RUNNING NAKED

I downloaded my kit list to the forum used by a lot of us who are running the MdS yesterday and quickly got a reply from someone who wanted to know if I was running naked! I certainly don't want to get sunburn on previously unexposed parts of my anatomy and it wouldn't be a pretty sight, so the answer was no. My list had only included what was in my rucksack and not what I was wearing! I had however forgotten to include the spare clothes that I will be carrying with me - although there are very few of these - 1 pair of leggings, 1 Tyvek suit (looks like those used by crime scene investigators and used at night to keep warm), possibly 1 long sleeve top for night time and 1 extra pair of socks. Have managed to keep my total weight to about 9.5kgs. There are a few additions before I have finished so should manage to meet my target of no more than 10kgs - before water.

Have enjoyed a low mileage week of running - just over 30 miles and 2 gym sessions. This is my planned reduced week which allows me to recover physically and mentally. I start my last high mileage full 3 week period next week. After that there is another low mileage week, before building up the mileage again. However there will only be 2 weeks - with the second one in Tenerife - before I start a 3 week taper which should hopefully see me ready for the start of the MdS 2009 which is 9 weeks tomorrow.

The dogs have enjoyed the fact that I have done less miles as they are able to run with me a bit more. Unfortunately Della who has been my running companion for 8 years is starting to age and is really not up to anything more than a very short run. BB is just getting old enough now to be able to increase the miles without damaging her young bones and soft tissues, so she is taking over, leaving Della (the one lagging behind in the picture) a bit long in the face when I set off.

Good week - bad breakfast!

Was really pleased with my last run of the week yesterday. It was 18.5 miles with no back pack and running very slowly. Odd to say was pleased as a relatively short distance and often run with pack and often at a faster pace. However, the run followed 34.5 miles the previous day in 8 hours with a pack weighing slightly more than I will be carrying at the start of the MdS and probably about 2.5 kgs more than I will be carrying for the long run. In addition I only had just over 3 hours to recover before heading out to a Sportsman's dinner at my golf club. Didn't get back until nearly 1a.m. and slept badly. Was just about nodding off when disturbed by a text message (my brother Dave had just arrived in Shanghai and seems to have quickly forgotten there is a time difference!) Couldn't get back to sleep as my legs were uncomfortable after the long session that day and eventually got up at 4a.m, having not sleep, and had a cup of tea and a Brufen! So the night mimicked nights in Sahara as I understand sleep is often disturbed due to discomfort, wind and unstable tents and tent mates snoring (not to mention other of their less desirable noises!).

The run was also good because on Thursday I was exhausted after a 13 mile run - had planned 15. Felt completely drained and was seriously considering a couple of days rest. Was contemplating a glass or two of wine on Thursday night when I decided I would plan for a run and get things ready for an early start - although still not convinced I would be up for it. Alarm set at 6.45 and pitch black and very tempted to roll over and have a lie in. Am glad I didn't as I will look back to these few days when I am struggling during MdS, as there are bound to be days when I am tired out and wonder how I will manage a run the following day. And what was the most encouraging part of the 18.5 mile run was that it felt effortless and at the end I felt I could have carried on, or gone for a further run later that day!

Have now planned my provisional menu for the week. Already been altered as on Saturday I had the Expedition Hot Cereal and Mango breakfast - it may be nice for some but not for me, so will have to find alternative.

So that's another week of high volume (93 miles) and high quality training (a tempo run and an interval session), as well as two weights sessions in the gym, and a week closer to the start. Am looking forward to a much quieter week now as part of my programme of 3 heavy training weeks and then a lighter week. Am glad have gone for this approach as it is not only a good idea to avoid injury and illness but is psychologically important to have a planned lighter week and a chance to ease off.

Rewarded myself last night for the 3 heavy weeks of training with a Jameson and then some red wine with my take away Indian meal!

ITV 4 PROGRAMME - REALITY CHECK - BRING IT ON!

Was just settling down to a quiet evening on Wednesday when Alistair phoned to let me know ITV4 was about to show programme re last year's Marathon des Sables. Left quick message on MdS forum site, texted a few friends and family and sat down to watch. Cherith also watched it with me - not sure it did a lot for her apprehension about what I am about to take on. Good reality check but above everything else made me want to get out there and experience it and do it.

101 lessons to be learned from the programme:-

1. It is going to be very tough
2. Good cameraderie with plenty of banter and support
3. It is going to be very tough
4. Good cameraderie with plenty of banter and support
.
.
93. Prepare - a number of those featured admitted that they had not prepared properly and had underestimated the event. Has spurred me on to continue my high mileage, high quality training
94. Organise - some of those taking part seemed to have no method in their packing of the bags with food just shoved in any old how. Need to make absolutely sure that everything is packed so that it can easily be found.
95. Reduce weight - one of the competitors had a pack weight of 15.5 kgs - seems totally over the top. One of those on the programme had the same type of food that I will be taking but had it in its original packaging - by putting it into zip-lock bags each pack is reduced by about 20g in weight. With 6 breakfasts, 6 main course and 6 pudding that adds up to 360g - lots of other ways to reduce weight and determined to be less than 10kgs when I start.
96. Pace - one of the main guys featured was running up the sand hills on the first day. I intend to walk uphill throughout the event. However, based on what I saw I realise it will be important to take it steady on first day particularly to get used to the heat, the terrain and planning water intake etc.
97. It's not just about cardiovascular fitness - getting up and down those sand dunes will take a lot out of the legs - need to get into gym more and do lots of squats!
98. It's not just about cardiovascular fitness and leg strength - toughness - physical and mental will be essential.
99. It is going to be very tough
100.Good cameraderie with plenty of banter and support
101. I am determined to cross that finishing line and pick up my medal - not sure about the kiss from the French ex foreign legion race director!

That has all spared me on with my training. Slightly lower mileage this week than planned (about 81) although some good quality sessions and the back to back sessions were slightly shorter but a lot tougher.

On Friday I trained along the Ribble Way Walk. My plan was walking only with a full weight backpack. Good job I hadn't planned to run as it would have been difficult most of the time. Lot of the way was walking through thick wet mud in cow and horse churned fields on uneven ground. It was like walking through treacle and the squelching sound as my feet came out of the mud made me think I was about to loose my shoes! As well as this thick treacly mud there were long stretches where there was a superficial layer of mud which made it like an ice skating rink and my feet were sliding in all directions. Didn't appear on Dancing on Ice last night as my inelegant performance on the mud would have certainly ruled me out.

Yesterday was a training session on the beach. Did not work out quite as planned. The first thing when setting off from Lytham was an inability to get onto the beach due to sheets of ice - not sure I can ever remember seeing so much ice on a beach. After just over 8.5 miles the tide had not gone out far enough and had to turn round. Decided to head back with intention of doing a few more miles once I got back to the car if I wanted to do the planned 22 miles. As I turned round it was like walking into a brick wall as the wind was so strong! It was almost as quick to walk as to run and so decided to conserve some energy and walked most of the way back.

Managed to do about 6.5 miles of my eventual 17 miles in sand dunes. I know not as steep or as long as in Sahara and totally different sand texture - but at least it was better than those taking part who live in the Midlands or London will have on their doorstep. Deliberately picked the steepest and longest sections and at times had to use all fours to get up. Actually quite enjoyed it - made a change from same pace running - and on the way back protected me from the wind a bit.

The weather was freezing cold and made worse by the wind. Three years ago to the day I was in Antarctica waiting for the weather to improve to make it safe to fly out. Ironic to think that while training for Sahara I was wearing some of the clothing that I was wearing when I ran the Ice Marathon! Got back to the car after 17 miles and although I felt OK as far as legs etc were concerned decided to call it a day as what I really needed was to get warm, get a hot drink and a good hot shower!

11 weeks today - will be doing 1st stage - bring it on!

BACK TO BACK TRAINING SESSIONS

Have just completed my first high mileage back to back sessions in preparation for MdS. Last did some back to back sessions - albeit lower mileage three years ago when training for Antarctic Marathon.

The first session was in the Lake District on The Dales Way. In the car and on the way by 7.15 - temperature hovering around zero, although much better than New Years eve. As I got nearer to Crook and the start of the Dales Way I became increasingly reluctant to get out of the warm cocoon of my car into the cold and dark outside. Turned heater down and car seat heater off to make it less of a problem!

What a great place to train. Good weather, despite the cold, lovely scenery and challenging terrain to run / walk on. The Dales way is a well marked route, making it very easy for someone like me with no navigation skills. Unfortunately when I got to Burneside the route markers disappeared and I ended up doing a detour round Kendal and on to the A6 Shap Road before rejoining The Dales Way. Learned another lesson as having had a look at my map, I decided to keep it out of my bag and set off without fastening my front pack. A few yards further on and the contents hit the road - my phone and camera appear to be able to bounce quite well without any damage!

Turned round after just over 14 miles and thought finding my way back would be easy - just follow the way I came. Towards the end of the session I suddenly realised that I was heading in the wrong direction and appear to have gone round in a circle and was heading back the way I had set off in the morning! Rather than risk getting it all wrong again I decided to keep to the roads and headed into Crook and then along the main road towards Bowness in the fading light. Fortunately I had my head torch with me so that traffic could see me.

Got back to car after 29 miles in 7.5 hours. Had set off with a backpack weighing 11kgs (about 24 lbs) including 3.5 litres of water - so probably at upper limit of what I will be carrying in MdS. My aim was to walk uphill and run the level sections and downhill. Managed to do this apart from some sections where there were sheets of ice and common sense indicated walking was a better option! Tired but OK at end - and enjoyed a great flask of soup before heading home.

Would loved to have stayed in bed this morning - but won't have that luxury in March, and as I was planning a beach run had to get off so that I could run before the tide came in. The plan was a 20 mile session on the beach and the aim was to keep running the whole way. Reduced backpack weight to about 8kgs. Legs felt very heavy initially but then got into some sort of rhythm and kept plodding along at a slow pace. Left the car in Lytham and ran to Red Bank Road in Bispham, which was exactly 10 miles. Turned round and had to keep resisting temptation to walk - I think if I had stopped running I would not have got going again. Reached South Pier at 14 miles and had rest of run broken down in my head to short manageable distances. However, I had not taken into account the incoming tide. Although there was lots of beach to run on there was a channel right across my path which had filled with water, and so I had the option of wading through cold water 12 inches high or heading back to South Pier and then running along the prom! A no brainer, although again very tempting to start walking because of the excuse of the extra distance. As a result I ended up doing 20.7 miles in 4hrs 40mins - a very slow run but very satisfying.

Got back from my run and opened post to find a cheque for £100 - that's £125 with gift aid - as sponsorship. That will make a big difference to the Children of Watamu - and makes a big difference to me, acting as a huge encouragement to put myself through some tough training sessions in preparation for my biggest challenge to date.

So that's 49.7 miles in 2 days with a total running time of about 12 hours, and I feel really good tonight. Could happily go for another run tomorrow, but the plan is a rest day and so am looking forward to a lie in and a lazy day!

END OF YEAR AND NOW FOR MDS YEAR

That's another year gone - and now it's getting seriously close to MdS.

Despite the weather I was pleased with my last run off the year. Did a 10 miler in sub zero temperatures and freezing fog, carrying 8kgs at an average pace of 11mins 40 per mile. Seemed ironic to be dressed in some of the gear I wore for Antarctica and the Arctic Circle when I am trying to prepare for a race in the Sahara! I really didn't want to set out for this last run of the year in such horrible conditions - but have to put the training in if I am going to fulfill my ambition of finishing MdS.

The year also ended on a reasonably good note in regard to injuries. Don't want to say too much and tempt fate but relatively injury free. Have been troubled for the last 2 or 3 months with relatively severe pain in my left foot. At first I was really concerned in case it was the beginning of a stress fracture, which would probably have been the end of my hopes of running in 2009. Kept training without any deterioration and eventually realised I had a Morton's neuroma. That's a swelling of the nerve between two toes giving localised pain and pain into the adjacent two toes. Was very painful if I walked on hard surface in bare feet and could feel the swelling between the toes. Decided I would just have to ignore the pain and get on with my training as I was not keen on an injection and again knew that if I went for surgery I would not be able to recover and get the training in in time for March. Fortunately for some reason it has started to improve a little over the last two weeks - so hope it will be OK.

Have booked my hotel at Gatwick now for 25th March (night before we fly out) and actually leave Gatwick 12 weeks today! Almost all my kit sorted apart from first aid kit and wet wipes etc. Have still to make final decision about which socks to run in and what shoe size to go for. It is all feeling very close and real.

Couple of days of hard training tomorrow and Saturday - am planning to head to Lakes and do part of The Dales Way tomorrow to get some hills in and a change of scenery and then a beach run on Saturday. Just hope the weather is not as tough as yesterday!