Shoes, socks, feet, gaiters

For shoes, I went with Brooks Adrenaline ASR 6′s. I ignored some of the ‘size larger’ advice and only went a half size up, or a European size up from my normal 8.5 to 9. Excellent shoes, can’t commend them enough. I trained for 4 months beforehand in the same model, although purchased a new pair 3 weeks before to allow a bit of run in.

I ummed and ahh’ed about socks for a long time before going out. I ended up going for Injinji Crew socks, took 2 pairs, plus one pair of X-Socks Speed Metal socks. I didn’t go for the double layer socks, mainly because I had some with me before the ‘final pack’ at the bivouac, tried them and my feet heated up unbelievably, so they were then left behind.

Feet preparation… none at all, aside from cutting toenails a week before. I tend to wear no shoes where I can during summer months so I don’t know if this helped. As I said, no blisters to speak of until the very last stage and even then it was a small one on a toe.

For gaiters, I wouldn’t even look anywhere else than the good old sandbaggers parachute silk gaiters. Brilliant, and the ones that pretty much singled us out as British competitors. No sand got in at all, and felt quite smug, especially after the derogatory comments from other countries’ competitors about the high gaiters at the beginning of the event and then passing said competitors using the Raidlight gaiters after dunes while they emptied out their shoes… no hesitation on the sandbaggers. I had the velcro’d version, getting them glued and sewn on by a random cobbler near Victoria in London. Worked a dream.

Shorts, Underwear

I wore black Under Armour knee length compression shorts and a pair of bog standard Adidas lightweight running shorts on top. I did think about going for full length compression tights, and I would still consider in the future. Full length would have been great to protect from the sun and heat, as I got a heat rash and a bit of sunburn during the long day on the small bit of leg that was showing. In the end though, full length just wasn’t comfortable and bit of an unknown for me.

The extra shorts were extremely useful just to wear around the bivouac, and wearing them was easier than stuffing them into my bag!

To stop the expected chafing, although there was some, I wore adidas swimming boxers for underwear and took a spare pair, for the little bit of clean freshness half way through.

Top

I did wonder quite a lot about my choice of top and took options with me to the desert, so I had the choice before handing back our luggage. I ended up deciding that I would go with long sleeve compression tops, and had the choice of an Under Armour cold grey coloured top and a classic Skins black compression top, half worried that black would be wrong in the desert. Black actually felt more comfortable and the Skins top went with me.

That was definitely a winning choice for me. The beauty of the long sleeve compression top is that you don’t need to worry about sunburnt arms and the compression material effect when you pour water on your arms is like stepping into a fridge. Highly recommended.

I also wore a simple short sleeve running t-shirt over it, as much to hide the unfortunate view of compressed stomach flab, but also as something to wear around the bivouac without having to pack it in the backpack.

And of course, not forgetting the obligatory buffs. I took 2, one for round my neck, one for my wrist in order to pour water on to sock my forehead during the heat.

I also wore a Raidlight cap, with a little flap on the back to cover the back of your neck which could be taken off the cap if you want. And, of course, sunglasses. I never did take my sand goggles in the end and never really regretted it as we didn’t really suffer from too much ;’windy sand’.

Bag & Sleeping Stuff

I had the Evolution 2 Raidlight 19L + the 5L front pack and, contrary to what I had read and heard before the race, it was perfect. I’d had to replace the one I’d been using for training the day before leaving for Morocco as it suddenly had some tears. Luckily the one I received from RaceKit (who were brilliant, http://www.racekit.co.uk/), was a newer model, sturdier and was excellent. The front pack caused me no problems and was perfect for holding water bottles and food for the day. However, practice running with the pack well before the race as it takes some getting used to. Now that I’m used to it, I miss the ease and use of a front pack when on a long run.

My sleeping bag was a Mountain Equipment Xero 250, which only weighed 650g and was perfect. Never felt cold, was even a bit too hot. Didn’t take a silk inner but I would seriously consider taking a silk inner over a sleeping bag, based on last year’s weather. My sleeping mat was a bog standard sleeping mat from Decathlon for £14 which I cut in half. It was doubly useful as a wind barrier when cooking as well! I took a simple blow up pillow which worked fine and hardly weighed a thing.

Feels very cool to be a veteran MDS-er now, and although when it finished I swore that I would never do anything so stupid again, and as the time of year for the next MDS comes around, I can hear a little voice egging me to do it again. Well, not for now anyway, maybe as a bet in a number of years…

So, how did it go? Surprisingly well. Everything clicked. Shockingly no blisters, the kit was absolutely perfect, aside from the breakfast choice which was a no-no. All in all, I finished 216th out of the 1000 or so runners. Much better than I ever thought I would. I can safely say it was an amazing experience, not necessarily a pleasant experience, but the knowledge that you are able to complete something of this magnitude in pretty cruel conditions, is something you can’t buy.

And after? Well, I got injured and my legs pretty much told me to stop running for a while and I was out of action until well into September. Since then been building back up the distances but not quite as enthusiastically as last year. Instead, I’ve taken on the next stupid idea of doing the Devizes to Westminster kayak race, 125 miles non-stop in a kayak. So, 5 weeks to go, and just about staying upright in a kayak. Should be interesting…

If you’re umming and ahhing about it, but the idea sounds like a challenge, I’d wholeheartedly recommend just doing it. It starts a snowball of health & fitness and experiences throughout the training and the event you will find hard to replicate.

Sure it will be fine, but doesn’t stop the nervousness! Off we go…

I’m sure my next post will either be an update from the race itself or a report afterwards. So, see you the other side…

It’s quite surreal that it’s here now. It was an ‘out of the blue’ sign up decision two years ago, having talked about it for a while and a chance browse on the Best of Morocco site while browsing using the free WiFi on a GNER train from London to Leeds. Just happened to sign up for a waitlist position for the 2010 MdS and started down 84th on the list. And now, after lugging all my kit across from Gatwick airport into a random London office, I’m a few days from leaving to Morocco. Freaky.

This weekend I slightly changed my approach and took a day off on Saturday, actually slept in and had breakfast with the family, something that hasn’t happened often since training over the last 4 months. And it was good. Then, got in a nice 21 miles on Sunday, with almost full pack, felt fine, and not even tired afterwards. So, a nice little confidence booster to end on. And sneaked in a nippy 5 miles this evening. I’ll do an easy 6 on Wednesday morning and then I’ll be on my way, no running until Sunday – day 1. oooooh.

And I got a gadget for the race. So, during the race anyone can follow my position and progress from the website of the Marathon Des Sables (www.darbaroud.com), at the section FOLLOW THE ADVENTURE LIVE on and after Sunday, 4th April. Betcha it’ll be a thriller.

I did what will probably be my last longer run on Saturday. I was supposed to be running yesterday for a longer 4 hour run, but then decided that I could feel that my body is feeling a bit tired from all the long runs over the past 3-4 months. Skipped the long 4 hour run, and went on a much more pleasant 1h45 run with one of my children following on their bike. A much better and more satisfying way to run by miles.

The taper starts now. A lot less long endurance runs, although I’ve got a few 2 hour runs at the weekend, and more short, ‘intense’ runs while trying to rest and recover so that I’ll be uber fresh for the start in the Sahara. That’s the plan. In my head, the training I’ve done will get across the line. Not been enough hill training, but definitely done the distance carrying the weight. So, I’m quietly confident, as with any race.

Packed the food, or most of it, this weekend. Will be ‘de-canting’ the packed dried foods a few days before the start to save weight and space but otherwise, I think I may actually come in at my planned weight of around 8Kg in the bag. It’s almost all done. Except fr getting back my shoes from the cobbler with the gaiter velcro glued/sewn on. First attempt was nearly perfect with a few loose bits, so a last effort to perfect it… fingers crossed.

Anyway, excitement now building. Bring it!

Last weekend was my peak weekend, 28 miles on Saturday, with 6 Kg on my back, and 30 miles on Sunday, made considerably easier by listening to a whole audiobook on the iPod. Almost faded in and out of the run itself while listening to the story. It almost made it easy to get up on the Sunday morning to run, knowing the story would continue. More importantly, I didn’t feel too bad considering, and recovered well, so I think endurance-wise, I should be able to tick that box. Now at least, it’ll be ‘relative’ tapering for the next 2 weeks until stepping over that start line.

One of my nagging concerns is the lack of hill training. There’s really not much I can or could have done about it considering I live in an area of extreme flatness. This may come to haunt me, but I’m countering it in my head with the seemingly good recovery skills I’ve got since training over the last 5 years or so. Heat? Well, nothing I could have done, but again, I’ve always loved running in heat and a childhood in the middle east may serve me yet.

Now the kit is just about finalised. Got everything. Had the gaiters glued and sewn to my Brooks Adrenaline ASRs, and went for a UK half size larger, not a whole size. I did try a whole size and it felt just uncomfortable enough to not want to take the risk. I’ve always been extremely lucky and never had blisters (aside from the PT-03 experience a few weeks back) so I’ll see if that holds true in the desert. Most interesting challenge will be getting everything into my rucksack. Will be repackaging all that frozen food appropriately once I’m in Morocco.

I’m now getting excited, which is possibly having a slightly motivation-draining effect on work as I just want to get to the event now. Let’s go go go go

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…

Just to make things more interesting, my first run back was on the Dune de Pyla, the largest sand dune in Europe, just to get a taste on running in the sand. Another interesting shocker as it took me 3 hours to run a half marathon distance and put me firmly in my place as to similar conditions under my foot for the Sahara. Tiring. Still wondering about poles though as I can definitely see the use up and down dunes, but not convinced that the extra weight is worth it.

Anyway since that fun run, I’ve been up and down mountains, La Montagne Noire, in the south of France, and did my first back to back of over 20 miles and 24 miles respectively, last weekend. The second day 24 miler was very tiring, completely got me, but then I felt even more sprightly the following day and am back in the groove. Just praying to not get another cold now. I’m going to hide indoors and not go anywhere.

On the kit front, still a few things left to get including the sleeping bag and (possibly) mat. I’ve decided to go and try the Decathlon dried food which is supposed to be nicer than the Expedition food and better packed. It’ll be good if only for variety anyway. My snacks are pretty much decided now too – slated cashews, mini saucissons, these lovely powerbar gel blasts things, a bit of beef jerky, and some hemp 9bars. I also need to get some REGO recovery powder to take after each stage, and maybe a recovery bar.

An interesting aside… I won a pair of UK Gear PT-03 Desert shoes and finally got them this week, a half size larger than normal. Decided to go for a run around London with them on Tuesday, and I got my first bloody blister ever. They also felt heavy and quite unwieldy compared to the Brooks Adrenaline ASRs. I know they are supposedly excellent and specific for the desert, but that one blister has made me wary and I don’t want to take anything I’m not 100% sure about. So, they are back in their box. I’ve also decided to stop being anal over socks and will be taking a couple of Injii toe socks for the first half and then using X-socks for the second half (assuming my feet may need a bit more space).

I’ve also the final hurdle tomorrow – the infamous ECG and medical certificate for the race. Hopefully all will be smooth, and then I’m going to book in an acclimation and sweat check session with the Porsche Human Performance centre in Silverstone. Sounds flash.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I was a little nervous as the time now approaches, but mostly I will be extremely glad just to get there and get on with it. And then afterwards, I can return a more normal, calmer training schedule (until the next challenge, naturally…).

Having got the final, official timings from the race organisers, I came in 59th= in a little bit over 5 hours, which shows that the auto-pause functionality on the Garmin was probably a little bit trigger happy. So, slightly over 5 hours is a wee bit of a shame, but I’m not complaining. To be fair, I had quite a heavy cold, had been taking as much Lemsip Max as you’re allowed to for the previous 2 days, and so all of this means that I wasn’t necessarily in tip top condition for a race.

Here’s the GPS trace though:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/24589317

It was a good run, my furthest ever, and I’m happy I got through it without too much pain. Biggest interesting discovery was the oft-mentioned “how difficult it is to eat” which I hadn’t expected but went through it. Didn’t feel like eating in any way at all during the closing stages of the race so need to keep that in mind. Good race though, enjoyed it, as well as the relaxed and friendly atmosphere, much better than shorter races I’ve run.

That was my last race before the Sahara. It’s kind of put it into perspective now… I need to finally just go and buy the last things from my kit list, which you can see here online, get the gaiters sewn/glued onto my current shoes (while purchasing another pair), sort out my nutrition menu plus the little bits I’m going to eat while away from the camp, and finally work out which socks. Still don’t know.

Anyway, the sooner I’m prepared and have everything I need, the better and more at rest my mind will be. The training is going well (as long as I can get rid of this cold which looks like it is finally going) and I’ll be on the beach and sand dunes of the Atlantic coast near Bordeaux this weekend too.

It’s all coming together. I’ve just got to stop worrying about it. To be clear, that’s not worrying about not finishing, more worrying about not having everything I need until it’s too late. Phew….

Anyway, race went pretty much as planned although a bit quicker than I’d thought. Finished in 4h53 and just waiting for confirmation of the place which I think was 58th. The last few miles were very hard, so something to learn for next time.

All in all, a good days work.