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Media
12/03/10 Marathon des Sables
I feel guilty - but only slightly.
The Marathon des Sables is billed as 'the toughest footrace on Earth', and for good reason. 156 miles in just a few days across the punishing foot ripping terrain of the Sahara - and then there's the heat.The MdS is so punishing, so tough, so mentally and physically draining that it takes a very special type of person to even attempt it - so John is.
I have to admit that as I think about John out training for hours on end, walking, running, tabbing across the moors and coastal paths of Devon through all of the different weathers that have been thrown at him in the last few weeks I feel a little guilty, but only a little.
We hadn't seen each other for a few weeks when we turned up at the Spirit Health Club in Taunton for a filming session with the BBC. John walked in to the gym in his t-shirt and I was amazed at how lean he'd become. When we stepped on to the first pieces of equipment that we used, the cross trainers, his training became evident; as his speed and the resistance level increased Johns pulse rate elevated a little, but stayed lower than many people would expect from climbing just one flight of stairs. As his body adapts to the training regime that he's put himself under his heart becomes a more efficient 'pump' and therefore beats less.
I have to give credit where credit's due; John has worked bloody hard to get this fit in such a short space of time. He already had my respect and admiration and I never doubted his ability, but his tenaciousness with his training is something that I don't see often and really has given me total faith in the man that I'm about to head off to undertake the longest unsupported polar journey in history with.
Now the old bugger's set the pace for training I've had to 'up the anti' too - NUTS!
For more info and stories about John's preparations for the Marathon des Sables on 1st April, see the MDS page here
The Marathon des Sables is billed as 'the toughest footrace on Earth', and for good reason. 156 miles in just a few days across the punishing foot ripping terrain of the Sahara - and then there's the heat.The MdS is so punishing, so tough, so mentally and physically draining that it takes a very special type of person to even attempt it - so John is.
I have to admit that as I think about John out training for hours on end, walking, running, tabbing across the moors and coastal paths of Devon through all of the different weathers that have been thrown at him in the last few weeks I feel a little guilty, but only a little.
We hadn't seen each other for a few weeks when we turned up at the Spirit Health Club in Taunton for a filming session with the BBC. John walked in to the gym in his t-shirt and I was amazed at how lean he'd become. When we stepped on to the first pieces of equipment that we used, the cross trainers, his training became evident; as his speed and the resistance level increased Johns pulse rate elevated a little, but stayed lower than many people would expect from climbing just one flight of stairs. As his body adapts to the training regime that he's put himself under his heart becomes a more efficient 'pump' and therefore beats less.
I have to give credit where credit's due; John has worked bloody hard to get this fit in such a short space of time. He already had my respect and admiration and I never doubted his ability, but his tenaciousness with his training is something that I don't see often and really has given me total faith in the man that I'm about to head off to undertake the longest unsupported polar journey in history with.
Now the old bugger's set the pace for training I've had to 'up the anti' too - NUTS!
For more info and stories about John's preparations for the Marathon des Sables on 1st April, see the MDS page here
Diary
"For scientific leadership, give me Scott; for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for Shackleton."
Sir Raymond Priestley
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