Something Changed...

Well, the Pulp song is as apt now as when it was our first dance as a married couple. Since I wrote my last post two months ago Chateau Deane has been a in a state of flux. Bec's job has moved to Dubai which means that I have left TfL and moved out to the Middle East too.

Now there were a few people who had suspicions that I have instigated this move to get in some much required desert acclimatisation training; but I insist I have been the passenger and not the back seat driver this time. That being said, if we stay out here for the expected 2+ years, it will help massively with preparing for the heat and conditions in the Sahara.

Still, due to the scorching summer weather (with the temperature hovering around 45 degrees most days) and with July/August being the festive period of Ramadan, I haven't managed to do more than a couple of runs outside. My training has been limited to beasting in the gym in the apartment complex, which has proved valuable to get back into shape after a bit of a rest during May and June.

After the Paris Marathon in April I seemed to hit the wall a little with regard to training and races. I don't know whether it was a bit of burn out, knowledge of our impending departure from the UK or a mixture of both but I reverted more to type and spent more time in the pub than in my trainers.

What it did reaffirm is that I am not programmed to repeat the same race twice. I am more of a goal orientated individual so unfortunately I lost impetus to compete in the UK Ironman 70.2 in June. I managed to pick up a few injuries in May too so that really put the kibosh on both the half-Ironman and the 10k Swim and Dorney lake. I imagine I probably won't do the half Ironman again but I was quite disappointed to pull out of the 10k swim so fully expect to re-enter at some point in the future.

Say one thing about Dubai, and that is it is a great place to go for weight loss; especially during the summer this year. Not only is it searchingly hot every day the lifestyle and religious orientation encourages a healthier lifestyle than the UK; or at least at until you get established in the U.A.E. Until Bec's gets her permanent residency in the U.A.E. we can't get a licence to buy alcohol for home. That means we are limited to bars and buying our duty free quota when we fly back into Dubai. Additionally, the local supermarket doesn't have the non-Muslim section that is on offer in the Dubai Mall so my usual treats of Pork Pies and Pasties are off the menu the majority of the week. Finally, as mentioned previously it is Ramadan, which means you cannot eat or buy alcohol before sunset. I think I should set up a summer boot camp in Dubai as weight would drop off with limited financial outlay.

The observant amongst readers will notice that the year in the title of the blog has changed from 2013 to 2014. This is two fold. Primarily it is because leaving the UK has put the skids on my fund raising and I think I need a little more time to raise the remaining five thousand pound. However, additionally, my first trip to Dubai in May convinced me that I might need all the time I can get to prepare for the race. Based on this I will probably only do a new post every two weeks to a month and it will include some non-race centric information so friends and family can read what we have been up to.

I have started some preparation for the MdS since I got to Dubai. I have found a running club that runs around Safa park that will provide not only an excellent training impetus but an opportunity to meet people and hopefully make a few friends independently from Becs. Hopefully some of the club play football and/or would be interested in playing squash or badminton on the apartment's courts.

I have also signed up to the Dubai Marathon which is run on the 25th January when the temperature should be more conducive for running (circa 30 degrees).

Apart from that the rest of my time whilst Becs is at work has been spent playing golf, partaking in some Arabic lessons and topping up the tan by the apartment's pool. I have done a couple of lessons with one of the professionals at my club and trying to hone my short game on the par 3 academy course before graduating to the full course some point in September. On the Arabic front, I can say the usual introductions that initially learn in a new language, count to ten and master the basic verbs. My aim is be able to have basic conversation skills and be able to have a few bits for everyday use, if needed: in a restaurant, coffee shop and travel.

Currently the Olympics is proving a good pre-Football season test of my UK based virtual private network (VPN) that I have configured to allow me to access my Sky TV package and watch the terrestrial iPlayer packages. A bit geeky I know but I am quite impressed with the unofficial U.A.E. Olympic Command Centre with local channel on the TV, ESPN coverage on the iPad and BBC website on the laptop:

I have even managed to get the TV footage on the iPad to be displayed on the TV.

Since the last blog Ellen Brooks has announced that she will be leaving Mencap and transferring responsibility for co-ordinating their MdS fund raising to Rachel Croshaw. I would like to thank Ellen for all her help since I confirmed I would run the MdS for Mencap and being so accommodating when I asked to defer my race to 2014. Secondly one of my friends Matt Addis successfully completed the UK Ironman in 14 hours 45 minutes to live the dream and join the Fink appreciation club. Well played mate, I am relieved that it went well after George and myself applied peer pressure encouragement to convince you to enter.

Next up: Ramadan escape to Sri Lanka to coincide with the expiry of my 30 day visa to restart the clock, continue my golf lessons and get out training with the Dubai Creek Striders.

MaAasalaama...