Well I've officially declared today, the 27th June 2011, following a hectic and inebriating Birthday weekend, the start of the second half of my life. Today is the first day I attempt to convert my body, which for a guy my age is in fairy good shape, into a ultra running machine. To clarify my definition of fairly good shape I mean no gargantuan beer belly (despite my best efforts), no love handles (other than my middle leg) and no signs of stressed grey hair (mainly because it's slowly falling out)
So, inspired by Dean Karneze and with the aid of the book by Matt Roberts "I will make you fit fast" along with runnersworld 3.5 - 3 hour marathon schedule my journey will begin. It will be a long and rocky road, cutting out whites, i.e. white sugar, white flour and white fat (lard) and moderating my social extravagance but in two years time I embark on the toughest challenge of my life, the Gobi March. So in a nutshell... "Needs Must"!
I never enter anything half hearted. I don't expect to win this "race"or come anywhere near the front runners but I will always give it my best. Four self supported back to back marathons and a 50 mile ultra in one of the most remote, arid and hottest places in the world is going to test me to the very depth of core survival. So to prepare, I will train, then I will train, then I will train some more and when I can go on no further, I will train some more.....This is the Karneze way, the greatest endurance runner that has ever lived!
So my plan this week will comprise of a few easy 6 mile runs, a day of speed work, maybe with a few hills thrown in, a few hours of martial arts, a few hours in the gym on some core work and if I get a chance, maybe the odd 18 mile return bike ride to work. Then the weekend it's off to the Lakes district to take on 30 miles of fells, in fact to top out on 24 of it's finest peaks over 2,400ft in mere 24 hours. That's 24 hours of walking, you do get a little rest in between for a bit of shut eye according to the challenge rules!
So bring it all on, let me test my strength, determination, endurance and state of mind (mmmm think I know what that's like).
Be Happy.
Monday 27 June 2011
Thursday 23 June 2011
DIARY OF A MAD MAN - Part 1
July 2011
- 24 Peaks Challenge - 24 Lake district peaks all over 2,400ft in less than 24 hours, including Englands highest the mighty Scafell Pike.
- The Essex Way - No not the relay race in September, that's just gay! I'm doing 82 Miles of the entire Essex Way solo, unsupported in less that 48 hours. The only way is Essex!
August 2011
- Race The Train - Yep, I'm racing a train in sunny sheep infested Wales. The aim is to beat the steam train over 14 miles in less than 1Hr 47 minutes
- 3 Summits - You'll be surprised it's 3 Summits, 3 Mountain Ranges, 3 days. Made this one up but basically attempting to crack the three highest peaks in Scotlands Trossachs (Ben Ledi), Glen Coe (Bidean Nam Bian) and Cairngorm (Cairn Gorm) region.
September 2011
- Scotland Coast 2 Coast - Running, cycling and kayaking over 100 miles from sea to sea across Scotland in less than 48 hours
October 2011
- Three Peaks Challenge - Not the national one, already ticked that one off with my ironing board. This is the Yorkshire one, three of it's finest and tallest humps in less than 12 hours. I'm hoping to run best part of it!
- Beachy Head Marathon - Returning to run the fantastic fell marathon along trail, forest and hills. The last 7 miles of undulating cliffs is a real killer. Need to beat 4hrs 59!!!!
www.beachyheadmarathon.org.uk
November 2011
October / November 2012
www.expeditionguide.com/islandpeak.htm
June 2013
November 2011
- Hell Runner - Punishment of the soul.....redemption of the mind. 10 - 12 miles of water filled holes, steep hills and muddy trails.
December 2011
- The Grim - Returning for 8 miles more of extremely muddy, extremely wet and extremely cold fun fun fun! Love this event.
January 2012
- Hadrians Wall Challenge - A solo winter wild camp trek from West to East along the entire length of Hadrians Wall. 3 days, 84 Miles cold, no doubt wet and definitely dark. Get that head torch on son!
March 2012
- Jurassic Coast take II - 112 miles of the most amazing coastal path in the UK. Having done it in four days and B&B's, which nearly broke me, this time we go again in three days and wild camp. Mmmmm?
April 2012
- London or Paris Marathon - Hopefully returning to the best marathon in the world, London subject to ballot. Reserve plan if I don't get in it's off to run with the gay garlic munchers
August 2012
www.expeditionguide.com/hauteroute.htm- Haute Route - 5 day trek across the most scenic route in the Swiss Alps from Arolla and finishing at the base of the amazing Matterhorn
October / November 2012
- Island Peak - The big one, 24 day amazing expedition to Nepal to trek across the Himalayas, ascend Kala Patar (5,600m), jog on to Everest Base camp and take a gander and the summit of my ultimate dream and then climb and top out on the summit of Island Peak at 6,189m. I come back to conquer Everest some other day.
www.expeditionguide.com/islandpeak.htm
June 2013
- Gobi March - The even bigger one, the one I've spent two years training for, the one that will make, break or possibly kill me. Part of the toughest foot race on the planet, the first of the 4 Desert series. A gruelling 250km (165 miles) of the hottest most remote desert in Asia with average 40 degrees centigrade temperatures in the day and freezing at night this is as tough as it gets. Having to carry your entire provisions on your back, only getting replenished with water i will have to endure for days of consecutive marathons topped off with a day/night 50 mile ultra marathon1 This is not for wimps, in fact this is not for many people and if I die trying, I die trying everyone goes eventually.
The question is........
It's difficult to explain why. Why do I want to put my body through an emotional roller coster of extreme physical and mental duress. Why do I want to push my boundaries beyond beyond and back again. Why do I want to feel pain then smile, almost laugh at it. I've read the book by the incredible ultra marathoner Dean Karnazes, Confessions of an all Night Runner, I've read the book Bones of Hills, the epic and amazing story of Genghis Khan and the Mongol rule. Two quite amazing inspirational human beings albeit one was a brutal murdering bastard! So what if I combine the two, their footsteps and my zest for craziness, pain and endurance. Why not compete in the worlds premier toughest race, the toughest footrace challenge on the planet Earth.... the 4 deserts, starting without question in the Gobi Desert the land once ruled by Genghis alone and a race that Dean himself has also blessed and for which he holds the world record. The 5th largest desert, the hottest place in the whole of Asia, a race 250km long which is five back to back marathons and one 55 mile Ultra marathon carrying 20kg of food, water and survival essentials on your back, mountain high and valley low. The Ultimate footrace, for me the start of a series of ultimate challenges....do I? There are many common overused cliches I could use to justify it, but my own not so common cliche is "Fuck it, why not"!
Tuesday 21 June 2011
Well I've decided......
......to keep a journal of my ridiculous situations I find myself in life as a coming on thirty past forty somethink geeza with a passion for doing something crazy, often spontaneous, rarely safe and normally not the norm, generally involving mountains, blood, sweat and Jaffa cakes. Two reasons really 1) because I can never remember what I've actually done and 2) So my two lovely kids can one day reference back to this and realise what a plank their dad really was. Love you Ebaneeza Farqua Hermen Chico and Germuntrude Flossy Butterscoth II xx.
So this is just a tester taster, but no licking the screen you retards!
More coming right up......
So this is just a tester taster, but no licking the screen you retards!
More coming right up......
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