Equipment | Obsessive Ramblings

Shoe Update

March 28th, 2013 | Comments Off

In one of my previous updates, I gave some details of the work I had had done to my shoes to stitch velcro onto the soles of my trainers in order to attach my gaiters ready to stop the sand getting to my feet where it would cause ‘problems’ in the desert to say the least. I went back to Hoxton Shoe Repairs today after contacting them to explain that the initial work they had done … Read entire article »

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Shoes Sorted…. Nearly

March 13th, 2013 | 2 Comments

When I get to the desert in about a month, someone mentioned there may be a touch of sand. Not a problem as such, but sand in your shoes while you are running is a recipe for disaster, with the certainty of blisters ensuing, and with the soft sandy dunes I am likely to be having to run on, the feet easily sink down so that the sand comes up over the top of the feet … Read entire article »

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Obsessing over Weight

March 4th, 2013 | 5 Comments

I am not normally one to obsess over my weight, but recently it has been foremost in my mind. It is not my weight I have been overly concerned about, although this has not totally escaped my attention, but rather the weight of my backpack and the supplies I ‘might’ be taking for my week in the desert in under 5 weeks time. Last time I was in the desert, I must’ve arrived with at least 11-12kg … Read entire article »

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Yurbuds – Earphone review

February 21st, 2013 | Comments Off

I’m certainly trying out a lot of different equipment at the moment in preparation for a year of running, or perhaps it’s just that I haven’t replaced anything for such a long time, that it’s all starting to break at once. Either way, backpacks, torches and earphones, are just some of the items I don’t want to find broken just after I’ve handed my bag back to the organisers in the middle of the Moroccan … Read entire article »

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Starting to Get Real (and Exciting)

January 29th, 2013 | 3 Comments

This is where it starts to get real for me. With just over two months to go to the starting line of the Marathon des Sables, I have been going through a spurt of preparation recently. This is probably because I am also focused on my race on Saturday, the Thames Trot. Five years ago (as scary as that now seems) I was toeing the start line of a similar race, the Thames Meander, which followed the … Read entire article »

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Snowy Run – Revisited

January 20th, 2013 | 9 Comments

When you are training for a big race, consistency is a prime requirement – so today, snow didn’t stop play. There is also a much used phrase which goes something like ‘there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad equipment’ and today I was going to put this to the test. I had prepared everything the previous night, hoping to get out about 5:30am so I stood a chance of getting at least 20 miles … Read entire article »

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GoMotion Waist Light Kit

January 16th, 2013 | 1 Comment

I have for some weeks been using a waist torch (as opposed to a head torch) from the GoMotion people. A waist light, is exactly that, a torch that straps to your waist, as opposed to a head torch which, obviously, you wear on you forehead. There are a variety of different mounting options, but I bought the waist light kit, which is designed to be used with an existing backpack with a waist strap. There are also … Read entire article »

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Running with Weight and Friends

December 9th, 2012 | 1 Comment

Last week I ran with my friend John. This week, another member of ‘Les Rosbifs’ from the MdS 2008, as my brother-in-law Tim was also part of the crew as we went out for a short, recovery week 13 miles. It had been almost 2 1/2 years since we had all run together early in August 2010, during my recovery runs after the Lakeland 100 and shortly before my fateful visit to Leadville. The significance of the … Read entire article »

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It was too wet to go out….

April 29th, 2012 | Comments Off

Just like Dr Suess’ “The Cat in the Hat”, the rain was awful this morning and I’m ashamed to say I couldn’t face three hours of ‘damp’ running. With a sense of irony, the kittens were equally as displeased, but that is academic as they are not allowed out at the moment anyway I had planned to get out earlyish and do 22 miles or so, but the greyness and dampness of the outside … Read entire article »

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Checked-In

April 13th, 2012 | 3 Comments

Through the miracle of the internet, tiny electrons have been sent buzzing in the appropriate direction of British Airways, PLC., and I am now checked-in for tomorrow’s flight. As if that wasn’t enough excitement, I’ve now got an ‘App’ on my iPhone which has allowed me to download my boarding pass! How environmentally friendly is that? No more bits of paper to worry about, although I’ll get a bit upset if the baggage chits leave sticky … Read entire article »

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