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Namib Race Blogs 2012

Ben Atkin

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Namib Race (2012) blog posts from Ben Atkin

03 November 2012 12:00 pm (GMT+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris

All done, only a short run tomorrow tothe Pryamids and we're finished, will write a real acount of the race when I get back, just enjoying the day off today and waiting to get home.
Thanks for all your messages of suport over the last few days, Seee you all soon

Comments: Total (4) comments

Jeannette Cuddy

Posted On: 04 Nov 2012 10:47 am

Well done Ben, myself and Jimmy have been following you all week. You should be so proud of yourself. See you soon

ryan gray

Posted On: 04 Nov 2012 02:13 am

well done ben u done good :)

Adam Skinner

Posted On: 03 Nov 2012 10:51 am

Well done mate. Have been following it all week. Top 25 is not too shabby at all. Looks like the last day was a real toughy. 13 hours on the move is incredible. Enjoy the last day and the final 2k run in. See you when you get back.

Rory Coleman

Posted On: 03 Nov 2012 09:04 am

Well done on your long day Ben... all done bar the shouting and congratulations on you running year... Coach.

31 October 2012 01:36 am (GMT+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris

Day 3 completed feeling good and strong, made top 20 today (just!!!). All going well, no major complaints or injuries, just loving my time here, camp seems a bit quiet now Gary’s gone home!!!!

Nothing else to say really, just spend every morning running in the sand, afternoons lazing around camp and normally in bed by 8pm. Why people have to get up at 4am when we don’t start till 7am I will never understand!!!!

Time for another tasty dinner and bed………….

Comments: Total (7) comments

Malcolm Williams

Posted On: 02 Nov 2012 08:43 pm

That looks like a long hard day. Only one more to go, nearly there, keep doing what you're doing.

Malcolm Williams

Posted On: 01 Nov 2012 04:31 pm

Less than 2 mins to 20th, you're flying mate! stay focused. Beers are on me next week.

Rory Coleman

Posted On: 01 Nov 2012 09:40 am

Top 20 Finish Please!!! You are flying Ben, well done -Rory Coleman,Coach...

Nicole Smith

Posted On: 31 Oct 2012 05:07 pm

All fine with the ferrets here...keep those camels at bay! xoxox

Rory Coleman

Posted On: 31 Oct 2012 10:54 am

Well done Ben and very proud of your great running - keep the faith and smash it from here on in... Coach.

nicole smith

Posted On: 31 Oct 2012 07:57 am

Bet you're so happy you have those gourmet meals with you :-)xoxox

Malcolm Williams

Posted On: 31 Oct 2012 05:47 am

Maybe the early risers are even madder than you!

30 October 2012 12:40 pm (GMT+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris

What a day, the hardest day of my running so far, dunes, dunes, sand and more sand with a couple of hills to help things!!!!!
Finished a very respectable 25th I think so happy with my results but it was a hard day. Sad to see some good guys having to drop out through injury wishing them all well.
Views were amazing and took a couple of pics but wont do them justice such an amazing place, next time I"m going to see it all from a Land Rover!!!!!
More food and foot tape to come, so I hope you all have a better night than me! See you all soom
Nearly forgot, tomorrrow is harder than today!!!

Ben

Comments: Total (5) comments

Adam Skinner

Posted On: 30 Oct 2012 01:34 pm

Wow. Moved up the leaderboard. You are doing fantastic. Watch those feet. I'm off for a 5k road run now. Not quite the sahara but i'll get there. And remember to enjoy it.

Matt Wheatley

Posted On: 30 Oct 2012 12:17 pm

Ben you are flying mate!! keep up the hard work because its certainly paying off! head down, run strong, and see you for a San Mig real soon dude! :)

Keith Baker

Posted On: 30 Oct 2012 12:00 pm

Well done Ben. You can borrow my Shogun for your next visit there!

Malcolm Williams

Posted On: 30 Oct 2012 08:21 am

Keep it up Ben, you're doing a great job

Nicole Smith

Posted On: 30 Oct 2012 12:46 am

Brill! Thinking of you....keep running :-)

28 October 2012 11:43 am (GMT+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris

Day 1 completed suprisingly well feet held up OK through the vast amounts of sand, sand and more sand. Course description had today has moderate looking forward to seeing what a difficult day is like. The first taste of crawling up a sand dune came after 1km followed by a few km of trail before finishing off with 10km of soft sinking sand. Happy to have made the top 30 of Day 1 and will try for more of the same tomorrow.
The event so far has been a fantastic experience some great people, both competitors and volunteers all here to enjoy the experience and have a laugh ( for now anyway). Time for me to get some food and more tape on the toes, will try for another update tomorrow.
Hope the party at the Posh was a good night shame I couldnt be there, my night was slightly more tame I expect ( bed before 8pm).
Nicole the camels not got me yet!!!!!!!!!
Ben

Comments: Total (1) comments

Adam Skinner

Posted On: 29 Oct 2012 08:33 am

Well done. 28th out of 132 ain't too shabby. Sounds like an amazing experience. Am keeping tabs on you daily and it is looking pretty good so far. Only another 313k's left. You can do that in your sleep. Enjoy every moment of it.

17 October 2012 02:00 am (GMT+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris

Where did the last few weeks go?   I´m flying to Cairo in a week feeling slightly unprepared but raring to go.    Just one marathon to run this Sunday then training is over and the reality of what lies ahead can sink in.   I´ve had some great results this summer and getting to the start line has been hard work but generally fun, I´m so much fitter than I expected to be mainly thanks to the help of a great coach,  Rory Coleman.  I´ve ran 7 Ultras 2 Marathons a few Half Marathons and my first triathlon this year, all as part of my preperation for this trip to the sand!!!

Food and kit now all planned, sorted and packed, running with the pack is if nothing else an experience!!!!  Not much space for luxuries so guess the day 7 smell will be pretty bad!!!!

I´ll try to update everyday from the desert but no promises have to see how I´m feeling on a daily basis!!!

Thanks to everyone who has suported me this far and put up with me droning on about pace/time/temperature all summer.

Next update from Egypt!!!!!!!!

Comments: Total (2) comments

Rory Coleman

Posted On: 28 Oct 2012 10:50 pm

Ben, you've had a brilliant day 1... be very, very pleased and keep your race plan firm in your mind. Well done, Coach.

Hazel Kurz

Posted On: 27 Oct 2012 10:00 am

Good Luck today Ben. You'll hopefully be half way through stage 1 by now, I'm so excited thinking about your adventure....hope you enjoy every step of the journey!Looking forward to reading your first blog after you've had a chance to refuel today or tomorrow.

03 February 2012 03:13 am (GMT+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris

Just checked the 4 Deserts website and noticed the countdown seems to be going down better than my winter training.....267 days doesn´t seem long now.    I´m running my first Ultra in 2 weeks, the London Tribesport Ultra 50km, London in Febuary is maybe not the best place to train for the desert but should be fun.    

I´ve had some amazing advice from past competitors, MdS veterans and amazing ultra-runners.    If anyone wants details please contact me.

It´s an incredible achievment for all of us just to reach the start line of this race fully prepared, and the one peice of wisdom everyone seems to share is ENJOY THE JOURNEY.   Its the only thing to make you want to run in the rain, go to the Gym early morning and not alienate your entire family!!!

Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must ------- Dean Karnazes.

Comments: Total (4) comments

Lynden Kemp

Posted On: 18 Sep 2012 02:46 pm

Hello Ben, Hope the training is still going well, we ran together on the London ultra. Good luck with the race. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did on the mds. Lynden kemp

Posted On: 25 Jun 2012 04:57 am

Hi Ben, I am thinking seriously of joining the Sahara race this October. I have no idea about training programs and stuff. A friend of mine Ali Kedami from Lebanon already is active with these races he's done quite a few, for sure I can benefit from his experience, but any ideas or hints you might share with me would be great. I have done 4 marathons so far with a 3:48 PB in Paris last April. Hope to hear from you soon. Imad

Posted On: 11 Feb 2012 03:54 pm

Hi Ben, I did Sahara 2011 and the best advice I can give you is to manage your hydration and elctrolytes well. This and taking good care of your feet will get you to the finish. Best of luck and have a terrfic adventure. You won't regret it one bit. -SS

Posted On: 05 Feb 2012 10:29 pm

Hi Ben, Would very much enjoy reading the advice you've received from past runners. I've had some myself and found it invaluable, especially gear/equipment advice. Training seems to be going well. I'm counting down (6 days) to my first long course triathlon to kick off my prep events. Let us know how the ultra goes. Go well. SB

07 November 2011 04:54 am (GMT+01:00) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris

Less than a year until we begin our trek across the desert, hope everyone´s training is going well and you´re all looking forward to it as much as I am.  (Although being slightly scared about running for 250km!!!)

It would be great to hear from other competitors in this event and other 4 deserts events as this is my first time.  Any advice will be greatly appreciated.  


Ben

Comments: Total (6) comments

Posted On: 07 Feb 2012 07:09 am

Another newbie here. Look forward to meeting you guys in Egypt. This will be a big challenge for me also. 100km is my longest so far. My email address is [email protected] based in Hong Kong

Posted On: 23 Jan 2012 08:40 pm

Hi Ben. Sounds like you and I are in a very similar position. The main focus for me is finishing - though I do want to push myself. Happy to pass on info as I hear it. Try following my blog: anidiotsguidetorunning250km.blogspot.com. I will be updating there and here as often as I can. I will be having a chat next month to a runner who is doing his PHD at Brunel University in West London. He ran the Marathon Des Sables last year, and specializes in Ultra performance and the impacts on heat stress on the body - so should be getting some great info there. Keep in touch!

Posted On: 13 Dec 2011 08:11 pm

Glad I´m not going to be the only newbie on this. Preperation is not going too bad really getting started now, plenty of races planned for the next 4 months and am starting to look at kit, weight seems to be the key to success. Good to hear from you, my email is [email protected] or on facebook my pic is the one at Everest Base Camp. Best of luck with all the training, Ben

Posted On: 13 Dec 2011 05:36 am

Hi Ben, It's my first time as well! Nervous and excited. I'm just getting blog, Twitter etc all ready to go. I'll be keen to hear how another '1st timer' is preparing...this'll be my biggest challenge by a long shot. Steve (Australia)

Posted On: 12 Nov 2011 06:12 pm

Any one that is doing the Sahara 2012 can Facebook me. We can talk about the race. Or you can E-mail me at [email protected] warren

Posted On: 08 Nov 2011 02:20 am

Hi Ben ~ It's great to see you starting your blog and that you are already looking forward to the event! Please don't hesitate to email us if you have any questions. Cheers, Alina