The BIG race approaches FAST

I am also on steroids now as they want to counteract some of the negative things these drugs are doing to my body. This has the effect of making me look ok although within that’s not the case. I also am suffering a bit "down there" from radiation proctitus whereby the radiotherapy I had did not always hit the intended target so there is some collateral damage so to speak, not very nice.   

So the big race is now getting close, 38 days, 12 hours and 19 minutes until the Marathon Des Sables starts (so the race countdown website says) and my training has improved over the last months so I am physically feeling good (relatively speaking of course).   

I completed my warm up training race a few weeks ago of 66 miles in around 16 hours, no ill effects, didn’t push myself and after a few days off was back on the training. Next came a family holiday to Canada where the temperature was -25c when we got there and +15c when we left, what the difference a week makes. That holiday was good as a recharge plus snow running and cross country skiing helped my training.   

Last week I was invited to be the Prostate Cancer ambassador at the Football League cup final. It was a great day, I took my son Ben on his 16th birthday and we both walked on the pitch just before kick off and I was presented to both Liverpool and Man City. A memory that I hope we both never forget.   

My marathon walk with Jeff Stelling who is a commentator on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday is also getting close, Prostate Cancer UK have invited me to run (walk) the last leg of Jeff Stellings 10 marathons in 10 days from Hartlepool to Wembley (I will be running from AFC Wimbledon to Wembley via a few London clubs, 26.2 miles) on 30th March. It will be good training for me, raise profile for the charity and hopefully a great experience too.   

PCUK have also had me interviewed by ITV and Sky Sports with a probable article in the Evening Standard to come, whilst I am in no way special it is unusual to have someone as young (relatively) as me who is both suffering from the cancer and carrying out energetic fund raising activities. My sons football team, AFC Ewell under 11s are carrying out a bucket collection for the charity at AFC Wimbledon V Orient in a few weeks too.   

So all I need to do now is:-   

1) lose my cold
2) pass an ECG and doctors test in 2 weeks time  
3) do my 14 days of hot yoga and heat chamber running  
4) stay healthy (ha ha), I read some wise words that said I can get 10% fitter in the remaining weeks or blow it and get 100% less fit i.e. get injured so I need to be sensible about my diet and training from now on. 
5) I now have all the kit I need but cant work out how to get it all into my rucksack and keep it under 10kg so there is an exercise. 
  

I will send one last pre race email just before the race with details of how you can follow me during the week (if you want to) as I will have a tracker fitted to my kit and you will see my "blip" move slowly across the desert (if it starts moving fast you should worry as it means I am getting medivaced out!), I will also give you an email address where you can send emails that will be given to me daily if you feel the need to encourage me or otherwise! The races are Sunday 10th April and then daily until Saturday 16th April all starting at 8-00am GMT.   

Training now is a long run Saturday, 22 miles, then 3 x 10 mile runs in the week plus a couple of gym sessions, all now well within my abilities so really enjoying it and the lighter evenings and warmer weather has made it more pleasurable.   

If you feel able to sponsor me please feel free to visit my just giving page but if nothing else do think prostate cancer for any male who feels anything strange or unusual below the waist (so to speak) as early diagnosis can save lives. I will do my best to get to the start line however if health matters take over more than they are at the moment I hope you will understand that you may have been "just giving".   

Best wishes.  
Kevin