I guess i have to see the beauty of it; after running the sahara in 42C, it feels only right that we have just been for our last pre marathon warm-up (ha!) jog at the blamy temperature of -40C. To say it was bitterly cold and painful would be a little bit of an understatement. The wind just rips into your face and penetrates the endless thermal layers. I guess it is good motviation to keep on moving and running…if you stop for a moment, it becomes very painful! I am scared though. Running with snow shoes (bizarre metal tennis racket like things which your trainers slip into), the cold, the wind all made running 2 kms or so very tiring….how on earth i’m going to manage a whole marathon sometime tomorrow evening or saturday morning is beyond me. Wing and a prayer i guess. After 3 months of not drinking i think the greatest motivation will be that lovely polar beer and vodka waiting for me at the end, as served up by bearded russian scientists at the pole. Splendid!