Distance today = 49.35 km; Total distance = 4257.84 km; Location = Blanding – 37 36.929′ N, 109 28.641′ W; Start time = 0842, Finish time = 1559

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/163085538

Today was tiring – nearly 50 km and just about all of it uphill. At least the hills weren't too steep, but the unrelenting nature of the ascents gradually takes its toll. I have now been between 4,000 and 7,500 feet in elevation for the past two weeks, and will be going even higher in the next few weeks. The snow-capped Colorado Rockies are clearly visible now, although I've been on the lower Rocky Mountain plateaus for a good while already.

After starting this morning at Bluff Airport, I ran the seven or so kilometres into Bluff itself, and had breakfast with the support crew. Once I left Bluff, the climbing began. I have had much bigger days of climbing, but with so much mileage already in my legs, a full day of it is tiring. Coincidentally, my total ascent for the day was exactly the same as yesterday – 632 metres.

The highlight of the day was a great green chilli stew that I picked up for lunch at a small town called White Mesa. From what I can gather, this town is the traditional home of a small tribe of indigenous Americans called the Ute. I am guessing this is where the name Utah came from? Everyone in town appeared to be from this tribe.

I finished in Blanding – a town I am yet to be impressed with. I can handle my phone having no reception at all here, but the ban on the selling of beer and wine due to its “Mormon-ness” is a little harder to handle. I am very tolerant of others holding whatever beliefs they like, but I have no time for practices and customs that force others to follow suit. And I was really looking forward to a nice red wine on a Friday afternoon to celebrate my passing 100 marathons today. I'll just have to make do with the Coronas the girls stocked up on earlier, and/or the Canadian bourbon we found under the seat of Chook and Don's car.

 PS Sorry again for the lack of tracker updates.