Like the mighty Khaan's system the Mongol Derby relies on a network of horse stations stretching mile after mile across the Mongolian steppe, enabling us to change horses each day. With ten days to cover the 1000km course this is no ordinary horse race, it's not a test of the horse's speed but the rider's skill and endurance.

Basically, I will be riding semi-wild Mongol ponies for 10 hours a day for 10 days... and I'm not completely convinced that I'm going to make it home in one piece! I've heard some stories about the scars that people who've done it before still have, and they're not exactly encouraging!

Either way, I've signed up for it now, and there's no going back...but if I manage to make a fair bit for charity, at least the next two months of running and riding every single day...plus the final adventure to Mongolia...might actually be worth the effort!!