0:00:06 > 0:00:09I kayaked 2,000 miles along the Amazon.
0:00:13 > 0:00:18I walked a high wire between the chimneys at Battersea Power Station.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21And in December 2011,
0:00:21 > 0:00:25I embarked on my most demanding expedition to date,
0:00:25 > 0:00:28a 500-mile trek to the South Pole
0:00:28 > 0:00:33by kite, by ski, and, in a world first, by bike.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35My legs - ow!
0:00:42 > 0:00:46It was most the incredible journey of my life, and this is my story.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Six months ago, my Sport Relief Challenge started here,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05in the shanty towns of Sierra Leone in Africa.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08I saw for myself how tough life is for these children.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10But with the money that you raise,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Sport Relief is doing vital work to help them.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17My visit spurred me on, and for the last five months I've put myself
0:01:17 > 0:01:19through the most gruelling training.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22I've had to prepare physically and mentally
0:01:22 > 0:01:25for my epic 500-mile challenge.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31This is the most unpleasant experience of my life.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35All my training is about to be put to the test
0:01:35 > 0:01:38as I arrive in the world's biggest freezer.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42Finally, we're here in Antarctica.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46I have my most unusual Christmas - in a tent.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51I don't want to moan, but who gives someone a Christmas pudding that you need to microwave?
0:01:51 > 0:01:53And we're finally off.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57Niklas, my team-mate, and I begin our 500-mile journey
0:01:57 > 0:01:58to the South Pole.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11My journey to Antarctica will take a few days.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16You can't fly there directly, so first, I fly 6,000 miles
0:02:16 > 0:02:19to Cape Town in the Republic of South Africa.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Welcome to South Africa, welcome to Cape Town.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25This is where we'll do our final preparations
0:02:25 > 0:02:28before we catch our flight on to Antarctica.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32This is the kit room, where we lay out everything we need to take with us.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36It's not like going on holiday. You don't take bits and bobs that you want.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38I can only take things that I actually need.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40Most important is the kit.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43It's a really brutal environment, so I've got to wear specific clothing.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Every day I will have to wear thermals,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48thermal long johns and a thermal top.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51I'll also have to wear big, thick socks.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54On top of my long johns, I'm going to out some outer trousers
0:02:54 > 0:02:58so they should keep the wind off and keep me nice and warm.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Over my body, I'm going to wear a gilet.
0:03:01 > 0:03:07Next up, it's my outer jacket and as you can see, I've got a big, fluffy fur ruff there.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10On top of that, I am going to put my big boots.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12These boots need to be used
0:03:12 > 0:03:17for kite-skiing, cross-country skiing and cycling.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Hopefully, these boots are going to be able to do all three.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Next up, it is some big, thick mitts
0:03:23 > 0:03:27and I also need a pair of goggles because it's so bright down there
0:03:27 > 0:03:28you can actually damage your eyes.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30And last but not least,
0:03:30 > 0:03:34I am wearing this almost scary-looking face mask.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38But it is a must, to protect my face, my lips and my nose from the elements.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39Looking good.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49'I'm hoping to reach the South Pole with my Norwegian team-mate Niklas.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54'Our next job is to sort out and bag up the mountain of food
0:03:54 > 0:03:57'we'll need to eat to keep our energy levels up in Antarctica.'
0:03:57 > 0:04:00- Do you even like oxtail soup? - I haven't tried it.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03'We're taking the contents out of their packets and wrappers
0:04:03 > 0:04:06'to save on space and weight.'
0:04:06 > 0:04:11We're doing our final preparations, packing up everything we're going to eat for the next few weeks.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15There aren't many supermarkets or restaurants in Antarctica,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18so it's not as if we can say, "Oh, I fancy a pizza tonight,"
0:04:18 > 0:04:19and phone up for one.
0:04:19 > 0:04:20We have to decide here and now
0:04:20 > 0:04:22what we're going to eat for the next few weeks
0:04:22 > 0:04:26and we've got to carry it with us that means it has to be light
0:04:26 > 0:04:28and it also need to be able to last.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31We don't want food that will go off, so we're taking lots of dried fruit,
0:04:31 > 0:04:36plenty of sweets, chocolate, and this, which is dried meat.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40'Food is a massively important part of our expedition.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42'Because of the extreme cold,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45'we'll have to consume up to 6,000 calories a day
0:04:45 > 0:04:48'to give us the energy we'll need to complete the challenge.'
0:04:48 > 0:04:52We'll have an evening meal and breakfast in the tent,
0:04:52 > 0:04:54but we can't be cooking in the day
0:04:54 > 0:04:57so all we'll be eating is sweets and chocolate.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02The South Pole, where I'm heading,
0:05:02 > 0:05:06was reached for the first time 100 years ago,
0:05:06 > 0:05:11first by the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen
0:05:11 > 0:05:13on 14 December 1911.
0:05:13 > 0:05:18A month later, Britain's Captain Robert Falcon Scott arrived,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20on 17 January 1912.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Tragically, on Scott's expedition, they didn't carry enough food
0:05:26 > 0:05:28with them for the return journey,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30meaning they all died, cold and hungry.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Even here in Cape Town, his heroic journey is commemorated
0:05:36 > 0:05:38by this memorial.
0:05:39 > 0:05:46I am so touched by the fact that some descendents of Scott
0:05:46 > 0:05:51e-mailed me to say, "Go for it," you know, "We hope you do well."
0:05:51 > 0:05:54That, for me, was just brilliant.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00The next time you see me, I will be on a plane heading to Antarctica.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03It's been called one of the most brutal places on Earth
0:06:03 > 0:06:07but it's going to be my home for over a month.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10For Christmas, for New Year, and into February.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23This is the plane that is going to be carrying us down to Antarctica
0:06:23 > 0:06:26and it's totally different to the type of plane you get on
0:06:26 > 0:06:27when you go on holiday.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30There aren't any windows down the side, so I can't look out,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32and that's because it's a cargo plane.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36It doesn't normally transport people, so they had to chuck a few extra seats on.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45On the flight with me are scientists, workers
0:06:45 > 0:06:48and a group of adventurers also trying to reach the South Pole.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51The flight from Cape Town will take around five hours.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53We're heading to Novo,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56a Russian airbase on the continent's northern outreaches.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Antarctica is the world's fifth-largest continent.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08It's roughly 58 times the size of the UK.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11It's also officially the coldest, the windiest
0:07:11 > 0:07:13and the driest place on Earth.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18In some places, it hasn't rained for almost two million years.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21The average temperature in summer is minus 27,
0:07:21 > 0:07:23dropping to minus 60 in winter.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29Antarctica is the world's most hostile and dangerous environment.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35And I'm just moments away from setting foot on the ice.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37My first glimpse of the frozen continent
0:07:37 > 0:07:40was as we landed, on the big screen.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53I'm so impressed with the Russian pilots.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57They landed here in Antarctica on sheet ice.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01Imagine trying to park a car on this or park your bike,
0:08:01 > 0:08:03you just couldn't.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07But I am relieved to finally be here in Antarctica.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Feels like it's on now, doesn't it?
0:08:17 > 0:08:21This might look like an ice rink, but it's actually the runway.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24We should have got here a few days ago but there was a massive storm
0:08:24 > 0:08:27which covered this whole landing strip in snow.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31Winds were over 120 mph, but that died down
0:08:31 > 0:08:32and we were able to fly in.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47We're camping here for tonight only.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51It is daylight, but it's 24 hours of daylight in Antarctica.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53So it looks like it's first thing in the morning,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56but it's actually time for me to go to bed. So, good night.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Good morning.
0:09:13 > 0:09:19First night in the Antarctic was not too bad, it wasn't that cold.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23I haven't quite managed to find a comfortable sleeping position yet,
0:09:23 > 0:09:26it is a bit like sleeping on an ice cube.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28It's weird that it's light all night.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32You wake up and think it must be time to get up, and it's two o'clock in the morning.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34That's the most bizarre thing.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39I've got the stove going, some breakfast is cooking away slowly
0:09:39 > 0:09:40so, at the minute, all is good.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Before our 500-mile challenge for Sport Relief begins,
0:09:45 > 0:09:50we have just over a week to get used to living in this alien environment.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Our preparation and training week will also give us
0:09:53 > 0:09:56the chance to thoroughly test the three modes of transport
0:09:56 > 0:10:00we're hoping to use to get to the South Pole.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Kiting and skiing have been used here before,
0:10:03 > 0:10:05but no-one has ever tried getting there on a bike.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09Today, we're going to ride our specially-made ice bikes
0:10:09 > 0:10:11for the very first time.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14I'm nervous to see if they'll actually work.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18The last time I was near a bike like this, I had a go on sand,
0:10:18 > 0:10:22and it was so difficult that I ended the day in tears and I thought,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25"This is ridiculous, it's not going to work."
0:10:25 > 0:10:27But I'd said I was going to do it
0:10:27 > 0:10:29so I knew I had to go for it and give it a go.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31I didn't know deep down if it was going to work.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34It's not easy, it's not going to be plain sailing,
0:10:34 > 0:10:36but it is working and it is moving forwards,
0:10:36 > 0:10:39so that is a huge weight off my shoulders.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59It's Christmas Day and it really is a white Christmas for the team.
0:10:59 > 0:11:04I'm up nice and early, doing an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06Where are you, Helen, exactly?
0:11:06 > 0:11:09I am at 71 degrees south.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12'And they have a cracker of surprise for me.'
0:11:12 > 0:11:15'Hiya, Helen, how are you?'
0:11:15 > 0:11:16Oh!
0:11:16 > 0:11:17'Are you all right?'
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Hello, Mum! You all right?
0:11:19 > 0:11:20'Yeah, I'm good.'
0:11:20 > 0:11:24I didn't think I'd miss everybody, but I really do.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28'Is it like you expected out there or is it a bit tougher?'
0:11:28 > 0:11:31I really didn't think I'd be as homesick as I've been
0:11:31 > 0:11:34but I kept thinking last night about everything we do.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37I love you dearly and I'll make you proud.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40'You'll be fine, we have every confidence.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42'There'll be tough days but I know you can do it.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44'You'll be absolutely fine.'
0:11:47 > 0:11:49I didn't think I'd miss home at all.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Then I heard my mum and I just started crying.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55I don't what it is but Christmas makes you so sentimental.
0:11:55 > 0:12:00And I think I'm at a point in my life now where I appreciate my family more than ever.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Messages from kids and support from home
0:12:05 > 0:12:08is what gets you through things like this.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10It's now true more than ever.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22But this is Antarctica, where every day is the same,
0:12:22 > 0:12:24so it's back to work and back to training.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28Niklas and I are cross-country skiing today,
0:12:28 > 0:12:31pulling our sledges over 15 miles of snow and ice to the next camp.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34I've never covered this distance wearing skis,
0:12:34 > 0:12:38so it's going to be like no other Christmas Day I've ever experienced.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41After only eight miles, there's a problem.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46You've already developed a blister about the size of a 20p piece.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49If we left this on its own, it would just get worse.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52By the end of today you'd end up with a raw patch on your foot,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56which is only ever going to get better when we get home.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00We set off cross-country skiing, it was all going fine, bright, blue skies, lovely day.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04Thought it would be a good idea to stop and check our feet, and my feet are cracked.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08Half a day's skiing and already I've had to be seen by the doctor.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Unfortunately, Helen's feet have got problems.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15That's really related to the type of footwear she's wearing.
0:13:15 > 0:13:20She's wearing kite-skiing boots, great for kite-skiing, but she's doing normal skiing in them
0:13:20 > 0:13:24so the friction, the movement of her foot, is causing blisters to start already.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27We need to try and stop that getting worse, which is what we've done.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31She asked me to come and look at her feet, and we've taped them up.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34We are going to bicycle, kite-ski
0:13:34 > 0:13:37and walk, and if we had special kit,
0:13:37 > 0:13:42the best kit for each of those three sports,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45we wouldn't be able to move at all.
0:13:45 > 0:13:51I'd like to say it's not going to jeopardise what we're attempting to do, but potentially it could.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55One of the commonest reasons people have to give up in this environment
0:13:55 > 0:13:56is their feet.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00If her feet totally break down and are too uncomfortable to walk on, she may have to give up.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04Having one pair of boots to save on weight
0:14:04 > 0:14:08has given me blisters after only a few hours.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10It's the not start I was looking for.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12So I'm more than happy to give my feet a rest
0:14:12 > 0:14:15and get some practice on our third mode of transport,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17the kites.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25I know there's going to be highs and lows, and this is a high.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28This morning, I was just sick of all the clothes and all the gear
0:14:28 > 0:14:30and doing everything in the cold,
0:14:30 > 0:14:35but once you get going on the kites, it's such an amazing feeling.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44'Christmas Day 2011 will definitely be one to remember,
0:14:44 > 0:14:48'but probably for all the things that went wrong.'
0:14:48 > 0:14:53I developed rather a loose stomach.
0:14:53 > 0:15:00In other words, I've needed to use the toilet for number twos
0:15:00 > 0:15:03about six times today, and that's not that easy
0:15:03 > 0:15:05when you don't have a toilet,
0:15:05 > 0:15:09you're wearing three layers of clothing and a harness.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13I don't want to moan, but who gives someone a Christmas pudding
0:15:13 > 0:15:14that you need to microwave
0:15:14 > 0:15:17when they're living in a tent in Antarctica?
0:15:17 > 0:15:20That's rubbing salt in the wounds!
0:15:22 > 0:15:29So as Christmas Days go, not necessarily one I'm keen to repeat.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Slept a little bit, but obviously, as you can tell,
0:15:42 > 0:15:46it's really windy, so didn't sleep too much, and look at the door.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50That is snow.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59Antarctica is home to some of the windiest places in the world.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03The highest-ever recorded wind speed was 154 mph.
0:16:03 > 0:16:09Right now, our camp is being battered by winds of 70 mph.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14We have been in the same campsite for two days,
0:16:14 > 0:16:18because the weather is so bad that basically,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21we've been snowed in to our own campsite.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24I've come inside the truck to try and show you what it's like.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27You can imagine, it's so wet and wild out there,
0:16:27 > 0:16:30I can't use the camera outside.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Can you see that green little dome?
0:16:32 > 0:16:36That is the tent in which our camera crew is buried.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41Don't worry, they're fine and well, but they're snowed in.
0:16:41 > 0:16:42Look, that's their tent.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50'With the storm finally over, it's time get on the move again.
0:16:50 > 0:16:51'As part of our preparation,
0:16:51 > 0:16:54'we have to travel about 80 miles in the next five days.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58'Niklas and I are keen to practise all three modes of transport
0:16:58 > 0:17:02'to see what works best. We're back on the bikes,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06'but the real test is whether they can tow all our equipment.
0:17:08 > 0:17:09SHE LAUGHS
0:17:10 > 0:17:13'Not a great start...'
0:17:13 > 0:17:14Yeah!
0:17:14 > 0:17:17'..but at least I'm moving.'
0:17:17 > 0:17:22As you can see, this is not that easy.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27When your tyre's inflated, you can't get any grip on the ice.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31This is quite depressing.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33I was so excited earlier, because I thought,
0:17:33 > 0:17:35"Yes, the bikes are going to work,"
0:17:35 > 0:17:37and yeah, they work, but it's so slow.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40We're slower than we are cross-country skiing.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42And it's exhausting.
0:17:42 > 0:17:43'Our trip to the South Pole
0:17:43 > 0:17:47'is being made with a film crew and support trucks,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49'so to see if we can make better progress,
0:17:49 > 0:17:51'we call in a favour from the crew.'
0:17:51 > 0:17:54- Murray, hello?- Go ahead, Helen.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58We're wondering if there's any chance we can give you the sledges,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01because we're worried we won't make the distance at this rate.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03OK, we'll come and get you. Stay where you are.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05We'll bring the truck in, OK?
0:18:05 > 0:18:09I know this probably looks like we're chickening out,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12but we're still trying to work out what we can do when,
0:18:12 > 0:18:16so until we know how fast we can go, we can't really make a plan.
0:18:16 > 0:18:23So hopefully, without the sleds, we can make some more distance.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29With our sledges safely tied to the truck
0:18:29 > 0:18:31and with no more weight behind us,
0:18:31 > 0:18:33we started to make real progress.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41Woo-hoo! That is so much easier, isn't it?
0:18:46 > 0:18:50We're here to get to the South Pole under our own steam,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53so we've got bikes, kites and skis.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57We could cycle and drag our sleds behind us the whole way,
0:18:57 > 0:18:58but we'll run out of time,
0:18:58 > 0:19:02cos we can only do about 10km a day, so it would take us for ever.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04So, ultimately, we need to work out
0:19:04 > 0:19:07the quickest and most efficient way of getting there.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09If that means putting stuff on the trucks,
0:19:09 > 0:19:12asking the camera crew to carry some of our bags, then so be it.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- But the name of the game is to get there.- Definitely.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18That's what this acclimatisation is for,
0:19:18 > 0:19:22just to get wiser on what possibilities we have
0:19:22 > 0:19:27and which one is the best for this expedition.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30'For the rest of our training, we park the bikes,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33'knowing they can be used to cover distance,
0:19:33 > 0:19:35'but they can't carry all our kit.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40'For the next couple of days there's no wind,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43'so all we can do is practise our cross-country skiing.'
0:19:43 > 0:19:44We are having to walk.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48The method that we said we would do least,
0:19:48 > 0:19:49and we're least prepared for,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52has turned into the thing we're doing all the time.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58'But all the cross-country skiing is taking its toll.'
0:19:58 > 0:20:00I feel like when I take these boots off,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02I'm going to be pouring blood out.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06My feet are killing me.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09'Once we're in camp, I ask Dr Ian to come and look at my feet again.'
0:20:09 > 0:20:11SHE SCREAMS
0:20:12 > 0:20:14That is... That's quite impressive.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18I'd almost certainly, tomorrow, suggest that we pop her in a vehicle
0:20:18 > 0:20:21and transport her forward so that she can sit for a couple of days
0:20:21 > 0:20:24and relax and rest, especially her feet,
0:20:24 > 0:20:26before we fly to the start line.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28'Under doctor's orders, I rest.'
0:20:28 > 0:20:30The challenge is only a couple of days away,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32so I'd be stupid not to take his advice.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37Come on, let's go.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39'So I grab a ride,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42'to cover the final leg of our training, to a makeshift runway,
0:20:42 > 0:20:44'where we then catch a flight.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49'We need to fly forward to the start line,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52'as we're still over 1,000 miles away from the South Pole.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55'Getting this flight means my epic Sport Relief trek
0:20:55 > 0:20:58'is finally about to get under way.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17'I'm now on the plateau in the central part of Antarctica.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20'Between here and the South Pole
0:21:20 > 0:21:23'lies nothing but 500 miles of snow and ice.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27'This is going to be one of the toughest journeys of my life.'
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Right here, right now, on the starting line, I'm just excited.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34I just want to get on with it,
0:21:34 > 0:21:37I feel that we're on the verge of something difficult
0:21:37 > 0:21:42but rewarding, and, yeah, we're as ready as we will ever be.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45'But my final job, I need to make a plan.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48'We have 500 miles to cover.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52'I want to try and do that in 20 days.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54'So if I divide 500 by 20,
0:21:54 > 0:21:56'that gives me 25 miles a day.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58'Sounds doable,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01'but we won't know what's possible until we start.'
0:22:04 > 0:22:11- OK. Ready?- Yes!- Five! Four! Three! Two! One!
0:22:11 > 0:22:14HORNS BLARE
0:22:16 > 0:22:18And we're off, we're moving!
0:22:19 > 0:22:25'And we're off. Our epic journey to the South Pole has finally started.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27'We're each pulling a sledge with our essential kit -
0:22:27 > 0:22:31'food, stoves, tents, sleeping bags.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35'The rest of our equipment is being carried on board the support truck.'
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Aaah! That is the annoying stuff.
0:22:39 > 0:22:45It gets under your back wheel and you just cannot move. Oh!
0:22:45 > 0:22:48My legs are absolutely burning. It is exhausting, isn't it?
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- It is. It is. - It's really exhausting.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56- Niklas, you love that bike, don't you?- I hate the bike!
0:22:56 > 0:22:59THEY LAUGH
0:22:59 > 0:23:05No, it's fun to see that we're actually managing to move,
0:23:05 > 0:23:09but for me as a Norwegian,
0:23:09 > 0:23:14it's a bit strange to be bicycling in good winds from behind
0:23:14 > 0:23:17with the kites in the sled.
0:23:17 > 0:23:22- You're going to love the bikes by the end of this, love them!- I know.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25'And for now the kites will stay in the sledges,
0:23:25 > 0:23:28'because I'm determined to use the bikes.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32'Although it's hard work, we are covering the miles, albeit slowly.'
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Aaah, my legs!
0:23:35 > 0:23:36Aaah!
0:23:36 > 0:23:39'We're going less than two miles an hour.'
0:23:39 > 0:23:42We've been going for about 45 minutes.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45I feel like we've been going all day. It is exhausting.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Once you get going, on a bit of hard snow,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50it's all right for a few pedals.
0:23:50 > 0:23:51But then you hit soft snow,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54and your back wheel just grinds to a halt.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59It's going to be hard to do this all day,
0:23:59 > 0:24:03and I'm so relieved that we've got the two other methods of transport.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05'Apart from the slow progress,
0:24:05 > 0:24:07'one of the other problems is that my hands
0:24:07 > 0:24:10'are staying in the same position for hours on end.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13'They're getting colder and colder due to the temperature,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16'which is around minus 20.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19'That's two degrees colder than the freezer in your house.'
0:24:19 > 0:24:21My hands are freezing!
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Let's warm up my hands.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29I'm exhausted already.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30'But I'm not the only one.
0:24:30 > 0:24:31'Niklas is, too,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34'and he's adopted a very unusual way of riding his bike -
0:24:34 > 0:24:36'with his head.'
0:24:37 > 0:24:43Is that really comfier? Are you that tired? It is really tiring.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47I've been trying to get my head round why it's much more difficult
0:24:47 > 0:24:50than walking, or it feels more difficult.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53When you're walking, or here when you're skiing,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56you can put more onto the ground, you've got your skis,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59so you've got more surface area to push off.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03With the bikes, we've got a tiny bit of wheel to hit the ground
0:25:03 > 0:25:07to push off, so we've got put a lot of energy into that tiny bit of tyre
0:25:07 > 0:25:10in order to propel forward. It's very complicated.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12'Niklas must be dreaming of his kites.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15'After all, the flying conditions are perfect.'
0:25:15 > 0:25:18I know Niklas hates the bikes, but I'm determined to use them,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21and we're using them for a reason.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24The reason is that I am stubborn and trying to prove a point.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28'But I may end up regretting that decision if this turns out
0:25:28 > 0:25:32'to be the only day that we get perfect kite-flying weather
0:25:32 > 0:25:33'the whole trip.'
0:25:33 > 0:25:38It's five o'clock. We've been going since 9:45am, 9:50am.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42Yes, we are tired. Our legs and lungs are burning.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46Yeah, it's a faff getting a drink because you've got mitts on.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Oh, my word, this is hard.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Do you think we could do 15, 16
0:25:50 > 0:25:54and make up the ten miles on the kites tomorrow?
0:25:54 > 0:25:58If we have the same wind as today, we would be able to do that.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03We should probably not push it too hard the first day.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07- Let's go for 15.- OK. Cool.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09'Decision made.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13'We're going to be ten miles short of our target on the first day,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15'but I don't think we could have done any more.'
0:26:15 > 0:26:18Done! Day one complete.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27What makes this a bit more difficult is, at the start and end of each day,
0:26:27 > 0:26:29you take down the tent and then you put up the tent,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32so we've got a tent each to put up,
0:26:32 > 0:26:34then we've got to dig some snow, melt the snow,
0:26:34 > 0:26:38boil the water, eat some food, and all that takes a bit of time.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40It's full-on, this, isn't it?
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Why don't I think these things through?!
0:26:43 > 0:26:48We've got a mountain still to climb, but I'm feeling good,
0:26:48 > 0:26:49I'm feeling positive.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53I have to be upbeat and I have to believe I can do this.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Right, I'm going to go to bed.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00'I try to sleep, knowing we're already behind.
0:27:00 > 0:27:05'Still, a lot can happen over the remaining 485 miles.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08'And if you've been inspired by my challenge,
0:27:08 > 0:27:10'why don't you go the extra mile
0:27:10 > 0:27:12'and get involved in Sport Relief this year?
0:27:12 > 0:27:15'Get a grown-up and sign up to do the Sport Relief mile.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19'There are hundreds around the country, and by raising money,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21'you can help poor and vulnerable people
0:27:21 > 0:27:24'in the UK and around the world.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26'Next time, Niklas gets his way...'
0:27:26 > 0:27:28We are going to try and kite
0:27:28 > 0:27:30and make up the mileage that we lost yesterday.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32'..I surprise everyone,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35'including myself, when I attempt to set a new world record...'
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Woo-hoo!
0:27:37 > 0:27:40'..and I find out that I'm not looking after myself properly.'
0:27:40 > 0:27:45This orangey-looking liquid is actually my wee,
0:27:45 > 0:27:49and that means that I'm dehydrated and I'm not drinking enough.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd