After an interesting trip down the Amazon river, hammocks squeezed next to each other and banging into each other as well as an early rise to the chug of the boat, we caught up with a few familiar faces and new faces to boot. At around 8am we stopped the boat near a beach and all jumped off to cool off, although the Amazon river is on the warm side.

We were then notified that the base camp this year change due to the old base camp village being torched. It was because of the envy of a neighboring village. The new venue, half way down the ‘old’ course, was a very sweet local village which involved getting into smaller boats and back and forth until all were on land. The process taking over 4 hours! Runners first of course, so the medics and helpers, young Katie Sheldrick included, had to remain on board.

Runners on land rushed to the camp to set up hammocks. Tom Bird esquire managed to set up right under a delicious mango tree. A few ripe mangos hitting the floor with an almighty thud. We were greeted in village by the local school children with traditional song and dance, a sight to be believed and hopefully the KODAK footage does it justice (thanks KODAK).

Hammocks up and the final crew on land, it was time for some local fish and rice in a watery soup which was delicious then more local dancing and in beds by 9pm. Unfortunately due to Katie s and my hammock location being like a battleship game with mangos falling to the ground throughout the night’, one hit Ms Sheldrick on the head during the night…much to the amusement of the Sky IQ team, Darren and Aaron, who were with me in the 2009 race.

After a restless night for all and early start with a swim with the dolphins at 7am, just the most random sight to be seen. More kit checking (including some of the generous Blacks kit) , medical briefing and chats about kit, race tactics and food plans – make s the whole event feel more real again. Gil, a local guide who has been involved in the race for years, made an inspiring speech about all the animals we will encounter this time. He also tells us of a recent jaguar killing. He assures us that it is a bit random and that we should be ok, he hopes!

Katie is still awaiting instructions but we think she maybe updating the official www.junglemarathon.com website – check it soon !

My pack is 13.4 kg (measured by Jim Binks who’s pack is coming in at 8.2), and everything is good to go. Stage 1 tomorrow and everyone is getting excited…kind of….

It’s 3:30 and the medics for check point one are off and checks 2-4 are soon to follow. It looks like the race is ready and set.

After a few internal flights, a stop off in Belem for some food then the final stretch to Santereim we arrived.

Met by Shirley, Brett and Gil who kindly pointed out there are only 45 runners, the long stage is now 100km, totaling 230km and someone was killed by a jaguar last week at checkpoint 4 of the long stage. Sweet !! 230am on boat, hammocks up and squashed in, iphone about to die, no signal from now on, 8 hour sail down the Amazon to the start line. I love this place !

Sao Paolo airport, terminal one. 7am and its scorching heat outside. Some runners have gone for a quick warm up in between connecting flights, now that’s just plain silly. Its the last opportunity some half decent food !
As more people meet, the excitement grows. Especially when you meet someone doing their phd on the effects of heat on the body in ultrarunning. Nice. One last beer and pizza then bye bye civilization. Next stop, the Amazon.

Reality sets in as a nearly missed flight and lack of time to get essential kit. But hey, done it before, how hard can it be second time round ?

I’ve been recognised by fellow runners from the article in Metro and my blog which is nice. Bumped into Jim Binks, the 69 year old out for his third race, he also did the MdS this year ! A machine.

Time for some rest and anxiety attacks about lack of kit, not enough training, and why we didn’t just take a normal holiday !

Christmas in Costa Rica in a few months !

A big shout out goes to Blacks , the outdoor specialist who have been very generous in donating us some kit. From waterproof lighters, headtorch, Camelback rucksack and bladderpack, to some essential bits of clothing and eating utensils ! and now we are ready ! Thanks also to my colleagues at Delta and Lick, who have been very supportive and I can only apologise for leaving at the busiest possible time !

Katie and I leave today for our adventure and Id like to thank everyone for their support so far. I hope to update the blog over the next couple of weeks, but will be very dependent on signal and mental state. For those who knew me when I originally went 2 years ago and said “stop me if I suggest doing something like this again…”THANKS FOR PAYING ATTENTION !!

Bingo !

Well as the epic return to the Amazon draws near, the kit checking continues, the anxieties, the calorie checking. Where does all the time go ? 5 days to go and i doesnt all fit int he rucksack ! tapering off the training, perhaps not the exercise, just the street pounding ! Some more bikram yoga and more swimming and cycling, a few final kit checks and food reviews and then we are ready.

Some footage of the London to Brighton ultra a couple of weeks ago, had to bail at 42 miles as I got lost !

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Training with back pack, camera and new kit has been an adventure…. some footage of using my new KODAK playsport attached !

With Ironman on hold now until next year, I have decided to focus on the main task at hand, my return to the Amazon.

Having been reading ‘The Lost City of Z’, Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcetts hazerdous fateful journey into the Amazon, a man who was the last breed of the great British explorers, has left me a little bewildered on my new journey back into the Jungle. Also Mark Hines Jungle Marathon book, I still cant believe what I had achieved before, and now that I am actually going back !!

This time though, things will be different….

Is it an expedition, an adventure ? yes, is it stupid ? yes. Why am I doing it ? Because I can !

My friends at Creative Grid (thanks Ralph for helping organise) and Madelin Nicolaus at KODAK are providing me with the KODAK playsport to capture my next adventure into the Amazon.

This will allow me to document my trip properly this time, and the build up as we approach the adventure s venue, The Amazon…

The blog will also be featured on the KODAK blog site – more details to follow.

With less than 10 weeks to go there are still things to sort out.

Work is getting busier in the approach to the world of entertainments busy Christmas period…

buy / sell

Taking on board some of my learning’s from last time, having to review kit and food and nutrition bits and pieces. Ensuring I hit the right calorie intake by day – last time I lost a stone in a week ! Time is passing too quickly !

Training has taken on a new level with backpack training, swimming with backpack, backpack in the sauna, backpack in bed… and the London to Brighton 56 mile ultra marathon at the beginning of September.

Norfolk has proved a delicious backdrop to training, a great relief after my injuries from the last triathlon training, and am now back into the full swing of things.

Most importantly of all though, my personal trainer/medical support/motivator/tattooist and love, Katie Sheldrick will be joining as part of the support crew.

Not quite sure she knows what she is letting herself in for but it will be an adventure for both of us !

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