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Race to the Pole

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Race to the Pole

By: James Cracknell, Ben Fogle
Narrated by: James Cracknell, Ben Fogle
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About this listen

 A very British adventure: the first race to the South Pole since Scott and Amundsen, 100 years ago

New Year's Day, 2009. Somewhere on the bottom of the world, six teams of adventurers and explorers have gathered to race one another, on foot, to the South Pole. It is the first time that anyone has undertaken such a race in almost a hundred years; the first time since the great Norwegian, Roald Amundsen, beat Captain Scott to the same goal in 1911.

The stakes are high, as double-Olympic Gold-winning medallist James Cracknell and TV presenter and adventurer Ben Fogle must contend with hidden crevasses, frostbite and the favourites to win: a team of teak-hard former soldiers from Norway, trained in Arctic warfare. Temperatures as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius lie in store for the teams as they attempt to ski across 800 kilometres of unforgiving, icy wilderness, pulling behind them sledges laden with equipment, tents and food.

Race to the Pole is a rip-roaring 'boy's own' adventure packed with excitement, humour and even a few tears. But with just a few months to learn to cross-country ski before the start, and with national pride at stake, can Ben and James re-write history and beat the Norwegians?

©2009 James Cracknell and Ben Fogle (P)2009 Macmillan Digital Audio Adventure Travel Travel Writing & Commentary Adventure Polar Region Inspiring Thought-Provoking Sports

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Most relevant  
Although neither Ben Fogal or James Cracknell are authors or journalists, this book flows along and keeps you hooked due to the sheer misery that they had to endure and their desire to continue at all costs.

Honest and inspirational

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Loved the crossing and have read a number of Ben’s other books. My favourites without doubt. This was excellent and inspiring

Brilliant as usual.

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another amazing book from Ben. however I very much missed hearing anything from the 3rd competitor, ed.

awesome

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Brilliant detailed account from the 2 lads ... had previously enjoyed the Crossing account of their Atlantic row ... but this account was even better ...Ben is a natural and highly skilled story teller, however James Cracknell take a bow - brilliant told story by the Olympian with some witty quips to break up the amazing achievement in the harsh conditions of the South Pole. Chapeau

cracking Cracknell n Fogle

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The narration was fantastic, the journey beyond gruelling. I would have been in tears at the end of the first day. Tough beyond belief. A must listen.

Utterly compelling

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An awesome adventure, that made me want to here more. Hat’s off to those guys...

A gripping and amazing story

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This story of human endeavour plays with your emotions throughout. I fell in and then out of love with Ben, Ed and James several times as they each suffered or did some really kind things for each other and were then individually selfish and unlovable at times as you listen on.
Such a brilliant account of their super human effort to race to the South Pole.

Heartwarming and sometimes painful...

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Where does Race to the Pole rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Overall I enjoyed the book and could not wait to undertake my evening commute to sit and listen to the continuing saga. I would put this in the top 25% of my audio book collection.

What did you like best about this story?

The quality of the details of the continuing saga of their adventure.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Ben Foggel has easy vocal delivery and you really feel he could be sat next to you in the pub but I did find James's delivery somewhat stilted in comparison as if he could only recount the tale in short sharp bursts.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end was incredibly emotional after they realised the enormity of what they had achieved.

Epic tale of adventure

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What a compelling listen

Loved it and felt like I lived it with the guys.

Extreme fatigue, rotting flesh, pneumonia, mood swings, frostbite and talking poo !!! Are to name but a few of the daily challenges faced by the guys. I like many others will never get the chance to experience the places these guys have been or what they have achieved, but listening to this book has made me realise the reason why .... We are not all made of the right stuff..... I wish I was, but this listen has given me the chance to put in my head phones and totally immerse myself in their race, and understand about a place I will never go. Thank you ..... AND Thank you also for explaining Sublimation ..... having been to Iceland in winter and experiencing no frost on my car windscreen ( how come ??? ) I can now explain it to people with a big smile and say “ I learnt that from James Cracknell) ( IF YOU DONT KNOW It’s the conversion between the solid and the gaseous phases of matter, with no intermediate liquid stage. For those of us interested in the water cycle, sublimation is most often used to describe the process of snow and ice changing into water vapor in the air without first melting into water). Thanks James 👍

A Must Read / Listen

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This is a good easy listen. The narration switches between Ben Fogal and James Cracknell at a good pace. You can easily imagine the guys in the race and on the ice. I must admit that Ben was a better narrator than James but this is most probably down to being a presenter. I was a bit disappointed they did not have the third member of the team give his views and experiences and it did feel that he was just there to make up the numbers and this sometimes comes across in the book. Never the less I will listen again. Good old fashioned adventure , man against nature.

sharp and to the point

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