Welcome

Hi guys,

I've decided to write a blog on my running and training for the Namib Desert Challenge 2012 and the events and decisions that have led me to this point in time.

Let me first start with how I became a runner (and trail runner now), and a bit about my background.

I started off as a road cyclist in my early twenties, not an elite cyclist but a better than average run-of-the-mill weekend warrior, training 6 days a week while studying at varsity. Before that, I was a pretty active teenager, participating in mountain bike racing on a weekly basis and enjoying the great outdoors in Johannesburg with my old man (Mike) and my brother (Glenn). Family tragedy struck in 2002, my mum (Liz) passed away, and my outlet for my emotions led to an increased focus on my sport- I surprised myself with some of my results.

I took a leave of absence from cycling while I began personal training at a Virgin Active- working 14 hour days and becoming a recognised professional in the industry. My return to endurance sport resumed when I took up a corporate position and I dabbled in triathlon, becoming an ITU certified coach in the process with a focus on community development and as a means to better my product offering for a business venture called TrainingBible South Africa (with Eckard Bergh and Ian Wilson).

I completed the 2010 Spec Savers Half Ironman in Buffalo City, East London (2 weeks after tonsillitis) in a time of 5:51. A great feeling after training for 4 months, 12 sessions and 25 hours a week. That was pretty much the culmination of my triathlon performance as I haven't raced since (partly due to the time I have available to me now, with work travel, and the restructuring of my priorities).

My running performance stemmed from triathlon- I could run a comfortable 10km in under 50min, with minimal training and a somewhat unconventional arm carriage (as anyone who has run with me can attest). After a couple of beers with some mates, one night in early 2009 (Fabio la Mantia & Andrew Squire), we decided to enter the Comrades Marathon that year. I had never raced further than 10km at this stage so it was the beer talking and not my brain actually working. So I had a challenge ahead of me: I needed to race a 21km, a 42km in under 5 hours to qualify, and run an ultramarathon, all in 4 months. No pressure.

I managed all of the above, contracted ITB in both legs twice in the 4 months, had almost 40 days of rest to recuperate from the debilitating effects of ITB and still ran a great race in 10:15 to claim my Comrades Bronze medal. Super chuffed!

More in the next blog entry....

Ciao