The Impossible First/Colin O'Brady
- American explorer Colin O'Brady just became the first person to cross Antarctica alone and unaided.
- He completed the 932-mile journey in 54 days, ahead of schedule.
- O'Brady spent months training for the mission. His routine included Buddhist retreats, weight training, and a 400-mile trek in Greenland.
Colin O'Brady, a 33-year-old American adventurer, became the first person to cross Antarctica alone and unaided on Wednesday, when he reached the Ross Ice Shelf.
Every person who attempted to trek across the southern continent before O'Brady either gave up or died. O'Brady, however, reached his finish line in only 54 days, completing a 932-mile journey well ahead of his 70-day goal.
Since he did not get resupplied at any point, O'Brady had to carry all of his gear and food on a 400-pound sled as he skied. Most of the sled's weight came from the adventurer's food; he needed to consume about 7,000 calories per day during the trek. His meals consisted of oatmeal, freeze-dried dinners like chili, and special energy bars.
As of Friday, O'Brady was still in Antarctica, waiting by the Leverett Glacier for British explorer Louis Rudd to complete the same mission. The 49-year-old expects to reach the finish line on Saturday.
Read more: Second man nears end of historic solo trek across Antarctica
Before embarking on his journey, O'Brady told Business Insider about how he trained mentally and physically. Here's what his routine looked like in the months leading up to this historic achievement.