Lawyers often run or cycle into work to squeeze a bit of exercise into their days. But one trainee solicitor has found a slightly more unusual way to work out on her commute – dragging a car tyre behind her as she walks.

But her aspirations are not simply to stay fit. Stephanie Innes-Smith, who works for Irwin Mitchell in Leeds, is training in the hope of joining Exercise Ice Maiden, an all-female British Army team aiming to cross the Antarctic landmass on foot. Already she has been whittled down from 250 hopefuls to 12.

As part of her training Innes-Smith has been taking her Land-Rover-size tyre with her everywhere she goes (although not to court) since January.

She told the Gazette that at first she used to have to leave early to get into the office on time and would need to shower and change when she arrived, but says now it is almost like walking normally.

Fitting life as a trainee solicitor around expedition training is a tricky balance. Innes-Smith’s latest selection exercise included an eight-day trip to Norway. Her training and other commitments leave her with just five free weekends until Christmas.

She says that luckily Irwin Mitchell has been supportive. ‘They are also accepting of the tyre sitting by my desk in the office,’ she adds.

Just as well. If she continues to get through the selection stages the tyre will remain a dominant feature of her life until October 2017 when the trip begins.

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