A big thanks to all the advice I got. I Also discussed in depth with Martin from Likeys. And by 10 last night I had a strategy. First I ordered “Fixing Your Feet” of Amazon and decided to go to the following places in this order.
Birmingham Running, A pro running shop with good reputation and it is nearby. Then If they couldn’t help, “Wide fit Shoes” in London the name say it all. Plan C was Taylor & Son in London. I was sure they could make me a custom pair of boots/shoes that would definitely get me divorced but would probably get me through the sand pit in Morocco.
I arrived at Birmingham Running http://www.birminghamrunner.com/ promptly at opening time with some trepidation. I do not have good experience with these shops, they often don’t take me seriously, and probably think it is just another fat oaf that want to polish a can while watching repeats of Ricky Lake. I spoke to Dave Ireland the owner and X Rugby player with Leicester Tigers. Now a keen Marathon athlete. Due to his Rugby connections he have many heavies frequenting his shop which gave me some hope. He asked the right questions seem to know the right stuff like feet swelling, one size bigger, anti friction patches and what not. After videoing me on his treadmill, sore feet and all I walked out with a pair of New Balance 859’s in an 11½. With the bank manager still happy and my marriage in tact. I hope to give them a thorough 2 day test this weekend.
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
clear, cream, pink, yellow, red & black... The visible spectrum of pus
OK this was my plan: Zoe wanted to visit her mum in Hailsham and in order for me to go with her and at the same time stay as far away as possible, I dreamed up an shortened imitation MdS as a good test of what is to come. I would sleep in my sleeping bag on the floor, carry all my stuff including food emergency kit sleeping stuff etc and ration my water to 2.5 liters a day (thought that is good compared to the 11 liters in the desert considering the difference in climate between the south downs and the Sahara) I was to cook my own food, no shower, no shave, no drinks, no mod cons. I planned 3 walks on varied terrain, hills, flat hard surface and ploughed fields. Day one 23.7 miles (38.1 km). Day two 32.7 miles (52.4 km) and day three 23.7 miles (38.1 km). This is a total of 78.8 miles (126.6 km) with a total ascent and descend of 6763 feet (2061 meter). Or about half the MdS in half the time. Brilliant plan I thought.
Arrived an mother in law and went straight to bed in preparation for the next day. Did not sleep well at all on the floor. My torn muscle in my back was hurting like hell and I have a tooth abscess that I overdose with aspirin, codeine and paracetamol.
Day 1, Sun. 28/12/08
It was freezing cold and some of the foot paths was not used in years making navigation challenging and time consuming. Blisters start to develop after 4 hours and I stopped to treat my feet. Did not work very well and after 8 hours the blisters was well developed. Did not need to burst them as my socks did it for me. Back half of both socks was wet with clear pus. I carry on bravely while chewing pain killers like wine gums. Completed the wobble after spot on 11 hours. Ditched my boots, which was wet too with pus. Still clear at this time. Treat my feet, most of the skin was gone already and integrated in my Bridgedale socks. Just managed to cover two of the for blisters with a large compeed patch and in the process splatter mother in law’s cream carpet with pink pus. Had my trial pack of apple and custard and went to sleep. Very bad night sleep max 2 hours at a time before waking up with half my body asleep and need to turn for circulation.
Day 2, Mon 29/12/08
Killed the alarm at 06:00 and steal another 30 minutes while contemplating my madness and thinking of all the reasons not to go further. Remarkably I could not find any reason to carry on. Still I got up, treat my feet again and try to clear the now yellow pus of my brand new marmot sleeping bag. Needed to my full weight to get my feet into my what appeared to be shrunken boots. Biting my teeth, overdosing on codeine as 08:30 I drunkenly strolling out into the early morning with motorist giving me that funny look. At last, after two an a half hours the endorphins were kicking in and I could not feel my back and my tooth abscess anymore. My toes were frozen in the cold thus helping not to feel the blisters on my toes but the heels were making up for it. Afraid I would not get my shoes back on I did not stop to treat them even though the red pus was weeping out around the compeed, through the elastoplasts, through the socks and are now staining the outside of my boots. At 14:00 after five and a half hours I only did 6 miles and at risk of been arrested for walking like a drunk I called Zoe to collect me.
Had a shower and try to rescue my feet. Pus of the full visible spectrum is weeping out of various blisters and open wounds and I am thoroughly pissed of.
Everything went well, carrying the pack, the terrain, the food, the limited water, no washing, no shaving limited toilet paper even got my full English breakfast down to a tee. Sleeping was not comfortable but I can cope with it, all that is except my blimming feet.
I tried it all now, I have enough boots, shoes and socks to open a shop. I think the main problem with my feet are the awkward size combined with the weight it caries. I have very wide short feet. In length my left foot is an eight and my right foot is a nine. In width both are size 12. I normally find a size 11 is most comfortable. But it still leave a tight shoe/boot that is far to long.
What next? I urgently need to sort my footwear out. I am considering sandals (don’t laugh. The nomadic tribes in the Sahara is wearing sandals, plus I have tough feet and is use to walk barefoot) or the other alternative is getting shoes/boots made for my feet. (If anyone know of a GOOD shoemaker please let me know)
2 months and 26 days to go
Am I panicking? Naah.
Arrived an mother in law and went straight to bed in preparation for the next day. Did not sleep well at all on the floor. My torn muscle in my back was hurting like hell and I have a tooth abscess that I overdose with aspirin, codeine and paracetamol.
Day 1, Sun. 28/12/08
It was freezing cold and some of the foot paths was not used in years making navigation challenging and time consuming. Blisters start to develop after 4 hours and I stopped to treat my feet. Did not work very well and after 8 hours the blisters was well developed. Did not need to burst them as my socks did it for me. Back half of both socks was wet with clear pus. I carry on bravely while chewing pain killers like wine gums. Completed the wobble after spot on 11 hours. Ditched my boots, which was wet too with pus. Still clear at this time. Treat my feet, most of the skin was gone already and integrated in my Bridgedale socks. Just managed to cover two of the for blisters with a large compeed patch and in the process splatter mother in law’s cream carpet with pink pus. Had my trial pack of apple and custard and went to sleep. Very bad night sleep max 2 hours at a time before waking up with half my body asleep and need to turn for circulation.
Day 2, Mon 29/12/08
Killed the alarm at 06:00 and steal another 30 minutes while contemplating my madness and thinking of all the reasons not to go further. Remarkably I could not find any reason to carry on. Still I got up, treat my feet again and try to clear the now yellow pus of my brand new marmot sleeping bag. Needed to my full weight to get my feet into my what appeared to be shrunken boots. Biting my teeth, overdosing on codeine as 08:30 I drunkenly strolling out into the early morning with motorist giving me that funny look. At last, after two an a half hours the endorphins were kicking in and I could not feel my back and my tooth abscess anymore. My toes were frozen in the cold thus helping not to feel the blisters on my toes but the heels were making up for it. Afraid I would not get my shoes back on I did not stop to treat them even though the red pus was weeping out around the compeed, through the elastoplasts, through the socks and are now staining the outside of my boots. At 14:00 after five and a half hours I only did 6 miles and at risk of been arrested for walking like a drunk I called Zoe to collect me.
Had a shower and try to rescue my feet. Pus of the full visible spectrum is weeping out of various blisters and open wounds and I am thoroughly pissed of.
Everything went well, carrying the pack, the terrain, the food, the limited water, no washing, no shaving limited toilet paper even got my full English breakfast down to a tee. Sleeping was not comfortable but I can cope with it, all that is except my blimming feet.
I tried it all now, I have enough boots, shoes and socks to open a shop. I think the main problem with my feet are the awkward size combined with the weight it caries. I have very wide short feet. In length my left foot is an eight and my right foot is a nine. In width both are size 12. I normally find a size 11 is most comfortable. But it still leave a tight shoe/boot that is far to long.
What next? I urgently need to sort my footwear out. I am considering sandals (don’t laugh. The nomadic tribes in the Sahara is wearing sandals, plus I have tough feet and is use to walk barefoot) or the other alternative is getting shoes/boots made for my feet. (If anyone know of a GOOD shoemaker please let me know)
2 months and 26 days to go
Am I panicking? Naah.
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Minus five and a half degrees Celsius
That was the temperature last night on the Brecon Ultra marathon. I left a banana in the car, it was frozen. I even saw a duck walking across the canal. I thought it was going to be a walk park. I was only worried that I will not make the 3 o'clock cut off time for the second round. well did I got put in my place. 20 miles, that was it no more, get me out of here.
What and idiot!!! if I have learned any thing this weekend it must be DO NOT QUIT EVER.
It is amazing the excuses your body comes up with to tell you to stop, you are to cold, your feet can not take anymore, there is no point to this, you need to go to work tomorrow, and the list goes on and on.
The truth is I was absolutely knackered and carried on 4 miles after I initially wanted to stop. but the truth also is that if I was stubborn enough, I could gave completed the last 8 miles. after all apart from loosing a toe nail and been slightly stiff today I am fine thus I can only conclude that I stopped too soon.
Well no more! After careful consideration, Which is quite unique for me I have decided, that from this day I will never ever pull out of any race or challenge again. I will careful consider what I enter in but once in, you will need to drag me out.
Well that is the end of the negatives.
The race was the most brilliant thing I have ever done, better than paragliding in Slovenia. even though an inaugural event the organisation was brilliant. I salute you guys especially the marshalls who were standing enroute in minus 5 plus wind.
Met some great people there. Jo was there too, she got her web site going now http://www.jokilkenny.com/ amazing woman, there was Cookie, who did the 3366 ultra last year oh yea and the only Brit who ever completed the 1000 mile iditarod.(http://www.iditarod.com/) but you know the most humbling thing I heard was from one of the guys, who told me afterwords that I inspired him. When he was finding it tough and wanting to quit he though, "Stuff it, if Kobus can do it so can I". wow it makes me feel all gooey.
I also learned about the long distance walkers association who arrange 20 to 100 mile events in the UK. A brilliant opportunity to get hours on my feet so I hope to meet up with them soon.
A BIG thanks to Matt who organised this event. I haven't been to another event yet but the organisation of this one was spot on and even the fiercest critic would not have found any faults This was also the word around the bunk house. Thanks mate and well done.
Then of course there it Martin and Sue from Likeys and who is getting married next weekend. Guys you are just amazing, you made us all feel so special and we know you do this because you like too and you care. I am just another guy who shop at Likeys, definitely not anyone special, no ambitions to became one of the top athletes that frequent the shop, still they do so much for me. Not only the bottomless pit of patience and knowledge they so willingly share but little things like the t-shirts we get at the end of the race. They specially ordered one my size. I had a fair amount of free T-Shirts before and they all end up as at car wash cloths. This is the first time I got given one my size and I am wearing it now while writing this blog. Let me just remind you that Martin have done about every extreme race on the planet from the MdS the Gobi challenge, etc. Still after hearing that I pulled out he send me this text message:
"I am so bloody proud of you - flippin well done. You have a load of positives to take back from this wobble and u have every right 2 b chuffed. Cheers Martin"
As I said I will
NEVER QUIT AGAIN, EVER
What and idiot!!! if I have learned any thing this weekend it must be DO NOT QUIT EVER.
It is amazing the excuses your body comes up with to tell you to stop, you are to cold, your feet can not take anymore, there is no point to this, you need to go to work tomorrow, and the list goes on and on.
The truth is I was absolutely knackered and carried on 4 miles after I initially wanted to stop. but the truth also is that if I was stubborn enough, I could gave completed the last 8 miles. after all apart from loosing a toe nail and been slightly stiff today I am fine thus I can only conclude that I stopped too soon.
Well no more! After careful consideration, Which is quite unique for me I have decided, that from this day I will never ever pull out of any race or challenge again. I will careful consider what I enter in but once in, you will need to drag me out.
Well that is the end of the negatives.
The race was the most brilliant thing I have ever done, better than paragliding in Slovenia. even though an inaugural event the organisation was brilliant. I salute you guys especially the marshalls who were standing enroute in minus 5 plus wind.
Met some great people there. Jo was there too, she got her web site going now http://www.jokilkenny.com/ amazing woman, there was Cookie, who did the 3366 ultra last year oh yea and the only Brit who ever completed the 1000 mile iditarod.(http://www.iditarod.com/) but you know the most humbling thing I heard was from one of the guys, who told me afterwords that I inspired him. When he was finding it tough and wanting to quit he though, "Stuff it, if Kobus can do it so can I". wow it makes me feel all gooey.
I also learned about the long distance walkers association who arrange 20 to 100 mile events in the UK. A brilliant opportunity to get hours on my feet so I hope to meet up with them soon.
A BIG thanks to Matt who organised this event. I haven't been to another event yet but the organisation of this one was spot on and even the fiercest critic would not have found any faults This was also the word around the bunk house. Thanks mate and well done.
Then of course there it Martin and Sue from Likeys and who is getting married next weekend. Guys you are just amazing, you made us all feel so special and we know you do this because you like too and you care. I am just another guy who shop at Likeys, definitely not anyone special, no ambitions to became one of the top athletes that frequent the shop, still they do so much for me. Not only the bottomless pit of patience and knowledge they so willingly share but little things like the t-shirts we get at the end of the race. They specially ordered one my size. I had a fair amount of free T-Shirts before and they all end up as at car wash cloths. This is the first time I got given one my size and I am wearing it now while writing this blog. Let me just remind you that Martin have done about every extreme race on the planet from the MdS the Gobi challenge, etc. Still after hearing that I pulled out he send me this text message:
"I am so bloody proud of you - flippin well done. You have a load of positives to take back from this wobble and u have every right 2 b chuffed. Cheers Martin"
As I said I will
NEVER QUIT AGAIN, EVER
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