Here we go, here we go, here we go!

OK! 


We are off to the Alps tomorrow for race start Saturday 4th September!


I will be doing my best to get online in small Alpine villages along the way and update our blog. 


You might even find that the TransAlpineRun site does some updates too. Follow the link and see what you get!? Try the news or media pages.


Otherwise we will see you all on the other side .. with lots of piccies and tall, tall tales no doubt!


On y va!

Waking the desert .. A celebration.

Bodies in unison we skirt the jebel range.
Our scrunch, scrunch a blast of sound in the cool pre-dawn.

Climbing slopes, crossing plateaus, descending slidingly steep pitches .. for the last time this time?

A myriad of sound replaces colour in this land sucked dry of hues.

Crash! Bash! Slam!
Tinkle. Crinkle. Crumble ..
Pop! Pfff ..
Crack! Slip. Snap!
Tink. Tink.

And in the heart of blistering summer camels watch from on high as we crash toil across the metal-like plates of stone .. for the last time this time.

Our last last desert run ..

We made it! It really was our last last run!

Slight misfire as this weekend was supposed to be enjoyed in Petra .. Instead we are running the rolling edges of Tabuk.

A herd of inquisitive camels our only cohorts ..

Company!

Their greeting groans carry miles as they call each other in to have a look at these crazies hacking noisily about their quiet abode.


But now? I am in France - Gav arrives Thursday - Dave is nearly UK bound - Shawn is there already.

It's getting exciting!

See u at the race people ..

Underwear and thigh measurements ..

Today's topics for discussion by Team Hurt2Schnit! 
i.e. Gabbling Bettys Gav and Dave.

And no boys. Your bums do NOT look big in Skins ..

(Personally? I am just glad the arrow was on the other side!)

A read for all runners .. would-be, actual, injured ..

Just finished "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall.

A gift of a book with so much to give I can only say to all

READ IT!

I feel so inspired we might just have to start ultras next

(just don't tell Gav yet, OK?)

Leadville 100 motto:

"You are tougher than you think you are, and you can do more than you think you can."

Le dernier weekend chez Phillips ..

Thursday: sleeping, waking early, eating, running, eating, napping, eating, sleeping.

Friday: sleeping, waking earlier, eating more, running longer, eating, eating, napping, eating, sleeping.

The big weekend ..

Déjà vu? Or just the peak of our programme?

Same place, same challenge - how to make three long days of  consecutive training both interesting and beneficial. 


Hmm .. variety!

4 hours plus early Wednesday finds us tracking across the salt flats. This time, with no need to make it all the way to Prophet's Seat, we simply potter around, up and over the bowl of small jebels there.


A glorious morning: cool-ish with a gentle breeze to start.  


As the boys natter away ahead like little old ladies indulging a plane fetish; I enjoy my iPod and the joy of space. 


We stop here and there to rejoin. Share JellyBellys. Banter.

Relaxed. Comfortable. Yes, fun!


Tick. 


Next?


Thursday sees us up and eating even earlier (4.15 am)!


This ridiculously quiet pre,pre-dawn hour usually reserved for those on TGV returning home, not those out to exercise!


Today it's the Pyramid Jebel for some climbing/descending practice along its loftily crumbly ridge. And with its big fat bottom  wedged into deep red sand and plate rock the terrain will easily eat up today's 5 hours. 

Lungs stretch to capacity, calves burn and sweat crawls cheekily into eyes. I am now passing the one third up point and easy section of the ascent!


Don't flinch at the sheer drops or shaley surface crunching nervously underfoot. Breathe deep, work the power squats, climb  and do not label that lump of something your throat. We scale the precarious walls.


The peak. The joy of the view. Spectacular 180° vistarama ..

Friday's mixed bag tries to liven up the 4.5 hours on the compound 
.. 

• 1.5 hours pace run sees us nippily shooting laps of the compound. No sign of tiredness from recent days is heartening to all. 
• 1 hour heavy packs
• circuits finished off with a dash of treadmill mayhem. Max incline. Good pace.

I feel bored reading this but now it's done .. Tick! Tick! Tick!


Joyously home to Compressports, pizza and that all-time classic, inspirational sport phenomenon .. DodgeBall!


There is a god and he loves us!