 45 minutes with me running up and down Playfair Steps at the mound. Have you ever tried that? Running up and down steps puts your legs (calfs, knees and thighs) and your breathing to the test. This was followed by a run back to the gym and some core weights for the upper body. By which time my upper body had come out in sympathy of what was going on below by waist and it was an effort to push up 45lbs in each hand on the bench press and my biceps felt like they were on fire with a mere 15lbs!

Oh well, it's all progress......isn't it?

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Week 16 – (10th January 2005)

This week saw some significant progress in my weights programme. Looking back over the weeks since I started training for Greenland I can see a massive change in the weights I am now lifting. I could go on (and on) giving you all the facts and figures but I think such detail would only really interest a few! Suffice to say that if my skin was painted green you may mistake me for Princess Fiona (from Shrek 2 for those of you that have not seen the film).

Yoga classes were resumed on Thursday – at first I thought I’d walked into the wrong class. The moves seemed way beyond my novice levels of expertise, but I did my bit and managed not to fall on my face when balancing on one leg in some form of unpronounceable position!

Speaking of falling – I missed a photo opportunity on Sunday. As I was descending Caerketton hill (better known to most as the ski slope at Hillend) with my 15kgs of stones in my rucksack, I was tiptoeing through a particularly muddy and wet area when I suddenly found myself on my backside. I was covered from hands to elbows and from my rucksack to my ankles in wet, slippery mud. As I tried to get up I slipped again making more of a meal of it. It was very funny. Shortly after this I decided to try another route back to the car and made a break for it across Lothianburn golf course, fortunately avoiding wayward golf balls!

Oh the (mis)adventures of training in rain, sleet, snow, high winds and whatever else our weather system can throw at us this winter – it all adds to the fun.

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Week 17 – (3rd January 2005)

There are 17 weeks remaining before I arrive on the massive icecap covering Greenland to begin our polar expedition. The team currently consists of three Australians, all mountaineers with experience of climbing some of the worlds highest peaks, and me. Our guide is Icelandic and has considerable experience gained in both Iceland and Greenland. We will all meet for the first time in Reykjavik on the 5th of May for final preparations before onward travel to Kulusuk on May 7th.

In 12 weeks time (at the end of March) I will travel to Greenland for a one-week training course in preparation for the expedition. The training will focus on:

This training week will provide me with an excellent acclimatisation opportunity and time for any last-minute changes or fixes to kit and equipment before I begin the expedition.

In the meantime, as well as continuing with my own training programme, focus over the next few weeks will be on the purchase of the remainder of my kit and equipment, flight bookings and the arrangement of various fundraising events. Over the course of the next few weeks events will be arrange and dates posted on the web site so stay connected, the fun is about to start.

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Week 18 – (27th December 2004)

As 2004 draws to a close I look back over the last year and all of the planning and training that has been covered in preparation for Greenland in 2005. I first started researching this expedition in November 2003. After an initial period of research I put the idea out of my mind before resurrecting it again about six months later. After more research I decided that in 2005 I would make the trip to Greenland. By the time I finally leave Edinburgh destined for Kulusuk I will have been training and preparing for this expedition for nine months. To me the planning and preparing are all part of the adventure, the people that live and work with me, well they’re probably the most patient and tolerant people I know!

My training regime is now well established and a natural pattern of my week. During the course of this week I have done two weights sessions, a seven mile run, an early morning hike at Hillend in the Pentland Hills plus a four-mile hike through some fantastic snow and high winds, also in the Pentland Hills. This was balanced by some swimming, a relaxing spa/sauna and a Craniosacral treatment still leaving me a couple of days rest and time to welcome the New Year.

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Week 19 – (20th December 2004)

Great training week. Somewhere in between shopping for Christmas presents and indulging in all the good things that Christmas brings (like chocolates, champagne and lounging around on the settee), I still managed to get six great training sessions in working every day except Christmas day.

This week included two weights sessions, yoga, two six mile runs a swift and steep hike up the Pentland Hills at 7am; plus a couple of massage treatments to ease away the knots that build up in my shoulders.

This particular Pentland Hills hike is a new one for me. Thanks to Ian White (of Tiso) for having the motivation to get up at 6am to show me the way.

Starting at the lower car park at Hillend (just by the ski slope) we hiked up Caerketton hill (454m) adjacent to the ski run; up to the top of the first peak then across to the top of the next one before starting our descent. It’s a brisk exercise and taxing on your legs and CV. We did this while carrying heavily weighted backpacks (my rucksack contained rocks weighing 10kgs) so it’s good for building strength too.

As we get close the the end of 2004 the countdown to the expedition seems to be coming in faster than ever. Within a matter of days my Greenland challenge will no longer be an expedition that takes place “next year”. From January I will have 12 weeks to reach the level of strength and fitness required for the trip. Training needs to ease up in April to allow me time to increase my weight and get sufficient rest so that I am not exhausted before setting foot on the ice. It’s all going to plan – I’m in superb spirit and free of injury and strains thanks to Pauline’s good work.

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Week 20 - (13th Dec 2004)

Training came under pressure this week and my run on Thursday was squeezed off my agenda due to work deadlines which had to take priority. However, weight training is going very well and I am immensely grateful to Pauline (Instant Energy) for helping restore me to some form of normality with regular massage treatments.

My weekend consisted of 9 holes of golf (three clubs + a putter) at Castle Park Golf Club; a massage; approximately 12 hours sleep then back up for some more golf, this time at the Glen in North Berwick. Sunday was a perfect day for golfing in East Lothian. It was a cold, clear and frosty day and the colours on the horizon were outstanding. Our efforts on the golf course were rewarded with a bar supper in Gullane as the sun started to set – magnificent!

When compared to hiking in the hills for 6 hours or running for 8 miles, playing golf for two days felt like a weekend of leisure. I’ll be making it up over the Christmas and New Year period when I will have the chance to take time off work and focus on hills, running and weights. Yes, as you are dissolving some Alka Seltzer to remedy the indulgences of the night before, I’ll be out there pumping iron or pounding the streets getting “match-fit” for Greenland 2005.

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Week 21 - (6th Dec 2004)

What happens to time as we approach Christmas and New Year? We may be experiencing less daylight hours but we still have 24 hours in a day – so why does it feel like the day has suddenly been reduced by a third?

Nevertheless, training continues. I did two runs, three weights sessions and had two rest days this week – one of them recommended by coach Rowen the other to enable me to make a foray to Aviemore to purchase skis, boots and bindings.

It’s a good job my choices were limited to one or two styles; spending 2.5 hours in Mountain Spirit was probably more than enough time for Rob and his staff to endure my endless questions while drinking their tea.

So, as far as kit and equipment goes we have the basics (and the most important) elements in place. I have the base layer thermals to keep my vital organs warm and functioning and I have the skis and boots that will take me across the icecap. I am half way through my training programme and getting fitter and stronger by the week. Now I need the mid layer thermals and outer layer waterproofs and a bucket-load of strength and stamina.

I’m hoping for a heavy snowfall this winter to break-in my skis and boots and get some Scottish survival training in place. It’s a well-known fact that most polar explorers do their training in the Scottish highlands – if you can survive the changeable conditions and the extreme cold of our Scottish mountains you are well prepared for whatever the Arctic and Antarctic can throw at you.

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Week 22 - (29th Nov 2004)

After a number of weeks working to an intensive training programme, generally exercising 6 days out of 7, I am beginning to feel that my system is changing. My metabolism certainly has – evident from the regular need I have for nutritious food and the feeling of hunger I get approximately every 4 hours. At this point I just slip on my nosebag which is filled with nuts, seeds and raisins – graze for about 15 minutes and I’m satisfied until my next meal!

Thanks to Rowen – over the last 10 days my weights programme has changed significantly and I can see and feel the benefits. As well as developing muscles that are more than just a knot in a handkerchief I am sporting some nice rounded callouses on my hands.

A typical training week at the moment looks something like this:

On any day that I am running to work or doing weights in the gym my routine would look like this:

• 6am – breakfast of porridge with raisins and a protein drink
• 7 – 8.30am – weights or run to work
• 9am/9.30am – 2nd breakfast of the day - fruit and yogurt or scone and jam
• 11/11.30am – snack of nuts and seeds
• 1pm – lunch of carbs and protein (pasta and meat) with some salad veg or spinach, followed by fruit and a yogurt

• 3/3.30pm – snack on fruit and nuts
• 8/8.30pm – evening meal of fish or meat, rice and veg

Throughout the day I will have drank about 6 pints of water and 4 cups of fruit tea. By 10.15pm I’m ready for my bed but usually that luxury comes around 11.30pm.

I take one “rest day” per week. This can be any day of the week and is usually dictated by work requirements or physical need to take a break. Regular massage and time in the sauna/spa are necessary components of the whole programme and help me restore myself for the next bout of exercise.

And so the programme continues, evolving and developing as time goes on. If you’d asked me six months ago where I was going to find 15 to 20 hrs per week to fit in a training programme of this magnitude, around a full-time job, I would not have had the answer. It’s amazing to see what you can find within yourself when your sight is securely fixed on a goal.

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Week 23 - (22nd Nov 2004)

It’s almost the end of November which means I’m four weeks into my polar expedition training programme, and in as little as five weeks we will already be into 2005! The programme focuses on cardiovascular and strength training for specific muscle groups and I have 20 weeks remaining to achieve an appropriate level of fitness. How will I know I’ve reached that level? I’ll answer that question when I return!

Of equal importance is my kit and equipment. Between now and January I need to obtain all my kit and equipment allowing me enough time to test it for comfort before I leave. “Start at the base layer and work your way out”, some sound advice from Catriona Conway of Blues. Not only has she provided me with superb advice, Catriona has also donated all of my base and mid-layer thermals and a bottle of Vulkan Post-sport Massage Oil. I think I will value these contributions equally, despite the significant difference in cost. The Icebreaker thermals will be tested to the limit in Greenland and the massage oil is already doing its work and repairing my muscles after a couple of grueling weights sessions with Rowen at the gym.

I now appreciate what is meant by the statement “working to failure”. It’s painful in the moment; 24 hours later it’s bloody sore and 48 hours later parts of your body feel like lumps of lead. Then it’s time to go back to the gym and do it all again. I hate to think how I would feel without the use of Catriona’s “magic oil”.

So will all this upper body work will help my golf? Optimistically I think, after another few weeks of training I’ll confidently challenge anybody to skins game!

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Week 24 - (15th Nov 2004)

An excellent week of training with weights sessions on Monday, Thursday and Saturday; a tough run to work (into a driving wind) on Wednesday morning and a superb run home on Friday evening. It was a cold evening and as most people were heading out for a Friday-evening drink or meal, I adorned my running gear and took to the streets - taking the long route home I increased my usual mileage from 4 miles (the most direct route) to 7 miles (the very indirect route).

On Sunday we packed our rucksack with food, water, a compass and a map and headed to the Pentland Hills. We headed up Turnhouse Hill then traversed around the hill and descended down to Logan burn, walked on past Loganlee Reservoir and between Black Hill and Hare Hill towards Balerno. After stopping briefly to eat our packed lunch we continued in a loop past Threipmuir Reservoir, skirting past Harlaw Reservoir then hiking back between Bell’s Hill and Harbour Hill, finally descended towards Glencorse Reservoir and back to the car park. A round trip of approximately 12 miles, some of it in driving rain, and all of it with terrific views.

It has to be said that we are fortunate that our map provided us with a handy little diagram of dots indicating paths for walking. If we’d had to depend on compass reading to get ourselves from point A to B, I think we would still be working out which way is North! I guess I’ll add ‘map reading’ to my long list of things to do before heading off to Greenland in May!

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Week 25 - (8th Nov 2004)

Another week of training has passed and this week was a cornucopia of running, weights, yoga and hill walking. It’s unusual to be packing up my work to head home and calculating how I can make my run home longer and more arduous by extending the route and incorporating more hills en route! Six months ago I would have been considering – hmmm, glass of nice red wine or a gin & tonic with my meal tonight? Oh, how things can change in such a short space of time.

My first foray for a long time into the Pentland Hills was a wet and windy affair but a good way of putting my clothes to the test and a great reason to get Ted out into the great outdoors.

From Flotterstone we headed up and over Castlelaw hill, across Allermuir hill (following the path which skirts around the side and just short of the summit – the highest point of the Pentlands) and on towards Dreghorn. As daylight is limited at this time of year, we decided to head back the way we came taking on the steep path back across Allermuir hill and once we’d negotiated our way over Castlelaw hill we extended our route back to the car by taking in the shores of Glencorse reservoir.

See Dave Henniker’s images of the Pentland Hills at http://www.henniker.org.uk/html/pent_index.htm

Four and a half hours passed in no time and we enjoyed hot soup and a roll back in the car before heading home for a hot shower.

It wasn’t planned this way but we got home in time for the Newcastle vs Manchester United game – painful though it was to live through the elation of Shearer’s equaliser only to be deflated three minutes later by Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penalty. The game was lost at that point but Rooney got his second goal of the game in the fourth minute of injury time making the final score 3 – 1 to the visitors.

Week 24 starts tomorrow with a day of weights and yoga. Next diary entry in one week.

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Week 26 - (1st Nov 2004)

The training programme has started in earnest. After months of running to maintain a general level of fitness, week 1 November saw the start of a focused training programme to build stamina, strength, power and endurance in preparation for crossing the Greenland icecap in 2005.

This week, as well as a couple of 5-mile runs, I have included two sessions on weights at the gym, a cycle of around 15 miles and one and half hours of yoga. The best part of it all has to be the massage that I had on Saturday afternoon – necessary maintenance more than indulgent pleasure.

So, I’m off to a great start. Everything is in good working order and there are no aches, pains or creaks – at least nothing to speak of.

Nutrition is also taking top priority, partly to supplement the increase in my exercise programme but mostly to establish good practice. McVitie’s will no doubt notice that I am no longer buying digestive biscuits in bulk – instead, sales of nuts, seeds and raisins are about to rise along with fresh fruit, veg and fish.

It’s all part of the adventure. I’m looking forward to next week (week 25) and my first foray, for a long time, in to the hills next weekend for a 6-hour hike.