TIPS: the Toughest Footrace on Earth (insert any endurance event) is only tough if you are hugely unprepared - physically and/or mentally. After a year off exercise due to a serious back injury (and 'other' challenges) I only had TWO months to prepare - so this is what I did:
1) Lived EVERY DAY in Paradise - this is a simple choice anyone can make no matter what life throws at you ...
2) Waterfasted and ate a majority vegetable diet - to stay alkaline and lose 16lbs in weight - the same weight as my MDS backpack ...
3) Daily sauna to get acclimatised for the upcoming 52 degree heat of the desert ...
4) Chose the opinions of good friends, family and mentors that said 'You've got this!' (including myself) - if 1000s of people have run across the desert then so can I - END OF ...
5) Daily Exercise: Ran 5 x 1.5 milers (as in ran 1.5 miles around the block each day). Ran 10 x 3 milers. 3 x 6 milers. 2 x 10 milers. 1 x 19 miler. Swam twice - 250m and 1km). Cycled 15 miles three times). A few push ups, press ups, pull ups and lots of physio stretches for my back)
6) Tested my backpack once ...
7) Took the lightest kit I could afford and binned all luxuries except a tiny esbit cooker and a small power-pack for my phone. Took only 2000 cals a day for food - binned half of it due to stomach bug .. Booked some sunbeds so I didn't have to worry about getting sunburned in the Sahara ...
9) Took my time, had a laugh, met swell people, shit my shorts - TWICE, picked up a medal and went for a beer - job done!
YOUR TURN!

HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has sponsored me a fiver for running the Toughest Footrace on Earth in aid of my friend's children and dog rescue centre in Tanzania. The alternative for these kids and dogs does not bear thinking about

https://www.gofundme.com/toughestfootrace

#dogrescue #learningdisabilities #streetchildren #mds #marathondessables #royalmarines #stopanimalcruelty #ultramarathon #running #bucketlist #charity #christhrall #veteran #foreheads #sharetanzania #veteran