MDS training camp

I've just returned from a 4 day training camp in the amazing hills in Morocco. It was lead by Laurence Klein, 3 time MDS female champion, and Damien Vierdet, who finished 4th in MDS 2 tears ago. Along with 9 other athletes we were put through our paces covering 75km and climbing over 3,300 metres with base camp at 1,400 metres. We were in the foothills behind the Atlans mountain range which was a spetacular back drop with the snow capped hills. The territory was more suited to a mountain goat and the terrain was either hard packed trail with stones and rocks or dried mud with stones or rocks. We also ran on dried river beds and no matter what surface, every step was a potential ankle breaker. On the 2nd day it rained making the mud tracks / roads slippy and unfortunately for one athletes he slipped and empaled himself on a catcus plant which left him sore and requiring over 20 needles removed! Ouch. The one surface we didn't run on was sand but it was more important we learned how to handle this terrain as there is a lot of it on MDS. We has 2 night runs with head torches. Up until then I though the odd pothole was dangerous in the UK but this required 100% concentration due to the conditions underfoot. We absorbed the top tips we were given and on 2 occassions cooked our food out in the open - only edible if desperate! The objectives were to test myself and also my equipment. The outcome is I have another 2.5 weeks of really hard training before starting to taper and I'll be changing my food plan based on what I learned. It was a well organised trip and I have made new friends despite the language barrier - they all had a reasonable grasp of English fortunately and one of the UK guys (David - thank you) was fluent in French. The staff and the accommodation could not have been more helpful. The food was out of this world - probably similar to what we will eat in the desert except that will be food from a different planet! As for the leaders Laurence and Damien, what a privilege to run and learn from world class athletes. Thank you Laurence and see you in the desert in 6 weeks. Damien I hope we meet again and you still carry the tune of "Flower of Scotland" in your head. Maybe someday someone will sing it to you properly.

The adventure begins

This is it. I'm heading off for my first taste of the Sahara Desert in preperation for the Marathon des Sables in April. I will arrive tomorrow for the start of a 4 day training camp which will involve running across different terrain in the desert, night running, testing equipment, food, nutrition and hydration. Learning about looking after your feet, compass reading and basic survival. I can feel the excitement building in my stomach. It's not the "full monty" as we are staying on an estate which provides half board - still I'll be sleeping in my sleeping bag to test it out as it's not luxury accommodation. But we do need to prepare our own lunch on the camp fire e.g. boil in the bag freeze dried food. But you know how fussy I am and my dislike of garlic so the food provided may be a bigger challenge! However getting calories in is essential in this environment and there are no shops to stop in for a quick snack so rule 5 will apply (MTFU). I'm going to miss the family while I'm away and am unlikely to have any way of getting in touch so I hope there are no problems back home. I haven't had my "shots" from the doc as he came back to me too late but I'll get these when I get back. I won't be sleeping in the middle of know where on this trip so think (hope) the hygene will be better. My task this morning is to pack my rucksack. Last night I weighed every item that is going in the rucksack and put it on a spreadsheet. This is so I know what I've taken and when I go next time, I'll know what to leave out. I'm experimenting with different types of energy bars and gels so I know what works best in those temperatures. The food accounts for 1/3rd of the weight but this will increase for the next trip as I'll need 3 meals a day. So my friends, this is the last blog until next Wednesday when I resurface in civilisation. I can't imagine what stories I will have to tell, but know there will be many. Let the adventure begin.

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.