tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:15:24 +0000Thoughts on my preparations for, and participation in, Marathon des Sables 2007http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)Blogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-8886413093779762534Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:24:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:38.556ZAfter a hiatus - training and blogging - my winter program has started again. My last blog post was in May and my last run in July. I completed The Gherkins annual 100km race across the south Downs in mid-July. The team finished in 14 hrs 48 mins, just under an hour quicker than last year. We did lose one team member though. Sark's knee broke half-way, so we only finished as a non-qualifying teamhttp://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/11/after-hiatus-to-say-least-i-have_01.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-3498575349927450938Sun, 27 May 2007 22:57:00 +00002007-05-27T23:28:42.505Z Tent 74 Day 7 Originally uploaded by edgehonson These are some of the great people I shared my week in the desert with. Click on it to link to flikr.com and see more of my MdS pixhttp://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/05/tent-74-day-7.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-7992668530597687007Wed, 02 May 2007 11:19:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:38.698ZOne month on, I now realise that it is difficult to come out my experience in the Sahara unscarred. Physically, I have no problems. I had a few small blisters but nothing serious. I will lose one toenail in due course, but that's fairly normal. My knees were weak and slightly damaged and consequently I am only just getting back into running having rested them during April. I have joked that I washttp://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/05/desert-blues.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-7806881315878657054Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:28:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:39.219Zhttp://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/04/blog-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-959287026881204220Fri, 06 Apr 2007 15:18:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:39.488ZI visited Workaid, the small self-help charity I raised funds for (currently approaching £7,000). Sylvia Parrot (Chairman) and Bill Duperouzel (Administrator) along with many of the volunteers who refurbish all the tools were there to greet me and hear all about my adventure. They were all very keen to see the state of my feet which sadly (!?) were lacking in any blisters or real evidence. Many http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/04/workaid-visit.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-5258345116170185251Tue, 03 Apr 2007 21:44:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:39.674ZMerzouga, South-eastern Morocco. Saturday March 31st. Approx 10:40am. Finish line of the 22nd Marathon des Sables.Bravo Edouard!http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/04/finish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-3893957995318588446Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:28:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:39.770ZI returned back home today (Tues). MdS finished on Saturday morning with runners appearing exhausted but elated out of the dunes into dowtown Merzouga after an 11km final stage. The last section was a 1:30min 'sprint' over the 'Erg Chebbi' sand dunes for me. I finished in 236th position overall for the week, taking 35 hrs 17 mins. I am proud to have completed and extremely pleased with myself to http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/04/i-finished-mds.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-314453856199657827Sat, 31 Mar 2007 21:33:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:40.000ZDay 6, a proper marathon of 26.2 miles or 42.4km. Done and dusted in 5 hours 41 minutes. Would you believe it, I have never run that distance before competitively. Only either more than or less than. I really enjoyed it and the 10km of big dunes in the middle. My position is now 239th, which I am amazed at. I came here to finish and am now in the top third. I have got stronger each day.I'll try http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/day-6-424km-done.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-5493122496316311039Fri, 30 Mar 2007 04:55:00 +00002007-04-04T08:33:06.586ZRest day after the long 70km stage.We have just been told that a competitor died last night in his tent. Bernard Jule, from France, came in 45th last night as one of the elite runners. He went to bed saying he was fine. He got up briefly at 3.30am to cheer some others in to the finish, said he was fine and looked fine, then went back to his sleeping bag. He never woke up. As you can imagine the http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/day-5-rest-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-6427693767347956412Thu, 29 Mar 2007 21:01:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:40.142Zhttp://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/rest-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-6924439744142963666Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:16:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:40.281ZThis isn't Ed. I just downloaded and posted it because I imagine that's what he looks like -- bandaged feet, empty water bottles and all. Most participants are running through the night, so we're not getting an update tonight.Tesshttp://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/day-4-no-news-yet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-2616012923469456080Wed, 28 Mar 2007 05:22:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:40.589ZIt's a bit late and i need to sleep so I'll be brief.32km today. Finished in just under 5 hours. 254th overall. Long hard stage today. Sark just ahead of me in rankings. Big 70km day tomorrow so that's the real test. Probably won't be able to email.Desert still beautiful, event still incredible, but didn't enjoy today as much as yesterday. Too hot.http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/day-3-done.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-2373552285118903473Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:58:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:40.728ZIt is almost impossible to describe how amazing this is! Sark and I finished together in 5 hours 55 minutes, having completed what evryone is describing as the toughest ever stage. Two mountains, the last of which rose like a colossus out of a hot dry plain which took over two hours to get across. Just when you thought you had only 5km to go the markers pointed upwards! The majesty of the desert http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/day-2-35km-done.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-7245660109978118268Mon, 26 Mar 2007 08:02:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:41.149ZAll well. I got back to our tent first with Sark 5 minutes behind. Took it easy and walked (fast) a large percentage of it. 4hrs 50 mins; I'm in 288th place. The terrain is amazing. Ruggedly beautiful. Lots of small sand dunes and hills. Very tough going underfoot and up to 40 degrees C. Aim was to get in the first day unscathed, so have achieved that. No blisters, I can feel my bum knee but it’shttp://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/day-one-296km-done.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-2012790590741285796Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:11:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:41.293ZAs of 9 this morning, Ed was in base camp, about 100km east of Tazarine, along with 700+ other runners. He was making his last phone call before turning in his travel bag and all other non-essential items. At 2pm today, he will be self-sufficient, carrying everything he needs for the next seven days on his back. The good news is he's able to trim his load even more (no luxuries at all!) and http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/day-of-reckoning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-7725488224500670687Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:59:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:42.885ZPlease send me messages, apparently they get delivered to our tents in the Sahara! Here are details:Go to www.darbaroud.com, look for US/UK flag for site in English (It is also hyper linked on the right of this page - Ed). Each day, the organisers list all that day’s results with times and positions. Messages can be sent from 25 – 31 March. In order to send a message, they will need to go to http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/po-box-1-sahara-desert.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-872614887587063970Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:19:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:43.131ZIt's getting close to decision time for the sand gaiters. They're meant to stop sand getting in your shoes to try to prevent the inevitable blisters. The green ones were supplied by an MdS Veteran who swears by them. The red ones were supplied free this year by New Balance. At the moment I am only going on looks (?!) and the red ones seem more fashionable. They'll be wearing them down the Kings http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/sand-gaiters.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-8468519280666503115Sun, 18 Mar 2007 21:28:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:43.285ZI returned home from some Sunday shopping to find a reception committee having baked a send-off cake. Bless them! Tess and Bruno have been very hard-done-by for the past few months so are looking forward to me getting this race out of my system and returning to being a normal dad/husband. By the way, the black squiggle on the cake is a snake...http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/send-off-cake.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-943667846539567779Sat, 17 Mar 2007 13:14:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:43.368ZI have many people to thank for their support to get me to the start line of MdS and my osteopath Simone Sorrell is one of them. This gorgeous and caring lady has an amazing ability to get my misaligned body back into shape. She's also a yoga teacher and mother. Thanks Simone - you're a star! You might even get me on a yoga mat one day...http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/wonder-hands.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-2538977680345591355Sat, 17 Mar 2007 13:04:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:43.459ZThe colours of spring are here and the magnolia trees are blossoming. They fuelled my joyful mood on my walk down to my osteopath this morning.http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/spring-has-sprung.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-3621769574252549592Fri, 16 Mar 2007 09:38:00 +00002007-03-16T14:23:02.457ZRef entry on Feb 26, I received a reply from Tesco. They said thanks for feedback on novel use of OJ cartons but no to donation. Shame! I'll try same with Sainsbury's now...http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/man-from-tesco-says-no.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-3093636677614837796Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:18:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:43.525ZMy latest piece of desert kit is helping at least one member of the family sleep better. Our son Bruno was getting increasingly worried about Daddy being bitten by scorpions in the Sahara. With my new AspiVenin venom pump as part of the mandatory kit for all MdS Competitors, he is a lot happier to let Daddy go now.http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/there-be-scorpions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-236894942429920970Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:07:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:43.663ZOn top of Salcombe Hill Cliff looking west along to Dunscombe Cliff to my right, and the sinking MS Napoli out at sea to my left. The ship was caught in bad weather in January and started to sink depositing many of its containers and rubbish on the picturesque beach of Branscombe. Scavengers descended causing havoc to this remote area and it was a major news item. The beach was still closed but http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/coasting-along-coast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-1935154973638253697Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:47:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:44.142ZThe signs along the trail kept on giving us a destination and an incentive. And sure enough we eventually reached Beer, the cute little Devon fishing village. Once there it would have been rude not have stopped and indulged in a pint. All part of the training - carbohydrate loading!http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/beer-in-beer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865775318219375737.post-8586334631159373221Mon, 12 Mar 2007 19:57:00 +00002008-12-13T05:29:44.354ZTucked in behind Sark plodding along Branscombe beach in East Devon, it struck me how strange we must have looked. We went down for an annual running race called 'The Grizzly' a tortuous 20-mile course starting and finishing at Seaton, a pretty coastal town. Due to a shipwreck off the coast and the ensuing rubbish the beach has been closed which forced the cancellation of the the Grizzly this http://edgehonson.blogspot.com/2007/03/running-on-rocks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ed Johnson)0