My back strain is gradually improving. The main thing is, it’s not affecting my running at all. It’s just sore when I twist. The past two days I’ve run in and around Berry, in the same general area as my long run last week.

There’s only eight days now till the 50 km event I’ll be running at the Sutherland Relay for Life. I’ll do some short speed work early next week to sharpen up, but nothing too strenuous. It’s mainly about resting from here.

Here’s another photo from when I was running in the snow during the world run. This one was taken in France, near the city of Macon and just a few hundred metres from the Rhone River.

On This Day

Apr 22, 2012

Distance today = 51.15 km; Total distance = 5418.01 km; Location = Buena Vista, Colorado – 38 50.489′ N, 106 08.064′ W; Start time = 0931, Finish time = 1705

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/170881988

If you haven’t already done so, before you start reading today’s blog, do yourself a favour and check out the latest photos (click on Home, and scroll down below the video), particularly the photos of the giant margarita.

OK, now that you’ve seen this mega-sized concoction, let me tell you the story. It was suggested to us, by Rick at Saguache, that we visit the Boathouse Cantina in Salida. So that’s where we went last night. The town of Salida itself is another gem, with an “old town” that is really worth seeing.

With a balcony perched over a mountain stream, the Boathouse Cantina is very inviting. And I just had to try the giant margarita, which is the size of six regular margaritas. I consumed it before, during, and after dinner. Needless to say, I was a touch fuzzy this morning, but otherwise felt and ran strongly all day.

Being a Sunday morning, there was almost no traffic coming down the Poncha Pass. It was all very serene and quiet when I started; so much so, that I startled a bunch of deer, which raced off into the bush.

The rest of the day passed enjoyably but without event as I ran up a picturesque valley to the town of Buena Vista.

Having downloaded the Garmin data this afternoon, I noticed that the link is only showing graphs and maps of the first 31 or so kilometres of the day, even though it acknowledges the total was 51.15 km. The Garmin watch is also refusing to save my position, forcing me to record it on paper at my finishing point, before inputing it into my computer records. These little glitches, along with the Garmin site’s refusal to upload the data from a few days ago, are starting to become a worrying trend. I hope it is not an indication the GPS watch is on the blink. That is certainly something I don’t need.

Apr 22, 2013

Distance today = 51.46 km; Total distance = 19,819.19 km; Location = Kistelek, Hungary – 46 30.314′ N, 19 57.948′ E; Start time = 0836, Finish time = 1652

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/301726130

Despite running on busy roads with little shoulder all day, I actually had a pretty enjoyable time out there. I did strike a good bike path, but it only lasted about 5 km.

It was the flattest day I can recall for some time. Perhaps there might have been a flatter one in Argentina, but it wouldn’t be by much. I hadn’t realised Hungary is so flat, at least where I’ve run. It is also very green and fertile, and reminds me visually of central NSW or northern Victoria. I often have to remind myself that I’m not on the Tour de Bois.

The low-light of the day was having a truck come past that was spraying herbicide on to the grass and weeds by the roadside. Although he stopped spraying as he passed me, there was still plenty of white vapour in the air for a few seconds, and it was difficult to avoid breathing it in. I can hold my breath for a while during running, but eventually I have to breath. I hope I didn’t get too much of it in my lungs. I know the driver, with his gas mask on, didn’t!!!