Blake's profile

In many ways, Blake's whole life has been about this moment, year upon year of fastidious preparation for his day - or rather week - in the sun.

No-one survives the Marathon des Sables without mastering rehydration. Blake has shrewdly disciplined himself to practise taking on fluids, often in prodigious quantities, almost daily, for his entire adult life (and, indeed, long before 2004).

In an innovative attempt to acclimatise to the blistering temperatures we will face in the Sahara, this committed explorer has spent an inordinate amount of time navigating his way around the hottest, most exotic sites of the world. Or at least the World Wide Web. Dusty, stinky, fly-blown communal tents? This will hold no fears for our man, who has painstakingly mimicked such conditions in his room.

In the knowledge that the Marathon des Sables is as much a psychological as a physical test - that among all that sand, grit is what truly counts - Blake has seized every opportunity to test his mental stamina and build his pain threshold. During his early preparation for the 2005 London Marathon, he telepathically requested that I give him the worst dead leg of his life, so he could hobble his way through four months of training. Sadly, he was still limping come race day, adding ``at least an hour'' to his time. But he was determined not to complain for too many months. That's the sort of guy he is.

The following year his relentless rehydration schedule put paid to his dream of completing back-to-back London Marathons. Again, no complaints.

An all-action character, Blake is never happier than when indulging in adrenaline sports like sky-diving and hunting the lower classes in his plus-fours. Indeed, some have said ``Danger'' must be his middle name. Actually, it's Kenneth. And Spice.

In the Sahara, endurance is going to be crucial. Another Blake forte. After a long day selling insurance door-to-door (he heroically continues to insist he works for Lloyd's of London) he thinks nothing of sitting through up to six consecutive episodes of 24.

Above all, Blake is a man's man, never happier than when watching Manchester play association football. This is a specimen so sure of his sexuality that he has shirts in 93 different shades of pink, and once grew man-boobs.

So, as you can see, claims that Blake couldn't even run a bath are very, very wide of the mark. Expect fireworks in the desert. Or at least an SOS flare or two.

Written by Duncan.