I wandered into a book store yesterday to find The World at my Feet placed prominently, full face, in the New Releases section. Carmel was very excited and had to take a photo of me holding the book in the store.

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I’m taking it a little easier at the moment in training. I’ve been doing one time trial each week, but on a six day rotational basis, with no sprint sessions. However, I’ve been running faster during my other runs, which appears to be having just as positive an effect as speed work itself. The reason for the change is not arbitrary. I’m timing my training ahead of the Sutherland to Surf race on Sunday week, my lead up race before the City to Surf.

By the way, I stated my 10:08 for 3 km on Tuesday was my fastest in seven years. I checked it, and it’s actually my fastest for eight years.

The world run photo for today is another I took from the side or the road in the Utah desert. How could I not but enjoy running in such surroundings?

On This Day

Jul 9, 2012

Distance today = 50.01 km; Total distance = 9001.77 km; Location = Kaukauna, Wisconsin – 44 17.196′ N, 88 16.166′ W; Start time = 0908 Finish time = 1748

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/197607692

Although it was 34 C today, the much lower humidity made it a very comfortable day for running. I ran for a short time along the shore of Lake Winnebago, which is quite a large and pretty lake.

At the end of the day I passed the 9,000 km mark for the run so far. I now have a little more than 17, 000 km to go. Mmmmm, perhaps I shouldn’t look at it that way.

I get a lot of questions along the lines of “how do you manage to get up each day and do it all again?” I thought I’d attempt an answer here:

I have to admit that sometimes it’s not easy. The hardest time of the day is during the early hours of the morning, particularly if I get up to go to the toilet. My legs are stiff, and I’m usually hobbling at this time of the night. And when I wake, it often hits me like a sledgehammer – that I have more than of year of “getting up and doing it all again”. That can be very demoralising when you’re sleepy and feeling vulnerable.

However, once I wake up fully later in the morning, I quickly feel much more positive. I have no trouble getting on the road, particularly as everything I’m seeing is new to me.

So that’s how it’s done. It’s a matter of balance. I have to make sure I’m enjoying myself enough to maintain the schedule. Pushing too hard would make it less enjoyable and, therefore, unbearable. Doing too little would mean adding extra months. I think I’ve got it just about right at around 50 km per day.