Pennod 2 Ras yn Erbyn Amser

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-Television presenter, Lowri Morgan,

-is facing another massive challenge.

-Following her success

-in the 2009 Jungle Marathon...

-..she'll replace

-the humidity of the Amazon...

-..with the freezing extremities

-of the Arctic.

-Lowri will travel to the Yukon, the

-westernmost territory of Canada...

-..to compete

-in the 6633 Ultra race.

-6633 signifies the latitude

-of the Arctic Circle.

-It's the only race that takes

-competitors across that line.

-It's a non-stop, 350-mile race

-over eight days...

-..and the competitors

-must be self-sufficient.

-The race has only

-been completed seven times.

-Temperatures can drop

-to -93 degrees Celsius...

-..with strong 70mph winds.

-Only those with mental

-and physical strength...

-..who have prepared thoroughly

-will succeed.

-This is the windiest, coldest and

-most extreme marathon in the world.

-It's eight months until the race.

-Training has become a way of life.

-My life currently

-resembles Groundhog Day!

-I get up in the morning

-and go running.

-I go to work, go home

-and go running again.

-I eat a lot and go to bed.

-I get up in the morning

-and go running.

-I go to work, then run,

-eat, eat a lot and go to bed.

-Even at weekends,

-I get up and go running.

-I have lunch and go running.

-My life is so rock 'n' roll!

-She's currently running

-110 miles a week...

-..but this race requires

-more than just fitness.

-All the equipment has arrived,

-including this huge coat.

-Look at all this stuff.

-First, this is the pulk -

-or the sledge.

-I'll be pulling about

-20 kilos a day on that.

-Then, there's the dry food.

-I'll need 5,000 calories per day

-to maintain my energy levels.

-I've got walking sticks to help me

-when times get tough.

-I've also created

-my own cooking system.

-These are the things I like...

-..the spikes that go on the base

-of my running shoes.

-Then, I've got water flasks

-which I've covered in Sellotape...

-..to stop my fingers

-from sticking to the metal.

-There's a rucksack

-with a pouch on the front.

-I'll need to learn about

-the various pockets.

-Then, clothing

-and sleeping equipment.

-The sleeping bag can be used

-in -60 degrees Celsius.

-The bivvy protects you from

-the strong winds and cold weather.

-Another mattress underneath.

-I've also got a bothy bag which is

-a tent that's used in an emergency.

-I'll go in here, sit down...

-..and pull it closed.

-Hopefully, this will protect me...

-..and enable me to rejuvenate myself

-for the next section of the race.

-That's all of the equipment.

-I've got a few months to learn

-how to use all these kit items...

-..whilst wearing

-these massive gloves.

-I have to respect

-every single piece of equipment...

-..because these will save my life

-when I'm out in the Arctic.

-I've just run 40 miles...

-40 miles, yeah!

-I've never done that before.

-People ask why I put myself

-through all of this pain.

-It's all about

-my current feeling of euphoria.

-I've done something that I didn't

-think was possible this morning.

-Despite the joy

-of reaching another milestone...

-..Lowri's anxious about the serious

-dangers she'll face in the Arctic.

-She must learn to survive

-in extreme weather conditions.

-After all, the Arctic

-has claimed many lives.

-Lowri survived the

-sweltering heat of the Amazon...

-..but competing in the freezing

-Arctic is totally different...

-..and far more dangerous.

-She seeks advice from Eurwyn Davies,

-former royal marine and paramedic...

-..who cared for her in the jungle.

-Seven months before the race...

-..Eurwyn teaches her

-some survival skills for the Arctic.

-At an industrial freezer

-in Carmarthenshire...

-..in temperatures

-of -21 degrees Celsius...

-..Lowri spends two hours

-on the bike.

-It will be much colder

-in the Yukon...

-..so it's important to wear

-the correct clothing.

-You're more likely to get frostbite

-if your skin is wet.

-You must check to see you can still

-feel your nose, ears and fingers.

-If not, do something about it.

-Don't keep going.

-I know what you're like. You don't

-need to do an extra mile on day one.

-After all, you're competing

-against the environment...

-..not against the other competitors.

-Eurwyn helps Lowri to identify

-the symptoms of frostbite.

-This compass also has a mirror.

-Use it to monitor yourself and check

-your face when you're competing.

-We must also consider hypothermia,

-that is, exposure.

-If you don't listen to your body,

-then it can take hold in minutes.

-The body needs to be at 37 degrees

-Celsius to function properly.

-There are several different levels

-of hypothermia.

-In the freezer, you were shivering.

-Your hands were shaking.

-You couldn't write.

-Your legs were shaking.

-You'd overdone it.

-You were sweating.

-The clothing wasn't working.

-This would make you short-tempered,

-and your muscles would fail.

-Drop below 32 degrees,

-and you'll struggle to walk...

-..you'll have uncontrollable shivers

-and you'll want to lie in the snow.

-Death is just around the corner.

-Eurwyn's strong words emphasize

-the severity of this race.

-How will Lowri cope

-with the cold weather?

-She'll spend a weekend

-in the Arctic Circle in Sweden.

-I'm shivering. I'm so cold.

-It's a baptism of fire as she faces

-temperatures of -60 degrees Celsius.

-I don't know how I'll do it.

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-Lowri Morgan has accepted

-another challenge...

-..the world's coldest

-and most extreme race...

-..only ever completed seven times.

-Six months before the race, Lowri

-wants to learn about her kit...

-..and become accustomed

-to extreme weather conditions.

-She leaves Wales

-for a weekend of training...

-..in the Arctic Circle

-in northern Sweden.

-Over the next few days...

-..the aim is to learn to cope and

-survive in such extreme conditions.

-This race isn't just about fitness.

-Equipment is also important.

-I need to learn how to survive

-in these conditions.

-I'll try and stay strong...

-..but we'll have to wait and see

-because it'll be a real test.

-Lowri is met in Kiruna, home

-to the indigenous Sami people...

-..by Nigel Thomas,

-the former elite soldier.

-What surprise have you got

-in store for me?

-I'm waiting patiently for it.

-We've got a 60km journey

-ahead of us.

-Someone has to drive the van,

-so I'll do that.

-You've got the pulk,

-so you can start from here.

-We'll load your pulk

-and fix the harness now.

-Forty miles?

-Forty miles?

-

-Forty miles.

-If you can't do that,

-you'll stand no chance in the race.

-Straight into the deep end.

-Who said that working

-in television is glamorous?!

-She starts

-her 40-mile journey at 2.00pm.

-It's a lonely journey for Lowri,

-despite Nigel's assistance.

-She looks comfortable

-after the first hour...

-..and as the temperature drops,

-she increases her pace.

-But suddenly, there's a problem.

-Stop, stop, stop, stop!

-I had to stop as I was getting hot

-and starting to sweat.

-That's the last thing

-I want to happen.

-I don't want to sweat

-in these conditions...

-..because when you stop,

-the sweat freezes...

-..and the frostbite kicks in.

-I was panicking a little.

-I've never experienced

-these conditions before.

-This experience is a learning curve.

-As she experiments with

-the layers of clothing...

-..she realizes that controlling

-her body isn't her only fear...

-..as cars whizz past within feet.

-Her body temperature must remain

-comfortably cool whilst running...

-..but when she stops, Lowri is

-freezing, and hypothermia sets in.

-I'm shivering. I'm so cold.

-My feet are cold.

-Everything is cold.

-Lowri is given the option

-of warming up in the car...

-..but she's determined to continue

-and face her fears.

-Thirty miles remain...

-..and the temperature drops

-to -40 degrees Celsius.

-After eight hours, she's emotional.

-Pulling the pulk is

-at the root of the problem.

-I'm so frustrated.

-Running 40 miles at home is nothing

-compared to running in this country.

-It's so cold and the pulk

-is pulling me back.

-I literally can't run,

-and I'm struggling.

-I don't know how I'll do it.

-Despite the perilous conditions,

-Lowri battles through the night...

-..and completes the 40 miles

-in a very long 14 hours.

-Lowri's done well tonight.

-She's walked 40 miles whilst

-pulling the pulk for the first time.

-She's done well,

-but she's had a shock.

-Her feet hurt,

-but she doesn't have blisters.

-Since she's pulling weight,

-other muscles are working.

-Her legs are tired too.

-There's a saying

-in the sporting world...

-..that pain is

-weakness leaving the body.

-If that's the case...

-..then I have a lot of weaknesses

-because I'm suffering.

-It's been a very difficult 40 miles.

-For the first 20 miles,

-I used my legs...

-..and used my head

-for the last 20 miles.

-It was a real test.

-Sleep is now her main priority.

-To recreate racing conditions...

-..she sleeps in her sleeping bag

-and bivvy.

-Have you got a pillow?

-Have you got a pillow?

-

-I'll get one for you now!

-There you go. See you later.

-Sleep well.

-Goodnight!

-Goodnight.

-Are you awake?

-Are you awake?

-

-Yes, I've been awake for a while.

-Are you cold?

-Are you cold?

-

-Yes.

-Have you slept at all?

-Have you slept at all?

-

-Yes, I slept well at the start.

-I don't know

-how long I've slept for.

-You went to bed after 5.00am,

-and it's 9.00am now.

-I think I've had about three hours.

-I think I've had about three hours.

-

-Yes, it took time for you to settle.

-Lowri must acclimatize

-to Arctic conditions...

-..and learn to dress, pack, drink

-and eat from her sleeping bag...

-..before starting a new day.

-Resting in these conditions leads to

-a dramatic drop in body temperature.

-Lowri warms up with some singing

-exercises she learnt at university.

-A - E - I - O - U.

-My jaw feels as if it's frozen.

-We noticed that during breakfast.

-We noticed that during breakfast.

-

-It's difficult to speak.

-Next, it's a trip on a Skidoo

-into the depths of Sami country.

-Nigel and his elite soldiers are

-eager for her to walk on tired legs.

-The race requires her to complete

-an average of 44 miles a day...

-..over eight consecutive days.

-Lowri has no time to appreciate

-the stunning scenery of Kebnekaise.

-She must listen to her mind and body

-and get used to her survival diet.

-It's -60 degrees Celsius...

-..and she must complete a marathon

-in six hours over an icy lake.

-She completes the task,

-but faces another lesson.

-Goran, a soldier, drives the Skidoo

-for five minutes without a mask...

-..to show the effect

-of the extreme weather on his skin.

-Come here. Can you see it?

-Look at the white patch.

-Can you see that? It's frostnip

-which leads to frostbite.

-After frostbite, it turns black,

-and it's dead skin.

-You need to place a warm hand on it

-to warm the area.

-When you're alone, keep a mirror at

-hand and check yourself every hour.

-There isn't room for any mistakes.

-It's very serious, and

-I'm glad you've witnessed this...

-..because without warmth,

-it develops into frostbite.

-That's what I'm most scared about.

-Nigel wants to prove that her face

-won't be the only thing to suffer.

-It's getting cold now.

-Frostnip develops after dancing

-barefoot in the snow for a minute.

-I was only in the snow

-for 30 seconds.

-That's painful.

-I've got to place my feet

-under his arms.

-Oh... that's lovely.

-Lowri is given another test

-whilst Nigel's feet thaw.

-Nigel has given me a task

-to light a fire with my eyes closed.

-In the race, it'll be dark,

-I'll be tired...

-..so I need to learn how to do this.

-The aim is to practice preparing

-the equipment repeatedly...

-..so that it becomes an automatic

-process, like tying a shoe lace.

-And her reward? A dehydrated supper!

-It isn't as good as what I get

-at home, but it'll do!

-It'll give me energy,

-keep me warm, and that's important.

-It's the final morning of training,

-and Lowri is learning the routine.

-The aim is to stay in the sleeping

-bag for as long as possible.

-Yes.

-It's been a unique experience

-in a beautiful country.

-It's easy to run over 100 miles

-a week at home...

-..in chambers, the Beacons,

-Snowdonia and the freezers...

-..but nothing prepares you

-for these extreme conditions.

-The cold.

-We've faced temperatures

-of -60 degrees Celsius...

-..in strong winds.

-It's been a real shock

-to the system.

-Despite wearing all these clothes,

-day and night...

-..nothing prepares you.

-I've been cold,

-and I've been emotional.

-The thing that terrifies me most...

-..is that it's impossible to survive

-without the correct equipment.

-I'm not very confident,

-but it's been a real eye-opener...

-..and an important,

-essential lesson.

-But if I'm totally honest

-with myself...

-..I'm leaving Sweden having lost

-some of my self-confidence.

-I think that this race...

-..is going to be

-very difficult to complete.

-I'm shaking just thinking about it.

-It's going to be a real challenge,

-and I don't know if I can do it.

-I've had an emotional day.

-I don't normally cry,

-but I haven't stopped today.

-It's been three days

-since I've returned from Sweden.

-The fear has taken hold today.

-I've struggled with my breathing,

-and I've been panicking.

-I don't want to do it any more.

-And yet, I've spoken

-on the telephone...

-..with Eurwyn... Nigel...

-..and they're all very supportive.

-They are so supportive.

-They're helping me, phoning me

-and texting me.

-I'm really struggling now.

-It's mentally difficult...

-..and I'm struggling

-to drag myself outside.

-I've had such a shock

-after being in Sweden.

-I'm really trying to stay strong...

-..but inside,

-I'm shaking like a leaf!

-When I come home, I'm struggling.

-The magnitude of this race

-has struck me.

-I don't think I'm ready

-for this challenge.

-I don't feel strong.

-The emotional battle continues

-next time on Ras Yn Erbyn Amser.

-Lowri tries to face her fears

-by running 100 miles non-stop.

-I'm too tired to think.

-Is this one step too far?

-S4C subtitles by Tinopolis

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