The Achilles is still improving every day. A lot of the time I can’t even feel it at all. I just have to make sure I don’t do anything silly and overload it. If not, it should be back to normal by Christmas time. I hope so, as I’m keen to run the Anzac Ultra in Canberra in April (145 km), and I’ll need a perfect Achilles for that.

The book is now in the proof reading stage with the publisher. I actually have a tentative date when it’s expected to be released and in the book shops. That’s August 3 next year – less than nine months away.

It appears Kevin Carr may have had a rest day today. If so, the latest comparative stats indicate he’s now covered 18,459 km in 468 days to my 19,736 km in the same time. He now needs to run a further 7,773 km in 153 days if he is to break my world record.

Tony Mangan is running a 5 km race in Dublin today, his first major effort since finishing his world run. And Jesper Olsen is running a six day race in the US this week. Good luck, Tony and Jesper, and Kevin too, of course.

On This Day

Nov 9, 2012

Distance today = 50.08 km; Total distance = 14,251.42 km; Location = Uspallata, Argentina (13 km south of) – 32 41.368′ S, 69 21.446′ W; Start time = 0925, Finish time = 1712

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/241723868

I’m really tired again tonight after a big day of running into a fierce headwind. At times it was so strong, it actually brought me to a halt. I hope it abates by tomorrow.

I’m also quite sore in the quads after all the downhill running. However, there has also been a lot of uphill, as evidenced by the fact my cumulative ascent today was 1000 metres.

I haven’t seen much in the way of wild life – just huge jackrabbits, and one dog that was running along the highway. It passed me and just kept going. Perhaps it was one of those you hear about, who got left behind by its owners and is making its own way home.

The drivers here in Argentina are living up to their reputation. Today I saw three semi-trailers overtaking another semi on double yellow lines. I haven’t seen an accident yet, but I reckon I will. Most drivers travel at well over the speed limit, and ignore double yellow lines. There doesn’t seem to be any police presence, so I guess it’s just accepted. I’ve seen two trucks in the past two days that had rolled. It’s not dangerous for me, as I hear all the cars, trucks, and buses coming. But they are a menace to each other.

The valley I’ve been running down has obviously seen many floods in past eras (I mean geological eras), as there are clear signs of huge sediment deposits. Erosion exposes these and, as an amateur dinosaur hunter, I keep an eager eye out for fossils in the sedimentary rocks. Then again, I’m not sure I’d recognise a dinosaur bone in the field if I saw one.

I forgot to mention yesterday that Argentina now brings my country total for the world run to five. The total will start going up fast in the New Year, when I get to Europe.