across the sahara

Twestival is a charity event that has been organised entirely through twitter – it is being held in many towns and cities across the world bringing people together in aid of charitywater.org

A few enterprising folk from the UK twitter community decided to undertake a gumball style drive to all the main twestival parties starting with Newcastle and driving to Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading and finally London.

I have managed to grab a spot on the car to promote my run across the Sahara – so good luck @documentally, @philcampbell, @magiprint and @barnstormed on the journey on Thursday!

If you spot it out on the road send me a picture!

Ande

Ok, without further a do, the running has started. I have yet to get myself a plan per se, but have made contact with an ex MDS runner who managed to complete the entire event in 75th place, which isn’t bad considering some of the best runners and special forces type enter this race.

So much to do
- Fund raising plan
- Training plan
- Nutrition
- Fund raising
- Blogging
- Yoga
- Oh and the running!

Well I have started a dailymile account which is basically a place where i will log all my runs and training – great idea.

Next has been the justgiving.com/acrossthesahara page- the widget you can see to the right. This is the most important piece – which is why it’s in bold – it means donate please

Been thinking and drafting out a funding raising plan – kicking off by meeting some of London’s finest in terms of event planning, PR, publicity and blogging – in May I plan to run a Social Media event in London – all proceeds to Mencap.

Nutrition, ah yes food, well apart from being advised to eat lots, as I am clocking up 80/90k per week, I have yet find a nutritionist – if you read this and would like some free publicity please get in touch.

Sponsors, ah yes have lots of ideas down for this one and intend to pursue this in the coming weeks to see how far I can get with letters, emails and cold calling – nothing like being a little cheeky – sometimes get you very far…

So, keep with me and dig deep, my page is up and running now, you can donate.

Oh and finally i have some video diary to post, watch this space..

On the 15th December I received a phone from Ellen Brooks from Mencap events, although I had had several phone calls from the Events team over the past few months, this one was different. I had suspected that I would not be given a place on the MDS at all, never mind a postponed 2011 or 2012 place, and so when I was told I had been given an conditional place it completely changed my life in that single moment.

A smile run across my face, the smile quickly turned to tears- speechless for a moment and unable to comprehend the opportunity that had been presented to be. It then became clear, the dream had become a reality, and I felt so lucky to have been selected to participate in the race.

So on the 15th December my life changed, in a way that made me recognise I had the ability and determination to achieve anything I put my mind to.

This blog will be my diary of the training leading up to the March 2010, the place where I will run all my fund raising initiatives and ultimately the place that holds all of the experiences and memories of the 25th Marathon Des Sables.

I will be indebted to all of you who support me throughout this journey and I am pleased I have been given the chance to raise money for Mencap.

Andrew Gregson

this is the place i will be capturing all my training, sponsorship, nutrition, fund raising and events i am organising over the coming 16 months before the Marathon Des Sables. I have only just started this today 30th December 2008, so bear with me whilst i get my act together.

Over the coming days i will be creating the site. On a positive note my Doctor approved me for the event, which means beside being crazy i am also fit enough to undertake the race.

Back soon.

Ande