Only two days now until my 12 hour run. In fact, in 48 hours time I’ll already be four and a half hours into it. I’m taking it very easy until then, with just some light running. When I was younger, I always felt pretty fresh within a few days of beginning my pre-race taper. These days I still feel sluggish with some leg soreness even up until the day of the event. I’m not sure if that’s age, or if it’s because the volume of running I do these days is greater than I used to do (it used to be shorter but faster running). Anyhow, I know that I’ll be OK on the day.

As for the day itself, I will get Kate to send regular tweets on my phone. These will show up on the run web site (www.tomsnextstep.com – for those who normally follow on Facebook, you’ll need to look on the web site instead). Those who are interested will then be able to follow my progress.

The photo below was taken in the Colorado Rockies, near Estes Park. I was running with locals, Lisa and Terry, at the time as I made my way down the range that day and into the town of Loveland.

On This Day

Aug 10, 2013

Distance today = 48.87 km; Total distance = 24,557.68 km; Location = Naracoorte, South Australia – 36 57.280’ S, 140 44.603′ E; Start time = 0827, Finish time = 1559

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/356227355

Awoke to a cloudless sky, and relatively warm temps. Although a few clouds did gather later, and a cool breeze sprung up, it was still a very pleasant day on the road.

It’s beautiful sheep grazing countryside around here, and a pleasure to run through. I learned something about sheep today – they recognise each other’s voices. I was passing a large field, with many hundreds of sheep in it, when a lamb starting bleating. It was the only sheep making any noise at all. All of a sudden, from about 200 metres away, an adult sheep started bleating too – just the two of them calling back and forward. The lamb started running toward the mother, calling all the time. They were still the only sheep making any noise. Eventually the lamb made it all the way to its mother, where it began to suckle.

Today’s run was over the same course as an afternoon stage of the Tour de Bois in 2010. Into a stiff headwind, the peloton was sticking together as it rode toward the finish line in Naracoorte. As the 5 km To Go banner was reached, Chips decided to go for a lone breakaway. Cycling fans always love a lone breakaway, perhaps due to the tragic reality that, despite their bravery, they rarely win.

The peloton was slow to react, probably expecting Chips to fade. He quickly got out to a 200 metre lead. A disorganised peloton is the friend of a lone breakaway, and so it was on this occasion. No-one wanted to chase, because they’d have to do the work into the wind, so Chips stayed out in front as the finish line approached.

As he passed under the 1 km To Go banner and started to show signs of fatigue, there was finally an attack in the peloton, and the gap narrowed. Fortune favours the brave, and Chips was about to be favoured on this occasion – there was a 500 metre long uphill just before the finish line.

Now, hills are not really Chips’ strength, but nor were they the strength of those pursuing him, particularly Reefton Humblewood, whose heart shrinks to the size of a pea when the gradient turns up. The hill was enough to prevent any of the chasers from reaching him, and Chips earned a courageous and memorable victory.

The VC demonstrated his power, by blowing away the best of the rest in the sprint for second place. The VC is certainly a rider to be feared when he’s at his best. Anyhow, I enjoyed reliving the exploits of Chips and the VC as I ran the same course today.

Tomorrow I run through the Coonawarra wine region. I’m looking forward to that.