Counting calories

After yesterdays trail running my back was protesting from the pressure from my rucksack. Perhaps I had't taken enough care to make sure it was sitting properly when I started or maybe having it loaded with 7kg for the first time in a week was asking a bit much. So today I "listened to my body" and decided to rest. But that doesn't mean do nothing, I went for a sauna. Now I know you are thinking that isn't training but I only lasted 15 minutes in the heat, and it was only 80 degrees! In the next 5 weeks I will be having a lot of sauna's to get used to the intense heat as temperatures in the desert will be higher than anything I've ever experienced. I am now turning my attention to my food plan. It's changed in that I am trying to find suitable alternatives to freeze dried food which I didn't enjoy in Morocco. This afternoon I am starting a spreadsheet for my meals over the 7 days, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks & hydration. I need to make sure I have a minimum of 2,000 calories per day which is manditory and will be checked. It's not something I have done before but I am sure it will be an interesting exercise. So although I am not out running, I am still working and it is the minute detail that could mean the difference between success and failure.

Back on the trail

20 miles of trail running with the rucksack this morning in beautiful sunshine. A nice steady pace for 3.5 hours got some miles in my legs which is necessary as there are only 5 weeks to go before I head off for the adventure of a lifetime. I ran with a pal who is training for Ironman and it was good to have company of somoene who understands what I am going through at this stage in the training. The start line is so close yet there is hard work to be done before the tapering starts. At the same time you are trying to avoid injury but need to put in the miles. Tomorrow will be a recovery run and I think I'll leave off the rucksack as my back is feeling the pressure. Time for rest and recovery.

Back on the tarmac

After a couple of days well earned rest I was out on the tarmac tonight. No rucksack on, just a fast 10km which is easier said than done when I've been running slowly for months. No stunning scenery, back to normal altitude and the hard regular impact of tarmac took it's toll. The fronts of my shins complained but this is just because I've had a couple of days off. I certainly never felt out of breath which is the positive result of the altitude training and come the weekend I'll be back to long slow trail miles with the rucksack on my back. I've been advised to incorporate some interval training over the next few weeks and this is intensive so it's going to be tough. It reminds me of the training in the run up to Ironman last year. But MdS is taking my physical and mental endurance to a new level. The lessons I learned in Morocco need to be worked on especially around the food I will be taking with me. I'll report back when I have finalised my plans. But until then, the training continues. Only 5 weeks to go!

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.