Distance today = 54.98 km; Total distance = 11,141.52 km; Location = Lebanon – 37 34.154′ N, 85 15.262′ W; Start time = 0809, Finish time = 1700

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/219303582

The day started with a light fog and cool temps. It didn’t last long. Within an hour the heat and humidity was rife.

I had a quiet back road to run on for the first 10 km, but then struck the familiar “no shoulder” problem on the main road. It wasn’t the worst case I’d encountered, but it still detracts from the enjoyment of the run.

A young policeman stopped at one point – I thought I’d done something wrong – but he only wanted to shake my hand and wish me luck. Carmel had filled him in further up the road. We also met some fun women – a local from “down the road”, and two Scottish tourists – at a liquor store just over the county line. They had to travel to another county due to the draconian prohibition laws that exist in some counties. I hadn’t realised it before this trip, but there are many parts of the US that are living a century in the past.

I also crossed another time zone today. We’re now on the same time as New York. As far as time zones are concerned, I’ve now officially crossed the US.

The day finished with me getting absolutely soaked by a thunder storm. It was really quite nice to get that cool. I haven’t been used to running in such low temperatures for months. This occurred as I climbed a pass to reach a plateau on which the town of Lebanon sits. The forests and countryside were quite stunning, even in the pouring rain.