Pole to Pole

In a feat that ranks with the brave and inspiring deeds of Scott of the Antarctic, Sir Edmund Hillary and Jessica Watson, famed Australian ultramarathon runner Pat Farmer did what no human has ever done: run from the North Pole to South Pole. His mission: to raise money for the Red Cross to fund water projects in the world's neediest regions.

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In January 2012, Australia's Pat Farmer accomplished one of the greatest feats in human history. He'd arrived at the South Pole after the longest and arguably most dangerous run ever made, a physical and mental triumph that put him in the company of the world's greatest adventurers - Sir Edmund Hillary, Robert Falcon Scott and Thor Heyerdahl.Pat Farmer's 21,000-kilometre Pole to Pole Run, dedicated to raising funds for the Red Cross, began at the North Pole in April 2011 and took him through Canada, the United States, Central America and South America to his ultimate destination in the Antarctic, the South Pole.He ran an incredible average of 65 kilometres every day, some days running up to 100 kilometres or more. The epic trek saw Pat brave blizzards, nearly lose his life when he became lost in the blazing deserts of Peru, and evade polar bears, snakes, crocodiles, armed bandits and rogue militias. He defied unimaginable pain, suffered dehydration and stress injuries and destroyed his feet.Unbelievably, he set a new running record for the South Pole, while being blasted by ferocious winds and -40-degree temperatures.Pat Farmer's diary chronicles the highs and lows of an extreme athlete, and reveals how he kept going through some of the most inhospitable places on earth.
Whether you run or not, his account is sure to inspire, amaze and motivate.