I have been a bit quiet recently but that does not mean I have not been doing things. Managed to get three marathons in the other weekend; Beachy Head, Greensands and Dublin.

Now I am starting my training for the Addo 100 miler in South Africa at the beginning of May. I have posted two DNFs for this event. There will not be a third. Training is focussing on speedwork at the moment, 800 metre reps, hill reps and stuff like that.

Managed to get to the running club on Tuesday, Lordshill Road Runners. They are in Southampton and I live in Cornwall, it is a long story, but I am there on Tuesdays most weeks which is their speed training day.

Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon successfully completed. Results videos photos and reports on www.extrememarathons.com/augrabies.

Fly out to Johannesburg tonight, then an all day bus trip on Friday to the Kalahari. Kit inspection on the Saturday then the following day (4th) the race starts. Very nervous even though I have done it before, or perhaps because I have done it before. I know how hard and hot it is going to be. Follow my progress on www.extrememarathons.com/augrabies

Well the training has all been done. I hope it is enough. All the kit is line in the spare room. I have all the food I need; just need to weigh it out into individual portions and divide it up between the days. I think the Bombay Mix will be the secret weapon this year. Getting very, very excited now. Oh yes and a little bit nervous (for those not used to the subtleties of the English language that means I am virtually wetting myself).

Extreme hill reps today. There is a great section of track close to home where I can run up one side of the valley (rocky and steep) jog down and run up the other side (easier under foot and not so steep but a bit longer) and jog down. Repeat 4 times and you have a great hill session. Each hill takes about 5 minutes to get up so with a warm up and warm down it takes about 1hr 45 mins.

I thought this was a tough session until I met a Scottish guy training for the Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc. He was doing Ben reps - yes reps up Ben Nevis times 4 now that is what I call hardcore.

Now I have a shed load of work to do before leaving home tomorrow morning at 5am for two days in Southampton followed by an Ed & Phil sales trip to the North West and Scotland. As a well earned treat Phillip and I are running the Moray Marathon on the Sunday. This will be a very special event as it is Mel's 100 marathon and the first time I have see her since she got engaged to my good friend Dave Ross.

We will need a lot less kit in the Kalahari but will still be making use of grub and gear supplied by our supporters.

Phil will be using UK Gear Desert shoes and giving them a good testing. I will be using shoes kindly donated by Runaround Sports & Health.

We will both be using Wigwam socks and taking some Engo Blister prevention patches.

We are grateful to the following for suppling some of our food: Weetabix - ready brek, Munchy Seeds - snacks, Castus - fruit bars and Fabulous Bakin' Boys - Flapjacks.

Before we go I will post up a full list of the food we are taking. As he does not carry as much around his waist as I do Phillip will have to carry more in his rucksack.

I am back posting again as the date of the final challenge gets ever closer. Training is going well and I am getting used to running with a 12kg rucksack. In the back of my mind is the thought - 'I got frostbite in the cold of the Artic, will I succumb to heatstroke in the heast of the Kalahari?'