Bloody hell but time flies.

OK new years resolution. I will start training. I will, I will, I will.
Matter of fact I am committed to do 2 hours on the 2nd Jan and 3 hours on the 3rd both with 8kg in the backpack

Coffee at Q's

Went to Vauxhall Cross yesterday, Q wanted to see what I am made off. Moneypenny made us a nice cuppa while Q went to great length in explaining the integrate details of my new training strategy. As one can expect of Q it was an A4 miniaturisation of what clearly took considerable thought and effort. All in all if implemented accordingly it should culminate in a successful medal and I should be able to expatriate a MdS medal to English soil. After wards Q took me for field testing to a secret location in the Altay mountains. (well I can say what mountains as it will reveal Q's identity to the well informed). We did 10.3 miles (16.6km) in 3 hours 15 minutes. I loved it and Q was happy. No pains today, just the Achilles tendon a bit sensitive on the right side. Again the X-Bionic Boxers was so superb that I ordered a X-Bionic shirt and socks from Martin at Likeys. Goodness knows what that's going to cost, but then I can do with every bit of help I can get.

Q as always play with gadgets. His newest is an all singing, all dancing watch that show his heart rate, distance, speed, etc. I want one. Q is not convinced I should play with this gadget, yet I want one.

OK then better get my training for the rest of the month in my diary and surf the web for POLAR watches :)

Here we go ...Again

Back at the blog, back at the prep and fully committed, well at least in intention. I am going to do it, because I have decided to but I am really not looking forwards to all this preparation and I am definitely not looking forward to the pain and disorientation in the dessert.

Nevertheles, I dragged myself out of bed this morning and did 3 hours plodding along the canal about 9 miles (14km). I would not have done this if Paul was not waiting for me. Thanks Paul. Went OK as expected legs will be a bit sore as this is the first walk further than the bathroom I done since April. Got some hot spots under my feet, understandable, they will ease of over time. I actually can do with a couple of nasty blisters. I am full armed with a massive supply of Eosin. Doc Trotters used that on the MdS and apart of the pain, which I like many have experienced and good authority told me it is on par with giving birth while passing a kidney stone, well apart from that is works amazingly well. That's why I need a whopping blister to see if I can treat it as effectively as Doc Trotter. See and learn they say...

I have a new Trainer. Yes another one. I tend to wear them down quite early and they don't last. This One have done the MdS and many similar and greater marathons and was a world class athlete as well. Most importantly he is not too anal and belief training should be fun, yeah right, seriously I am hopefull but time will tell. At the moment He is still anonymous. I do not want my failure, to damage his reputation. Lets get one thing clear here. with failure I meant my failure to keep him as a trainer, not failing the MdS, That is a given. So fitting to with his personality I thought I will call him Q and his charming wife Mrs Moneypenny.

I have officially started with my prep for the 2010 MdS on 1 September, But as I just returned from a paragliding Holiday in Spain and because I could not be asked to get of my backside, Today was my first outing. What Q had in mind was that I go out twice last week and do 1 to 2 hours each time at moderate pace. Sorry Q but attitude sucked and I only got out today but did a little bit more.

Still a few things went well. I have new shoes and new pants. The pants are amazing. The move heat away from your crutch and stop that dreadful chaffing. They are called X Bionic Energizer Boxershorts and cost an enourmous £18. However they fit so precisely that I am amazed that unlike bra's they do not sell them by knob size. The probably know no-one will by small and medium. Anyway they were really comfortable and cool. I mean you know what I look like I wont be surprised that I normally suffer from sweaty crack, sticky bollocks and endless chaffing. Nothing of that today, I know it was not a long distance but I normally feel the first signs of discomfort within an hour or so. Today I was dry, smooth and pain free. So fat blokes of the world get yourself better pants. You can get them from Likeys click here And even if they don't look on me like on the picture, they are super. Just noticed on the packet it said "TURN SWEAT INTO ENERGY" I will be able to sell back to the National Grid.

My new shoes is actually boots, yeas back to boots it is but this time I am using a tested MdS boot from Inov-8, the Roclite 390 GTX which is also a paragliding boot. Very comfortable, Light, only 390grams and tuf enough to wear now so that they are properly worn in for the MdS. I am wearing them for my work shoes as well. Not a single tight spot and the only hot spots I get is on the balls of my feet. Well carrying over 135kg (21.25 stone) what do you expect. My achilles tendon is a bit tender though but I hope my feet will get use to the shoes and adapt. Again you can get them from Likeys who have them on a 10% discount (at the moment) click here.

Oh yes, I got some new scales. the old ones eventually gave up on me and broke. The new scales are a bit of an over kill and keep record of weight, fat and all kind of measurements, problem is they only weigh up to 135kg (21.25 stone) So hopefully, before I go to the dessert I may be light enough to use them. As it is now, my weight is officially 135kg+ and the beauty of it all is that I can have that extra balti and tomorrow I would still be 135kg+

Yes I am alive

I had numerous request to update the blog. Here it is. Stil alive and
working hard to do the MdS next year.

More later :)

Sent from my iPhone

Darwin and Dumbells

Exercises, why oh why oh why. wouldn't it be just brilliant that we could speed up evolution to the place where we do not have to do exercises any more. I mean you don't see a lion running up and down a mountain to stay fit, or an elephant doing 20 reps lifting a baobab stump with his trunk. They don't need it, they have evolved to the state where what they do keep them fit enough to do what they want to do. Likewise when they go on a diet, they starve.

Now I want to work in front of the PC, watch television frequent in a balti house while on weekend do paragliding and the occasional trip to the dessert. That is not much to ask. Why haven't we evolve yet so I can do what I like without having to spend hours contemplation how on earth am I going to motivate myself to go to the gym and eat less.

Don't tell me we have moved away from nature and now doing the things we were not evolved to do. Rubbish. The same argument goes for the first animal who left terra firma and took to the skies. If you were there you would probably have said " no birdie, do not fly, nature gave you legs instead, use them " You may claim that we have evolved faster than nature could keep up. Nonsense again. If we are in nature and part of nature, thus we are using nature as the building blocks of our evolution and by definition the resulting evolution would be evolution and thus nothing less than nature. Or in other words silicon chips and the dreaded Windows Vista is nature. Vista belonging to the stinging nettle family off course.

So we are in nature, of nature and natural. Why is it not natural to just being fit.

Not formulated an answer to this conundrum yet, I decided to continuing my pursuit of getting my bud in the gym and finally I can announce success. Well more predict than announce that is, as I have not yet been to the gym but is due to start on Tuesday the 19th. I have at last found a gym buddy. Not just any gym buddy, it is Amanda. Now if you know Amanda, you'll have to agree that not showing up is something that one should not consider. Do not mess with Amanda and do not let her down. So I am reasonably confident that at last I will start to make use of the gym contract Rory flogged me couple of weeks ago.

Can shave - Can't wipe

I don't know what I have learned in the gym on Tuesday. I do know what I hope Rory learned. "Kobus may moan a lot but he is fairly honest. When he say he cant give more and lifting another x ton is not possible, then it tend to be the truth and he is most likely at his physical limit. If however he say he do not think he can do it. Then he is most likely lazy and is looking for an easy way out. The absence of the word 'think' in the first example is the clue"

On the bright side, at least I can report another first. Never before in my 40 years was my muscles so sore. Normally a bit of stretching and movement make them better. Stretching, no way, you cant make me do it.

Rory's Regime, is not one I have explored before, In the past I was normally cautioned by revered instructors not to over do it, to be cautious. Rory's Regime and caution goes together like Kobus and diplomacy.

I am however in a strange way enjoying it. Don't know why.

Feeling today: Pain

Rory who?

Rory Coleman...he is my new personal trainer. I wont be telling you more about him at the moment, I had my first session yesterday and today I could not shave. Have difficulty wiping after a pooh so I am praying for constipation. What I have to say about Rory is most likely to cause more pain when I see him again so maybe more about him another day.

I have now a daily exercises routine which should not be more than an hour. I'll have to take the batteries out of the clock to finish all this in an hour. Core exercises today. I think I'll leave it until Joshua is back from school, maybe I get some sympathy there

Rory did insist that I keep daily notes of how I feel.
Today: crap

Tired, head ache, joint ache, muscle ache.....I wish I was back in the dessert.

Dow. It's tomorrow

Had a few frantic days and just realized my first training session it
tommorow. Better get some sleep then.

Sent from my iPhone

Taking stock

I am over it now, the disappointment, the elation, the depression and at last able to look at things with sober eyes. Well as sober as I am capable of that is.

I had some amazing comments and emails from people around the world, many I never met still they encourage me in my preparation and gave me solace in the darker days when I was pulled and when the inevitable post MdS blues almost got the better of me.

Here are some of them:

• So you dropped out. So what.. You have done incredibly well. I would not like to attempt this.. It looks an amazingly difficult race, in such difficult conditions.
  
  
• Congratulations!. Astonishing you did it to Stage 3 what an effort! We are truly proud of you. Great style, great nerve and just amazing
  
  
• I was really hoping Kobus would make it. I haven’t met him but I have been reading his blog and I find it inspirational...
  
  
• There are a lot of people out there who have been inspired by him
  
  
• someone send me this quote of Theodore Roosevelt
  “It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat”
  
  
• At the 1980 Olympics, I shared a flat with Brendan Foster, Dave Moorcroft and Steve Cram. In the 2009 MDS, I shared at tent with Kobus Cilliers and I have already spoken to so many people about you. The others are just name drops, yours is the inspirational story. I am lined up to do several motivational talks and your story will most certainly feature. I can't wait to see how it ends in the years to come. It’s been a privilege to be part of the beginning.

I don’t want post these messages here to show off; I don’t quite understand why people say these things. I am nothing special just a fat bloke what want to get out there and show other fatties we don’t need toe give up, we can be part of live. Nevertheless, whether I understand it or not, these messages have been an immense source of strength and thanks to all of you, It was a most humbling experience. Both during the MdS and the support there after.

I have a few questions though...

• Why settle for brave when you can be courageous?
• Why inspire a few when you can arise a multitude?
• Why except remarkable performance when spectacular is within reach?

That is why this has to continue. Tomorrow I will book my place for the 25th Marathon des Sables staring in 11 months and 6 days from now. This time my aim is not to be on the start line. This time it is medal or bust.

I am back

Well I am back now and suffer greatly from MdS Blues. Some say it is similar to Post Dramatic Stress Disorder, Others say it is depression and the world seems to be void of purpose Others maintain it is just feeling sorry for oneself. Well it has to be serious because one of my friends from the dessert has started to listen to Westlife.

It took me a week to post this blog because I don’t know what to say. Well I want to say thanks to all your guys who supported me and especially Zoe who also kept the blog up to date while I was away. Thanks to all those who thought I will do it and to those who thought I wont even start, Naah nah nah naaaaah nah.

There is so much I want to say, but not enough words. I was first gutted when the Docs pulled me out of the race and sobbed endlessly on his shoulder knowing it is over, but the next morning reality dawns and I hope this doesn’t sound arrogant it is not intended, but the next morning I was mighty proud of myself and what I have accomplished. I am sitting here with MdS blues and still don’t know how to fit this experience in my everyday life, but what I know is:

1. It has changed my life, permanently; It is not the same Kobus that returned from the sand pit.
2. I can do it, and I have to go back to do it and this time I am going to complete it.

Thanks again everyone, the sponsors, supporters, doubters and mentors. Keep checking this blog I have a year to go and this year the training will be go or bust.

PS: I am looking for ideas of how I can use this experience to help others. This year I raised money for Christian Aid but I do not want to call on friends and Family again. My thoughts are that if I can pull this off, then somewhere there must be some benefit for other Fat couch potatoes with low self esteem who belief they are not capable of something great. Maybe seminars, talks, I don’t know. Does anyone have some ideas how I can help others. Please let me know

PS2: I put the photos on the album the link is somewhere on this page, There are not many but have a look if you want.

Phone call from the desert!

Kobus phoned from his mobile, he found an area with reception while en route in a landrover, presumably to the last base camp. Saturday's "fun run" has been cancelled, as the organisers could not find a safe area of ground for another bivouac. So the ground conditions must still be soft after last weekend's storms.
Kobus sounds invigorated and enthusiastic about everything - not even daunted at having to hand in his remaining full english breakfasts, as he's now relishing french canteen food. He said the docs caught up with him between checkpoint 1 and checkpoint 2, about 8 hours into Stage 3 (must be about 5pm on Wednesday, then) and found him dehydrated, shuffling, in intense pain and delirious. He says he just could not get his mind to make his legs go faster. He refused to stop, but when they returned to check him again and pointed out that he had only managed 100 yards in the last 10 minutes... He was given the option of returning to the hotel or the base camp, but opted to keep his tent-mates company (sorry about the snoring again, guys!). He was absolutely gutted at having to stop.
He says it is the toughest thing he ever did and he did not know before that it is possible to have so much pain: "you can not describe it, you have to experience it". He's full of admiration for the other competitors and he's loved being part of it all.
I asked him if he wants to go again next year? "We'll talk about it," he said. So that means yes.

Pulled out of Stage 3

List of "abandons" just published, includes Kobus in Stage 3. Don't know whether he made it past CheckPoint 1 yesterday lunchtime, as there's no further indication. Interestingly, the No 1 reigning leader has also dropped out during this Stage, so Kobus is in good company. A very, very credible (or incredible?) result - congratulations to Kobus.
Please, anybody reading this, do go to http://www.darbaroud.com/uk/html/mds/general/uk_24mds_ecrire.php click on the GB flag in top right corner for the page in english, and select 14 from the dropdown list to send Kobus an email. It will be so much more encouraging for him to hear from lots of friends, especially as he will be stuck in the base camps for the remainder of the race.
Thank you!

Finished Stage 2 - Amazing!

Results just in for Stage 2 (Tuesday) and he did it in 9 hours 24 minutes, average speed 3.84 km/h - that's faster than Monday, AND he's not in last place any more!
Stage 3 - the 91km one - is still going. The fastest was just over 8 hours; the first 500 completed within 22 hours and Kobus wasn't one of those, but I do know he got to CheckPoint 1 in 3 hours 04 mins at 12:26 yesterday lunchtime, so hopefully he's still pushing on to the finishing line. Amazing!

No news

Still don't know whether Kobus made it to the finishing line in time on Tuesday. The results haven't been updated since 7pm Tuesday when the first 660 had completed. I believe there was a 10 hour cut-off and I've also read that the average minimum speed since 1986 is 3km/h. On Monday Kobus managed 3.51 km/h - that's 2.18 miles/hour.
Well, I've not heard anything at all today. I can only assume that he must be still in the race, otherwise he would have been able to join the queue to send an email.
The Stage 3 that started today (Wednesday) has shocked everyone by making the long stage even longer than other years - 91km (56.5 miles) with 6 checkpoints. Maybe the organisers are trying to keep the total distance 151 miles over the 5 stages instead of the originally planned 6 stages. And they say the weather is mild and the scenery astonishingly lush from all the rain. Temperature when they started at 9am was 20 degrees, rising to 29 degrees by 1pm. 13 people had dropped out by 12 noon.

Day 2

Just found Kobus on YouTube - gritting his teeth and plodding on determinedly through the sand. He looks dangerously close to a camel, hope he's not trailed too far behind... If the last pair of camels sweep you up, you're taking too long and your race is over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q34b_onAzSw

Results not in yet... well, only for the first 660 and he's not in that group, so we know his time is more than 7 hours. Day 2's race was 35km in a loop, returning to the same start point and thereby not having to move the tents. Good aerial view of the starting point and the camp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jp96xQwEWM

Conditions at 8.45am start: 15.8 degrees and 38% humidity
Conditions at 12.15pm : 24 degrees and 18% humidity
6 retirements at 12.15pm
First place: Aziz El Akad (No 3-Morocco) : 2h 41m 17s

Main features of the race today: cold and wind. Wednesday is set for the massive double-length race. The race book with maps hasn't been issued - the organisers are having to change the route according to weather forecasts, as the original route went through several wadis (dry river beds) which have turned into potentially dangerous quicksands, following the storms at the weekend.

Stage 1 completed!

Excellent news at last - he's completed the first day's 33km in Morocco's highest dunes, Erg Chebbi/Erg Znaïgui. Starting around 10:00am, he finished approx 19:40, which would be 50 minutes after sunset. 812 competitors set out and 805 crossed the finish line.

1st place: 2h 34m 05s (12.85km/h) Mohamad Ahansal
805th : 9h 39m 44s (3.42 km/h) Kobus Cilliers

Conditions at 10am start: 20°C and 36% humidity
Conditions at 1.30pm : 29°C and 24% humidity

I don't know anything else, I've not heard from Kobus at all since 10 minutes before the start, and all of this information is from http://www.darbaroud.com/. But it's fantastic to find out that he's completed day one - Well done Kobus!

Tomorrow's weather is likely to be 4°C higher than Monday's, and there's a good chance of rain again on Thursday.

ça y est mon kiki

http://www.darbaroud.com/fr/html/mds/24mds/portraits/24mds_portraits_014_CILLIERS.php

Thank you Amanda for your superb translation from French of Kobus's interview.
Regarding "ça y est mon kiki", Amanda says: The kiki bit is rather difficult to translate as it means more than it translates to in a word - it really does convey in french the once in a lifetime challenge yourself to the limit essence of the mds.

29/03/2009 - Jacobus Cilliers (Competitor Number 14)

Here is one that immediately comments on the marathon: more atypical, it's hard to find! And if you take 10 minutes to talk with him, you discover someone who is passionate, animated equally by a sense of humour and strength of will …
To begin with some info: his first name is Jacobus, measuring 1.83 m. and weighs 137 kg.
And he signed up voluntarily for the marathon known as the most exhausting, the hardest of its kind!

He tells his story with that typical British eccentricity (sic) that conceals great modesty.

"I like extreme sports, for my 40th birthday, I was looking for a big impact, knowing that whatever I do, it would go down as ‘ a mid-life crisis’, but then after it whatever I do, even something really crazy, everything else seems bland ... Two days after this decision, I see on TV, a report on the MDS: I said to myself, that’s my challenge (French: kiki), you’ve found it, that's it! The English team is full up, so I am in the Korean team.
- How many are you?
- - There’s just me, I'm the only one... "
-
- That was nine months ago.
Here begins the training of someone who even calls himself a “couch potato" who does nothing, no physical activity...

At weekends, he trains to stay on his feet and to move, walking 6 to 8 hours per day, and not on an asphalt road to accustom himself to these new efforts. He walks 16 - 20 km, "to set off" on this new adventure.
He wants to mention "Likey", fan and experienced expert of extreme marathons, who opened a shop and offered this advice:
"To succeed,
15% depends on your fitness
30% of the system and the strategy of life that you put in place during the marathon
The rest is in the head".

He looks at me, smiles and says, I am counting on the 15% of my physical form!

In life, Jacobus is an inventor ... This is not made up!

In Birmingham, where he lives, he decided to raise £10,000 pounds for the children of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Jacobus is a native of South Africa, he knows the conditions there, and he wants to fight for those "who have nothing".
Around him, many people support this.

Today, the eve of departure, Jacobus is determined to not think about anything and live only in the present moment, "there, I cross the dunes, that's all”, otherwise it is too much for him.

He still carries his cigarettes in his bag, he smokes 40 a day.

When we are about to finish, he turns to me and says: "In general, those who are large see themselves as being worthless and of no ability. If me, I succeed in completing this marathon, they will know that it is possible that they too are capable (of it).

YouTube videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBbtwvj7Xr8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8raCF-kVnw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h55qhb_vQRo

All set and ready to go...

From texts from Kobus today:
"The new first stage is going to be really tough it has 16km of sand dunes it start with 12 and end with 4. Don't know what is in between or total length. They expect many drop outs. Keep you posted."
Kobus says the sand dunes are massive - each one equivalent to climbing over the Malverns, and for 16km as the crow flies.
"Just passed the medical. Had to beg and talk them to death but did it. I am now officially in."
The doc finally gave in, but not content with that, Kobus got him to sponsor him 100 Euros if he completes the course without having to be put on a drip.
"Also had 3 interviews with the press and a photoshoot. Now if I don't make it I will be the biggest big mouth twat in Morocco"
Other news: Kobus has tested his Full English Breakfast today and says it is the best ever. True to form, he's still doing his preparation and training as for Master Chef, not the MdS! All the checks and medicals have now been carried out and the first stage starts after an early breakfast tomorrow.

Weather forecast

One thunderstorm again today but rain eased off. Forecast is dry for next few days but drizzle again towards end of week. Despite the "mild" description, Kobus says it is already very hot and he's bought an umbrella to tie to his rucksack - for the sun, not the rain this time though.
Due to the unpredicatable weather conditions, the route for the week hasn't been fixed but they have been promised it will be the toughest MdS to date. The organisers are concerned about the high humidity - apparently this is the main reason for people dropping out in the past - and they are issuing extra salt tablets and extra water.

Monday 30/03/2009: Hi: 13° Lo: 3° There is a 0% chance of precipitation. Partly cloudy. Mild, Windy. Temperature of 13°C. Winds NNW 33km. Humidity will be 47%.
Tuesday: Hi: 14° Lo: 4° Winds NNW 23km.
Wednesday: Hi: 17° Lo: 3° Winds NNE 20km.
Thursday: Hi: 18° Lo: 3° Winds NNE 24km.
Friday: Hi: 17° Lo: 4° Drizzle. There is a 10% chance of precipitation. Winds N 25km. Humidity will be 50%.
Saturday: Hi: 17° Lo: 4° Drizzle. There is a 20% chance of precipitation. Cloudy. Mild, Windy. Winds N 38km. Humidity will be 57%.

Wellsh weather in Errachidia

We are staying in a lovely Hotel in Erfoud in the Errachidia province with temperatures around 20 degrees C and are fed the best french food we can dream off. All in good spirit and starting to accept our fate. The french organisation has been nothing but brilliant. Say what you want about the Frogs, they have just gone up a few notches in my estimation. Thanks Zoe for putting the photo on the blog. I was there when the helicopter took it. At that stage we were still in the tents. Later the water raised so high the Moroccan Army evacuated us in troop carriers. Overnight the water raised and the whole camp including the admin bit (not shown in the photo) were under water and some tents has washed away. The first stage 30km start at the camp and goes through a couple of (dry) river beds.

The new arrangements are...
The first stage on Sunday is cancelled.
Today was supposed to be the admin and registration day at camp.this has now changed. We will go to another hotel where the French stay and do the admin there. This involve checking our kit, medical checks and handing in all our luggage that we do not carry during the race.
After the admin day we return to the hotel in our racing kit for the night.
Early Monday morning trucks will pick us up and drop us off at the new start point. We don't know yet where it is.

Originally we were all disappointed because no one want to return home saying they have done half a race. Everyone here want to be tested to their full potential. However this soon passes as we realised that the organisers were greatly concerned about our welfare because of the expected high humidity. They expect this to be the hardest race yet despite been 30km shorter. It transpired that in 2006 they had their biggest drop out rate because of humidity. Apparently no one is prepared for that environment and competitors overheat and suffer far more foot injuries. Hydration is also more difficult and the organisers is unsure how much more water we need. Bear in mind more water need to be carried and due to the remoteness of some routes they can not change the frequency of watering points which is up to 20km apart in some stages. In 2006 many were hospitalised and one Englishman had to be induced into a coma and flown to Europe for treatment.

It may be an unexpected adventure and although we enjoy it and are making the most of it, it is not why we are here and we are on pins and needles for the race to start. General attitude about the organisers concern over the safety and conditions....Bring it on, that is why we are here.

Picture of the bivouac first camp in the Sahara on Friday - with rivers running through the tents!

Pissing down

(text from Kobus)
Pissing down.
Aparently the camp has washed away
stage one cancelled
they are planning at moment.
Everyone in good spirit but very dissipointed

It's raining in the desert

Kobus phoned me (Zoe) on Friday lunchtime - it's pouring down with rain and the sky is black, black, black as far as they can see. They're on their way to the first bivouac camp. No-one can believe it - it's never happened before in 24 years of the MdS. I checked the weather on the internet: yes, it's true, there's a massive band of rain sweeping across the north west corner of the Sahara as we speak, predicted to be heavy rain on Friday and Saturday, light rain on Sunday and Monday, and sunny all the way again from Tuesday! I sent the news to Kobus. All I could hear was manic shocked laughter in the background as he relayed the message.

Later on Friday evening Kobus phoned with the news of the day's events. The French group had gone direct from the airport to the desert (about 6 hours' drive) but couldn't get through due to the rain and had to turn back. When Kobus's group arrived later there were rivers running through the tents. They dug trenches around the tents and tried to waterproof them as much as possible, but were then evacuated to the staff tents. However these were in an even worse state than the ones they had just been working on.

With 800 competitors and the same again in support crew, this was an emergency situation and the Moroccan Army was brought in to the rescue as it was expected that the whole camp would be washed out. The Army shipped the whole lot of them out to the nearest town... Kobus said the organisation of everything was immaculate - by 8pm they were, all 1600 of them, booked in to hotels with bed and food arranged. Wow!

They're expecting they will have to do all the pre-marathon administration (checking documents, medicals, kit etc) in the separate hotels.

All in good spirit, and "excited" at the anticipation of the first stage, where the route takes them through a couple of "dry" river beds... They don't have adequate weather protection for rain, nor the right shoes. However, Kobus was very impressed that all his clothing has stayed bone dry, as it was packed in plastic bags to keep the sand out!

In the meantime I've checked the weather forecast again and the rainstorm seems to be passing quicker than expected:
Weather for Morocco
Current:15°C; Mostly Cloudy; Wind: W at 12 mph; Humidity: 77%
Sat 18°C 7°C Sunny with showers
Sun 15°C 3°C Sunny with showers
Mon 16°C 4°C Sunny
Tue 20°C 4°C Sunny

I am about to board the plain and the trackers still have not arrived. If only I did not try to save a few quid and bought my own rather from hiring one from the states it would have been so much better. Please show your dissipintment by emailing the supplier at support@trackme360.com .
You can still follow my progress on the mds website. It is darbaroud or something and there is a link to that on the www.saharamarathon.co.UK website. I will ask Zoe to find I shortcut and put it on my blog
I am really sorry about that
Sent from my iPhone

Gps bad news I am afraid

I am about to board the plain and the trackers still have not arrived.
If only I did not try to save a few quid and bought my own rather from
hiring one from the states it would have been so much better. Please
show your dissipintment by emailing the supplier at support@trackme360.com
.

You can still follow my progress on the mds website. It is darbaroud
or something and there is a link to that on the
www.saharamarathon.co.UK website. I will ask Zoe to find I shortcut
and put it on my blog

I am really sorry about that

Sent from my iPhone

Gps tracker maybe lost!!

Just heard that the gps tracker have not arrived yet. They are send
from the US and apparently there is a holdup at customs. Hope to have
the tommorow before we left

Bummer!

Sent from my iPhone

I am naked, totally naked

Well I made it, saying made it, what I mean is that I am packed and at the Travel lodge in Gatwick ready for the flight to Morocco tomorrow. Is was surprising the amount of stress to pack, making sure I have everything and at the same time saving weight as far as possible. I learned that the extra half inch of foil around my freeze dried food add up to 26 gram. Taking 100gram biltong a day in stead of 70gram mean I can not close the rucksack. Changing the strapping to 2.5mm nylon cord save a whopping 123 grams. I made spreadsheet lists, change them print them, change them, print them countless times. I had to decide what to take as hand luggage just in case they lost my bag while at the same time keeping knifes and other no-no's in the hold.

I am knackered and haven't even left UK soil. Zoe was brilliant and help me repack my bags for the plane. She also went for a late night ASDA shop so I do not have to eat the Moroccan food before the race, just in case I get a tummy bug. She then took some time of to take me to the train station and a lovely send off. The train was a nightmare. I was so tense and ready to pounce on any person getting up and just vaguely glance at the empty seed next to me. I was paranoid about my luggage and keep getting up to check if all is still there.

I suspect that is how one feel when you fight a long court battle and lost. You are guilty, you got your sentence, it is a long one there is no appeal and nothing more to do. I am now on my way to report to the police station and there is nothing I can do to get out of it. I am naked. I felt like I lost everything, my family, my business, my positions, my relationships and my freedom. I am naked.

As one do when you are faced with the inevitable, I called my family back in South Africa to get some solace. The only glance of hope, as I told Johan was, maybe we are lucky and someone hijack the plane.....

Saying that once I arrived at the hotel we (me and some of the other British contenders) went to the pub to drown our our sorrows. Was I pleased to learn they felt all the same way Everyone is stressed to breaking point. Apart from me, everyone is a competent fit athlete with countless ultra marathons under the belt and the constitution of Royal Marines in their prime. Some have prepared for this race more than three years and everyone realise this is it, there is no holding back to spare injuries, there is no out. It is do or die.

Well learning that and of course a couple of pints of Old Bishop and I have found my solace, however only a tiny bit though. I left the pub early, had my lasagna and dough balls and are now off to bed dreaming of tomorrows breakfast...full English of course.

I don't know when I will be able again to update this blog, but will do so if I can. In the mean time Thank you all for your support and thanks for thinking and praying for me. I will do my best for you all.

Packed and about to go

That's it I'm packed and waiting for Zoe to drop me of to the station, Stay tonight at the Travel lodge at Gatwick and off early tomorrow to Morocco.

I am nervous but sure i will feel better once I am there with all the other guys. Nothing more to say really. Nothing more to do, just have to do the race, that's it.

Tell you more when it is all over

cheerio

ECG’s Hospitals, blood tests and Doctors

Got my medical certificate and ECG last week. ECG shows I have a beating heart but the doctor was a tough nut to crack. I had to beg him to sign the medical certificate to allow me in the race. It went like this, seriously it did:

Doctor: What can I help?
Kobus: Oh I just need you to sign this little form to allow me to participate in a charity event.
Doctor: And you need a medical certificate? This is in French?
Kobus: Yeah but there is a translation. You know the French they are just silly with their rules, it is nothing major.
Doctor: French? is it on the continent? What is it, a Half marathon?
Kobus: No it is in morocco and a bit longer
Doctor: Morocco? Where?
Kobus: In the desert
Doctor: The Sahara?
Kobus: Yes
Doctor: How much longer? A full marathon in the desert?
Kobus: No a bit longer it is an Ultra Marathon
Doctor: What? 38 miles?
Kobus: No, it’s 151 miles
Doctor: When is the last time you did any running?
Kobus: When I was in the police I did a 1.5 mile fitness test in 1987
Doctor: You are fucking mad; I’m not signing this......

What follows were a long strenuous negotiation with me begging and the doctor looking for any excuse to section me. I walked out of his surgery with signature and stamp on the form, so I guess I won :)

That’s it, no more to do, just packing, foot doctor get the last few bits and bobs and of I go to the challenge of a lifetime. Still not sure whether I can complete, but I will give it my all. My greatest fear is that I will quit. I will not easily forgive myself if I quit. Not completing because I don’t make the cut off or because I physically can’t, will be devastated but I will learn to accept it, Quitting however will be a bitter pill to swallow. So if you want to pray for me, pray that I won’t quit.

I got the address for the satellite tracking. You can follow me at http://share.findmespot.com/shared/gogl.jsp?glId=0luLASq8liVyIMsnQeUzL9EiI9MAPKX6i

If above website is offline, an alternative address is:
http://www.untamedadventure.com/advzone/Adventure.aspx?a=17

My position should update every 10 minutes from the start of the race.

2 Days, 40 miles, Zero blisters

I am chuffed to bits. Did 20 miles on Saturday in 6 hours and another 20 on Sunday in close to 7 hours.

NOT A SINGLE BLISTER, not even a hot spot.

I did hard snow, soft snow, melted snow, grass, gravel, pavement, field, tarmac and bog. My feet are fine. So how did I do that?

Well a combination of things culminated from a long struggle, countless discussions, trials desperation and research.

I learned that you have to find what work for you, it may not work for someone else and it may not work for you all the time. My feet management is in 3 parts.

1. Advanced preparation

• Went to a foot specialist, forgot what they are called, pedi--trist or something, asked her to take all the dead skin of my feet and get it as thin as possible. Also cut, file and polish my toe nails to as smooth as possible so that the socks will not catch anywhere.
• Every night I plaster my feet with Vaseline and wrap them in cling film before bed time. My feet are now softer than a new born baby's bottom.
• Locate all the places I normally blister in my shoes, and cover them with ENGO tape. Very expensive but it works. It is Teflon coated tape that stick to the inside of the shoe and reduce friction many folds.

2. Before race

• Tape my feet up in Martin from Likey's special way. He do not tape spots but the whole heel and the ball of the foot. The taping is done only once and left on as long as possible. If you can keep the tape on the whole race, even better.
• Injingi Cool Max socks as base layer. I use a size that fit tight but not so tight it compress.
• In the UK wet weather my outer pair of socks is water proof sealskinz. In the desert I will try one pair only but a spare pair outer socks will be on hand if need to.
• Tying shoe lases is seriously important. I have two sets of laces for each shoe and tied the front and back of shoe at different tighnesses to ensure my wide feet are loose along the toes and tight around the heels. I also use round laces in the front that allow slippage and movement, while the back laces are secured twisted flat laces.

3. During race

Keep concentration on feet and continually monitor if they are still OK. When I start feeling fatigue, warming, pins and needles or any thing apart from a normal rested foot I do something about it IMMEDIATELY. This could be as simple as:

• changing the way I put my foot down,
• changing pace
• changing length of stride, or
• take a break. Not long just 2 to three minutes. Not always necessary to get weight of feet, but just standing around stretching somehow put new life back in your feet.

Lot of work, lot of effort but it is important and the most important thing. NEVER BE COMPLACENT. In the past when I felt something started to go wrong, I ignored it and thought I will just tough it out. BIG MISTAKE. Have to monitor your feet like a patient in intensive care. all the time.

I plan to do the same distance this weekend and will let you know what happens, however I am more confident than before.

Pins and Needles

Back is getting better despite that Rachel (Physio) is trying to kill me off. I am convinced she has a glass eye. It must be the left eye because I thought I saw some sympathy in that eye. Nevertheless she is excellent and is doing amazing things with may back, including the landing strip in the photo. Most importantly she has warm hands, cant stand a physio with cold hands.

Sponsorship is going slow because I don't like asking people for money. I should but it is not something I like doing even though it is going for a very important course. Zoe promised me £5 a mile. This makes me worry. Either she thinks I am no good and won't do 10, or she won the lottery and did not tell me or it is a sinister plan to get rid of me. I think I should double check my life insurance and see if there were any sudden increases.

Well I have my Full English breakfast sorted. I will be able to have a freshly cooked Full English that is save and healthy every morning. It only weighs 100g each and I do not need my big stove anymore I can cook is on a single fuel tablet. It includes:

Bacon
Fried Egg
Sausage
Black pudding
Tomato
Mushrooms

No beans, I hate beans. It is now perfected with the help of a professional chef and dear friend who is in possession of no less than a Michelin star. Everybody in the camp including the Frogs are going to hate me every morning when they smell my fry-up. Tough

The things one will do to get ready for the race are just silly. Here is this weeks diary.

Monday

• Morning - Physio exercises at home
• Lunch time - Physio
• Afternoon - Gym
• Early evening - sort out my breakfast packs
• Evening - Physio exercises at home

Tuesday

• Morning - Physio exercises at home
• Afternoon - 1.5 hour wobble
• Early evening - See consultant for new prescription
• Evening - Physio exercises at home

Wednesday

• Morning - Physio exercises at home
• Lunch time - Acupuncture
• Afternoon - Gym
• Evening - Physio exercises at home

Thursday

• Morning - Physio exercises at home
• Lunch time - Chiropodist
• Afternoon - 1.5 hour wobble
• Evening - Physio exercises at home

Friday

• Morning - Physio exercises at home
• Afternoon - Gym
• Afternoon - Prepare maps and rucksack for weekend wobble
• Friday evening - Physio exercises at home

Saturday

• Morning - Physio exercises at home
• Day time - 5-6 hour wobble
• Evening - Physio exercises at home

Sunday

• Morning - Physio exercises at home
• Day time - 5-6 hour wobble
• Evening - Physio exercises at home

And next week is none better. This is with a family and running 2 businesses.

I need a break

Point of no return

I reached the point of no return with my shoes. There is not enough time to get use to another pair so it is what I have or bust. I settled for a pair of New Balance from Birmingham Running. The manage to get hold of a Size 11.5 in a DDDD width. They are not perfect fit, but this is going to be the shoes i will either succeed or fail in. I am back at the gym 3 days a week. and this month I am walking 5hours on a Saturday and Sunday and 1.5 hours every Tuesday and Thursday. That is the prescription from Martin at Likey's and I am now just shutting up and doing what he say. About time too, Sue would say. :)