March 2007 1st Entry

Posted March 5, 2007

 

As the monsoon season draws to an end here in Singapore, so the afternoon heat temperature rises today at 35’C. I am starting to make time to venture out for some longer runs in the afternoon which whilst uncomfortable are great for training and in part gives one a respect of what to expect in the desert. This training tactic served me well in the Gobi 2006.

 

I spread this weeks distance of 55km fairly evenly with plenty of rest prior to what I wanted to be fast mid distance run with a heavy pack at mid day. Plenty of water intake this time so no ill effects.

 

·        Monday – 10km road run A.M. with pack at 10kg

·        Tuesday – 10km road run Noon with pack at 5kg

·        Wednesday – 10km road run A.M with pack at 10kg

·        Thursday – Rest.

·        Friday – Rest.

·        Saturday – 25km off road,  Noon – with pack at 12kg

·        Sunday – Rest.

 

Equipment check: I dug out my old North Face ankle gaiters for the Sunday run as I knew the track I was to travel on is full of road rubble that tends to fill up my oversized shoes without the gaiters. I had these in the Gobi and they were very useful though they are something that you need to train with and wear in well. New gaiters will rub and anything that rubs over a 6 stage race is not good. I saw many styles of gaiters in the Gobi ranging from parachute silk welded to the rims of soles that pulled up to the knee … these failed in the first hour of the race in the mud and salt flats – they probably would have been very good in the sand dunes but the sinking salt flats came first. In short there are different gaiters for different conditions and I have yet to come across one gaiter that does it all. Most ankle gaiters I think will be fit for purpose.

 

Best regards / Alex

Harkessa@yahoo.com

 

 

February 2007 2nd Entry

Posted February 26, 2007

 

To actively want to return to the U.K. at this time of the year would too many be deemed daft if not bordering on the insane. My travels took me from my current habitat to far away North Eastern Scotland. Surviving the flight was horrible and there were times when I momentarily imagined what Icarus was thinking after his own take off “Will it hold …” – Mine did…  All hail the mighty Boeing!

 

Anyhow back to running and with two feet firmly on the ground I set off as soon as was possible from my real job in search of a stretch of coastline. I found a great place moments away and should any of you find you’re self in Scotland with running shoes try this remote place … be warned it’s not easy to find … the Germans missed it! It’s located between Hopeman / Burghead and Findhorn near Elgin which is nearest to Inverness. The coastline is spectacular and having been posted in both South Africa and South West Africa I offer my opinion that this is far more spectacular and safer. The beach was the training ground for the American, Canadian, Brits and a handful of courageous Scotts that stormed the beaches a few years back in Normandy – the Pillboxes were still there in mint condition as time and sea no doubt owes respect and left them alone. Running long distances as we all know can be boring but great sights, six degrees of sun and a packet of shortbread biscuits … haha - one mans cheap Navana!

 

Total distance covered with an 8kg pack over the past two weeks was about 60km (fairly evenly spread). Why so little? … Mmmm? … Walk into a local pub in Scotland and ask for an isotonic drink, try leaving after a pint … I think not.

 

Anyhow the slow down has I am sure been a good thing and I am now ready to take on the climate change of mid 30’C back in Singapore and up the stakes to a 40km week …. Everything in moderation!

 

Tips … Yes actually I have one. Having re-stocked at a shop called ‘Decathlon’ in London on dehydrated foods (Yes … French food in a packet) I decided to try one. Quality of these things is all the same really but the tip is this. On the Gobi March I took all the utensils I thought I would need such as knife, fork, spoon, teacup, dishes, plastic dish liners, pot holders etc … Tip? … Yes I am coming to it. So dump the lot, bar a long handle spoon (I acquired one from Starbucks) and a metal tea cup. The aluminum ones are not very flame resistant which would be a real bummer if you were to experience a melt down on day one of the event. These two items are really all you need if you’re looking to shed weight.

 

Best regards – and from Asia – Gong Xi Fa Cai! (Happy Lunar New Year!)

Alex

Harkessa@yahoo.com

 

 

February 2007 1st Entry

Posted February 12, 2007

 

Since starting this training blog four weeks ago and having covered the race distance of 250km – I guess that the ground work is done in a sense.  It is now a matter of preparing to condense the past months distance into a week of non stop running.

 

This past week saw my program vary again, which just goes to show that whilst you start with the best intentions some things always pop up causing one to have to adapt the intention.

 

·        Monday – Rest.

·        Tuesday – 20km – split 10/10km AM/PM – road – pack at 8kg.

·        Wednesday – 10km – afternoon – road – Pack at 3kg.

·        Thursday – Rest.

·        Friday – 10km – midday – pack at 8kg.

·        Saturday – 10km – midday – pack at 8kg.

·        Sunday – 25km – morning – off road – pack at 8kg.

 

Dehydration got the better of me post the Sunday run – most runners will have experienced this and those that recall it know that it is not pleasant at all. It is however a very common feature in protracted foot race events and my advice here (which I obviously didn’t heed yesterday) is to take an electrolyte mix with you on the run … and use it.

 

Equipment wise I have dug out my “Leki” trekking poles and started on the Sunday run to practice with these. I found them really useful on the Gobi and will defiantly be bringing them with me to the Atacama. Trekking poles are very helpful for those runners who are look for a little luxury, they help you balance, they take the strain off your shoulders and when going up steep hills there a gift from the Gods. There are the cons too – they are somewhat cumbersome and if you haven’t practiced with them adequately before the race then you are going to have blisters on your hands after a couple of days use.

 

Lastly there was a question asked about chest webbing or chest pouches – I for one have never been a fan of these as I like to see my feet especially when the terrain gets difficult. There is also the aspect of added weight – do you really need to pack in so many things that can’t, with a little squeeze, fit in to a 30 liter pack? There again it’s a personal choice.

 

Ref the programme for this week and in part due to the fact that I am traveling I will aim to run 40km with a water pack weighing no more than 3kg. It’s all about the water!

 

 

January 2007 4th Entry

Posted February 5, 2007

 

If there was ever a short blog entry this would be it! Most of this past weeks training bar the 75km goal went out the window. Excuses excuses … Yes we all make them.

 

·        Monday – 20km – split 10/10km AM/PM – road – pack at 6kg.

·        Tuesday – 10km – midday – road - pack at 4kg.

·        Wednesday – rest.

·        Thursday – 10km – morning – road – pack at 7kg.

·        Friday – 10km – midday – pack at 4kg.

·        Saturday – rest.

·        Sunday – 25km – morning – road – pack at 4kg.

 

This coming week is a repartition distance wise – I.e.: 75km with pack at varying light weights so as to avoid any undue stresses at this early training stage.

 

Equipment wise nothing new bar dusting off the three L.E.D varying intensity head torch. Whilst there are very good street lights in Singapore and it’s only once a week that I run in pitch darkness, it’s useful to ensure its still going to last the coming months and a further week in the desert.  I found the head torch one of the most useful pieces of equipment on the Gobi March that I had … mainly to prevent tripping over guide ropes or falling in to the communal bog. Yuck!

 

Last piece of interesting info I can share was two very large ex-army guys in my tent that had shower caps with them … for what purpose? And Yes, I was very worried at first. It turned out however to be quite a neat idea as at the end of each day they would pour some of their self carried antiseptic lotion into the shower cap, dilute it with warm water, and soak there feet much to the envy of everyone around. I too will be sporting a shower cap in the Atacama this year and will definitely not be sharing.

 

Good luck with your own training. More next week!

 

 

January 2007 3rd Entry

Posted January 29, 2007

 

The cooler weather continues in the run up to Chinese New Year (18-20 January) and this is a great time to be hitting the numerous Singapore island trails as the temperature tends to sky rocket shortly after.

 

I have again had a varied running week due manly to work commitments however the goal of 50km was achieved and reflected:

 

·        Sunday - 12km off road morning run with pack at 10kg.

·        Monday – rest.

·        Tuesday – 9km evening road run with pack at 10kg.

·        Wednesday – 9km evening road run with pack at 4kg

·        Thursday – 9km lunchtime road run with pack at 7kg

·        Friday – rest.

·        Saturday – 12km off road noon run with pack at 10kg

 

We are now just under seven months till the race and the aim is to build up slowly and to avoid injury and unnecessary time out as a result of pushing ones training to hard at an early stage. As such much of the routine that I am going to follow in these early days is repetitive and perhaps monotonous – it will however serve well during the race which is not only long but also in places mind taxing.

 

This coming week will be little different bar I intend to increase the distance and reduce the weight of the pack. I hope and aim to put in 75km during the week with a pack weight not exceeding 6kg.  I plan to break down the weeks distance into 4 runs of 12km and a long run which should be a tick over 25km. The bulk of these runs will be done on the road.

 

I have often found that many ideas start off with great enthusiasm and gusto only to be dashed due to one reason or another. This test of commitment to the race will I am sure not only affect me and so I have decided to stick my neck out a little further and will use this race as I did the ‘Gobi March’ to raise awareness and money for a local charity. The more you talk about your race and the more social responsibility that you take on the less chance there will be that you drop out of training and the race or the race course. A word of advice – if you are going to support a charity (each to their own) never put your self or those helping you in a position where others could ever point a finger at you. Always ask for pledges to be directed to the charity directly and inform the charity of what you are doing and that you are not a collection point for monies. The charity I am going to support is a registered children’s charity called Club Rainbow http://www.clubrainbow.org

 

Enjoy the training. More next week!

 

 

January 2007 2nd Entry

Posted January 22, 2007

 

Greetings from Singapore – The torrential rains over the past weeks seem to have abated and the heat is returning – the effect other than the 95 percent humidity is that my favorite running area “Mac Ritchie” has been transformed into a jungle bog making the runs with a weighted pack heavy going. On my early morning runs before work I can’t help feeling that all the bog eyes that reflect back from my headlamp are perhaps envious of my Gortex Montrail shoes …even though they don’t really keep out knee deep water as suggested by the salesman.

The target of 50km for the week was achieved though I did vary the pack weight a little as well as the distances rather than sticking a straight 5 x 10km runs. What in reality occurred was this:

 

·        Sunday 12km afternoon off road run with pack at 9kg

·        Monday 9km morning road run with pack at 7kg

·        Tuesday – too many beers in the pub … There goes the N.Y. resolution!

·        Wednesday – 12km (5am jungle run) with pack at 5kg

·        Thursday – 9km lunchtime road run with pack at 7kg

·        Friday – 9km morning road run with pack at 10kg.

·        Saturday – official day off … and writing to you lot.

 

I mentioned last week that I would write about some of the equipment which I have tried and tested and this week I will mention a little about the running bag and a few safety aspects. Boring … perhaps so, there again you may well pick up a few obvious tips which will help you in your training and in the race.

 

The Bag, the rice and the sewing kit.

 

20 liters for the racing snakes (you know what to pack anyway) … A 75 litre bag for the ex army guys and girls … you never know when you may want to use that 40 meter rope you packed to tie up the person snoring in your tent !  The rest of us would probably do well with a 31 litre bag. I now have four … my wife knows not why!

 

In the bag a Salomon ‘Raid Revo 30, I have lots of small packets of uncooked rice and a cushion and space for a water bladder.

The water bladder is a product by ‘Platypus’ and I have found the 2L size to heavy and not functional between the 10km water pit stops that are defined on the race. I do still keep the 2L for the long training runs but its not getting a free ride to Chile. The 500ml are too small other than for training with. For me the best was the 1 litre size. Buy two of these as they are a popular size – one to train with and one to bring with you. I recommend two mouth bites that go on the end of the pipe and bring both. These water bags also double up as a hot water bottle in your sleeping bag. So where is the catch … well its simply this – You arrive at the water point and then have to start un-packing everything to get to the bladder to refill it which is a pain (literally everywhere) hence I recommend that you modify the shoulder straps on both the left and the right to carry a 500ml recyclable standard water bottle (yes, the cylinder shaped ones you buy at the petrol station). Use thick elastic and anchor in two places. This way you ‘grab and go’, mixing electrolytes or what ever else you put in water, as you go. And the sowing kit? 

Well that I would advise you get now and keep it in the bag. There are great products out there such as the ‘Adventure Medical Pack’ but in reality there is also a group of very able and over qualified doctors (of course lacking all bed side manner – this is after all what you signed up for) in the field hence save your money and the weight and bin the splints, the Solu-Cortef and sixteen different snake bite anti-venoms. What I suggest taking provided your not allergic to any of this stuff is a ‘Swiss Card’ (like a Swiss army knife – don’t take hand luggage), lighter, safety pins, some plasters, some painkillers like Ibuprofen, deep heat, a couple of gauze / shiny sided patches to cover a cut, a stretch bandage non sticky, antibiotic ointment, alcohol swabs, a few Imodium and flu tablets, a daily ration of Vit-C, sun block factor 50, ear plugs and some duc-tape.

This week I am aiming to maintain the average of 5 X 10km and the bag will average a weight of 8kg including a 500ml water bladder and pipe.  Remember always ‘run safe’ – know and mark your blood group on your bag, be very visible , run towards on coming traffic, carry a mobile phone, carry water, run unfamiliar areas with a friend, put your name and address in a water proof section of your bag. Most of all have fun!! There is a long time to go before the race and the secret is to run injury free and make it to the start of the race. More next week.

 

January 2007  1st Entry
Posted January 15, 2007

 

Date Sunday the 14^th January 2007.  1^st Blog entry.

Welcome to 2007!  Welcome to a Blog that I have offered to write in the hopes it will help both you and I prepare for a memorable adventure across a section of one of the worlds greatest deserts.

A brief introduction – I am to be 42 this year, I am an Englishman living and working in Singapore. So as to put my training methods into perspective for you I am 5’10 and weigh in at 64kg. I suffer from allergic Asthma. I now work in an office but many years before that I was a medical extraction training officer attached to an arm of the air force. Education wise I have a bachelor’s degree in law and am a post graduate in International Trade Law from the University of Northumbria.

 

So enough about me – on to preparing for the adventure now only eight months away!

Most of you reading this will have committed to the race, paid up some money and be reasonably fit despite a few Christmas setbacks. I recommend that even if you think your fit you have a medical examination as soon as possible, learn to train with any medication that you will require, know your blood group and train from the very start with gels, bars, additives that you are going to take on the trip with you.

Whilst I will write about equipment in more depth in later submissions its safe to start of with the fact that this race requires you to run firstly off road and secondly that you need to be self sufficient … I.e.: Hoof your own kit. 

 

The basic kit to start out with is a good pair of running shoes … I suggest that you start to try out with a strong pair which are at last one to two sizes bigger  than you usually wear and get two pairs of thick ¾ inch socks. Feet expand when you charge around with the back pack. In a few months when you have found the best shoes for you go out and secure another two pairs … Its amazing how suddenly Murphy’s Law will dictate that the shoes you trained in and now wish to buy 2 months before the race are … Yes … discontinued!

 

Next up – get a 30 or 35 litre rucksack / backpack – the Salamon “Raid Race 30” is a great bag for those runners seeking a mid pack position finish … Racing snakes will be aiming to cut weight on the packs and will probably go with a 20 litre bag. Remember these bags are not designed to last a life time so again try one out and then later once you like it get another and run it in two months before the race. So what do we put in the bag … that comes later but for now I suggest you go to the super market and pick up 2 X 5KG packs of rice. Break the rice down into lots of 500grams and 1kg packs and then tape the packs with some brown box tape so that its unlikely to burst open. The rational behind this is to learn to increase and decrease the weights on certain running days and most importantly to learn to distribute the weight around the pack. My suggestion is also to place a square sofa cushion in the bottom of the bag this will simulate a sleeping bag and a shock absorber …

 

This week I am kicking of with 5 runs each 10km and the bag will weigh 7kg including a 500ml water bladder and pipe. In the bag place a water proof note with your name and contact details.

 

Have fun and great training – More next week.