Its getting closer, most of my kit is decided, getting some miles in at last, although a lot of it is practising to walk quickly. One change I have made is using Raidlight Bottle holders on my OMM rucksack, works well and looks like that will be the choice for the event. Just so handy. The other big choice is my food, main meals will be easy as the Expedition Foods meals are second to none for me, and always have been. The biggest choices are the massive range of Gels, Bars and other energy products. I always used SIS in the past, nothing wrong with it but just so much choice now, Shotbloks are an incredibly easy way of taking in Electrolyte's with 200Kcal in just 60g, I don't need water to help them go down, problem I have is stopping myself eating the whole lot at once. I love the Power Bar ride shots, they melt in your mouth, again just a little too easy to eat, again 199 Kcal for just 60g in weight. Clif Bars are a great favourite with 189 Kcal for 50g in weight. I plan to take lots of variety, my first event way back in the 1990s I took the same daytime snacks for all day every day, by day three I never wanted to see that stuff again, never touched it since. So I will have plenty of variety this time, using Shotbloks, Clif Bars , Powrbars, Hammer bars, Mule Bars ( I like the idea natural ingredients and a nice moist texture ) For my drinks I shall use Nuun, nothing easier than chucking a tablet in a water bottle and waiting a minute. Evenings look forward to my Hot Chocolate Nocte before getting my head down for the night, half a sachet each night. Works for me.

It was a hard choice, because these days there are quite a few very good sacks to choose from, all better than I have used in the past. I have an older version of the Raidlight Evolution 2 and it was excellent, the new version looks better, but in the end i have chosen the OMM classic marathon 32 with a Trio chest pouch. I have no intention of using anywhere near the full 32 litres, but I hate to see a rucksack stretched at the seams, the front pouch can be detached so that it can be versatile for other uses. I need a month or so of running and walking with it to be sure, and haven't completely ruled out the Endurance II, I also like the way the Endurance II holds the water bottles and that alone may cause a rethink before the event. But for now decision made and time will tell. Other decisions will be easy, food will be Expedition Foods as it has been for almost 15 years, the lightest weight for the highest calories and great tasting. Its going to be fun putting the kit together, once it was a case of using what you could find, now there is so much choice it will take time trying it out. A common mistake is turning up at the race with kit or food not tried in training, you need to make sure it suits you, so try it out first.

My mind still thinks I am a runner, but a draw full of running shorts that no longer fit tell me otherwise And in truth its been a while since I was really a proper runner, or at least a runner that try's hard anyway. My best friend and training partner "Jerry" will be pleased as he is probably bored of just half hour walks 3 or 4 times a day, he is the happiest dog around when we are out in the hills or woods of yorkshire for 5 or 6 hours at a time. Rosie my older dog will be content with 4 or 5 mile runs every 2 or 3 days. They are both rescue dogs with an unpleasant background and the RSPCA animal rescue centre I got them from is in serious financial difficulty so as I have done before, I shall run, walk and stagger to raise funds for them, and they are going to follow my progress ( and Jerry and Rosie's training) via a link to this blog on the new RSPCA website So the countdown for the Sahara in October begins Kit will be interesting, lots of new improved kit, since i was last a serious runner. The packs with pouches on at the front have always suited me, I like the idea of the pouch in front with all my stuff for the day on my chest. So I will be looking at the Raidlight and the Omm 25 or 32 with the trio chest pouch, I have never had a major blister ( touch wood ) in the events, much to the annoyance of previous tent mates, the Injinji socks are popular and a lot of people feel that is the reason why they get few blister problems. I am going to stick to what has worked for me for the last 12 years or so of doing events like this, and the new version of what i have always used the "Hilly Twin Skin" look and feel better than my old models. i still have my old tops complete with badges sewn on, I just need to make sure I can get into them, after saying that, some of the new materials that are available are an improvement, so maybe in the summer I will look at the large collection in the store and treat myself to something new. For food it has always been Expedition Foods, and now that RacingThePlanet has the full range it is even easier to get, if you haven't tried it you should treat yourself, you will be impressed, lowest weight to the highest calorie count around, and tastes great as well. Various compression tights have become very popular recently I haven't tried them myself, but some very good runners I know ( under 2:30 for Marathons ) have and would not be with out them, so I am definitely going to try some of those. I may not be fit any more but I still remember it is about preparation and having the kit that suits you in the event, so i will keep you updated as I slowly put my pack together over the next few months. Well I guess all it needs now is to start some actual running, but maybe that can wait until the morning, after all, I am still not a proper runner "yet"