Tag: southpole

One step closer

Posted on by preetchandi89

We got negative Covid re-tests!! I’m SO relieved!! We’ve spent 6 nights in the west of Greenland, Nuuk. This was mandatory before flying to the East. Me and Are took Covid tests in our respective countries before arriving in Greenland and again, five days later in Greenland. So we’re Covid free and good to go! 

The first 5 days were spent in quarantine, luckily we had WiFi in our apartment and cooking facilities. We spent time route planing and sorting logistics. 150 waypoints are in my GPS. You can see some of them in the GPX screenshot below.

I downloaded some films on Netflix, audio books and songs all ready for the expedition. The films are there for when the storm hits and we’re stuck in the tent.

We had time to explore for a day and see some of the breathtaking views that Nuuk has. 

At the airport now, ready to fly to Tasiilaq where we will be buying all our food and fuel! We’ll be on the ice soon! 

Getting to Greenland

Posted on by preetchandi89

Well this has been a journey in itself! I had decided last year that I was going to do the fall crossing in 2020. I would’ve finished my MSc exams and it fits in well with Summer Leave at work. 

With Covid restrictions, the plan had been cancelled… up until a week ago. I was looking into every possibility of getting there. I would have to fly to the West of Greenland, do 5 days of quarantine, get a negative Covid re-test and then fly to the East, prep all the kit, get on a boat to the start and then start the crossing…. of course I was going to do it!! 

I spent that week in England, contacting everyone to borrow as much kit as possible, Mike Fisher, Jenny Wordsworth and Louis Rudd have all been incredibly helpful! 

You require a negative Covid test within 5 days of travelling to Greenland from a Scandinavian country. I contacted the authorities and managed to get an English Centre approved. 

The easiest way for me to get to Nuuk (the West where I had to quarantine) was via Copenhagen. This is where I met Are Johansen (my guide). Our flight was the next day so we spent one night in Copenhagen before flying to Kangerlussuaq. This will be my finishing point too! From there we took a smaller flight to Nuuk. We had 90kg in our checked in baggage, this doesn’t include the 1kg of m&ms I had stuffed in my pockets.. 

And we made it to Nuuk! Only 5 days of quarantine to go, my Covid retest is on Monday and then fly to Tasiilaq.

“I may not be there yet but I’m closer than I was yesterday” and I will get there, I just know it

Take your own advice

Posted on by preetchandi89

I find it’s always easier to give other people advice, not just in my role as a physio but for most things. 

We are generally our own worse critics. I sustained an injury a few months ago and kept pushing through because I wanted to train. A few training trips were cancelled with Covid, so part of me felt like I wanted to train harder. I felt like I haven’t really achieved much this year, other than winter training, polar training , first year of my MSc. It’s so easy to forget! I would tell my friends to not be so harsh on themselves, take their time and make sure they rehab. Why couldn’t I take my own advice!

I decided I needed to train smart. I wrote my programme down with sets and reps, you’re much more likely to stick to it and remember if it’s all written down, it works for me anyway. My injury (tendinopathy) required gradual loading so I took a step back, stopped over loading (by running) and started with the basics. It was frustrating not being able to run, especially when the weather has been so nice.

I’m finally starting to come out the other side and even managed to get back to some tyre dragging. Things started to improve when I started training smart and I’m ready for my next training trip. I’m still not sure what this will be as it depends on restrictions on parts of the country. I have a few back-ups plans too so I’m sure I will be doing one of them in August.

I’ve been doing my rehab exercises, working and took my little sister up Mam Tor in the Peak District for her 10thBirthday (I give the best gifts..) 

Have you ever just wanted something so much that you will do anything it takes to get there. That’s how I feel. It’s time to be smart about it. Don’t get frustrated over the small things, like when you’re tyre gets stuck around a tree in the woods. I don’t need to waste my energy on that. 

‘Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting’ 

1000 Burpees Later

Posted on by preetchandi89

Today, the Army and Navy Women’s Rugby Teams were going to make history by playing their first Army vs Navy fixture at Twickenham. They still wanted to mark the occasion and decided to do 82,000 burpees together to raise money for the NHS. As the physio for the 7s team, I’ve been able to see a few of these incredible ladies in training and matches. It has been a pleasure working with them and taking part in this challenge. 

I completed 1000 burpees. I started early and did them in 20s and they progressively got slower, by the end I was doing sets of 5. I can honestly say that this challenge has not made me like burpees… what a shock!

So far, over £15,000 has been raised for the NHS and over 86,000 burpees pledged!! It has been such an epic feeling to be part of this challenge. People have been doing more than they pledged so the final number will be higher and no, I did not do more than 1000 burpees.

https://www.justgiving.com/FUNDRAISING/ARMYVSNAVYBURPEECHALLENGE

The next question, what should I do next weekend? I’ll try to stop making the titles sound like horror movies too (24 hours later and 1000 burpees later..)

My quote of the day is from Theodore Roosevelt:

‘Believe you can and you’re half way there’

It isn’t always that easy to believe in yourself. It has taken me a while but when you do, it opens up so many possibilities.

24 Hours Later

Posted on by preetchandi89

Thank you so much to everyone that joined in the 24 hour step up challenge, your support and messages kept me going throughout! I absolutely loved all of your step up videos, they were creative, funny and inspiring.

It was a really long day but so worth it! I had a nice set up in the garden, I’m so glad it didn’t rain… The dark hours were the most difficult but I had a few phone calls to keep me going and I also had food brought to me throughout. I should do these 24 hour challenges more often!

The video below was put together of everyone that joined in, thank you Jonathan Fawke for creating the video. All of your donations have raised over £1800 for the NHS!

I worked for the NHS for a few years before joining the Army. A lot of my friends and previous colleagues still do, part of me feels sad I can’t be working with them right now. The other part, is incredibly proud of them.

My quote of the day is taken from Mother Teresa.

“None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.”

Stay safe everyone x