The Challenge - The Rat Race Arctic Circle Challenge

Seventeen days. That's all that stands between me and one of the most audacious challenges I've ever attempted: the Arctic Circle Challenge. For five years, it's lingered on my bucket list, always just out of reach thanks to a parade of injuries. But now, everything's aligned perfectly – though I'll admit, I still hesitated before taking the plunge.

Man V Mountain Snowdon 2018... 

You see, my last major challenge didn't exactly end in triumph. After tackling Man V Mountain Snowdon in 2018, I found myself in the operating room – not once, but three times – to fix what that adventure did to my feet. So yeah, I've been a bit gun-shy about saying yes to another epic challenge.

But here's the thing about fear: sometimes it's the very thing that makes you feel most alive. Despite the butterflies in my stomach (or maybe because of them), these challenges wake something primal in me. When my body screams "stop," I still hear my old PT's voice: "If you can keep complaining, you've got energy left. Keep moving!"

So here I am, embarking on what can only be described as a slightly insane winter triathlon across three Nordic countries. The plan? Three disciplines, three countries, three days: Fat biking 19 miles through Finland's snow-covered terrain, snowshoeing 13 miles across Norway's pristine wilderness, and cross-country skiing another 13 miles in Sweden. Oh, and did I mention I've never done any of these before? Talk about jumping in the deep end – or should I say, the snow drift.

The distances might not sound epic on paper, but factor in temperatures plummeting to -20°C, and suddenly every mile becomes a battle against both terrain and elements. Frostbite and hypothermia aren't just fancy words here – they're very real concerns that keep me up at night.

Speaking of preparation, I'm diving headfirst into a crash course of winter sports training, gear testing, and nutrition planning. The cold does funny things to my appetite – I tend to survive on hot chocolate alone, which isn't exactly the 3,000-calorie fuel my body will need. Thankfully, I've partnered with some amazing companies who are backing this adventure: Evabold for their high-protein energy bars, Hunter & Gather for essential proteins and MCTs, and London Nootropics for their adaptogenic coffee that'll keep me pushing through the Arctic chill.

As I count down these final twenty days, I'll be sharing every step of my preparation journey. And yes, that includes my ongoing research into how dark chocolate might just be the secret weapon for conquering the Arctic Circle. Because sometimes, the craziest challenges require the sweetest solutions.

See you tomorrow. 

Carole