Training

I was training for the race as soon as I returned from holiday on the 1st November. I planned all my training around 5 sessions a week. Medium length sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and two long runs on Saturday and Sunday. Initially I was covering 50 miles a week and increasing distance each week by around 10%. However, despite limiting this increase I still developed Achilles tendonitis during December.

On the physio's advice, I stopped all running and trained for December on the Bike and rowing machines alone. I also had significant strengthening exercises to do as compensation for the injury.

Although still managing the injury with weekly visits to the physio I  managed to steady the training at a weekly mileage of 90 miles. To raise it further would increase the chance of injury so I  continued at this level up until the 5th March. I was also running with an 18lb rucksack which is approximately the weight I'll carry throughout the race.

From the 5th March onwards I  tapered down my training reducing the mileage dramatically to around 30 miles per week. This allowed me to maintain my running efficiency whilst also recuperating for the race. During this phase I  also switched to the type of food I would be eating when away. This was to help reduce the shock when arrived in the desert.

I'm was also practicing some basic orienteering and cooking as they're both things I've not done in years. I'd rather make my mistakes here than in the Sahara ;-)