30 Days out. Training

The last few days were spent hauling 80 lb bags of concrete, rocks, rebars, and riding pick axes and shovels out at the Bar None Ranch from sun up to sun down. That will wear you out but it is good for a core workout. I picked up and moved close to 10,000lbs of concrete and just as many lbs. of rocks. However, today was our Kilimanjaro groups first training hike up SODA hill. The Osburn's and Devino's had a brisk two hour hike before heading home to watch Olypic Hockey. Tomorrow heat yoga and more running with a pack.

I am more afraid of yoga than the Marathon des Sables.

Cheers Tim

Time to get Food and Supplies in order 35 days left

Today I received my Mountain House freezed dried shipment! Hmm good stuff can't wait to dine on dehratyed food in the desert. Especially after a nice long run through the scorching sun. Something about eating dehratyed chicken is wrong on so many levels. I am sure the Barbque Sauce with Beef will bring me back to Texas in a heart beat when I dive into it while watching the sunset over the dunes of the Sahara. Although I haven't tested the Barbque it surely will be delightful maybe as good as Cooper's in Mason.

I also signed up for that Heat Yoga stuff today. I'll be starting that next Monday can't wait for that bit of torture.

The big event this evening at the Osburn household was the prepartion of the Toilet paper. This involved reducing the single roll I will be taken  from 425 sheets to 300 sheets plus removing the cordboard center. While I unrolled the roll and counted the sheets down to the proper amount "Margarita" our dog watched  with a curious expression. I do not think she was impressed by my dilegence. Melinda didn't give me a second look since she has been helping get ready by cliping the extra bits of paper off the ends of the M and M packages to help cut down on my pack weight. I really hope that 300 sheets is enough for the 9 days in the desert as Marathon des Sables organizers did not send me any info on that little detail.

It appears there will be 43 nationalities represented in the 25th MDS they include
South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Korea, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, India, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvian, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Tunisia and USA.

25th MDS = 250 kms

News from the officals:
In october,, Mr Patrick Bauer was with his "fine" team of patrollers. Setting off to survey the area for the creation of the “famous” 25th MDS course, we were able to glean a comment for future participants.
Exclusively for the darbaroud.com website, I can reveal and confirm what numerous competitors have imagined for the 2010 edition! Yes indeed, the course, which is still made up of 6 stages, has been slightly extended to reach a total of 250 km - the 25th anniversary requires this! The itinerary will be packed with the most beautiful sites in the Saharan provinces. The menu will include dunes, mountains, dried up lakes, regs, oases and ... more dunes!"

Cheers Tim

Everest Summiter Gary Guller to compete in Marathon des Sables

We heard late last year Madonna was going to compete this year but that is not to be so.

I am happy to report that World Famous Everest Summiter Gary Guller will be competing. In 2003 Mr.Guller summited Everest with only one arm. He has choosen to support the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation. You can follow his effort at http://www.garyguller.blogspot.com/ I will try to get his autograph and a photo with him while I am there.

Cheers Tim

Austin Marathon

Yesterday I particapted in the Austin Marathon along with a few friends. The weather was absolutely perfect which is cool with no wind. The spectators were wonderful with dozens of yard parties going off, well staffed water stations and 30 some odd excellent bands playing along the route.  We had alot more fun than you should have while Marathoning.  Pictured carrying the 3:10 pace sign is Marathoner Patrick Arrindell and coming behind him is Marathoner Allen Devino. The annoucer said the 3:10 pacer must have stopped at a few pubs on the course as it was 7 hours into the race which was nearly behind the 3:10 groups target. We found the sign abandoned around the 7 mile mark and made it our groups war banner. That is me high fiving Patrick as he crosses the finish line I had run up ahead to get some photos of them coming in. I am wearing my Marathon des Sables race pack which at the end of the race had about 15lbs in it.

Also congratulations to Marathoner Mrs. Kelly Leonard whom despite a bad IT problem at mile 24 was able to pull herself up off the curb and wipe away the tears. She finished in under 5 hours. Also to Half Marathoner Fred Devencizo who beat his goal time by over 5 minutes. The only bad part for me was standing in the pool for several minutes to make sure no sore muscles next day.  The pool felt like it was below freezing.

A truly wonderful day.

Cheers Tim

Lakeway Eye Center

Lakeway Eye Center's owner Wally El-Hitamy has agreed to provide me some sponsorship on a pair of Wiley X Brick 856 High Velocity Protection Sunglasses Metallic Black Frame and RX-able LA Light Adjusting Grey Lens this are suppose to be bullet proof and fit like googles to keep the sandstorms out. The real cool thing is you can also wear them at night. Can't wait to get them out there in a night time sandstorm in the middle of the Sahara all alone, lost, helpless, crying like a little baby with only these glasses to see me through. Should be fun.

O Positive Blood Type

Well it didn't go as planned. I took the first lance and after about 5 minutes of interflection I went for it. I guess I might of pulled back as it fired because no blood came out of the finger tip. It is harder than I realized to lance yourself. So on the second and last one I beared down but I might of chickened out again. So now I have already put water on the indicators. I nead some blood quick before the indicators dry out. Fortunately a straight pin I found in the utility room drawer does the job. Thank God I am not a diabetic. My hat goes off to all Diabetic's whom have to do this daily.

Time for Blood

One  of the many medical requirements is you have to present your blood type. So after getting the following message:
Bonjour,
Afin d’actualiser notre base de données de participants de la 25ème édition du MARATHON DES SABLES merci de nous faire parvenir les informations suivantes :

PRENOM
NOM DE FAMILLE
DATE DE NAISSANCE
GROUPE SANGUIN

Nous te remercions de nous répondre avant le 20 JANVIER 2010.
Bonne préparation pour cette nouvelle édition !!
A très bientôt.

Cordialement,

I translated it to mean we need your first name, last name, date of birth, and blood type. So I did what everyone would do ordered an at home blood test. It just came in the mail with two lances and a some other stuff. I'll let you know how this goes it should be interesting poking myself. Cordialement,

50 Days to Go/Marathon this weekend.

Since my last update I have continued to prepare my pack. I got a Lady bug knife which weighs in at .4 of an ounce. My light weight signal mirror came in it weighs .5 of an ounce which is the same weight as my supply of sunblock. My new little Canon camera came in along with a spare battery and a 32 gb chip for it so that should be sufficent to record the event it weighs 6.1 ounces and shots high def. On Sunday I will be hiking the Austin Marathon with two friends Patrick Arrindell and Allen Devino. I will carry a pack and we will see how it goes. The goal is simple for these lads is to finish just under the cut off time and it should be fun. I should put in close to 55 miles this week. Get out there!!

Cheers Tim

55 days to go.

   This morning I took my resting heart rate it was 45 bpm which is great. When I first started getting ready last year to compete in the Marathon des Sables my scales tipped at 204.5lbs. This morning I weighed in at 187.5 lbs down 17lbs with a target weight of around 180lbs so the plan is working. That is 17lbs I do not have to carry over the desert and up some of the tallest dunes in the world. I will not miss those pounds for sure.

    The day I found out that my application had been accepted I did a stress test on the treadmill based solely on  my heart rate upon completing a certain excercise to esthablish a baseline heart rate it was 160bpm. Last week I performed the same test it came in at 123bpm which means my efficency had improved by early 25%. 50 is the new 30 for sure. Get out there!

Cheers
Tim