The Animals of Selby Farms Park

#GVRAT1000k Day 6

After crossing the Mississippi I got a bit carried away, which meant my run took me not only into Memphis, but straight through town into the suburbs, where I actually found myself near the entrance of Selby Farms Park. This provided an excellent thematic backdrop for the next run.

Setting out to log some kilometers I visited several local parks. Not sure what animals reside in Selby Farms, but I had some encounters of my own.

Deer at Park Zestienhoven

Ducks in the Wilgenplaspark

The Schiebroekse Park is home to Highland cattle

Shy phaesant on the greens of the Bergse Bos

Lovely sunny day, and the 32 km were good progress in the GVRAT.

Enter Tennessee (GVRAT Day 4)

Crossing the Harahan Bridge

It took me four days of running in the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee, but I made it to the state we're supposed to cross. After about 41 km I virtually reached the Harahan Bridge, which took me from Arkansas, over the River Mississippi, into Tennessee.

No better way to honor this first milestone than by running over and around our own Van Brienenoordbrug. It's named after the small island underneath it, which in turn is named after a baron who owned said island back in the day. I used to think of the island as an undiscovered gem for runners, but I believe it's become more well known these days. 

A nice and sunny day to rack up 24 kilometers, which means I'm well into Memphis, Tennessee now.

GVRAT1000k

Virtual Racing

In order to remain motivated during the coronacrisis, I have decided to participate in a virtual race. Not just any race, but the largest of them all (probably), the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K.

Today it started, and we have until the end of August to log 1000 kilometers. I intend to use my virtual progress across the state of Tennessee to liven things up a little. And perhaps write a few blogs here and there.

Day 1
The virtual course actually starts in Arkansas. The first kilometers are near the river Mississippi, so I decided to start with a gentle run by our own river, the Nieuwe Maas. First 18 km now done and dusted, I can actually afford a rest day and still be ahead of the cut-off limit of four months.

Nice sky over the Mississippi

It'll be a wild race.