Day 91 August 5, 2011 Dorian to Thunder Bay 71km

I felt exhausted throughout the entire day today. It was a struggle from around 5km this morning. I had to take a number of breaks just to make it through the day and my pace was about as slow as it’s ever been. There weren’t many hills, it wasn’t that hot, just a little humid, and there wasn’t a huge headwind, but I was completely whipped.

I wanted to stop after 15km. I really wanted to stop after 30km. I had to play some serious mind games with myself to keep going but I was running along the Terry Fox Courage Highway and I wasn’t going to stop early, not today.

I ran as far as the highway would allow, but 11km before the monument the highway became restricted and didn’t allow pedestrians or cyclists so I had to turn onto Lakeshore Drive and continue along there. It was a nice road, along the bay, but I didn’t see much of it, as I was so tired even my hat felt heavy on my head.

At one point I looked down and noticed that the distance on my watch wasn’t turning over. I hadn’t started it up again since the last time I stopped to get a drink of water. This happens not infrequently and I usually just get a little angry with myself, start it up again, and keep running. Today though I was too tired to run the extra distance it would take to reach 70km according to my watch knowing that I had run a portion of the way that had not been counted. I got into the MCC and Mike drove me back to the spot I last had a water break. I turned my watch on and we drove back to where I had noticed my watch wasn’t on. It was only 1.4km but the way I was struggling 1.4km felt like 10 and while I was determined to hit 70 I was not going to do any extra!

I also somehow managed to miss the small plaque that indicates the actual spot that Terry stopped at. We were told it was small but both Mike and I had been looking out for it so I was disappointed that we missed it.

I finally finished at 71km in a small residential area of Thunder Bay, over 12 hours after I had started this morning. I was very hungry and incredibly tired. We found the closest place to eat; a Subway restaurant and I quickly ate 2 footlongs.

It was not hard to fall asleep.