I’m amazed at how much progress I’ve made with this injury in the past week. There were daily improvements during the first two weeks, but nothing compared to the past week. I guess that first two weeks were about laying down new muscle fibres over the tear, and this latter week has been about strengthening those new fibres. I still have a little way to go before they’re back to full strength, but I’m very happy overall with my rehabilitation.

I’m starting to think again about what’s next? I’m struggling to feel motivated about the City to Surf. I might set a few minor goals around time trials in Centennial Park. If that goes well, maybe I’ll run the C2S.

Below is a typical photo from the pampas in Argentina. The fisheye view is due to the GoPro camera. These are expansive flat plains where the gauchos (South American cowboys) ply their trade. And this is the main road across the continent. Very enjoyable for running, so long as the grass on the shoulder wasn’t too long. I often had to venture on to the shoulder to avoid oncoming traffic.

DCIM100GOPRO

On This Day

Jun 2, 2012

Distance today = 50.79 km; Total distance = 7165.61 km; Location = St Lawrence, South Dakota (30 km north of) – 44 45.911′ N, 98 54. 018′ W; Start time = 0831, Finish time = 1644

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/184823118

My favourite running terrain is probably mountain trails, followed by winding coastal roads, but a close third is the beautiful rural countryside like I ran through today. Lush fields of grain and young corn, peppered with rustic farm buildings and shady trees, make for a very tranquil running experience.

But wait, there’s more – throw in an ultra quiet backroad to the mix described above, and you have running heaven. I found such a road at the 20 km mark, and stayed on it for the rest of the day. Why would I leave? I was able to run in the middle of the road all day long which, being the flattest part of the road surface, is definitely my preference.

In the past week or so, I’ve been exposed to wild pheasants for the first time. These birds, which are far from the most gainly in flight, are constantly being startled by me running by their nests in the long grass by the road. They burst out from their cover, flying wildly in seemingly random directions. I don’t think they’re too smart, as many of them obviously fly straight into the path of oncoming traffic, judging by the amount of pheasant roadkill I’ve observed.

Speaking of roadkill, I saw my first chipmunk today. It had sadly met an untimely demise. I also saw what looked like a giant ferret, but have been informed it was a musk rat.

The past three days have all been amazingly similar in distance. While I have aimed to do a bit over 50 km in each instance, the closeness is simply a coincidence.