Approach - U2

People often ask me how I approach the Marathon des Sables, as if there’s a secret formula. And if there is it’s ‘respect the race, respect yourself, and never underestimate the desert’.

I’ve completed the Marathon des Sables many times now, and every edition has taught me something new. No matter how experienced you are, the Sahara doesn’t care about what you’ve done as it strips everything back. Out there, there are no egos, and it’s you, alone with your pack, and alone your thoughts.

My approach has changed over the years. In the early years, I was far more gung-ho. I believed toughness alone was all I needed to get through. Toughness matters, of course, but what really gets you to the finish line is preparation and patience. These days, I obsess more over the basics – kit choice, pack weight, foot care and nutrition nothing glamorous, but all super important as small mistakes in the desert don’t stay that small for long.

Training for MdS isn’t about trying to destroy yourself every day. It’s about consistency. You build resilience slowly, stacking in the miles and time on your feet, learning how your body reacts when it’s tired, hungry, and hot. I want runners to arrive at the start line confident, not broken. The race will do enough of that on its own.

Mentally, I approach MdS with one clear objective - to finish. I’ve never been interested in racing other people out there. The real competition is the voice in your head telling you to stop. When things get dark as they can do I remind myself why I’m there. Most people who sign up are either running away from something or running towards something. Knowing which one you are, makes all the difference when you’re trudging through soft sand at 2am in the morning.

I break the race down into bite sized chunks. Never think about the full distance. Never think about tomorrow. Think about the next checkpoint. The next step. Sometimes the next ten steps. Momentum is powerful, even when it’s painfully slow.

One thing I’ve learned is that finishing strong doesn’t mean finishing fast. It means staying calm when things go wrong, because they will. Blisters, heat, fatigue, doubt. You don’t fight them; you manage them. You accept them as part of the experience.

The Marathon des Sables isn’t just a race to me. It’s a mirror. It shows you who you are when comfort is removed and excuses don’t work anymore. Every time I return, I’m reminded why I started running in the first place, not to escape hardship, but to prove I can work my way through it.

Crossing the finish line never gets boring. Not because it’s heroic, but because it’s honest. You’ve earned every step. And in the desert, that’s enough believe me.

1,234 Marathons - 290 Ultras - 10 GWR - 18 MDS - 1 Approach

Decade - Duran Duran

Ten years have slipped by since 2016, and it’s strange how both near and far that year feels now. Back then, the world seemed busy yet somehow familiar. Social media was still playful rather than exhausting and many of us still believed the future would follow a vaguely predictable kinda line. 

A decade later, that confidence now feels somewhat naive.

You see, since 2016 we’ve lived through events that’ve reshaped how we perceive time, trust and each other. The global pandemic paused everyday life and reminded us how fragile our world really is. Work moved into kitchens and spare rooms. Handshakes disappeared overnight and words like ‘lockdown’ and ‘social distancing’ became part of daily language, and the idea of ‘normal’ quietly changed meaning.

Technology has accelerated everything. We are more connected than ever, yet many people feel lonelier. At the same time, awareness has grown around mental health, inclusion, climate, and the importance of speaking out. 

It’s been a turbulent passage of time, yet we have become more reflective.

On a personal level, the years since 2016 have left their own scars. I’ve aged, adapted, and learned resilience I didn’t know I possessed.

And as this decade passes into memory, it leaves behind a quiet challenge. Not to romanticise the past or fear the future, but to take what I’ve learned about empathy, patience, and perspective and use it wisely.

1,234 Marathons - 290 Ultras - 10 GWR - 18 MDS - 10 Years

Faith - George Michael

Here’s a clear thought for the day.

Belief in the people you surround yourself with is a quiet act of trust. You give your time, your loyalty, and your care, hoping it is met with the same reliability and love you offer. 

 

Some people rise to that standard effortlessly; others reveal themselves only when tested. It’s worth asking whether those closest to you show up consistently, speak honestly, and protect your wellbeing as you protect theirs. 

 

Belief should not mean blind faith. The right people steady you, challenge you kindly, and stand firm when it matters. Mutual belief is where real connection lives and lasts.

Who do you have faith in?

1,234 Marathons - 290 Ultras - 10 GWR - 18 MDS - 1 Mind

Reach out I'll be there - Four Tops

2026 is already shaping up to be a pivotal time in a lot of the lives of the I’m working with – people that have simply REACHED OUT. People that have been STRONG enough to acknowledge that some guidance and different thinking might be all they need to get things straight in their lives once more.

I say STRONG because REACHING OUT is all too often thought of as being WEAK or FAILURE. I know only too well myself as I felt totally defeated and ay my lowest ebb when I REACHED OUT for help myself all those years’ ago. The funny thing was that as soon as I shared my predicament – my world took a turn for the better and it felt like the light started to shine on me once again.
 
In general Men want help becoming STRONGER and FASTER whereas Women want to be VALUED and HEARD – a very PHYSICAL:EMOTIONAL equation. Maybe it’s down to a confidence issue in both sexes. Men need the uplift in times and performance to give them the edge to take on the world and Women need their confidence reinstated after years of Male suppression. Every Woman I coach is STRONG, CLEVER and AWESOME – it’s just a shame they find it hard to ACCEPT, ACKNOWLEDGE and ANNOUNCE and when they do, I find it most refreshing (YOU know who you are).
 
I also find it refreshing when Men REACH OUT publicly and announce that they are in fact MORTAL and are finding life tough (YOU know who you are) as it’s cool – VERY COOL in fact as PEOPLE LOVE to help other PEOPLE. You might find that LOVE comes from the PEOPLE you might least expect and not from those nearest to you. 
 
But then, LIFE is FULL of SURPRISES and you might SURPRISE yourself and those around you if you feel lost and about to give up because your best just ain't good enough.
 
And your feel the world has grown cold and you're drifting out all on your own…
1,234 Marathons - 290 Ultras - 10 GWR - 18 MDS - 1 Voice

Three Little Birds - Bob Marley and the Wailers

Every little thing is gonna need alright - Marley

With 60 days to go until the 40^th Marathon des Sables, your focus should now shift from building endurance to refining your training. Your level of fitness is largely in place and what matters now is to sharpen the things that will carry you through the desert when things get tough.

Firstly, prioritise your exercise specificity. Long back-to-back runs will mimic race conditions as closely as possible. Running on tired legs with steady pacing, and time on feet is more important than chasing PBs. If possible, train in heat, but do it sensibly. This is about adaptation now, not about being a hero.

Secondly, lock in your kit choices. Shoes, socks, pack and gaiter choices should now be made. Practice packing your rucksack exactly as you’ll race with it and get comfortable moving with that weight on your long runs. Small annoyances now can become big problems in the Sahara.

Thirdly, work on fuelling and hydration. You should know what you’ll eat, when you’ll eat it, and how your stomach responds under fatigue. Test, test and test again.

Just as important is your mental prep. Visualise low points and rehearse how you’ll respond. Break stages into bite sized chunks and decide in advance how you’ll talk to yourself when things get hard - it will.

And finally, protect your body. Sleep well, manage niggles early, and respect recovery. Fitness gained now is minimal, fitness lost through injury could cost you getting to the start line.

Sixty days out is about confidence, clarity, and consistency and most of all ENJOY this time - it’s meant to be fun.

1,234 Marathons - 290 Ultras - 18 MDS - 10 GWR - 0 Worries

Are you experienced - Jimmy Hendrix Experience

I'm tired of wasting all my precious time - Hendrix

There's something philosophical about getting older and birthdays only underline how time passes us by but in a moment.

 

As a boy or even as a younger man, I never considered what life might be like or what I'd be doing when I'm sixty-four let alone what I'd look like or even think about. We never do, do we?

 

All I do know is that with age comes clarity and a sense of calm. One of my goals this year is to continue running as much and for as long as my old body will allow me too. That way I can continue to believe I'm thirty years younger setting PBs and living the early years of Ultramarathon running in the again.

 

Yes, those were maverick years and I never thought 1200 marathons and beyond would even be a possibility. But then life's what you make it and being sixty-four shouldn't make any difference and for the record, I'm not old, I’m just more experienced.

1,234 Marathons - 290 Ultras - 10 GWR - 18 MDS - 63.9 Years 

Afterimage - Rush

This is something that just can't be understood - Peart

Sometimes things aren't what they seem, and magic is a perfect example of this - we see one thing but in fact we are being distracted by what we believe and have no perception of what is really happening right in front of our eyes.

Well, it might not come as a surprise, but it happens all the time in everyday life. At home, at work, every time we log on, and anytime we interact ask yourself, where am I being deceived?
 
The simple answer is, for someone else's gain. It's easy to be stroked as I call it, and over the years I've gotten pretty good at reading situations and noticing where I'm being scammed. Not in a massive money laundering type kind way, just where I’m being played.
 
Now, I'm not writing this out of anger or betrayal I'm just saying watch out as your generosity and goodwill might just be taken in plain sight whilst in reality, you are being manipulated by those you trust.
 
So, see if you can spot a traitor in the midst of your faithful’s as they do exist and funnily enough might even be working together. Believe me, the folk nearest to you might just be wearing a Traitor’s cloak.

1,234 Marathons - 290 Ultras - 18 MDS - 10 MDS - Faithful or Traitor?