As you can see, my web site is finally back up and running. I’m not sure what the problem was, but hopefully it won’t occur again.

I’ve spent this past week taking it easy. The Big Red Run was so extreme, it demanded a solid rest afterwards. My right foot is still sore and bruised from when I rolled my ankle on the first day of the race. This has caused me to change my gait to compensate, which has resulted in some Achilles soreness. I can’t see it becoming a major issue, but I need to be careful.

It’s been good hearing from so many of the participants in the Big Red Run. It’s almost as if we all went into a battle together – a battle against the course and the terrain itself. And we conquered it too, and now have something special in common. As for the effort required, I reckon everyone who completed that race is capable of running around the world – seriously. In fact, running around the world is easier in many ways.

I’m going to continue taking it easy as far as running is concerned, but not on the cycling front. I’ll be doing a big ride over the mountain passes in Kangaroo Valley tomorrow, training for a 3,500 km ride with Dave and Peter through Italy and France which starts later this month. We’ll be doing some of the Tour de France course as well.

Finally, here’s a photo from the world run, this time taken in central Spain. A few days later I was running over the Pyrenees.

On This Day

Jul 7, 2012

Distance today = 52.56 km; Total distance = 8900.50 km; Location = Berlin, Wisconsin (5 km west of) – 43 58.171′ N, 89 00.465′ W; Start time = 0848 Finish time = 1731

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/196761816

The joy of running in 29 C temps!!! It might have been a bit hotter than most runners prefer, but it was bliss for me after the past week. I actually enjoyed the run today.

I found some very quiet roads through thick forests, and made the most of them. I even saw a tiny snake on the side of the road, but one that I’m sure was not posionous. It was so small it was almost cute.

For something different, I called Carmel early during the run (she was still in the hotel room) and got her to place her phone near the TV, which was showing the final part of the first mountain stage of the Tour de France. I put my phone on loudspeaker and listened to the commentary of Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin as I ran. It was a very exciting finish too.

Today I passed the milestone of 7,000 km run in the US. Soon after, as I was approaching my finish for the day, a car pulled up alongside me. Inside was Kailee with her mother and grandmother. They’d seen me on the TV news last night, and stopped to get photos and for me to sign Kailee’s shirt. It was a nice way to end a much more enjoyable day.