A good solid run this morning – a hilly 12 km in 56 minutes. I feel like I’m getting faster and stronger. Looking forward to Monday’s speed session in which I think I’ll do 3 x 1 mile on a course I haven’t run for seven years.

On This Day

Jun 14, 2012

Distance today = 55.12 km; Total distance = 7785.48 km; Location = Walker, Minnesota – 47 06.082′ N, 94 35.394′ W; Start time = 0832, Finish time = 1746

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189028369

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189031294

As I’ve said before, a day can be a long time in journey running. After yesterday’s tough one, today was a joy.

Most of the day was spent on the Heartland Trail, an old rail trail that runs from Park Rapids to Walker and beyond. The scenery was absolutely stunning – lush forests populated with deer, rabbits, ducks, and squirrels. There were also many lakes, some with beaver dams. It was one of the best days of running I’ve ever had. I didn’t even notice the 55 km. Have a look at the video when it’s uploaded.

I once again crossed both a latitude and longitude (also known as a parallel and a meridian respectively). These were 47 N and 95 W. I’m gradually making progress.

Finally, a less savoury sidelight. If youre squeamish, turn away now. I bought some lunch today and had just put the last bit into my mouth. Just seconds later I lifted the lid off a garbage bin to put the food wrapper in. I almost gagged. Besides the smell, the whole inside was completely infested with maggots. And here was me with a mouthful of food. I was so close to bringing it all up!!!

Anyhow, sorry about that, but I’m trying to relate the full experience of the run. These things happen!

Jun 14, 2013

Distance today = 52.94 km; Total distance = 21,508.10 km; Location = Kellerberrin (13 km east of) – 31 37.176’ S, 117 51.022′ E; Start time = 0740, Finish time = 1613

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/327523507

Who ate all the pies? I think I might be a candidate. Too many pies and not enough vegetables has left me feeling a bit below par. I can get away with it under normal circumstances, but it catches up with me when I’m running over 50 km each day.

I still managed to get through 53 km today, which was pleasing. There was a lot more running on parallel dirt roads. The highway is not too bad, but the road trains almost stop me in my tracks when they pass by.

The Garmin seems to be doing the occasional weird thing, like placing me somewhere I’m not for an instant, then having me back in my real position – makes me feel like a virtual quantum particle. It happened today when I went into a roadhouse to get a drink. The satellites must be getting confused at times.

I had lunch with the girls in a café in Kellerberrin, and nearly fainted when the chicken burger cost $14. The mining boom is really pushing up the cost of living in WA. It makes it hard on the budget of a lowly world runner.

I finished the day with a few drops of rain falling, but it doesn’t look like it will set in. Hopefully tomorrow will be clear and sunny. The wind, however, always seems to be in my face, which makes the day that much harder.

PS I forgot to turn off the tracker when I finished running, so it has me in Kellerberrin, where we’re staying. My real position is 13 km to the east of the town. BTW, this is completely different to the issue to the Garmin data problem mentioned above.