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Arctic sled-pull a mixture of 'beauty and brutality'

Cash MurphySouth East
News imageRob Wilkinson Rob Wilkinson pictured during the challenge. He is wearing a black hat and trousers, a front facing bag, blue scarf and a light blue top. Snow and fir trees are in the background of the image.Rob Wilkinson
For Wilkinson, the challenge was the equivalent of "10 back-to-back ultramarathons"

A man from Kent who has undertaken a 500km (310 mile) sled pull across the arctic for charity says the challenge was "an equal measure of beauty and brutality".

Rob Wilkinson, 43, is fresh off completing the The Bright Equipment Lapland Arctic Ultra in temperatures that started at -35 Celsius (-31F) before settling at a comparatively mild -17C (1.4F).

While no stranger to an endurance challenge, the Broadstairs local admits this is by far the "biggest" he has undertaken.

"You have to be physically fit to do this, but for me the biggest thing is the mental aspect. They say it's a 500km race, but it's actually 511km (317m) – those last 11km (6.8miles ) were the longest of my life," he said.

News imageRob Wilkinson A bird's eye view short of the sled trail across the arctic. The ground is entirely covered in snow and Rob Wilkinson can be seen very faintly dragging his sled. A number of fir trees are also visible. Rob Wilkinson
Wilkinson said a number of fellow competitors dropped out due to frostbite, such were the cold temperatures

Beyond an appetite to test his limits, Wilkinson was motivated by the prospect of raising a significant sum of money for Kent Search and Rescue (KSR) and Foreland Fields School.

The 43-year-old says he has a "huge amount of respect" for the KSR volunteers who "help people on what's usually a very bad day for them", while he is a governor at the SEN school in Ramsgate.

"[I] have seen first-hand the difference the staff make to children with complex special educational needs and disabilities. It's an incredible place," Wilkinson said.

News imageRob Wilkinson A picture of Rob Wilkinson at the end of the Lapland Arctic Ultra challenge. Rob, who is wearing a blue jacket and black trousers, has his medal around his neck. The ground is covered in snow and a banner indicating the finish line can be seen above his head.Rob Wilkinson
Rob Wilkinson, from Broadstairs, is raising money for two charities with his 500km sled pull across the arctic

This motivation pushed him to complete the unenviable challenge, which started on a difficult note when Wilkinson fell ill with gastroenteritis a few days before.

Luckily he recovered and was able to pull the sled thanks to a diet of sugary and savoury sustenance designed to offset the 10,000 calories being burned each day.

After nine days and about 18 hours, Wilkinson crossed the finish line feeling both ecstasy and agony.

"By 30km (18.6m), one knee hurt, and by 60km (37.2m), both knees hurt... [and] I did the last 200km (124.2m) with a sprained ankle," he recalls.

News imageRob Wilkinson The arctic at night with northern lights. The sky is lit up in green and a very faint red. Snow and fir trees can be seen in the image.Rob Wilkinson
Wilkinson spent about 18 hours across nine days completing the challenge for Kent Search and Rescue and Foreland Fields School

Though the achievement is still fresh, for Wilkinson, there is little time to rest.

"This has been the biggest challenge I've done, it was like doing 10 back-to-back ultramarathons, and and I'm already thinking about what's next."

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