The web site of the World Runners Association is now displaying all the world records for which the organization is responsible (see www.worldrunnersassociation.com/records).

Interestingly, besides holding the record for the Fastest Circumnavigation of the Earth on Foot, I now also hold the record for the Oldest to Circumnavigate the Earth on Foot. And Jesper Olsen holds all the other records at the moment – First, Most, Longest, and Youngest. But that’s what you’d expect when only two people have been ratified as having completed world runs.

This will change in the future as more world runners have their feats officially recognized. In fact, Tony Mangan will soon have his recently completed world run ratified, thereby capturing my Oldest record and Jesper’s Longest record. If Kevin Carr finishes his world run before early April next year, he will take my Fastest record. But that’s the nature of records – they’re there to be broken.

My Achilles was a bit better today because I’m continuing to protect it carefully. It feels weird running with the heel lifts. The aching is easing, indicating it’s not too serious as a new injury. It feels like the old tear has been extended a little. The best way to describe it is by imagining the tendon as, say, a thin cucumber which has been partially cut through. That cut now has a scar on it, but it feels like the original cut has been extended into a bigger cut. How that happened is the big mystery. If it’s just a minor extension, the setback should be minimal – I hope!

On This Day

Oct 30, 2012

Distance today = 36.75 km; Total distance = 13,883.62 km; Location = Boston, Massachusetts – 42 21.086′ N, 71 04.195′ W; Start time = 0914, Finish time = 1458

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/238658788

Yesterday I mentioned how I would be finishing the US leg today and heading to the airport. Well, that plan has been thwarted by Hurricane Sandy. I found out last night that our flight has been cancelled, and the next available flight to Chile is two days hence. Therefore, I will be heading there in a couple of days.

This morning dawned overcast, but the wind had dropped off considerably. We had a late start, waiting for the rain to stop, but once it did, the rest of the day was dry. Roger ran with me again, and we did the remainder of the Boston Marathon course. By the time we reached the hotel further on, he had run nearly 37 km – his longest run by far, and not too much short of a full marathon. What a great effort. Good on you, Chook!!!

Just before we reached the infamous Heartbreak Hill, near the 20 mile mark on the course, we stopped at the Heartbeak Hill Running Company – a running shop that is ideally situated on the course. The friendly proprietors even gave me a free T-shirt, of which I was very appreciative.

We then attacked Heartbreak Hill, and powered on down the other side and into the city to finish the day, and my US leg. As I still have two days up my sleeve, I may run even further east tomorrow, possibly to Gloucester, on the peninsula to the north-east of Boston. It’s the setting for the movie The Perfect Storm – very fitting after the past 48 hours.

So, I will get one more blog post in after today, so stay tuned. And, as Roger and Don leave us tomorrow, we just might have a good-bye celebration tonight.

I’d also like to once again thank Roger and Don for the use of their car over the past eight and a half months, as well as their support during the past week. Top blokes!

Having now reached Boston, it’s also an appropriate time to thank my major sponsor, Next Digital, for their on-going support. Any readers who might like to check out some cool digital stuff, have a look at www.nextdigital.com.

PS For old-times-sake, Carmel has re-posted the video of my interview on The Today Show that aired the day I started my run, last December 31.