- By Phil Halford, in training for the Marathon des Sables to raise funds for MAG
Two months after deciding to enter the 2011 Marathon des Sables – the 151-mile run across the Sahara – yesterday I visited a guy called Rory Coleman for some training advice.
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There it is. The Marathon des Sables takes place in the Morrocan part of the Sahara. [Photo: Mike Fryer / MAG] |
Rory has completed the Marathon des Sables six times, has run over 600 normal marathons and has also run from London to Lisbon, covering 30 miles a day for 43 days in the summer heat – so I thought he’d be able to help me on the road to fitness, in the build-up to the world’s toughest footrace.
The first thing he did when I got to the gym was say, “Look in the mirror and tell me what you see.”
I did, and the following thought flashed through my head: Halford, you’ve got no chance.
Two-and-a-half hours of blood, sweat and tears later, though, things were looking better. I’ve been given a training plan that will take me through the next 12 weeks, culminating with me running the Nottingham Marathon in September.
He’s also told me I’ve got to enter the Round Rotherham 50-mile endurance race in October.
At Rory’s first mention of these I had some doubts, but once we started going through the training programme it became clear that, with his help and support, almost nothing is impossible.
The next step is go through the training programme, look at anything that will potentially clash with the schedule – one thing that immediately springs to mind is that I go to Iraq next week with MAG! – and work with Rory to find our way round any potential obstacles.
Yesterday's session has made me realise that, though I’m no longer 26 and not at this moment at the peak of physical fitness, I’m still able to push myself to my limits and beyond.
And, with perseverance and a positive attitude, we should start to see my fitness improving very soon...
Read Phil's previous blog: Mad dogs and Englishmen
Please sponsor Phil at www.justgiving.com/philhalford
You can do all sorts of things to fundraise for MAG... please visit Get Involved for ideas and inspiration!
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