So, done. ECG done. A nice healthy heart and a tick in the box for the medical checkup and signed certificate. That was the last obstacle, no more excuses now.
To celebrate it, I did another monster run weekend of subsequent days covering 9 miles, 22 miles and 28 miles, and felt reasonably ok. So I’m fairly confident on the endurance side now. Next weekend will be THE monster peak training weekend of 4.5 hours on Saturday and 5.5 hours on Sunday, and then it’s tapering, although that’s relative to the long weekends.
I’ve just about got everything now apart from the shoes, and that’s more about actually finding them in London. Need to get them this week in order to run them in before Morocco. Brooks Adrenaline GTR’s and at my current foot size. Taking a risk on a larger size backfired previously and I don’t want the risk. Will hope that my feet don’t swell too much. Anyway, then i’ve got to glue the gaiters on. Should be interesting.
I’ll do a couple of runs with the full pack but not too many, and to be honest, I’m aware that the terrain will be different and the weight on my back will be challenging but as long as I have a rough idea then I’m mentally prepared. The sand experience on the Dune previously wasn’t fun but I now know, and I’ve been running with a bag or probably 4Kg or so up until now.
3 weeks till I leave now. Excited to just get there and run, and looking forward to finally sleeping in after it’s all over…
