So it had to happen, but I hit my wall today on the long stage all 76km of it!!

I went out quick knowing that it would get very hot and get as many miles done before my pace dropped. I was going well then my right knee started to ache, then scream.

The whole point of these races is to dig deep and keep going and so I did. I was told before I came out here to “think less and smile more” so I did as I was told!!

I got to the midpoint 50km checkpoint and the heat was relentless and the pain in my knee was awful. I waited had some food, and painkillers. The doc said it was an ‘overuse’ injury to which I wanted to reply “well no … Sherlock”. They were great tho. I started running with a couple of other guys and we fantasised about our favourite meal, weve all agreed to meet in Burger King for Triple Whoppers straight after a shower. And we paced out the last 26km, and finished just before midnight. It was so hard, but we got through.

I woke up this morning in camp with my right knee swollen to twice the size, but ive massaged it and dipped it in the ice cold river that runs by the camp which is helping, just one more proper stage to get through

These things happen, last year it was blisters and ankles, this year I still have no blisters and my ankles are fine, tis my knee now. Other than that I feel the fittest ive ever been and felling so strong. Your comments and emails really are helping.

Although it may sound like hell, about 10km from the finish we stopped for a pee break and turned off our head lamps and spent 10 mins staring at the stars and milky way… its still very special place to be.

42km tomorrow… let see how this goes??

 Track of the day yesterday- Party in the USA, Miley Cyrus (don’t laugh it was perfect pick me up)

 Track of the day today- Nick Drake anyting

I can’t believe its only been 8weeks since I signed up and passed so quickly, it’s been quite a few weeks however I am excited to get going now.
So the packing… It went well, seemed to all fall into place straight away, but seeing as I’ve done this twice before I shouldn’t be that surprised however I still get nervous about whether I’m not taking enough, but then get more nervous about how much everything weighs.
So the first toilet tale and we aren’t even on the trail yet but bare with me it’s relevant. Aeroflot leave a load of toothbrush kits in the toilets, so I think I’ve just saved 25grams by having a massive… so anyway.

I’m a lucky guy when it comes to travel, I’ve been able to see a lot of the world, and the more remote the place the better. However what will surprise most people who know me is I ALWAYS feel strange leaving. I do miss people a lot, especially those little people, that share my surname, so I’ll always come back.

Therefore first thing to do when sorted in Mongolia is to go buy child friendly Mongolian presents, any ideas anyone? No I won’t buy a real horse!
I’ve already met a few competitors on the plane and a volunteer, who always are the most important part of the race. Everyone, utterly unsurprisingly is super friendly. On to Ulaan!

2 days later… it’s been an interesting time to say the least. Firstly I’m delighted I got here a few days early. This decision was vindicated when bags relating to everyone who is racing the planet branded didn’t show up! Cue panic and weird sense of calm and comradeship that is unique to these races.
Landing at 5:30am is not good for the body clock and trying to force it into submission I decided to check into the hotel and try not to sleep! I managed that till about 10am… so that was pointless.
ULN is an interesting place, bustling, noisy, but with charm tucked just out of view if you go to look for it. Beautiful monasteries and a Dinosaur museum, which I had literally completely to myself. After smashing my sleep but not my appetite into submission (midnight room service is a god send), getting my bag back, and exploring more I am ready to get going.
I have now entered the bubble! One I won’t leave till a week from Saturday. Tomorrow morning is race briefing, and kit check, the a 4 hour bus ride to the start line!
My next blog will be from the course at the end of stage 1 I expect. I can’t wait to get to the Mongolia we all came to see.
Thanks for reading and feel to comment I will pick them up on the course. Thanks for all the support to everyone who’s helped me get here… I’m ready to March!!

So this is it my first ever blog…. EVER! So be nice. I’ve done two races previously to this the Atacama in 2016 and the Namib in 2018 and writing a blog wasn’t something I thought of doing, wasn’t something I wanted to do. I entered this race four weeks ago which is not a lot of time to prepare for a race, the previous ones I had months before. So it’s been a rush getting ready however I’m fitter than I ever was in the previous two races so why not I ask myself? This race for me is to remind me why I love doing these things to be around people that understand that we’re not all crazy when we do this. So the next four weeks finalising the training getting my equipment together most of which I already have and deciding what music to take. I hope this blog lets people understand the day-to-day of doing something like this which may seem utterly far-fetched for most but is actually utterly simple in its execution, one Foot in front of the other. One spoonful of rehydrated food, or another sip of water and one more trip to the toilet. It is that simple and that is the appeal. When I first went to a 4Deserts Race I was apprehensive, I was fresh off Ironman triathlons and Mountain Climbs, and I thought it would all be ego’s from here to Chile. Wow I was wrong, I love the fact that there is competition out on the course but that never trumps the wish to help someone else out, offer a sincere ‘you can do it’ or ‘almost there’. There is never judgement on how fast people are, or how long, for example, I take. We are all in it together and that is the best bit of the whole thing and I can’t wait to meet everyone. And this time I want to extract every ounce out of this race which, if I’m honest, I don’t think I did before. I can’t wait to walk through on the long march, have the stars above me, enjoy the emptiness. But then I also can’t wait for that feeling of walking into the checkpoints, staffed with amazing volunteers and staff, and doctors (who must never want to watch a Tarantino film again after all the feet). The experience is so varied and so addictive. So am I ready? As I’ll ever be! And that’s all that really matters. So the question I’m asking myself why this race to start a blog? Well it’s for my children and the support network of friends and family. Ok that will be a serious as I get… expect scatological tales and humorous anecdotes as I join everyone in MONGOLIA (sounds so cool)!!!!! I’ll keep you posted. My track of the week: Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen… obvs