You may make whatever comments you wish by simply clicking on the “comments” link below.

MY CRAZIEST SUCCESS EVER !!

In November, I set a wildly outrageous goal to climb up 1,000 flights of stairs, and run back down, all in one day. Well, that day came and I began climbing up and running down. And, walking up and running down. I began getting more and more confident that I could do it. During this long walk, I set a goal to complete it in 10 hours. As the hours wore on and as I climbed up and ran down more and more … I began to see that my goal of 10 hours might actually be achievable. I began at 4:15pm on Sunday. I took three brief breaks of a quarter-hour each. Except for that, I climbed up and ran back down. My condo is 12 storeys tall. So, I knew I had to go from the subbasement to the roof a whopping 83 times. At 2:06am in the wee hours of Monday morning, I took the final step – in 9h 51m.

I am so proud of this outrageous success and this totally absurd experience. I am so glad that I have you to share it with. And, I am so glad I had Melaleuca’s Access Bar to help me – the next day I had no stiffness whatsoever. What a joy.

ERRORS

Have I made any errors that I regret and that I would do differently if I had an opportunity to replay this phase of my life? YES.

I have made two errors.

1.. I erred in mentioning polar bears to my daughter Emma (aged 5). She has no concept of what I am attempting, but she sure does know what a polar bear is. She is afraid for me and I am sorry that I put such thoughts into her head.

2.. I did not stretch before and after exercising and I think now that that is the reason that I contracted Plantar Fasciitis. I am now stretching more regularly.

PHYSICAL HELP I HAVE ENJOYED TOWARDS THIS GOAL

Even though it is an inner journey, there is physical-world help that I have enjoyed and received along the way.

1.. I have inherited from my mom a strong body. That always helps.

2.. I have had lots of athletic achievements in my youth, and I remember those experiences and have a greater ability to recreate them having had them before.

3.. I eat well and take LOTS of vitamins and minerals and supplements (from Melaleuca)

4.. I get great professional advice from chiropractors, acupuncturists, fitness trainers, medical doctors, racer organizers

5.. I use Melaleuca’s patented Access Bar which allows me to access the most efficient fuel from my body, so that I can exercise far longer and far more strenuously and far more efficiently — with no pain the next morning! No lactic acid build-up. No sore muscles.

HAULING A TIRE

In the actual race, I will be hauling a sled weighing 150 pounds containing all my provisions like food, tent, extra clothing, first aid, cooking gear, etc. You can see a photo of an actual racer hauling a sled at www.PolarRace.com or on the masthead of my own blog. But, there is no snow here in Toronto and I need to practice. So, my partner Geoff Taylor rigged up an old tire and I attached it to my race harness and began hauling it around the roads and sidewalks near my home. Phew. It’s tougher than I thought.

Please enjoy two photos. In one photo I am hauling my little daughter Emma.

In the following photo, my dear friend Jan Meek (another race competitor) dressed as Santa is hauling a sled filled with gifts to make her training more enjoyable. It must sure attract fun questions from watchers.

RODDY & SIR JOCK

You can read about my powerful partner Roddy at http://www.polarrace.com/roddy-caxton-spencer.htm including a photo taken when he was a competitor in the race across the Sahara Desert!

And, here is a photo from the educational training session we enjoyed earlier this Fall in England. Roddy is on your left. Sir Jock is in the middle.

STAIRCLIMBING

My major exercising is stair climbing and working out with my trainer Grace in the gym. She works with me on my upper body and core. Stair climbing addresses my core and lower body.

In my gym workouts, Grace sees progress; but it is not that noticeable to me. In stairclimbing, however, the results are clearly measurable. I am super-proud to announce my records …

100 flights of stairs up and run back down … 32 minutes

300 flights of stairs up and run back down … 1 hour, 57 minutes

If you are not sure what this means, just hit the stairs and try it.

Love,

Raymond

“Bite off more than you can chew, then chew like crazy !”

You may make whatever comments you wish by simply clicking on the “comments” link below.

You may make whatever comments you wish by simply clicking on the “comments” link below.

Dear Friend …

Here is my 5th log on my preparation to compete in Polar Race, April 2007, the 350-mile footrace to the North Pole. I deeply appreciate your interest. Please remember you can ‘unsubscribe’ at any time. And, this log is briefer than my previous ones so that it is easier for you to read and digest. All future ones will be as brief, or briefer.

ORDINARY PERSON ATTEMPTS EXTRAORDINARY RESULT
I may well have highly-developed skills in many areas — but not in athletics. Indeed, I really have not worked out with regularity or conviction for a quarter-century since I was running marathons, before my now-24-year-old daughter was born. So, how can an athletically-ordinary person even consider what is billed as “likely the world’s toughest race”? This is a question worthy of contemplation. The reality is that I truly have no particular athletic ability; though I may well have had some athletic achievements in my much younger days. My answer is that I believe that all achievements are totally mental and have nothing whatsoever to do with talent or innate genetic abilities. I believe that I had the courage or audacity to register for Polar Race because of my unjustifiable self-image that I am forever young. Far younger and far more fit athletes did not even register. Next, I am training with my mind. I set goals and then I work with unwavering and uni-dimensional focus towards those goals, no matter what. So, registering was totally a mental exercise and training is totally a mental exercise. Lots of real and serious obstacles have arisen — in the physical world — to attempt to thwart me; but they have no impact on my journey as it is an inner path. I envision my desired result; I play with people who share my vision; I get lots of help; and I move forward in my mind. My body comes along for the ride. So, if the journey is on the inner, then anything can be imagined. And, that is my explanation as to why I have had the audacity to even attempt such a feat.

INNER JOURNEY
Let me give you examples of my Inner Journey.

1.. Writing this log and emailing it to my closest colleagues, friends and family members is the biggest aspect of my Inner Journey. Whenever I am tired, and doubts begin to creep in, I remember that I have been writing to YOU about my upcoming Polar Race. The word is out. There is no way I can do anything but continue. That is on the inner and is unrelated to how exhausted I actually may be in my physical body.

2.. I repeat a mantra in my head as I exercise: “My partner and I arrive safely and in perfect health and high energy at the North Pole in first place with the Northern Lights dancing in celebration.” I have since learned that the Northern Lights are not visible in April because it is always daylight. However, I did not let this physical world issue interfere with my inner journey. I still say the same mantra. And, maybe, for the first time in history, against all Laws of Physics, there may be Northern Lights dancing when I arrive at the North Pole. But, it won’t matter. By then, I will have made it. The Northern Lights can do what they wish. My journey is on the inner.

3.. I listen to inner messages from my soul, or my spirit, or God, or the god within each of us — however you wish to phrase your higher self. I had a dream recently which I will relate to you later in this email.

4.. I am surrounded by uplifting support. I have the unquestioning support of my sweet Marilyn (even though she is a tad worried, she keeps it quite well hidden). And, my older daughter Juli-Ann is completely aligned with my having a successful adventure (of course she is used to my attempting crazy things). My staff is supportive (though I am sure they secretly think I’m crazy) allowing me as much “time off” as I need to get medical and chiropractic help and to train and to fly off to England to learn how to do this. My friends and family are supportive, though they are mostly in wonder and disbelief. The promoters who invite me to speak at their events have all accepted that I am unavailable for two months this coming Spring. How can I be more blessed knowing that I am surrounded by such loving support?

This is my Inner Journey. It is this more than any physical world issues that will get me to the pole.

MY DREAM
I believe that my dreams are messages to me from my soul. As such, they are not just technocolor sillinesses. They are metaphors which beg to be interpreted so that I can get the guidance from my Higher Self which my Higher Self is sending to me. Here is the dream…

I am on the balcony of an apartment building, high up maybe on the 12th floor or so. On either side of the balcony are poles which structurally support all the balconies above and below. I get the wild idea to leap forward toward the pole on the right: grasp it with my two hands; use the momentum of my lunge to propel my body and legs out over the thin air; and swing fully around 360 degrees until my legs drop back safely into the balcony. After I land safely, I realize the dangers of what I just did. I thought that maybe the pole could not have held my weight and might have broken off, causing me to fall. Or, maybe my hands might have slipped. But, I let those thoughts go because I was already safely back.

That was my dream. After I awoke, I replayed the dream in my mind to recall it all. Then I began contemplating what I might mean. Because it is a physical thing that I did in the dream, I thought that maybe it was about my physical adventure, my race to the “pole”. Then I realized that God, being playful and literal as usual, created a dream for me in which there was actually a “pole”. And, my partner Roddy named our team “The Pole Dancers” and here I am in my dream “dancing” or at least swinging around a pole. The dream seems to say that I did not assess fully the dangers before the race, but that in any case I will arrive safely. Yea! That is hopefully a dream of prophesy. And, it is positive.

NO SWEAT — A WEIRD ASPECT OF RACING IN THE HIGH ARCTIC
I will be pumping out enormous energy all day long, so much that I need to eat constantly to replace my caloric expenditure. I need to wolf down 6000 calories a day or else I will lose weight dangerously quickly. So, considering all this, it is quite surprising to me that there is a “no sweat” rule in the High Arctic. If I notice I am sweating, I must immediately slow down or peal off a layer of clothing. Why would you guess that I are not allowed to sweat? There are two reasons: hypothermia and dehydration — the two biggest killers in the High Arctic. Sweating causes evaporation from the skin which cools the skin and cooling is very dangerous. Also, water is scarce and precious. Wasting it by sweating is needless. Who would have known?

Love,

Raymond

“Bite off more than you can chew, then chew like crazy !”

You may make whatever comments you wish by simply clicking on the “comments” link below.

You may make whatever comments you wish by simply clicking on the “comments” link below.

Dear Friend …

Here is my next, and fourth, installment to keep you updated on my progress towards Polar Race, to be held April 2007.

KICKING IT UP A NOTCH

For the last few weeks, my minimum stairclimbing routine, in any one workout, has been walking 240 flights up, and running back down. Of course, I go up and down and up and down, depending on how many flights are in the building I am using. Well, November means that there are now only four months to prepare — November to February. I have been told by Sir Jock that I am not to exercise in March. So, I decided yesterday to “kick it up a notch”. I raised my minimum stairclimbing to 300 storeys (which takes me about 2 hours). Yesterday I did 343 storeys in 2.5 hours. Why so many when I wanted to do 300? I am embarrassed to admit that, though I graduated in advanced mathematics, the reason I did more than 300 flights i was that I simply made an adding mistake. Have you ever accidentally walked up an extra 43 flights, without realizing it, and then ran all the way back down? Probably not. Well, now I can say that I did. Today I did 300 flights, and it took me 1h 59m. I aimed to beat 2 hours and I did. I now plan to see how many consecutive days I can keep up doing my new minimum of 300 storeys up and down.

HEALING MY HEEL

I am in the final stages of completing the healing of my left foot Plantar Fasciitis. What am I doing to cure it?

… acupuncture (very painful)

… deep tissue massage (even more painful)

… icing (sometimes that really hurts too)

… wrapping my left foot (my chiropractor does a full wrap, but she taught me how to do a half-foot wrap)

… stretching

… thinking only positive thoughts about the complete and rapid healing of my heel

… eating well and taking my nutritional supplements (for general whole-body health)

… regular chiropractic adjustments

I can see that my healing is rapid and almost fully complete. Which one or ones of the modalities listed above are doing the real healing work? I do not know, nor do I care. I want the heal heeled, no matter what. So, I am doing everything I can all at once.

SHORT-TERM GOALS

This month of November, I will …

… totally heal my heel and be in superb health

… begin hauling my weighted tire behind me as a workout, to simulate the sled

… exceed 1,000 flights in one week

… achieve 1,000 flights in one day

And, I will report to you on my progress towards, and achievement of, these goals.

COST

This Race was created in England and all costs are denominated in British Pounds. The cost to simply register for Polar Race is £19,000 which includes all food, all transportation, all equipment, all clothing, all training sessions, all medical care during the race. In addition, I will spend another approximately £4000 taking into account all costs to heel my injuries, the personal trainer, the chiropractors, the acupuncturists, two training trips to England, customizing my standard issue garments, etc. So, my total cost will be about £23,000. At today’s exchange rates, that equals about US$45,600 or about Cdn$51,500. Through Sponsorship, there is a way that my Polar Race can be a marketing benefit to your company and your sponsorship can be a financial help to me to defray these huge costs.

SPONSORSHIPS

Sponsorships are now beginning to arrive. You can sponsor me if you wish. There are three levels of Sponsorship, and each has its own different benefit:

As a Bronze Sponsor, you receive a letter from me to you, dated after the Polar Race, worded as you wish so that it helps you most in your marketing efforts. Think of ways that a letter from someone who has been to the North Pole would help you. The cost is £200 (British Pounds). I will issue you an invoice from my company which you can use as a legitimate business marketing expense. Or, you can just send me £200 asking for nothing in exchange, just to support me in this crazy adventure. Equivalent amounts are £200 = US$380 = Cdn$430.

As a Silver Sponsor, you receive a photograph, designed by you, taken at the North Pole. This includes my taking something of yours to the North Pole to be in the photograph. I could bring something that represents your company and take a picture of me and your item at the North Pole. One sponsor, let’s call him XYZ Corporation, has asked me to hold up a sign saying “I’d walk to the ends of the earth for XYZ Corporation”. I will also sow your company emblem on my parka to be seen in all photos. Think of ways that a photograph taken at the North Pole would help you. The cost is £2000 (British Pounds). I will issue you an invoice from my company which you can use as a legitimate business marketing expense. Equivalent amounts are £2000 = US$3800 = Cdn$4300.

As a GOLD Sponsor, you get the letter and the photograph and the emblem on my parka of the Bronze and Silver levels, plus I will deliver a powerful motivational PowerPoint-based speech to an audience of your choice including lots of photographs and videos. The speech will include the thrill of the adventure but it will be customized to translate the lessons I learned so as to support your audience in achieving their goals. Think of ways that a motivational speech will help you. The cost is £7,500 (British Pounds). I will issue you an invoice from my company which you can use as a legitimate business marketing expense. Equivalent amounts are £7500 = US$14,300 = Cdn$16,100.

Contact me at raymond@aaron.com to offer or discuss sponsorship. If you have never sponsored someone doing something like this, take a chance and find out the surprise benefits. I will ensure that you are overjoyed with your decision to support me financially — and help yourself financially and in other ways too. And, it’s deductible as a business expense.

Love,

Raymond

“Bite off more than you can chew, then chew like crazy !”

You may make whatever comments you wish by simply clicking on the “comments” link below.

You may make whatever comments you wish by simply clicking on the “comments” link below.

Dear Friend …

Welcome to Log#3. You are beginning to get as hardy as me, being willing to sustain reading these rantings of a crazed competitor in an absurd Polar Race.

HOW YOU HELP ME …

These Logs are a serious and important part of my training. Why? Because making public my challenge and telling the most important people in my life exactly what I’m doing makes it now totally impossible for me to back out, lose interest, run out of money, get sick, have an injury, and all those other obstacles that may otherwise stop me. Nothing will stop me. Not now that you know I’ve committed to doing this. So, thank you for allowing me to share my adventure with you so that it is more real for me.

ITINERARY …

Late March 2007, the British competitors fly from Heathrow to Ottawa. I will fly from Toronto to Ottawa, possibly a day or so early if I am allowed. We then fly Air Canada from the Nation’s Capital to Iqaluit, the new Capital of the new Territory of Canada, Nunavut. I am so excited to experience the territory of Nunavut — the most recent geopolitical event in North America. For some reason, I really have been drawn to go to Iqaluit, and now my wish will get realized. We then take First Air (an airline owned and operated by the First Nations peoples of Canada) from Iqaluit to the northernmost airport in Canada — Resolute Bay. The population of Resolute Bay is about 250 and the airplane carries 65 people. What a weird statistic that, if full, the population of Resolute Bay leaps by 25% when the plane lands. To my total amazement, we remain in Resolute Bay for an entire week to get our final trainings in the severe cold and to do a practice two-day race and to fix any equipment that does not work and to correct any problems we have with clothing or equipment and to get acclimated to the extreme cold. The race organizers are brilliant. I would never have imagined that we stay for an entire week in Resolute Bay. I suspect I will get to know every single citizen of that tiny village. We then leave Resolute Bay, when the gun sounds. There are three checkpoints, spread out throughout the distance between Resolute Bay and the true geomagnetic North Pole. We all set out together from Resolute Bay and we all arrive at Checkpoint One. No one may leave Checkpoint One until the LAST team has arrived and had one full 24-hour day to recover. It is run like the Tour de France, in stages. It is the time of each of the four legs that is added to calculate the total race time to choose the winning team. So strategy comes into play here. If we race to Checkpoint One, and arrive first, we get the longest recovery time, but we may need the longest recovery time. The team that arrives last will likely need the least recovery time, and it will get the least time but its leg time will be the longest. It’s a strategy. Sir Jock runs this race every odd-numbered calendar year beginning with ‘03, then ‘05 and now ‘07. In ‘05, the first three legs were each won by DIFFERENT teams. The strategy is fascinating. At the Checkpoints, we are examined by the Race Doctor who determines if we are allowed to continue. We also submit our unused food rations and get our next leg’s rations. We also turn in all waste and if we are missing any waste, we are disqualified. If we have jettisoned any unneeded equipment or clothing we are disqualified. Polar Race is totally committed to the environment of the High Arctic. When we reach the North Pole, we are flown back to Resolute Bay, then Iqaluit, then Ottawa. I reach civilization (at least WARM civilization) in early May.

OUR TEAM, THE POLE DANCERS …

The two members of the team are myself … http://www.polarrace.com/raymond-aaron.htm … and a wonderful man who is a rugged and severe competitor with the totally-British name of Roddy Caxton-Spencer … http://www.polarrace.com/roddy-caxton-spencer.htm . My partner Roddy proposed The Bear Necessities as our Team Name. But, I vetoed that choice as I do not wish to anger the Bear Gods nor tempt the Association of Polar Bears to teach us a lesson for our hubris. So, Roddy defaulted to his second choice, The Pole Dancers. It has a delicious raunchy overtone and this one I have accepted. So, we are the Pole Dancers. And, The Pole Dancers are going to be the winning team of the 2007 Polar Race. Yes. I am totally committed to being a supportive and positive participant for Roddy in The Pole Dancers team.

OBSTACLES …

I have had to overcome some obstacles along the way. I thought you may want to read what I have overcome.

A year ago, I was diagnosed with elevated blood pressure. So, I am now taking the first prescription drugs I have ever used in my life, except for the occasional pain-killer. My doctor would not sign the papers authorizing me to participate in Polar Race until I got this under control. That is now handled.

In November 2005, my dear Marilyn and I were playing in the ocean at Wailea Beach in Maui. A rogue wave sneaked up on us and smashed us to the floor of the ocean. Thankfully Marilyn was not seriously hurt though she was ruthlessly tossed about and rolled over rocks and was extremely frightened. I suffered two broken ribs, one dislocated shoulder and a wrenched back. An immediate ambulance ride, generous help from my dear friends Wright and Janett Thurston, and ongoing support from chiropractors have all served to heal those blows.

Just as that was lessening, I contracted a persistent cough which turned out to be a reaction to the blood pressure medication. I switched to another drug, which caused the same dry cough. So, I switched to a third drug and that has both continued to keep my pressure in control and also not cause a cough. So, that is now handled too.

Throughout this time, I have been only somewhat dedicated to my training. I have, on many occasions, allowed travel and the time requirements of work, seeing Marilyn, seeing my daughters, seeing friends and having alone time, to inadvertently take priority over training. I am now totally dedicated to my training, but I will also not allow my training to lessen my connection with those whom I love. That balancing act is on my mind a lot.

With all that handled, I thought I was OK. But, the Universe had other plans. I contracted left foot Plantar Fasciitis which is an extraordinarily painful condition. Limping and hobbling for a half-year, I got no relief from my chiropractic treatments. So, I switched to another chiropractor and she is providing wonderful results. The problem is improved 50% to 90% (depending on the day). But, I am stretching and icing and wearing orthodics in my shoes and wearing gel-pads under my heels also. This problem will be totally healed, no matter what, really soon.

There is also the absurdity that the North Pole is in Canada but the race organizer and all other competitors live in England … something about the adventurous spirit of the crazy Brits. So, I, the only Canadian participant, must go to England for trainings in order to learn about the Canadian Arctic. The time, the cost, and the absurdity provide additional obstacles.

Also, I am the oldest competitor, at age 62, and that provides the extra challenge that I do not have the advantage of youthfulness of body on my side. I sure do though still have the youthfulness of mind and the “Peter Pan” orientation to never grow up. My teammate, Roddy, is 47 and that makes our average age of 55 the highest average age of any team. Nevertheless, we compete team to team, regardless of age.

These obstacles have been sent for a reason. “Kites rise highest against a strong wind.” and “Grass that grows up through cracks in the sidewalk does not need watering.” So, hopefully I am being offered the challenge of the wind and the concrete in order to be that high kite and hardy grass.

DRAGGING A TIRE …

My business partner, Geoff Taylor, fashioned an improvised sled for me out of an old tire, a plank of wood, and a weightlifter’s heavy weight. I have a harness and will soon begin walking with my ski poles along the sidewalks, hauling that darn weighted tire, getting used to the stresses and feel of the simulated sled. It looks weird, but it works.

Love,

Raymond

“Bite off more than you can chew, then chew like crazy !”

You may make whatever comments you wish by simply clicking on the “comments” link below.

You may make whatever comments you wish by simply clicking on the “comments” link below.

Dear Supporter of my crazy Polar Race adventure …

If you are receiving this email, then you have not unsubscribed nor deleted. So, you have gotten this far — and so have I. Remember it is totally OK to unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive these rantings. But, if you do, here is the latest news. And, remember that you may forward this to anyone you know who has nothing better to do than peep inside the head of a snow-crazed fool who is trying to stay young by racing to the North Pole.

COUNTER-INTUITIVE …

There are many aspects of the High Arctic that are the exact opposite of what you might at first think. Here are some interesting and funny examples:

… What is the most common injury cross-country skiing in the High Arctic? Clue: it is not frost-bite nor hypothermia. Rather, it is Tennis Elbow, from the tough task of poling over and over and over again throughout the day.

… What is the proper procedure when spotting a Polar Bear in the distance? Clue: it’s not to quietly back away unnoticed (which, by the way, was my guess). Rather, it is to cycle around upwind so that the bear can smell you and also to make lots of noise so that the bear spots you. In this way, the bear can satisfy his curiosity without necessarily having to lumber over to check you out. Polar Bears are more curious than aggressive. I wonder if I will be able to actually enact this advice if I see a Polar Bear. May I never be faced with this issue. Also, in my next trip to England for further educational training in January 2007, we are getting lots more Polar Bear Attack Prevention Training.

… What is the most unusual part of the body which gets sunburn in the High Arctic? Answer: the inside of the nostrils, because the sun reflects off the white snow and burns the inside of the nose from below. Go figure. Who knew? And, by the way, based on the attached Polar Bear photos, they don’t seem that threatening !! LOL.

SIR JOCK …

Jock Wishart is the founder of Polar Race. He is a big kid who has simply decided to never grow up. He rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in a rowboat and then made money at it by giving paid speeches about that outrageous challenge and then created a race to allow others to duplicate his feat. Then, he skied to the North Pole and then made money at it by again giving paid speeches on his adventure and then created The Polar Race www.PolarRace.com. He has been doing outrageous things all his life. And, to honour his wild achievements, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth and is now officially Sir Jock Wishart. The rumour is that his next adventure is to … get ready for this … to windsurf across The Atlantic Ocean.

PROGRESS OF MY STAIRCLIMBING …

You will recall from Log #1 that I stairclimb to get ready for the big race. My current minimum number of flights I walk up and run down is now set at 240. Last week, it was 200, but I upped it. I will not do less than 240 now, in any one workout. Last week, my best time for 240 flights up and down was 102 minutes. This week, I did it in 83 minutes. So, I can see huge improvement and that excites me. Also, my distance record when I wrote you Log #1 was 300 storeys up and down. That is the most I had ever accomplished in one workout. Since Log #1, I have now done 400 flights up and down in one workout. It took me 3h 15m. I loved it. Since the stairs of my condo are always totally uninhabited, they reflect the isolation and desolation of the High Arctic. It’s just that they’re not as cold. LOL.

WEEKEND TRAININGS IN ENGLAND …

Sir Jock hosts weekend trainings in England, an hour’s drive outside of London, almost every month for Polar Race. All other participants are Brits; I am the only Canadian. Sir Jock has excused me from the requirement to attend all but two such trainings … the first weekend of October 2006 which I did attend and the first weekend of January 2007 which I will definitely attend also. At the October training, I learned how to erect and tear down my tent, and the beginnings of how to prevent polar bear attacks. We all learned the strict rules of the race and of safety and of frostbite prevention. We got our clothing. We tasted all the available food and submitted our team’s menu for each day’s rations. And, I got the loan of a harness to use for practicing hauling a heavy sled. The October training turned me on so much that my training is now far more regular and far more serious. I am keen to do really well and be a strong teammate for Roddy. I am even considering going to Resolute Bay in April 2007 earlier by a day or so to get even more acclimatized.

FOOD …

I was very impressed with the tastiness of the food. It comes dried in individual packets. We simply open a packet and pour in boiling water. The packet itself is the bowl (which means no washing of dishes) and we simply lick the spoon, and the pots are used only for boiling water so again no cleaning them. The issue is not human’s normal distaste for washing dishes, but more importantly we use no time washing dishes and we waste no precious water. We get a packet of breakfast and a packet of dinner and a packet of dessert after dinner. We also get trail mix to eat throughout the day. The total daily requirement for a normal urban employee is about 1400 calories; our rations total 6000 calories and we must consume it all every day. Even with that huge caloric intake, we are advised to stop training for the whole month before and to eat like crazy to gain as much weight as possible. Even with all this, participants usually lose weight.

WATER …

Where does the water come from? We boil the snow, not the ice. The snow on top of the ice is from snowfall and is pure. The ice is too close to the underlying sea and may be contaminated with brine. Why do we boil drinking water when simply melting the snow should be sufficient? Is it for health? No. It is because we need to carry the hot water in our flasks throughout the day and if it does not start as boiling water then it will freeze before the day is done. Also, to extend our precious water, we fill our drinking cup (the top of the flask) with snow and then pour in the hot water from our flask. This melts the snow and instantly gives us more water.

JAMES HOOPER …

An unexpected bonus of the October training was meeting a guest at the training. Though he is not a participant in Polar Race, he is planning something never before attempted. He is a young lad of only 19 years. But, what has he done so far? He is now the youngest person ever to have conquered Mt. Everest. And, his current idea is to be the very first person of any age to go from the Geographic North Pole to the Geographic South Pole, totally without assisted power. He plans to start at the North Pole and ski across the frozen Arctic Ocean, then ski down to the southern tip of Greenland, a distance of almost 2000 miles. There, he will meet both open water and a sail boat. He will then sail to the Port of New York. Then he plans to bicycle down to the very southern tip of South America. Then he sails to the Geographic South Pole, which is just off the shore of Antarctica. His altruistic interest is in heightening the image of unity on the planet and devoting his life to teaching children that we are all one. Remember, he’s 19. What a joy for me to meet such a person. His website is www.180degrees.co.uk. He will actually be traversing 180 degrees of longitude (from Greenland to the other side of Antarctica) and of course 180 degrees of latitude from pole to pole. I am flying him to Toronto on Monday October 30 to speak to my Monthly Mentor Members. I am so excited about this.

PHOTOS OF POLAR BEARS …

Love,

Raymond

“Bite off more than you can chew, then chew like crazy !”

You may make whatever comments you wish by simply clicking on the “comments” link below.