Hi to all Sahara competitors ( notice I have dropped the racer bit) I think we all know which of us are Racers, and which of us are Competitors !. Are we getting excited, nervous, petrified ? or all of the above. They call it the race of no return, well I don't know about that, this is my third go at it. Have you had all your kit and food laid out on the floor and thought “ how the hell is that lot going into that rucksack. Have you decided to leave out that air bed and cool box, and with a tear in your eye finally realised its not practical to carry that huge teddy bear that you Mum/Wife/Kids gave you. Have you stopped trying to explain to family/friends/ work mates, why you are doing this, mainly because you can’t remember yourself. Don’t panic, its gonna be alright. It is the most fantastic race, oops! event. I won’t try and explain what you are in for, that’s part of the fun, finding out for yourself, but I will take the liberty of offering a few tips, they may help some of you.

Tip no. 1 You may think you’re the only competitor whose feet won't swell, go ahead and think that if you really fancy storming through the desert with your feet stuffed into trainers with your toes curled up for 7 days, make sure your running shoes are at least 1.5 to 2 sizes bigger than normal, you may feel like Crusty the clown but you’ll get used to it.

Tip no. 2 If you intend to use a full sand gaiter make sure the Velcro on your shoes is stitched as well as glued, if not it will come off, and although your efforts to keep it on, (including elastoplast ,gaffer tape, string, elastic bands,) will provide hours of innocent amusement for the whole camp, it will not do your morale, or feet any good.

Tip no. 3 Take heed of the mandatory kit list, especially the blister kit, and especially the tincture of Bezoin, this wonder stuff will stick dressings to your feet like you would not believe, I myself still have two toes taped from 2008. Believe me, your tent will resemble an episode of M.A.S.H after a couple of days, and this stuff could save your feet.

Last tip, well a general observation really, stuff that works back home in the comfort of your own bedroom, bathroom, etc will not necessarily work in the desert, remember it gets a bit hot out there ( ho! ho!) and your brain will get a bit frazzled, your patience will also be tested.   I myself have vivid memories of Sahara 2008, whilst squatting in the desert early in the morning, watching another wonderful sunrise, trying to open a well known brand of lubricant, and to the amusement of fellow squatters, scattered around me, totally lost the plot with this tin, and ended up shaking my fist at the sky muttering something like “ why do you mock me “ and launching the offending tin skywards. All very amusing, but I had still failed to “lube” up and paid dearly later in the day ( I think you know what I mean )

Well that’s it for now, if any fellow Racers/competitors are flying from London Heathrow on BMI Friday 23/10/09 look out for me, if you see a tall suntanned guy wearing a tight tee shirt with muscles bulging through, that’s not me, I will be the old grey haired guy with crazy eyes  in duty free stocking up on bars of chocolate and vodka miniatures.

Next weeks blog. “Dehydrated food, what the hell is it ?”

And I to save my soul again would tramp to sunsets grand, with sad eyed mates across the plains, to never never land.   See you there

Greetings to all those taking part in the Sahara 2009, I thought it time to write my first blog for 2009. This will be my third Sahara race (well race is putting it rather strongly), my toenails have just about grown back from 2008, although one is still struggling from 2007, not to worry they will be gone again by the end of October. I am suffering from Plantar faciitus at the moment, brought on during the La Trans aq race in France a couple of weeks ago (a great race by the way) 250km six day event, with more sand then the Sahara race. So I am taking a rest from serious running at present, but am working hard in the gym on my infinite intensity program and will be fine once the pain subsides, will resume running when heel is ok, if not I intend to set a new hopping record for the Sahara race.
This will be my fifth multiday ultra run, and I have finally got all my kit,food, and strategy right.
My first ever race had my rucsac weighing in at around 12kg, my rucsac weight for the trans aq was 5.5kg plus water, that did include sachets of concentrated red wine, but I could not find the powdered water someone told me about ( only joking, honest).
A special greeting to Jack Dennis who was in the Sahara2008 and who will be there for the Sahara 2009, Just promise me Jack when we are sitting in the shade of a checkpoint, 14k to go, temp was about 47 degrees, don't start talking" about a nice cold Guinness". Looking forward to seeing you mate.
Good luck to everyone with your training, only advice to offer, Think about time on your feet in your training, not just distance, you will probally spend more time out there than you think.
Must go, the Camel needs feeding. Shhhhh !