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The reasons for this run are complex, but watching a loved one turn into a completely different person and disappear is not something I want to repeat. Their confusion, aggression and pain is difficult to understand. Too many of us are set for this end, even though we don't know it yet. Only by dedicated research can we learn to predict and deal with the potential consequences. This run will hurt a lot and maybe that's the point. Its supposed to be the toughest foot race on the planet, but it is mild discomfort when set against the suffering many of us witness in our own families through dementia. It does not discriminate and takes no prisoners. It is relentless, so we must be more determined.

So this is my contribution. I am definitely not the traditional ultra-runner; especially not at 56 years old, 6'5" and 100kgs, with an auto-immune condition. However, after being lumbered with an English Springer Spaniel (best training partner ever), high mileage runs have become pretty natural - albeit the routes are largely determined by the ability of ducks and pheasants to move faster than the dog. Surprisingly, I have regained quite a lot of the fitness I used to have when athletics was pretty much my full time purpose.

The training schedule for the Marathon Des Sable is pretty awesome. The theory is that if I train hard enough, I won't notice the pain during the race itself. It involves carrying all of your food and kit (about 11kgs) 250km across the Sahara desert for 7 x days in rather a lot of heat. No showers or luxuries. Just a lot of sand and much more elevation than you'd think. One of the days is a double marathon, but there is a free T-shirt at the end, so that's fine.

There will be some decent long distance multi-day challenges along the way to 'make the uncomfortable comfortable', as David Goggins and Ross Edgely keep shouting at me on YouTube. Once I figure out how to do so, I will post updates on the JMW website and other platforms.

Having reached a point where the injuries from my condition make me laugh and not cry (because I wake up with a different interesting pain each day), I reckon I am crackers enough to make it to the end of this Marathon Des Sable. I really hope you can get me to end of this by pledging your support and helping everyone at the charity advance our understanding of dementia.

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