Like a bolt from the blue...

Whilst running up Boy George Avenue this morning, I caught a flash in my peripheral vision. I looked up and again, there it was: lightning. Before too long came the rumble then boom of the thunder and, with that, a downpour of rain. If I'd thought there was any chance of getting struck by lightning, I'd have worn my best shorts. I picked up the pace.

An estimated 240,000 people are injured as a result of lightning strikes around the world every year; 10% of those struck are killed. Direct strikes to a person's body often result in no serious injury. However, metallic objects that are in direct contact with the person who is struck can concentrate the lightning. There are at least two reported cases where the victim was wearing an iPod and suffered more serious injuries as a result.

The chances of being struck by lightning for someone living in the U.S. is half a million to one. U.S. National Park Ranger Roy Sullivan has the record for being struck by lightning the most times. Sullivan was struck seven times during his 35 year career and, as a result, lost the nail on one of his big toes and suffered multiple injuries to the rest of his body.

In 1971 a LANSA flight crashed in a thunderstorm in Peru, killing all of its 6 crew and 85 of its 86 passengers. The sole survivor was Juliane Koepcke, who fell 2 miles down into the Amazon rainforest strapped to her seat and remarkably survived the fall. She was then able to walk through the jungle for 10 days until she was rescued by local lumbermen.

Today's run at 09:01
Distance	4.02 km	Time	22:40
Pace	5:38 min/km	Cadence	81 spm
Comments: Thunder & lightning. Backache.