Answers to your qestions

2007-06-27

Not as many new questions this time. But keep asking!

In case you live along my travel route, please drop me

a line so we can perhaps take a run or a cup of coffee

together.

1. Maria asks how I know that my shoes are worn out.

Answer: In this case, it was obvious — the shoes were

worn smooth. Usually, I change shoes after about 3000

kilometers (the store will tell you that you should

buy new ones after 1500 kilometers). I personally use

5-6 pairs of running shoes and in order to keep track

of how much they have been used, I write the date I

bought them on the back of the heel. I changes shoes

each time I run, and since I normally train 2-3 times

a day, I run in 2-3 pairs a day. In the US, however, I

only have 2 pairs of shoes.

2. Jan asks about the choice of road in Idaho.

Answer: That will be easy. For the most part, I will

run on Interstate 84. Thanks for all of your amusing

web pointers!

3. Staffab wants to know what miracle cream I am using

so as not to get blisters under my feet.

Answer: I rub my feet morning and night with Vaseline.

This has worked so far, but I am sure to get blisters

anyway. I also have a custom-made inner sole.

4. Ragnar wonders if Idaho is shorter than Oregon and

therefore will I cross it more quickly.

Answer: Yes, that’s right. And since Idaho is flatter,

it should go faster, too.

5. John and Karen (an American couple who are soon

going to run from north to south in the US,

approximately the route I ran the summer of 2005) ask

what runner’s food I have with me, which food didn’t

work and what route to choose in Illinois.

Answer: If you are running most of the day, you must

eat as much and as often as possible. Therefore, I

stop at several food venues along the way, and in the

stores I buy fruit (grapes, bananas and above all else

juicy fruits). I tried energy bars for the first time

— they worked well and are good to have in case you

miss a meal — but they are not tasty (disgustingly

sweet). I drink water for the most part but have one

bottle of sports drink a day — sports drinks work

well when you are dead tired. As for my route in

Illinois, I don’t know yet.