Day 530 – US – Minnesota [Sauk Center to Avon]


16/09/21

42km

  From Sauk Centre (Minnesota) to Avon (Minnesota)

North America


Another fast run today on Lake Wobegon Trail today, a very similar run to yesterday

Sunrise on the Wobegon Trail

I tried not to think too much about yesterday’s unusual fast time. After all, the journey is such a long one, there will be unusual fast days and unusual slow days along the route. And as long as I keep running as I always do, intuitively, I will be ok. But I was not expecting to once again clock a 5:50mn/km run today. I was on the lookout throughout the run and I made sure I was comfortable the whole way. Now I wonder, is it really just due to the mix of favourable factors? Or is there something else?

Crossing over the Sauk River

I am not sure what to do tomorrow. I could either change the display settings on my Garmin recorders, to display pace/speed – and therefore be able to monitor my speed and remain within a “normal” range. Or I could keep things intuitive and rely on my feelings as I have done every single day since I started the journey. I am unsure what to do. The fact is that I do not see any difference in my body, tiredness, recovery, sleep time or even food intake. I seem to be doing just fine.

One of the many Feed Mills in the region

As I reflected on this, and other things that I notice regularly (my reflections and questions on nutrition, hydration, metabolism, adaptation mechanisms, psychology and mindset) I received a very surprising email. The National Institute of Sports in France is interested in my journey and in launching a research project on me. Now, that’s neat. If I could get answers, scientific ones, on many of the questions I have, that would be awesome – and I’ll be more than happy for whatever findings to be shared publicly. I do not know yet what it will involve, and I expect it will take some time for them to outline the scope of the research. I will keep updating the blog as I get more insights.

Meanwhile the run was splendid again! I ran on the Wobegon Trail all the way. At times on a carpet of fallen leaves. At times on a background of green, yellow, orange and red trees, reminiscent of the Indian summer, which I am hoping will last till late November!

With Bill at the Buckhorn Bar, Avon, Minnesota

I hit the Buckhorn Bar for my lunch. It looked like one of the saloons I used to go to in Montana. Loads of taxidermy, beers on tap and frozen pizzas. I got my pizza, my beer and all the while talking to Bill the owner. We had a fun time, talking. Then a politician came up on TV and he seemed to be really struggling to put two phrases together that made sense. I normally never go into politics – and it was not about it either. But we had a lot of fun, Bill’s deadpan comments were hilarious and it made for a nice meal. As I went to the bar to pay the bill (and I was the only client at the bar) Bill told me it was all on the house. How really kind again…

Enjoy the video of today’s run: https://www.relive.cc/view/vRO7VzZppyv



Check my daily run GPS data on or

Here is the map of today’s run: