I’ve spent a bit of time over the past few days designing and measuring the course in Centennial Park over which I intend to do the 12 hour run in about six weeks. I’ve come up with a 4 km loop, although it’s not your normal loop. It’s based around a central intersection with five out and back segments per loop. It’s very flat, with a total elevation differential of 4 metres.

The out and back nature has also enabled me to set a precise course distance of 4 km. That makes it easy for me to calculate how far I’ve run during the day. There is also toilet block just metres off the course, and I pass it twice each lap – and a drinking fountain (bubbler) that I also pass twice each lap. The traffic on Fridays is very light, making it a perfect course. I’m looking forward to it. My aim is simply to run further than I ever have before in a single day, so I need to chalk up at least 108 km.

Today’s photo sees me examining a crop of soy beans en route in Illinois, with corn across the road. No, I wasn’t bent over trying to catch my breath. A few weeks later many of these crops had wilted and died in the extreme heat of that summer.

On This Day

Jul 1, 2012

Distance today = 50.80 km; Total distance = 8625.81 km; Location = Stoddard, Wisconsin – 43 42.101′ N, 91 12.853′ W; Start time = 0858 Finish time = 1738

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/194826065

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/194828935

I’ve often said the mental side of this run is the harder part, but some days are just as hard physically. I am now carrying a thermometer, which I keep in the shade in my belt pouch, allowing me to know the real temperature where I’m running. Today it reached 98 F (37 C) and stayed there most of the afternoon. And I’m running in the direct sunshine, so you can see what I mean about the physical side being demanding. And the heat makes the roadkill smell even worse.

However, that said, I did have lots of positives today – more running along the Mississippi (the Great River Road was recently named the most scenically beautiful road in the US), including crossing the river to enter the state of Wisconsin. This happened at the town of La Crosse, where I noticed there had recently been a concert by the Steve Miller Band and Foreigner – two memorable bands of the 70s. I also spent part of the morning getting text updates from Dave in Australia about the first stage of the Tour de France.

And I was also joined by local TV station WKBT Channel 8, for some filming and an interview.

And then we met Diane and George for the first time. You may recall that Jenny, who was travelling with us from San Francisco to Phoenix, left us in mid May and visited the Grand Canyon on her way home. She met Diane there, who made her promise to get us to drop in on her in Stoddard, a beautiful town on the banks of the Mississippi. And that’s what we’re doing now. Diane and George met us in La Crosse with placards welcoming us to town, which was a real treat. We are staying at their fantastic home, right on the river, so I’d better be a good guest and not stay too long on this blog.