Think of yourself as athletic?

Can you manage a few laps around Safa Park and enjoy the odd hike on holiday?

The next step would probably be to step things up a bit - add a few kilometres on to your routine or turn your jog into a run.

Or you could sign up for an expedition to the North Pole where you’ll be trekking around 185km with just a pair of skis and food for the fortnight in a bag.

That’s exactly what Emirati Elham Al-Qasimi intends to do.

Elham, who admits to enjoying hikes in the UK and taking the odd camping trip, isn’t a seasoned explorer.

Yet if she completes the trek she’ll be the first Arab female and UAE national to tackle the North Pole unassisted.

Nevertheless she’s surprisingly modest about the task ahead.

“The way I feel about it is it could’ve been anyone, it just so happened that when I thought of a physical challenge it was this that excited me,” she says.

“I want to showcase this trek as an example of drive and ambition that inspires women to aim higher and reach further. I strongly feel that this accomplishment is one for the entire nation of the UAE rather than just a personal accomplishment.

It will illustrate the drive, discipline, and ambition of all young UAE nationals and symbolise traits which are transferable across all goals.”

The 27-year-old has left her high-powered job as an investment manager at a financial company to put all her time into the expedition, saying she wants to reassess her goals in life.

“I wanted a challenge. We look for jobs that will challenge us and we work hard and grow professionally and I’m taking that same principal and using it with physical goals.

“I have put so much energy and focus into my education and career and although that’s a good thing to do - it’s what we’re taught to do growing up to be independent and financially sound - we let opportunities pass by and miss out on doing things that we want to - things that will help us grow, that are fun,” she adds.

Although Elham’s trek will be directed by experienced world-class guides and she’s currently in the midst of a disciplined
fitness training routine, she’ll be completing the trek unassisted.

That means she’ll be skiing cross country without the aid of motorised equipment, without any re-supplies, air drops or any other kind of support.

Therefore all supplies will be carried either on a sled led by Elham herself or on dogsleds.

But again, Elham’s modest about the task ahead.

“It’s cross-country skiing not downhill skiing, there’s a big difference. Cross country is very similar to jogging except you have skis on. It’s less technique and more endurance.

It’s one of top three most demanding endurance activities so it’s a lot more preparing in terms of cardiovascular exercise than picking up a technique. I have an excellent team helping me whough and I’ve spent five days training near the Canadian border as part of preparation.” And while most of us have been grumbling about the bad weather this week, Elham, who departs next month, is actually looking forward to colder climes.

“The extreme contrast of the weather between the desert and the Arctic is part of the reason I’m going because I want to experience a new environment that I’m not accustomed to. I think if you always stay in the same

environment, in your comfort zone, you never actually grow and I don’t want to take shortcuts,” she explains.

Elham has spoken about her expedition to promote Philadelphia’s  ‘Spread Some Inspiration’ campaign for International Women’s Day, which is on Monday.

The company has set up a web site where women from the Gulf can talk about their achievements or nominate stories of other women who go up for a public vote with a chance to win $10,000.

Vote for Elham or any of the other nominees by visiting www.spreadphiladelphia.com