What....? Again..?!

Eh, what........do it again? Never, no, been there done that.........sh*t man, what a difference 24 months make.
Yeah, that's right I've just signed up for the Marathon des Sables again. A big part of me keeps asking 'what am I doing?' and yet I've come to realise the experience has had a bigger impact on me than I ever really thought. Colleagues, friends and family regularly groan as I relate another desert 'experience' to a current situation and I would probably do the same, but I'm now in the mind that if I'm ever gonna be able to boast about anything then, completing the 'Worlds Toughest Foot Race' is one of them, and hell why not be able to say 'yeah, I did it..........twice!'. Ever since I returned from the Sahara I've been longing for the wide open places and simplicities of the event..........get up, run, eat sleep and do it again. Every body in the same boat, everybody watching out for each other, pulling together.
So lets see how it goes, MDS 2014 here we come!

Run away train!

Hi again, I'm currently sat at the kitchen table drinking a strong coffee and suffering from the effects of lack of sleep due to just finishing my night shift, one hour lost due to the clocks changing and too much to do!
I'm out on the streets again today shaking that collecting bucket and then on for my final night shift before I head out to the Sahara on Thursday. I'm hoping the people on the streets aren't fed up of me yet! The fundraising seems to be picking up speed now, it's beginning to feel a bit like a runaway train! I had a live radio interview the other day. That was an experience. I was on immediately after Gordon Brown (yes, the real G.B. our PM) apparently I'd taken David Camerons spot because he couldn't make it. I like to think he was dropped because what I had to say was more important! A word of advice, if you're invited to do something similar make sure you have a list of what you want to say. Because it was a fairly last minute confirmation, I didn't have this and struggled to get my justgiving page mentioned. Apart from that it was a good interview (I'm told!). I've got another photo shoot on Tuesday for some more local media coverage with some of my corporate sponsors. So that side of things is going well.
Anyway, after tonights shift, thats it I'm done. Just a couple of days to get my bags pack and labelled. I wish I'd had chance to get that done earlier so I had more lea way if I need to alter anything............ah well can't do everything!

The fund raising experience........

Thought I would let you all know a bit about my fundraising experience. Why? Well, ever since I started down this route so many people have said "it's such hard work" and "it's such a thankless task". So I thought I'd set the record straight, at least from my point of view anyway.


Yes it is hard work however, I have been amazed at peoples kindness and generousity of both the people I have met on the street and the companies I have dealt with. I've really enjoyed meeting folk, some of whom I really didn't think would be interested and speaking to so many people with great tips, advice and stories of their own adventures. It really has been a great experience.

I'd especially like to thank Phil at 'Running Form' Pete at 'New Balance' David at DJ and Ward and of course a big thank you to the continuing support from the people of Burton and surrounding areas! Please keep supporting and donating!

It's the final countdown....do,do,doo,do......do,do,do,do,doo.........!

Sh**e, not long now!

For those of you that don't know in T-minus 5 days I'm heading off to the desert to run in the Marathon des Sables. 155 miles of pure torture across the Sahara desert (perparing myself for the worst!!).

Everybody is asking me the same question "Do you think that you are ready?" well, I don't know if anybody would ever feel completely ready for a challenge like this, but I think I've researched and tested my equipment thoroughly and feel fairly happy with my fitness. I have had a couple of injury set backs so I'm not as far along my training plan as I wanted to be, but I have tested myself on a number of other ultras and coped well, so I guess it's a case of 'suck it and see'!

In summary, I'm feeling apprehensive but keen to get out there!

Ah, there you are! Been offline for a wee while due to catastrophic failure of my old computer, R.I.P laptop. However got myself a new one and now very much more mobile!

Since the last time I blogged I've managed to keep building on my base fitness with a view to knuckling down on my Sahara specific training after completeing the OMM (class B) unfortunately, thanks to the b*****d grass in the Elan Valley, came away with a suspected torn calf, tendonitis and a 4 week ban on running. Not a great start to my training! Five weeks on and I'm back running again, trying not to push to hard and risk injury again. My longest run so far has been a steady 12 miles but felt great, no niggles. I'm gonna continue with the cross training and easy pacing but steadily increase the weekly mileage.

I'll let you know how things go!

So what did I learn, apart from the fact that 40 miles is a bloody long way! Well, firstly, research your route if at all possible, I didn't really get chance for this and paid for it when I discovered how much tarmac was involved. Don't get carried away and go too quickly down hills, all that Jarring won't do you any favours later on in the event. Get used to the taste of bananas, available at all good check points!

So, having taken part in my first organised event of this length for sometime, what was it like and what did I learn for my future big beach holiday (MDS)?

As for what it was like, at the start line I was a little apprehensive but much less than I thought. I knew it wasn't a perfect time for me to be running in such an event, although I knew Karen, an old friend, would be there I knew she would be busy so I was pretty much on my own.

The start was a very relaxed affair. I think some must have uttered "shall we get off then chaps?", there was no starters gun or even a ready, steady, go! "Run my own race, run my own race" kept going through my mind as the throng of, as yet, fresh smelling runners whisked me along at their own pace. Like many events, the number of participants began to slow things down again before too long and I was grateful for the queue at the first stile. After the first check point, at a little over three miles, things started to settle down. I was beginning to run at a comfortable pace and was fairly relaxed and enjoying chatting to other runners, most of whom seemed to have done the event many times previously. This continued for the next for approximately the next ten miles or so.

Much of the previous mileage had be on tarmac which I am no fan of. The route redemed itself though, with little tarmac after this point, however the worrying first twinges of cramp set in between about 12 and 14 miles. I say worrying because it was still early days in the event and I knew the route's highest points of Lords Seat, Mam Tor and Hollins Cross were only a few miles ahead. Thankfully my tactic of scoffing some salted cashews, a pepperami and slowing the pace slightly paid off. On the descent I felt good but had a slight niggle in my left knee - that's supposed to be my good one!

The check point at Castleton was like an oasis. I'd run out of fluids and the sun was warm. Time for a resupply, mmmm more bananas and flapjack. 5 mins on my arse and then back on the tarmac!

After a brief respite on some soft grassy stuff there was a tortuous descent into Tideswell, again on tarmac. The niggle in my knee was now becoming quite painful. Just before entering Tideswell I lost sight of the runners ahead of me and was unable to see any of the event's pink way markers, typical. Even though I had been nav'ing (on good advice from Karen) I began second guessing myself and fannied about abit looking for the road through town. Finally reached check point 8, 26.2 miles covered, brilliant, it'd been a long time since I'd covered that distance off road! Another orange squash and banana break and I set of once again. Not much further along the route though, the niggle in my knee started to become quite quite painful. I decided to stop running and try to walk it off. I was quite peed off with myself because, from here all the way through Millers Dale and Monsal Dale to the 30mile point was pretty much flat. Yet I was unable to take advantage and pick up the pace again due to the knee pain.

By the time I crossed the A6 and entered Deep Dale I was kicking myself because my knee was getting much worse. I was trying to banish the thoughts of pulling out, out of my mind. Instead, trying to focus on just finishing the event at a walk. I'd already realised my time running was over. I met another runner here, a lovely lady who was very sympathetic and a bit of an inspiration she'd driven up from Kent and ran in the last 12 challenges. I reached CP 10, had my obligatory banana rations and set off, still convinced I could finish at a walk. In the couple of minutes I had been stationary at the check point I think my knee finally decided enough was enough. I had managed to half walk, half hobble about a mile when a sensible voice in my head shouted " What the hell are doing?", I knew I had to stop, even at this late stage, or risk injuring my already seriously protesting knee. I returned to CP 10 and was very grateful for the lift back to Race HQ.

Looking at my maps since, I am sooooo glad I made that decision. I think I would have been in serious pain trying to attempt Deep Dale 2. And I'm glad to tell you apart from walking like 100 year old man who forgot his zimmer frame for a couple of days, my knees and legs are fine. I even manage a short run on the third day post event!