Solo to the South Pole

20/05/2021

SURPRISE! ⁣
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So I would have been leaving for the U.S to join .who.dare and row across the Pacific but instead something even more exciting came along…⁣
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Meet Baby Wordsworth! She’s an absolute joy, her big brother Bexar is a fan too ❤️⁣
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So far can confirm she’s quite into Metallica but isn’t a such a fan of sea shanties. Also digs milk and snoring.⁣
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Welcome little one ❤️

23/03/2021

After a year spent looking ahead to life after lockdown, new research reveals nearly a third of Brits will be more likely to push themselves to new limits once restrictions ease. ⁣
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A fifth have already embarked on a new physical activity for the first time, with running, cycling and hiking topping the list, while 1 in 10 have ambitions to achieve a remarkable feat of their own.⁣
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Despite a new-found thirst for adventure, nearly half of Brits say they often don’t know where to start or doubt they have what it takes to replicate the feats they read about or see on TV.⁣
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In a bid to inspire the nation to achieve the seemingly impossible, Marloe Watch Company has worked with 12 inspirational individuals to share a detailed collection of their training programmes - offering a look behind the scenes of Great British endeavour. ⁣
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The British watch designer, which takes inspiration from incredible feats of humankind in its own mechanical watch designs, is lifting the curtain on what it takes to truly prepare for a major personal challenge. Link in bio where you can access all our training plans! .bell

08/03/2021

I can’t tell you how much I miss being in a team surrounded by inspiring and determined women, working together to achieve a common goal. So here’s a throwback to the three of us crewing our friend as she raced the iconic (and very hot!) Badwater 135 four years ago today! The team bond created doing something like this lasts forever and is something I do cherish ❤️ Miss you, ladies!⁣
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And here are two other ladies who absolutely fall into the same category and who I’d highly recommend following on here as they each tackle the expedition of a lifetime...⁣
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It has been great fun helping out wherever I can and I secretly wish they’d sneak me into their backpack/sled...take me with you ladies? 😁⁣
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Support in the form of a follow or a like from you guys makes all the difference to expeditions such as these so do go check out their pages, it’s nothing but a joy to follow them as they prepare for their trips.⁣
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is a powerhouse of an ultra-runner who manages a busy career alongside roaming the hills of Scotland in preparation for her next expedition. She’s planning a 1200km FKT attempt of a 88 temple pilgrimage across Japan. Can you imagine just how beautiful a run that’ll be? Definitely a story I can imagine reading about in the likes of and she’s fundraising for WWF as she goes.⁣
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is maybe an actual superhero, yet to be confirmed. Army Physio by day, Polar Explorer the rest of the time. An inspiring gal who now turns all her ambition and determination towards skiing solo to the South Pole. This woman is on it. I have absolute faith she’ll pull off what’s required to find the funding for this, the training will almost be the easy part for this woman!⁣
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Two amazing people and I love following their updates, to me they sum up everything Instagram is useful and interesting for. I’ll pop the links for their websites in a Story 👏🏻⁣
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24/02/2021

The mountains are calling...⁣
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Never mind calling, they’re positively screaming at this point. Throwback to climbing Mount Denali in Alaska a few years back.⁣
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I feel bereft of nature and the great outdoors. Long to be up high exploring new horizons and putting in that physical effort to achieve something. ⁣
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Now more than ever I have such gratitude for the natural world and the places we’ll once again be able to visit.⁣
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I’m even missing airports...⁣
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(Thanks to who gave me cause to look through my Denali photos!)

27/08/2020

I’m on the this week, a lot of fun and we talked at length about my leg injury. Promised to post these photos to go with it - DO NOT swipe left if you’re squeamish and would rather avoid seeing my injured leg! ⁣
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As each of my ulcers opened, I covered them with a dressing so I didn’t think my injury was that bad. Medics tried to evacuate me twice but this was my second attempt, nothing was going to stand in my way from the Pole. Or as the psychologist I saw in hospital advised me, I convinced myself it was healing to get a free pass to continue. Same reason I couldn’t smell it either, and trust me I’m told it stank once I reached the Pole!⁣
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By this point I was well ahead of the WR pace and every day felt like I was flying, then a fall in a white out ended it all. I felt and heard as the inner thigh cracked open and what was several small ulcers opened into one big one. I skied those last two weeks in a level of pain that is very difficult to explain, I don’t know how I did it and the fact that I could worries me slightly. ⁣
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The condition is called “Polar Thigh”, I’ve mentioned it before but not explained what it is, so here goes:⁣
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- It’s a non-freezing cold injury that anecdotally seems to affect women more than men and is common on longer distance polar expeditions. ⁣
- It isn’t frostbite⁣
- There’s little scientific research into the condition and Doctors from different specialisms have differing theories as to what could be causing it. Previously it was considered a straight-up cold related injury, then perhaps an injury brought on by abrasion and more recently a type of severe chilblain.⁣
- It was thought that wearing an extra layer in the form of a down skirt and the use of steroid cream could help avoid it. Wearing overly tight base layers was also thought to be a cause. ⁣
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Until my surgeries, Doctors hadn’t had the opportunity to “look under the hood” and see the pathology of Polar Thigh. Winner - turns out it has been super useful in giving more insight into its likely causes.⁣
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Severe chilblains is our best way of describing the injury now. So what are the likely causes? ⁣(c’nued in Comments) @ Hampstead Heath

23/06/2020

23/06/2020

Thanks ALE!

The world’s leading female polar explorers have come together to share lessons learned from years of expeditions in the most remote…

11/06/2020

Here’s something I hope might provide a little escapism for the evening - the world’s leading female polar explorers and adventurers have come together to share their experiences in isolation and how that might help with where we all find ourselves today.⁣
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It was a joy to be apart of this. Every single one of these women are friends and people I deeply admire. Some I’ve followed since I was a teenager and their books line my shelves, some are my contemporaries with who a close bond has been formed as we navigate these adventures together. Please enjoy, they are all my heroines and I hope they can become yours too. ⁣
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Quite the story to even get to the start line with this but nonetheless we’ve gone ahead and published it on Medium ourselves. Some of it doesn’t feel as relevant anymore but I still wanted to share this with you as I’m so proud of these women. Link in my bio and I’ll include in my Stories too.⁣
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We’d love your feedback!⁣

09/06/2020

Lockdown session: Thursday 11th June at 8pm BST⁣
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“Building Resilience, Confidence and Grit“⁣
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I'm delighted to announce that on Thursday evening I'll be taking part in 's Lockdown Sessions. They've rounded-up some of the most inspiring explorers, athletes and adventurers for two LIVE Lockdown Sessions - so come and virtually meet me and ask away! Full details on their page.
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You can send in your questions simply by commenting on this post and using the hashtag

17/05/2020

Exploration matters. ⁣
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I’ve never been prouder to be part of The North Face family, their COVID-19 Explore fund to help and support the global outdoor community in this time of need is now live. ⁣
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To learn more, hit the link in my Stories

10/05/2020

From Wednesday onwards, this is me again - back outside for long training sessions as unlimited outdoor exercise is permitted. Feels like a huge win!⁣
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My next expedition was suppose to take place this month and while that was obviously cancelled, up next is the Silk Road Mountain Race in August. This unsupported, single-stace cycling race takes place through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, with 30,500m of climbing over 1800kms. Know anyone who’s done the race?⁣
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I’m training as if the event is still going ahead, albeit around 90% of my training has been indoors so far. I couldn’t have got through it without and litres of my Milk Chocolate Shake. And yes, I’m so lazy when it comes to cooking right now that I even have it for dinner more often than I’d care to admit…⁣
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Three days to go and we can get back to exercising outdoors as much as we’d like. Hell yes to that. Stay safe all!⁣
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02/04/2020

I never imagined the lessons learnt from skiing 700 miles solo to the South Pole would ever become so relevant.⁣⁣
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Here I am completely isolated somewhere in the middle of Antarctica, preparing to pack up camp before carrying on my journey to the Pole. Watching this today has brought me some much needed temporary peace, and I hope it does for you too. Nothing but the polar wind to listen to.⁣⁣
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Stay Home, Explore Later 🙌🏿 ⁣
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