tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507256994897342222024-03-05T20:43:05.736+00:00My route to the desertI'm running the Marathon des Sables in 2012. This blog charts my journey to the toughest footrace on earth.Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-90815748861216693072012-05-01T17:31:00.002+01:002012-05-01T17:31:52.043+01:00Post Race Analysis<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We had another day in Ouazarzate to pick up race t-shirts,
and other assorted faffing which I found a difficult day to fill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The race was over and I felt like I just
wanted to get home now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was starting
to get a bit fed up of the talk being exclusively about the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to get to a place where my feet
could heal and the pain would subside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I went to the final Doc Trotters clinic and infected
blisters were confirmed as in turn each blister freshly cut open released a
dark brown goo over the nice nurse who was unlucky enough to get my feet to
care for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The excellent medical care
during the race was probably one of the main reasons I was able to continue and
complete the event, and I can’t thank them enough, or apologise enough for
having such a terrible impression of them before I first visited them on day 2.
</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydgPhk3vh2bZUygEx28RPIBk1V3bnjfBNLBfwkdea8Ax3GwiNudhHRGr5d9vixWyLK0Brh-FDTD55IducgdTkZmOCQhnbDo8zox0m2w-RZGVTC3GtKbkTIYBA9QcFXhlOSQyFjnw36Mnb/s1600/Yannick+Doc+Trotters%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydgPhk3vh2bZUygEx28RPIBk1V3bnjfBNLBfwkdea8Ax3GwiNudhHRGr5d9vixWyLK0Brh-FDTD55IducgdTkZmOCQhnbDo8zox0m2w-RZGVTC3GtKbkTIYBA9QcFXhlOSQyFjnw36Mnb/s320/Yannick+Doc+Trotters%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Yannick, one of the excellent medical team who helped me to finish.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Andy, Rich and I went into the town after picking up our
race t-shirts and souvenirs, and enjoyed a leisurely lunch and a beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then, as we were Brits abroad, a large
group congregated in the hotel lobby to watch a game of football on the telly
and drink beers all afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The flight home the following day was unfortunately diverted
from Gatwick to Luton due to a fire on a plane on the runway at Gatwick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My folks had gone to Gatwick to welcome us
back, and said there were loads of families there with “welcome home” signs
made – a real shame we couldn’t have seen that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Darryl, Rich and I ended up sharing a cab from Luton to Sheffield as it
worked out cheaper and quicker than getting new train tickets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also saved my feet from having to walk too
far, but in the chaos of an overstretched Luton airport immigration section, we
didn’t get a chance to say goodbye properly to our friends who had shared so
much with us over the last 10 days or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So now, 2 weeks after getting back to the UK, I can sit back
and think about the race and all it meant a little more impartially.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My feet are well on the way to recovery and
although still look a bit grim are no longer infected or painful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like my training was good, given the
challenges of the injuries I picked up in the 3 months prior to the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My kit worked excellently, and the time and
effort I put into trying it all out in the UK really paid off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could I have done more to protect my feet?
I’ll never know I suppose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I checked for
hotspots, I treated blisters as they occurred, but ultimately I think the heat
of day 2 just caused some massive degradation in a very short space of
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blistering didn’t get any
worse after day 2 as temperatures returned to normal (still hot, but not over
50 degrees) but the damage was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
proud of myself for getting on with it and completing the race and I’m a little
surprised at how much I could cope with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Reading these daily updates back, it’s possible to get the
impression that the race was one that I simply endured, but the reality is that
the race for me was far more than the individual stages from A to B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The build up, the communal living, the people
involved and the surroundings all combine to make it a really a magical
event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My tent mates were without
exception kind, funny, helpful and supportive and fantastic athletes (all of us
came in the top half of the field, with Mark claiming bragging rights for best
tent result in 45<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> position overall).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a brilliant experience which I shall
remember and treasure forever.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj752Eyn58_1yotrN68QgXHjSbd46ZM2wSuaJIgW6iYjjHskY8RzJ2UqsEe0itokq2rQzy1bLjadSqezS3RV0Dg_ZhHqEWDKccde4yMhP6sULHb8uxOqOiCj43rMoTRSd4JhY9M5hHXUZSL/s1600/P1000411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj752Eyn58_1yotrN68QgXHjSbd46ZM2wSuaJIgW6iYjjHskY8RzJ2UqsEe0itokq2rQzy1bLjadSqezS3RV0Dg_ZhHqEWDKccde4yMhP6sULHb8uxOqOiCj43rMoTRSd4JhY9M5hHXUZSL/s320/P1000411.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tent 64. Andy, Rich, Mark, me, Paula, Elisabet, Colin & James</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’ve been amazed too by the level of support I’ve received
during the long build up and during the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rich and I have raised over £6,500 for <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ianandrichmds2012" target="_blank">Macmillan Cancer Support and theBluebell Wood Children’s Hospice</a>, far in excess of our ambitious £5k target,
and all thanks to the generosity of our friends, colleagues and some people
we’ve never even met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family have been
hugely accommodating as I sacrificed most weekends from Christmas to April in
my quest for ever longer training sessions and putting up with my tiredness and
grumpiness when injured or finding things tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on the race itself, my mum and dad and my
brother were, it seems, glued to the race organisers website seeking out news
of my progress, checking the web cam for my arrival at the end of a stage and
sending me loads of messages of support – it was amazing to know that all my
efforts were followed so closely by my family and friends back home. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So the big question: would I go back and do it again? I
don’t think so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was such an intense
experience and there are so many factors that can go wrong that I’d be worried
about it not living up to my expectations a second time around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing these updates from the notes I took
whilst in the desert has been a great process for me, it’s helped me to re-live
much of the laughs, the emotion of the race and the pride of completing it, but
already I can see that a rose coloured tint is creeping into some aspects of it
(not the feet, they’re too raw for that to ease off just yet), and I kind of
like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to remember the race
in a really positive light, so for me the MdS dream has become a reality and I
won’t be seeking it out again – I have the medal, why would I want two? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF08hZzSP6jLiSSiYTzDxzInydONWhOfz370qqPTJnT5SoUJ6OPPFd3XTKIh039k73RUW3KHtr368vL902D0RwuWUjRv4JO9DhVKrHZWkkbrlEhcvgZeMtuOguRVyxKGR0iHYpIYHNTdx/s1600/Medal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF08hZzSP6jLiSSiYTzDxzInydONWhOfz370qqPTJnT5SoUJ6OPPFd3XTKIh039k73RUW3KHtr368vL902D0RwuWUjRv4JO9DhVKrHZWkkbrlEhcvgZeMtuOguRVyxKGR0iHYpIYHNTdx/s320/Medal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And besides, there's a new generation on its way who'll be competing in future........</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqOrYTw8gbi6rDKqCfN02KcQlwttzYXGqmFr29tzRessI2yQs7wNg2jW0PxWehNaOPSrMuAUHijjzZQ15mULCLM9j6YIUDT5OmXY7_d7LfDP-WyO356FJcNUl2BEsJ6QL8InfkMqBM5o2/s1600/Jess.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqOrYTw8gbi6rDKqCfN02KcQlwttzYXGqmFr29tzRessI2yQs7wNg2jW0PxWehNaOPSrMuAUHijjzZQ15mULCLM9j6YIUDT5OmXY7_d7LfDP-WyO356FJcNUl2BEsJ6QL8InfkMqBM5o2/s320/Jess.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtXt8CUdsQ_JLeE5afrvjz2uh0nrPhNklgNb3RPLWHYXs85Xe6ZqrDUFZS2P6kGiY3E3G90IoV9_3qhsBfUAlaegzx4WJFv_ygq-I1vAxjOXX-7Obb4ABkYOvFJyC_ZmRNw58AV_32ITo/s1600/Kids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtXt8CUdsQ_JLeE5afrvjz2uh0nrPhNklgNb3RPLWHYXs85Xe6ZqrDUFZS2P6kGiY3E3G90IoV9_3qhsBfUAlaegzx4WJFv_ygq-I1vAxjOXX-7Obb4ABkYOvFJyC_ZmRNw58AV_32ITo/s320/Kids.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Tent 64 Overall classifications</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: currentColor; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><td style="background-color: transparent; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 97.55pt;" valign="top" width="130"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Overall Position</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.9pt;" valign="top" width="95"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Race No</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 178.1pt;" valign="top" width="237"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Name</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Average Pace</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 97.55pt;" valign="top" width="130"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">45<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.9pt;" valign="top" width="95"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">468</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 178.1pt;" valign="top" width="237"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mark Lynch</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">8.47 km/h</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 97.55pt;" valign="top" width="130"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">148<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.9pt;" valign="top" width="95"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">635</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 178.1pt;" valign="top" width="237"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Colin Barnes</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">7.08 km/h</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 97.55pt;" valign="top" width="130"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">169<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.9pt;" valign="top" width="95"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">642</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 178.1pt;" valign="top" width="237"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Elisabet Frankenburg</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">6.87 km/h</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 97.55pt;" valign="top" width="130"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">305<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.9pt;" valign="top" width="95"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">545</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 178.1pt;" valign="top" width="237"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">James Walker</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">6.04 km/h</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 97.55pt;" valign="top" width="130"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">343<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.9pt;" valign="top" width="95"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">486</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 178.1pt;" valign="top" width="237"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Andy Mucklestone</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">5.81 km/h</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 97.55pt;" valign="top" width="130"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">394<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.9pt;" valign="top" width="95"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">450</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 178.1pt;" valign="top" width="237"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Richard Jones</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">5.57 km/h</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 97.55pt;" valign="top" width="130"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">415<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.9pt;" valign="top" width="95"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">565</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 178.1pt;" valign="top" width="237"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ian Wright</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) windowtext windowtext rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt;" valign="top" width="154"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">5.51 km/h</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></td><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></tr>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-29523427512492300612012-05-01T16:52:00.000+01:002012-05-01T16:52:11.533+01:00The last one – Saturday 14th April 2012 Stage 6: 15.5km / 2hrs 46mins 37secs / 503rd / ave pace 5.76km/h<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_dMnFvp4nNUbIBTjSxy2OJvlrJoAG7n8TIMlNV2UycAmEZAbxCSsjaIPQKwZYSVezsIm0BEJn631pVu1A46Rej7UrVM7mSad1WPj58NL5nwOQ4aKmkMG4uYjVSsGdePAUVyo8SNVXaWg/s1600/P1000520(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_dMnFvp4nNUbIBTjSxy2OJvlrJoAG7n8TIMlNV2UycAmEZAbxCSsjaIPQKwZYSVezsIm0BEJn631pVu1A46Rej7UrVM7mSad1WPj58NL5nwOQ4aKmkMG4uYjVSsGdePAUVyo8SNVXaWg/s320/P1000520(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Early morning view of the dunes in today's stage.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A glorious start to the day from a weather perspective,
quite cool and beautifully clear, with a great view of the dunes we had to
cross in the last stage of our adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Things were not so good from a foot perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having not uncovered my feet from the
marathon stage, I was in some discomfort from swelling, and the pain level
generally was already very high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cIhB_yeHz80YeVrodyS5c_QNDQeXlMkldecPQuCKLmwHnNDLXndf1eiK3O9aYd_jsfUHTR1rPZWjYwcWDBw6uh5KL3zp-fx_DsdzqSd07t7UOoqR2oEnGfhAgSTdZCOuvawsayup_kfQ/s1600/P1000522%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cIhB_yeHz80YeVrodyS5c_QNDQeXlMkldecPQuCKLmwHnNDLXndf1eiK3O9aYd_jsfUHTR1rPZWjYwcWDBw6uh5KL3zp-fx_DsdzqSd07t7UOoqR2oEnGfhAgSTdZCOuvawsayup_kfQ/s320/P1000522%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I was in a lot of pain before the start.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rich and I had determined to complete this stage together
and so cross the line together – sounds cheesy, but we’d entered it as a joint
undertaking and it seemed a fitting end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From a more selfish perspective, I would welcome any help I could get to
ensure I made it to the finish line, even if it was less than 10 miles
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turned out we travelled the
whole way with our tent mate James as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The atmosphere on the start line was like a carnival, and it
was easy to get wrapped up in it, after all this was less than 10 miles, and having
covered over 140 miles already, it should be a breeze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInUDyPfrRZcE2Qa5atLWtiSAV91Aj0MQEne7F7AYRkfXRl1AKzOql49ChdCeBob_3Re0_Fcv-oacesxJlx2C3FpnWIgmml79lLVOJL2s4gkdefAKhTbpNcskOCckMAzVrtAXo8sDcs7gM/s1600/P1000530%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInUDyPfrRZcE2Qa5atLWtiSAV91Aj0MQEne7F7AYRkfXRl1AKzOql49ChdCeBob_3Re0_Fcv-oacesxJlx2C3FpnWIgmml79lLVOJL2s4gkdefAKhTbpNcskOCckMAzVrtAXo8sDcs7gM/s320/P1000530%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A party atmosphere at the start line.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As AC/DC growled us on our way for the final time it did
indeed appear relatively straightforward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We started trotting along, the paracetamol starting to have an effect on
my pain receptors and the going was good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was pretty flat, not too sandy or hilly and the temperature was
manageable too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then my hips started to
give out like yesterday and my right calf took up its now familiar, if
unwelcome scream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to stop running
– I could tell this was frustrating for Rich and I felt guilty, he was in fine
form and keen to be motoring along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
put in my best shuffling march to the check point at only 6.5km in around 50
minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no water allocation
here, we’d be relying on what we carried from the start today, so we simply
stepped on the timing mat, turned almost back the way we’d come and headed off
into the biggest dunes we’d yet encountered. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Despite the pain, my mood was lifted knowing that this was
the last day I had to subject myself to it, and even with a slower than hoped
for pace, it wasn’t going to take too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had been confident of finishing the event ever since probably the
third day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By that stage my feet were
beaten up but I’d proved to myself that I could manage that and get
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At no stage in the event had my
legs felt excessively tired, the kind of tired I’d had during training after
long sessions, which suggested to me that my training had been good enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even on the lowest point of the marathon day,
there was never a moment when I thought about quitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought about why I was subjecting myself
to so much discomfort and what I was trying to prove, but I came up with no
sensible answers, apart from echoes of Mallory in stating that I was doing it,
“because I could”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed a more
realistic answer at the time than “because it’s fun”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCLtbVTejIdJfUeMauKTJEzRN_vI1URYPIE2i9jyRk8hKspK2-MwnbMaawuqyNZDSkC_Bs1cfyxQm2iFg6aUjeHsMj6L03a248gqmg6jXlfkZWuowwvBaAXSSKXvqK3xu_m2AAZEcmuoL/s1600/P1000534%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCLtbVTejIdJfUeMauKTJEzRN_vI1URYPIE2i9jyRk8hKspK2-MwnbMaawuqyNZDSkC_Bs1cfyxQm2iFg6aUjeHsMj6L03a248gqmg6jXlfkZWuowwvBaAXSSKXvqK3xu_m2AAZEcmuoL/s320/P1000534%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">James leading a procession through the dunes.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today’s challenge continued however, over each dune in turn
knowing that with every step it was one more step I wouldn’t have to
repeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dunes kept on coming, and
all around us was the steady progress of people edging their way onwards
despite the heat, despite their own levels of pain and despite the fact that
every time you stepped forward, you slipped back in the sand almost the same
distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was more chatting today
– for quite a while we walked alongside a nice woman from Canada who now lives
in Hong Kong as well as others with whom I exchanged pleasantries and thoughts
on the race, without delving deeper into their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of those around us resorted to crawling
on hands and feet to summit one particular dune, everyone was finding it hard,
and it was certainly harder than 9km of dunes had looked on paper. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At last we were able to catch glimpses of the oversized
inflatables of the finish area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
more and more spectators around suggesting we weren’t far from the town at the
finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then, all of a sudden it was
upon us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sand dunes ended, and the
finish was there, just a couple of hundred metres away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The three of us from our tent re-grouped and
started to run in through the finishing funnel to cross the line together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnJKYqCwoAYTYWQd0egtSBq9-xQay0VEUPXroVs448xNPgaJyi1jvuJ2J0wBWdrncXEmk368wa5b6gVV23g_X_ZPs_81MjVVfyOY32k6WHUxl-DjdgrELuIaZ_9Yn14ILTEPUEq_Db1i2/s1600/At+the+finish%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfnJKYqCwoAYTYWQd0egtSBq9-xQay0VEUPXroVs448xNPgaJyi1jvuJ2J0wBWdrncXEmk368wa5b6gVV23g_X_ZPs_81MjVVfyOY32k6WHUxl-DjdgrELuIaZ_9Yn14ILTEPUEq_Db1i2/s320/At+the+finish%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">James, me and Rich at the finish line. Happy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’d expected a massive outpouring of emotion at the end, and
was quite prepared to blub a bit in front of my friends, but as it turned out
there was none of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a
queue just over the line as everyone waited for the traditional medal giving by
the race director Patrick Bauer to each competitor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whilst we queued Darryl, who had clearly
finished well ahead of us (as his 35<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> position overall will attest
to), shouted over some congratulations, and then lobbed us a couple of cans of
cold Coke – what a gent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgkoPqXjsvNxMR19dQQO5UYLWc4HWsf31vgXTdn6cRPBlYqRIUAVTv3meFp-JfOTGBmQR1YTlhBG4jYXduZlCmxYqIoFEMqpA24CC-4sOY7dunRqu25v4uTQarILtD8lVWwBOU181pZNQ/s1600/P1000537%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgkoPqXjsvNxMR19dQQO5UYLWc4HWsf31vgXTdn6cRPBlYqRIUAVTv3meFp-JfOTGBmQR1YTlhBG4jYXduZlCmxYqIoFEMqpA24CC-4sOY7dunRqu25v4uTQarILtD8lVWwBOU181pZNQ/s320/P1000537%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Race Director Patrick Bauer personally hands out medals to all the finishers.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We got our medals, took some photos, then picked up a lunch
bag full of non-dehydrated food items which made my mouth water, some more mint
tea (which had been liberally offered at the end of each stage of the race by
the race sponsors Sultan) and our bus tickets back to Ouazarzate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stumbled off towards the tents set up to
allow the competitors some shade and protection from the dozens of local kids
who were very keen to relieve us of any spare, or loosely attached kit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvRdRlzo5fFimtmUi6coFmu4u5RNL7PRyQ7IR-0nmVPk23HaJouHS6cKJRLTEp70kXr4qNnWtN46kZ2DWLli_OtpK_zXoV0cTtrDH4Tqch7OXR7avkngrv03mcozr4WbOQGK5KLClMn41/s1600/P1000540%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvRdRlzo5fFimtmUi6coFmu4u5RNL7PRyQ7IR-0nmVPk23HaJouHS6cKJRLTEp70kXr4qNnWtN46kZ2DWLli_OtpK_zXoV0cTtrDH4Tqch7OXR7avkngrv03mcozr4WbOQGK5KLClMn41/s320/P1000540%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">5/8ths of Tent 64 at the finish. The others were already on their way back to the hotel.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We found Paula and Andy in the tent too and
shared stories with them for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They got their bus back, and Rich volunteered to go and find us a couple
of cold beers (with my money!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
weren’t cheap, but they did taste good. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMfLgnSzHLd8MACr_GbOpxMvhH0dvQo5Lk6tTt1yYxFRrZAHqN9o8s2YBh2_xRnAH97Au19l5xv0ty1pctrtfX8obI_tRV5SjBP2ykFBeL71q5mexj85HxENDvOj3XLaCe4GkFYku_d7l/s1600/Well+deserved%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMfLgnSzHLd8MACr_GbOpxMvhH0dvQo5Lk6tTt1yYxFRrZAHqN9o8s2YBh2_xRnAH97Au19l5xv0ty1pctrtfX8obI_tRV5SjBP2ykFBeL71q5mexj85HxENDvOj3XLaCe4GkFYku_d7l/s320/Well+deserved%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I think I deserved that.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A very long bus ride back home followed, with everyone being
pretty subdued for the whole 6 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
wasn’t hugely comfortable, and I daren’t take my feet out of my trainers until
we got to the hotel but we’d done it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
long last we arrived back at the Hotel Berber Palace, found our room and
started the process of recovery which was basically, untaping my feet, having a
shave, a shower, a monster buffet dinner and several beers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the best will in the world, I was too
tired to stay out drinking until the wee small hours and I was in bed, not on a
mat on the ground, by midnight. I struggled to get comfortable as my feet
dangled off the end of the bed, being kept well clear of the duvet which, just
by its own weight, would cause unspeakable agony if it came into contact with them. Once again, I didn’t
sleep well.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Overall result 45hrs 02mins 45secs / 415<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> / ave
pace 5.51km/h</strong> – a top half finish, which is what I was hoping to achieve before
the race. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very pleased.</span> </span></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-70544405994688132352012-05-01T16:45:00.000+01:002012-05-01T16:45:17.773+01:00The bad one – Friday 13th April 2012 Stage 5: 42.2km / 6hrs 47mins 40secs / 491st / ave pace 6.18km/h<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">My feet were in bits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It took me well over an hour to tend to them and strap them in the
morning, and at the start line I was in a lot of pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All around me people were really excited and
pumped up but I was in a bit of a dark place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I knew I couldn’t cover the distance quickly so my day stretched out
long and painfully over the 26.2miles – a full marathon.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMajjOE0Pv_V0WWv-ADX_NImVrPeMcYnNgOl3Gv0b1fih8xygZfg_Xnch1GYMg-esX7dCs__FUof9Eo5jorbLKVOfE2tD1mxp25Cp_gpiU9v5NcxYP0iMYNdFch3zDV_TT5JjQMQnBxjM/s1600/153+miles+on+those!(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMajjOE0Pv_V0WWv-ADX_NImVrPeMcYnNgOl3Gv0b1fih8xygZfg_Xnch1GYMg-esX7dCs__FUof9Eo5jorbLKVOfE2tD1mxp25Cp_gpiU9v5NcxYP0iMYNdFch3zDV_TT5JjQMQnBxjM/s320/153+miles+on+those!(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Isn't this how everyone starts a marathon?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The weather was good and the location for our bivouac had
been stunning, but I wasn’t really able to appreciate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Highway to Hell erupted from the speakers
signalling the start of the stage, my feet screamed at me with every step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a fast start, faster than any other
day of the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was determined to
maintain a half decent pace of 6km/h if only to ensure I wasn’t out on the
trail for too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even at that pace it
would be a 7 hour day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><div align="justify">
</div>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div align="justify">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pVHIoRmUtIYlWb9utWdtr_BCwd6OFeMfi0QW_417FM8Ww7gf-jw2GhqahLEQQE7JhpW_yglonYA6A2aivHk23Fr7aCsS7fOKWcB8T0yYRv7V7zVZ44uUZXXPwEmXlI1wWt7xb-qPT-cE/s1600/P1000497%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pVHIoRmUtIYlWb9utWdtr_BCwd6OFeMfi0QW_417FM8Ww7gf-jw2GhqahLEQQE7JhpW_yglonYA6A2aivHk23Fr7aCsS7fOKWcB8T0yYRv7V7zVZ44uUZXXPwEmXlI1wWt7xb-qPT-cE/s320/P1000497%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A stunning location for the bivouac.</span></div>
</td></tr>
<div align="justify">
</div>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Caught up in the crowds I found myself jogging along,
wincing at every step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking wasn’t
much better in terms of pain so I figured the extra speed would at least
shorten the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early on there was a
river crossing and with heavily taped feet and open blisters underneath I
really didn’t want to get my feet wet and festering so using my poles I vaulted
the river and landed hard on my right heel – I literally screamed out with the
pain of it, the people around me seemed genuinely shocked given that in reality
I’d made a 5 foot leap onto soft sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once I’d scrambled up the river bank on the other side and got away from
what was becoming an increasingly chaotic scene, I managed to break into a run
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The terrain was pretty easy going
and I ran to CP1 at 10.5km in around 1 hour 35 mins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apart from my feet, another problem was water
consumption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was cooler today than it
had been for much of the week but even so when running I drank all my 1.5
litres well before the check point, leaving me very thirsty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went through the check point very quickly, not
wanting to stop as getting going again just made my feet hurt more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By now I’d got my check point routine pretty
much sorted and it helped a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of
the check point and I continued running, by now just wanting the day to
end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyQitV-WxungoYvBnQj0qwMLG4Zka1k7V1A4aOvGX_J9y8Ki-q2WlZ0voWwc7f-W9BqOXUIGVLk8sEBFsciwQPpEjMHueixbHB07Sm69IVc9BAZ4hWD6wYx85wLXeThhCN_T6H_p9N31L/s1600/P1000504%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyQitV-WxungoYvBnQj0qwMLG4Zka1k7V1A4aOvGX_J9y8Ki-q2WlZ0voWwc7f-W9BqOXUIGVLk8sEBFsciwQPpEjMHueixbHB07Sm69IVc9BAZ4hWD6wYx85wLXeThhCN_T6H_p9N31L/s320/P1000504%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Frustrating not to able to keep up with Paul and his ironing board.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I managed to carry on for another 6 or 7 km, but my pace was
slowing, I was drinking too much water and my legs were screaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed like I’d altered my gait to
compensate for the pain in my feet and first my right calf and shin muscles
became really tight and full of lactic acid, and then my hips felt really
painful, as if they were twisting from their sockets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slowed and walked, trying to maintain my
target 6km/h pace, but with a lot of pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I reached CP2 at 22.5km in 3hours 25mins and picked up 2 bottles of water
as the next 11km was pretty much all dunes and it was now close to midday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the plus side many of the people around me
were also slowed to a walk as the soft sand became impossible to run on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in a little world of pain all of my
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gone were the pleasantries
exchanged with fellow competitors from earlier in the week, today was about
getting my head down, gritting my teeth and finishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got really angry for no apparent reason and
this helped me to focus on speed and the finish line and try to shut out my
screaming feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very low
period, and at one stage I was in tears with the pain, knowing I still had
several hours to go today, and the following day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjFt0-vO1kJgS7g4gvJAtvXTfzOw0423RgnqLUZLSzu6KM9DPqmrxtX4thQSKOaOZ9_Vm8fIOLtJTgzvsQuc0riPH2bvmEb6dRxJbGYHyUcVQPbLJ90PXd0KXrGo7auTOuOuPzuJnx669/s1600/P1000505%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjFt0-vO1kJgS7g4gvJAtvXTfzOw0423RgnqLUZLSzu6KM9DPqmrxtX4thQSKOaOZ9_Vm8fIOLtJTgzvsQuc0riPH2bvmEb6dRxJbGYHyUcVQPbLJ90PXd0KXrGo7auTOuOuPzuJnx669/s320/P1000505%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was a lonely day on the trail.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On arriving at CP3, at 33.7km, I got the bit between my
teeth and, knowing there was only 8.5km to go I really started to motor,
marching as quickly as I could, willing myself on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After some hills and sandy terrain the track
emerged onto another fairly flat open and rocky plain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We passed through a village in which it was
hard to believe people actually lived given the desolation, isolation and
environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the trail started to
descend slightly and the now familiar long march in to the distant bivouac
began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started welling up with the
emotion of it all, but didn’t want to switch off completely until I got over
the finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got there in under 7
hours, which was my aim for the day, but I’ve never had to put myself through
so much pain or been to such a low emotional place as I went to on this stage,
it was, for me, hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My tent mates, all
of whom were comfortably in by now, cheered me in the last few metres, but
selfishly I didn’t acknowledge them for fear of letting my pain show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once over the line an innocent race marshall
asked me to hand over the emergency flare we’d been issued at the start of the
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No-one had told us that we’d need
to hand it over so mine was in the bottom of my pack, where I put it as far
away from temptation as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately the race marshall bore the brunt of my painful day and I
could have quite easily beaten him over the head with the flare when I
eventually got it out of my pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keen
not to react the same way to my tent mates, when I got back to the tent I asked
as politely as I could muster that no-one speak to me for 15 minutes whilst I
gathered myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lay down, pulled my
Buff over my face and let the anger out, along with several more tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been a horrible day for me, and it
took me a while to come round and talk civilly to the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were very understanding, and most had
had a great day of running – I was last in by about 45 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjht0X_pv_glfEx4gkM9JCf3UVIq4euqZ4hYhYhJORC7ZA05FVpHHDeAPRPTWp4ZWLwypAXjUVJI-UtTBl-QyfwByo6TeM_qjXogiEWmyxVyHOK6NbZfNPuHxeOyIJdNNWfIRCBEWVy2wd0/s1600/P1000512%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjht0X_pv_glfEx4gkM9JCf3UVIq4euqZ4hYhYhJORC7ZA05FVpHHDeAPRPTWp4ZWLwypAXjUVJI-UtTBl-QyfwByo6TeM_qjXogiEWmyxVyHOK6NbZfNPuHxeOyIJdNNWfIRCBEWVy2wd0/s320/P1000512%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I didn't really enjoy the sunset at the time.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When I’d calmed down sufficiently I headed off to get some
more tape for my feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doc Trotters had
nearly run out and so I decided against stripping my feet back to clean and
tend to them, and just left them as they were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s unlikely that much more could have been done for them in any
case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turns out, as I discovered
back in Ouazarzate, they had become infected which was the cause of the pain,
rather than the blisters themselves getting any worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I emailed home, one that wasn’t for public
viewing as it was just an outpouring of my emotions and I was yet again welling
up as I typed the message. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmLzYbCBVwTz1210CAMz85Uiuy1a2XEICF1PAtwTcRyWyrjazsiyT3RnJCucyouDLKoBRjCNJrpSNyQxFFLHAoKKxVy_kkdH5-iGNtfl7MVWg17Sf-NZZ5VtLqsKaREL3lztobt4g6XOb/s1600/P1000516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmLzYbCBVwTz1210CAMz85Uiuy1a2XEICF1PAtwTcRyWyrjazsiyT3RnJCucyouDLKoBRjCNJrpSNyQxFFLHAoKKxVy_kkdH5-iGNtfl7MVWg17Sf-NZZ5VtLqsKaREL3lztobt4g6XOb/s320/P1000516.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This was an attempt to ease us back into civilised society.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After the usual food and tent admin, the race organisers had
arranged for a 15 piece orchestra and singer to fly out from Paris to play for
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very out of place, and as it
happens it was quite uncomfortable as my feet were swelling up inside my
trainers (I’d given up on the flip flops for this evening) but nice to focus on
something other than the race for a few minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A brief showing of some of the TV coverage
the race had received around the world followed the concert, but by now it was
getting cold and the wind was getting up so we headed back to bed.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3nWd8RpsluwOBO0BI6KHs48Y0pHTczX6M0zoZtwQjYKZhfc0iKCoFdL9YYDXibFoAUjHDpFInvrLqv_4Ljm8FP-vv7V2JfFup3Rp6FxKMNgQvepZAg6sxxWVKf_YIinlKPdxIM7oP06t/s1600/P1000519%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3nWd8RpsluwOBO0BI6KHs48Y0pHTczX6M0zoZtwQjYKZhfc0iKCoFdL9YYDXibFoAUjHDpFInvrLqv_4Ljm8FP-vv7V2JfFup3Rp6FxKMNgQvepZAg6sxxWVKf_YIinlKPdxIM7oP06t/s320/P1000519%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The camp at night.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-64832897016194793852012-05-01T16:42:00.001+01:002012-05-01T17:16:55.089+01:00The rest day – Thursday 12 April 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Having climbed into my sleeping bag at about 2am, and
expecting a lay in with no chance of the Berbers dropping our tent around our
ears, we were all pretty disappointed to be up before 6am, trying to keep the
tent from blowing away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I was
awake and not having a load of fun I decided to get my feet looked at early
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blisters hadn’t really got any
worse but my feet were starting to be really sore, and the spa hotel flip flops
I’d taken to wander around camp in weren’t much good at protecting tender tootsies
from the sharp jagged rocks all over the bivouac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyWjG3n13fDnmqPksZKbdG4WZ_h9Y2esaywV4DPPvM4z_1vuPJcRx-9FLBfewuIPCv6XHP0V_P-athQksOo9BOTvRVZ7rs3a9tpBfkHbzRn3WwXiOVsbBD6furskf3Nu_eziWj5r5Ual_/s1600/P1000449(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyWjG3n13fDnmqPksZKbdG4WZ_h9Y2esaywV4DPPvM4z_1vuPJcRx-9FLBfewuIPCv6XHP0V_P-athQksOo9BOTvRVZ7rs3a9tpBfkHbzRn3WwXiOVsbBD6furskf3Nu_eziWj5r5Ual_/s320/P1000449(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Doc Trotters were pretty busy by this time.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I picked up my water ration for the day on the way back to
the tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No sooner had I got back in
than it started to rain, and then hail, all liberally mixed with a massive
sandstorm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently hail was a first
for the MdS, still I’d have been happy if it had held out until the following
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tents weren’t waterproof and
acted like sponges, becoming really heavy once they got wet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us in the tent were occupied keeping
the sides up by leaning against them, whilst Elisabet took time out to cook her
dinner!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definitely management material.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjBvbE3yq60qrl5JYVPdQcwoBG8RDTEbxy729HR19TTsqB27vdB4xe3GGQoFGwhHKmdIQ_ZpGViGj2Q3GKyLperQuE0mpGkiEjgCwpGa-kK3DRNujEzjV4ASr9C6fD-yCQOgDHLRdR6y0/s1600/P1000455%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjBvbE3yq60qrl5JYVPdQcwoBG8RDTEbxy729HR19TTsqB27vdB4xe3GGQoFGwhHKmdIQ_ZpGViGj2Q3GKyLperQuE0mpGkiEjgCwpGa-kK3DRNujEzjV4ASr9C6fD-yCQOgDHLRdR6y0/s320/P1000455%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Those white bits are hail stones - a first for the MdS.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">By early afternoon the storm passed and the sun emerged,
which raised the spirits in the camp no-end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We set to getting all our kit out in the sun to dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In true boy scout style we rigged up a
washing line for the purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also
sacrificed a small amount of my water to rinse my race kit as it had started to
prove uncomfortable in places on the long stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a surprisingly effective rinse and a good use of my water ration.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_obXI6OGJOqPqs67J33FM_0Fe7ob6l2f86qr_6OVVS4RXIFpOqp6XX8-48iqvsANZIJEYkJ99yOFccjuC9tFTv6gfD94Gp_LgUcQEGfdqqNkuIQ76Pt3K5Xerm7U3M5qP_5y8ypyHKDss/s1600/Sand+everywhere%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_obXI6OGJOqPqs67J33FM_0Fe7ob6l2f86qr_6OVVS4RXIFpOqp6XX8-48iqvsANZIJEYkJ99yOFccjuC9tFTv6gfD94Gp_LgUcQEGfdqqNkuIQ76Pt3K5Xerm7U3M5qP_5y8ypyHKDss/s320/Sand+everywhere%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After the sand storm. The piece of carpet you can see was underneath my sleep mat. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thanks to Paul, the extreme ironer, we borrowed his ironing
board and iron to add to the wash day effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were also treated to new race numbers today, and a cold can of Coke –
mine didn’t last long, but was really welcomed. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTCcVOXHNKzpJfDFLJzrU2fDbxdHEZn7WzUnymgu0qI2TEJOT63W-xlUbxXn8Lvw1T858b-N1pSYRZlslfiwyZjL-yRrn3DRQqjeV9Xxz4Y7XVgOQ5WKTpGcgjflBi94b26-cIwWvKJl0/s1600/P1000458%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTCcVOXHNKzpJfDFLJzrU2fDbxdHEZn7WzUnymgu0qI2TEJOT63W-xlUbxXn8Lvw1T858b-N1pSYRZlslfiwyZjL-yRrn3DRQqjeV9Xxz4Y7XVgOQ5WKTpGcgjflBi94b26-cIwWvKJl0/s320/P1000458%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Wash day in the desert.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The only downside later on in the day was the pain in my
feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the day had gone on, it had
become apparent that we hadn’t really had any proper rest, and I was starting
to feel it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My feet by now were very
swollen and covered in blisters and the sand rash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEher1qNn9FdyocA3cPKV6lqE536CMVzmMVzfdKtFqgLr3GUzWax_TrV6H06SLQuh31aQZGUeGHZ0KXu0GdLu2UhzTmyBGkY0RgubDm-GpKlAi3khHAQZq90rlmv_5pqHbLO7Nb_7APOKSan/s1600/P1000477%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEher1qNn9FdyocA3cPKV6lqE536CMVzmMVzfdKtFqgLr3GUzWax_TrV6H06SLQuh31aQZGUeGHZ0KXu0GdLu2UhzTmyBGkY0RgubDm-GpKlAi3khHAQZq90rlmv_5pqHbLO7Nb_7APOKSan/s320/P1000477%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The mood in camp lifted when the sun came out. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Incredibly people were still coming in from the 50 mile stage at
about 4pm, some 32 hours after setting off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a struggle to hobble
over to cheer them in, but I think they deserved it – that’s a long time out on
a stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRaspryI5yGs4IFGRflmobwe4ab2QAN4iiykOMyHyZ2iberyHd-7Rw28lhk1bqI6Ema-2U813PyLCwnLmpGPMRPr7_TQOEG4HH4oGmOBBoL0xjxgf8AL6pjXZs70CRzmm1cvfP7loNSZY/s1600/P1000467%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRaspryI5yGs4IFGRflmobwe4ab2QAN4iiykOMyHyZ2iberyHd-7Rw28lhk1bqI6Ema-2U813PyLCwnLmpGPMRPr7_TQOEG4HH4oGmOBBoL0xjxgf8AL6pjXZs70CRzmm1cvfP7loNSZY/s320/P1000467%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ah Chew from Malaysia, the last man home from the long day. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I struggled to get my dinner
down, and despite the lovely evening and sunset, I was very worried about my
feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most people consider once the long
day is over that the race is in the bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wasn’t so sure that the marathon stage the following day would be such
a breeze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was starting to get very
envious of other people wandering around with seemingly no pain in their
feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to email home and let off
some steam in my allocated 1,000 characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hardly constructive but I felt better afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The emails from home that were delivered to
the tent later that evening made me a little emotional, or it could have been
because I was so tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also received
the pub quiz questions from the Hammer and Pincers to bring some joviality to
the tent.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-79674613795284595182012-05-01T16:39:00.000+01:002012-05-01T17:15:36.790+01:00The long one – Wednesday 11th April 2012 – Stage 4: 81.5km / 16hrs 43mins 07secs / 358th / ave pace 4.90km/h<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Despite the good day on Stage 3, my start to the day was
somewhat subdued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent a long time
taping my feet, and they were very sore, especially once my trainers were
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not boding well for a
50mile outing lasting well into the night. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Paula, Rich and I agreed to tackle the day together and to
take it at a nice steady, but sustainable pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fine intentions at this point in the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To our credit we remained together and looked
out for each other throughout the entire stage and as a result we put in a pretty
good time, and finished in reasonably good shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffjedWUVtXc2OJXXbI_wFpwJZcMSgB208-g4LyHxRHKxMMfRZO0xom1HAyADyaXd4hH6rU25K3cNwNCBlx60oC_azJGxgVFACQoUxROIKufmdgwmR75wyBqd_Zg6uZnjqSne6ScEpx9ab/s1600/P1000415(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffjedWUVtXc2OJXXbI_wFpwJZcMSgB208-g4LyHxRHKxMMfRZO0xom1HAyADyaXd4hH6rU25K3cNwNCBlx60oC_azJGxgVFACQoUxROIKufmdgwmR75wyBqd_Zg6uZnjqSne6ScEpx9ab/s320/P1000415(3).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The first big Jebel.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The start of the day was hot and more humid than before,
though luckily the wind had died down overnight leaving a clear bright
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a pretty brutal start,
straight into the dunes and then up a massive Jebel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an odd sight to crest the summit only
to find a helicopter parked at the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our slog up the ascent was rewarded with a fantastic steep descent in soft
sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I threw myself down the slope
quickly losing control and almost careering into one of the photographers who
had been hoping to capture a good shot of the descent rather than a face full
of sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We gathered together at the
check point and emptied the sand from our shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was reticent to do this knowing the pain
caused by putting my feet in my shoes in the mornings, and as it turns out my
gaiters had hardly let any sand in and I needn’t have bothered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElvaMF0JQvIeeAMRCKUZ91sJBAIdNchvON5o_a2OfxSCQqeqg7jaUaHFg0iC7X0Trsvc7JCyg7bYxJZ36E2nZclptHK8D7F8EfQs5E5UctAJd8y9Y6raX3h3mZMVOyFAka-9Dp7IHzD-G/s1600/P1000418%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElvaMF0JQvIeeAMRCKUZ91sJBAIdNchvON5o_a2OfxSCQqeqg7jaUaHFg0iC7X0Trsvc7JCyg7bYxJZ36E2nZclptHK8D7F8EfQs5E5UctAJd8y9Y6raX3h3mZMVOyFAka-9Dp7IHzD-G/s320/P1000418%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The easy way to the top.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45N91rWD933OHRubtViTLY8UImmVSfbx-hwpoycdqJuKMAxNF71pPehOyOVD8qsgEs716n-spXIJQtVe3ulCVagZaWtcK3NpBto_rZ32lFPJBHoU1aQx5e_58C4HeTQcJD7DkRPXAiRqz/s1600/P1000421%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45N91rWD933OHRubtViTLY8UImmVSfbx-hwpoycdqJuKMAxNF71pPehOyOVD8qsgEs716n-spXIJQtVe3ulCVagZaWtcK3NpBto_rZ32lFPJBHoU1aQx5e_58C4HeTQcJD7DkRPXAiRqz/s320/P1000421%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The fun way down.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The section to CP2 at 24km was pretty flat, but sandy in
places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the check point we didn’t
hang about and headed off, into the dunes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Small ones at first, then getting steadily bigger and bigger, through
CP3 at 37km and pretty much to CP4 at 60km.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>20+ miles of sandy terrain in the middle of a 50 mile stage – that’s
just cruel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily by now my calf
muscle didn’t seem to mind the soft sand, though I couldn’t be sure that the
pain from that wasn’t just being drowned out by the constant throbbing in my
trainers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GtEwhtQwIFeIo7EBXfWnsshz2HoFuLE1xyPEdiUNpNgtR_6_QvVlI7LsGkvmXNrE7PmLHVL9Qo0k8BFJjcGvvrjgNHuzb3A1nIQzWMI87YFraiRmBODhVXQED290Y-ponr6SCAPQ4xq2/s1600/P1000437%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GtEwhtQwIFeIo7EBXfWnsshz2HoFuLE1xyPEdiUNpNgtR_6_QvVlI7LsGkvmXNrE7PmLHVL9Qo0k8BFJjcGvvrjgNHuzb3A1nIQzWMI87YFraiRmBODhVXQED290Y-ponr6SCAPQ4xq2/s320/P1000437%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There was a lot of this.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To hammer home quite how slowly, or steadily, we were going
not long after CP2, the lead runners started to go past us having set off some
3 hours after us – what had taken us 5 hours had taken them 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unreal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It looked so effortless, but at least we got to see those who for most
of the rest of the race were so far ahead of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYxIh0V7UtRz3pDKAAjdOMo5XnQQL4pd9oRDy3jVzdwiYC084IqynMi82ANQ_j8w_0wYT8_2GDEfZ9gkeDv0ILFNWFFVhyphenhyphenPFF5DeVDVgwKCHaN5rDpotPFwguWhF9RpNt4nXJBoxU4R5s/s1600/P1000429%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYxIh0V7UtRz3pDKAAjdOMo5XnQQL4pd9oRDy3jVzdwiYC084IqynMi82ANQ_j8w_0wYT8_2GDEfZ9gkeDv0ILFNWFFVhyphenhyphenPFF5DeVDVgwKCHaN5rDpotPFwguWhF9RpNt4nXJBoxU4R5s/s320/P1000429%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The race leaders passing us after about 27km.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At CP3 we were issued with our glow sticks which we were to
attach to our packs when it got dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
CP4 we were losing daylight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind
had got up too leaving us with a dilemma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’d been using our sunglasses to protect our eyes from the sand but as
it got dark and we put headtorches on it became apparent that we couldn’t make
progress with dark glasses and so had to take a chance without them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d been going 10 hours and covered 50km, at
a really constant pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was tired and
in pain, but felt strong and positive, I’d been eating at regular intervals and
keeping reasonably well hydrated, although we still had over 6 hours still to
go. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism5OVxxKXPNAlB7GVOqbdt0A1IFxAZXvjE0pViiZ3Ed7pxyD02L-xYIv3vLrjD9pywCKSCQ3vdaxehZ2Cttkot5iTbdx-7ZOxcX_JJPKTQGs7pHiJHABARGmJ2-KGBAW-NKQYXU6GPw-3/s1600/P1000438%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEism5OVxxKXPNAlB7GVOqbdt0A1IFxAZXvjE0pViiZ3Ed7pxyD02L-xYIv3vLrjD9pywCKSCQ3vdaxehZ2Cttkot5iTbdx-7ZOxcX_JJPKTQGs7pHiJHABARGmJ2-KGBAW-NKQYXU6GPw-3/s320/P1000438%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Dark glasses and a head torch - not a great combo.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After that it was pretty hard to tell exactly what terrain
we were covering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apart from a line of
green glow sticks trailing off into the distance ahead of us, and white head
torches behind, there was no light at all, complete pitch black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside of the glow of the head torch beam
there could have been anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
hard to keep in contact with Paula and Rich and I had my head down just trying
to keep my pace up and get finished as soon as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of them were nearby, but all the head
torch beams looked the same and unless we shouted out it was impossible to tell
who was who.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Underfoot there was still
quite a lot of sand, interspersed with harder rocky ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A laser beam shone out from a hill just up
from CP5 which I hadn’t realised and it frustrated me that we weren’t at the
check point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily it was only about a
kilometre further on at 60km.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">CP5 to CP6 was much of the same and we kept to the 5km/hour
we’d been tapping out all day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still
feeling strong I was reluctant to sit still at the check point, but Rich and
Paula needed a few minutes to sort themselves out and we ended up spending 15
minutes at the check point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With only
10km to go I wanted to keep going, but we’d stuck together so far, it seemed
really churlish to head off ahead of them now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the last 10km, Rich appeared to be struggling,
demonstrating that the brief rest at the check point had probably been a sensible
option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we set off into the last
mini-dunes and grassy / rocky ground to the finish, again we could see the
bivouac but getting to it took a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It turns out the race leader, and last year’s winner had broken an ankle
running over this terrain earlier in the day and it’s easy to see how.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You had to weave to make a path through the
grass and underneath the ground was either soft and unstable or very
uneven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rich had dropped a little way
back so Paula and I slowed right up, and eventually waited briefly, then out of
the darkness he came, trotting along swearing liberally to himself to keep
going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was reluctant to slow so all
three of us started trotting the final km gradually getting faster and faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an incredible feeling, and quite
surreal as Rich’s swearing turned into some kind of Grand National type
commentary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were so close, had been
going so long and were so relieved to get over the line, and ecstatic and very
emotional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This buzz lasted until well after we got back to the tent,
much to the annoyance I’m sure of the 4 others who were in already – only Andy
was behind us and then only by a few minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The whole tent did fantastically well, and we were reported to be the
first complete tent to have finished the long stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Darryl managed to come in 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup>
finisher in about 10hrs 30 minutes which is just incredible and put him well
inside the top 50 overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Back in the tent there was the need for some recovery drinks
and basic food before getting into my sleeping bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The feet would have to wait until the
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again however the wind got
up and blew in yet another sand storm which lasted all night and into the
following day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGWoGamXLG60iOkEUbCy7OaXoapsmGBMlwxOX3X-_cEfj1AtMmMdpxRIvF0PYdl261X1S9Qn1S0SxIQpiBLi7dZ_Ws5xrJXir2ofA0lD_aRGMl5wmJy9B5mmxhiozBdfTP6S7SteXqCR9/s1600/P1000443%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGWoGamXLG60iOkEUbCy7OaXoapsmGBMlwxOX3X-_cEfj1AtMmMdpxRIvF0PYdl261X1S9Qn1S0SxIQpiBLi7dZ_Ws5xrJXir2ofA0lD_aRGMl5wmJy9B5mmxhiozBdfTP6S7SteXqCR9/s320/P1000443%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Too tired to deal with feet that were falling apart.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-28460832055963718042012-05-01T16:37:00.000+01:002012-05-01T17:13:42.274+01:00The good one – Tuesday 10th April 2012 – Stage 3: 35km / 5hrs 55mins 07secs / 472nd / ave pace 5.91km/h<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The morning’s routine followed the same pattern as previous
days with the marked exception of the taping of my feet – a task not to be
underestimated in terms of complexity and time needed to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took best part of an hour, and from here
on this was an addition to my admin at the start of each stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXCmJQRn75zj47H2sQrWuXMBWCNqXmt0BHsHjEEqq1eTLarjs3F9OBE6GqkzDLi-ojfaVMI97gSLj0AUBMfL2PR1lkO-cRBIAPfE5Ssxe-rbFpOzSNp6lumsdsxruKqP_XPw0hWlFKiSz/s1600/P1000381(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXCmJQRn75zj47H2sQrWuXMBWCNqXmt0BHsHjEEqq1eTLarjs3F9OBE6GqkzDLi-ojfaVMI97gSLj0AUBMfL2PR1lkO-cRBIAPfE5Ssxe-rbFpOzSNp6lumsdsxruKqP_XPw0hWlFKiSz/s320/P1000381(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The sharp end of the pack.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After the previous day I was quite nervous about this stage,
most notably how my feet would hold up to another day of punishing terrain and
temperatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turned out, I really
enjoyed the stage and it was a great confidence booster, which was really
welcome just before the long stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
hardly saw my tent-mates all day apart from right at the end of the day when I
caught sight of Rich and Andy about 3 or 4 km from the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither of them saw me however, and both set
off at a trot to the finish which I couldn’t manage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I was last in the tent, but only just.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA0He5qmUX36YCCbS0bfAntO-2p1dY7V3dCe-S5tVvXEEQGqZNaSE-S_CqHdpAAOiua0mGXfsrGaEblQ4DPInM0-Imr7_DoDX__nad1xGrSgo7UAjsXQ1koK2z-Mp_02ixLJzNhxSP0A-/s1600/P1000384(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA0He5qmUX36YCCbS0bfAntO-2p1dY7V3dCe-S5tVvXEEQGqZNaSE-S_CqHdpAAOiua0mGXfsrGaEblQ4DPInM0-Imr7_DoDX__nad1xGrSgo7UAjsXQ1koK2z-Mp_02ixLJzNhxSP0A-/s320/P1000384(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Enjoying the day - it's a smile, honest!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The temperatures today were far more manageable than the
first two stages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was probably due
to the high winds which blew pretty much all day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept a constant pace up all day covering
some spectacular and varied terrain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After a flat first 12km to CP1 we headed up to a climb to the top of
Jebel Zireg and then over about 5km of sandy hills , through a valley, up over
some more hills and steep descents to CP2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We then had a smaller lake bed to cross than yesterday, with the added
excitement of a true sandstorm blowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Visibility was down to a few metres and finding the exit point between
two sets of cliffs was nigh on impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After that it was about 7km through a valley which offered some shelter
from the wind, and across a stony plateau to the bivouac which was again very
slow in coming towards me as I continued to tick off the kilometres.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5jkdkAkwwi6fquTfK0ass18hSQXRyuLWjC1pDV9A-Gg-8oGsyPv1CO7RQtUw_yatJfc6ApHcjixJ5uXHWf352UuLSsofee6gSr3ftPHyNQLQ_gTfyryLQDw4LJ9UkkwvPrQ5jlxokWam/s1600/P1000395%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5jkdkAkwwi6fquTfK0ass18hSQXRyuLWjC1pDV9A-Gg-8oGsyPv1CO7RQtUw_yatJfc6ApHcjixJ5uXHWf352UuLSsofee6gSr3ftPHyNQLQ_gTfyryLQDw4LJ9UkkwvPrQ5jlxokWam/s320/P1000395%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Visibility drops in a sandstorm.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once in the tent the wind really got up and blew a sandstorm
from mid afternoon until well into the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything was covered in sand, it was in our eyes, throats, food,
sleeping bags and shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite my enjoyment
of the day my feet were still a bit of a mess so I had to brave the elements to
get them sorted again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d also picked
up some kind of rash underneath my gaiters and shoes which was really itchy and
blistered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The medics’ diagnosed “sand
rash” in what seemed like a bit of a generic definition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their solution was a cream applied liberally
and being told to stay out of the sand, which would have been fine had I not
have been in a desert in the middle of a sandstorm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as I stepped outside the sand simply
stuck to the cream and remained there until the next morning.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4IviDtkDFGk-O8AZLEM8jGTb9_sn-cRd9OF2VTWqhyphenhyphenoyNdhFISAUCL8iJyzRvmWdevxXIA2udT0EF5PxnNRYGTuZ4O6eVj3reY70drQKESCRT7oN6qU68lPhKfbcGSBUW3JhGgrvMtfC/s1600/P1000398%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4IviDtkDFGk-O8AZLEM8jGTb9_sn-cRd9OF2VTWqhyphenhyphenoyNdhFISAUCL8iJyzRvmWdevxXIA2udT0EF5PxnNRYGTuZ4O6eVj3reY70drQKESCRT7oN6qU68lPhKfbcGSBUW3JhGgrvMtfC/s320/P1000398%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The race was taking its toll on my feet.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The sandstorm also prevented many of us from sleeping very
much at all ahead of the long stage the following day, hardly ideal
preparation.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKJJaY8RhVXw-c4HDntwcxIsXNuxiwWfIeii4obSbN1lXVODCF3cimOvfmV93ZMdbrjrRqYOnu63Mme4hBsO0EeXtqVzmhJ7NvSVlvnM3HVYlO_bUhR5UEERT7E6DzW7559t4jxxQN4Jy/s1600/P1000402%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKJJaY8RhVXw-c4HDntwcxIsXNuxiwWfIeii4obSbN1lXVODCF3cimOvfmV93ZMdbrjrRqYOnu63Mme4hBsO0EeXtqVzmhJ7NvSVlvnM3HVYlO_bUhR5UEERT7E6DzW7559t4jxxQN4Jy/s320/P1000402%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sandstorm blowing all night. Rubbish.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<br /></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-77689070954893973642012-05-01T16:36:00.000+01:002012-05-01T17:12:45.626+01:00The hot one – Monday 9th April 2012 - Stage 2: 38.5km / 7hr 04min 09sec / 500th / ave pace 5.52km/h<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once again as the sun rose, so did we.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pretty comfortable with the routine of
camp life and settled into it early on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I ran through a quick audit – I slept pretty well, my legs felt ok, my
hips were tight but loosened up after some stretching, I was reasonably
hydrated but my feet weren’t great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another small blister had filled up on my little toe overnight to
accompany the one on my heel that I’d treated the night before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could also feel some hot spots when my feet
went into my trainers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keen to minimise
the damage over the course of the week I set about sorting them out and taping
them where they needed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seemed
to help a lot and they weren’t painful inside my trainers.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was quite fresh early on, the sandstorm the previous
evening seemingly having cleared the air a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the race organisers had it on good
authority that today was going to be a hot one, so we were informed that the
race start would be brought forward by 30 minutes and we would get extra water
at CP3 – 29km in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given how hot it was
on stage 1, I started to get nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How would my water last if it was hotter? Would my feet hold up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today was also our first proper foray into
the larger dunes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The start followed the same pattern as the day before, only
with people looking less fresh and some definitely not as cheerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The helicopters and AC/DC track blasting at
the start of the day was a constant throughout the week however.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rich had struggled the previous day in the heat and so we
decided to set off together for this stage and, along with James from our tent
we marched to CP1 at 12km in about 2 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the check point I checked my foot – the tape from the morning had
simply come off in my sock so I spent a few minutes re-taping it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James continued onwards, and Rich and I
followed a few minutes later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We crossed
some “small dunes” which went on for about 4km.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The wind had started to pick up, as had the temperature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no sensation of sweating at all
however.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brow, my arms, even my back
under my pack were bone dry, but it was obvious that the sweat was leaching out
all over me as my top was streaked with white rivers of salt and I was again
struggling to make my water last between check points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4P__wvzip_8Wf5o84IWfJYzlR5VfCTrxVlM3FSyAtV1zX5gpSv4OHIvF7TaG-TheJzZUwIFAN3gLk4IRcjVbBEGzeFBggTnpTHjEtcahzR998pc8toltevNoDCf0OtiwfpnpFnwCKvrB/s1600/P1000362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4P__wvzip_8Wf5o84IWfJYzlR5VfCTrxVlM3FSyAtV1zX5gpSv4OHIvF7TaG-TheJzZUwIFAN3gLk4IRcjVbBEGzeFBggTnpTHjEtcahzR998pc8toltevNoDCf0OtiwfpnpFnwCKvrB/s320/P1000362.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Small dunes.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">From CP2 the route headed almost due south for around 10km
across a dried up lake bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d been
going about 3 and a half hours by now and it was noon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat was intolerable, the terrain was
unforgiving and the surroundings were pretty boring too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of this conspired to make it one of the
toughest 10kms I’ve ever done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
told when we finally got back to camp that the temperature had reached around 52
degrees Celcius on that lake bed during the time we were there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My feet paid a heavy price for being asked to
trek across such a hostile environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAirNR7hyUWMiOzvyNDxSemLkuNV9Z9oLGfvAe7tVGHfczV0DfmDkCBmMa_42BsJdPCjWKYagMVHnhvGWepSRtR11GhdXR9vk5B8i6Q-2O2OrrksZyQRoSTvgOUDyI88xvhRB6Cgvefbwc/s1600/P1000364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAirNR7hyUWMiOzvyNDxSemLkuNV9Z9oLGfvAe7tVGHfczV0DfmDkCBmMa_42BsJdPCjWKYagMVHnhvGWepSRtR11GhdXR9vk5B8i6Q-2O2OrrksZyQRoSTvgOUDyI88xvhRB6Cgvefbwc/s320/P1000364.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Camels (and Rich) on the edge of the horrific dry lake bed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Eventually the lake bed came to an end and we arrived at CP3
where we were to be given 2 bottles of water instead of the planned one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rich and I sat in the shade of one of the
tents and I drank the best part of a litre of water there and then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I checked over my feet again, but despite the
pain they were in there didn’t appear to be much more I could do with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found some discarded water and
used it to douse my Buff and hat to act as a cooler and thinking I felt much
better we set off, having spent over 10 minutes at the check-point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Anyone who has taken part in an ultra-marathon or other
endurance event will be familiar with the concept of highs and lows during an
event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can be on cloud 9 and feeling
invincible one minute and the next can barely move, and vice-versa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These oscillations are part of the events we
choose to take part in, but even though I know all that and have had my fair
share of lows and highs in races, the final 10km of the day proved to be a
pretty big low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My legs felt ok, and not
too tired, but the heat had just sapped my energy and the pain from my feet was
getting serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then started to focus
on other areas which hurt – I was getting some rubbing on my inner arm from it
swinging against my rucksack pockets, my thumbs felt like they were blistering
from the walking poles and I felt a bit burnt on the backs of my arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of this did much to raise my mood, and I’m
sure Rich had a thoroughly un-enjoyable couple of hours accompanying me
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were back in the sand dunes
before we got back to camp too, which only served to slow us up and cause
frustration that we had been out so long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having said that, they were pretty spectacular and far nicer than the
lake bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO2_mvtBMvkhW1WOdmRqnHV91Idtg-2zG6zi-tTv61LJ23dX7sY1TVu9Gj3Z6wmPN3kmcYIBNLZKV_w_iR9Z3a_A6N00bclPM9kBP7N6dWZHnkBH9iOf6p287Jl2GlTxB3A0sMaoIB5Gv/s1600/P1000365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO2_mvtBMvkhW1WOdmRqnHV91Idtg-2zG6zi-tTv61LJ23dX7sY1TVu9Gj3Z6wmPN3kmcYIBNLZKV_w_iR9Z3a_A6N00bclPM9kBP7N6dWZHnkBH9iOf6p287Jl2GlTxB3A0sMaoIB5Gv/s320/P1000365.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I enjoyed my mint tea at the finish line today.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once over the line I was very relieved, and very beaten up,
but I made a special effort to wave to the web cam for everyone at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went through the same routine as the day
before – recovery shake, re-hydration salts and some food and then looked at my
feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were a little out of my
league today so I headed off to the medical tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially I was given a scalpel, some iodine
and some dressings and told to sit in the tent and sort them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I was struggling to reach some of
them and concerned that I would do more harm than good, so I opted to go to the
much feared Doc Trotters – the medical staff who accompany the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turned out there wasn’t that much to
fear – yes the iodine hurt when it went into the cut open blisters, but it’s
that odd kind of “it’s doing me good” kind of pain and the lovely Ludevine who
tended to my damaged feet was very considerate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was sent on my way with blue plastic shoe covers like you get at the
swimming pool over my feet and a bundle of tape to fix my feet up in the
morning once the blisters had had the chance to dry out overnight. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhy9ZhgwKF2MNqTP-I7a4ksXgaJd8_pAsXhWRwxjeROFKXaptd_1b3Y0PZltxkBiEYMnLw9ZhgFTWdJkb9tmjCPehi3h8hRqBpj3CQ7NJTA6yxPaPDi-DGhIIBSc1O-XeBJeNHRabkgCl/s1600/P1000373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhy9ZhgwKF2MNqTP-I7a4ksXgaJd8_pAsXhWRwxjeROFKXaptd_1b3Y0PZltxkBiEYMnLw9ZhgFTWdJkb9tmjCPehi3h8hRqBpj3CQ7NJTA6yxPaPDi-DGhIIBSc1O-XeBJeNHRabkgCl/s320/P1000373.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ludevine trying not to hurt me with open blisters and iodine.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Feeling better for having had the medical attention, I returnd to the tent and finished my foodand got to bed. A limited email circulation today, but to be fair I hadn't felt like emailing home either.</span></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-44869487609927212262012-05-01T16:34:00.000+01:002012-05-01T17:11:31.723+01:00The first one – Sunday 8th April 2012 Stage 1: 33.8km / 5hr 46min 03sec / 416th / ave pace 5.90km/h<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A sunrise start to the day today, which is an ordinarily
unsociable 5.30m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say ordinarily for
two reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, I had not slept well
during the night and getting up at least meant things to occupy my mind instead
of laying there worrying about what was to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And secondly because by 6.10am the team of
Berbers who had responsibility for the camp were dismantling our home around us,
leaving us more or less destitute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
tried to ensure that my kit was all within easy reach both whilst the tent was
collapsing around us and for later on during the race – I didn’t want to be
taking my pack off for any reason at all during the event if I could help
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hvLsDPPhtfMm9wtZcshS2xykk4HueJBXfgYSqL51Jk4-6FT83bgyhu7oXnPe4a9hBQ_gnIZ5bbd5Gc0t2cZNxn1QdiU4CnHdoweRmZaAbeZ4dg_R5Nh5fKtYWIlkb9hXtbzJDYidUy_E/s1600/P1000336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hvLsDPPhtfMm9wtZcshS2xykk4HueJBXfgYSqL51Jk4-6FT83bgyhu7oXnPe4a9hBQ_gnIZ5bbd5Gc0t2cZNxn1QdiU4CnHdoweRmZaAbeZ4dg_R5Nh5fKtYWIlkb9hXtbzJDYidUy_E/s320/P1000336.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Being made homeless - the first of many times during the week.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Since we were now self-sufficient I cracked open the first
of my granola and vanilla Complan breakfasts – one of the few late changes to
my kit which, as it turned out, worked really well all week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once everyone was ready a collective mass of
nearly 1,000 still relatively fresh faced and eager/nervous competitors
wandered over to the start area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was some hanging around whilst the race organisers got their publicity shots,
including corralling us into pens to mark out the shape of a number 27 when
viewed from the air (it was the 27<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> running of the race).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was noticeably warmer this morning, and
with all the faffing at the start, we didn’t get going until just after 9am, by
which time I was hot. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tPt35_DaIpRp-sAoqYoj5GwS_rMe5v5FFnebHyhIABgV9o7cQFUS4Q54NZZH7lZcIPuzES30qwnNkNmi8-cjdpgFkYLNlut1aemB42OoqB2Dvhdn1h0SPTm4maYKxb-HUMj16dLo6YBx/s1600/P1000341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tPt35_DaIpRp-sAoqYoj5GwS_rMe5v5FFnebHyhIABgV9o7cQFUS4Q54NZZH7lZcIPuzES30qwnNkNmi8-cjdpgFkYLNlut1aemB42OoqB2Dvhdn1h0SPTm4maYKxb-HUMj16dLo6YBx/s320/P1000341.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tent 64 ready to race.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Stood at the start line as the apparently customary dulcet
tones of AC/DC blasted out “Highway to Hell” from the PA system, the mood was
incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone was smiling,
shaking hands, hugging, passing on expressions of good luck, and hopeful of
receiving the same back in equal measure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And finally the countdown ended and we were off – runners everywhere
fanning out from the start gantry as helicopters swept by overhead, kicking up
clouds of dust and sand and producing a deafening roar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MvC2VJsscdkPHF9w-Wbx2gwyw_3_54_1LkrcBttWl3AXL2SYQIjDJWFj44NtVynC-yIn3JjqtqWTjVZ3yzYVsr19iF8oZL1oLFZ5Fzto9ySdGYnLTN9Gu3EiQsehahjOG61vPcfabSlY/s1600/P1000343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MvC2VJsscdkPHF9w-Wbx2gwyw_3_54_1LkrcBttWl3AXL2SYQIjDJWFj44NtVynC-yIn3JjqtqWTjVZ3yzYVsr19iF8oZL1oLFZ5Fzto9ySdGYnLTN9Gu3EiQsehahjOG61vPcfabSlY/s320/P1000343.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rich and I at the start line.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Before I knew it however, the noise abated, the field
thinned and the enormity of the task ahead dawned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d told myself that for the first two days I
would aim for a brisk walk rather than risking further injury to my calf by
pushing too hard too soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My experience
of previous long distance events told me that my marching pace would be
sufficient to hold my own amongst others who ran at the steady shuffle of
ultra-marathoners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just hoped that the
heat would not slow me down too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The route took us past some ruins and through a village
where lots of the local population had come out to cheer us on and no doubt
wonder what these foreign idiots were doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Within a few kilometres the route took us over some small dunes – only about
1km of them, but enough for me to notice the extra stretch in my calf muscle
and re-confirm to myself my intention of taking it conservatively early
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48s-BTylHrK7-dTjrqKlW_gTzZOLBbrHgrch4RaX6WmOCgyQbgtyaG93n8h-wVmXTVyVSM2MxLsytszKjx_zWenDtIFdbpdkjGFwvJtPsgFTy-G_9ntMIe3n2aJWFGQeAiqyEo6JIynqi/s1600/P1000346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48s-BTylHrK7-dTjrqKlW_gTzZOLBbrHgrch4RaX6WmOCgyQbgtyaG93n8h-wVmXTVyVSM2MxLsytszKjx_zWenDtIFdbpdkjGFwvJtPsgFTy-G_9ntMIe3n2aJWFGQeAiqyEo6JIynqi/s320/P1000346.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Stage 1, early on.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rich and the rest of my tent-mates all ran ahead of me after the
start so I got into my own rhythm and started click-clacking along to the beat
of my poles hitting the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest
of the section to Check Point 1 at 14km was reasonable, and I managed to keep
up a decent pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this stage I’d
managed to catch up with Paula and we spent a fair distance passing each other
as she alternated running (faster than me) and walking (slower than me).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At CP1 I was mindful not to get caught in the
trap of staying too long and wasting time, so I filled my bottles under the
welcome shade next to the 4WD vehicles and pushed on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">From CP1 it started to get really hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were heading towards mid-day and to add to
the challenge, the hills were about to start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first one not too bad – a short sharp rise followed by a nice even
descent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paula and I caught up with Rich
at the top of the climb and we set off at a similar pace together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat of the sun was slowing the runners,
but my marching pace was pretty constant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To be honest, even if I could have gone much faster I would have
struggled to make my water last long enough between check points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it was, 1.5litres was barely enough to see
me through each one. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Next came another climb and a traverse along a rocky undulating
spine before a steep drop down onto a rocky valley and a few smaller climbs to
get over to Check Point 2 at 25km.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
now the temperature was getting obscene – rumoured to be about 44 degrees
Celcius at its peak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat just
drained energy out of me and I found it difficult to push on, and even more
difficult to eat enough out on the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was starting to get some hot spots on my feet so at CP2 I spent a
couple of minutes adjusting my trainers – I was pleased to see the gaiters
working well with virtually no sand inside them or my shoes at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rich and Paula had dropped back by CP2 and
once again I set off on my own (not counting the dozens of other unknown people
around me!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This in itself wasn’t a
problem and conversations were struck up with a wide variety of people and
nationalities as the day progressed – a minimum of a “bon courage” or similar
was almost obligatory as you passed people, or they passed you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of us had our name and nationality on
our race numbers, which was a really nice touch as you could cheer people on by
name, and in many cases in their native tongue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pQcwPtNDEDZj7i5A3L8Tq9ZVond7D4u45WcUMPM0hIo75awzcFckuqwusfUnsr4SenCNe3A4GN9pgVWy5oMZGMEf-Twt6iSubY2OQhEgULHmsfv-CIZ2PkZfhabDq6xWGvtVTZD014sQ/s1600/P1000351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pQcwPtNDEDZj7i5A3L8Tq9ZVond7D4u45WcUMPM0hIo75awzcFckuqwusfUnsr4SenCNe3A4GN9pgVWy5oMZGMEf-Twt6iSubY2OQhEgULHmsfv-CIZ2PkZfhabDq6xWGvtVTZD014sQ/s320/P1000351.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Technical descent bfore CP2</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">From CP2 it was a short, although incredibly hot trudge
across more of the rocky valley before the major climb of the day up the Jebel
Tibert. It wasn’t an especially steep or long climb and had it been in the Peak
District, no doubt it would have thrown up few challenges, but in the stifling
heat it was very hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In places there
was just soft sloping sand across the track up the hill and it was hard going
to stay on it, let alone make progress up it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eventually the top appeared, and our first glimpse of bivouac 2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A race marshall was situated at the top of
the hill to cheerfully inform us all that it was only 3km from there to the
camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be fair, this assertion is
backed up by the road book, but I’ve yet to meet anyone who thinks it was much
less than 5km.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last section was pan
flat across a valley floor and as would become a theme throughout the week, the
bivouac never seemed to get any closer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Almost like a mirage it just hung in the distance, until all of a sudden
you were within spitting distance and it was all over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Through the finish line, and I forgot to wave at the web cam
– at this stage I hadn’t realise how glued to it people at home would be. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was smiling at the end, pleased that the day
was done and keen to get some rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was then allocated my night-time ration of water – 3 x 1.5l bottles which I
struggled to carry with my poles back to the tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Back home, Paula followed me in a few minutes behind, with
Rich about half an hour back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The others
were all ahead of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I could
relax a sandstorm blew up, covering everything in sand and making it really
uncomfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We dropped the sides of
the tent, but it didn’t really keep the sand out, and made it really hot
inside. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">To cheer everyone up and because it was Easter Sunday, I
handed out Creme Eggs to everyone in the tent – amazed that they’d retained
their shape despite the ridiculous heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The gesture was welcomed by everyone there, and for my part, I was glad
that my pack would be at least 360g lighter the following day.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I made sure my personal admin was seen to in the tent,
surveying my feet for damage and eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A recovery shake was first on the list, then rehydration salts then feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hotspot I’d had earlier had turned into a
small blister on my heel so I popped it and cleaned it, then set about
replenishing the rest of my energy reserves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro8HoEmzcg2BaEscjBbdW6VmKKDCmtYqlr4JYlUz2Ze8XJ5z7B7q-5HezPmkG73BA1KWEzDUhyphenhyphen3BqsxHEOWJTcaED4VdoYXHPYkL578UOkka_pTXyCjb_2Nc81n6Veh2vPW3_Rwu92Qgx/s1600/P1000354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro8HoEmzcg2BaEscjBbdW6VmKKDCmtYqlr4JYlUz2Ze8XJ5z7B7q-5HezPmkG73BA1KWEzDUhyphenhyphen3BqsxHEOWJTcaED4VdoYXHPYkL578UOkka_pTXyCjb_2Nc81n6Veh2vPW3_Rwu92Qgx/s320/P1000354.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happier times when my feet still looked normal.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’d taken an average of 2,850 calories for each day and so
far today I’d not eaten anywhere near enough on the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would be something I would focus on much
more in the coming days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact the
calories I’d taken, whilst seen as almost gluttonous to those working to the
bare minimum of 2,000 per day, were nowhere near enough to replace all the
energy I would expend throughout the week and I ended up losing around 3 or 4
kg during the course of the race.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I also noted that I was quite heavily de-hydrated and
although there wasn’t a lot I could do about that whilst on the course as the
water was rationed, I tried my best to drink all the water allocated to me for
the night time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Considering how remote this race is, it is incredibly well organised and set up. We were able to send and receive emails during the course of the event, and so I went to file a race report back home. We were limited to the length of the message but it was enough to tell well wishers that I was alive at least. When I got back to the tent, the emails from home had been delivered which was a welcome distraction before bedding down once again by about 8pm. I was by now very tired. </span></span></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-37793706862955879572012-05-01T16:30:00.000+01:002012-05-01T17:09:43.536+01:00Admin, admin, admin – Saturday 7th April 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Camp routine was
based around the timing of the sun setting and rising – following on from our
early night, the whole camp arose at about 5.30am as it got light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a chilly and relaxed start to the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day would see us queuing for vast swathes
of it, and bidding farewell to our surplus kit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Gq8rdbc7fLg2sGosQMEImtw88MNCf-GvcHZ9oSnJ6lD8C65j27Zfis0jq9-vmzn_cgzAhno5-qBcsMvUoOiYQoiAs9lq8noOmFTE5wS5VB2RJv5-nZwOGhKzs8GtiCyWbqdb86cCpzAZ/s1600/P1000308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Gq8rdbc7fLg2sGosQMEImtw88MNCf-GvcHZ9oSnJ6lD8C65j27Zfis0jq9-vmzn_cgzAhno5-qBcsMvUoOiYQoiAs9lq8noOmFTE5wS5VB2RJv5-nZwOGhKzs8GtiCyWbqdb86cCpzAZ/s320/P1000308.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Early to bed, early to rise.....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">First off we had to queue in the centre of the camp for our
day’s water ration – something which sounds straightforward, but which
descended into farce pretty quickly as the many many volunteers struggled to
develop a seamless and efficient process for handing out a fixed number of
bottles of water to every person in front of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were glad to still have our extra kit with
us at this point as it remained chilly in camp until late morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After queuing for breakfast, we then queued for the MdS shop
where we all wanted a fancy MdS Buff, then for the proper queue of the day –
the control checks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we got to stand
in the sunshine (mercifully much warmer now, and indeed many folk were looking
like they were burning) and await our turn to hand over our bags that weren’t
coming with us on the race, then to pick up our water cards and race numbers,
explain how heavy our race packs were and talk to the medical team who also
gave us our medical cards and salt tablets for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact it was a pretty slick operation, and
once inside the admin tent I was processed through with the minimum of fuss and
churned out the other end stood blinking in the bright sunshine having one of
those “oh no, what have I done?” moments – this was now very real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything I needed to survive the next week
was in my bag on my back, and I had no way of changing things now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d managed to help out a couple of other
competitors with excess kit prior to the control checks where they’d either
lost items, or felt cold the night before – a silk sleeping bag liner and
rucksack pouch were donated to the benefit of my fellow runners. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn7kGn3eCcLrfCEU46u61cFuAHl8vs_3WdHDEW-FjzA9DhV_mltTwPk0va1ecolRkEPXMVbGicls8vd92TPRiPxp8WmMMJCSxefk9SZQ9OeMZsDTtveVvcYiiQvOJNNSTsEAWHh9mkb1h/s1600/P1000312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn7kGn3eCcLrfCEU46u61cFuAHl8vs_3WdHDEW-FjzA9DhV_mltTwPk0va1ecolRkEPXMVbGicls8vd92TPRiPxp8WmMMJCSxefk9SZQ9OeMZsDTtveVvcYiiQvOJNNSTsEAWHh9mkb1h/s320/P1000312.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Queuing for the final checks.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In fact once we all got back to the tent there was much more
of a calm atmosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was almost as
if the excess kit we’d all been fussing over and worrying about had been an
unnecessary distraction and with it out of the way and our choices made, we
could all relax a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pleased
that my kit choices made back in the UK were still broadly what I had with me –
after all I’d trained with all my kit, had tried the food and knew what I would
want with me on the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only
additional items I had with me were a couple of spare Buffs which I forgot to
take out of my pack and a little treat for Easter Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK2G34OU-b7XQts_WH86_0mCYi32NIJEEfHozX2SfoUMlYy3IJpJfsr-nJrYh0EYQP2njcDpyD1VmD9IwwYNs-98ya6qOmXI9IHBl_J9pQDJexeezAdAQhWxl9yYjDdlennoaWhJr1_Gt/s1600/P1000316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixK2G34OU-b7XQts_WH86_0mCYi32NIJEEfHozX2SfoUMlYy3IJpJfsr-nJrYh0EYQP2njcDpyD1VmD9IwwYNs-98ya6qOmXI9IHBl_J9pQDJexeezAdAQhWxl9yYjDdlennoaWhJr1_Gt/s320/P1000316.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Everything I could possibly need for a week in the desert.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Today it got really hot between noon and 3pm – a taster of
what expect during the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily
today however the afternoon was spent drinking tea and eating biscuits in the
shade of the tent (the tea and biscuits were kept back to be consumed before
the race commenced). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The last bit of admin involved less queuing but was equally
as vital – one of the race volunteers came round to each tent to issue our shit
sacks for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should explain,
hopefully without breaching too many taboos, the toilets were set up as follows
– for a wee, it was expected that you wandered what you deemed to be a
civilised distance from the camp and sought to re-hydrate the parched landscape
whilst enjoying the view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly what
some people felt was a civilised distance was not what others would consider
appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark in our tent was our
top culprit, barely walking 10 paces from the back of the tent, but then he
does live in Kilburn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a more
substantial requirement, some cubicles were set up around the camp comprising a
tarpaulin wrapped around a metal frame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Inside each cubicle was a plastic stool (forgive the pun) with a hole in
the seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea was that you took
your shit sack and hung it over the stool then did your business, cleaned up
and took the bag out again (having first sealed it with a good knot) and placed
it in the bin found outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds
primitive, but it worked remarkably well – I didn’t hear of anyone getting a dodgy
stomach throughout the week, which in previous years had been a major concern. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBQS4CrFbpDKNrO9IhTqVpbsxC8Nq3r75Lw6dJaigwOU2dmXtNLHRzqG3HThWYmMK5DUtcJ8g2V9mMZz9qYslAD9OGi_L4uBlDFqkWU8oRAvkmz1oAg5hR_NsTFcB8OdC5mPacatKLLSp/s1600/P1000321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBQS4CrFbpDKNrO9IhTqVpbsxC8Nq3r75Lw6dJaigwOU2dmXtNLHRzqG3HThWYmMK5DUtcJ8g2V9mMZz9qYslAD9OGi_L4uBlDFqkWU8oRAvkmz1oAg5hR_NsTFcB8OdC5mPacatKLLSp/s320/P1000321.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">That's Mark on the left - the furthest he went for a wee all week.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Further good news for me was that my back, which had been
really stiff and aching after our long journey from the UK to the desert was
not causing me any great discomfort, and my calf muscle was feeling better all
the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With everything more or less
in order our tent then settled down for the rest of the afternoon watching the
pack sizes of other competitors and wondering how they could fit a weeks’ worth
of kit into such a small bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only
exceptions to this were other Brits who generally had packs of a similar size
to mine, and the Japanese who as a rule had packs that wouldn’t have looked out
of place on a Duke of Edinburgh bronze award expedition. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Later in the afternoon there was a pre-race briefing at which
we heard about an 80 year old man taking part, and someone doing their 25<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
MdS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was also a group of
firefighters from France who would be pushing/carrying a chariot with disabled
kids in it for the whole race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And an
English guy doing it with an iron and ironing board, just for fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nuts, all of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdK1ya0j75tEBt7c4LbkC8Qre3guvXItNOVCly-dYWXZFFb_LO4SzWLcDtv3DMvSGhZy_l3ojHvj5KohBnrfLbePWbGq7VBpygP_jFuJeZVZC-chLiMwLhsJRiCdjZlZaGgd2Pul65GP1L/s1600/P1000323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdK1ya0j75tEBt7c4LbkC8Qre3guvXItNOVCly-dYWXZFFb_LO4SzWLcDtv3DMvSGhZy_l3ojHvj5KohBnrfLbePWbGq7VBpygP_jFuJeZVZC-chLiMwLhsJRiCdjZlZaGgd2Pul65GP1L/s320/P1000323.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Race briefing in the hot afternoon sun.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A more sombre dinner at the race organisers catering
facility followed shortly after the briefing, and then off to bed early again,
by now I for one was incredibly nervous about the following day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t sleep well.</span> </span></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-81954841910679982422012-05-01T16:28:00.000+01:002012-05-01T17:08:12.447+01:00Goodbye civilisation – Friday 6th April 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After a huge feast for breakfast we headed out for a bit of
a scramble to the buses that would take us to the desert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was billed as a 3½ hour journey turned
into almost 5 hours by the time we’d made numerous pee stops, lunch stops and other
random stops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The route started out
winding around some deep valleys before heading out into more deserty type
terrain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a lot of hills and a
lot of rocks – not your classic Lawrence of Arabia sand dunes as far as the eye
can see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wnNBBRRvLwmXcRor75s59RTdmQwaX7emOW4-ocv8GtAt3Lgf7iTHWJJdERpQCAUa_IdFGivvNtQpxunl6_6x7pTt-vQni5616BWuEZDoGz0u0uKXh4Q7fAzejjUMM1JYptvdNFzRnMvU/s1600/P1000267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wnNBBRRvLwmXcRor75s59RTdmQwaX7emOW4-ocv8GtAt3Lgf7iTHWJJdERpQCAUa_IdFGivvNtQpxunl6_6x7pTt-vQni5616BWuEZDoGz0u0uKXh4Q7fAzejjUMM1JYptvdNFzRnMvU/s320/P1000267.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Judging by the trees, we weren't the first to stop here for a pee</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On the journey we were issued our road books detailing the
route and distances for the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
chatter on the bus dropped a few decibels as everyone scanned the pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In reality it didn’t hit home what each stage
would mean as I’d no real context for the type of terrain we’d be facing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was clear though was the distances – 33.8km,
38.5km, 35km, 81.5km, 42.2km and 15.5km, totalling 246.5km, or 153miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those early stages were a little longer than
I’d anticipated, and the last stage seemed short, but as I said, no context
made it hard to plan for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUmJd3VKFMayiyp3Qq0PDWboIL2uGhQY0HhH-C_Kdnp6eTvaAvMUmi13LN5i-9MlNyXbqULNLT4XCm62NffggJ4FK6QvVsyKAWmN0nzDc-3hiOZjlfAUzEKcTi4PqkXyAf7jBWnQeN3sP/s1600/P1000262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUmJd3VKFMayiyp3Qq0PDWboIL2uGhQY0HhH-C_Kdnp6eTvaAvMUmi13LN5i-9MlNyXbqULNLT4XCm62NffggJ4FK6QvVsyKAWmN0nzDc-3hiOZjlfAUzEKcTi4PqkXyAf7jBWnQeN3sP/s320/P1000262.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Eyes down - road books being issued en route</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Eventually we arrived at the end of the road,
literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The buses pulled off onto a
sandy “car park” in a village and we all piled off grabbing our bags and jumped
into one of the half dozen open backed trucks which took us on a bumpy and
dusty short ride to the first bivouac outside the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-_k36HP3yRUSvvAYm173ufpe285aTM2TPQMAkbfMpLTenxgvVkTo459GqXBN5xBG7UZU8JHh106rjqznh-Ft3YCoJ0rKtaxaL1KF7av_DZgrkSXVxnt7pVPzg26m_2EZVsJ2MUaegVtB/s1600/P1000274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-_k36HP3yRUSvvAYm173ufpe285aTM2TPQMAkbfMpLTenxgvVkTo459GqXBN5xBG7UZU8JHh106rjqznh-Ft3YCoJ0rKtaxaL1KF7av_DZgrkSXVxnt7pVPzg26m_2EZVsJ2MUaegVtB/s320/P1000274.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Herded like cattle towards the bivouac</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The bivouac was an impressive sight, with hundreds of tents
laid out in perfect formation with 2 circles of black tents for the
competitors, a huge number of white tents for the organisation and a massive
inflatable dome used by the caterers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
small party of berbers were singing and clapping as we entered the camp which
added to the atmosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This scene
however belies the chaotic nature of our arrival – the race was already on to
find a “good” tent – this meant one close to the camp entrance, the medical and
communication facilities and, we hoped, the finish line each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James was sent ahead to bag a suitable
location with the rest of us following behind carrying all the luggage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so it was that tent 64 was to become home
for the eight of us for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVuxmIcwyDYoArnMP6NIW6OKuOgYf2q4z6B9LvqPdKNQu8MCeOL65ymkvpv51fgljp9rmymmoDDXKq-ooSvuLMRRm_NGUFappY4WpQdw18lG1iK0hcWFVJWqUqSH9LQ_Fp-4jarQj0BK_/s1600/P1000293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVuxmIcwyDYoArnMP6NIW6OKuOgYf2q4z6B9LvqPdKNQu8MCeOL65ymkvpv51fgljp9rmymmoDDXKq-ooSvuLMRRm_NGUFappY4WpQdw18lG1iK0hcWFVJWqUqSH9LQ_Fp-4jarQj0BK_/s320/P1000293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The rest of the afternoon was spent faffing with our now
more limited kit choices, settling in (meaning drinking tea and eating biscuits)
and wandering around the camp to get our bearings and trying to appreciate what
the next week would entail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had some
familiar faces in the tents either side of us – in tent 65 were a number of
folk from the Racekit training weekend – Nicola, with Martin and Duncan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In tent 62 was Darryl along with the “Welsh
Record Holder” Rory Coleman – an MdS stalwart who was there for his 9<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
or 10<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Mds, along with his partner Jen Salter who was bidding for a
win in the female race. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Since we would not be self-sufficient until the morning of the race itself, the organisers put on an enormous catering operation for almost 1,500 people and fed us well up until then. Tonight's offering was a hearty Moroccan tagine with a glass of red wine to wash it down with - clearly easing us away from civilisation slowly. However lighting was not provided away from the catering tend and so once we got back to our abode it was a very early night, and one which was reasonably cool, although not as bad as I had feared. The wind around the camp got up during the night and kicked up some sand. Little did we know that this was nothing compared to what was to come. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hO8LEJIvUIlzBBDqu8FCxkVXV9uj4nazXnxNaoMJlnaDk1ynymgxt6Yndgan__BN0WWBlMcPS1Z8lULQlEEXUajcUYgKDNahwUrxJvX2sbB96o6VudzeTQINk9db5UlQpJFguAWmuOwa/s1600/P1000327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hO8LEJIvUIlzBBDqu8FCxkVXV9uj4nazXnxNaoMJlnaDk1ynymgxt6Yndgan__BN0WWBlMcPS1Z8lULQlEEXUajcUYgKDNahwUrxJvX2sbB96o6VudzeTQINk9db5UlQpJFguAWmuOwa/s320/P1000327.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Time for bed</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-49278752711556732862012-05-01T16:26:00.000+01:002012-05-01T17:07:20.486+01:00Morocco – Thursday 5th April 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The main aim of heading to Kent the night before the flight
was to take the stress out of getting to Gatwick and to get a lift to the
airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This worked well, although
there weren’t that many other MdS competitors who were waved off by their mum
and dad. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At check in, and indeed throughout the airport, it was obvious
who was heading for the MdS as everyone had either a red and grey Raidlight
pack, and orange Aarn pack or an OMM pack and was wearing trainers with Velcro
attached – one guy even had his gaiters on despite a distinct lack of sand at
the airport. </span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbalbFHTq8BofmLzTpZpKnQ7rIIaiQ7BGWgMycxLLx-rGQ1C45kIuu2Y1pLdghADtHV18Si8uWJIXmQA_5l5ucpritPpGZB2Ej10PDagokqlnhpimgMFWnn8r62sJLHtQH_LsgJ_WPcbH/s1600/P1000234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbalbFHTq8BofmLzTpZpKnQ7rIIaiQ7BGWgMycxLLx-rGQ1C45kIuu2Y1pLdghADtHV18Si8uWJIXmQA_5l5ucpritPpGZB2Ej10PDagokqlnhpimgMFWnn8r62sJLHtQH_LsgJ_WPcbH/s320/P1000234.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We're not nervous, honest.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I met up with the rest of my tent-mates and others who we
knew previously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d sorted our tent
group out using the wonders of Facebook, based around the people we’d met on
the Racekit training weekend back in October 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paula, Mark, James, Andy, Colin, Elisabet, Rich and I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a lot of nervous anticipation
before the flight and so much talk about kit choices, training completed, race
plans, and all things MdS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of that
helped with the nerves especially and I was oscillating between being very
excited to be finally going, and feeling totally unprepared for such an
undertaking given my on-going injuries and perceived slow pace in training. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Mgj9Q7E_pamKuGCQuHMOKWp_R9tqUxh-2TuxHZ7ajblmXJ4KfeP0zXgT-m2lN2Aa5Bbo3qxLBh1yrvFIW_crsBPPFGt4MxdoguHmvobUZCqWNt_elVTXBX1suzY9b9t2DQWm3cD5pPv_/s1600/P1000245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Mgj9Q7E_pamKuGCQuHMOKWp_R9tqUxh-2TuxHZ7ajblmXJ4KfeP0zXgT-m2lN2Aa5Bbo3qxLBh1yrvFIW_crsBPPFGt4MxdoguHmvobUZCqWNt_elVTXBX1suzY9b9t2DQWm3cD5pPv_/s320/P1000245.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">That's a lot of desert.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once in Ouazarzate we encountered our first queue of what
would turn out to be many over the coming week or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passport control took over 2 hours to clear,
which given there were only 2 flights to process was a little unnecessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We finally all cleared the formalities, and
got to the Berber Palace Hotel where we were to be stationed before and after
the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a massive sprawling place
but quite nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our room was a kind of
suite with two adjoining rooms centred around a lounge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steve and Mark were our room-mates and added
to the familiar faces we’d encounter on the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steve had just travelled over from Sydney to
the UK and then on to Morocco, and had yet to try to pack his kit as he’d had
it all delivered to his family’s place near London – he was slightly stressed
later that evening as he wondered out loud how it was all going to fit in!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pm3JcqShoNJSVIN-j_IJy7oAn9_e0WReSpEyx8BgqCtqg61ivZ4cB0HhrAQDjYK3y7I9wdp_h8tvMLbEbT7bVimSvvc5tdvI9odEks5rvyXPh-zZUYCz2wfEolD02CbZYul7AowCnDpp/s1600/P1000251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7pm3JcqShoNJSVIN-j_IJy7oAn9_e0WReSpEyx8BgqCtqg61ivZ4cB0HhrAQDjYK3y7I9wdp_h8tvMLbEbT7bVimSvvc5tdvI9odEks5rvyXPh-zZUYCz2wfEolD02CbZYul7AowCnDpp/s320/P1000251.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We headed out to try to find a bar but failed
and settled for a mint tea before heading back to the hotel for a massive feed
and some beers, although with an early start the next day, and so much
excitement it was never going to be a late night.</span> </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV67OyTGxY6VrdqytCB1woWgtNVZPnmEQ0O_q9Z069BnzVn4Ka4eApuxNHOJ1iU6yqQtY8tMCNdXBnvOigDWTZOR9UPKiC8Gi8Hpei_LoT3rDVlZDvVkQqQDIkBUuyWJ6sCGe35U1yRgzx/s1600/P1000258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV67OyTGxY6VrdqytCB1woWgtNVZPnmEQ0O_q9Z069BnzVn4Ka4eApuxNHOJ1iU6yqQtY8tMCNdXBnvOigDWTZOR9UPKiC8Gi8Hpei_LoT3rDVlZDvVkQqQDIkBUuyWJ6sCGe35U1yRgzx/s320/P1000258.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-24736015362449207992012-05-01T16:25:00.000+01:002012-05-01T17:06:18.178+01:00The journey begins – Wed 4th April 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">An odd start to our journey to the desert – it snowed just
before leaving, meaning a surreal trek out in the snow in sub-zero temperatures
from my house to get to the heat chamber less than 2 miles away where there
wasn’t any snow at all, followed by an hour or so in temperatures in excess of
40 degrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And once that was over, the
same thing in reverse as I headed home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before we could set off there was a small issue of digging out the car!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqS6VH4P4mLejuivJ7py0NAEhbI_2kyj5Pr4Ja7o9Je3Hdm1_Rxm8sVyBDqQQC7UqA9AuQfLU_9ukArHjmH-DyJkw4_XCZBNCQmlMpryY3p3WchpbEOtxPwdg8D640ipIfxgvk0Ej_qqDP/s1600/Snow+on+departure+day+view+from+window.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqS6VH4P4mLejuivJ7py0NAEhbI_2kyj5Pr4Ja7o9Je3Hdm1_Rxm8sVyBDqQQC7UqA9AuQfLU_9ukArHjmH-DyJkw4_XCZBNCQmlMpryY3p3WchpbEOtxPwdg8D640ipIfxgvk0Ej_qqDP/s320/Snow+on+departure+day+view+from+window.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The view from the house on 4th April - cars needing to be dug out</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Leaving home was odd too, with the new arrival Eddie barely
2 weeks old, and a very understanding wife letting me shirk my parental
responsibilities for the next two weeks it felt like I was running away a bit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still the journey south to my folks’ house was
uneventful once we got out of the snow (less than 2 miles from my house) and in
many respects it was quite relaxing as there wasn’t much more I could do to
prepare at this stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although my
massive bag of “just in case” items suggested otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-4784739876508301542012-04-03T20:13:00.001+01:002012-04-03T20:13:31.381+01:00No turning back<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's nearly time to head off on the long journey to Morocco - it starts tomorrow lunchtime with a drive to my folks' place in Kent for an overnight stop and then on to Gatwick on Thursday morning for a mid-day flight to Ouazarzate in southern Morocco. I have had a frantic few days getting ready to go, and with most of my jobs done, I'm about as ready as I can be. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The heat training started in earnest over the weekend, and we're coming to the end of our 5 sessions in heat of up to and over 45 degrees C. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFAB2Bphgc1oz3sAtGZUVZiO3EsaUDltZZcuLuqG9jjvN3NZnwKs15Ku1n2M6ajWQitmZLTe3ozBbKFOpuEtL-YDq4uywppKLdXSP0mJQlXCi-YDTJ7eXfa9HCiZ98FrwpI2D-R7aHOIz/s1600/Temp+Gauge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFAB2Bphgc1oz3sAtGZUVZiO3EsaUDltZZcuLuqG9jjvN3NZnwKs15Ku1n2M6ajWQitmZLTe3ozBbKFOpuEtL-YDq4uywppKLdXSP0mJQlXCi-YDTJ7eXfa9HCiZ98FrwpI2D-R7aHOIz/s200/Temp+Gauge.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">That's quite warm!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The sessions aren't that exciting really, just an hour or so of alternating walking/running on the treadmill and pedalling on the static bike trainer. But they do seem to be having the desired effect, and have enabled us to tweak our kit a little as it and we respond to the heat. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8hwH5jZM0MrjEhpTN3dkHksmgtZDHbT6EXSG3eBWr6_TgJ1a4DfAX-bFe_bPqdWIFkcaqPvT-IHfsF7Ga_qqoHD_c29CFddWpRcRNHjspbFOf6MO5rGk_pyRAA5oHEHIMnFn6v3h-5GD/s1600/Heat+Chamber+120331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8hwH5jZM0MrjEhpTN3dkHksmgtZDHbT6EXSG3eBWr6_TgJ1a4DfAX-bFe_bPqdWIFkcaqPvT-IHfsF7Ga_qqoHD_c29CFddWpRcRNHjspbFOf6MO5rGk_pyRAA5oHEHIMnFn6v3h-5GD/s320/Heat+Chamber+120331.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">That's quite cool!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I managed to get out into the hills over the weekend too to really test the leg recovery with a "fast" 10 miler (fast as in about 2 hours!) with some fast marching and slow jogging. The walking was fine, but the jogging was nerve racking - my calf felt tight and I kept thinking it was about to tear again so I didn't push it, and it all survived without any further inflammation or pain. So, after more physio visits I've been given the all clear for the race, although I'll still be taking the first day or two ultra conservatively just in case. It's still got 5 days to recover further before I go so it should be fine by the time the race starts. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The other aspect of preparation that's pre-occupied me has been kit - lots of it, lots of debate over how much of stuff to take, what food, how many calories etc etc. All things I thought I had covered but still needed to be finalised. I've now confirmed my pack with a weight of slightly over 10kg before I add the 1.5kg of water I'll be carrying as well. That's slightly heavier than I had hoped, but less than I thought it would be after all the last minute faffing. There's certainly a lot of stuff in it. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXVLxicZXfOhlmvCkIRQUvlhfG0_HbjDpnYlIrGtOuEn4fJa3ExV-N0HRgLvwx9pokh0Pasx31__AKtT8220i8OfjxUaoAWPeqb_tmX5X6ZDPND3pX3yEf3BalItWgMsm69aBBkOn8P6R/s1600/P1000222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXVLxicZXfOhlmvCkIRQUvlhfG0_HbjDpnYlIrGtOuEn4fJa3ExV-N0HRgLvwx9pokh0Pasx31__AKtT8220i8OfjxUaoAWPeqb_tmX5X6ZDPND3pX3yEf3BalItWgMsm69aBBkOn8P6R/s320/P1000222.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Most of it weighs nothing, which is good because the rest weighs over 10kg</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And finally, we've been pushing hard on the publicity angle. On top of the newspaper articles that will be published whilst we're away, today saw Rich and I doing a live slot on the Toby Foster Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Sheffield. If you're reading this within 7 days of it being posted you can hear the clip on the BBC iPlayer at 1 hour 36 minutes into the programme via the following link: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00q7hwt">http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00q7hwt</a>. I'm hoping we've delivered on our promises to our sponsors at Otto's and The Mediterranean in Sheffield. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFU_R0Ijc2nlbNe2DuJ7-YQLXBxv4SvrGFWCNxGE5fj8ShCGbG7zCvUYH0qVsCSbEf43PoNWCwW_m1oWVr-FFYsA_N-ab6kVoyDbnmXvmFucXtOGqfTn_JywteuifPfwxUbXeGzRPa6KR/s1600/BBC+Radio+Sheffield+120403+Rich.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFU_R0Ijc2nlbNe2DuJ7-YQLXBxv4SvrGFWCNxGE5fj8ShCGbG7zCvUYH0qVsCSbEf43PoNWCwW_m1oWVr-FFYsA_N-ab6kVoyDbnmXvmFucXtOGqfTn_JywteuifPfwxUbXeGzRPa6KR/s320/BBC+Radio+Sheffield+120403+Rich.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rich and Toby Foster live on air - rock & roll!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, the preparation is complete, or as complete as it's able to get, and there's not much more to do now, than get there and enjoy the experience. Oh, and run 150 miles of course. Wish me good luck and I'll be back after the race with a full run down of the race from my perspective and my thoughts on my performance. </span>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-59945675570924705182012-03-30T23:10:00.000+01:002012-03-30T23:10:37.178+01:00Edging towards Morocco<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">8 days on, and things have progressed reasonably positively on the injury front. I've had 4 sessions with physios, a Pilates class and a one-to-one session and a visit to a Chiropractor since the injury which, on the one hand makes me feel optimistic about my recovery, and on the other hand makes me feel like my body is falling apart needing so many people and interventions to hold it together. Without wanting to dwell on the negatives too much (or tempt fate), it does seem that things are moving in the right direction. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I've lost most of the pain in my calf muscle apart from when really pushing off on it or stretching it extensively. I can walk pretty normally now which bodes well. Having rested it and iced it for a good few days I've been advised to push it along a bit so I've started doing a bit more targeted exercise on it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I had thought I'd left the stupidly early mornings behind, but on Thursday morning I dug out the headtorch and met with Rich at 6.30am just up the road. This session had a number of aims.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">First I wanted to see how my leg was getting along. It seemed fine and coped well with a 4 mile outing, albeit with no pack weight and not too fast. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Secondly to get some photos of us in our shiny new sponsored kit which we'd just received back from Sue at <a href="http://farmembroidery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Heatherhill Farm Embroidery</a> in Bamford in the Peak District. Possibly a little of the "all the gear, no idea", but I'm happy with the desert look at this stage.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx84LYNnF5cKGvgc7E6vUaRkzc6F8vXnE_mlFdaGyDDae-eYbK_qz3atFWkW24CBUH9Fxi9yXUONjXZxl3DWBEJFHoz6YDtVRo9YBgfQ0wjiFDcMxZ3IjCdyCcLg1JS5UEXE6A2F4ZjRw/s1600/Rich+&+Me+Full+Race+Gear+Houndkirk+120329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXx84LYNnF5cKGvgc7E6vUaRkzc6F8vXnE_mlFdaGyDDae-eYbK_qz3atFWkW24CBUH9Fxi9yXUONjXZxl3DWBEJFHoz6YDtVRo9YBgfQ0wjiFDcMxZ3IjCdyCcLg1JS5UEXE6A2F4ZjRw/s320/Rich+&+Me+Full+Race+Gear+Houndkirk+120329.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm the tall one (not stood on a rock) on the right.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And finally to meet with a reporter from BBC Radio Sheffield in order to record an interview with us ahead of our live appearance on the breakfast show with Toby Foster next Tuesday. This nearly pushed me to my limit on the leg front as she wanted to record it whilst we ran. I gingerly trotted along and luckily I don't think that running was Kat's thing as she didn't appear keen to push the pace.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iLd-cxV02kpVi61Ya98N4I8Vehv9UQh4Fvt2SuHKADI4S1BT3V-818SR7M1vClZGSATiovC293az5wrC53oiLcnx6Xlwi0G5Yi1GCGpgq2Rp-oL5ng_pzXyzoUYPSObbcR7YkkFoeRJE/s1600/BBC+Radio+Sheffield+Reporter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iLd-cxV02kpVi61Ya98N4I8Vehv9UQh4Fvt2SuHKADI4S1BT3V-818SR7M1vClZGSATiovC293az5wrC53oiLcnx6Xlwi0G5Yi1GCGpgq2Rp-oL5ng_pzXyzoUYPSObbcR7YkkFoeRJE/s1600/BBC+Radio+Sheffield+Reporter.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Kat from BBC Radio Sheffield wasn't used to being up so early - she didn't even have time to dry her hair!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So having suffered no ill-effects from that little jaunt, and benefitting from another physio session with Derek French today, I set off for a brisk march of 7 miles this afternoon. I'd been feeling as though my back problems were being compounded by protecting my injured leg however once out and up to speed all seemed to settle down and I started to really enjoy the outing. I think that I've been getting a bit stir crazy being unable to do anything and having enforced rest. Whatever, I faced the demons of where my injury took place on the aptly named Limb Valley towards the end of the hike and finished off the 7 miles in 1 hour 36 mins and feeling much much better about my prospects for the race itself. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YIDWZJvru4fJsYjJaMvx4tXzZmnGcyN2N1UTFbKlf_UDO04j-_66gMr-0cnhHarZL7XvTAcICRHo3i7UKocC1DAqNXpn5QdQKp69wE-givhszfQq88sDt2sF6YR7OCkqwhuLVAnKnArF/s1600/Limb+Valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YIDWZJvru4fJsYjJaMvx4tXzZmnGcyN2N1UTFbKlf_UDO04j-_66gMr-0cnhHarZL7XvTAcICRHo3i7UKocC1DAqNXpn5QdQKp69wE-givhszfQq88sDt2sF6YR7OCkqwhuLVAnKnArF/s320/Limb+Valley.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Despite the look, I'm actually feeling better about my recovery at this point</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Aside from the BBC coverage, I've also been in touch with both the Sheffield Telegraph and Sheffield Star to try to secure some more coverage for our charity fundraising and for our kit sponsors <a href="http://www.ottosrestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank">Otto's</a> and <a href="http://www.mediterraneansheffield.co.uk/" target="_blank">the Mediterranean</a> restaurants in Sheffield. I'm hopeful or articles in both next week. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Our fund raising has now reached over 90% of our £5,000 target, and today stands at £4,657 and hopefully with a final push we should hit the target before we go. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The final bits of kit preparation are coming along well, although I'm struggling to bring my overall pack weight down below 10.5kg before adding water. That's a fair bit heavier than I was aiming for, despite cutting off almost 100g from my rucsac and seemingly trimming the rest of it down as far as I think I can. I may change my views a bit after practicing with it in the Sheffield Hallam University heat chamber from tomorrow, and probably even more once I get to the desert and experiencing the conditions, and seeing what others have packed. </span>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-11181790008411010642012-03-26T16:05:00.000+01:002012-03-26T16:05:28.155+01:00Disaaaaster!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9E7Bf2FVYEOKH6pkgCLryDzJ39nwGS0B9lQPcBVT3r_sQ4Z5NYHVgKBv_oauUsMBhcqXVKLN9d4WUJvCsaqoycvt6zAXmljTNk7Mosk4PBgZL3-JPLWvj6glLta5GcNzhKv4aUE9_kRmw/s1600/Calf+injury+March+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9E7Bf2FVYEOKH6pkgCLryDzJ39nwGS0B9lQPcBVT3r_sQ4Z5NYHVgKBv_oauUsMBhcqXVKLN9d4WUJvCsaqoycvt6zAXmljTNk7Mosk4PBgZL3-JPLWvj6glLta5GcNzhKv4aUE9_kRmw/s320/Calf+injury+March+2012.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Not ideal preparation for the race.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Having finished work until after the race I had a few goals whilst off work:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">1) Be well rested</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">2) Have all my kit sorted out</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">3) Remain injury free</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm doing ok on 1) and 2), but number 3) is proving harder than I thought. After best part of 10 days with almost no cardio training, last Thursday I decided it was time I went out and enjoyed the ability to run in the middle of the afternoon and the lovely weather. Fifteen minutes into the run however my left calf muscle gave a disturbing popping/squelching sound and I almost fell to the ground with the pain, unable to stand on my left foot, or walk on it, let alone run on it. Five minutes at the side of the trail hoping it was just a really bad cramp and trying in vain to stretch it out left me fearing the worst. I turned, somewhat dejectedly and hobbled off in the direction of home. A fifteen minute run out turned into a fifty minute incredibly painful limp home, interspersed with a liberal amount of swearing and cursing as I played through in my head what this might mean for the race in just two weeks' time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">At home I had a hot bath, elevated my foot and applied ice and took anti-inflammatory drugs to try to minimise the damage. And continued swearing. I seriously thought that was my race over - a quick google of torn muscle injuries didn't help as I discovered recovery time was at best 2-3 weeks, at worst several months. Given that I couldn't put any weight on my left leg, I was fearing the worst. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The next day I went to see a physio recommended by Darryl - Derek French. I'd heard of him a long time ago through the tri-club so his reputation was widely known about. He said it was too early to determine exactly what I'd done, and that the key thing over the next few days was RICE treatment - rest, ice, compression and elevation, just what I'd done since the injury. He also applied an electrical therapy to my leg (a bit like a TENS machine). It passed electrical pulses into my injured muscle to stimulate the healing process and felt quite odd, very tingly and made my foot twitch. 25 minutes of that and I was amazed at how much better it felt. I was warned that the injury would start to feel worse again as the treatment wore off, but it did make me feel a little more positive. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Since then (it's now Monday) I've rested a lot, applied a lot of ice, worn compression socks all day and night and sat with my foot elevated for many hours and it's got a lot better. I can walk with only a slight limp, although I can't push off from my left foot with any force. I guess I'm protecting it a bit as it's made my sciatica flare up a bit more in the last few days too. I'm back to see Derek the Physio tomorrow, followed by the Chiropractor Lee at Breathe Pilates recommended so I'll have a better idea of how it's recovering and hopefully have some improvement in my back too. Based on how much improvement I've seen in 4 days I'm confident (notwithstanding any more injuries!) that I'll make it to the start line, although I have no idea what it's going to mean for my race pace.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Apart from the injury my preparations have been going pretty well. I've got my ECG done, thanks to my friend Alli the Cardiologist. Oddly the ECG print out stated "abnormal ECG", although Alli simply scribbled over that with a biro and wrote "normal ECG" next to it. I assume the race doctors will be fine with that!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSZHura9AR3DJfd0dDm5PujkOkBrWfhVNO60Ii385SZwtU93AStC9Cd78ZbfQtFhi9M9GAV3AKAEbDCaMPYGFRFcQXZrcEyFXOzCHSVWiASO_F1E3CBu_edAWh8tK2GzWn6BtqTGtC6qH/s1600/ECG+March+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSZHura9AR3DJfd0dDm5PujkOkBrWfhVNO60Ii385SZwtU93AStC9Cd78ZbfQtFhi9M9GAV3AKAEbDCaMPYGFRFcQXZrcEyFXOzCHSVWiASO_F1E3CBu_edAWh8tK2GzWn6BtqTGtC6qH/s1600/ECG+March+2012.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Luckily I didn't need to shave my chest for the ECG</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">According to the ECG, I also have a "marked sinus bradycardia" which I understand translates to a slower than 60bpm heartrate (mine showed 49bpm) and "1st degree AV block" which I think is a slow electrical impulse - Wikipedia suggests potentially some more sinister risks with this, but very low ones, and the Alli the expert didn't seem phased by it so I'll not lose any sleep over it just yet. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhIi-sW_zMGzIoRtkD5BX79M84E4GzUznSuTdaMHZ6G8Ssg7ItvOZMD7hHqqJs8IeDYS9PLfA_FkGoImLGcHZm6GuEE4Gv1o0IP31oqiWR6ayVKTptumtPttDdTerEFHv3u_CFtwCsHfB/s1600/ECG+Sheet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhIi-sW_zMGzIoRtkD5BX79M84E4GzUznSuTdaMHZ6G8Ssg7ItvOZMD7hHqqJs8IeDYS9PLfA_FkGoImLGcHZm6GuEE4Gv1o0IP31oqiWR6ayVKTptumtPttDdTerEFHv3u_CFtwCsHfB/s320/ECG+Sheet.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Apparently it's "normal".</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We also had an evening with a couple of sports psychologists at Sheffield Hallam University on Thursday evening. Just 4 hours after my injury it was potentially excellent timing as my mood plummeted. In fact the conversation was a little unstructured and seemed to loosely cover areas we'd touched on at the Racekit training weekend last October. It was useful to remind ourselves of some strategies to deal with things going wrong, but the whole session seemed a bit predicated on us all assuming the worst and risking crumbling at every turn. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The weekend also saw the start of our heat acclimatisation training in the Virgin Active sauna. Nothing at all camp about three middle-aged men spending their Friday night sweating in the sauna for 45 minutes. Three sessions in total over the weekend ahead of the more formal heat chamber sessions at Sheffield Hallam Uni next weekend and every day in the build up to the race. Not sure I feel totally at ease in the heat just yet, but I'm assured it will help. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I now have all 4,885grams of food parcels packed up ready to go. I am now focusing on keeping the rest of my kit to somewhere under 5 kilos so that my pack isn't ridiculously heavy at the start of the week. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhuHPwCmnIX_UFddpJy1MzF3QOOwQU7cqLXVRYlMvtJdRmNq6yZUhrEEzrpXa6EBwY_xo1xvDPi3CEdwJTWNm211oy_uSNDpyec-USy0B88RIKWQC9oWuONywrXdBYBU1Vw58-3yFXuzY/s1600/Food+parcels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhuHPwCmnIX_UFddpJy1MzF3QOOwQU7cqLXVRYlMvtJdRmNq6yZUhrEEzrpXa6EBwY_xo1xvDPi3CEdwJTWNm211oy_uSNDpyec-USy0B88RIKWQC9oWuONywrXdBYBU1Vw58-3yFXuzY/s320/Food+parcels.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">19,401 calories for the week, including pork scratchings. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Tomorrow's physio visit will determine whether I can look at doing some more cardio work ahead of the race, and indeed may give me a clearer idea on likely target pace for the event. Apart from that all I can do it work through the still ridiculously long list of admin to sort out before I depart. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAii76yjkZVZm44sCjcF-FIInyASnI7d5mH6-3XtUWGRoQp29AyFpQNTW2mJHDO3VjnI4mpjhRQLjIowAlQxqQOWP_OChG1-QarjT-OWKF4F43b_AyjySTf_sVzEFQJHdTSoyImMHspXo8/s1600/My+pack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAii76yjkZVZm44sCjcF-FIInyASnI7d5mH6-3XtUWGRoQp29AyFpQNTW2mJHDO3VjnI4mpjhRQLjIowAlQxqQOWP_OChG1-QarjT-OWKF4F43b_AyjySTf_sVzEFQJHdTSoyImMHspXo8/s320/My+pack.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Not sure what to put in it yet, but my pack has been pimped ready for action</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-58988160155236787112012-03-20T15:53:00.001+00:002012-03-20T16:01:30.742+00:00Tapering, admin and nappies<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Not a typical week in my build up to the race. I've managed a total of 8 miles - actually a welcome relief after the previous two weeks, and also managed to be up working until midnight and undertaking many visits to the hospital pre, during and post the birth of my third child Eddie. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdn_NZizekpqWXCwA-4Y5LloABpS48DGxYa8YflUNFfAuqPEGg-9ykwWnUf-7QBVs-keaaERg3tc7reupsWL48pmvVh0T-oJ-LkswGiYfXOf7Bt0dV6UKKJIdcFrBRbNrGE6Nmqijsqy-D/s1600/Kids+in+hospital+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdn_NZizekpqWXCwA-4Y5LloABpS48DGxYa8YflUNFfAuqPEGg-9ykwWnUf-7QBVs-keaaERg3tc7reupsWL48pmvVh0T-oJ-LkswGiYfXOf7Bt0dV6UKKJIdcFrBRbNrGE6Nmqijsqy-D/s200/Kids+in+hospital+2.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Latest distraction from training</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The little man arrived on Wednesday 14th and has pretty much dominated the week's activities, as one might expect. It adds another dimension to the preparations for the race, is likely to mean I may struggle with enough sleep before heading to Morocco, and makes me very glad I've got all my key training out of the way before this week. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Apart from a solitary eight mile outing on Sunday (a most pleasant change without a pack of any kind) the only training has been some Pilates - both a one-to-one session and a "reformer" class - lots of sliding up and down on a platform using assorted bars, straps and balls to develop core strength and increase flexibility/mobility. Both are quite hard work, but still seem to be doing me some good. To see if I can push things along a bit I've signed up to see a Chiropractor recommended by Lee at <a href="http://www.breathe-pilates.co.uk/" target="_blank">Breathe Pilates</a> next week. Not sure what that will entail. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We've also been contacted by an MSc sports psychology student from Sheffield Hallam Uni who wants to work with us to develop our mental preparations, so Rich, Darryl and I are heading there later in the week to see what we can glean from a few sessions with him. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In between all of the above I'm trying to work through my seemingly endless list of jobs to tick off before I fly out on 5th April. This has been helped enormously by having now finished work until I get back from the race - first two weeks of paternity leave, followed by some annual leave and before you know it, a whole month off - brilliant!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It's getting very close now, and I'm starting to get really, really excited.</span>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-16467955371512518912012-03-20T15:26:00.000+00:002012-03-20T15:26:29.054+00:00100 miles more<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Another 100 miles in a week of training, straight off the back of the previous one. Knackered!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jzKi67uXTabaY8wm5jO8j6RPjXrlJwnasia34IPmLy11p4ZZ33ptt68PBwoqZZMPVgeHcnDK7hOd52hngYPwgQnqTa752l8AzZ5HFA7zE0nUeXEsdRd4Hd59gIftzaUshUA0c6zJDs1y/s1600/March+2012+Peaking+in+the+Peak+Day+2+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jzKi67uXTabaY8wm5jO8j6RPjXrlJwnasia34IPmLy11p4ZZ33ptt68PBwoqZZMPVgeHcnDK7hOd52hngYPwgQnqTa752l8AzZ5HFA7zE0nUeXEsdRd4Hd59gIftzaUshUA0c6zJDs1y/s320/March+2012+Peaking+in+the+Peak+Day+2+8.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Celebrating the end of my 2nd 100 mile week on Stanage Edge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Fitting in 100 miles (5-11 March - this update isn't very up to date) with 2 day trips to London for work in the middle of the week was always going to pose some challenges, as was doing that kind of mileage straight after the previous week of 101 miles, but it's now done. The crux session of the week was a 41.5 mile trip out on Saturday going from home round Redmires to Stanage, all the way along to Strines, down to Ladybower, round the reservoirs and then back up to Strines and along Stanage, dropping down into Burbage and then home via Houndkirk and Ringinglow - if you don't know it, look it up on a map, it's a long way!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Having had 4 seasons thrown at me in one day, and being close to running out of water at 28 miles (a cheeky duck into someone's garden to replenish from an outside tap) and bonking along Stanage at about 34 miles all added to the effort, but I was pleased to be home in 9 hours 15 minutes. To put that in perspective, that's faster than the High Peak 40 last September, despite being 1.5 miles further, whilst carrying a 10.5kg pack, and off the back of 150 miles in the previous 12 days. I can't grumble at that really. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Due to Rich having a foot injury in the week, it meant that our planned trip to camp in the Peak District didn't quite materialise, and that I would be running the 40 miler alone. Instead I sought to replicate race conditions as much as possible by using race rations alone from Friday morning until Sunday afternoon and camping in the garden using only equipment I'd have on the MdS. It worked well, combining being able to see the family with managing my body through a tough weekend of training. Some valuable lessons stored away in there for the race.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPtPqh-Q3B5z2avAXrc-FvRRM59PXXaR28uAG3n8FuX_Yo6jIwKbPLlBSzh_mbUQGwnRf4LhVjW9RsU34O9LoNZWaODJbMluVcz5Invqiy5F7Engy7KqAqomjMM7MC-Hage2XLAUtTIT7/s1600/March+2012+Peaking+in+the+Peak+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPtPqh-Q3B5z2avAXrc-FvRRM59PXXaR28uAG3n8FuX_Yo6jIwKbPLlBSzh_mbUQGwnRf4LhVjW9RsU34O9LoNZWaODJbMluVcz5Invqiy5F7Engy7KqAqomjMM7MC-Hage2XLAUtTIT7/s320/March+2012+Peaking+in+the+Peak+3.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Trying to replicate race conditions, by making the tent crowded!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On the following day I felt a bit sluggish but surprisingly ok and helped along by Rich who was bounding along like an over-excited kid having had an easy week of training due to his foot, I managed another 15 miles in a reasonable time (faster per mile than the previous day) and in pretty good shape. I was still glad to see it end though.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And so that concludes the "proper" training for the race. From here on in it's tapering and kit preparations. Oh, and a baby arriving imminently. </span>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-52597064555944824702012-03-07T19:45:00.001+00:002012-03-20T15:28:10.860+00:00101 miles in a week<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After 7 days of running back to back, I’ve finally found 10 minutes to update the blog on what has been my biggest week of training thus far – 101 miles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put in 12 miles a day Monday to Friday, either to or from work, followed by two 20 milers at the weekend, one walking (with a couple of miles of running at the end) and one trying to run as much as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence Saturday’s 20 miles took me 5hours 17, whilst Sunday’s 21 miles was completed in the rain, then sleet, then snow in 3hours 52; both with about a 10kg pack.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Also, apart from being well pleased with actually covering 100+ miles in a week, I’m even more pleased that I can run a bit now too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not without discomfort, but I think that’s more due to me not actually running at all since New Year and my muscles being a bit shocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far however, there have been no terrible repercussions for my back.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Possibly linked to this progress has been the trip to the Pilates expert, Lee at <a href="http://www.breathe-pilates.co.uk/" target="_blank">Breathe Pilates</a> in Sheffield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>90 minutes of dynamic stretches and a host of other exercises on a range of equipment, followed by homework aimed at developing core stability and mobility appears to have done some good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My back feels a lot better and Lee seems confident that I have time to remedy the worst of my sciatic issues before the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the kind of news I like. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This week’s less than positive news came from Sheffield Hallam Uni however, where it seems the students aren’t as interested in probing and analysing two slightly fat middle-aged men as they prepare for a silly race in the desert as we all assumed they would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t look as though we’re going to get a chance to get fully acclimatised in the build up of the final few weeks, although we have been offered a few sessions to help us test kit and the like, and as the saying goes....”every little helps”. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’ve also got a bit of a sore ankle too as a result of the increased mileage, but some judicious icing and compression should resolve that before long. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, a day off running today, then back into it tomorrow as I start my second (and final!) 100+ mile week, culminating hopefully in a weekend camping in the Peak District trying to replicate race conditions as best I can (rations and sleeping in the cold, as opposed to sand and heat) covering some 70miles from Friday morning to Sunday lunchtime.</span>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-17621372310436710872012-02-27T21:40:00.002+00:002012-03-20T16:10:11.367+00:00Charitable disposition<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Still plodding on with back issues and lots of time on my feet as the weeks tick by. A solid, and very wet and blustery 54km or 33.5miles in about 8 hours 15 mins a week ago Saturday was followed up with a swift 15miles the following day in glorious sunshine. Sadly that level of effort wasn't possible the following week due to work commitments during the week, as well as our first foray into the heat chamber at <a href="http://www.shu.ac.uk/research/cses/index.html" target="_blank">Sheffield Hallam University</a>. It was a very cautious first session with 5 minutes on the treadmill followed by 5 minutes of rest, repeated 4 times - and all done at just over 38 degrees celcius. It was hot, but bearable though I was surprised how much I drank in what was a very light session.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We also held our charity fund raising dinner last weekend. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Hosted by our main sponsor, <a href="http://ottosrestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank">Otto's Moroccan Restaurant</a> in Sheffield on Friday night, a group of 50 kind an charitable souls enjoyed an evening of fine Moroccan cuisine, belly dancing, a charity raffle and the talents of a brilliant magician. The evening was a great success, and we added a further £725 to our fund raising total, which now stands at over £3,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and the Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4NTKiVt9pME7ed0yQxXevPUKr5XfQWg6CZ2-esqTUh9a5ABwscxQA3UzVjykffYAEbsr_q8AucQO2CywBY0MUMjWnbA0K7E2i2dfGRZ6gBcXv-tpNti0fGllt5N7BbOWVocLfJ6gotAp/s1600/Feb+2012+Otto's+Dinner+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4NTKiVt9pME7ed0yQxXevPUKr5XfQWg6CZ2-esqTUh9a5ABwscxQA3UzVjykffYAEbsr_q8AucQO2CywBY0MUMjWnbA0K7E2i2dfGRZ6gBcXv-tpNti0fGllt5N7BbOWVocLfJ6gotAp/s200/Feb+2012+Otto's+Dinner+3.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Moroccan evening at Otto's</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Sadly, it seems I enjoyed the evening a little too much and was very much the worse for wear on Saturday which, combined with the fact I had friends from Kent up visiting made for a training-free weekend. Apart from the obvious groggy and hungover sensation it was surprisingly nice to have an entire weekend of not putting on trainers and heading out for long hours. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Such thoughts need to be banished for now however, as with only 6 weeks to go I'm about to head into my two longest weeks training of the whole preparation. I'm aiming for over 100 miles per week in the next two weeks, plus some turbo sessions. That's a lot of time on my feet, with some critical sessions in there including what we're calling our Peaking in the Peak weekend. This will represent our final long back to back training sessions before heading off for the race. After that, my baby should be born, and I'll be focussing on heat acclimatisation, maintaining fitness and preventing further injury.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">To that end, I'm also off to see a pilates specialist this week to see whether they can offer any better or more effective remedy for my back which, although seems manageable for now isn't really getting any better. </span>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-86288390949247457942012-02-13T15:06:00.001+00:002012-03-20T16:05:21.060+00:00Two steps forward, one step back<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Multi-stage Ultra Marathon completed – Tick!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’m very pleased to report that the Pilgrim’s Challenge was completed in some fairly challenging conditions over 4-5 February with very little ill-effects. Having set off from Sheffield at 4am the race for those of us deemed “walkers” (for me due to back issues) at 8am in temperatures hovering around -7 degrees C. Day 1 was relatively straightforward and in fact the cold weather helped keep the going underfoot nice and firm, as it looked like it could get really really muddy. With almost 11kg on my back, slipping around in mud would have become very tiresome very quickly.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSPo-4iSNlhntQr_GOPgQWOuPUHafQ6mULazYrvoGPSaxZz91xHjcRxYOel1nRH_fsPy2sAHar4FBdF0lCmCLG4vRSEiQxb28awYbaANumPCLBCtz63K9M1HsOlPgNr6hRIABIKhboZCM/s1600/Pilgrims+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSPo-4iSNlhntQr_GOPgQWOuPUHafQ6mULazYrvoGPSaxZz91xHjcRxYOel1nRH_fsPy2sAHar4FBdF0lCmCLG4vRSEiQxb28awYbaANumPCLBCtz63K9M1HsOlPgNr6hRIABIKhboZCM/s200/Pilgrims+2.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">-7 degrees stops the mud being too slippy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once I got into a metronomic rhythm with my poles click-clacking along, there was no stopping me and I managed to cover the 33 miles, with 1,200m of ascent in 7 hours 51 mins. Not bad for a walker. The overnight stop was in a school hall, with about 150 other competitors, and to try to replicate race conditions as much as possible, I stuck to race rations (with the exception of a cup of tea and piece of cake). Dehydrated fish and potato, Bombay mix and peanuts for dinner. Yum. I was surprised how little I’d eaten during the day (a mini peperami and a pack of dextrose sweets – about 250 calories in total) and yet didn’t feel especially hungry.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MLlRczSt9AS4lAaWxEVGLapjtlXAK6P2WhE7YQvQsgINN83_fScs5XdBc9K3LIzaGB8k7d0H5P5OEyeAG1w5ZQuYTn9ngQdKuOVEIjSmWJ0ysWiMcfKiz_vNKxbzTd21WZCptRDvqO4y/s1600/Pilgrims+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MLlRczSt9AS4lAaWxEVGLapjtlXAK6P2WhE7YQvQsgINN83_fScs5XdBc9K3LIzaGB8k7d0H5P5OEyeAG1w5ZQuYTn9ngQdKuOVEIjSmWJ0ysWiMcfKiz_vNKxbzTd21WZCptRDvqO4y/s200/Pilgrims+4.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Still smiling at the night stop</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After a fitful sleep, we awoke to a 4-6 inch blanket of snow. Near disaster for the race organisers who had been up half the night trying to sort out whether or not the race would/could/should continue and where to place checkpoints and possible re-routing of the course. Sensibly they realised that most people would go out and give it a go even if they did cancel the event and so they announced the race was still on, albeit with a mass start at 8am rather than the staggered starts anticipated in the original plan. </span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8q3TYcg2O1HWZFrV2Fsgnff5rBwDN33u3CKbr7HXt4qnbdpIddPb-2fSVkNlkSLKTGIAlUPcQGt5t0-PmWkQfSAaC-3Et1iXSbgyxOrYf-r49gAqKHNZBEUgPQsZfCFdDlRciHs5b9c_/s1600/Pilgrims+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8q3TYcg2O1HWZFrV2Fsgnff5rBwDN33u3CKbr7HXt4qnbdpIddPb-2fSVkNlkSLKTGIAlUPcQGt5t0-PmWkQfSAaC-3Et1iXSbgyxOrYf-r49gAqKHNZBEUgPQsZfCFdDlRciHs5b9c_/s200/Pilgrims+8.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The North Downs Way</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ASVRvdqJXjI_-2kNWnsoles2zfaSNqcB5iX4i46ZrYzg0zkhFLQPoUod58RpOIfcU6lpwoxAAczTKdWKY22kMMvb-jkF3aYclpu7LqXH_Qy5b4lyLQBEZo6u4MgRpReO2VFvUPo0-Oni/s1600/Pilgrims+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ASVRvdqJXjI_-2kNWnsoles2zfaSNqcB5iX4i46ZrYzg0zkhFLQPoUod58RpOIfcU6lpwoxAAczTKdWKY22kMMvb-jkF3aYclpu7LqXH_Qy5b4lyLQBEZo6u4MgRpReO2VFvUPo0-Oni/s320/Pilgrims+7.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Walking in a winter wonderland</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border: currentColor;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Luckily Rich and I had packed our Yaktrax snow grippers and they served us well for the whole 33 mile return journey as we were able to take many places on the slippery descents. The route looked great with a covering of fresh snow and although clearly tired from the day before, the additional challenging conditions only slowed me up by about 37 minutes over the whole course, finishing day 2 in 8 hours 28 mins. I was pretty pleased with that result and even more pleased with a back that stood up to a pretty rigorous two days. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The last week since the Pilgrim’s Challenge wasn’t supposed to be as quiet as it turned out, but my legs did feel quite lifeless and with the snow and ice and a trip to London with work thrown in the middle of the week, it was fairly tame. Some sessions on the turbo were squeezed into a the week but the walking suffered a little. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At the weekend, I had decided to convert the week into a “rest” week and so planned less than the normal outings. Given the now melted and re-frozen conditions on the trails I think this was a sensible move. I also experimented with a little more trotting on both Saturday and Sunday and all was going well. The Yaktrax proved their worth again fighting to keep me upright although both mine and Richard’s paid the price and started to fall apart towards the end – new ones now on order from Amazon so guarantee no more snow now until next winter! </span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4BgAGgCyM8CyAIwPVCvQLPadArGitntiJkeKUPX0pRPwcWBvFl-40R8XdTv3t0AY58BmLa4XCn4afHHPjw-jpm2oR5oc0u94k3vxS9kCYEwL7DMpRRv3VCACZvEBWPOX1O48R-5hUN1x/s1600/Redmires+120211+Ian.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4BgAGgCyM8CyAIwPVCvQLPadArGitntiJkeKUPX0pRPwcWBvFl-40R8XdTv3t0AY58BmLa4XCn4afHHPjw-jpm2oR5oc0u94k3vxS9kCYEwL7DMpRRv3VCACZvEBWPOX1O48R-5hUN1x/s320/Redmires+120211+Ian.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Almost back running, near Redmires</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However disaster struck towards the end of Sunday’s training as I did a proper comedy slip on ice and my legs went one way, my body the other. I remained upright but I could feel my back twist and stretch, followed by a massive familiar pain in my glute and the whole area stiffened up. I spent the rest of the day trying to stretch it and calm it down, and although it’s not as bad as I feared today, it’s certainly a backwards step. I have a physio appointment this afternoon so I shall see what she says. Quite annoying.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’ve also been busy adding the (hopefully) final touches to my kit list including food, and testing the fuel tablets we’ll be given on the race to work out how many I’ll need to take. I’m aiming to have a full race kit ready to go by next weekend, then to start taking bits out as I realise how heavy it really is.</span>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-84723714229897889492012-02-03T20:10:00.002+00:002012-02-03T20:17:57.627+00:00Ready for back to back ultras?<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well, it's the night before the Pilgrim's Challenge - a 66 mile race over 2 days along the North Downs Way. I'm aiming to be carrying as close to full kit weight as possible, if only to see how heavy that feels so I can get a bit more harsh with the trimming of kit choices for the desert. It feels like I've been sorting and packing kit all week, and this is just for a 2 day preparation event. I dread to think how much time I'll be spending faffing in the build up to the MdS. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Things have been fairly quiet in the last couple of weeks - still only walking due to the back issues, and I've been fighting off a winter cold, luckily I think I'm winning that battle. I've been tormenting myself with hours on the turbo trainer in the garage to prevent too much cold air getting into my lungs and making things worse. Also been increasing my swimming of late which is positive news on the shoulder front - and would be ideal if I was about to do a triathlon in Morocco. But I'd still rather be running. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxnBM0FQrzJvpLKN8RBpxS7rkCdZE7iTiUfjWGvUe0L3wDM7rKI3g-M6yb89rNlYyZJi6ghNWE8sKY9m5FLLbnbPyRIC8f2NUQoCGxUzJu5QcyfjJDOPcu0fc1F6pga5j9cjf2we-5n5E/s1600/Stanage+Jan+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxnBM0FQrzJvpLKN8RBpxS7rkCdZE7iTiUfjWGvUe0L3wDM7rKI3g-M6yb89rNlYyZJi6ghNWE8sKY9m5FLLbnbPyRIC8f2NUQoCGxUzJu5QcyfjJDOPcu0fc1F6pga5j9cjf2we-5n5E/s320/Stanage+Jan+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Rich and I met up with Darryl, another MdS runner from Sheffield for a brisk, in more ways than one, walk. Beautiful snowy conditions up on Stanage and the Peak and knocking off 16 miles in 4 hours over that terrain was good going. On days like these I really appreciate where I live. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So to this weekend, I'll be carrying best part of 11kg including water. As you can see from the picture, my daughter Jess found it easy enough, so I'm expecting it to be a breeze!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmJ2QPJTndj_eEFYYb3l1SkphbXfaJLwFUUF1F5IPhyphenhyphen1ZlhiQIpdZPCI4DnjE6ChKEa7gCrcDNIleV-wj3ZEVEmQy9Om5KGTK0jGdzHYq9CBckkIbJRvFHYdeOVLjKwBTyUpG7_KSHEgS/s1600/Jess+with+Pack+120203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmJ2QPJTndj_eEFYYb3l1SkphbXfaJLwFUUF1F5IPhyphenhyphen1ZlhiQIpdZPCI4DnjE6ChKEa7gCrcDNIleV-wj3ZEVEmQy9Om5KGTK0jGdzHYq9CBckkIbJRvFHYdeOVLjKwBTyUpG7_KSHEgS/s320/Jess+with+Pack+120203.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jess not struggling with 11kg</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The added twist however is that the weather forecast is brutally cold with a high chance of significant snowfall. Luckily, with only 33 miles to cover each day at a walking pace, I'm only likely to be out in it for 9 or 10 hours each day. What could possibly go wrong? I'm curious to see how I cope, nervous about the length of the event and excited to get going all at once. I'll need reminding of that at 4am tomorrow when I have to get up to travel down to the start. Wish me luck.</span>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-76814499314070181292012-01-23T12:47:00.000+00:002012-01-23T12:47:01.820+00:00Nervous about my nerve<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’m undecided whether a bout of aggravation to my sciatic nerve is going to mean disaster for my Marathon des Sables in just 10 weeks’ time or if it’s going to be a blessing in disguise. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So close to the race I’m obviously a little nervous that such an extensive period of extreme effort combined with the basic conditions of life on the race will result in an even more uncomfortable experience than I was expecting, possibly excruciatingly painful even. However, having re-assessed my training in light of my condition recently I can report my biggest weekly distance since I started training, with 60 miles covered last week. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All of it was done at a pace of around 15 minutes/mile, or 4 miles an hour, which if achievable on the MdS will be pretty acceptable frankly. I still can’t run really – the pounding seems to aggravate the sciatic nerve irritation and leaves me with a numb and tingly lower left leg, and considerable pain in my left glute. I’m also carrying a much lighter pack than my anticipated race weight, but it’s more positive than it’s been in the last couple of weeks. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The walking this week was split between a 6-mile route to and from work on various days and 2 longer sessions at the weekend – <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/65269812" target="_blank">14 miles</a> on Saturday afternoon, and <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/65424722" target="_blank">22 miles</a> on Sunday morning, both in some pretty horrific blustery conditions – not often you see waterfalls being blown upwards rather than falling to the ground! The bracing conditions were a far cry from the desert but seemed to suit me well and I had no problems on either day despite having wet feet for most of the weekend and struggling to stand up at times (due to the wind). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I’m still seeing the physio, Matthew at <a href="http://hallamshirephysiotherapy.com/" target="_blank">Hallamshire Physio</a>, who has been excellent (though not so good as to have cured my back problems just yet!). Under his guidance, I’m spending best part of an hour a day stretching, mobilising and generally trying to improve the sciatica and he seems confident that come race day it will have been remedied – funnily enough he never uses the word “cured”. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Kit faffing continues a-pace with more of my race food coming together ready to be bagged and packed – there is absolutely nothing fresh in there to worry about it going off in the next 10 weeks. I think I’m almost there on clothing and the like too which will be a great relief for my bank balance. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fundraising is also doing pretty well, having topped the £1,000 mark, but there’s still plenty of time for people to sponsor us via http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ianandrichmds2012. Tickets to our charity Moroccan feast seem to be selling well and we’re thinking of one or two other ways of raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So all in all, I’m in a fairly positive state of mind at this stage, though I fear sciatica may have put paid to any ambitions I had at winning the race………</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-91943535309704240132012-01-09T12:42:00.000+00:002012-01-09T12:42:58.653+00:00New year, new challenges<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-LvQhx_abcH47fUqAksBBTpoqk_LJ63tvqeSzXSExipAQi-u1fJ_YTUgHikcqjVmu8Gq-z_w3rMrjUp0zBpQDQakevAWgg_NVLgi5nkkeGsOzGm13Lolv3JG9XY9fnMGwc7NfY949Eog/s1600/Training+in+the+snow+Sheffield+Dec+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; height: 153px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 207px;"><img border="0" height="150" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-LvQhx_abcH47fUqAksBBTpoqk_LJ63tvqeSzXSExipAQi-u1fJ_YTUgHikcqjVmu8Gq-z_w3rMrjUp0zBpQDQakevAWgg_NVLgi5nkkeGsOzGm13Lolv3JG9XY9fnMGwc7NfY949Eog/s200/Training+in+the+snow+Sheffield+Dec+2011.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Heading back to Sheffield in the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">early morning snow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After some excellent running conditions in the snow and ice the snow has gone. I got good use out of the “Yaktrax” snow grippers I bought in December and was well pleased with their performance, saving me the usual slippery trepidation the snow brings.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQPG-1OHFk11uuF1tB8TnVESLK0Amnqv6WmY08GU9fiFU6xSu_TeIMj8t1i4TscMU0vD6_Bc36aHcB6Rtl_hnNRZ_c1aoWm6YIsWTDWzC4N8GE3-NmXLP5_5f8Oi7LadobUk_T64o1bhH/s1600/Yaktrax.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQPG-1OHFk11uuF1tB8TnVESLK0Amnqv6WmY08GU9fiFU6xSu_TeIMj8t1i4TscMU0vD6_Bc36aHcB6Rtl_hnNRZ_c1aoWm6YIsWTDWzC4N8GE3-NmXLP5_5f8Oi7LadobUk_T64o1bhH/s200/Yaktrax.JPG" width="149" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPjk-KwZmytyV-PsmBfbjhNYzWasO_twHaBJ-A2gAD2hav8osL6yLWY3JgMheqkEEMxsP5Dx4IdkYu1GPSxnUO-WyRZWrpEMJokuA6bSMMeagQMNZlkJi0KvmjZz295gVkW9Dw7qhjrbk/s1600/Training+in+the+Snow+Dec+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPjk-KwZmytyV-PsmBfbjhNYzWasO_twHaBJ-A2gAD2hav8osL6yLWY3JgMheqkEEMxsP5Dx4IdkYu1GPSxnUO-WyRZWrpEMJokuA6bSMMeagQMNZlkJi0KvmjZz295gVkW9Dw7qhjrbk/s200/Training+in+the+Snow+Dec+2011.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Houndkirk Road on the day after the Derwent Marathon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The festive season is also now over and it’s now the last push to the start line. At least it would be if my back hadn’t been playing up over Christmas – disaster!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All was going so well – running on consecutive days, increasing the pack load to 8kg+,and some excellent coverage in the local <a href="http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/athletics/african_test_for_duo_1_4057418" target="_blank">Sheffield Star </a>and <a href="http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/local/duo_preparing_for_toughest_marathon_in_the_sahara_1_4105863" target="_blank">Sheffield Telegraph</a> before Christmas. Rich and I managed a pre-Christmas marathon distance run around the Derwent Dams in the Peak District which was fantastic – we completed the distance in 5 hours, carrying 8kg packs with half the distance completed in the dark and in pretty icy conditions. Both of us felt good pretty much all the way round, and apart from a close call with mild hypothermia once we’d finished it was a great success.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The training plan was always to take it easy in the lead up to Christmas and focus on back-to-back running between Christmas and New Year. The plan was adhered to, but after the 3rd of our back to back runs my back felt really stiff. The 4th day’s 10 miles was painful, and in hindsight carrying the pack that day probably wasn’t the best idea, but you know how it is. Adding to my woes, I managed to aggravate my recovering shoulder injury, rather pathetically by pushing myself up out of the sofa on Christmas day in order to get another beer from the fridge. Luckily the strong anti-inflammatory drugs I’ve been taking for that are also good for helping my back!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A trip for a sports massage, followed by a visit to the GP and then a physio have all confirmed a bout of sciatica. Luckily it appears manageable (which I take to mean it’s not totally debilitating, but it hurts!) and actually a week or so on, it does feel better. Last week saw the turbo trainer being dusted off and set up again in the garage to try to maintain my cardio fitness, whilst not running. The weekend’s long run was translated into a 15 mile march around the Derwent Dams with a light pack. That produced no ill effects in terms of my back, and was completed in sub-15 minutes/mile pace which was positive. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, before the final push, a bit of recovery and not being silly about trying to do too much too soon. It’s not what I wanted at this stage, but as so many people keep telling me, I’m almost 40 now and I can’t expect my body to cope and/or recover as well as when I was younger. Great, thanks for that. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One thing I can focus on whilst injured however is the fund raising. As I post this update, our running total stands at £455 (<a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ianandrichmds2012">http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ianandrichmds2012</a>) and we’re now selling tickets for a fund raising Moroccan Themed Night at our sponsor’s restaurant <a href="http://www.ottosrestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank">Otto’s</a> on Sharrow Vale Road in Sheffield on 24 February. </span>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-44643713211432246382011-12-10T19:53:00.000+00:002011-12-10T19:53:07.908+00:00Deep and crisp and uneven<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The snow has arrived in Sheffield, making for slightly treacherous, though very beatiful running conditions. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-bxLR_3Uqk-Qom_ZkxxmYl0LTRnNeyf-f6nW0rgL0WySLYHDu9iX3gjz2RZWy-hQ4SxV-84Xzb0LdnGz8KLAsoAmpr3BkAP_FoO9fiAlxdsSEy5Qa8pOkC6dbh1HmBdJ1f4bXYCgegRZ/s1600/10122011395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-bxLR_3Uqk-Qom_ZkxxmYl0LTRnNeyf-f6nW0rgL0WySLYHDu9iX3gjz2RZWy-hQ4SxV-84Xzb0LdnGz8KLAsoAmpr3BkAP_FoO9fiAlxdsSEy5Qa8pOkC6dbh1HmBdJ1f4bXYCgegRZ/s320/10122011395.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lady Canning's Plantation, just up t'road from home</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Since returning from the Brecons, the focus has shifted to getting used to running on consecutive days. And loading up the pack - standard weight is now around 7kg. It's going to be a long winter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We've also been busy planning some fund raising for the Bluebell Wood Hopsice in Sheffield which supports families and children with life shortening ilnnesses, and Macmillan Cancer Support. We've set up a charity donation page at <a href="http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ianandrichmds2012">www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ianandrichmds2012</a> which we'll be promoting more widely in the near future, as well as hosting and organising a range of fund raising events between now and April 2012.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As a result of conversations with a local Moroccan restaurant, we're now also officially sponsored athletes - courtesy of Otto and Theresa at Otto's Restaurant and The Mediterranean on Sharrow Vale Road in Sheffield. They'll be featuring on our race kit as our main (and only) sponsor of equipment. I'm very excited that someone has agreed to back us in this way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Our next objective on that front is to get some media coverage and we've been talking to the Sheffield Star newspaper about running an article on us after we completed the Percy Pud, a popular local 10k race, in full MdS kit - there was even a camel running, but in a potentially bad omen, we failed to beat it!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLzuPw5Db4nvgj0ukvyp6gwG194jiAz0oEE_gyD706GvuYWcPem_YeOmPo38-w70BXEIp2AobmUTjC77naypn8iKa1biJ10vQXSB8WGpL7EYn_GOxC9xURmGFNnwVZ2V8YStUzZ9Q1voa/s1600/IMG_3121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLzuPw5Db4nvgj0ukvyp6gwG194jiAz0oEE_gyD706GvuYWcPem_YeOmPo38-w70BXEIp2AobmUTjC77naypn8iKa1biJ10vQXSB8WGpL7EYn_GOxC9xURmGFNnwVZ2V8YStUzZ9Q1voa/s320/IMG_3121.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We didn't beat the camel but still got the Christmas Pudding</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250725699489734222.post-4217534605476656802011-12-10T19:31:00.000+00:002011-12-10T19:31:17.142+00:00Brecons Ultra<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This post is a little out of date now, but a quick update on our performance at the Brecons Ultra back in November. It was a long drive down to Brecon on Friday night but rewarded with a pre-race pint in a village pub, before settling down for a night in the campervan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The race day was grey, but promised to be dry which was a bonus. Around 120 or so people gathered together in the early morning, and then set off along the canal path for the first of two 23 mile laps - the race organisers weren't really sure how long each one was. What was certain was the massive hill that we had to climb early on the loop, made harder knowing that we'd have to do it again with another 23 miles in our legs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Our aim for the day was to practice for the long day in the MdS, which meant a lot of walking with our new poles, and much to the amusement of a number of competitors who passed us, a stop for a hot meal to see if that strategy would pay dividends in the desert. Not overly helpful, as I found it worked really well, but Rich didn't seem to get on with the food 2/3rds of the way into the event.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP0vw2kKV-kKjm-XC8Rm5u-WTbkfD2KfPQtpg53wfBzESzdGDIEtniTW-vOGHxdAyAbmI16ax1cvwD9whut50Qi3g7-kkd_cRGTArNUKj8itSdnqDU2zZbHY6mdhRprSGO7VySwJc6Dha/s1600/19112011377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipP0vw2kKV-kKjm-XC8Rm5u-WTbkfD2KfPQtpg53wfBzESzdGDIEtniTW-vOGHxdAyAbmI16ax1cvwD9whut50Qi3g7-kkd_cRGTArNUKj8itSdnqDU2zZbHY6mdhRprSGO7VySwJc6Dha/s320/19112011377.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rich "enjoying" a de-hydrated chilli con carne at mile 29</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The event overall was good - I felt pretty strong all the way round, although my right knee was pretty sore towards the end. Going through the day and into the darkness of a November evening was good practice and rather odd, as it felt a lot later than it was due to the dark which seemed to add to our tiredness. I was pleased with my performance though, and despite a mild dose of trenchfoot my feet held up with no blisters.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPlGWuda58eqzmBpyOKsBh_Hyq6jvF9mjAFqvhyphenhyphenTMqOP1_N4ejrUotQf8u9I5wrr6OYbK9hsJtrL2HVz9QU6qzypWt-rOO8WUCcY5-fhDSq66-OECA2L3UCjcUWi44lD8Y85dS3QhYGAj/s1600/19112011378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPlGWuda58eqzmBpyOKsBh_Hyq6jvF9mjAFqvhyphenhyphenTMqOP1_N4ejrUotQf8u9I5wrr6OYbK9hsJtrL2HVz9QU6qzypWt-rOO8WUCcY5-fhDSq66-OECA2L3UCjcUWi44lD8Y85dS3QhYGAj/s320/19112011378.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'll definitely be taking poles to the desert, and have at last discovered some shorts which don't rub in all the wrong places so another piece of desert kit can be ticked off and packed ready for the race. Alright, so 12 hours+ isn't going to win any prizes (it didn't!), with the winner finishing in 6 hours 20 or thereabouts, but happy with the day out.</span>Ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972727556944354429noreply@blogger.com0