Distance today = 50.88 km; Total distance = 8272.36 km; Location = North Branch – 45 30.711′ N, 92 59.231′ W; Start time = 0836, Finish time = 1701

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/192470815

Despite it being hot and humid, I had a good run today. The countryside was a mix of forests and very green crops, and the roads weren’t too busy and had good shoulders on them.

It sounds counter-intuitive, but I’m finding my appetite is no larger, and perhaps less than, when I’m not covering such distances. I am just not hungry most of the time. If I force myself to eat when I’m not hungry, I end up feeling sick. So last night I had a small dinner, and I didn’t have breakfast before heading off this morning (because I didn’t feel like it). After 11 km I had a small sandwich, and I felt much better today because of it.

Something I’ve noticed in this region of northern Minnesota is the number of Scandinavian names. Further north there was a preponderance of Finnish names, and now it is predominantly Swedish. It’s logical, as the landscape is so similar to Scandinavia, with its green rolling hills, intermingled with thousands of lakes. Early Scandinavian settlers must have found it so much like home. It’s certainly a pleasure to run through.