Right then, I dusted and oiled up my Zimmer frame and am nearly ready to go -- the only problem (well it's always a problem with me) is that I've been slack on my training.  As usual I’ve not done enough, but eat your heart out my friends I have a race partner: 26-year-old Karen Dockwray (who says old blokes can't pull birds …. only joking Karen!!!).  We will be together every step/stumble/crawl etc through the race, and if anyone wants to get near my race partner you will have to go through my vetting procedure which is very severe!! (Of course I could sell her to the Egyptians for something like 3 camels …. only joking Karen).  Hmm, maybe not though -- 3 camels?

Like Chris Collins I'm working on a cunning plan to get through the race, my plan is to persuade Karen to carry my back pack (including her own).  At present I'm thinking what kind of excuse to use to make her feel sorry for me.

Karen and I are looking forward to meeting up with fellow "nutters" from all around the world.  Because I'm 74 people ask me for advise thinking I know the answers, the only advise is "enjoy" the hardships and always try to have a smile even if it's only through gritted teeth, and please, please respect the volunteers because they work very hard for us to achieve our dreams of finishing the race, oh don’t forget the poor old sweeper camels, don’t let them get in front of you!!!

As this is my first blog I hope that it turns out OK.(never done one before!).

Being as I'm a (young) 74 year old and still competing the occasional ultra I was asked to do a blog as a inspiration to younger runners or may be to any one thinking of giving up the sport because they are getting old, let me say this, my age at 74 to me is just a number, I haven't hung up my running shoes, I've accepted that I will always be slower than the elite and faster competitors.

I have competed so many races that I've lost count,but last year for the first I time did the 2008 Sahara Race, what a incredible event!  The organisation was so professional, the volunteers worked out of their skins with loads of encouragement to every competitors, yes, of course it wasn't easy,but then again thats what we "nutters" sign up for.

Oh yes, I've signed up for the Sahara Race 2009, but the hardest part is waiting for a whole year for more punishment!!!!

These later years the main races I've competed:
* 13--Badwaterultra 135 miles Death Valley USA + Death Valley 300-- (for this achievment I was inducted in "Badwater Hall of Fame")
* 8---Trans 333Km non stop desrt races
* 1--(of course) 2008 RacingThePlanet's Sahara Race 2008

People ask me "whats the secret" that at my age I still can push my body to the extremes of ultra's -- no secret, just being a bit pig-headed and putting notions of pain out of my head!! (stupid eh!).

So they say "well you must train a lot"--again No!  My weekly training schedule over  four months before a ultra:
Once a week 25/30 miles walking with full weighted back pack, 
3 times a week jogging about 4/5 miles around the blocks
Weekly milage approx. 40 miles, this schedule before the 2008 Sahara Race worked well for me because I finished the whole distance 63hrs 7mins comfortably (liar)- well fairly comfortably (liar)-well struggling (true!!).

So, remember what ever your age/standard the goal is to finish the whole distance be it first / middle of field / stone last with the sweepers and camels, the medal put around your neck at the finish will be the same medal that every one gets realising their own personal dreams.

Click on www.deathvalleyjack.freeserve.co.uk  

Hopefully more to come.    
"DeathValleyJack" Denness