Endurance Adventures

God. This is it. The culmination of two years of planning, training, preparation and spending... the MdS is finally here!! It still doesn't seem real- but it probably will do soon...

I have been packing and repacking my kit- trying to fit it all into the pack and realising how bloody heavy it all is! No doubt I will fiddle with it several times before the race starts...



My Kit!

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What I will Be Wearing...

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More Equipment

Here's a copy of my kit list;

Marathon Des Sables Kit List…

Compulsory
Backpack- Raidlight
Front pack- as above
Water bottles- Camelbak 650 ml X 2
Sleeping bag- Vango Venom 225
Torch with spare batteries- Tikka XP
10 safety pins
Compass
Lighter
Whistle- attached to rucksack
Knife with metal blade- Swiss Army Knife with nail file & scissors
Topical disinfectant
Anti-venom pump
Signalling mirror
Aluminium survival sheet

Supplied by Darbaroud
Distress flare
Salt tablets
Luminous signal stick for long stage
Road book

Clothes
Legionnaire type hat- Marmot
Tops(s) for day- 1 short sleeve Underarmour HeatGear t-shirt, 1 short sleeve Raidlight Technical t-shirt
Leggings for day- 1 pair Underarmour shorts, 1 pair ¾ length Nike running tights
Leggings for night- Ronhill Tracksters
Lightweight fleece for night- Raidlight top
Running shoes- Brookes Adrenaline
Underwear- pants to be thrown away each day
Sports bra(s)-
Running socks- 3 X Bridgdale, 2 X
Cobber (neck cooler)
Gaiters- parachute silk, attached to shoes with Velcro
Goggles
Sunglasses- plus prescription sunglasses
Buff- buy in the desert
Shoes for night- get from hotel?

Other Equipment
Sun cream- Reimanns P20
Lip salve/ sun screen- Factor 50
Contact lens stuff/ glasses
Stove-
Cooking Pot- titanium kettle
Spork- titanium
Fuel- to be ordered from Darbaroud and collected
Thermarest- self inflatable
Pillow- trekking pillow
Wet wipes- small pack
Small toothpaste
Small toothbrush
Deodorant- small stick
Small pot moisturising cream
Soap flakes
Bodyglide
Toe protector cap
Travel washing line
Duck tape- wrapped round anti-venom pump
Washing liquid- multi purpose
Camera/ memory card/ spare battery
Notebook/ pen
MP3 player/ headphones/ batteries
Watch- if I can find it!!


Medicinal
Strong painkillers- Nurofen plus and paracetamol plus
Muscular aches- Voltarol
Anti-diarrhoea medication
Rehydration sachets
Caffeine tablets- Pro-Plus
Anti Bacterial cleaning gel for hands etc
Moleskin
Zinc oxide tape
Tiny tube Savlon

Here's a sample of what I will be eating each day- pretty much the same every other day;


Day One
Breakfast
Cereal; Jordans maple & pecan/Sainsburies raspberry & yogurt- 600
Powdered milk included above
Coffee; Kenco 2-1 sachet- 61
Snacks
Peanut M & M’s- 300
Sweets; Jelly Beans & Skittles- 126
Nature Valley Canadian Maple Syrup- 185
Power Bar- 219
Shotblox X 3- 100
Dinner
Expedition Meal; Mediterranean Pasta- 800
Custard; Birds Eye- 318
Coffee- 61
Coffee Mocha sachet- 94
Daily Total- 2864


Day Two
Breakfast
Porridge; Oatso Simple Raspberry & powdered milk- 450
Coffee- 61
Snacks
Peanut M & M’s- 300
Sweets; Jelly Beans & Skittles- 126
Nature Valley Oat & Honey- 194
Shotblox X 3- 100
Dinner
Pot Noodle Nice & Spicy; 1 1/2- 635
Walkers Salt & Vinegar crisps- 181
Semolina; Birds Eye- 426
Coffee- 61
Hot chocolate sachet; Cadburys- 120
Daily Total- 2654

I had a lovely surprise at work today- my manager called me into her office for a few minutes, and then followed me back to my office. When I walked in, everybody in the team was there- complete with Good Luck banners and a goody bag! They said that I didn't think they were going to let me go with doing nothing... I felt quite emotional, it was so completely unexpected!

They had bought fun items and stuck a Post it Note caption on each one, such as a packet of Tena Ladies 'For those times you don't want to crouch', a bucket and spade 'For your day off' and best of all a tin of Cadburies Roses 'A well deserved bunch of Roses!' I have got to bloody do it now...

I take the National Express coach to Gatwick tomorrow, and am staying overnight at the Travel Lodge. Thursday we all converge on Gatwick for our special charter flight to Ouazazate (presumably leaving from boarding gate 9 3/4) Friday we have a 5/ 6 hour coach trip from Ouazazate to the desert, Saturday is admin and kit/ medical check day and Sunday is when the race starts...

If you would like to send me a message, log on to www.darbaroud.com; this will be in French but click the flag in the top right corner for an english translation. Click on the link to 'write to a competitor'; this will take you to a drop down menu. Choose my race number- 589- my name should be there too- COOKE Stephanie. Once you select this, the message box should come up. Put my race number and name in the subject line and write a message- no pics or symbols, just plain text. Then press send! These emails are printed off and brought round to our tents at night, and you can't underestimate the emotional support they give.

The Darbaroud site should also have a link to the results for each day, but I understand that they are a bit slow at updating them at times. Basically, if you see a time next to my name it's a good sign! If it says ABANDON, it's not!! (If it says DECEASED it's definately not!!)

This will be my last post before I go... I am kind of thinking 'what the f*ck have I done!!' I really don't know what is waiting for me out there in the desert, or what kind of person will come out the other side... but I do know it's going to be the greatest adventure of my life- so far!!

I have written myself a little motivational message for when things get tough;

You are about to embark on an amazing adventure… one which is going to be the hardest thing you have ever done and it is going to hurt. There will be times when you will be in pain, times when you are feeling down, and times when every part of your body is screaming at you to give up. To give in and climb into the land rover would be so easy and you will feel that you are done and have nothing left to give… but all things must pass, and you can endure this. You are stronger than this. You are going to complete this race. Think about how you are going to feel when you cross that finish line, knowing you have just completed the toughest footrace on earth… the pain will go, but that feeling will last a lifetime. Never, never, never give up. This is your dream and you are going to achieve this. Remember- you are magnificent!

Cheesy, yep- but I have stuck it onto the cover of my notebook along with a message my mum wrote in a good luck card she sent me;

Dear Steph

Just a good luck note to help you on your way.

The week will be tough but I know you will be ok. Take care and don’t worry. Just enjoy the time and experience.

Try to have some fun and a laugh- through the pain…

We are all very proud of you.

Love you lots.
Mum
xxxx

Well- this is it. Nothing more to say now- except BRING IT ON!!!

Labels: Marathon des Sables

... This time next week I will be in the desert, preparing to start the 24th Marathon des Sables!!

I am one week away from starting the greatest adventure of my life so far... so- do I feel ready? I can't honestly answer that. It doesn't seem real... it's as though it's happening to somebody else, not me. I just can't visualise it at this moment in time...

I always expected, at this stage, to be able to run 20 miles without stopping, and pound up hills like they are nothing- but I can't. Could I have done more training? Undoubtedly. But I also had a job, a social life, a family and the stress of moving and fostering out Lucky... so all I can say is that I have done the best I could.

I am one week away from finding out if all the hours spent in the gym, the long walks through rain, wind, snow, sleet and mud, the time spent running up and down hills, the hours on the feet, walking 26, 30, 40 and even 50 miles in one day, maountain walking in the Lakes through cloud, and the times I made myself just get out there and train even when I really didn't feel like it and everybody else in the world seemed to be sitting down with a hot cuppa sheltering from the weather, has all been enough...

Labels: MdS

In a last minute desparation attempt at preparing myself for the desert heat, I have embarked in sessions in the gym steam room!

I wasn't quite sure of the protocol, but had been advised that swimwear should be worn as it's mixed- a great find of a swimming costume for £4.89 in Tesco and that was me all set! (Last of the big spenders...)

I had my first session Tuesday- I opened the door, walked in and immediately felt panic as I couldn't breathe- it was as though the air were water and I struggled to get a breath in. It was quite nice in there... sparkly ceiling lights, ambient music and a slightly eucalyptus scent, and once I got over the breathless feeling I managed to stay in there for nearly 15 minutes. I went in again Thursday and immediately felt much more comfortable. My breathing was much better and I stayed in for at least 20 minutes- I could have easily stayed in longer.

Ok, I won't be crossing the desert in my swimming costume, but it's not going to do any harm hopefully...

I have eased off on my training and stopped running- I'm mainly walking and cross training but may even just swim at the gym and use the steam room. No sense in inviting injury. I am also trying to eat more carbs- my body demanded chips tonight though and I was in no position to argue, knowing what I am about to put it through...

... this time next week I will be in the Sahara Desert- it doesn't seem real...

Labels: Marathon des Sables, Steam Room

This time next week I will be in Morocco!!!!!!!

... before the start of the 24th Marathon des Sables!!! Nervous??? Erm, yeah- just a tad!!

I think I am nearer to getting sorted- went into Nottingham yesterday (on the bus- wimp!!) and found some Camelback water bottles reduced- these have had a good write up on the forum. I also got enough painkillers (Nurofen Plus, Voltarol, Paracetamol Plus) to start a small pharmacy!

I have ordered shoulder pads- the kind you put on a car seat belt to stop it rubbing- to put on my rucksack straps so they don't rub my shoulders. A genius idea- although not mine!

I have considered taking a black bin liner with me and cutting a hole in the top- hey presto, instant modesty smock! I thought it was inspired, but when I told my older sis, she started to laugh and begged me not to do it!!

I have been taking things easier as I have felt a bit of pain across the top of my left foot since Thursday and don't want to injure myself at this stage... so yesterday all I did was walk to pick up a parcel which turned out to be my shoes and gaiters- with velcro stitched onto both- looks like it will do the job nicely and keep sand out! I walked round town and then to Tescos later for large resealable bags, so only about 5 miles in all. I will probably walk and go to the gym later- will see how I go.

I have written a list of stuff which I will post here in due course- god knows how I will fit it all in!! Definately got to find room for my camera though. Oh, and I have to pack each day's food and work out the calorie content...

Panicking- nah!!!

Labels: Equipment, food

I braved the GP surgery- again- to have my ECG redone, then had to wait for ages as the doctor was running half an hour behind, and apparently had trouble getting his computer to print the data. But when I walked in he said it's fine- he said that my heart rate is low (60 Bpm) but this is perfectly normal given the training I've been doing. So he has signed, dated and stamped the ECG, and completed the certificate- although when I got back to work I noticed he didn't tick the little box on the form to confirm I 'have no objections' to undertaking a multi- stage race in arid conditions... d'oh!! Now, if he'd just used a normal black pen, I could have just added it myself, but no- he used a fountain pen with a shade of blue ink I could never hope to replicate.

Working on the presumption that as he wished me good luck for it when I left, he has no medical objections, I took it back and left it with the receptionist to get him to tick it. The amount of stress these bloody ECG's and medicals cause is beyond belief!!

My ECG states that I have 'Sinus Bradycardia'- I googled this, and it basically means 'abnormally' slow heart rate. It is common in athletes, apparently, so it is official- I have a bit of the athlete's heart syndrome! I'm quite proud of that, and am pleased that this training is showing somewhere!!

So- where am I at in terms of training? I have been taking it easier these past two weeks. I have been keeping up the gym work, and did shorter walks last weekend- last Saturday I fitted in 6 hilly miles in Bradgate Park between visiting mum and my mate in Loughborough. Sunday I originally planned a 7 miler along local routes but extended it to 12 miles by continuing along the River Trent to Colwick Park. The first half of the walk was absolutely sh*te; raining, hailing and freezing!

This week has been a combination of gym and walking; walked to Sainsburies about 4 miles away Thursday night but felt a bit of pain in my foot/ ankle yesterday so rested.

I have to pick up a parcel from the sorting office this morning, which I am hoping will be my velcroed shoes and gaiters, so will walk there- it's amazing, the amount of people who can't believe I would willingly walk 3- 4 miles to the shops; I reckon years ago folks would be quite used to walking those distances to the next village etc, and were a lot fitter as a result- the average person should be able to walk that distance without thinking anything of it... if people walked more and left their cars at home a wee bit more, we'd all be much fitter and less polluted!

Labels: gaiters, gym, running shoes, walking

Well, that was an experience!! Saw the doc last night and was subjected to a medical examination. Of course, all I could think about were my ECG results, and typically enough he was running late...

He asked me lots of lifestyle type questions, weighed and measured me (officially 5 foot 1, so I'm sticking with that... the fact that I have my shoes on doesn't come into it...) then I plucked up the courage to aske about me ECG. He brought up the readout on his computer and stared at it for what seemed like ages. It all looked like wriggly lines to me, with an unexplained dip at the end. Finally he said 'It looks fine, but I think one of the leads was put in the wrong place so it may be as best to have it done again'. Have it done again?!? He felt that it may give the French docs an excuse to question it, so I agreed that this would be the best option and suggested that he sign the medical certificate on the same day he signs the ECG off.

Then it was onwards with the medical examination- blood pressure, reflexes (got a kick out of that!!) listening to my chest area and massaging my stomach whilst breathing deeply and then finally a urine sample (I never have any problems providing these!!)

I seem to be a healthy specimen but couldn't stop myself asking if he would be able to see if there were any problems from that ECG. His answer was 'Yes, probably' and replied that it does look ok. Now I have convinced myself that I am going to develop a heart murmur between now and Friday, when I have rebooked the ECG for.

This is all going to cost me £65 but will be well worth it for that all important signature and surgery stamp!!

Two weeks today I will be on my way to Gatwick...

Labels: ECG, Medical Examination

Still can't find the lead to upload my lakes photos and have a feeling it's in Blackpool... I have also developed a fear that my ECG is going to be abnormal and jeopardise my race... Tuesday seems a long way away and I feel like I shouldn't be buying any more kit as it may tempt fate...

Thank god for the internet- I have ordered my sleeping bag, spork (cross between spoon and fork- think spoon with prongs in super light titanium...) tiny tiny three legged stove and a titan 'kettle' (pot with lid) so that's the cooking sorted. Also got some dehydrated meals which will hopefully keep me going! Went to Tescos yesterday and picked up sunblock and storage bags which stand up and hold boiling water. Perfect for decanting pot noodles into!

Right- what did I do in the Lakes? Thursday I decided on the Fairfield Horseshoe, which is a horseshoe shaped ridge walk along the fells north of Ambleside. I'd done it before, but the weather was a bit dodgy- lots of low lying cloud. Now I am not at all confident in my abilities to navigate in cloud...

I started to climb steeply and regretted loading the rucksack to around 8/9 Kg as I could really feel the strain on my legs- for those who know the Lakes, those paths are ste-e-ep. It was pretty easy at first, following an undulating track through the odd peat bog and over rocky outcrops (wearing proper walking boots rather than running shoes). I ascended Low Pike and High Pike but by the time I reached Dove Crag I had entered the clouds. I knew at some point the path turned left to climb Fairfield and drop down onto the opposite ridge, but by this point I couldn't see a thing and there was nobody else around. There where also large areas of snowdrifts which partly obscured the path. I found one path which didn't seem to be going anywhere so retraced my steps put my fleece on and had a coffee. I was feeling rather stressed at this point, and felt I hadn't yet gone far enough. I picked up a path (and footsteps in the snow) going left, and followed it. It did turn to the left and started climbing, but then started to descend- I obviously wasn't on Fairfield but by that point was past caring and decided that I would follow it and try to get back from wherever I ended up.

As I broke through the cloud, I saw what looked like Lake Windermere in the distance, which was good news as it meant I wasn't going too far out my way. In fact, things started to look familiar and I suddenly realised I had done a complete about-turn and was descended the path I had come up! I resigned myself to it and stopped for lunch; a collie appeared from nowhere and sat watching me hopefully. Her owners appeared and apologised, saying "Can you point to us, we can't call her cos she's deaf!" She did get a bit of my sandwich.

I dropped down to High Sweden Bridge and walked through woods back to Ambleside. After my failed attempt of the horseshoe I decided to redeem myself by walking a little further, and set off along the road towards Keswick. A footpath to the enticingly named 'Rydal Steps' seduced me, and I set off across the field, to discover that they were a set of stepping stones across a wide deep stream. Now, my balance isn't the best, and I set off hopefully across. All was ok until about 3/4 way across when I realised that there was a large gap to the next stone which was narrow and angled away from me. I froze. I just stood there trying and failing to summon the courage to step onto it. After what seemed an age, I heard a voice saying "Do you want a hand?" and a kind chap came along and gave me a hand across.

Suitably embarrassed, I walked back along the road to the car and decided to take a steeply ascending path signposted to Loughrigg for a bit more climbing. I didn't go too far though as I felt my right knee twinge a bit, so called it a day after 20 minutes. All in all I had walked around 10 miles with a fair bit of climbing so not a total disaster!

Friday my Brother-in-Law Steve had kindly taken the day off to come with me (think my sis was worried about me getting lost!) so we decided on the 'Kentmere Round'- another horseshoe walk. Steve is more into hurtling down mountains at breakneck speed on a mountain bike than walking but is pretty fit. We parked up at the little hamlet of Kentmere with its rather concrete looking church- I had a much lighter pack today. There was a lot of cloud around but it was more intermittent than yesterday. We picked up the path onto the first ridge, and climbed up to Shipman Knots. As we made our way up to Kentmere Pike it started to clear, and we could see our impressive looking return ridge. Walking up to Harter Fell we had a clear view to Kentmere- I kept taking photos but it was really windy.

We dropped down to Nan Bield Pass which Steve has cycled many times, meeting a couple of walkers and being passed by two fell runners. We had an ascent onto Mardale Ill Bell- I managed to capture a small rainbow on film! As we were then onto the lower slopes of High Street, it seemed rude not to go and 'bag' the summit- we had great views to Haweswater, although sadly these were the last views we got as the cloud rolled in for the remainder of the walk.

The return ridge took in Thornthwaite Crag, Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke- horseshoe walks are great for peak bagging! We couldn't see much in front of us, and everytime we thought we had done with climbing, another peak would loom out of the mist in front of us. We kept going- Steve said that he has a reputation of being a bit of a 'route-marcher' and not stopping but that was fine by me- I kept up ok I think apart from going downhill (my weakness!)

We stopped for a brew once we reached Garburn Pass, and followed the track back to Kentmere- we had made pretty good time and had covered around 13 miles. I can highly recommend Wilf's Cafe in Staveley!

The forecast was pretty shit for Saturday so I decided against heroics in poor visibility... there are a couple of lower fells circling Ambleside, Wansfell and Loughrigg, but still give a decent ascent, so I decided I'd tackle them both in one day with a heavier pack than I was carrying yesterday. After an amble round Ambleside, trying to find the start and realising it was actually where I parked the car (not a good start!) I picked up a bridleway leading to Loughrigg and followed it before realising it was droppimg downhill rather than heading for the top. A quick look at the map and I picked up the right path. Loughrigg is a sprawling fell, and the path undulated its way to the trig point marking the summit. There was no view- just cloud- and luckily a clear path running down to Grasmere and Loughrigg Terrace. I don't think my walking boots have the best grip and I was sliding all over the place. Luckily the path around Loughrigg Terrace is a good one, I stopped for a coffee with a view over Grasmere.

I followed the path along the Terrace, past Rydal Caves (which you used to be able to go in but they have fenced off the entrance). I picked up a permissive path through Rydal Hall grounds back to Ambleside, looking at the looming clouds covering Wansfell. To add insult to injury it started to rain... it was so tempting to hide in a cafe with a pot of coffee and a cake instead... Ambleside was heaving, so I made myself get onwards and upwards- taking the steep road to the start of the path to Wansfell. It was raining heavily now, and I had to stop to don waterproofs. The path up to Wansfell has been flagged, and as I ascended I saw loads of people coming down but passed only one group going up. I soon found out why- the path up from Ambleside is a real slog- up and up and up - but just what I needed! I had exactly the same view from the top as from Loughrigg (ie b*gger all!) though luckily the path down was obvious even to me. It was a nice easy descent but by the time I got to Troutbeck I was soaked. The guidebook advised me that the Post Office served hot drinks, and when I reached it there was an enticing sign on the side saying 'Hot tea and Coffee'- however it shut at 12:30 amd it was now 1:30... I had to make do with a cuppa from my flask.

It was an easy ramble back to Ambleside- though a bit muddy in places. It stopped raining but I was still wet, so called in a cafe for a fortifying hot chocolate with cream amd marshmallows. Everyone stared when I walked in- couldn't help noticing they were all in spotless waterproofs and wearing boots which had never seen mud- tourists!!

Typically enough, as I walked back to the car, the clouds on Loughrigg and Wansfell lifted and as I drove away the peaks cleared and I could see the Langdale Pikes! Still, I had a good day and covered another 13 miles.

So- although the distances haven't been great, I did a lot of ascent and descent over tricky terrain so very useful training I hope!

Labels: Ambleside, Grasmere, Lake District, Lakes

Had the ECG done today, but to my disappointment she couldn't tell me the results... I think it's an old style machine which has to have the data uploaded into a pc. She also gave me my final jab- for Hepatitis A.

I saw a GP, who looked at the medical certificate from Darbaroud and said that as he needs to sign that I have undergone a 'thorough medical examination', he feels that he will need to do a thorough medical examination else he wouldn't feel happy about signing it... fair enough I suppose especially as I only registered at the practice in November 08...

He mentioned it would have to be on a private basis, and then mentioned that there would also be a cost for the ECG! I did protest, saying that the nurse had told me there would be no charge- it's only a few sticky patches and electricity for god's sake!! So whether he will just charge me for the examination I'm not sure. I asked him what it entailed and he said 'reflexes, blood pressure, weight...'

The things I put myself through for my art!! Ah well... had a great few days walking in the Lakes and would really like to upload my photos but appear to have misplaced my camera lead...

Labels: ECG