Shoes Are A Girl's Best Friend

All you guys out there have probably spent many an hour being dragged around the shops while your lovely other half is tottering around the shoe department with the latest ankle breaker on her foot.  "What do you think" she says, "Lovely dear" you reply for the hundredth time.  Sound familiar?

Well, I can guarantee that in the case of MdS runners, this scene will be repeated up and down the country with only a few minor details changed.  For example, instead of tottering, we'll be pounding a treadmill in full view of bemused shoppers passing by.  Instead of the latest ankle breaker, we'll have the latest lightweight, off road, super cushioned, bright green trainers strapped to our feet.  And instead of asking "what do you think" runners will ask "do I over pronate in these?"

As you can imagine, shoe choice is a constant source of debate for MdS competitors.  The wrong shoe can make the difference between completing the desert race and getting so many blisters you're forced to retire.  Read any forum on desert racing and someone will ask, "which shoes are best" and of course, there is no right answer.  Every foot, stride and running style is different for every individual.  However, I recently attempted to make the decision for myself and headed into town for a day of shoe shopping.

I went to 'Runners Need' in Brighton and I don't think the shop manager Darren, really knew what to make of me as I rambled on about desert racing and buying shoes up to two sizes too big (the heat in the Sahara will make my feet swell up, a lot).  I wasn't really sure of what I wanted and informed him that the shoes needed to be light but very cushioned, breathable but made of a material that wouldn't let sand in easily.  I gave him an impossible wishlist, everything I wanted from the shoe contradicted the previous thing I had said I wanted.  Slightly bemused he went off and brought out shoe after shoe in many, many sizes.  After an hour of this I still couldn't decide, so he ordered even more shoes in various sizes so I could try them on the following week.

A couple of days later I thought of yet another model I wanted to try out, a quick phone call to Darren, who was fast becoming my new best friend, and those were on order too.  The following weekend I excitedly headed to the shop to try on the new delivery of trainers.  Yet another hour past by while I sprinted on the treadmill in various luminous coloured shoes, the very patient Darren looking on and puzzled shoppers passing by.

So after all this, which pair did I buy?

That's right, the first pair I had tried on.


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I'm running the MdS to support the British Heart Foundation. Please take a moment to visit my sponsorship page and donate whatever you can afford. Many, many thanks
www.justgiving.com/lauranicholls2013

Racing Rory Coleman

Bearing in mind what actually happened during my first ever marathon, a more appropriate title might be 'Stalking Rory Coleman' but let me explain...

Now for those of you who don't know, Rory Coleman is a legand in the ultra running world. Every conference or talk he gives, the room is packed out, standing room only. I went to the MdS expo a few weeks ago, rushed to get into his seminar and was glad I did as many people were turned away. It is through his advice that I managed to get my pack weight down from 10kg to 7.5kg (on paper at least).

Standing at the start line of the Beachy Head Marathon and who should I spot in the crowd a few rows in front of me, but the legend himself. The start gun went off, the crowd surged forward and I was surprised to find I was keeping pace with him. I'm sure Rory wasn't actually racing but using the event as a long slow training run, something which all runners do, but I was chuffed none the less and decided to try and keep up. Of course Rory had no clue that some weird woman was fixated on him a few metres behind and he certainly didn't know he was part of a fantasy race which only existed in said woman's mind.

For the first few miles I was ok and keeping pace quite well until we got to the top of the first big hill and the head wind was immense. I was being blown backwards and just not strong enough to keep up, dissapointed I watched as Rory dissapeared into the crowds. However, after every uphill, is a downhill. This was my chance. I picked up speed and before I reached the bottom I could see him again. This pattern continued for about 8 miles and I was feeling very proud of myself.

Unfortunately, a few miles further and an old injury started flaring up and despite chewing through nurofen like they were smarties, I was forced to walk. Gutted. Still, I continued at a slower pace and got through the rest of the Beachy Head Marathon which has been dubbed one of the toughest marathons in the UK. Most importantly, I enjoyed every minute of my first ever marathon. I will be back next year injury free, a lot more experienced and maybe, just maybe, I'll keep pace with Rory Coleman.


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I'm running the MdS to support the British Heart Foundation. Please take a moment to visit my sponsorship page and donate whatever you can afford. Many, many thanks
www.justgiving.com/lauranicholls2013

Toads, Trails and Torture

Spectacular views of the Chiltern Hills surround me, but I'm too nervous to appreciate the beauty. Up ahead are about 70 people all looking prepared and like they've been here a hundred times before. My stomach is doing somersaults over and over again, I haven't been able to eat any breakfast and I'm running on adrenaline alone. Simple decisions seem complex, do I want water or not? I've drunk so much already, I need the loo for the hundredth time in the last ten minutes. I'm making half hearted attempts to warm up and look like I belong, the group of people start to shuffle closer together, I shuffle too, 3....2....1....GO!!!

It was October 2011 and I was running in my first ever race, a 5km single track trail run and 35 minutes later I finished with a feeling of complete elation.  I'd done it, I'd competed and finished and what's more, I wasn't last.  I was hooked.

February 2012 and I was running in my first half marathon along Brighton and Hove seafront. This was not only the longest, but it was also the biggest race I'd ever been in, thousands of runners and even more spectators. About eight miles into the race whilst running past Brighton Pier I was grateful and humbled by the huge crowds that had gathered. The energy that radiated from them was immense as they cheered, clapped and shouted messages of support. It was a real boost, complete strangers wanting me to do well and I was loving every second.

A few miles further and I was seriously hungry, my stomach was grumbling so loudly I was convinced it could be heard above the noise of the crowds. I'd been running for nearly two hours and hadn't really considered the fact that I should have taken gels or energy drinks with me. Packets of high energy foods littered the ground only serving to remind me of how inexperienced I was (and that runners are a messy lot). At this point where should the route take me, but past a pub who were obviously cooking up an amazing roast lunch for some spectators. Never mind running for two hours, the smell of those roast potatoes was torture.  This was also the turning point in the race, with an empty stomach I had no energy left, I had three miles left to run and I was slowing fast. By the time I stumbled across the finish line I was a mess, I'd given everything I had to the race, I was shivering, cold and tearful but I'd completed my first ever half marathon. Except it wasn't a half marathon after all, the organisers had messed up and we actually ran an extra 0.3 of a mile. Evil bastards.

September 2012 and I was at a chemistry conference. During a break my phone beeped at the arrival of a text message. A slave to my phone, I dutifully checked the message, only to respond by shouting "oh my god" at the top of my voice and no doubt spoiling everyone's tea break. As I looked up, I realised my reaction hadn't gone unnoticed and people were now looking in my direction with a mixture of confusion and amusement on their faces. The text was from my sister, Emma, she had entered me into a 90 mile ultra marathon called the Toad Challenge.  It was in two weeks time.

The Toad was a three day event along the Thames path starting in Oxford and finishing 92 miles later at Walton-on-Thames. As I waited for the gun to go off I felt sick with nerves. I had no idea if I could run 30 miles or if my body would recover enough overnight in order to run another 30 miles the next day, and the next. I was pleasantly surprised though, the human body is amazing and not only did I recover by each morning but I felt remarkably good at each start line. I also found that I ran stronger for longer each day which surprised me, but I wasn't going to question it, the quicker I finished, the quicker I could put my feet up with a nice cold can of coke. Where am I going to get one of those in the desert?

On the second night, my dad came to visit me. I introduced him to a few people and invariably Dad mentioned that I was running the Marathon des Sables, a subject which has caused more than a few grey hairs to appear on his head. Unfortunately Dad was in a room with 70 other people who shared my ambitions, about 50 of which would be running across the desert with me. He wasn't going to win any arguments here. Sorry Dad.

The whole weekend was a fantastic experience. I spent three days in the company of some amazing people, some elite athletes and some like me, who were just glad to finish. Rob, Joey, Malcolm and Hamish all deserve a mention. Rob and Malcolm especially for picking me up when I was struggling and keeping me entertained with lots of stories along the way. At every checkpoint I was met by Extreme Energy staff and volunteers who always had lots of smiles, cheers and oodles of positivity.

The running world really is an amazing place to be.


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I'm running the MdS to support the British Heart Foundation. Please take a moment to visit my sponsorship page and donate whatever you can afford. Many, many thanks
www.justgiving.com/lauranicholls2013

Food Glorious Food!

Most people seem to consider the average MdS competitor to be borderline insane, and they're probably right. I mean, running 156 miles in 50 degree heat with scorpions sharing your sleeping bag is hardly normal. However, believe it or not there are a hardcore few who would take it to the next level by sacrificing a luxury or two in order to run faster. Toothbrush, unnecessary; medical kit, ditched; food, who needs food? The MdS organisers therefore set a minimum pack weight of 6.5kg and to reach this minimum without starving to death, some imagination must be used. For example, I plan on unrolling a toilet roll in order to remove the cardboard interior. I will be taking a pair of scissors to almost everything, removing labels from clothes and any excess straps or tags will be butchered. Paracetamol will be popped out of its heavy plastic and foil wrappings and transported in light plastic bags and my toothbrush will have its handle chopped off. However, despite all these tricks, the majority of the weight in everyones pack will be down to food. So how do you ensure one weeks worth of breakfast, lunch and dinner weighs no more than 3kg? This is where the fun starts!

Most people spend their lives counting calories, watching what they eat and skipping on dessert because they still feel guilt over the last indulgence. Type food into your search engine and it won't be long before you're faced with the latest fat busting tips. However, type in calorie dense food and see what you get. Burgers, chocolate, nuts and cheese, yum yum! And best of all, I have to test all this food out before I even get to the desert, happy days.

Did you know, one of the most calorie dense foods are brazil nuts, which also happen to be my favourite. Lucky me. I will be pricking holes in crisp packets, squashing out all the air and in the process creating a yummy crisp dust and then taping up the holes. Breakfast will consist of muesli and powdered milk followed by chocolate pop tarts. If all that lovely gooey chocolate can survive a toaster, it can survive the Saharan heat. Jelly babies are also on the menu and best of all, so is salt. Now this may seem weird, but those of you who've seen me eat fish and chips will know, a friend once described my delicious meal as a Christmas snow scene. So out with the plain peanuts and pistachios and in with the salty goodness. My desert menu really is all my favourites rolled into a week of food glorious food!


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I'm running the MdS to support the British Heart Foundation. Please take a moment to visit my sponsorship page and donate whatever you can afford. Many, many thanks
www.justgiving.com/lauranicholls2013

The Sofa Is Not Enough

Picture the scene, it’s the day after Boxing Day and you’re wrapped up on the sofa in a new jumper bought for you by an auntie or cousin.  Your stomach is so full that if you even see another turkey leg you might spontaneously transform into said gobbling creature.  You’ve drunk too much and not sure if opening that second bottle was a good idea, but what the heck, you’ve started it, so you’ll finish, it is Christmas after all.  On TV is yet another program that in normal circumstances you’d never even contemplate watching but the remote is on the other side of the room and you’re too stuffed to move.  In the corner is a pile of wrapping paper that’s been there since Christmas day when the mountain of beautifully wrapped presents were enthusiastically ripped open, followed by a chorus of “that’s just what I wanted!’ and ‘how did you know?”  Not only am I sure you can picture this scene, I’m sure you’ve lived this scene.

So, Christmas 2010, this was me, but the random program that flickered in the background was a documentary by Ben Fogle which followed him as he completed the “toughest footrace on Earth”.  The pictures that followed were of beautiful landscapes, orange sand dunes, towering mountains and quaint Berber villages.  The competitors seemed mostly ecstatic to be surrounded by such raw nature, grateful to be sharing unconditional camaraderie with other like-minded people and whilst there were a few pictures of sore feet, most people wore smiles.  The documentary explained how 800 people every year run the equivalent of six marathons in six days across the Sahara Desert with up to 15 kg of supplies on their backs.  They faced dehydration, scorpions, temperatures of up to 50 degrees, camel spiders and blisters on top of blisters.  People had not only got lost taking part in this race, but a few had died.  In my stuffed Christmas stupor, all I saw was the beautiful, uncomplicated and unspoilt landscapes and was hit with the overwhelming feeling that life on the sofa was not enough.

Bear in mind that at this point, the closest I had ever got to running was sprinting down the street to catch a bus or train which invariably left me panting, red faced and feeling like my lungs were going to burst.  But for some reason, at this point in time, this small fact didn’t even register in my thought process.  A quick Internet search later revealed that the UK waiting list for the next race was two years and when the registration opened in May 2011, the likelihood was that it would sell out in just 10 minutes!

January 2011 I went back to work and mentioned to the guys in my office that I was considering entering this race.  I was met with a unified response of “you’re nuts” but my good friend Becky, the voice of reason, quite rightly suggested that I should probably try running before I enter this crazy race.  So I joined the gym and found on the internet (what did we do before the world of online information) an 8 week running plan that started in week one with a 30 second run and ended up in week eight with a 30 minute run.  No, you didn’t misread that; my first run was 30 seconds!  By May 2011 I could run up to 3 miles and was enjoying myself, so with butterflies in my stomach I signed up to the toughest footrace on Earth.  In April 2013, I would be running 156 miles across the Sahara Desert with everything I need for a week on my back.  Now I was nervous!

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I'm running the MdS to support the British Heart Foundation.  Please take a moment to visit my sponsorship page and donate whatever you can afford.  Many, many thanks
www.justgiving.com/lauranicholls2013