14/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

Unfortunately, the extreme weather conditions and unforgiving terrain of the Gobi have beaten Mike into submission.   After collapsing several times suffering from heat exhaustion, he and 4 other participants have been pulled from the race on the recommendations of the medical team.  At 17:00h GMT today, after a night’s rest, Mike said he felt weak, but relieved!   He will continue to marshal and enjoy the Gobi experience at a more leisurely pace. He will update you all on his return and sends wholehearted thanks to everybody for your sustaining support…

Posted in Uncategorised | No Comments »

13/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

Now finished stage 2,  which was hard … it’s as unlike the Gobi as you can imagine…raining hard … freezing.

Tomorrow will be tough…29 miles!

Thanks to everyone for the emails …

Posted in Uncategorised | 1 Comment »

13/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

Started a day early…

Now finished stage1 ….  was an absolute nightmare…  took 6 hours!

went into the ice gorge but a lot of the ice has melted, so had to go  through the river and  up through the mountains… got soaking wet…

Posted in Uncategorised | No Comments »

11/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

It’s boiling hot now… actually in the Gobi desert…starting tomorrow at midday going up through the ice gorge on the first day … some pretty big mountains here

Posted in Uncategorised | No Comments »

08/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

If you wish, you can send a message to the satellite ‘phone via the internet or as an email. I’m assured that this is totally free of charge but it may be worth checking if in doubt.

To send a message via the internet:

• Visit http://messaging.iridium.com
• Enter the ‘phone no. which is: 8816 5144 7598
• Enter your message in the “message” box (Messages are a maximum of 160 characters) so you could send “keep going you fat, lazy, obese, turgid, gross, gargantuan pig” and still have space for an insult!
• Click “send message”

 Send a short email:

• The ‘phone has its own email address. This is 881651447598@msg.iridium.com
• Enter the satellite ‘phone email address in the “To” field
• Type your message and click “send”
• Leave the subject box blank as this information is not sent with the message
• Again, messages are restricted to 160 characters

All messages will be delivered the next time the satellite ‘phone registers with the network.

It’s my intention to switch the ‘phone on in the morning before the start and again in the evening once I’ve got myself sorted out  so if there are delays don’t be surprised - I’m not even sure that the technology works although I’m assured that it will.

I will do my best to provide Paula with a daily report which she will then upload to the blog when she has time but all may not go to plan so please be patient.

Thanks to everyone who has sent messages of ‘good wishes’ and to Bob Sykes for reminding me that Ghengis Khan was also a small, fat bloke with a beard - and look what he achieved! (As a matter of interest, he was dead 10 years before he’d have been my age - must have been all that raping and pillaging - wears a chap out you know)

Mike

Posted in Uncategorised | No Comments »

05/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

Countdown to the desert begins. For updates during the Challenge log in to this blog and I’ll be sending in daily reports - if possible. I’ve got a satellite ‘phone so if I can conquer the technology between now and next week the reports will start to flow. Be prepared to be bored, very bored. Feel free to leave messages and comments.

Mike

Posted in Uncategorised | No Comments »

02/07/2008 by 50milechallenge.

The waiting is pretty nearly over and the date of truth is rapidly approaching.

 I leave for Mongolia next Tuesday. I fly from heathrow to Moscow and then on to Ulan bator in Mongolia. Then an internal flight down to Dalanzadagad in the Gobi Desert. From there it’s a drve in the vehicles out to the base camp for the usual kit checks and briefings before setting out the following day for the Challenge proper.

It’s been said before, but just getting to the start of these things is an adventure in itself. There’s a long wait for the onward flight from Moscow but that’s no bad thing. My journey to the Amazon and the Jungle marathon in 2006 was nearly ruined by the late departure of the first flight from London resulting in all the connecting flights being missed and a trip of 20 hours turned into nearly 60! I did get to the start in time but only just and was so wound up and knackered that it spoilt the whole thing for me.

I’m really looking forward to the Gobi Challenge and hope both it and I live up to expectations.

The next challenge is the successful organisation of the 50 Miler on Sunday 10th August. We’ve only got 20 places left for this year so if you want to have a go at it, get your entry in NOW.

That’s it folks……………

Mike

Posted in Uncategorised | 1 Comment »

19/06/2008 by 50milechallenge.

Not long to go now and as always, it feels like I’ve done nowhere near enough training. The new lightweight webbing is excellent and although I’ve had a few adjustments to make to the water bottle pouches it does the job really well. I’ve got the weight I’m carrying - in the webbing - down to about 7.5kgs which is pretty good and includes light sandals for slopping around in and letting the air to the feet as well as trekking poles. I have the facility to carry two 1.5ltr water bottles but will probably only need one between checkpoints. I bought some Smartubes from Raidlight which means that I only have to take one bottle out and replace it with a new one (it’s issued in 1.5ltr bottles) - no messing around transferring water from containers to camel packs.

All in all, I feel reasonably confident of getting a finish - fat and feet allowing - but as usual, I’m pretty sure to be at the back in pride of place

The plans for the Adventure Race training weekend are well in hand and for anyone interested in AR it will be well worth the trip to Kent. Details are on the website under Adventure Weekend. The 50 Mile Challenge is filling up nicely so if you’re thinking of giving it a go this year don’t leave it too late.

Oh well, must get the kit on and bimble off round the kent countryside - again!

Mike

Posted in Uncategorised | No Comments »

30/04/2008 by 50milechallenge.

My new Alt-berg desert boots have arrived so I’ve got about 8 weeks to break them in. If they’re half as good as the Jungle boots they’ll be excellent! I’ve done 2  x 8 milers in them already and they feel very comfy. I’m just waiting for my customised webbing to arrive and then I’m all set to go. The webbing is being made up by Dragon Supplies in Colchester who specialise in customising gear for squaddies. I’ve got some ultra light airborne stuff which is being made up to my own design so I’m pretty sure that it will do the job for me in the Gobi - and beyond. Thanks to the improvements in technology with things like Expedition Foods and LED torches, sleeping mats etc I think I can get my kit weight down to about 7kgs (without water) for the week. That includes 2400 cals per day for 7 days, Thermarest, sleeping bag, medical and safety bits, spare clothing and toiletries etc. That compares very well to the 11kgs I had the first time I went to the MdS.

I’m working on organising an Adventure Race Training weekend in September for those who may be interseted in having a go at one in the future so if anyone ever reads any of these, keep an eye on the website for more information.

It’s pouring with rain and howling a gale and I’m planning to do a 12 miler later so it’s not exactly Gobi like conditions but it’ll have to do!

 Mike 

Posted in Uncategorised | No Comments »

02/04/2008 by 50milechallenge.

About 25 years ago my doctor advised me to stop doing so much running. After two weeks I started agin because he didn’t tell me how long to stop for. Now he doesn’t bother to tell me he just says “what do you expect after the things you’ve done to your body?”

Why do I tell you this? Because my training for the Gobi Challenge has been going really well and I’ve been very careful about my regime to get myself prepared for it. However, for the last four days I haven’t felt like doing anything and it feels like my body has come to a grinding halt.

I use the tabbing method for my training as I find that if I actually run for more than 20 minutes at a time my joints sieze up the next day. If I stick to running 15 and walking 5/10 I can keep going for ever and feel absolutely fine the next day. I manage to do 5 MPH comfortably and considering that my average pace for the MdS, jungle etc is less than 4 MPH, I’m happy with that and the system allows me to keep doing these type of events. I don’t care about being last - and I’m usually somewhere near that position - I just enjoy the challenge of trying to finish the course.

I’m determined to shake of the lethargy and get out there again tomorrow. Only three months left for training but I’m pretty confident I’ll be in good form when the time comes.

Mike

Posted in Uncategorised | No Comments »