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: 2012-07-22 2012-07-24 Canada

2012-07-23:

58
Distance today: 70.0 km (Accumulated: 36635.0 km)
Elapsed time: 06:57:34
Country: Canada

Start 08:50am., 25c, clear & light wind, at roadsign "Long Point Lighthouse 10km", on Trans Canadian Highway 1. Finish 18:27pm., 28c and same, at National Park roadsign: "Its unlawfull to feed the wildlife" at beginning of the Terra Nova National Park, on Trans Canadian Highway 1.

Getting the energy back...

After the 50km stage a few days ago it was again time to push' the body and mind a bit. In order to reach the finish at Cape Spear, the North-Eastern most point on the continent, I will have to put in atleast 3-4 long days to make it by the 28.th. wich I have decided as finish date.

But the 'mechanics of motivation' sometimes works differently: to me, running a few days of 40-50km's is less inspiring (and thus harder to do) than to add it up in two very challenging/inspiring days. So; in front of me I have one long day of 70km and one very long day/night of 170km's untill the finish. The rest will be short days of 25-40km. And today was time for the 70km stage.

- Perhaps a kind of "test" as to see wether I am at all able to do distances of this caliber now. Its no surprise to those who follow the run that I have been struggeling even to get through 20-30km stages since stopping to take part in the 6day race in New York, back in April. Luckily the energy has increased rapidly now that I have the finishpoint withing striking-distance of about 380km. I think its a common thing for most longdistance runners, and maybe even to almost all challenges physical or intellectual: that once you feel the goal is withing your grasp - your energy and perception of what you can do rises dramaticly. For example even if you have been struggling midway on a 10km or at the last third of a standard marathon, then once you can see the finishline or have a km or so left; suddenly what once was a problem seems easy !

... And the same way when running around the world.

Still I have no illusions that the 170km stage of the final day of the run will be "easy" and todays 70km was a test to get an idea if I am up for it. 36 500km and 4 continents does not make your legs feel particularly light in any way. Especially not when two of those continents has been South America and Africa, the latter opening up for the most mind-bending hardship I can remember to have encountered in all my years of running - but it was also hugely rewarding during the 1.2 years of challenges and highlights through that part of the world.

The "test" today went well and I got the answer I had hoped for. However
I did face some problems with the unusual warm weather, peaking at 31-32c in the early afternoon - and as you can see from the pictures the route offered a nice solution: a cold river to dip into at km 49 :-)

Some light troubles with a sore left achilles tendon and occational pains in the right knee was also an issue but not enough to be a big concearn. I definately believe strongly in the approach that running should be healthy and a thing done in Respect of the body - and not a Fight of 'Mind over Matter'; you can perhaps do that if you run a 10km, a 24hour competetion or a few weeks. But if you intend to conquer continent after continent you need to listen with kindness to what your body tells you. And especially the indications of what are the daily limit untill the body day by day and month by month has recovered and adapted to new levels. Albeit when running this long eventually there will be weak links, literally, and the best I can do is to take as much care and do as much quality recovery between the daily stages as possible.

- And offer myself some extra motivation. As for example the "chocolate cake supply" wich I enjoyed at the 60km supply-stop (see pictures :-).

NB: The last two days reports will be uploaded shortly. The gps-data is already online via the endomondo link.