The Angry Pirates complete the 75km Wadi Bih relay race

It's 5:00 am on a cold Friday morning in January, and while most of the world is sound asleep, a few brave souls are stirring across Dubai. "Mr. Diessner, this is your wake-up call" I sarcastically say, knowing that Martin is just as happy to hear from me as I am to be calling him to wake him up. It's 5:15 a.m., and suddenly I'm not so happy to be the captain of the Angry Pirates, a ragged collection of runners united by their love of running and partying, a lethal combination. I'm currently feeling that lethal combination, having been out the night till 1 am, and I can still taste the Vodka Red Bulls, and the Big Mac I had before bed. Truly, The Breakfast of Champions.. Now in its 17th year, the Wadi Bih Relay Race is a 75 km run up and own the mountains between Ras Al Khaimah and Dibba. And, for the second year, The Angry Pirates have gathered their strengths to run it. Last year, we scored 7th place, only 36 minutes slower than the winners, so there's a lot of pressure on us this year to really make an impression this year. This year's Angry Pirates featured:

• Me: A reformed chocoholic turned running-fiend.
• Martin Diessner: our honorary sixth member of the five-runner team (our fifth Beatle, if you will), who did the entire 75km by himself, on his bike.
• Martin Bond: A former Royal Marine who plies his trade as a private investment banker.
• Mark Gatty Saunt: our friend from Al Bawaba who possesses Forrest Gump-like running abilities
• Keren Gatty Saunt: a PR diva and running queen who actually got her husband wearing a client's products during the race.
• Tristan Black: Keren's brother and the youngest member of the team.

Due to problems on the UAE side of the RAK border, the race was modified this year to start and finish in Dibba, on the Omani side. The actual race was brilliant. Running through high winds on the mountaintip and brilliant sunshine for most of the day, The Angry Pirates had a great day, running the 75km course in 5:51:31 and finishing a respectable 14th out of 62 teams. Martin Diessner also had a fun race, but naturally finished hours ahead of us on his bicycle and was waiting for us at The Golden Tulip at lunchtime. Top day out, and an excellent run. Anyone wanna challenge us in 2009?