The countdown has begun

This is it, the start of the adventure is only just around the corner. We are now under two weeks and last night began our oxygen chamber sessions, 12 of them that will lead us right up until the day before the climb.

It was a pretty big weekend all round, some good training, good preparation and a fantastic sense of excitement for the impending trip

Ameer, Nas and I trained together Friday morning, an 11k walk in the sand and then two sets of stairs, about 4.5 hours all in all. It was nice to feel that all of us found it quite easy and could have gone on far longer - but we all had plans.

The following day Nas and I were up at 5am to go cycling. There is a desert cycling track that leads out to a hotel 30k's away. We cycled there, sat for a breakfast coffee and banana and then cycled back........faster!

A few hours rest by the pool and then our first session in the chamber.

We started on a nice easy height last night, with the room set to 2500m, we will then increase this height every day until we leave. We are all very excited to already have trained at 3500m before we even get to Africa

Some pre trip admin got done this morning, our yellow fever vaccinations are now complete. All of course performed with the expected Dubai military precision. Arrived at the clinic at 7.30 sharp (opening time) and left at 10.30. The responsible staff didn't even arrive until 8.35! I literally have no idea how such hopeless organisation is still allowed to exist of such an aspirational city