Blimey this is a big place, it's going to take a whole day just to run out of it.

I have just woken up after a 10 hour sleep after a fairly painless flight from the UK. 10.5 hour on a plane is never pleasant but it was OK as I got to sit upstairs and near the window so had a fair bit of space. I got cramp on the plane though and came off feeling like all of my legs were not working. I was a bit dissappointed that we did not fly over the US much, when we went to Vegas the plane goes right through and I can see a lot of it. This time it was mostly through Canada until it swooped down through the NW states. Probably just as well I didn't look at it too much.

I didn't go into detail about the "purpose of your visit" thing when asked that several times by passport control.

It's 5am here, better get used to that, it's still dark and I am staring at where the sun should come up from but there is no sign of it yet. Not much yet to report other than the quite sickly feeling I am getting that this thing now feels like it's really going to happen.

Later today I will go to a race breifing at the Huntington Beach Hotel where we are all based and I will get to meet the other runners for the first time. Before that I am going shoe shopping for a couple more pairs of trainers.

Hopefully there will be a few drinkers in teh hotel bar tonight so that I can get to know the 16 other runners before we enter our different worlds on the same bit of highway.

Tomorrow I'll do a big shop to buy about a months worth of snacks and anything that I panic myself into buying.

I am also very pleased with this article in the Telegraph and thanks to Jol for arranging it. Hopefully I'll be able to update this every week.

Here is a list of what I have taken so far;

13 Pairs of pants

21 Pairs of Socks

22 short sleeved tops/vest (Inc 4 serpie ones and 1 fetch, most of the tops were given to me by Columbia)

6 paris of shorts

4 long sleeved tops

4 wind/shower proof jackets

waterproof trousers

3 sets of leggings

3 gloves

calf and quad compression guards

compression tights

15 state flags, 1 USA flag 1 UK flag

Sleeping Bag and Sleeping Mat

Weighing Scales

2 Small Camepacks, 1 large, 2 bottle belts

walking Poles (not for the race mind, to hobble about afterwards)

The Stick

Bowl, Cup, knife, fork, spoon

Antiseptic liquid

Sun Cream (must not forget to wear it)

Slippers

Sandals

2 sun hats, 3 buffs, 1 snood

High viz stuff and lights

Phone, US sim card and 5 phone batteries

Netbook

2 pairs of shades and 1 pair of sand-goggles

8 tubes of 3B's lube

4 pairs of Newton running shoes, 1 pair of PT1000, I will but a couple of pairs of "safe" Brooks or Asics when I am out there

Elephant strength toe nail clippers and foot cheese grater

RunningandStuff