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MDS - Marathon Des Sables

12 watchers

Alexv May 2012 10:42pm, 15 May 2012 435 posts	Quote Pin Alexv Yup, I figured that. I only looked at Bink's profile after I read his report. To put into context I want a challeng but want to limit the possibility of serious injury etc and I think MDS provides what is needed but in a safe ish environment relative to the crazy stuff Binks has done. A great write up but Bink's isn't your average Joe:-) Lots of respect though to Binks. Well I am doing Berlin and then thinking of the Thames ultra in jan @ 45 miles. Good plan or not? I really do not have a training plan for this MDS but want to run it.
Alexv May 2012 8:54pm, 17 May 2012 438 posts	Quote Pin Alexv I meant the country to capital ultra, not Thames ultra. gobeyondultra.co.uk
NomadicNutter May 2012 9:10pm, 30 May 2012 First-time poster!!	Quote Pin NomadicNutter Happy to share info on what kit I took...biggest lessons learned 1) Raidligh packs might be light but they're not comfy, if I did it again I'd get a decent pack that spread the load better 2) bring poles unless you expect to run the whole thing! You'll have a blast, its a great event....havent had so much fun for ages!
Alexv May 2012 11:24pm, 31 May 2012 460 posts	Quote Pin Alexv Hi NN, cool. Well I got a back and practiced a 28 miler last weekend. It's a raid light lol. The osmo 20l one:-). I was planning to run the whole thing...at least that is the plan. What was the fun bit? Any tips on shoes? ...and any other tips ? Food etc.
NomadicNutter Jun 2012 10:13pm, 27 Jun 2012 8 posts	Quote Pin NomadicNutter best bit for me...the second half of the long stage, I was completely in the zone, perfect rythmn and just powered the last 35k. I must have looked mad grinning from ear to ear yomping along alone in the pitch black! The last day was amazing too...if disney made sand dunes they would look like cathedral dune which was our last stage. soft sand & hills like devon for the entire last day - the perfect way to end a desert race Worst bit...losing sleeping bag/mat/pillow in a monster hail storm (luckily someone found the sleeping bag on the other side of the camp). For food I went for the highest food/weight/volume density I could find....exped meals for me. I had a main meal in the evening, porridge in the morning and a 9bar+2 gels per day for snacks. I also took a couple of bags of salted cashews to snack on. Try and get a bit of variety in your food if you can - by the last day no one in my tent could face the porridge again! I debagged all of my food and put in ziplocks to save space although everyone had a different theory on what was best. For shoes I had inov8 268s...never again! I had so many blisters...and a few more blisters on top of those blisters. Get shoes that you're comfy running in, you could probably even get away with road shoes! Get the gaiters glued and sewn...bring duck tape (wrap a length around a trekking pole or water bottle) to repair rips in the gaiters as the week goes on. The inov8's were just not right for me and I should have spent more time looking for shoes rather than trying to make them work.
Alexv Jul 2012 10:26pm, 3 Jul 2012 481 posts	Quote Pin Alexv NN, sounds like you had a great time. . I watched the James cracknell doc again trying to pick up tips:-) Re shoes, I,ve heard a few people comment that road shoes do the job but I still need to figure out what to wear. I use newtons which defo will be the wrong shoe due to the lugs but they also have a low heel drop which I like. Brookes are something I was going to take a gander...dunno. Someone else said the inov8 weren't good for the event in their opinion. Any other thoughts on shoes. Am not planning to take poles and was planning on a week of nuts and gels with perhaps some biltong as a "treat" and that will work for the food/weight/density equation. Would you really need anything else, food wise?
Alexv Jul 2012 11:41pm, 4 Jul 2012 485 posts	Quote Pin Alexv I've entered the London ultra as a training run:-)
Craig D Aug 2012 8:24pm, 3 Aug 2012 102 posts	Quote Pin Craig D Hi Alex, I am entered into MDS next year as well. I cant wait, if you are on facebook there is a 2013 group which is popular (you may be on it already). I have started to think about kit etc and have bought an OMM 25l pack. Hoping it is is big enough but it should force me to pack light, I have heard loads of stories of people ditching kit on day 2. I am planning onwearing the Adidas Kanadia trail shoes, I wear them a lot in training and have never had problems on long distance stuff. It looks from your time like you have good pace so i guess build up the long slow run/walks and some gym work for the 8-10kg in the pack! Good luck with the training.
Alexv Aug 2012 7:35pm, 26 Aug 2012 497 posts	Quote Pin Alexv Hi Craig, not really a Facebook fan but going onto to have a look. I am doing Berlin marathon then Druids challenge then London ultra before mds. I think I will go for the saucony kinvara 3. I need to check but I think I have the 20l pack....plan was super light:-)
Alexv Aug 2012 7:45pm, 26 Aug 2012 498 posts	Quote Pin Alexv I just applied to the group. Thanks