Yikes the 39th Marathon des Sables starts on Sunday and I'll be there on the start line for my 18th time! No doubt, it's going to be a great week and along the way there's a marathon and an ultra within the 250kms of the race to add to my running total.
It's a far cry from being here back in 1999, not knowing what to expect, and naively running in fancy dress just to make it harder - (what was I thinking!) but anyway, I survived and immediately fell in love with the desert.
Since then, the race has become etched into my DNA and I know the challenge that lies ahead of me. Sure all my kit is tried and tested, and I know how exactly how to pace myself, but the MDS is all about grit and determination. It's hardcore. It's tough. It's brutal. And at 63, I'm one of the older runners now so I'll have to use all my years of experience to get me and son Sam (31) through to the finish line next Saturday.
So, I have my game face on and I'm ready for whatever the desert is going to throw at us this year.
Let Battle commence...yee ha!
1,213 Marathons - 289 Ultras - 17 Marathon des Sables - One Life
