Distance today = 51.89 km; Total distance = 7217.50 km; Location = Redfield (10 km east of) – 44 52.739′ N, 98 22.928′ W; Start time = 0851, Finish time = 1655

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/185326610

Biting flies, birds flying decoy, and crop dusters – it was all happening in the air today. For the first time on the entire run I was bitten by insects, and while I was running too. They were only flies, but they were vicious.

Many birds in this area have young in nests by the side of the road. As I run by, they swoop close to me, making lots of noise to try to distract me and lead me away from their nests. There are several species doing the same thing. Once they deem I’m safely past, they return to their nests. I’m just glad they don’t actually attack you and draw blood, like magpies do in Australia – another reason I want to be finished this run before October next year.

I saw three different crop dusting planes in the air this morning. The pilots are real acrobats, dropping to within a few metres of the ground before letting go of their “dust”. It certainly looked dangerous to me. I wonder how many “come a cropper”?

It was a very hot one again today; 32C, but I am pleased with how I’m handling it. The roads were generally very quiet again, at least during the first half. At 20 km I reached a very nice lake that I ran along the shore of for about 4 km. It reminded me a lot of rural Sweden, north of Uppsala, including the red barns. Carmel very patiently provided me with drinks at appropriate spots along the road for three hours this morning, culminating in a nice late morning snack by the lake.

Today marked a new record for me – one I knew I’ d smash this year. I passed my previous highest yearly mileage, which I set just last year in preparing for this run. I will more than double that personal best this year.

The tracker is showing me in Redfield, but my official position is about 10 km to the east.