The Race! Day One

Day One of the MdS 2013

News from the field...

Hey, this place is amazing. So pretty. Race today went well. Pack is 10.5kg so walked today but finished feeling good and no blisters or injuries so can't ask for more than that!! Had dunes, mountains, rivers (with and without water) and rough rocky terrain today, introduction to everything in one 23 mile day. Loved it!! Survived a sand storm or two and had to sit on my tent to keep it from blowing away which was fun.  Tomorrow has a 1000m mountain to climb! Didn't expect anything quite that big but... bring it on!

Running is a Team Sport

When you imagine a runner, I'm guessing you'll picture an individual pounding the streets or trails and you would be forgiven for thinking that running is a lone sport.  In my experience this couldn't be further from the truth. If it wasn't for the many, many people who have supported me, I am confident I would not have made it through the endless training sessions towards the Marathon des Sables, the toughest foot race on Earth.

As I'm about to leave for the desert I feel so humbled and grateful when I look back over the last two years.  There are so many people I'd like to thank, but firstly I should start by thanking everyone who sponsored me and donated to my charity, the British Heart Foundation.  Without your support this whole journey would have been for nothing. Your support has helped a major charity fight against a number of heart related diseases and has also helped make this whole experience such a rewarding one for me.

I'd also like to thank all my friends and family who, for the last two years, have heard about nothing else except the MdS.  Endless (generally one sided) conversations, with me looking like a Duracell bunny on a sugar rush, going on and on and on about running, the desert, kit, scorpions, training and racing. I realise I've talked about nothing else for two years and I really do appreciate that none of you have ever said "change the record Laura," despite wanting to, I'm sure.  I promise from now on I'll attempt to make the conversations much more varied and entertaining.  Thank you all for indulging me.

In order to fund the Marathon des Sables I have been working two part time jobs where I have met nothing but support and encouragement from friends, colleagues and customers.  James Parker, from Suter's Yard, the biggest little bar in town, has been amazing and supported me throughout, giving me permission to use his bar to promote the race and raise money.  The staff there have also been amazing, giving up their time to help me fundraise, covering my shifts when I've been too knackered to work or been off on yet another training race and supporting me in more ways than I'm sure they even realise.

My second part time job is working as a Hostess in the VIP lounge for Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.  The club generously donated two match tickets towards my fundraising efforts which is greatly appreciated and helped move me a lot closer to my target.

Finally on the jobs front, a massive thank you must go to Dr. John Turner, my incredibly patient Ph.D. supervisor, who has supported this ridiculous adventure at perhaps the most difficult time of my career. I promise from now on, chemistry will not come a poor second and I will start writing that thesis!

There are a few individuals who I have to mention separately as they have gone above and beyond and kept me going throughout this sometimes difficult journey. A very special thank you to Julia, Katie and Sarah, (the 'A' team) and Woody. Thank you for all your words of encouragement and your endless help in putting together amazing fundraising events. Also, thank you to Chris Gallop for constantly reminding me, 'I'm nuts' and to both Chris and Mariusz for helping me move house just days before I fly to Morocco.  Finally, thank you to Adam Close for encouraging me to become a better runner and for his infinite patience when I couldn't quite make it up those hills.

A special thank you must go to my Mum and Dad.  As I'm sure you can appreciate, they've had some concerns about me running across the desert and I'm fairly sure I'm responsible for one or two sleepless nights.  However, they've supported me regardless of their own worries and I'll always be grateful for that.  Mum and Dad, you're amazing parents and without your guidance and encouragement over the last 34 years, I wouldn't even have had the guts to attempt such a feat.

Finally, I have to thank Emma, my sister, my inspiration and my best friend.  Emma has travelled across the country to be at the side lines of every single race I've done in the run up to the MdS. She's waited patiently in the cold and dark for me to drag my sorry backside across yet another finish line. She's counselled me when things have got tough and been there to celebrate the victories.  She's listened to my doubts and helped me find the confidence in myself.  My wonderful sister has been there for every step, leap and faulter towards the desert and without her I could not have got this far.  I can't even begin to express my gratitude and appreciation for having someone so special in my life, so I'm simple going to end with, thank you Emma, I hope one day I can be half the person you are.


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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 Final Kit List (And There's Been A Few)

I know that there will be many an MdS runner both present and future who's main goal in visiting my blog will be to find out what I took to the desert with me.  So to put you out of your misery, here's the list.  My intention is to post another blog on my return with details of what worked, what didn't work, what I'd take again and what I'd ditch.  Enjoy, and if you're about to go to the desert yourselves, good luck!

Compulsory Kit - Inov-8 Race Pac 25L; Inov-8 Bottle Holders x 2; Raidlight 750mL Bottles x 2; RAB Neutrino Endurance 200 Sleeping Bag; Petzl Tikka XP2 Headlamp; Silva Compass; Lighter; Emergency Whistle (on strap of head torch); Swiss Army Knife; Aspinvenin Anti Venom Pump plus Large Adapter; Signalling Mirror; Aluminium Survival Sheet

Luxuries - Sea to Summit Silk Liner; NeoAir Sleeping Mat (Small); Esbit 0.75L Titanium Lightweight Pot; Esbit Ultralight Titanium Solid Fuel Stove; Spork; iPod nano; Digital Camera and Spare Battery

Medical / Hygiene Kit - Half a Toothbrush; Travel Size Toothpaste; Deodorant; Comb; Small Soap; 7 x Multivitamins; 50mL Nivea Moisturiser; 100mL P20 Suncream; 42 Toilet Wipes; 100 mL Hand Sanitiser; 16 x Paracetomol; 14 x Ibruprofen; 6 x Immodium; 6 x Dioralyte; 6 x Anti-Histamine; Lip Balm; Small Roll of Foot Binding Tape; 100mL TCP; Ear Plugs

Clothes - Brooks Cascadia 7 Trainers; Raidlight Gaiters; Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap; Buff x 2; Adidas Shorts; Montane L/S Top; Brooks L/S Top; Running Tights; Open Toe Towelling Spa Slippers; Injinji Lightweight Toe Socks x 2; X-Bionic Socks x 1; Wigwam Socks x 1; Nike Watch; Bloc Sunglasses; Sundog Sun Goggles

Food - Tried to make variety a priority.  Ended up with 15,500kcal.
Breakfast - Alpen and Dried Milk
Snacks - Breakfast Biscuits; Thai Chilli Rice Crackers; Skittles; Starburst; Brazil Nuts; Salted Peanuts; Munchy Seeds; 9 Bars
Dinner - Expedition Foods and For Goodness Shakes Recovery Drink


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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

With A Little Help From My Friends

Question: Can you run an ultra marathon with food poisoning?

Answer: Yes, well sort of...

Now I realise that my next statement might confirm to some that I have a screw or two loose, very loose, but for my birthday this year I could think of nothing I'd rather do than run a 66 mile cross country race, in February (it’s not my fault I was born during one of the coldest months of the year). I entered the Pilgrim challenge back in October and spent months looking forward to it almost as much as the almighty MdS itself. The two day race would start at Farnham and follow the North Downs Way for 33 miles east on the Saturday and then return along the same route the following day.

With just two days to go before the race I came down with food poisoning. Consuming nothing but water and rivita's for two days straight left me feeling as strong as a paper bag in torrential rain, so I decided to help out at one of the checkpoints on the Saturday instead of running. I have to say, that was almost as much fun as being a competitor. I loved being able to help other runners and watch them head off in (hopefully) a better state than some of them had arrived in.

The following day I was feeling OK and having eaten more than crispbread the previous day I was feeling stronger. The tummy was making some interesting noises again but I decided I was going to run come hell or high water. Using up so much concentration to consider the state of my health, I was a little taken aback when everyone broke into 'Happy Birthday' for me at the start line, I'd completely forgotten. I guess that's old age for you.

Off we went in the dark and the first few miles went quite well. I'd run until my stomach was feeling like James Bonds' vodka martini, then walk until it settled. This method was working brilliantly until somewhere between checkpoint 1 and 2, when my body physically forced me into a walk. By the time I got to checkpoint 2, I was not a happy bunny. I barely spoke to the crew for fear that they'd see through my, by this point thinly veiled, "I'm OK" mask and pull me out.

I wandered off, dazed and dizzy, in the vague direction of checkpoint 3, which was a horrendously long 10 flippin’ miles away and, feeling very miserable, phoned my sister for some telephonic verbal medicine. "Happy birthday" she sung down the phone, which, upon hearing my voice, was quickly replaced with "You OK?". It's weird, I always knew what I had to do, but saying it out loud to my sister "I don't want to quit" made it real. So with some sisterly encouragement I dug deep into my oodles of stubbornness, pulled myself together and prepared to keep going. It just so happened that at this point my friend Rob caught up with me. He took one look at me and greeted me with "you look like death". Thanks Rob.

Rob stuck with me until the very end (I don’t mean that in an obituary sense) and I am very grateful that he did. What's more, he didn't say a word as I disappeared behind bushes of numerous shapes and sizes and patiently waited for me a little way down the path. I dragged myself across the finish line nearly 12 hours later, severely dehydrated and in a fair amount of pain but was greeted by smiling faces, my sister, dad, running friends, a lovely birthday cake and another chorus of "Happy Birthday".

So, it turns out you can ‘run’ an ultra marathon with food poisoning, it just takes a bit longer and you might need a little help from your friends.



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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

Decisions, Decisions

Do you ever feel like your head is spinning with so much information it's going to spill out like the dam  "washing away the filth of Sauroman" in the Lord of the Rings.  Well, this is currently where I am, which shoes, which sleeping bag, stove or no stove, how many calories to take, which foods, which gaiters, the list goes on.  As a complete newbie to the world of running and especially desert racing I'll be totally honest with you, I have no bloody idea.

Still, half the battle with these things is the right attitide and positive thinking.  So for the last two years I've been like a sponge, eagerly absorbing every snippet of information that anyone more experienced than me was willing to share.  I'm sure on some occassions this has resulted in me looking like an eager young puppy, tail wagging, waiting for an information treat.

However, the result of these sponge like activities has resulted in note pads and note pads filled with advice, which includes, running with sand in your shoes, marching bare foot in a tray of cat litter and cooking dehydrated meals by placing them on top of your tent in the Saharan sun.  I have to stress at this point that these activities are undertaken at your own risk.  I'd suggest the risk of looking like an idiot whilst marching in cat litter is quite high.

So what do I do when I receive conflicting advice from equally respected and experienced sources?  Well, this is my advice to every newbie out there.  Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic!  Accept the fact that you're not really going to know how you cope with desert conditions until you actually arrive in the desert.  Make informed decisions based on advice and the preparation you CAN do and go with your gut instincts.  Some people will thrive on 2000 cals per day, some need more.  Some people will take poles, some won't.  Some people need the comfort of hot food, some don't.  Only you know your own mind and body, listen to them.


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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 Art of Walking

Most runners have a motto of "must go faster". Speed is king. Every time I take part in a race the first question asked of me afterwards is "what was your time" and whilst I'm not an elite or even competitive runner, there is a part of me that always wants to beat my last race time. I even had a dream last night that I shaved 20 minutes off my half marathon pb.

However, due to a niggling injury I decided to be sensible and walk the latest in a long line of races. The Druid challenge is an 84 mile, three day event which starts at Ivinghoe Beacon, along the Ridgeway and finishes at Overton Hill and I have to say, a pretty spectacular route. Rolling hills, autumn leaves and mud, lots and lots of mud.

I thought (maybe stupidly) that walking would be easier than running. But it turns out that walking that sort of distance presents a whole new set of issues. For example, I would normally spend around six hours completing each day, but walking being a much slower form of locomotion, meant I was on my feet for up to nine hours each day and those extra few hours felt like an eternity for my poor feet. This also had the knock on effect of less rest as I started earlier and finished later than everone else.

On the first day we were still walking when darkness fell, a great time to discover my head torch only had one working bulb out of three. After a quick toilet stop behind a bush I couldn't see the others up ahead and I started convincing myself there was an army of axe murders lurking behind every tree. My poor torch barely illuminated the ground in front of me, it certainly didn't have the power to pick out the faces of potentially scary people. Scared silly, I ran to catch up with the others, only managing to scare them as well. Sorry guys.

The other major difference when walking is the extra food I seemed to need. When running, an hour might pass between check points. When walking this might be up to three hours and I was starving by the time I reached each stop. I'd stuff myself with sausage rolls, chocolate, jelly sweets and mars bars. Towards the end of the race I'd even leave each checkpoint with a cup filled with sweets to keep me going along the way. Unfortunately this method of carrying food wasn't fool proof as I found out to my peril. A little after the checkpoint I was faced with a huge muddy puddle and instead of walking around it, I decided in my wisdom to jump over it. Clutching tightly onto my sweet cup I leapt gracefully (cough) into the air and as I came down on the other side my precious fuel went flying, landing in the puddle and sinking into the mud, never to be seen again. Gutted.

Also, for the first time ever, due to the extra time I spent walking and the fact I was pretty wet and muddy for three days solid my poor little tootsies were a bit worse for wear by the time I crossed the finish line. They were so swollen and battered I had to wear my slippers to travel home in as no other shoes would fit. Imagine a limping, slow moving woman making her way through the busy Victoria train station, wearing slippers, carrying a huge 50 litre ruck sack and proudly wearing a medal round her neck and you can imagine the bemused looks I received from wary londoners and endless tourists. Walking through Brighton train station however, no one even glanced my way. I love Brighton.

One of the definite up sides to walking is it's a lot easier to stay in a group and chat along the way. I ended up spending the weekend with some amazing people, Rob, Swampy, Ian and Mark, oh and the bog pigs (I'll leave you to use your imagination but a diet of high carbs resulted in some windy times). This sociable aspect of walking definitely trumps (excuse the pun) all the down sides and I definitely plan to do a lot more walking as part of my training for the toughest footrace on Earth.


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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

Sand, Sand and More Sand?

Firstly, apologies for the lack of blogs during December.  Due to an injury my mileage was down to zero, along with my motivation.  So to get me back into the right frame of mind I thought I'd search the internet for pictures of previous races and here's the result.

These two photo's represent for me and I guess many others, what the desert is like.  Rolling dunes going on for miles and miles, orange sands, blue skies and not a tree or bush in sight. In fact, take away the thousand or so nut-case runners and it looks like you'd struggle to find a single living creature.  However....

Camel spiders are not actually spiders but apparently more closely related to the scorpion family.  When the sun comes up in the morning, these lovely creatures scuttle for shade which you can imagine is relatively scarce, unless of course it's MdS week and all of a sudden there are lots of lovely shady tents, if you're prepared to share with 8 smelly runners.

From a bit more research I also found that the more likely terrain is going to be a rocky, uneven surface which is going to make it very difficult to run without twisting an ankle, tripping or stubbing a toe. In fact smooth rolling dunes only make up about 20% of the race surface, which in some ways is good, as running in sand goes a bit like this, two steps up, one slide down, two steps up, one slide down, one step up, one slide down, one lie down, repeat.

Just to make this extreme endurance race a little more difficult the race organisers quite often add a little extra something to make sure competitors sample all the delights of the desert.  Mountains (jebels) often feature along the course.  It has been reported that in 2013 we will climb three jebels in one day.  This makes me tired just thinking about it, I guess I better start working off all that Christmas excess.

Obviously, the result of all this running on such uneven ground is some very sore feet.  The heat alone makes most peoples feet swell up by two sizes.  There's not much I can say about these pictures except, ouch!

Three months to go until the start of the race and I've never felt so excited, nervous, hopeful, doubtful, enthusiastic, apprehensive, fired up and terrified, all at the same time.


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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