ENGLISH TEXT BELOW.

ESTE ES MI RUTA PARA EL RESTO DE MEXICO.  Para un mapa Y PLANOS DE PRENSA POR FAVOR>> AQUÍ

Me esperan llegar a la frontera alrededor de 25 de septiembre. A estas alturas es difícil para mí estimar las fechas OTRA LLEGADA.

I puede ser rastreado por mi dispositivo de seguimiento en este sitio. Por lo general RUN 45 y 50 kilómetros por día. Así que tal vez ME PUEDE PISTA DEBE SER capaz de ayudarme cuando me ven correr a través del área me gustaría mucho aprecio

MI NÚMERO DE TELÉFONO CELULAR DE MÉXICO (que sólo funciona y recibe mensajes en MEXICO) ES:     646 107 22 57       TEXTING funciona mejor para mí y por favor mantengan EL ESPAÑOL SIMPLE Mi correo es: www.theworldjog @ gmail.com

Muchas gracias, TONY

THIS IS MY PROPOSED ROUTE FOR THE REST OF MEXICO. FOR A MAP AND ROUTE DETAILS PLEASE PRESS >> HERE

I EXPECT TO REACH THE BORDER AROUND 25TH SEPTEMBER. AT THIS STAGE IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO ESTIMATE OTHER ARRIVAL DATES.

I CAN BE TRACKED BY MY TRACKING DEVICE ON THIS WEBSITE. I USUALLY RUN 45-50KM PER DAY. SO PERHAPS YOU CAN TRACK ME SHOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP ME AS I RUN THROUGH YOUR AREA I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT

I AM ALMOST CERTAINLY GOING TO TAKE A 3 DAY MINI BREAK SIDE TRIP TO ACAPULCO PLUS TRAVEL TIME WHICH WILL MAKE THIS ABOUT 4 DAYS AFTER I ARRIVE IN MEXICO CITY TOMORROW, TUESDAY.

MY MEXICAN CELL PHONE NUMBER  (WHICH ONLY WORKS AND RECEIVES MESSAGES IN MEXICO) IS: 646 107 22 57. TEXTING WORKS BET FOR ME  AND PLEASE KEEP THE SPANISH SIMPLE MY EMAIL IS: www.theworldjog@gmail.com

THANKS SO MUCH, TONY

TOTAL RUN 10,826.5 KM = 6,727.3  MILES FOR 241. ROAD DAYS.

                                                                     MEXICO STATE. (Including Federal District)

Aug 25th, 2011.  Hotel Hollywood Drive Inn, Gral. Ignacio Zaragoza 839.Mexico D.F.

To Rancho Tinacal ” Loma ” Ancha, km 23 on Route 190 Libre. Ran 52km today.

 Crazy day clearing the city,Owner kindly let me stay on Rancho, Ran unsupported today

Aug 24th. 2011. From Hotel del Angel, Rio Lerma 154, Mexico D.F. to Hotel Hollywood Drive Inn, Gral. Ignacio Zaragoza 839.Mexico D.F.

 Route: Local roads and Av.Viaducto and Av.Zaragoza. Very late start, 28.2km measured on a Google map. The reality is I ran a lot more as I ran on the service roads which were very difficult to negotiate. I have just about cleared the city but the Fedral highway 150 tomorrow may be a bit crazy as I am still near the city. I may take some service roads, will see.

Aug 23rd 2011. From km 41 on route 15 to Hotel del Angels,( Rio Lerma #154) 35.3 crazy kms today into Mexico City. Route 15,15d, Paseo de La Reforma, and local roads.

Aug 22nd 2011. From km 35 on route 55d to km 41 on route 15. Todays route: 55d, A-6d,  and 15. Today I ran 62km. Felt really strong! About 41km to Mexico City. I have asked for 2 escort vehicles to make my way through the city tomorrow and am getting them, one in front of me and one behind me.

 Thanks so much David, local chief of Angeles Verdes who have sponsored mine and support driver Martin’s night in Toluco Holiday Inn. We commutted there.

Aug 21st 2011. From km 122 on route 15d to km 35 on route 55d. Route today 15d, local roads, 55d.

Today I ran 56km and felt so strong in the last 20 that I did a few extra Thanks to my support driver, Martin from Angeles Verdes for doing a great job as all AV men have done. We crossed into Mexico State.

Commute to Ixtlahuaca.

                                                                     MICHOACAN STATE

20th Aug 2011. From km 172 to km 122. Today was a 50km plod as I didn’t get any sleep last night. Commute to Atlacomulco and staying in hotel paid for by Angeles Verdes Mexico City  base  for their man Martin to crew for me, so sharing his room. Thanks so much.

19th Aug. 2011. From km 222 on route 15d to km 172. Today I ran 50 glorious km’s. Lovely day. Staying in Angeles Verdes base. Commute about 75km to Moreila.

18th Aug 2011. From km 267 to km 222 on autopista 15d Today I ran 45km. Commute about 25km to Moreila, stayed in Sports Councils dorm at their center.

17th Aug 2011. From km 317 to km 267 on route 15d. 50 km run today. First 30 were fairly easy. Last 20 very tough hills. Staying in Hotel Casino,Moreila  sponsored by Tourism Secretary. Thanks so much   approx 45 km commute to Moreila.

16th August from km marker 367 to km marker 317. Today I ran 50km on route 15d

This morning I was very tired as I only got 3 hours sleep. This is an ongoing problem with my heavy workload early starts and no help. 105km commute to Moreila

15 Aug 2011 from Oxxo seervice station at km marker 417.5 on route 15d to km 367.

Commute to Zamora.

50.5km run today. Felt strong. Crossed into Michoacan state (my 6th) after about 20km today

                                                                      JALISCO STATE.

14th Aug 2011. From km marker 465 to km 417.5, Oxxo service station,Jamay. 47.5km run today on route 15d.

Commute to La Barca. Thanks to Hotel Kristal for a night in their lovely hotel.

13th Aug 2011. From  tequila distillery near Zapopan to km marker 465 on autopista 15d near Puente Grande. Ran 53.3km today. Ran thru Guadalajara. Felt strong all day. Commute to Ocoton. Thanks to Hotel Sol for a beautiful room in their luxury hotel.

12th Aug 2011. Lovely rest day  in Gran Hotel Los Reyes, Guadalajara. 9 hours sleep! Magnifico! Thanks so much for 2 lovely nights in your wonderful hotel.

11th Aug 2011. From Magdelena exit at km 46.5 to km 0 on autopista. Then ran 1 km to suitable. Finish location at tequila distillery near Zapopan. total today = 47.5km

Thanks to Opal Hotel for a nights stay.

10th Aug 2011. From Inspection station km 91 on autopista 15d Ran 44.5km to finish at Magdelena exit = km 46.5. Commute about 2km to town. Note after about 4km today I ran from Nayarit State to Jalisco State. Time Zone Change to Central Standard Time = -6 hours GMT.

                                                               NAYARIT STATE.

Aug 9th From km 127 Ran 36km  to finish at inspection station on autopista 15d at km 91.

Commute to Ixtlan del Rio.

Aug 8th 2011. Start km 0 in Tepic City ran 54km thru local city roads, route 15 and autopista 15d. finish at km 127. Commute to Achatalan.

Aug 7th 2011. From km 39 Ran 31km today on local roads, Route 15 and Autopista 15d. Finish at km 0. *** 10,000th KM RUN TODAY *** Finish in Tepic City.

Aug 6th 2011. Commute from Tuxpan City to start at km 89 marker ran 50km today to km 39 marker. Note: Spot started today but did not update.

Aug 5th 2011 From Nayarit State Line km 145.7 to Rosamorada Cross. km 89. = 56.7km run today. Commute to Tuxpan City, guest of the city.

Just before the Jalisco state line two new Angeles Verdes men picked me up at my hotel. Jose the driver and Marco.  Also accompanying me as I ran to the line were a couple of Civil Protection guys and a Federali Police patrol vehicle. About 6 or 7 men in all. Once I got to the state line all this support dropped. Jose and Marco stayed in the same hotels as me and escorted me all the way across the state. I stopped running the first night near a town called Magdelena, so commuted there. It was a nice town, famous for it’s opals. The very friendly town tourism director, a woman called Christina first brought us to the town hall. The mayor wanted to meet me but unfortunately was delayed in Guadalajara. I agreed  to return at 6pm.

So we went off and ate in a restaurant provided by the town and then went back to our hotel. I took a couple of hours nap, today had been a routine 44.5km day but I was shattered. I made my way down to the town hall, it was locked up. Nobody had bothered to tell  me the mayor still hadn’t made it back, in fact the guards thought I was a bit off the wall.

Next day I ran just under 50km to a small town called Zapopan, finishing at a tequila distillery. I guess Zapopan is a suburb of Guadalajara, the 10th largest city in all of Latin America and Mexico’s second city.

Initially I was very impressed by this states overtures. They had an email list of about 10 people promising food and lodging to Senor Tony before he had even set foot in the state.

Somehow Jose managed to get hold of the Tourism Secretary on her office phone. I had not realised she was not on the email list either. The phone was handed to me and I was told they did not realise I was so close to town, despite an email sent out and the email list. Of course they wanted to know my route and as always another case of not checking the ROUTE page on my website, usually the first thing one does upon visiting a travel website. And nobody seems to pay any attention to my gps tracking device.

No worries, I am here and was told she would call back in half an hour. The boys knew better and we went back to their base for lunch.  She  would call back in a Mexican minute, I was to hear that so much in this state. Three hours later I called back and a wonderful hotel was provided but no food.

I said I would take a rest day Friday and run on Saturday. The Tourism Secretary said she would like to meet up with me and perhaps hold a press conference. I said I was available for this on my rest day and emailed same to the ‘ gang of ten ‘ ’

I never heard anything back.

We started out for Guadalajara about 4.30 in the morning. It was about 20km away. After a couple of km Marcos girlfriend met us on the road, actually one of his girlfriends as he has got children by (he thinks!) 5 women.

I thought we would have the road to ourselves at that early hour but it was bumper to bumper stuff for the last 12km on the 4 and sometimes 6 lane highway. As I ran on the / motorway in front of the guys patrol vehicle I thought to myself if I have had some hairy traffic experiences in the past, well Guadalajara was Grizzly Adams stuff. What will Mexico City be like in about ten days time I wondered.

 There were dozens of junctions and I had to be in 100 percent concentration mode as cars cut in front of us from the left and from the right and out of junctions on my right. I had to have Jose drive within a  meter and a half of me, total trust between the two of us. This is no time to trip or loose stride due to on of the many objects in my path. I motored on over a huge bridge, thru a tunnel and all the while Jose driving as close as possible to give me maximum protection. What a man! And Marcos too watching out for potential hazards. This high intense drama went on for about an hour and a half.

After about 4 hours we had the city behind us. I did not run downtown, just bypassed it. I ran about 33km past Guadalajara that day.

Jose and Marco told me they couldn’t get hold of the tourism secretary, she had gone home for the weekend and left no cell number. My emails were unanswered. We were abandoned. Somehow they managed to get hold of a super efficient lady called Eva, who I think just worked for tourist information and obliged us by ringing up some hotels to see if one would sponsor us. One of them Hotel del Sol said they would and I am not sure if I misunderstood, but I thought it was for two nights. No food included.

That’s up to the Tourism department if they want to get nights sponsored but my deal is with them and I should not have to wait 2 or 3 hours for them to find something. If they want me to help spread a good message, but I insist it has to be a truthful message, of correcting misconceptions of this country abroad, well they need to just pay up front, food included and not have me wait around after a long hard days run. I never could figure out why the phones only started ringing when I had finished running for the day.

Next day Sunday, the Tourism Department were still gone fishing while I ran over 47km. As I mentioned I thought we were returning to the same hotel and had left Nirvana in my room.

I bought the lads breakfast, as I didn’t think they should be out of pocket. I ran strongly that day. Luckily Eva was still on our case and had arranged a second hotel for us. When we arrived at the hotel, a wedding was going on. I was falling asleep on a comfortable sofa in the lobby. For some reason we had to wait another hour for our rooms. Four hours wait in all today.

A decision was made to feed us, lunch only, no dinner or breakfast. The bizarre thing was even though this hotel had a restaurant and the Tourism Department was paying for this one meal for each of us, we had to return 40km  to last nights hotels restaurant!  This was not as bad as it could have been as I had to pick up Nirvana anyway, which had been hastily packed up with all my belongings by the cleaning staff and pushed out to a lobby, as the hotel was now sold out. Well this lunch was an eat as much as you wanted lunch buffet, so I had a good fill of steaks and deserts! I was unusually slow in that I hadn’t got my tupperware dish with me.

Next morning after buying Jose and Marco breakfast I ran out of Fiasco State.

Imagine I ran right thru this state and despite the gang of tens great plans for El Marathonista da  Irlanda,  I never even had one official photo taken, or spoke to a single reporter! Not one run though a town, nobody knew about the world run and I wondered if I was still an animal as nobody reminded me!

Hey nobody ever said it would be all roses, I am 6 days closer to realising my ultimate dream, to run around the world and that’s all that matters. My commitment and focus are cast iron, cien percent.

Bienvenido a mis amigos mexicanos querido! Gracias por cuidar de mí tan grande aquí en México.
Mi sitio web tiene una traducción al español la posibilidad!
Por favor, sólo tiene que desplazarse hacia abajo y seleccione el idioma español en la herramienta de TRANSLATE en el lado derecho de mi página de blog. Espero verte en el camino! Tony

45 to 50 km per day. Thursday 18th I will run from km 167 to Morelia on autoista 15d. I exect to arrive in Mexico City on Thursday 25th August. Please check my website for my location when running, I use a gps tracking device.

ROUTE TO MEXICO CITY. THIS ROUTE IS SUBJECT TO ALTERATION.

WHEN  I APPROACH MEXICO CITY  I WILL NEED TO TAKE LOCAL ADVICE.

PRESS  HERE TO VIEW.

ALSO FROM MEXICO CITY TO TAPACHUALA. PRESS HERE  TO VIEW

I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO GO GO TO ACAPULCO BUT IT IS VERY FAR OFF MY ROUTE.

IN MEXICO CITY IF I CAN SWING IT I MAY TAKE A MINI BREAK AND GO THERE

CLICK  HERE  TO VIEW A MAP OF THE MEXICAN STATES

Bienvenido a mis amigos mexicanos querido! Gracias por cuidar de mí tan grande aquí en México.
Mi sitio web tiene una traducción al español la posibilidad!
Por favor, sólo tiene que desplazarse hacia abajo y seleccione el idioma español en la herramienta de TRANSLATE en el lado derecho de mi página de blog. Espero verte en el camino! Tony

I had a lovely run on the way to Achatalan. I had gotten off to an early start and had been reeling in the kilometer posts, nice and steady, all 54 of them this morning. Just before town a local runner came out to meet me on the autopista. His name is Montero and he owns the local hotel here, Hotel Quinta del Real When Montero heard I was coming he offered me a place to stay.

The autopista seems a bit laid back here. Yesterday I saw a group of 10 Sunday morning walkers walking in the shoulder towards the traffic. Not to mention a few runners and cyclists. I even saw a horse near Tepic!

Today I finished my day at km 127 and we commuted a few more to the towns outskirts. I offered to do a ‘ ceremonial ‘ run into town with Montero.

RUNNING INTO ACHATALAN WITH MONTERO.

We ran down Main Street towards the mayors office. The mayor was out of town today but the towns officials and residents sure made me feel welcome. They gave a very nice briefing to the about thirty or 40 people. I said a few words saying how happy I was to be here.

My friend, Esteban the Green Angels boss for all of Nayarit state came over to Montero’s hotel and we had a really delicious fish salad lunch.

As I sat on the edge of my bed eating my lunch off a bedside table Montero told me it was funny I was in that same room 9 and the same bed as Jamel Bahli who came through here about 10 years ago.

I asked who and discovered a French runner had run from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego running 24,000km, which seems a bit on the low side to me.

So I spent the whole afternoon checking him out and it seems he has run a lot of short journey runs which have added up to a huge total over the years.

Next morning I had a lovely run the first 15 km, it seemed so easy and then Montero and his friend Julio came out and joined me for the last 21 to Ixtlan.

RUNNING ON THE AUTOPISTA WITH JULIO AND MONTERO ON THE WAY TO IXTLAN

We stopped at the edge of town to end my day. Then I asked Montero if there were any other runners in town, he said yes, phones started ringing while I sat in the shade of the Angels truck and waited fifteen minutes for three more to come along. A Protection Civil official came out on his motorbike and together with, a  couple of cop trucks, the Green Angels and a couple more vehicles we ran about 1 km through the town.

A couple of people closed the side roads to traffic, we had the whole road to ourselves as we ran five abreast through the quaint town.

A lot of people came out to cheer, clap and the usual ‘ ANIMAL ‘ name calling!

As we ran by a grocery store. On the blaring radio the  stations presenter screamed out to his audience the all too familar words..

‘ Vuelta del Mundo ‘ or around the world.

We ran down Main Street and there right in front of us was another great reception at the town hall.

RECEPTION IN IXTLAN

The people are wonderful in these small towns, they just whip up a wonderful welcome like this and at very short notice.

Inside the town hall Iwas introduced to the gathered with a rundown of my competitive career, they did their research! Thanks to Rebeca for arranging an hotel for me at the towns  expense. Later that evening she even had a takeaway dinner delivered to my hotel!

TO VIEW PHOTOS PRESS HERE

FEELS LIKE HEAVEN!

Bienvenido a mis amigos mexicanos querido! Gracias por cuidar de mí tan grande aquí en México.
Mi sitio web tiene una traducción al español la posibilidad!
Por favor, sólo tiene que desplazarse hacia abajo y seleccione el idioma español en la herramienta de TRANSLATE en el lado derecho de mi página de blog. Espero verte en el camino! Tony

I CAME ACROSS THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE BY JOHN P SCHMAL.

PRESS  HERE  TO VIEW

THANKS VERY MUCH TO GRAN HOTEL LOS REYES IN DOWNTOWN GUADALAJARA FOR PROVIDING ME WITH 2 NIGHTS. I AM STAYING IN LUXURY TONIGHT AND WILL TAKE A RESTDAY FRIDAY.

ON SATURDAY MORNING I WILL RUN THROUGH THIS HUGE METRO AREA OF 5 MILLION

GUADALAJARA  IS MEXICO’S SECOND CITY AND THE 10TH LARGEST IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA.

PLEASE CHECK OUT GRAN HOTEL LOS REYES  WEBSITE: WWW.GRANHOTELLOSREYES.COM

In a 2007 research of the fDi magazine Guadalajara was the highest ranking major Mexican city having the second strongest economic potential of any major North American city and only Chicago scored more highly for sheer economic potential,^[7] in the same research was considered the “city of the future” due to its youthful population, low unemployment and large number of recent foreign investment deals, it was also found the third most business friendly city in North America.^[7]

^{READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE HERE}

Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Western Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind, and percussion instruments. In addition, sociohistorical factors have influenced the repertoire in terms of the performance of diverse regional song forms as well as the evolution of the performance attire. Mariachi is important to the study of Mexican music because, as an ensemble created during the colonial period, it found its essence during the postcolonial era, blossomed during the nationalist era, and has made a global impact in contemporary times. Throughout this development, particularly since the nationalist era, mariachi music has become emblematic of Mexican music by appropriating various Mexican regional song forms, experimenting in popular radio programs, appearing in the earliest Mexican films, and performing during presidential campaigns (Loza 1993, Turino 2003, Sheehy 2005, de la Mora 2006, Jáuregui 2007).

“The consensus of modern scholars is that the word mariachi is indigenous to Mexico. The now-extinct Coca language of central Jalisco is the most frequently cited as its probable source. Legend erroneously attributes the word to the French Intervention of the 1860s, explaining it as a corruption of the French word mariage, and citing a similarity between mariachi (or its archaic variant, mariache) and the French word for wedding. Historical documents prove that both the word mariachi and the ensemble it designates pre-date the French occupation of Mexico, making any similarity with the French word a phonetic coincidence” (Clark, 1996).

The mariachi ensemble generally consists of violins, trumpets, a classical guitar, a vihuela (a high-pitched, five-string guitar), a guitarrón (a large acoustic bass guitar) and, on occasion, a harp. The musicians dress in silver-studded charro outfits with wide-brimmed hats. The original Mariachis were Mexican street musicians or buskers,^[1] but many today are professional entertainers making paid appearances in the entertainment industry. Professionals can usually play more than one instrument, and all can sing. They sometimes accompany ranchera singers such as Vicente Fernandez or even pop star Luis Miguel. Although ranchera singers dress in a traje de charro (Charro suit), they are not considered mariachis. Mariachi music, as well as other forms of traditional Mexican music, is also noted for the grito mexicano, a yell done at musical interludes within a song, either by the musicians or the audience.

Mariachi Herencia Mexicana singers Celia Correa, formerly of Laredo, and Robert Vidaurri from San Antonio perform on March 20, 2010, in Zapata, Texas

Although mariachis play at events such as weddings and formal occasions such as a quinceañeras (a girl’s fifteenth birthday celebration), they are often used to serenade women because many of the songs have romantic lyrics. Trios of mariachis may be found for hire to seranade; the best known venues are the Plaza de los Mariachis in Guadalajara and the Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City). Mother’s days are also a popular occasion for mariachis. Prices vary immensely and are seldom cheap.

Foreign tourists often confuse mariachis with other types of buskers seen in Mexico, such as the jarochos, typical of the State of Veracruz, or “norteño” bands, which come from the Northern states of Mexico. The term Mariachi refers only to musicians who dress and play in a style typical of Jalisco, though the style and music has spread far. Usually a guitarrón and a vihuela must be present for a group to be considered mariachi.

TO READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE PRESS >  HERE