The Marathon des Sables

Although 90% of my thoughts are quiet rightly geared towards the MdS at this mormnt, there is still 10% of my thoughts left, of which I use at least 6% for other running and adventure related activities.

So I was pleased to today when my Swaledale Marathon confirmation popped in my inbox. Anyone who has been reading this blog for a while and is still here (firstly, well done!) will know that I ran this for the first time last year and I had an absolute blast.

The race has had a solid reputation for many years and for a lot of people is a really important event in the running calendar.

So after the MdS I have the following scedule penned in:

• June 6^th - Wharfedale Marathon
• June 13^th - Swaledale Marathon
• June 26^th - West Highland Way Relay
• July 11^th - Hull 24hr Track Race

I am not sure that running around a track in Hull really is quiet the fun I signed up to with Ultrarunning but I won’t know until I have done it … it’s going to be fun finding out!

There are probably a few more to pencil in!

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!

I have just had a quick flick through the http://irunfar.com/ and one of the articles was about run commuting, having just commuted home using the power of my feet, I thought I would write a few words on the subject.

Monday for me is “Run home from work day” (can you tell I lead a really exciting life ;) ) which is a flat 10 (just less than) mile run. Like Byron of the aforementioned site it was originally done as a time saving method, a great way of getting a good run in without cutting into anything else.
It has become an essential part of my training now though and will shortly be upping it to 2 runs a week and I’ll probably increase the length of the second one.
I cycle to work normally so am used to the logistics of lugging a bag round and tend to carry my clothes & shoes daily and the 5kg pack is also good training.

I would run into work but we don’t have a shower, at least that is my excuse it’s not just I can’t be stuffed on a morning!!

I felt crap when I left work, I felt great by the time I got home. If you are considering it, do it, you won’t look back.

For the past 6 years after my annual exam or exams, or more accurately after the post exam hangover has subsided, I like to do something special to mark the moment.
Last year for example I jumped on my bike one frosty morning and peddled the 100 miles plus to Edale in the peak district for a walking/beer weekend. This year will be fittingly marked with a 32 mile ultra run.
After the disastrous last 13 miles of Nottingham I have recovered well and I am getting an almost normal amount of sleep. Without massive amounts of work ahead of me I am looking forward to this. It’s timing for the Beacon Ultra couldn’t be better.

I’ll be a good opportunity to meet some MdS 2009 competitors and organiser Rory Coleman, a now many time, MdS vet. I passed him very early on in the Marathon and he ran past me again at about 20 miles … ho hum!

Sometimes you just have to say goodbye to an old friend… My last shoes the (tango coloured) Pearl Izumi Synchro pace model have been a dream. They have carried me along endless tarmac, to home, from home, around 50+ miles of Wolds and through the Dales, but they are frankly shot, smell a lot and should have been replaced a long long long time ago.

So in with the new. Like the adventurous soul I am I jumped into the shop I got by original shoes from and said, “Bring me the finest shoes known to man (in size 11), I want them here and I want the now!", alas he only had the new model in which seem to have a little more support to prevent pronation. I ummed for all of three seconds, bought them and wore them in the office that afternoon.

I have only run 5 miles in them but they feel great already. They will get a few more slow miles in before the Nottingham marathon in just over a weeks time, when this damn dissertation will be proof read, printed, posted and forgotten about - the end is very much in sight.

However, a taxi arrives in 3 hours time (complete with road beers!) to take me and four friends to the airport for my good friend Adams stag do in Alicante. Who says this is bad for next Sunday and marathon training is hard? As I have more work to do on the dissertation when I am there I will get a couple of short runs in to de-stress and clear the head (so I am not a complete pain to be around!) and ensure the shoes bed in before Nottingham. The 35C temp and low humidity will be perfect!