Total continues to rise....

I've been sponsored again. Thank you! Total now creeps up to £2,912.

Another £9

This is money from collecting loose change. Total now moves up to £2,886.

Money, money money...

...another £10 in sponsorship added today!

Total is now £2,877.

More Sponsorship!

Went to a Governor's meeting at school on Monday and came away with more sponsorship!

Total now: £2,864

Fundraising update

Current figure now stands at:

£2,854 raised - thank you to everyone who has sponsored me.

That still leaves me £1,146 short of the target set, so I'll continue to raise funds for Facing Africa until I reach it - feel free to help me out!

and here are a few pictures from the race, including a cheery finish line photo!

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who supported me while I was out in the desert, your emails were really appreciated. Thank you also to everyone who has been busy sponsoring me in the last two weeks, the grand total now stands at £2,761 and I'm keen to keep going and get the remaining £1,239 to make £4,000.

I will post a full race report in time, along with plenty of pictures of sand.....but in the meantime, here is a rather scary picture of me just across the finish line. I was trying to smile, but the emotion was rather getting to me.......

There are lots more fantastic (!) photos at junglemoon.co.uk

Sprint finish

33 hours 37 minutes and 58 seconds later, and it's all over. 123rd place overall out of 800 starters. Last stage was the fastest pace (no surprises there) covering 10.9 miles in 1hr 39 minutes, and coming 97th, Paul's best placing apart from the long day when he was 109th - proving that whether it's a sprint to the line or the long hard slog, he's a bit of a star. Spoke to him on the bus after the race (drinking Pepsi and feeling a bit ill after the day's exertions) and again in the evening after he'd had his first proper food at lunchtime (steak haché/frites), and a shower, and he was wandering around in the warm evening air before their meal last night. He sounded fine, is very pleased with himself, thank goodness for that, does that mean he doesn't need to do it again (??????), and was looking forward to another day of taking it easy, and bit of shopping, on Sunday. Oh and in case you're wondering, he'd had just one beer, but I haven't yet gathered if it was pre-shower or post!

Thanks Emma

Just a quick email before the concert starts (the Paris Orchestra are here...no, really, they are!) to say thank you to Emma for her message on the food bag that had my tortilla in. It said: Flour Tortilla. We get chocolate cake, you get tortilla. Keep Going!
Thanks Emma, I will! Just 17.5 k tommorrow, so about 11 miles, havent checked terrain yet, but I guess 1:45 to 2 hrs? Depends how I feel. Felt very tired today, and all that effort to move only 6 places up the rankings, 118 th now, but that could just as easily go up as well as down tommorrow, I'll take the 109 th long stage placing as my moment of glory, that and finishing!

Stage five, in his master's voice

42.2 km today, full marathon distance and a Personal Worst in 5 hrs 7 mins. Still, given it was 46 degres at CP3 and sandy, and I've just run 116 miles in the past 4 days, I'll settle for that. Only came 127th though, so there must be some excellent runners out here....I wait to see the overall standings. Today's start was good stoney running to CP 1, and I could still see the leaders going over the hill ahead. 2 climbs followed then sand.....I was on a 5hrs30 schedule though and was up on time the whole way. After CP3 we hit good stony running again so I put the foot down....pleased with the result. Also ran through a settlement today, so lots of palm trees, kids asking for water and gateaux and low mud brick buildings. In answer to email questions: it's definitely pod racing country, for anhsal read anakin, they both fly over sand. Sandcastles, haven't built one, but took a photo of a real live one today. Right, last email from the desert, hopefully back on text tomorrow, 11m to go.

Stage five - just a marathon

Well he's done it again - exceeded all expectations and turned in a cracking performance and a time of 5 hours 7 minutes - his fastest pace so far at 8.23k/hr. Overall placing seems to be 118th, although these change sometimes. Still first British woman, and all set no doubt for a sprint finish to the line tomorrow over about 11 miles, ready for that Ice Cold Beer in Ouarzazate in the evening. Shower first or beer first? Votes please.

Fame at last!

Paul has been in the local paper many times with his various exploits, but never before has he been featured on the billboard, so ta da! here he is, outside the local newsagents!! Story inside and good pictures of a child helped by Facing Africa, and one of Paul in his full kit outside a very non-desert looking Silver Mill Cottages. Today the Wharfedale Observer, tomorrow who knows?

Blog Central, Silver Mill, Otley.

Rest Day

Why does he send emails just when I'm going to bed? Honestly, sooooo inconsiderate. Here are today's words of wisdom from the man himself:


Bonjour! Nice day? Well, sunny here and a bit boring, but definitely need the rest as tomorrow is marathon day. Mulling over tactics, might set out at quicker pace but if its too much revert to plan A. Feet came throgh yesterday well. Blister on top of left big toe seems to have healed. One new one under right big toe, so pierced it with safety pin, drianed the gunk and dressed with salvon and tape, no problem walking on/running. Today I officially MING! to teh heavens, but then so doe severyone else, really looking forward to a shower in 2 days time! To recap yesteday, the best route so far for stunning scenery, three big climbs, not just the first on the website, ridge running, immense salt flats shimmering like lakes, dunes, oasis at cp 2, sunset and running in the dark (which is just like running in the dark anywhere but more sandy). Came 109 yesterday, now 124 overall. Pleased, but shame not to have broken into top 100. Limit up, so till demain.

Stage four - long day?

Email from Paul:

Well yes, it was, but 11 hrs 4 mins it was perhaps my quickest speed so far. I had a 10 hour plan mapped out, and a tad disappointed not to break 11 hours, but the dreaded soft sand did for me again, I am beginning to loath it! Still, pleased with my result, and wait to find out the placing tomorrow - rest day. No injuries to report...yet, but I haven't taken my socks off yet, not expecting anything though. Amazing scenery today and reached the first big climb in third place (the top 50 runners set off 3 hrs later _ saw one at CheckPoint 4, he was flying and it wasn't anahal (leader).) A few other climbs slowed me down, as did the last hour in the dark, but hit a great surface with 10 mins to go and sprinted!

Paul finished 109th in the stage, taking him up to 119th place overall. Better not tell him that under 11hours for stage 4 would have taken him into the top 100 overall........

4 euros/minute

4 euros/minute is the price of a satellite phone call from Oued Ahssia to announce a brilliant time of 11hours and 4 minutes for 75.5k!! Phenomenal. I thought he would do 13-14 hours, so clearly once again Paul is surpassing expectations. He says he would like to have got under 11 hours......typical.
He sounded very chirpy and relaxed, still just the 2 blisters, but is now missing a leisure sock and his foilbubble stove windshield due to a windstorm last night - for the first time he didn't repack his rucksack - lesson there for us all...... He asked me to thank EVERYONE who has emailed and sent messages of support, they are much appreciated and he said to keep sending them!!
So a rest day tomorrow when he can look at a bit more sand...then marathon Friday and 10m ish Saturday......

Signed, Mission Control.

Your views please

Found this picture when I was trawling the MdS website for any news of Paul on this, 'the longest day'. Having seen most of his kit at close quarters (on the dressing table in the bedroom for most of March), I think this might be him at the back of this photo looking at the view instead of concentrating on the rope rail. The orange sleep mat is a big clue I think, although they do appear elsewhere.

Anyone else think so?? The photo is on the Darbaroud website under Day 4 photos if you want a better look , but I'm not skilled enough to improve the resolution any more!!

Pamela

Day 3 Stage 3

Another excellent performance from Paul on Tuesday, 25.1m in 5hrs 48mins, moving him up to 148th place, and 11th British person home. The person he has leapfrogged is Sharon Gayter, so now Paul is the 'first British woman'. When Paul started to run races, especially local ones, his target was always to beat the first woman - a realistic but challenging target, given the fantastic quality of female runners out there. So the competitive side of him (I know, you'll all be suprised by this) will be quite satisfied. Probably the boost he needs before he tackles the 46.8m 'long day' on Wednesday.

We've got everything crossed - again. There are some fantastic photos on the darbaroud website, well worth a visit. Here's a taster.

Day 2 Stage 2 - Paul's version

Just when I thought it was safe to sign off and go to bed, got another email from Paul, this one sent today, received today, so things are speeding up....


Bonjour! Well, I recovered well last night, feeling much better after emailing you (thanks for yours, got them at 7pm last night) and ate all my food and drink, almost properly hydrated this morning, with urine no longer loooking like an oak aged chardonnay! Today I ran much better - 5 hrs 15 I think for 38 k. I did more walking inclines and sand and every 45 mins walked while I ate, took salt tablets and drank. It must have worked because I came in just ahead of Sharon Gaytor - oh yeah, deresrt running, bring it on! It was well hot today, no cloud no breeze and 40 degrees, same forecast for tomorrow, which looks like hell consisting mostly of dunes....Feet holding up, 2 small blister which I got treated at doc trotters (me being sensible). They sliced them, drained then and then injected iodine.....ouch! 40 k tomorrow, so off to rest and chomp through my rations. Hope all is well at home, missing you both loads but being entertained by my tent mates - its WHW + Call Chall...bye XXXXXXX

Day 2 Stage 2

The second stage appears to have been a less hilly, more stoney/packed sand stage, and Paul must have recovered from this exertions yesterday as he completed the 38k (23.5miles) in 5 hrs 14 minutes. In 159th place, 12th British runner to finish. He should feel immensely pleased with himself.
40.5k tomorrow, 25.1 miles....

Day 1 Stage 1 - Paul's version

This time, in his owns words.......

I am......recovering! 4hr 43 mins for the stage, 2:16 for the dunes at the start, they were MASSIVE! Seriously that was a very tough day's running. The 14 km of dunes were staggering, amazing to look at, anazing to be in, and tough to run.
The next 10k was flat stoney plain (the stones had fossils in, I've picked one up......then we had a killer 2 to 3 k of small dunes to finish _ small like nothing you've ever seen on a UK beach!
That was the killer section, up down, up down......and probably why I projectile vomitted over the line, that and the 38 degree heat..... Better now though.
So, top line story, Stage One, job done. Real story, one tough day in the most awesome landscape I have ever run in. Velcro is in tatters, but rest of kit seems to be doing the job.
Off now to chomp slowly through my rations and try and sleep in the windy tent - lighting the fuel is a challenge too. Oh, and only one small blister. Ooops, word limit!

Day 1 Stage 1

Information from the Darbaroud website tells us that Paul completed the first stage of 31.6km (hooray) in 4 hrs 43 mins, coming 154th out of 797, the 12th British runner over the line. An excellent first day result, especially as the route went straight up a huge sand dune after the first kilometre and was reputedly the hardest first day of the race's history.

No email from the man himself yet, so we wait with baited breath for an overnight satellite transmission (or for the email to be released from my over-zealous Mail Defender).

Pretty picture of the start to whet your appetites....

Travel tales

Welcome to the first Pamelamail posting on Paul's blog. Paul arrived safe and sound in Ouarzazate, luggage intact, and during Friday is on the 6hr coach trip to the race start location. Endurance training I think it's called. First stage on Sunday is 31.6km. Full day on Saturday to mess around packing and repacking the kit bags/ do all the admin stuff/build up a bit more of that nervous tension.

Nice photo of the tulips in the yard opening in the sunshine for the first time this year...

Last training run

Very easy paced 7 miles this evening in the cold misty night air! Nothing to report really, now busy unpacking and re-packing and crossing everything off my kit list ready to fly out tomorrow......

Hopefully I'll be able to email updates after each stage of the race, so watch this space!

Fundraising and other stuff

Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored me so far, and if you are thinking about it but haven't yet done so, do it now!

Running total stands at £2,272, so just £1,728 to reach my nominal £4,000 target.

I also sent out a press release yesterday to the local papers, as much to try and get some publicity for Facing Africa as anything else. Anyway, took a call from Wharfedale and Airedale Observer who did an interview over the phone and seem keen to do a follow up after the race, so lets hope they print something!

Also found out today that there will be an ITV reporter at Heathrow on Thursday who is coming out to follow the race. Maybe my 15 minutes of fame beckon....

Training - easy 3 miles

Very steady 3 miler tonight. Very cold, so full winter kit on (more ideal MdS training....NOT). Still, felt v.good.

Only downer was the sickening crunch of unsticking Velcro when I put my trail shoes on. So, back to the gluing board......this time its because the strip of Velcro crossed a 'flex' point on the shoe, so I snipped in two at the crease and hope that does the trick.

Cross Training - family walk

Enjoyed a nice leisurely walk from the back door up on to the Chevin today. 4.2 miles in all with 1,070 ft of climb. Quite a bright day, but still chilly and the odd snow flake still falling, though you could see that the real weather was out towards the east coast.

Nice views though and enjoyed making the most of a cool breeze - if I could only bag that up and take it to the desert.......

Click on the thumbnail below to see today's video:


Chevin walk, Easter Monday

Ready to go.......nearly!

Packed all my stuff into my back pack and front pack this morning and it all seems to fit (slightly annoyed that one piece of Velcro came off when I removed the sand gaiters, that's currently being re-glued...). Just about have everything, though I do have one or two minor bits of kit/food to pick up.

Really just want to get out there and find what its like to run in the desert. Its currently about 25/28 degrees at Ouarzazate where we fly too, so expected to be hotter still 6 hours drive out into the desert....

And here's my support crew practicing to say goodbye!

Cross Training!

Well, it was cross training if you count sledging as exercise! After last night's snow fall the field behind the house was just too tempting.....so ski clothes on and sledges out! Snow was OK, but soon wore through to muddy grass. Fun, but not exactly replicating MdS conditions....

Training - 3 miles

Easy three mile run this evening. 3 more miles in my MdS trail shoes and just a light back pack to test out the 'Foam Frenzy' valve caps on my drinks bottles (see post below). No leaks and a nice easy run. Rest day tomorrow.

Kit

Quite a bit of kit messing around today.

I think I've finally got all the Velcro attached, and no bits came loose on my 3 mile run out this evening. This is what the shoes look like, Velcroed and with one sand gaiter attached:

I also made a wind shield for the stove this morning. This is made out of foil bubble, stapled on one edge and I've insert a tent peg on one side to use as an anchor. The water did boil alot more quickly, an effect I'm sure of the foil reflecting back the heat.

Pamela then helped sort out the leaking 'non-returnable' valve problem, spotting the ideal piece of kit in a pack of 'Foam Frenzy' at the craft section in the local garden centre! Tested it on my run this evening and no leaks! Will pack some spares in case these come off, but no weight penalties!

Emma then helped me to pack up my food, each day's supplies in a sealable freezer bag. That way I don't need to think about what I'm supposed to have or what's left to eat up! I just need to buy one more Granola bar for day 7.

Fundraising

Since I posted an update on Monday I have raised another £135! So thank you again to everyone who has supported me and whose sponsorship will go towards the very important work that Facing Africa do. £2,202 now, so only £1,798 to go....

Exercise ECG

Message on the answerphone from the consultant yesterday to say that the exercise ECG is 'normal', or at least of no concern. Will try and call in on Wednesday to pick up a copy if I can.

Training - 4 miles easy

Nice gentle jog out this evening with Pamela. Nice sunny day but windy and pretty cold, even had a brief snow shower (very brief!). Nice to run without any pack on today - such a relief!

The last few runs out with full kit I've really noticed that; running uphill, even the slightest incline, or running into the wind, is so much harder carrying all that weight. However, on the plus side, I've found the weight less hard going while I'm running than when I'm walking. There must be some science around that or I'm just a bit weird....

Training - 5 miles

Short easy run tonight but again with full pack. This time I was running wearing a weight lifters belt (a light weight one obviously, infact a simple wide belt of neoprene). It certainly does the job though, no slicing in two and if I do get any back problems then it can only help - thanks to Steve for thinking of this solution and posting on the belt!

My only slight concern is that it may get very hot. But then its going to be hot anyway so, tough!

Only other thing to report is that one strip of Velcro came loose, but the rest are still in place and still seem to be holding out.

Not much more running now, but need to do more Velcro gluing, construct a wind shield for my stove out of foil bubble and attach the sleep mat to my back pack - somewhere...oh, and work out how to stop the non-returnable valves fitted to the Raidlight bottles from, well, returning....

Cross Training

Dusted down my bike at the weekend, cleaned and oiled it and removed winter scraps of metal from the brake pads ready to start cycling to work again. Today was the first chance to cycle though and it was beautiful and sunny.

Round trip is just over 8 miles, so no great distance, but takes about 20 minutes each way because of the mighty Chevin in the way - the trip to work starts with a one mile 1 in 8 uphill.....and then drops more gently down the other side into Yeadon.

Exercise ECG - 2 miles!

My cardiologist organised an exercise ECG for me today as part of my expanding case file at the LGI into my mysterious chest pain episodes! It also happens to be a recommended test for any MdS runner over 40 - so belt and braces I guess.

Anyway, test started off with a 'supine' reading, which looked like my normal 'abnormal' ECG to me and resting heart rate was round about 60bpm.

I also had to have a number of areas of my chest strategically shaved to attach the electrodes - that'll be nice and itchy by the time I get to the desert then.

Then it was time for the exercise. This consisted of 3 minute slots starting at a walking pace on a 10% slope and then steadily increasing both speed and gradient until I was running at 5.5 mph on a 20% hill! This felt like serious training and, as I hit my maximum heart rate towards the end of this session (178 bpm) I was OK to stop - I wasn't sure I could face another increase in speed AND gradient anyway!

The technicians seemed happy with my results which now get whizzed HNS style over to Dr Cowan for his assessment. I guess I'll only hear back if he spots anything 'interesting'.

Needless to say, I don't think many people in the cardiology ward get that far through the test...

Less appealing than this test is a further exploration that my GP has come up with which involves a Barium meal. Might save that till after the MdS I think!

Fundraising - thanks everyone!!

Thank you to all my sponsors so far and to all the recent ones - to Emma, Monica, Frances, Karen, Asa and Inigo and to my fellow Trustees at Children Today. You have all been extremely generous.

My grand total now stands at £2,067, so 'just' another £1,933 to go if I'm to reach my £4,000 target!

Training - 9 miles

OK, so not quite taper miles but I still want to put a few miles on these new shoes - this now makes 26 miles. Maybe just one or two runs to add....

Did this circuit with full kit, including full water bottles and felt really good. Even ran most of the mile long, one in eight hill at the start of the circuit (Otley, Carlton, Yeadon, Guiseley, Menston, home). Infact, I felt like I wanted to be out there, in the desert, and near the end of stage one. Weather was a bit different though, bright and cold, but a fabulous sunset.

I am also officially an idiot..........no comments please. Having said the strap keeping the front pack in place would cut me in half....well, I haven't got round to looking for any padding and, it cut me in half. OK, not quite literally but I did yell like a boy when the hot water of the shower entered the welt on my side.......really do need to get that fixed.

Otherwise, a very satisfying and encouraging run!

Training - 10.3 miles

Opps, thought I was retracing an 8 mile loop, so thought it was slow when I looked at the clock when I got home...that was because it was 10.3 miles! Still, took it easy, another useful run out in the new trail shoes and stomach also slowly recovering.

It was cold though. It was raining and the light westerly wind made it very chilly - had to disappear under the duvet after my shower to warm up. No back pack again today, didn't think that was a good idea with a dodgy stomach.

May or may not run tomorrow, but will have time on Monday hopefully after the Children Today Trustee meeting though.

Training - 7 miles

First run this week on Friday since Barry 40, mainly due to an upset stomach which has not been pleasant.

However, felt OK yesterday and set out to do the 7 mile loop via Pool Bank. Had to walk the hill though as my stomach complained at the extra effort, but otherwise went OK.

Also ran for the first time in my new Adidas Supernova Trails - in lovely grey and orange...hmmmmm. These are a size 10 1/2, one half size bigger than normal to accommodate swelling feet in the desert. I was a bit nervous about running in them but with a pair of Sealskinz as well as my Fastrax socks they were actually OK. The Sealskinz did make my feet feel hot though, so might need to revise this strategy for the desert.

I also had Velcro stuck round the sole of my shoe sand only one bit came off, so a useful test. Luckily that piece stuck to my socks so I can reapply it. In case you are wondering, the Velcro is for attaching my sand gaiters...!

Race - Barry 40

Took part in the Barry 40 yesterday which is held at Jenner Park Stadium, the home of Barry Town FC. The event consists of running 161 laps around a tartan running track - who said ultra running was glamorous?!

Despite forecasts of howling gales and lashing rain the day remained sunny for the most part, but the two hail showers were freezing.

I''ve done this race twice before, it was my first ultra back in 2005 and I finished 10th in 5 hrs 21 mins and then in 2006 had to drop out after 26.2 miles because of a shoe problem that created a very painful knee....I did go through the marathon distance under 3.15 though.

I set out yesterday with the target of running 5 hours (or rather anything inside 5 hours) and was on track up to 20 miles and still OK at the marathon mark (3:14 yesterday). Then, as seems to happen in most ultra races the wheels started to come off.......firstly, I found the Nuun flavoured water hard to stomach and kept feeling like I was going to vomit........then my lower back went into spasm and I could hardly stand up, let alone run, but a few walking laps, a geobar, cups of water and, most importantly, Nurofen, and I was suddenly up to 35 miles and just 20 laps to run.

At this point I decided the best strategy was to dig in and try and run the last 20 laps straight off, not worrying about refuelling etc, and if I could get back to sub 2 minute laps I was still in with a chance of breaking my PB. Luckily, my legs held out and I even ran one of my fastest laps of the day in last mile.

I finished with a time of 5 hrs 14 minutes, 7 minutes better than my previous time and finished in 12th place. I averaged 7 min 49 sec mile pace, I would have needed 7 min 30 for a sub-5.

There was a really quality field yesterday, with many past winners and any one of the top 9 competing for the lead early on. 10th palce went to the first woman, who ran a women's record 12th fastest ever time in the world at this distance!

I was happy with my run and my mug with the words: 'Barry 40 - Finisher'!

I must also mention my support crew, Pamela and Emma who sat through my ordeal noting down my time for every one of the 161 laps and giving me updates on various milestones and laps completed/to go. Now that is dedication......

Training - 7 miles...with my nap sack on my back....

OK, hardly a nap sack, but full front and back packs again tonight. 7 miles was OK, though the long drag up Pool Bank was noticeably harder - a mile plus long hill climbing some 500 odd feet.

Otherwise, two runs in with full weight seems promising.

Rest day tomorrow then off to South Wales on Saturday ready for the 'Barry 40' on Sunday.

Training - 5 miles fully loaded

First run out tonight with full front and back pack and it seemed to work OK. Only main bit of kit missing was my sleep mat, but that's just bulky rather than heavy.

Also sorted the bouncing front pack problem by using what is essentially a luggage strap as a belt. This kept the front pack firmly in place but I rather think that if I used that as it is for 150 miles in the desert then I'm going to end up getting sliced in two. So, just need to find some sort of padding, especially around my hips, the sort of thing you get on seat belts in suped up cars....only smaller.

Also carried two full Raidlight bottles. Adding the aquarium valves really does work, they are so much easier to drink from, but I do need to glue them - water kept on leaking out!

Still, a satisfying run out. Rest day tomorrow.

Kit - quick update

Nearly got all the kit I now need. Just putting together a first aid kit and need to buy two more breakfasts.

Tasted Expedition Foods 'Hot cereal start with mango' this morning and found it really 'sawdusty', so will be sticking with 'Porridge with strawberries' for all seven days.........hmmmmm.

Also tried out loading up my pack. Everything seems to fit into the Salomon backpack and Raidlight front pack. No room for the Thermarest as expected, so might rig something up to sling that under the pack. Plenty of spare room in the front pack for the distress flares, salt tablets and night sticks that will be handed out by the organisers.

Two packs together plus sleep mat weighed 7.5 kg on the bathroom scales, probably nearer 8 kg based on weighing everything individually and therefore more accurately.

Will start doing training runs carrying the full pack from tomorrow...

Training - 15 miles

15 mile loop today taking in Menston, Guiseley, Rawdon and Yeadon - basically using the A65 with various extensions off.

Felt very easy, but then no back pack today just a bottle belt - word of warning, kona coal flavouredd Nuun tabs are actually slightly fizzy, which if you use a bottle belt may result in a wet back.....cola flavour tastes OK cold though.

Today's run completes 42 miles for the week, which after last weekend feels like an easy week.

Fewer mid-week runs next week in preparation for next Sunday's Barry 40 race;

http://www.lescroupiersrunningclub.org.uk/barry40/

Training - Burley Menston

Haven't done this route for ages! For a long time it was a favourite 8 mile route, but with the advent of MapMyRun we realised it was actually just short of 7 miles.....still, a good out and back circular route, made all the more enjoyable by the fact that when its windy (like the last few days....understatement I know!), its a headwind on the outward leg, but a tailwind home.

Nice easy run, followed by more of Emma's delicious cooking. I could get used to this....

Training - 7 miles

Very boring run tonight, used my 'town' 5 mile route with a short extension out to the Fox at Menston.

Did a bit of 'fartlek', doing my main sprints up Burley Road to the Fox from the back of Ellar Gardens (or whatever its called...), and also up East Chevin Road - always a killer, must be 12.5% gradient, takes about 40 seconds at top speed.....

Only saw one Otley runner out tonight, so must have been a bit early for the 'moonlighters' and, despite by best efforts (Ken!), didn't stumble across any buried treasure, remains of crashed World War Two bombers (complete with skeletal crew), just a long tailback of cars because of the roadworks on the ancient and somewhat historic bridge. Here is a picture, of the bridge that is, not the traffic jam, or rather the weir, the bridge is in the background.....

Training - 8 miles

8 mile route up Leeds Road to Bramhope, a few loops around there and then back down again.

Felt very fluid today, the benefits of a rest day I guess. Shorter runs coming up this weekend but plenty of kit to play with (have just added some valves to my drinks bottles and they work much better - very Wallace & Grommit! Will post some kit blogs at the weekend).

Training - 5 miles recovery run

Quick 5 miles this evening before a rather long school meeting. Felt OK after the weekend's runs, not too stiff and not too sore - roll on the desert.....i think!

Training - 33 miles

33 mile route today - out to Burley, then Ilkely, Addingham, Silsden, Steeton, Keighley, Bingley, Shipley, Guisesly and back over West Chevin End.

Set off in a cold drizzle but rain soon stopped and even saw some sun. Have done this route before so was pleased to feel stonger towards the end than usual, and have never done this off the back of a 23 mile training run before.

Makes 68 miles for the week and now start to enter my taper, although I am doing Barry 40 two weeks today, but otherwise will be concentrating on getting my backpack / frontpack system sorted out.

Training - 23 miles

Usual 23 mile route yesterday taking in Menston, Guiseley, Apperley Bridge, Calverley, Horsforth, Headingley, Adel and Bramhope and, as ever, first 2/3rds of the route felt good and last 7 miles, less good! Still, completed in 3 hrs 20 mins so quite happy with that.

Training - 7 'chilli'

7 mile Pool Bank run tonight. Very windy and quite a battle into the headwind back to Otley. Bumped into two lots of Otley runners tonight, saw Phil (WHW runner), Chris (24 hr runner) and Carl (the bed runner....).

Surprisngly warm out running tonight and did a slight detour at the end of the run to buy a 'chilli' for Emma's cooking class (or is that 'Food Technology'?) tomorrow.

Much better run tonight though.

Training - sluggish 5 miles

Back on the road at last, but felt heavy today. Not so cold as the last few days, but still chilly.

Good to get back to running, hopefully do 7 tomorrow and then two big runs at the weekend...

MdS Race number

Race numbers have now been posted on the official website. My number is 877.

So, if you are really bored while I'm away in the desert, you'll be able to check up on my daily progress. I know, exciting isn't it?!

News!

Back at work today after a weeks skiing. Went to St Jean D'Aulp near Morzien and Avoriaz in teh northern French Alps. Great skiing conditionsand loads of runs to choose from. Sun shone all week so it was just about perfect - also pleased to come back with no injuries.

Also tried out the Wileys one day. Vision was good with the smoke elenses in bright sunshine and shade but they misted up every time I stopped. However, this happens when I cycle in sunglasses so I guess I'll just have to put up with that in the desert. My 'P20' look-a-like sunscreen also worked well in the Alpine sun, and hopefully I've now got a good 'base layer' tan for the desert!

So, only 8 miles running in the last two weeks but plenty of very useful cross training. Hopefully get a few short runs in during the week and two big runs at the weekend.

Been a busy time recnelty as I've been actively looking for a new job and was offered and accepted a position with the RSPB the week before going on holiday - yippeee!! Really pleased as I'll be fundraising for conservation projects which is something I've always been really interested in.

However, first I have to work 3 months notice, but will start my new job on May 1st.

Kit - Wiley X SG-1 Goggles...

...arrived today. Very chuffed with my cheap eBay purchase all the way from Malaysia, and then went and broke them........still, they do work and seem to fit really well, good for sand storms, not so stylish as glasses, but functionality is slightly more important I think. That's just about all the kit sorted now.

Oh, and these only weigh 60 grams, including spare lenses (one clear pair, one smoked), head band strap and sunglass 'arms'.

Training - 8 miles

8 mile 'recovery' run tonight. Felt really tired at work this afternoon, but run went OK. Did the 'Highroyds 8'. Chillier than I thought, so with no gloves or hat hands got quite cold....not that a hat would have made any difference, obviously.......rest day tomorrow......I think I need one!

Kit - SIS ReGo

Tried this out after yesterday's race and today's training run (supposed to aid recovery from exercise with complex carbohydrates....or something!). Tastes OK, a sort of powdery milkshake. Have had strawberry and chocloate and both taste fine. Will also try out vanilla and then add to the kit list

Training - 20 miles

Usual 20 mile route today - Menston, Guiseley, Rawdon, Horsforth then along the ring road to Lawnswood, down into Headingley, out to Weetwood then Adel and then back in on the Otley Road through Bramhope.

Ran the first 12 none stop and felt pretty good. Next few miles more testing but finished well. 3 hrs in all, not bad after yesterday's race.

Makes for a 66 mile week. Highest yet!

Race - Rombalds Stride

Took part in the Rombalds Stride race yesterday. A 25 mile tour of Rombalds Moor organised by the LDWA. Lots of runners do this one too though and quite a decent sized field.

Took it easier than usual as I was trying out my front pack for the MdS with two 800 ml water bottles attached.

Weather was good, snowing at the start but generally quite bright, icy underfoot on the moors though this did make it marginally less boggy. Ice took its toll on some though, the blood smeared road at the foot of Keigthly Gate being a timely reminder to watch you footing.....

Compelted in 4 hrs 3mins, only 3 mins outisde my target time and quite happy with that. Felt OK too until the final big climb up the Chevin, a real killer which completely wiped my out. Still, recovered enough to make up a few places on the final three mile run to the finish.

Slide show as promised. Just click on the thumbnail....


Rombalds Stride 2/3/08

Kit

Spare camera battery arrived today from Hong Kong eBay seller. Now need to weigh it!

Training - wet and windy 7

Blowing a gale tonight. No hail or snow though, but wet under foot. Ran out to Pool (headtorch needed), then up Pool Bank and back down the Leeds Road. Should be a rest day tomorrow but might run to work if the snow materialises.

Kit - deliveries!

Gaiters arrived yesterday, so now I just need to fit them and find some sand to run in! Also delivered; silicone case for my camera and a 2 GB memory card.

Training - 5 miles fartlek

Yes, speed work today. 5 miles into wind and very cold rain.Tail wind good for speed though.

Training - 9 miles

First run of a new week but technically a 'recovery' run after the weekend. Fairly easy 9 miles, up the Leeds Road, a few wiggles around Bramhope and then back home (slight extension today with a trip into Otley to buy a paper, which surprisingly added a mile!).

Training - 15 miles

Had planned to do another 20 miler today but just didn't have enough time in the end. Still, enjoyed a steady 15 miles and felt really good - no aches or pains after yesterday's 23 miles.

Usual night time run - up to Menston, Whitecross, Guiseley, Rawdon, Yeadon and back again. Wind had also died down by the time I went out and it was eerily calm after two solid days of 'gusts'.

Completes 51 miles for the week - not bad given this cold is still lingering, but I think its on its way out....

Kit - Chicken Korma

Tried out the Expedition Foods Chicken Korma today - verdict: not bad! Was expecting this one to be particularly manky but almost enjoyed it (admittedly I was hungry). Now just need to decide on the 6 meals I take to the MdS....

Training - 23

Added a 'loop' to my usual 20 mile route and a bit disappointed it only added 3 miles. Still, running somewhere new is always good and the run was generally OK. Bit windy, and head wind for the last 4/5 miles, but otherwise OK. Still testing nuts, seeds, fruit and nut bars and all seem OK. Proper dosage of Kona Cola Nunn tabs too -electrolytes that are supposed to be easy for the blood to absorb. Cola tasted just like flat coke - nice! (No, really thats a 'good' thing!)

Training - easy 6

Gentle 6 yesterday. Still can't kick this cold, so only a little sprinting today. Cooler than recently and very blustery. Saw the Otley runners out, but only 5 of them (the faster ones).

Training - a very wet 7

Tipping it down tonight - hence the floods! Very wet under foot, roads closed, and a bit of 'tightrope' walking along a wall to circumnavigate the floods on Birdcage Walk.

Still, run felt good.

Rest day tomorrow.

Training - 15 miles

Another dry day -yippeee! Slightly unusual training run in that I ran approx. 3 miles to the local railway station, got on a train to Leeds, picked up some train tickets for later in the week and then ran the 12 miles home.

Felt much better than yesterday .So two runs completes a 35 mile week!

Tried out the cola flavoured Nuun tabs today and they are fine, probably prefer them to the Lemon and Lime but will take a mix - I guess the bottles will end up tasting of Lime cola. Also snacked on a Granola bar - another hit and another food item on the list.

Kit - chilli con carne HOT!!!

Another Expedition Foods offering. Looked and smelt like totally minging! However, spicy enough to taste OK. Also had a single tortilla. Both now on the packing list!

Training - 20 miles

Despite the cold not completely shifting after a week of rest, decided to stick to plan and do 20 miles yesterday. Was joined by Pamela AND Emma for the first mile and then set off up the Leeds Road (this is the reverse of the usual 20 mile loop). A bonus after a week of rain was that it was dry and the sun was almost out!

Felt OK for the first 10 miles but then legs got tired, I felt cold and generally rubbish. Still, did some walking up hills and completed in 3 hrs 15 mintes'ish', so no great disaster.

Used about 1.5 litres of the 2 litres I was carrying. Lemon and Lime Nuun again. Also tried out some mixed 'fruit, seeds, nuts', some salted roast cashews and date and nut bars and all seemed OK, though the cashews sat heaviest on my stomach - either need to eat less in one 'snack', or save these until the end of each run.

Kit - breakfast

Tried out Expedition Foods 'Porridge with Strawberries' yesterday and, found it was almost 'nice'. Definitely preferred it to the one with sultanas. So, BIG question, 7 packs of 'Porridge with Strawberries', or a mixture.....

Good thing about this pack is that it is one of the new 800 calorie packs, so 100 more cals but no more weight.

Kit - Food

Tried out the Expedition Foods Spaghetti Bolognese the other evening. Colour of the food was almost as bright orange as the packet, but it actaully tasted OK (bit heavy on the tomato if I'm being picky, but I doubt I'll be picky in the desert).

Also tried out a Mediterranean flat bread that went very well with the meal. Now need to find the lightest flat bread for the maximum calories (some sort of tortilla or chapatti probably).

Still a few more meals to try out before placing my final race order...

Epilepsy Action Bradford 10K

Entry Forms are now live on the website! Get yourself signed up!!

Just click on the town hall!

Training - 1800 metres.....

My shortest training run ever today - 1800 metres! Had decided not to run to try and go over the cold I've had the last two weeks (running in the Hebden last weekend probably didn't help). But then my daughter brought home her 'PE homework' which was to see how far she could run in 12 minutes. Answer, 1800 metres with 30 metres of ascent and descent. Quite enjoyed it! Back to long runs next weekend I hope....

Total miles this week, 21 and 8 miles on the bike. All 21 miles in the new Asics 2130's and all seems to be fine so far...

Training - nearly eight

Easy run out last night. Just short of 8 miles. Up Leeds Road, few twists and turns around Bramhope and then back down to Otley.

Doodling

Have just finished reading Ranulph Fiennes autobiography. If you want to put the MdS into some sort of context, read his book and you'll have nothing to fear........Sir Ranulph has also done this doddle in support of National Doodle Day 2008!

A vision of things to come?

'Two dromedaries and a donkey by Paul Klee'....

Training - speed work

Yup, speed work today. Ran 5 miles in total and as ever did fartlek. Quite a strong wind today and it was behind on the home leg so ran fast the whole length of Bradford Road, then Birdcage Walk and finally sprinted up East Chevin Road to Silver Mill Hill. Felt tired after that.....

Rest Day - Bradford 10K

No running today but have just come back from another reccy of our planned 'Epilepsy Action Bradford 10K' race which should be taking place on Sunday 20th April 2008.

Route is now set, for those that know Bradford it starts and finishes on Centenary Square outside the magnificent Town Hall, runs out along Valley Road and Canal Road, turns around before the Shipley turn and back to the centre. Should be a quick course.

Will post a link once its live on Epilepsy Action's website.

Training - Ascis 2130's

Trip to Complete Runner in Ilkley today to pick up new road shoes (old ones have passed 500 miles). Asics 2120's have become 2130's but fit seems the same. Ran the 7 miles home (wind behind) and felt fine. Only problem was catching a tree branch in the eye - very stinging at the time but doesn't seem to be any permanent damage.

Also bought three new Helly's - the old ones are getting rather 'Helly smelly'....

Training - easy 7

Just an easy 7 mile run today. Up Leeds Road, loop around Bramhope and then back down the hill again. Actually 7.26 miles and 600 feet of ascent.

Anyway, helped to clock up 51 miles for the week, plus 8 cycling!

Race - The Hebden

Decided to enter 'The Hebden' yesterday after seeing it advertised on a Runners World email. Also, I was going to be in Heptonstall in the afternoon for my godson's first birthday - so perfect timing! Happy Birthday Inigo!

The Hebden is organised by the LDWA and takes in 22 miles and 4,000 feet of ascent in and around Mytholmroyd (where it starts), Hebden Bridge, Heptonstall and Cragg Vale. After lots of rain on Friday and on the drive over from Otley the day was actually quite clear and apart from the cold wind on the tops relatively warm. It was, however, very muddy underfoot.

Set out at quite a quick pace and was in a group of about 8 just behind a lead group of a similar number. However, I started to flag a bit on the climb out of Hardcastle Craggs and was feeling a bit out of sorts. Also, I knew we were approaching the cemetery where a former colleague of mine is buried.

Alice was only 21 when she died following a tragic accident that happened only a week after she'd finished working on a 12 month placement with me. In her memory we set up 'Alice's Run', a 10k trail race that stats and finishes in Mytholmroyd. This year the race is on Sunday 31 August, which will be the third anniversary of Alice's death.

I decided to stop at Blackshawhead and spent 5 or 10 minutes at Alice's grave. As before the new headstone and many flowers were bathed in sunshine.

I felt much more enthused after my contemplative stop and joined up with 3 passing runners to continue the race.

I stuck with them to checkpoint 3 then joined a bigger group of about 7 runners and stayed with them to the end. It was a good route, lots of steady climbs and some great views from the tops. It was very muddy underfoot though and I think I would have been better off in fell shoes and not the trail shoes I had chosen. A good workout though.

To find out more about Alice's Run go to: http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/alicesrun.html

Training - snow!

Well it did snow, but there was not much lying when I got up. Decided to run anyway and opted for road shoes to go via West Chevin Road and down through Guiseley and along Queensway. As I left home is started snowing quite heavily and was even settling on the road along Birdcage Walk.

Nice snowy views from the Chevin looking down on Otley.

Snow fell on and off all day but it was clearly getting warmer towards the end of the day but with enough still lying to make visibility good in the dark I decided to run back over the Chevin via Moor Lane, Cross Lane, Surprise View and down York Gate.

Lovely run, not a soul about and light enough with no headtorch. Feet got very wet though as it is very muddy under the snow!

9 miles in all and 512 feet of ascent.

Training - cold!

Back to work today and a chance to get back on the bike - it was well cold though!

Did a quick 5 miles fartlek tonight. Cold not too bad as speed work always guaranteed to banish chills.

Hoping it will snow over night so I have a good excuse to run to work...

Training - dank, dark and misty

What a glorious day to welcome in the New Year! Pretty much wet all day and just completed an 8 mile run in thick mist. Ran up West Chevin Road and passed the Chevin End pub - very difficult to see as the light from my headtorch was bouncing back off the mist.

Then ran down Netherfield Road into Guiseley, did a tour of Tranmere Park and High Royds ("too late, its a housing estate" - the Kaiser Chiefs) and back to Otley on the Bradford Road. Very quiet out, very few cars and no runners.

Training - run to Holy Island

Saturday saw us make our first trip to Grandad Ivan's new caravan just south of Berwick upon Tweed. Just before we left I mapped out a route to run on Sunday and confirmed on the OS map that it should be possible to follow the coast all the way from Berwick to Holy Island and back (tides permitting).

Set off Sunday at 10.50 with Camelback and about 2 ltrs of water with Nuun tablets.

First obstacle, crossing the East Coast mainline! Then followed the promenade out of Spitall before climbing to the cliff top. The track here was rough tarmac to start with then close cropped grass. Very flat and easy going and once running not too cold either.

At the first opportunity though I dropped down onto the beach to run on the sand. The wet sand was mostly firm and very easy to run on but my feet would occasionally sink into softer stuff which was much more tiring. A short detour into the dunes also made me realise that running uphill in very soft sand is pretty much a waste of time! Good fun though but soon dropped back onto the wet sand.

As I neared Holy Island and the vast expanse of sand and mud flats I decided it would be wise to hug the coastline and soon had to divert back into the dunes to cross a wide, deep stream. I then picked up a clear track that took me all the way to the causeway across to the island.

Luckily, the causeway was clear until 5.30 that afternoon, so plently of time to get across to the island and back.

This then meant 3 miles of dead flat tarmac making for a quick run onto Lindisfarne. It was easy going and made more interesting by the incursion of sand over large parts of the road and even seaweed in places (though this was a bit slippy to run on!).

At Lindisfarne I met up with Pamela and Emma and we visited the castle which was redesigned by Lutyens around 1900 and had a picnic in the very sheltered walled garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll.

It was then back on with the Camleback for the 12 mile return run. Just about made it before dark but happy with the run which I completed just inside 4 hours in total.

This also meant another 40 plus week with 44 miles run.

Hopefully return to the caravan at the end of January to do more sand running in full MdS kit...

Click on the thumnail below to see a montage of the Holy Island run.


Run to Holy Island 30/12/2007