My Training for the 2009 MdS - 1

Right, now that I have decided, that I am running the Marathon des Sables in 2009, any training I do heads in this direction.

Some points, first of all.

1. Last week, the 2008 MdS took place, and my life came to a standstill because of it. The focus of every spare minute I had, was upon the race, and my friends from the forum, found on:

http://www.themds.co.uk/forums/index.php

I say "friends" - I have never met these guys and ladies in person, but have had a lot of contact with them via the forum, and they are all the kind of people whom I can indubitably class as the kind of people who, when I (hopefully) do meet them, will become instant real-time friends. I spent a lot of my time writing them e-mails with words of encouragement and friendship whilst they ran (they received the e-mails each evening), and, from the response I have since had, my messages were well-received. I felt the most incredible connection to these folk, and I was concerned, almost to the point of tears, for example, when a guy called Keith had to withdraw from the race after Stage 1 (I have yet to find out why, and how he is). My sense of relief, when all the rest arrived home, was more than I can describe. I feel, like I ran the MdS 2008 with them in spirit. It all makes me realise, that the MdS is where I belong.

2. My whole life has seen me being absolutely fascinated with desert landscapes and cultures. Perhaps there is a psychological reason for that, but we won't go down that road now. I have a total obsession, for example, with the Tibesti mountains of northern Tchad (Chad, in English), and one day, with the hopeful logistical help of a friend who was in the Légion Étrangère (French Foreign Legion), and who now lives in N'Djamèna (the capital of Tchad), I may still get there one day, despite the risk. I have books here at home in Chur, in various languages, about Tibesti, and other areas of the Sahara desert. I am besotted with Yemen, particularly its island province of Socotra; I would love to run the Gobi ultramarathon one day; I am in contact with people who have run/are running the Augrabies ultramara in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa, and am planning on this one day; I spend a lot of time studying the Namib Desert of South-West Africa (whoops - sorry, it's now called Namibia) on GoogleEarth. There is just something about deserts which takes a hold of me. In case there are questions about whether or not I have ever actually been in a desert - the answer is a resounding "YES". I have spent time in deserts in Australia (let's face it: half the country is a desert), and absolutely loved it; I drove through the Karoo semi-desert in South Africa in 2007 by myself, and felt the most amazing sense of peace and happiness I have ever experienced in my life, despite, at the time, going through an intense personal conflict. I think I can safely say, the desert is something that is almost "home" to me, despite the fact, that I come from tropical south-eastern South Africa, and live now in the Alps.

3. I have read several reports from runners of the MdS prior to 2008, and, despite tales of woe and hardship, I have been totally pulled towards this event. This year's tales and photos, thus far, have taken on an even greater attraction, because I know people who have done it. Am I daunted or frightened by what I hear/read/see? - a big, fat "NO"!!!!!!! I cannot wait for it. I had originally set my sights on 2010 for my participation in this absolutely incredible sport event, but, based upon what I have seen and experienced from 2008, plus the amazing demand for me, by many of the forum members, to be there in 2009, I have changed my mind. 2009, here I come.

4. Learn Français!!!! I am not going to greet Patrick Bauer at the end, and speak English!!!!!! Actually, I started yesterday!!!!!!

There are some hurdles to overcome - two, in fact. One being this buggery leg of mine which, I have to admit, is still causing me hassles, but which, I have decided, is not going to stop me training for the 2009 MdS; the other is, of course, the enormous cost of participating on the MdS, currently around €2900. The latter hurdle can, and shall, be overcome; the injury is something I have to be sensible about, yet, at the same time, I am not going to let it stop me. I have seen, this year, how runners with amazing hindrances have battled it out, and been victorious - I think, in particular, of people like Al and his knee/leg (the most amazing of characters I have come across in my life), or Markus, who ran, despite a problematic knee; and even Keith, who had to withdraw, after Stage 1, as mentioned. The MdS is 80% mind, and 20% body, and the mental part is, for me, more than catered for!!!!!; the physical side, I would estimate currently, is covered to a percentage of about 12. I KNOW I can finish the MdS. Nothing about it deters me - holds me in awe, perhaps, but does not, in any way, intimidate me. I plan to spend this year, totally dedicated to participating on, and achieving, the 2009 MdS. It'll be the greatest achievment of my life. I have never felt so motivated about anything before.

I know, there are folk around who have serious reservations about all this. My mother, for one - I am her son, we have an incredible bond, which has overcome obstacles that would have seen the strongest weep, and she has a right to be concerned about her 51-year-old son, not exactly the epitome of a sporting personality, suddenly taking part on the most gruelling foot race in the world (it is NOT a walk in the park, and people have died doing it); my sports doctor and my orthopaedic specialist, who think I am insane. And so on. Yet, I have absolutely no reservations about taking part. I want to do it, with absolutely every component of my being. I shall not take part for anyone else but myself. I am not trying to prove anything to anyone; I am not doing it to become a big shot; I am not doing it to show the world I am not a failure. I am doing it, because I want to, for me, to achieve something for myself!!!!!! And, I will not do it once - I shall do it as often as I can, and can afford.

This is getting deep, but it is deep. There are a lot of psychological reasons, why people take part in extreme sports, and I have my own, which I shall one day, verbalise here. Despite all that, let the training begin. So many people I know have said to me: Craig, you must write a book. I know. And I shall/will one day - one day, when the time is right, and I believe, that shall be after my first participation on the MdS. I believe, my first participation on the MdS shall be a journey of discovery of the life of one very strange, enigmatic, deep, emotional, intense, unfathomable (despite statements to the contrary) person. We shall see.

So, let the training begin (it actually started on Monday, last week). By the way, the time stamp is correct - I cannot sleep. Arcanely yours, Craig