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He omitted step 0, that he has talked about in interviews: he wasn't just an army conscript, he went back to the army at 24 specifically to do the special forces training (that 10% pass in Sweden), that includes surviving for a week without help in Sweden's winter darkness, etc. Specifically to build character so that he would then be able to do his intended training program.

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Preet Chandi is touted as the first female of color to ski the South Pole solo. She was, in line with the pattern, boosted by her military training. That takes nothing from her accomplishment but rather gives further insight into what the human body can ensure given the right preparation. Can an individual mirror or approximate military-caliber training through sheer research? That's one of the most exciting questions to me right now when it comes to physical fitness.

I don't think the two are comparable. Military training for medical staff in the British Army is nothing like that for special forces, the fitness training that Preet Chandi did will have been mainly driven by herself.

Given that non army people win competitions fairly regularly and engage in extreme hobbies, I don't think it is necessary step.

Probably not. But he identified an issue in himself, and chose that way to address it. It evidently worked for him.

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