I’ve nothing nothing poetic or particularly artful to say today. Just wanted to acknowledge my client Ben Saunders. I first started working with Ben two years ago when he’d come back from a failed attempt to set a new speed record for a solo, unsupported trek to the North Pole. Two days ago, he landed at the edge of the Arctic Ocean and he’s trying again. His attempt–to make it to the Pole in 30 days or less–would shatter the previous record of 36 days 22 hours which I believe was set more than 100 years ago by a team traveling by dogsled. So far, he’s traveled 14 nautical miles with just over 460 miles to go. And with the changes in the global climate, and the implicit changes to the constancy of the sea ice, this may be the last time someone could do this.

Alone, on the ice, for 30 days. Sheesh. I thought of Ben, again, as I dragged myself to the gym this morning at 5:30. He’ll be blogging via satellite phone and you can follow him @polarben. Thanks Ben, for changing my life.