World Run II / Reports

The map shows the position of which the pictures for the day are taken (if any). The start and finish markers are placed at the first and last valid registered position. This is not nessesary the actual start and finish position, if GSM or GPS signals was not available.

Goto: 2012-02-25 2012-02-27 Usa

2012-02-26:

60
Distance today: 40.0 km (Accumulated: 33303.0 km)
Elapsed time: 03:47:27
Country: Usa

Start 10:15am., 09c, overcast & medium wind, at green roadsign "Bishopville 24" on hwy.15 in Sumter city. Finish 14:50pm., 17c, clear & light wind, at cross of Durant St. & Hwy.15 in Bishopville.

A day of changes !

- I dont think you'll have to look at many of the pictures from todays run before seeing the strong contrasts. From the poor areas in the outskirts of Sumter to the historic centre and the posh official buildings, bank, law office and church and then back out of the city again via areas nearly fallen apart.

There are hardly regions in South America where you see more extreme contrasts ! Even the epic stage about 10months ago running through Lima - the capital of Peru - comes to mind. The similar jump from rich areas, polished facades, new buildings.. and minutes of running later block after block of poverty.

Its a part of North America that I guess we rarely see in the media. But once again what I appreciate about doing these run's around our world is to get to understand the diversity of each area and each region. And not to be misunderstood: While I think we often imagine these areas as "dangerous" or to be avoided - then my experiense is that the likelyhood of meeing friendly people is just as high as any other place. Perhaps even higher, since people have time to talk, to wonder and spend a moment beeing curious of what you are doing :-)

No doubt, its important to show that you respect the area you are in, no matter where. Yet there is no problem in respecting the people here: They in many ways come closer to the daily fight I have to continue run, moving forward; wether its easy days, days of injuries or days with deep-body tiredness from the first to the last step of the run.

The change this day also had to do with the running itself - its been a week since I last did a stage of 40km or longer; fatigue and even a snake-bite last tuesday has kept the energy lower than usual but also more profound struggles with building the motivation as well as an 'attack strategy' for the final part of the run up through USA towards New Foundland in Canada, has kept me on low level as far as the daily distances go. But on this clear, cold and beautifull springweather day the legs fealt fresher than in a long time. The 40km left me with more energy than I've had at the end of many 30km stages lately ! A good sign for the days ahead I hope :-)