Follow Waddie's diary and vlog
Throughout his training and challenge journey, Waddie will share his progress, offering an honest, unfiltered account of the highs and lows, triumphs and setbacks. From gruelling training sessions to moments of exhilaration, Waddie’s updates will provide a glimpse into the demands and rewards of this extraordinary challenge.
Check this page to view his updates.
Finse, Norway - March 2026
Greenland - August 2025
Washington - July 2025
A change of plan! Gran Paradiso - 1st July 2025
Due to bad weather at Mont Blanc, the training had to switch to Gran Paradiso. Gran Paradiso is the tallest mountain solely located in Italy. At 4,061 metres above sea level. As you can see from the videos and images below, it was challenging, and great preparation for the next stage in training.
From the Alps to Antarctica: Training for the South Pole Challenge - 28th June 2025
As part of his intense training for the Antarctic expedition, which includes the summit of Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica - Waddie is currently in the Alps, gearing up to climb Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in Western Europe.
The image shows the majestic Mont Blanc in the background. In the foreground stands the iconic statue in Chamonix, immortalising Jacques Balmat and Dr Michel-Gabriel Paccard - the first men to conquer Mont Blanc in 1786. One of the figures points toward the summit.
Stay tuned as we follow his progress from the snowy peaks of Europe to the icy extremes of the South Pole. You can support Waddie's journey with a donation in support of veterans' mental health.
Challenge preparation - May 2025
Waddie’s journey toward conquering the Antarctica Last Degree Challenge is already underway. He is rigorously preparing himself mentally, physically, and nutritionally to triumph in this epic adventure. Along the way, he’ll share his progress, offering an honest, unfiltered account of the highs and lows, triumphs and setbacks. From gruelling training sessions to moments of exhilaration, Waddie’s "warts-and-all" updates will provide a glimpse into the demands and rewards of this extraordinary challenge. During this 28-day trip, he will be covering 15-20km per day.
His training journey has already begun, covering 1-5 miles while pulling a weighted wheel. It's a demanding routine, but the strrength he builds now will be vital when he's hauling a sled across the Antarctic.
Loughborough Sport
Waddie will undertake some of his physical preparation at Loughborough's Elite Athlete Centre. This will include physiological performance, strength and conditioning testing, which will inform his training parth for the expedition.
Environmental stimulus testing using cold chambers and altitude hotel rooms will give the experience of extreme temperatures and altitudes, taking away any element of surprise that they may hold.
