The Marathon des Sables

When you are used to doing a lot of events and chucking in the occasional big mileage week and you drop right back to almost nothing you can really feel the waiting game kick in.
Though, don’t be fooled by the lack of posting, I have been very busy indeed sorting out the last bits that… well… need sorting.

Tonight, I have been sorting out the gaiters and getting the velcro stuck down to my shoes (a pictorial guide coming soon!) and along the inside rim of the gaiters. I have spent the past two hours snipping, cutting, holding, glueing and trying not to stick myself to the floor with Araldite and excessive amounts of Velcro. Some of the final bit’s of kit arrived today and there is BIG news in the fundraising department. Don’t forget to sponsor!

With less than two weeks to go, just one question? Am I ready?

I got my number a while back but have been busy of late so posting has been slow. With very little time left (only a month!) the whole thing has just become VERY real … more real than it was yesterday … possibly.

Some of the last bits of gear have been arriving recently. Courtesy of Dan, my lovely Aarn pack arrived from Australia last yesterday. The UK supply dried up sadly but for an extra £20 (in the form of import duty & “international handling fee") and one hell of a carbon footprint, one has arrived in my sticky mitts. I will definately be posting more about that after tommorrows test run.

So, one last mini-ultra tomorrow. It’s the inaugural Grantham Ultra tomorrow organised by Andy McMenemy and Rory Coleman. 29.3 miles to try out the new pack and catch up with the guys, no doubt there will be a familier face or two. Scarily this is the last ‘big run’ before the main event itself!

So just one question remains, have you sponsored me yet?

I went for my travel jabs yesterday, I should have had them previously but I like to live dangerously.
Unfortunately, I awoke at midnight last night cold and sweating … that would be me suffering most of the side effects listed on the handy information leaflet. Vix couldn’t go near me as I was so hot and I was in bed till almost 5pm and to avoid pain I basically spent the whole time in one position moving only to drink water.

Thankfully I’m feeling a bit better, just void of energy and a bit achy. Just my luck. My almost unblemished sickness record is shot to pieces…

Still, I think I’ll be ready to inflict some running based pain on myself this weekend with some decent Saturday/Sunday runs. Hopefully in the snow which has somehow paralysed the country.

In the final run up to the big date and in an effort to get as much money in as possible for the fine causes mentioned previously, I have recruited a razor dodging, workshy retiree with too much time on his hands and mischief to avoid.
Namely, my Dad. He’s got lots of great ideas and will be publishing some words here as time goes by.

His support has so far been second to non and the fancy new job title suits. I’m definately sticking with “Resident Nutter” though.

This isn’t strictly ultra running related, or related at all … but it’s such a good weekend away that I feel I need to spill the beans and tell the world.

The Real Ale Wobble is a unique event and comprises the two normally mutually exclusively activities of Real Ale and Mountain Biking, they have though fused these two events into one amazingly crazy weekend in the Welsh hills around Llanwrtyd wells Wells.

Now that I am sat by a roaring fire in the front room it seems almost unreal that at some point during Saturday afternoon I was up to my waist in a peat bog requiring assistance of a fellow madman to pull me and my new bike out …

During the past 5/6 times I have done this event I have seen some serious mud, snow, rain, blood and beer but this was by far the wettest Real Ale Wobble I have been too! Waiting for the Enduro start along side over 600 riders, there was some great banter, Storm Troopers, single speed bikes a tandem mountain bike, and a dog in a bag.

To say it was muddy would be an understatement and it wasn’t long before I had to be pulled (bike and all) when I was up to my waist in a peat bog which I had found, inconveniently, in the middle of the path.

After some of the best riding in the UK, some of the best beer and much wetness it was back to Llanwrtyd wells to further enjoy some excellent beer and company. In terms of the people we met there was the two GPs and there partners (who we met earlier riding the ultra muddy loop), Jed and his stag do and of course Dave and Brian ( see http://www.kinverbrewery.co.uk/ ) and anyone we met, had a beer with or helped us out!

Now please stand for a chorus of “Davy, Davy Crockett, the man with the beaver on his head!”

• http://www.green-events.co.uk/
• http://www.neuaddarmshotel.co.uk/
• http://www.stonecroft.co.uk/
• http://www.kinverbrewery.co.uk/ - try the “Over the Edge". Tasty!