Distance today = 0 km; Total distance = 15,414.07 km; Location = Buenos Aires – 34 27.800′ S, 58 29.779′ W; Start time = n/a, Finish time = n/a

Success!!! Or so it seems. My heel now appears to be on the mend. Here’s what I think has happened.

During all the running over the past year, there must have been a small injured section on my heel – too minor for me to even notice. Attempts by my body to repair it with scar tissue were being nullified immediately when I embarked on a new 50 km run each day.

However, once I started to rest, the scar tissue has a chance to build up, in an attempt to repair whatever the problem was. The more I rested, the more the scar tissue built up, and the more it hurt. It has been a stinging pain, which is also indicative of scar tissue.

I have begun massaging away the scar tissue, not that there was much there – just a a tiny lump. It has already started to feel a lot better. Fingers crossed, although, as Bob Dylan warns, I shouldn’t speak too soon, ’cause the wheel’s still in spin.

Only six days now until I fly out to Portugal. The weather there should be ideal for running (so long as there’s not too much rain). I anticipate the European leg, from the most westerly point (west of Lisbon) to the most easterly point (Istanbul), should take me about four months.

PS My friend and fellow journey runner, Tony Mangan, has started his Oceania leg after a Christmas break. He began with a run in Fiji and has now arrived in New Zealand. You can follow him on www.theworldjog.com.