Every since I wrote the 'Something Changed' post something has been niggling at me. It has been a mixture of losing a year and the fact that I am not trusting my own abilities.
As I am not getting any younger, having a 'gap year' on endurance challenges really causes you to stagnate and lose momentum. It can also result in you reducing the intensity and time spent training; as you have no challenge on the horizon. At worst it could mean that you never get back into the swing of things and never complete the challenge you had in mind.
In addition, I have been pondering the fact I have no DNFs (Did Not Finish) on my racing CV in contrast to the inherent lack of faith I have in my ability, demonstrated by me deferring for a year. To date, I have probably completed circa 30 challenges, of ranging difficulties, with no DNFs. I might not be the quickest and I have never won a race but I have always just 'manned' up on the start line and powered through, regardless of my fitness or mental wellbeing. Why would the MDS be any different if I did my research, preparation and training?
Well the long and short is that, after conversations with Paul Garner (a MDS finisher from 2009, who you will read more about later) and my fitness confident, George Karolemeas, I have decided to re-enter the 2013 iteration of the race. I would like to thank Rachel from Mencap who has rolled with this punch, contacted the organising committee and facilitated me completing all of the necessary paperwork, so I can participate the race in 2013, as originally intended. Always nice when you complete paperwork that asks questions like, who do we deliver your body to if you die...?
Come on Deano, it's time to polish my trusty armour and prepare for battle.
This nicely leads me to the steps that I have taken to catch up the ground that I had lost since I deferred; especially as I am now doing the race in only 7 months time rather than 19 months (as I write these words I can feel my tummy rolling and some brown stuff leaking out of my trouser legs...)
Over the coming months I will reverse my intentions to write this blog every 4-every 6 weeks. Now that I am back in the thick of it, I will revert to writing this blog every 2-3 weeks.
Additionally, I have to push on and make this blog more factual; consisting of my training plan, nutrition plan, kit research/procurements and general preparation. I am also commencing my programme of interviewing previous MDS finishers, so that each blog post will contain a link to a post of each completed interview.
This will realise two benefits. One will be that I can multiply the amount of information researched. If every competitor spends 20 hours on research, by interviewing 10 people I will have completed 200 hours of research without lifting a finger. Secondly, it will hopefully allow me to glean nuggets of information from people who have completed the race and beaten the terrain and climate that I will be facing in 7 months time. This will include topics like: what worked, what didn't, what would you do differently, etc.
Additionally, it will hopefully help any future troubled soul, who wants to give the MDS a crack, as they should find this blog of use, rather than having to trawl through pages of Google searches for little gems of advice. You never know, it might also help getting this collection of blog posts published as a book...
With this in mind, I had my first interview with a runner Paul Garner, who even running enthusiasts call a running geek. Paul completed the MDS in 2009; which was a particularly difficult year as the start was delayed a day due to a freak flash flood in the Sahara. This meant that the race consisted of the longest ever stage of 81 miles, to help recover the lost day. This lost day would have been a painful one spent hanging around, filled with uncertainty as to whether the race will actually occur and internal demons as to whether you are capable running the race distance over a shorter time. Still, if you are going to complete the MDS once top kudos points for doing it in the toughest year...
If any of you know Paul Garner, whilst he is excellent at completing bonkers challenges, like running 100 miles in 24 hours, simply things, us mere mortals find easy, like time management and sticking to deadlines are a challenge for our intrepid explorer so at the time of writing this post Paul is still perfecting his answers and his interview will form part of the next post, hopefully (only joking Paul, your help and assistance has proved invaluable and you are my inspiration).
Unlike subsequent interviews, which will probably take place by e-mail, I spent a lovely evening with Paul and his family (the typical running widows you find behind every endurance athlete) at a cracking independent pub, the Seven Stars, in Pewsey. This enabled me to intently question Paul on his preparation and how his race panned out. It even meant I could physically see the kit he took to the Sahara, so I feel I have been able to collapse months of preparation into hours and it has really helped me catch up to where I should have been prior to my deferral.
Going back to an earlier blog, you might remember that I made my first two important decisions: what shoes to wear and what rucksack to run with. To refresh some and bring new readers up to speed, I have bought the ROCLITE 315 trail shoes and a Raidlight combo backpack of 30 litres and its light front-pack sister. I think the one advantage I have over the other competitors is my ability to carry stuff. Not only am I quite strong but I am also planning to lose some weight over training. This should mean that, unlike the leaner runners, who weigh less than 10 stone dripping wet, I will hopefully weigh less than my current weight, full loaded, so my skeleton and muscles should be more than prepared for carrying that weight.
Now I need to start pushing on and decide on what I am going to wear and what will go into the packs...
Over this, and the coming blogs, I will cover the following themes:
- Running Kit;
- Training plan, including taper;
- Food and nutrition;
- Contents of the back and front pack; and
- Night gear, including bedding.
I will include these in one post that I will update consistently over coming blogs so readers can see my research taking shape:
Completed Research
So, kicking off this research, Paul has helped me make great strides, no pun intended, on what I am going to wear:
- Socks: Paul's advice was to go with three pairs of toe-socks, which are shaped like gloves but for your feet. This enables each toe to be separated from its neighbours, containing any foot complaints that might appear in the desert. Paul recommended that I get different gauges of thickness so that I can change thickness to suit my comfort and he suggested that I buy the Injinji make of toe-socks.
- Shorts: this was the easiest and quickest of Paul's recommendations; Salomon Twin-skin shorts. Whilst expensive at £40 a pair they mean you don't have to wear any pants, are light weight and are designed to eliminate chaffing; the scourge of any male runners...
- Top: It seems like Mencap will be providing me with a Mencap branded desert running top so at least there is one area that won't require extensive research or outlay...
- Head/Face: the advice here is to get a bandana, that can be manipulated to cover the face during sand storms; wear the Marmot desert hat; and buy a pair of prescription sunglasses.
All in all I think I know what my list for Santa this Christmas is going to include...
It has been nice to come back to the UK to catch up with Family, Friends and West Ham. It has also meant I could get out on my trusty road bike and cycle to friends' wedding (well the wrong town which is a story for another time...), as well as go to Spain on holiday to spend a fantastic week with my nephew. That being said, I am now itching to get back to Dubai to start ramping up my training with next April in mind; and also warm the old bones.
When I get back, I have a lot of books and DVDs to read/watch so I can keep up the momentum with my preparation. I think I am finally making progress on the planning, and can feel myself getting pumped (which is a good sign), but I need to finalise which training plan I will follow. That being said, despite finessing the detail, my general aim is to increase my training up to a peak of 90-100 miles per week in February/March. This will probably consist of four 15 mile runs each week and a long run of between 20 and 30 miles at the weekend. From speaking to Paul Garner this should be plenty to avoid injury and prepare my skeleton and muscles for what they need to endure. More of that in the next blog, once I finished a few of the books I have bought, when I should be able to finalise the training plan from a position of strength.
By the next blog I will be back in Dubai, well into my first month of my 6 month training plan and hopefully I will have a couple of company logos to fill up the space on the right of the blog (in return for some much needed donations). Hopefully I might even have received my running gear, so I can begin to wear them in.
All in all a productive month...
MaAasalaama...
As I am not getting any younger, having a 'gap year' on endurance challenges really causes you to stagnate and lose momentum. It can also result in you reducing the intensity and time spent training; as you have no challenge on the horizon. At worst it could mean that you never get back into the swing of things and never complete the challenge you had in mind.
In addition, I have been pondering the fact I have no DNFs (Did Not Finish) on my racing CV in contrast to the inherent lack of faith I have in my ability, demonstrated by me deferring for a year. To date, I have probably completed circa 30 challenges, of ranging difficulties, with no DNFs. I might not be the quickest and I have never won a race but I have always just 'manned' up on the start line and powered through, regardless of my fitness or mental wellbeing. Why would the MDS be any different if I did my research, preparation and training?
Come on Deano, it's time to polish my trusty armour and prepare for battle.
This nicely leads me to the steps that I have taken to catch up the ground that I had lost since I deferred; especially as I am now doing the race in only 7 months time rather than 19 months (as I write these words I can feel my tummy rolling and some brown stuff leaking out of my trouser legs...)
Over the coming months I will reverse my intentions to write this blog every 4-every 6 weeks. Now that I am back in the thick of it, I will revert to writing this blog every 2-3 weeks.
Additionally, I have to push on and make this blog more factual; consisting of my training plan, nutrition plan, kit research/procurements and general preparation. I am also commencing my programme of interviewing previous MDS finishers, so that each blog post will contain a link to a post of each completed interview.
This will realise two benefits. One will be that I can multiply the amount of information researched. If every competitor spends 20 hours on research, by interviewing 10 people I will have completed 200 hours of research without lifting a finger. Secondly, it will hopefully allow me to glean nuggets of information from people who have completed the race and beaten the terrain and climate that I will be facing in 7 months time. This will include topics like: what worked, what didn't, what would you do differently, etc.
Additionally, it will hopefully help any future troubled soul, who wants to give the MDS a crack, as they should find this blog of use, rather than having to trawl through pages of Google searches for little gems of advice. You never know, it might also help getting this collection of blog posts published as a book...
If any of you know Paul Garner, whilst he is excellent at completing bonkers challenges, like running 100 miles in 24 hours, simply things, us mere mortals find easy, like time management and sticking to deadlines are a challenge for our intrepid explorer so at the time of writing this post Paul is still perfecting his answers and his interview will form part of the next post, hopefully (only joking Paul, your help and assistance has proved invaluable and you are my inspiration).
Unlike subsequent interviews, which will probably take place by e-mail, I spent a lovely evening with Paul and his family (the typical running widows you find behind every endurance athlete) at a cracking independent pub, the Seven Stars, in Pewsey. This enabled me to intently question Paul on his preparation and how his race panned out. It even meant I could physically see the kit he took to the Sahara, so I feel I have been able to collapse months of preparation into hours and it has really helped me catch up to where I should have been prior to my deferral.
Going back to an earlier blog, you might remember that I made my first two important decisions: what shoes to wear and what rucksack to run with. To refresh some and bring new readers up to speed, I have bought the ROCLITE 315 trail shoes and a Raidlight combo backpack of 30 litres and its light front-pack sister. I think the one advantage I have over the other competitors is my ability to carry stuff. Not only am I quite strong but I am also planning to lose some weight over training. This should mean that, unlike the leaner runners, who weigh less than 10 stone dripping wet, I will hopefully weigh less than my current weight, full loaded, so my skeleton and muscles should be more than prepared for carrying that weight.
Now I need to start pushing on and decide on what I am going to wear and what will go into the packs...
Over this, and the coming blogs, I will cover the following themes:
- Running Kit;
- Training plan, including taper;
- Food and nutrition;
- Contents of the back and front pack; and
- Night gear, including bedding.
I will include these in one post that I will update consistently over coming blogs so readers can see my research taking shape:
Completed Research
So, kicking off this research, Paul has helped me make great strides, no pun intended, on what I am going to wear:
,
- Gaiters: an important decision is what gaiters to wear, ensuring that no sand gets into your shoes, as this could have dire consequences on the blister front. Paul's advice was to buy the Raidlight gaiters. All I need to do now is to finalise a cobblers to attach velcro to my shoes so they gaiters attach nice and tight. Paul is going to dig out the name of the person he used so I will include these details in a coming blog.
- Shorts: this was the easiest and quickest of Paul's recommendations; Salomon Twin-skin shorts. Whilst expensive at £40 a pair they mean you don't have to wear any pants, are light weight and are designed to eliminate chaffing; the scourge of any male runners...
- Top: It seems like Mencap will be providing me with a Mencap branded desert running top so at least there is one area that won't require extensive research or outlay...
- Head/Face: the advice here is to get a bandana, that can be manipulated to cover the face during sand storms; wear the Marmot desert hat; and buy a pair of prescription sunglasses.
All in all I think I know what my list for Santa this Christmas is going to include...
It has been nice to come back to the UK to catch up with Family, Friends and West Ham. It has also meant I could get out on my trusty road bike and cycle to friends' wedding (well the wrong town which is a story for another time...), as well as go to Spain on holiday to spend a fantastic week with my nephew. That being said, I am now itching to get back to Dubai to start ramping up my training with next April in mind; and also warm the old bones.
When I get back, I have a lot of books and DVDs to read/watch so I can keep up the momentum with my preparation. I think I am finally making progress on the planning, and can feel myself getting pumped (which is a good sign), but I need to finalise which training plan I will follow. That being said, despite finessing the detail, my general aim is to increase my training up to a peak of 90-100 miles per week in February/March. This will probably consist of four 15 mile runs each week and a long run of between 20 and 30 miles at the weekend. From speaking to Paul Garner this should be plenty to avoid injury and prepare my skeleton and muscles for what they need to endure. More of that in the next blog, once I finished a few of the books I have bought, when I should be able to finalise the training plan from a position of strength.
By the next blog I will be back in Dubai, well into my first month of my 6 month training plan and hopefully I will have a couple of company logos to fill up the space on the right of the blog (in return for some much needed donations). Hopefully I might even have received my running gear, so I can begin to wear them in.
All in all a productive month...
MaAasalaama...
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