Final preparations

Not long now before I head off to my training camp so today I was picking up my freeze dried foot, compass, whistle, survival bag, energy bars, blister pads etc etc. Then I headed off to the poditrist to have my new high tech insoles sorted. They will be tested tomorrow morning and if they need adjusted he has said he'll open up the workshop and do it tomorrow night. It great having that kind of support. I've borrowed a Garmin that won't require recharging and with a foot pod I will be able to tell distance and pace which will be important in such a strange environment. Today was the second day of rest from running having run 50 odd miles last week. I had an early morning yoga session which felt amazing. It is such a good start to the day, like warming up your engine before setting off on a journey. It's important that I make sure my legs are stetched every day as it is my lower back especially as I am carrying 8kg when I run at the moment. This is why I will also be having a sports massage tomorrow to ease any aches in pains before I set off on Thursday to the Sahara. Finally tomorrow night will be for my rucksack packing. Should be fun! Just hope I can get it all in and then manage to lift it!

Athlete's heart

Before I head off for MdS in April I need to take a ECG signed off by my doctor. This is the bit everyone is worried about. Not because of the reading itself but how the doctor may interpret the information. Endurance athlete's, (I think I qualify for that tag now - unbelievable!) can have an enlarged heart on the left side due to the nature of the training but it doesn't mean there is a problem. The GP might ask me to go to a specialist for an expert opinion but I only have 1 month to have this done - it's a tight timeframe. Even when you cross that barrier, on the second day of arriving in Morocco you have to pass your details to their medical team. They can turn you away and refuse you entry into the race - that would be heart breaking. So I'll be holding my breath until I get the all clear in Morocco and then my "athlete's heart" will be getting the workout of a lifetime! I also need 3 injections before I go and I can't say I'm a fan of needles but it will be necessary. I've run out of time to get them before I leave this week, I only found out what was required tonight, and I don't think getting them just before you leave would make sense. I'll sort it when I get back.

Testing my gear

Armed with my new orthotic insoles and my new high tech running top I headed out in a beautiful sunny day. I also increased the weight in my rucksack to 8kg as I gradually get closer to the 10kg target. I didn't have any music as I'd accidently left it in my running jacket which was washed - end of Nano so that's saving me some weight already! The new insoles were more comfortable as I pounded 15 miles around the streets and the increased weight was ok although occassionally I got the odd twinge inbetween my sholder blades. I did a few stretches which seemed to work so I'll have to continue doing this when running. My new running top, which is the same high tech material as my shorts, was so good I didn't even notice it. That's the sign of a good shirt. So at the end of the week I have ran 52 miles and am feeling good. I won't run now till Wednesday so my legs can have a rest and I've got a sports massage booked for the evening. This will be perfect preparation for my trip to Morocco and the training camp. Finally yesterday I ate my first freeze dried foot - spag bog it said on the lable and to be fare it taste ok. The secret was not to look at it but in the Desert I'll be starving after the runs so I'll be in "scabby heeded wean" mode meaning I could eat a child with a rash on it's head!

Technology to the rescue

Between been "Dad's Taxi" and other domestic duties I squeezed in 15 miles of trail running. This takes my mileage in 5 days to 38 and tomorrow I should bring that total to 50. I tried to avoid all the dogs that were interested in my gaitors as one bite of those would give me a major issue for my trip to the Sahara Desert next week. There was one wee terrier (it's always the wee ones), whose owner was to distracted by his headphones, who really wanted to take a chunk out of me and when the owner noticed the confrontation he didn't seem to bother. Obviously his dog didn't bite, in his opinion, but any closer and he'd have been testing his flying ability - bloody dog owners, get a hold of your dogs please! I then went to visit my poditrist who is experimenting with different material on my orthotics to spread the load and reduce the heat in my feet. The results were amazing and it will soon be a published case study once I've returned from the Sahara. Anything that takes the pressure off my feet gets my vote as they will be taking a substantial amount of punishment running 5.5 marathons in 7 days carrying 10 kg in 40 degrees. It's really getting high tech and I have the experts on my side - thanks Robbie.

I'm so lucky

At 4.30pm today I had my second training session of the day having started the day with a 6.15am yoga session. As I was running through the beautiful countryside it occurred to me how lucky I was. I have a wife making things happen while I'm away, the kids put up with my training and the team at the office make sure that everything runs smoothly while I'm away. I'm fit and healthy and in a weeks time I will be at a training camp in the Sahara desert - how lucky am I? I'm breaking in my new shoes which have the gaiters stitched in. They are getting loads of strange looks however today a delivery lady had commented she had seen me running with something strange on my legs. When she found out what they were and what I was doing she donated to my cause, Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres. If you would like to support my endevours please go to https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/derekstewart. Every day we should look around, take time to smell the roses and appreciate everything you have in your life.

Xmas comes early

My kits arrived. How exciting opening the package - just like Xmas. Now I can spend the weekend practising packing my rucksack for next weeks training in the Sahara. This takes a degree of planning and skill. So much so we actually have a session about how to pack your rucksack. You don't want the weight to be in the wrong place or something rubbing. You definately don't want to be searching for your Venom pump because a snake bitten you and you only have 60 seconds to take action! I'll have fainted anyway so I'll leave that problem to my pals! Fortuantely the weather was ok this morning so I managed a wee run after my yoga. This is me re-introducing my legs to running or at least that's how it feels. The good news is today there were no aches or pains although bum cheeks were well clenched as I had a pressing need to get back home to the loo if you get my drift! Wonder what that will be like in the desert? Horrible will be the short answer but hygene is a major factor over there and one drummed into all competitors as it could finish your race and all your "tent mates" quicker than saying, pass me the bog roll! Looking forward to my yoga lesson tomorrow and hope I can make some progress with handstands because I was crap last time. Hmmm, bit of a theme going here. With those mutterings I will leave you to enjoy Valentine's Day - another load of crap if you ask me! I can be romantic the remaining 364 days.

Alcohol free zone

I've been enjoying a few glasses of wine more than normal over the last few weeks. It just seems to have crept up on me. So on Monday I took the decision that no alcohol would pass my lips till I get back from my training camp in the desert next week. It's not that I'm a big drinker (cheap night out actually) but I was feeling a bit sluggish. So three days in and I'm amazed at how good I am feeling but part of this is also to do with my early morning yoga practise. At 6am I am on my mat and it always feels tight when I start but quiet quickly I start to loosen up and now am extending my practise by adding in more exercises. The morning snow meant no run and the torential rain and strong wind has kept me indoors tonight. Tomorrow come rain, hail or shine (probably all three) I will need to be out there. Hopefully my package full of goodies will arrive and I can then start packing for my training camp. There's always something to do in preparing for the trip of a lifetime!