We are a month out from the Montane Arctic Spine, a non-stop expedition race along the Kungsleden Trail in Arctic Sweden. We caught up with Rob Brooks, a competitior in the first Arctic Spine, to find out how he is preparing for this years race.
Rob Brooks, a friend of the brand, is from the North East of England and is a member of Saltwell Harriers. Over the course of his running career, he has completed a multitude of endurances races and has tested out a variety of lightweight outdoor kit.
I went on a weeks training course with Phil Hayday-Brown, the mastermind behind this race and the UK Spine, and a few others 2 years ago in around the same area the race was due to take place. Although I wasn’t as fit as I’d have liked to be (when are we ever), fingers crossed this shouldn’t be a limiting factor.
I’d been on the training course and practised all the skills I’d need in the race. I’d also pulled a homemade pulk around the Cairngorm plateau camping in freezing conditions and practised up there with all my kit.
I’ve completed the UK Winter Spine twice along with various other ultras and multi day events such as Dragons Back, the Itera Expedition Race and a Bob Graham Round so I had all of that experience to draw from as well.
In this day and age apart from the depths of the ocean the entire globe has been traversed and there are no new frontiers to explore. This race seemed like the closest I would ever get to true adventure and exploration and I felt incredibly excited and privileged to be in such a position.
There was no data from previous races to draw from – no previous competitors to compare notes or race strategies, no Facebook groups full of advice (maybe that’s not such a bad thing), no idea if the race was even possible. Ultimately though if Phil didn’t think I was capable of competing in the race he wouldn’t have let me enter and I drew some comfort from that.
This Artic Spine Race is different, self-sufficiency is the key. There were three checkpoints en route where we would have access to a drop bag and be provided with hot water and fuel resupply but that was it. Sleeping would be outside in our tents as it would be anywhere else on the trail.
The route wasn’t flat either, it went through several mountain ranges rising up to 1150 metres at its highest point with about 24,000ft of climbing. Some of the route would be on snowmobile trails but most of it wouldn’t so breaking trail was a real possibility. At this time of the year we would have more than 16 hours of darkness each day to contend with.
Too many things to mention here, but mainly being more proactive about keeping my hands warm, using vapor barrier layers and avoiding making stupid mistakes like putting my gloves on the ground and letting them freeze. I’ve also got some roller ski’s to practice my technique.
Being back in the beautiful Arctic wilderness and catching up with the race support team again.
Getting to the hill again where I got trapped under my pulk!
Don’t underestimate it , even the shorter races are significant challenges. Go on a training course, learn how to use all of your kit and practice with it a lot. But at the same time don’t let that put you off, it’s one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life.
Found out more about the Arctic Spine here.
