and I present to you.......

...........my desert evening attire! SEXY! Well I think so.

anyway, spend this past weekend in the Cederberg - alot of training and a bit of social.
the terrain there is alot like NDC, very rocky jeep tracks that are quite hard on the feet.
but I managed to do a long run on Saturday without any twisted ankles or blisters.

My nutrion during the run was not ideal, it was extremely hot and I really struggled to keep food down. Just when I think that I've got the whole Gu or not to Gu routine under control!

Less than a month left before I go to Namibia, so only a few weekends left to get the whole food issue under control.

here's some more pics of the weekend away at Bakkrans Nature Reserve in the Cederberg.

and then......nothing like chilling in a rock pool in the middle of nowhere!!

(my friends very patiently awaited my return)

32 days to go

Only 32 days left until NDC 2012. S#@T.

I'm sure every runner has her/his off days or even an off week. I hate it when that happens, especially when I have 3 weeks of serious training to get through. But, today is a new day!
and I started off on the right foot. 1h gym at the University of Stellenbosch Bio and a short run after that.
Tonight I'll make up for no running yesterday. I'm going to take my backpack for a 2 h run in the mountains.
so all good, not a lost cause yet!

I know by now what to do if I don't feel like running, know the drill......Just put on those running shoes and go for it. I might find my rythm after 10min or 20min or 30min....but I know I will find it eventually.

Ok, enough of the semi negative state I'm in at the moment.

In a month's time, I'm off to Namibia for my first adventure of 2012!!!!!

Can't wait to meet the rest of the runners and to make new friends. After each day, the campsite looks like a war zone. People lying everywhere, some waiting for Amy to fix their feet, some stuffing their faces with fabulous cuizine (aka freeze dried meals) and some just gratefull that they survived yet another day.

Why run for 5 days in the desert?

Don't have a clear answer on that one yet.

Block 1 out of 2.....DONE!!!

The past weekend I spend hours and hours running......all for a good cause.

The cause.....Namib Desert Challenge which kicks off in 40 days.
I must say, I feel alot more confident about the race than last year this time.
Last year I had 4 month training behind me, this time around I've got a year and 4 months.

The mission for NDC is to finish the race, blister free, enjoying the scenery and to make new friends.
I think that is the best part of these stage races, you make friends for life.
The camaraderie in these races are just amazing.....maybe that's why I do it. and love it!

My new backpack is arriving from the States today. Let's hope my dear friend, PH Surfer, did not forget it in his hotel......I'll send him back to go and fetch it!

I'll be using this backpack in the Sahara Race end of October - OMM 25l.
I'm a Raidlight fan, but I'm going to give the OMM a chance.
There is still enough time to sort out backpacks and kit before then.

But for now, NDC is looming......I don't have to carry too much with me during every stage.
Just water, snacks and emergency equipment.
It's tough enough running in the heat, but when you pack is to heavy - it ain't no fun.

So I'm going LIGHT. very LIGHT.

I'm getting my new training program today......please be kind Ian.....I would really appreciate 2 days of rest.......

Quote for 2012

I found this quote on the Likeys website:

LOVE IT!

"Don't walk behind me, for I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me, for the path is to narrow. In fact, just sod off and leave me alone"

this is what ultra running is to me.

It's my "me time".

04:55:53

Another successfull weekend of heat training!!

The mission was to clock time on the legs and also experiment with nutrition.
At 10am on Saturday morning I hit the road with my Raidlight backpack and my Inov-8's.
and Armed with enough food to feed a small army!!

But, me and heat and eating......we don't dance well together. Which is a bit of a problem, you can't run for 5 hours and not eat anything.

This is what I managed to eat during my run on Saturday:
3 x Perpetuam Solids
1 x Gu gel
1 x Mule bar

The biltong and cashew nuts did not make cut!

According to my Garmin 405, I burned over 2000 Calories - but when I look at the amount of food I consumed........not good. No wonder I felt like death afterwards.

Part of training for an ultra marathon in the desert is to figure out what 'food' works for you during running.

'Real food' does not work for me, I'll stick to Gu's and those handy Perpetuam Solids!

And a crucial part of training is proper recovery!
My drug of choice at the moment is whey protein, and it seems to works.

On Sunday I had a rest day!!! It was the first Sunday in a very long time that I did not have to run.
I didn't know what to do with myself!!! So did a short hike with two friends and then lunch afterwards.
Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

My heat-head-gear!

Only 7 weeks until the Namib Desert Challenge.......