Distance today = 50.19 km; Total distance = 9606.05 km; Location = Clinton – 40 08.890′ N, 88 58.343′ W; Start time = 0805 Finish time = 1615

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/202438765

Despite the temperature reaching 40C today (in the shade), I again benefited from the cloud cover and breeze.  In fact, I was having quite a good day, at least for the first three-quarters of the run.

Then it happened. I tripped on a ridge in the road and went down like the proverbial bag. I lost a bit of skin on my hands, but the worst outcome was I suffered what feels like a tear in my hamstring, where it attaches to my buttock. It was excruciating at first, and I had to limp for some time afterward until the pain eased. It’s still very sore as I write. It also caused my ankle to start hurting again, after it had been very good for the past few days.

I’ll have to see how I wake up tomorrow. Admittedly, I run so slowly that a hamstring injury shouldn’t be a major problem, but I still need it a little during every step. And it looks like it’s back to square one with the ankle.

And to top it off, the cloud cover lifted and the temperature went up by about ten degrees. Added to this, the traffic increased significantly on the road (I think there may have been a shift change at the nuclear power plant I had just run past) at just the time the paved shoulder disappeared completely. I had to run on an extremely rough gravel surface by the side of the road, and the unevenness made the ankle hurt even more. Yes, it was a very tough last quarter to the day.

At least the battery in the new watch lasted through the day, although it did give me a “low battery” signal just before I finished. I don’t really know what causes it to last one day and not the next.