Sorry folks, but at this stage we have no internet. I’m writing this on my phone. Had a good day of 51 km. If no luck with the internet, tomorrow’s blog will encompass two days.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/192005272

Distance today = 50.46 km; Total distance = 8221.48 km; Location = Hinckley (11 km south of) – 45 55.380′ N, 92 57.444′ W; Start time = 0842, Finish time = 1719

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/192005288

Back to the world of the internet today. I have added the relevant Garmin link to yesterday’s blog entry. As promised, I will include two days in one.

The highlight of yesterday’s run was the Munger Trail, coupled with dealing with the floods. I had to detour around a flooded bridge in the town of Barnum, and then just down the road at Moose Lake, the road was again closed.

On this occasion, however, we met a very helpful police officer, Eric, who directed me back on to the trail – too easy, and I was soon on my way again. Carmel, however, had to do a major detour in the car – it was lucky Eric helped her with this, as it would have been a bit of a nightmare otherwise. These detours for the car meant Carmel was unable to take as many photos as normal, as she was often separated from the trail for long periods.

I finally made it in to Willow River, where we stayed at the Squirrel Cage Motel. As mentioned, there was no internet, but at least there was good mobile phone coverage.

Today I set off again on the Munger Trail. It was one of those days again – I just didn’t have much energy and constantly felt like stopping. My feet were aching too. But I kept on pushing and logged my standard 50 km. There were no major flooding issues to deal with today, so I think I’m passed the worst of it now.

I stated a few days ago that the Munger Trail stretched all the way to Minneapolis. This appears not to be so, and I have now completed the extent of the trail. It was nice, all the same, to have run nearly 150 km on this well sealed pathway. I should be in the twin cities of Minneapolis-St Paul in a few days.

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 counterintuitive, 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.

Distance today = 50.23 km; Total distance = 8322.59 km; Location = White Bear Lake – 45 05.439′ N, 93 00.379′ W; Start time = 0904, Finish time = 1741

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/192833560

Not a great day overall. I am having shoe problems. Right from the start of the day I could feel trouble. I am wearing brand new shoes for the first time since March (more recently I’ve been alternating old pairs that I’ve worn over the past year or so). This is often a difficult time, as the wear pattern suddenly changes.

The new shoes aren’t worn on the outside, so I tend to pronate more than I have been. This has caused the inside of my right ankle to become sore again (same issue from several weeks ago). I tried orthotics this morning, but that didn’t work. I even ran without an inner sole for a short while. I finally used toilet paper, folded into an appropriate shape, to build up the inner side of my right shoe. I also took out the laces from both shoes, as these are totally superfluous. Things improved, so hopefully I’m on to a solution.

The problem with the right ankle started when I accidentally trod on a rock and rolled my ankle inwards (the opposite to a normal ankle roll). I didn’t think much of it at the time, but it slowly began to give me trouble. I have treated it over the past few weeks and the problem had virtually disappeared, until now. One option is to go back to the worn shoes, but that’s not a sustainable solution.

Anyhow, I got through the day – a beautiful day weather-wise – with another 50 km. I’m now on the outskirts of Minneapolis-St Paul. And we’re staying in a great hotel tonight, at White Bear Lake – a really nice location.