It is now 10:30am on Friday - and the race is pretty much done. We have 1km tomorrow by the pyramids and then it is pizzas and beer. I clocked 14hrs 45mins yesterday for the 87km run (was actually longer which led to a lot of uproar). This was my best performance of the week. Da, hopefully you remember the conversation we had after the Italy game about how to do the long run - well I ran the first 10km as we started at 6am, walked 20km, then sat for 20mins and ate my main food (Dave, like you suggested), I then walked to 55km. My feet were swollen two sizes bigger and the blisters were popping. My right knee felt like it was on its way out and I could not turn to look over my right shoulder as it felt it would go. It was now 4p and I had been on my feet for 10 hours. However, the temperature was cool so I could at long last do what I came here to try and do - run properly. Although you hurt, the 2,000 plus miles of training mean that the body reverts to what it knows. I was up to running 6min kilometers and powered towards the 70km check point. I caught about 10 people, during this time and this proved to be the most elating period of my whole week as I ran on a hard packed sand plateau with mountains in the distance. At this stage I began to realise that this epic journey which started in June 2008 was coming to an end and I began thinking about all the highs and lows and what I will do now that I have my life back. It goes dark at 6pm here so put my head lamp on at CP7 and pushed out for the final CP. I was now pumping gels into my system as you are running on reserves at this stage. I literally fell into CP8 where there was a great German volunteer who has run loads of ultras who got me back up and out. I was almost out on my feet so popped loads of Shot Blocks and (Neil - your advice) stuck a Caffeine Power Gel in my back pocket. I had been able to recharge my i-pod and watch - but was conscious they may be running low. Anyway, there was only 8km to go. I had to pop the caffeine gel which is horrible - Neil, no wonder you stomach goes on run.  I got to 7km - still running in the dark with the lamp - and hit a dune. I could not run up so tried walking. I couldn't even do that. I had the mother of all walls - on what should have been 1km out. I had to climb up on my hands and knees and roll down the other side. I was covered in sand. The next 25mins were the most horrible of experiences as you went over dunes in expectation of seeing the camp and finishing line only for it to be another dune. I then needed to throw up and couldn't. But heh, we got there in the end. It is over now and my life is coming back. To everyone who sent messages, thanks. Brent, tell Vik we gave his blacberry to someone else. Tony, I got lots of emails from you. Morts, great banter. Rich, thoughht you had forgotten me!!!
 
I will save all the details for when I get back. I have met some great people and heard and seen truly inspiring things.
 
Finally I just want to thank some people who have been instrumental in this acheivement. Warren, for giving me great advice all the way through and giving me confidence to go for it. Kristy for breaking the long runs, Chris Armstrong for the conditioning work he did with me, Pete and Anthony in our tent who were legends for advice and motivation, and me Da for helping me talk through how I would tackle the long run. Most importantly though the biggest thanks go to my Ma who made sure I got here and has put up with me boring her to death every Sunday about the various nuances of my training week and worries.
 

Well, day 4 over. Keep coming in at 3:25pm!! Yesterday's performance took me up to 30th place. I was burnt out though and took a long time to recover. I was slower today overall and will have dropped places but dont feel as bad as yesterday. This is important as I have no idea how I will cope tomorrow. There is talk of an earlier start tomorrow to take into account the 87kms we need to run. Not sure if this is good or bad. If I get through then that will be it. It will be head down time.
 
My feet ache and am not sure what has happened to my baby toe on my left foot. I think the nail is still there. My watch has run out of battery. My i-pod helped me work distances today but that died 2km from the end. Distance calculation will be a problem tomorrow. Not writing much today as tomorrow could take it all away. Still trying to plan it. Hopefully the next update will be a joyous one.

Firstly thanks for all the emails and comments - was shocked to get so many today and was the uplift I needed. Rois, give Oisin a massive hug from his big uncle. Durgs, you could have kept quiet about the United result - i am a broken man now. Today was the toughest day yet as there was no cloud cover at any stage and i set out with blisters on both feet. stuck with the same plan of running out hard for as long as I could. 10km was the limit today and then out came the poles. i was then able to keep up a solid pace mixing running (25%) with walking (75%) for the 2nd check point. Then the terrain got soft so walking was the only option all the way through a massive plain and then up a long rise to an oasis at the top of a hill. Did not really take it in as only spent 5mins there. The final stage was a nightmare. Angry Gaz was out in full effect shouting at his poles, the sand, my i-pod everything. I could not get any solid sand for more than 20metres which means that you start running on solid sea side sand and then hit dune type. It is almost impossible to run on unless you are one of the top boys over here. The overall race has been turned upside down today as the race leader Memhat Danas got ill and had to walk and has now lost the kead to a German guy who made up the 21mins. i was told by a great guy over here that this is a race of attrition - he is damn right, moore people dropped out today. If I can get through tomorrow then only a broken leg will stop me on the long stage on Thursday - although there is fear in my mind about it. Saturday is a nothing day as they moved 9 of the 10 kms into the first 4 days as people keep getting lost in Geeza (sic). We have two great guys called Pete and Anthony in our tent who have done MdS and Atacama 2008. They are great mates and are really helping us all through it. Anyway, I am going to sort out my blisters. Morts, Mossels; party in Cairo if I make it there on Saturday. Champagne Red Bull dance-offs. Only dress requirement is slippers!!! Raver, we are doing the bike ride, Browny get pedalling. Adam, i have emailed your tennis club - expect 45 degree heat next time. Waz, 5th december night out was a thought that kept me going so make sure everyone is booked. Portmano, I dont need to think of beers yet. 

Bloody hell. Belted out the Fields of Athenry today whilst running across some plain. The guy in front started running as he was scared. Anyway, if anyone looks at the checkpoint times today they would see that I was in the top 20 I think after checkpoint one. My plan remains the same - run until I get too hot and then walk. I did get worried as I thought I might burn out. Thankfully staying in the shade at CP 2 whilst fixing my feet for 25 mins cooled me down. I really enjoyed the walk to CP 3. The last 4km were up dunes that make Brittas Bay look like a kids sandpit. It was an inspiring site to see one of the guys crawl up on his hands and knees to the top. As I got to the top I decided to clear my nostrils out - cue a bloody nose!! Today was 7hrs 25mins but I feel ok. I started taking pain killers to ease the pain in my shoulders. It was a good call. Dave, if you are reading this, your advice about fuelling and taking care of your feet is permanently in my head. Ma, Tony, thanks for the mails. Tomorrow will be a big test for the feet and legs.

Well almost there. This will be my last post until Sunday evening - when having hopefully completed Stage 1, I will be able to write my first post from the Sahara. Rang the family back in Ireland tonight as I wont be speaking to anyone tomorrow as I pack and get in the 'zone' (whatever and wherever that may be). My gaiters have not showed up but the good guys at RTP Store have informed me that they will be selling them at the Hotel. Why did I leave the purchase of those things to the end. 

Had my last sports massage tonight - legs were still a bit tender from Monday but they feel loose now which is good. Also, got the clippers out on the hair to make sure heat is able to escape more easily.

My little nephew Oisin (who is 2 and a1/2 years) has drawn a picture of me running in the desert. I explained to him on the phone tonight what the desert was. He didn't seem impressed and just started singing 'Old McDonald'.

Really keen to get out into the desert and see what it is really like. It is the unknown that it troubling me. You know what a marathon is going to be like - but this.......I have no idea what it will be like. Will also be a bit of fun to run round Cairo on Friday to try and get adjusted to the heat. 

Anyway, will save my creative juices until Sunday. 

COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank god I live near London is all I can say - been able to get pretty much everything I needed this weekend. Just waiting on the Gaiters to arrive from the RTP store. Probably the most important bloody bit of equipment and I decide to leave getting them to the last minute. Everything is laid out on the bed in the spare room. Am quite upbeat after finding a great little device in Malpins which holds 2 small batteries and charges anything by using various tip ends - cost £25, I would have paid £100!!! A worry had been not being able to use the Garmin 405 which is going to be a lifesaver out there in helping me manage my pace. 

Anyway, need to glue these bloody gaiters to my trainers and hopefully everything else will be fine. 

Was mightly pi$$ed off with Justgiving.com whose website did not accept any payments at the beginning of last week. It is good enough of people to donate but having to get the to do it again is a hassle that no-one needs.

Got a couple of sports massage sessions this week. I know the routine now, I get quizzed on my training and stretching routines, they start giving me grief for not doing enough stretching, they then get to work and try and exert as much pain on me as possible. This just might be worse than the infamous waterboarding. I think to myself after, that without people like me, then sports masseurs would have no business.

Was checking the profiles of my tent buddies and was happy to see that there is some good experience in there aswell as first timers like me. 
 
Got some great advice from a former work colleague and ultra runner today about pace and fuelling on the long run. He said that one of the best things he did on the London-Brighton was to eat a fair bit early on and then topped up all the way through to the end.

Strange feeling. The training is over - now in to the taper for the last 2 weeks. Felt strange knowing that 16months of hard work was over and it is now down to the race itself. Everything seems real now, flights booked, most of the equipment needed bought, tents allocated, super duper watch bought, days booked off work, etc.

Excited, nervous, eager and worried all at the same time. Got 98 miles done in the last week of training having built up from 30miles 6 weeks ago. Gutted that I missed getting to the magic 100 in the week. It is a real learning experience with the body during this time. I cant run fast any more - keep missing trains. At least I will get there in 2 weeks time!!! Feel strong in the legs and lungs but heat will remain the challenge. Hopefully the blisters will stay away and make the runs less torturous.

Still have not worked out how I will do the 58 miles stage but will listen to the experienced guys out there. 

Thanks to everyone who has been part of my training over the last 16 months.

I lay in bed last night (Sunday) and realised that it was less than 3 months to go. Kind of uplifting in a way. I had also completed my first post 26mile run - the Downland Ultra 30 across the South Downs. 30 miles cross country so I am refusing to call it an ultra (perhaps Baby Ultra is better). Hit the wall, which then fell on top of me at 28 miles. Total beakdown with hypoglycemia - thank you to The Lore of Running for that - great book for anyone like me who is still new to this running and is not a member or a running club. Kept stumbling forward with legs like jelly. Thankfully a guy I had been running with early on passed by and realised what was happening and gave me some water and some jellies called Shock Blocks. Within a minute I was running again!!!! I definitely did not fuel right for this having taken only my marathon allowance of energy bars and gels. Lesson 1 learned: greater variety and increase consumption of foodstuffs during race. Lesson 2 was pace - I went too quickly for the first 18 miles but I felt so strong that I was contemplating a Top 15 finish as I picked people off (they all caught me up in the end as I stumbled around after mile 28). I now realise that a proper running watch is essential as I need to control my pace - especially in the Sahara. Warren talks of running negative splits so the only chance I have of getting that right is by managing the pace. 

Positives (and there were a few): 

1. Hydropel ointment is awesome: no bliters or chaffing. I was out there for 5hrs and have no ailments.
2. Recovery is again good. Could run again today. I ran 9 miles on the Saturday as keen to see ability of body to cope then the following day. Will be even more important to manage pace to support this in Egypt.
3. Failures happened on the cool South Downs and not the searing Sahara. Plenty of time to learn lessons
4. Legs and core are definitely stronger as a result of the sessions I am doing with a personal fitness intructor at my local gym. All 30min sessions that often have me heaving and stumbling around with sweat dripping off me. Would recommend to people who have never done such a race to book some sessions like this. 85% of what we do is using your own body or with medicine balls. 

Anyway, will update again soon.

Am starting to get a pain in my arse with people saying how wonderful it is to do this run and shaking my hand. I have done nothing yet. I look forward to the day when I sit at dinner tables or at BBQs and say, yes, I have done the Sahara Run. I am never doing the like of this again.

Have realised and accepted that I cannot be as prepared as I would want to be given that I don't have a desert out my back garden!! It will be will power that will carry me through. Keep moving forward even if it is walking, never stop. Can do marathons no problem - all about the recovery and have broken the long run in to manageable pieces mentally.

A big thanks to Kristy for breaking my run today. She is training for a marathon next year and hopefully will join parts of my long weekly run to break up the distance - hopefully it will help her in her training aswell. Up to 15 miles today with 7kg or so on my back. Increasing it bit by bit. What is interesting is that you now start to think about the time you spend on your feet rather than getting the miles done quickly.

Listening to audio books now on my i-pod. Just finished Audacity of Hope by President Obama. Incredible.

Going to do a baby ultra at the end of July. Fired up for it.

Ran the South Downs Cross Country marathon yesterday. Tougher than Paris but very happy with the way the body held up in totally new terrain. Has given a fillup to the training when it was desperately needed. Met some truly great people along the way, especially the lady who runs 100 plus miles a week who was able to give me some great training advice. Was able to get out this morning as the body held up quite well - which was what I was most happy about. Tried out some SIS recovery powder that you pop into water to make a shake after your run. Worked a treat. Will be taking 350g of that to Egypt. Did not feel hungry at all after taking it. Thinking about removing some nails on my toes as there seems to be build of pressure underneath them. Will be giving this some proper long thought though before doing!!!

Got to identify a few more cross country runs as they are definitey better for the training.

Heh, this is the first blog. Been a Bank Holiday weekend this weekend so was able to get some decent running in coupled with a heavy night out on the Saturday. Warren said he would never train in the summer for a marathon as it ruins your social life. I think it is possisble but to do it will require cutting down on the alcholol massively. 

Mossels, Morts, quality night out on Saturday. 

Heat on Saturday was great - still nothing like what Egypt will be like but good. 3 laps in Hyde Park with the sand was good. Dont think it will be as firm over there - which is a worry. Suffered on way back which was worrying until I realised that I had run 3 miles longer than planned. Was comforting but a realisation that there is still a lot of work to go. I am one month away from a year's worth of training. I reckon I will have run around 1,500 training miles by then. You work out stupid stuff like that. 

Big worry with the new job and how that will impact the training - but may not be able to start for 3 months.

The charity stuff will be up in about 6 -8 weeks. AJ is on board and just need Mo to move past the 'vision' thing and on to something substantial so I can get it added.

Hoping this blogging and the closing start date (5 months to go from today) focuses the mind and makes it easier.

Will update next weekend.