Marathon Des Sables Food

Interesting suggestion for the food to carry for the week of the Marathon des Sables race:

http://blog.irunfar.com/2009/03/food-for-marathon-des-sables.html

Nov 10: Gaining Confidence

I'm running more, and gaining confidence (and strength, I think.) I completed the run from home (Hayes & Central in SF) all the way to Stinson Beach via the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Mill Valley and the Dipsea Trail, with only a few limited stops. Very happy with it -- fairly comfortably ran 22+ miles (though, to be completely honest, the punishing inclines in the Dipsea Trail were torturous.)

At this point, I'm not at all sure I will follow through on the commitment to do the Marathon des Sables (presuming that the opportunity actually comes up.) However, I am becoming a lot more eager to test myself on some ultra trail runs. As I said, I have already added myself to a waitlist for the North Farce Endurance Challenge 50k race on December 5th. Not sure if that's going to work out. But, failing that, I am considering the Coastal Trail Runs trail marathon the following week. This should be a similar type of race (albeit not with as much associated coolness!)

Oct 24: Saturday Running

I had a very good run through the Park and around Lake Merced today. Covered about 17 miles, the longest I have run in over 6 months, but it felt fairly comfortable. Things are looking better...!

So now, I'm getting a bit more ambitious! Would it be possible to run the North Face Endurance 50k run in early December? It's a big ask, but it may be possible to do it at a very easy pace (and it would certainly give me a taste of what Ultra running -- and runners -- is all about.) Thinking about it...

To October 3: First Week's Running

It felt like a good, informal, first week. For the first time in several months, I completed more than a couple of runs in the week. I managed to run to and from work three times during the weekdays - easy-enough runs of roughly 3 miles each way. I used the backpack to carry my work clothes - making the runs a bit more challenging. Slowly but surely, though, I got used to running with the pack. (Interesting, though, my running style is quite obviously different with the pack, with a greater stress on the quads.)

On Saturday, I completed a fairly long run of ~13 miles through the Presidio and over the Golden Gate Bridge. It felt relatively comfortable - again, I credit some of this to the recent Bikram yoga sessions. I feel generally stronger, and my breathing seems better, even while under stress. A final run on Sunday morning rounded it off, adding up to ~35 miles for the week, more than I have run at any time since before the Boston Marathon. Encouraging - hopefully, I can maintain it in the coming week.

Another declaration of my seriousness about the MdeS - I have finally completed and submitted my formal application. The wheels are now in motion -- let's see what happens...

Run with the Pack!

So I ran to work today, first, to try to get back to the habit of running, and second (and equally important) to try to get a feel for running with a back-pack (essential if this Marathon des Sables attempt is to be at all realistic.) Fortunately, my run to work is short, less than half-an-hour (though fairly tough and hilly.)

The good news: I felt strong, if a bit fatigued. The bad news: the pack, small as it was, made a significant difference to the run. I managed to fill it completely with my clothes and shoes for the working day, as well as a towel and shampoo. The little pack was bulging at the seams. More concerning, my running experience was quite a lot changed. I could feel the weight of it on my back, and my running gait felt a lot more awkward. I could also feel a much greater pressure on the quads. Fortunately, this pack sits very nicely on the back, and once the various straps are cinched, there is very little movement. However, the 30 minute run to work felt significantly more difficult with the back-pack. (Although, I ran home again this evening, so the pack is manageable.) It'll be interesting to see, though, how I adapt on longer, more challenging runs.

Marathon des Sables

I am now actively trying to get entry into the Marathon des Sables. (Not an easy thing, as the race is usually booked up a few years in advance.) However, I have managed to get onto a waiting list -- I am 12th in line! - and there is apparently a very good chance that I'll make the race, as there are typically a lot of late cancellations.

So, what started as a whim and a fairly fantastical idea is becoming more of a reality. Though, what it does mean is that I need to start running! The race happens in early April '10, so I still have plenty of time to prepare. I have already begun considering long races and ultras (a new thing for me) as preparation for the race. I have noted the following possibilities in the next few months:

10/3/09	Gold Country Trail Run 50K/20M/25K/8M	50K/20M/25K/8 Mile	Auburn	CA
10/10/09	Mammoth Lakes Ultra Marathon 50K	50K/25K	Mammoth Lakes	CA
10/24/09	Jenkinson Lake Fall Trail Runs	50K/24M/16M/8M	Sly Park(Pollock Pines)	CA
10/31/09	Helen Klein Ultra Classic	50K/50M/30K	Sacramento	CA
11/14/09	Folsom Point Trail Runs	50K/25K/7M	Folsom Lake	CA
12/5/09	The North Face Endurance Challenge Series	50K/50M	San Francisco	CA

Not too sure how far I'm going to go with this, but I have already put down a £500 deposit, and I am slowly but surely beginning to treat it as a real, serious, project. (And - no small matter! - Madonna may be taking part!)