So I am still in panic mode but can see the light, distant, dim, murky but there is a little bit of hope. My training consists of everything and anything I can do that doesn't make my foot hurt.  My decision is that I have to concentrate on what I can do, not what I can't, if my focus stays on what I can't then the negative mind set monster will take over and I won't allow that to happen.  I still have six weeks which is ample time for recovery so my training and preparation has to focus on what I can do and what I can control.  Strength training, core, swimming, walking with pack once at that point (not yet), kit, organise all the things that need booking in, testing things that are unused, acquiring last minute essentials.  Keep focused on the things you can control!  Todays lesson ha ha!

My training today consisted of 1000m of swimming, just breast stroke as my swimming needs some work but that's not for now.  Up and down, so boring but my motivation was clear, this is it I can't actually do anything else so just get on with it.  Once I had got some lengths behind me it got easier so it was just a matter of cracking on.  I then put my pool slippers on, yes I have pool slippers ha ha!  I proceeded to smash out another 1000m running or power walking I guess in relatively quite a quick time so was very happy with that.  Later on today I will do some strength and conditioning in the gym to keeping the mind set focused on positives!

AAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ok panic is starting to set in now!  Two weeks off any kind of running, training is it a bare minimum and weight isn't dropping.  Next week is going to be a big week, I need a few things to start going in my favour.  I am on top of getting last bits of kit, I have organised jabs, I have organised medical and ECG and I have sorted train tickets.  I just need to get out there and do some training its stressing me out.  On the bright side I will have fresh legs and actually will of done a good taper down lol!   Ha ha ha yes laugh, that's all I can do otherwise my curl up and cry!

So over the next week of just training in the pool I will try to spend my time wisely getting kit as organised and ready as possible.  That's all I can do now!

After having such a great weeks training last week I have had a poor week this week.  Nothing I can do about it though really as had a stomach bug most of the week which apart from just not been very active it actually made my legs weak.  I also have had problems with my foot and heel.  What started out as what seemed like bruised toes or the ligament attaching to them so a slight pain on top of the foot and not being able to put any weight down on the fore foot.  This progressed to my heel or the archilles which became sore and aggrevated.  This has now moved up my leg so the muscle on the outside of my shin is sore which in a weird way makes me feel like its on the mend as its moving and in the past when that's happened it usually means its on the mend.

So with the food arrived, my mp3 player came yesterday but as with all technological things I am fairly useless at.  I have the mp3 player but I can't put music on it so now I think I have to buy an SD card.  Why didn't they send one with the stupid player, how ridiculous!  What else is left to get, small things really.  I still need a stove, sunglasses, hat, suncream, need to send shoes off to be stitched, still trying to organise my medical and ecg and need a cup/bowl.  So I have a few jobs over the next few weeks but my main plans are to get kitted up and get on the trails getting some miles in the bank with my pack on whether running, walking or crawling it doesn't matter I just need to get the miles and keep testing the kit getting used to things.

I am trying not to panic and am trying to be as organised as possible (very difficult lol) there seems to be lists, lists for lists and then panic lists!!!

Don't panic Mr Mannering!!!!!!!

All sorts of things happening at the moment.  Currently trying to get booked in for my medical and ECG, it seems quite difficult to even get booked in as there not sure what it is I'm doing so don't really have a clue what to book me in for.  I haven't yet sorted jabs out and I think I will need to get some so that's also on my list of things to organise pretty quickly.  I have ordered and had delivered my food for the week, which doesn't look much so might add a little to it but not too much as trying to keep the weight down.  I used a company that sorted the food into race stages for you putting the right amount of calories in each pack.  This is great for me not being the most organised of people!  It weighs some, but on the bright side its going to reduce daily thank goodness.

You even get a spork and some napkins ha ha!

What else have been sorting, trainers! Since getting my Scott Road running shoes which I have just not been convinced about for doing the MdS in.  There are great for normal running and training so they haven't been a waste of money, I could have just done with not buying them yet lol!  So, the new ones that I picked up Sunday at the Hardmoors Saltburn race are just awesome.  Super comfy, fit brilliantly and now have complete faith that I have the right shoes for the job.

Now all I have to do is get them sent off to get the stitching done for the gaiters Velcro.  There are still a few bits to buy and organise, I have just ordered the fuel blocks for the stove which you cant take on the plane so have to have delivered to the WAA tent at the start in Morocco and take the proof of purchase with you.  I need to buy the stove yet!  I also have to get an anti-venom pump, but other than that I think I am about there give or take a couple of small items.  Next job is to go through the mandatory kit list and start ticking things of to make sure no last minute surprises.  Next important purchase will be getting the train ticket for the out going to flight to my sister on the Thursday.  Argh! The training is the easy fun bit, organising all this stuff is what stresses me out lol!

The past few weeks I have had some great training sessions.  Hence why not had to write any updates.  Apart from a few more runs out at Millington where my progress is really starting to show.  More running in sections that in the past have proved too tough for me and needed to walk.  I have also been improving my recovery from a steep climb, and getting straight into running again to improve it.  The climbs have been a particularly pleasing part as I have tried to measure my progress on these sections by the number of times I have needed to stop for air and to let my heart rate to drop slightly.  I am now completing the climbs in one go with no need for stopping.

What else have I done?  Well apart from my gym sessions where I have continued to work on my strength and conditioning, things like lunges, squats, single leg squats, weights, press ups and TRX work and core by doing all kinds of sit ups and twists.  The main parts of my training that I am pleased with are the pack training runs that I have done on the treadmill with 5, 6, and 7 kilogram weighted packs. This combined with getting out on the trails is beginning to allow my body to function properly while under immense strain.  My main test run was last Thursday, the goal was to do around 16/17 miles so I did 16.5.  I weighted my pack to 5kg and headed out early so I could be back at a reasonable time.  I was hoping to get a good 3 hours on my feet, I didn't care if running or walking or mixing it up which as it turned out what happened.  I allowed short bursts of walking to recover and mainly no to over do it as like I said it was more important to get time on my feet with the pack as opposed to seeing how quick I could do it.

Once I had returned I was very pleased, good mileage and time on my feet.  This was perfect after the treadmill 12k the day before so very happy plus I didn't feel particularly broken just a bit wiped out.  Training is going well, more strength work and getting used to the pack.  Its the ankles and knee's that feel it, not my back which originally I thought I would suffer with.  Nearer the time I will start going out with it on nearly every day to get used to it more and more.

The Spine has passed, a short break has been had, and now training is in full flow for the Sahara!  Last week I had built up to getting out with my pack on.  I hit the hilly Millington on the Wolds to begin my tough hill work training.  My pack started off around 3.5kg and has now built up to 6kg.  The intention is to build up to 10kg and complete a couple of long walks/runs that will allow me to feel the benefit of hopefully having a lighter pack for the first couple of days of the challenge.  Obviously as the week goes on the pack becomes lighter.  So Millington with a 5kg pack was not easy, normally the 11 mile route which is tough on a good day would take me about 2 and half hours, this time it took just under 3!  I felt good though all the way round and ran where I wanted to and powered up the hills pushing myself to keep up the pace and not to let up.  I was definitely sweating some, wow I was dripping. I was wrapped up though as still pretty cold here especially up on the Wolds.  I went again last Sunday with Pete, this time with no pack just my bladder pack and the idea was to just try and work hard and pushing the running, I'd say trying for pace but its so difficult to get any I try to think more about maintaining as much running as can before I have to walk the incline and then on the steep hill sections I try to power up and see if I can complete without having to break so therefore stretching my capabilities each time in different ways.

I am now trying to mix this pack training with some general strength and conditioning for my legs, core, shoulders and arms.  This with a little speed work on the bike and treadmill is working well, whilst cross training with a bit in the pool and my job which is tennis.  I am now feeling the effects of the heavy training load as becoming more and more tired and hungry!