Ice trek offers physiology lesson

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A college lecturer will study first-hand the physiological effects of ultra-endurance events during a military team's trek across an ice cap.

John Coogans will join fellow members of the Territorial Army (TA) for the hike in Greenland in August.

The lecturer in sports and exercise at UHI in Inverness, is studying for a Master of Science (MSc) in strength and conditioning.

He hopes to see the theory of sports physiology in practice on the trek.

Inverness College Forestry student Fraser Philip will also be part of the team, which includes regular Army members.

Exercise Nansen's Endeavour will see them attempt to retrace Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen's route across the ice cap in 1888.

'Restrictive confines'

Wearing skis, they will pull 80kg sleds 450 miles from the east to west coast of Greenland.

Mr Coogans has been given the task of helping to prepare the team for the challenge.

He said: "Completing the route pioneered by F Nansen will allow me to study the effects of my training programme beyond the restrictive confines of a laboratory.

"For me, this trip represents the ultimate in staff development."