Cape Spear to Whithbourne.
Nov 9-10.

I left Cape Spear, my North American starting point as it is the most eastern point on the continent. That meant I had connected up Dunquin Co. Kerry as Ireland’s most western point to the Newfoundland tourist spot.

 I am very grateful for the help of my local contact Sandy Pike who was simply amazing despite having exams at noon she still dropped me to my start. Once again I ran into and out of the Atlantic.

 Ta Sandy, she ran a little with me then had to rush off to studies.

Half an hour later NTV or Newfoundland TV pulled up and I gave a tv interview for their 6pm news magazine show. I never saw it but Sandy texted me to say it was a good one. I must check their website. I gave Chariot Carriers a major plug as they are from here.

I ran on alone, clicking in around 45.2km for day 1.

 I camping behind the commercial vehicle weigh scale station, about 30km from St. Johns.

It was a cold and wet night but next morning I was greeted by the officer who allowed me to make coffee and warm up in the weigh station office. I tried weighing Nirvana, too light to weigh, I wish!

Got pulled over by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or The Mounties! Not on a horse but in a cop car. He said someone reported a lunatic running down the highway with a baby!!

He even looked inside my Chariot jogging stroller!

At 1pm a man in a construction site parking lot told me Whitbourne was just 10km away.

I got a huge amounts of hoots and toots, guess its from the tv interview.

Later that  day a man called Roy gave me 20 dollars for the charity.

This area reminds me a lot of Ireland, especially the Dingle pensinula. Beautiful little coves, forestry and long rolling hills.

Dunquin could easily twin with Cape Spear.

 I rolled into Whitbourne at 5pm.  So much for 10 kilometers.

Cindy and Ann from Montys Place truck stop where I camped behind gave me 15 dollars for AWARE.

 Please check out the donate button on the site for my charity, AWARE.

Am told the area is called the Irish loop because viewed from the sky it resembles a shamrock.

Thinking its best to stick to secure places and areas I can get refreshed I am making for Service stations as there is not much in between. It can get cold putting up my tent around the back of the truck stop so I can come in for warmth whenever I like. Also great to end the day with a dinner and start with a breakfast. I usually hustle very hard introducing myself saying a world runner appreciates generous portions! Learning fast on my feet, I guess.

Because I make for the truck stops meant day 2 was a very long haul 9-5pm and 59km to Whitbourne. I was tired starting today but managed to get in another 56km to a restaurant that closes in a few mins, so that’s why this is so hastily written, sorry. I am in Arnolds cove after a 9 hour day. The truth is today was more than 60 as I ignored a locals  shortcut and followed the highway route, so 56 it will be.

It gets dark around 5pm here -3 hours G.M.T. Newfoundland time zone.

Tomorrow I will be in Clarenville just 45 away  and starting to sound like an easy day!   Monday the first major town, Gander about another 147.

So far in Newfoundland I have run circa 160km in 3 days. I dont really want to do these distances at the start of the world jog but circumstances dictate.

13 Road days = 536.7km not counting Dublin marathon.

The World Jog continues from Dunquin, Co. Kerry, the most western place in Ireland! Out of the Atlantic Ocean and onto the most eastern spot in North America, Cape Spear,Newfoundland,Canada.

And the run through the Americas all the way to Tierra del Fuego has finally begun!

Many thanks to Sandy Pike for helping with the start of the North American leg. My Newfoundland leg of the World Jog is dedicated to a great degree examination result for Sandy!

Interviewed by Newfoundland Television station NTV just outside Cape Spear.

A long way to go in Newfoundland. Port aux Basques is where I get my ferry to North Sydney,Nova Scotia, sometime early December.

Down the hill from Cape Spear my friends welcome me back to St. John's.

Out into the great wide open.

The Avalon peninsula kinda reminds me of the Dingle peninsula, but they do call this area the Irish loop, looks like a shamrock from the sky.

Hi friends it’s been a very busy week since finishing my run across Ireland in Dunquin last Wednesday.

I commuted back to Dublin on Thursday, dashing around the city all day Friday and last minute packing/reorganizing till 10pm.

 The family dropped me out to the airport, got about an hour sleep till it was time to check in.

At the check in I was told my airlines policy had changed and I had to pay 55 euro for a second checked bag. Though I had my credit card in hand the clerk went the extra mile checking my long loyalty record to the airline on her computer for ages.For whatever reason she didn’t want to take fee. I was amazed when it was suggested for me to reorganize my bags allowing me to just check in the one, avoiding the fee, carrying on a large cabin bag and personal bag. Because of this hurried repacking a screwdriver ended up in my carry on bag! So, I was pulled up for this at the baggage check, given a lecture that I should know a bit better if I was running around the world!

‘ Yes Sir ‘

Screwdriver was confiscated, puncture repair adhesive was carried through with my toothpaste.

On to New York for my 20 hour layover en route to Newfoundland.

 Stayed with my friend Phil Mc Carthy of  the USA 24 hour team.

We watched the New York marathon on tv and then it was time for me to make a mad dash for the airport again. Great to meet up with old friends and rivals again, the first of many I am sure 

A two and a half hour flight to Saint John’s, Newfoundland, the nearest eastern city  to Dunquin.

When a young local woman Sandy Pike heard of  the World Jog on a Canadian running forum she offered to pick me up from the airport and kindly put me up for a couple of  nights, also bring me the short distance to my starting point, Cape spear on Tuesday. 

 I went to her work place on Monday morning to pick up Nirvana, my wonderful Chariot Cougar 1 carrier. I had arranged to send it on ahead of my arrival by Fed-ex as I preferred not wanting to take a chance with dodgy baggage handling and a couple of other logistic reasons.  

This was fortuitive as Canada is home to the great wonderful Chariot!

Though intended as a child stroller a simple modification converts it into a jogging stroller.

Runners and walkers have hijacked this idea of loading up their baggage, journeys across the USA and further afield. Gone are the days of the backpack for many walkers while also making  journey running a pleasurable possibility.

Chris, Chariots great customer support representative sent along some puncture resistant tyres and inner tubes which I am road testing. Also a  16″ and 20″ spare wheel and other spares.. Nothing spared, they are taking care of me.  Included was a very nice note from the staff.

” Happy travels Tony, All at Chariot will be rooting for you! ”

Last night the weather was beautiful when I arrived, it finally caught up with me and started belting down all day Monday.

I don’t think there is any hurry for me to post my planned song,”  November Rain ”  by Guns N Roses for the  ” Song of the week on my ipod ” I have been told I can probably make an accurate posting for that one any day this month     By The way I got a new ipod and camera, will be more careful these  ones don’t get wet.

Eventually I got all the tyres and tubes replaced, the gear repacked.

Sandy came home from her studies. I feel bad as she has got an important examination for her economics degree on Tuesday, yet she is so enthusiastic and obliging insisting nothing is too much trouble, its amazing.

I have decided to dedicate my run across Newfoundland to Sandy’s studies and for the result she wishes and has worked so hard for.

I treated her to dinner in a nice restaurant and then we went over to visit her  mad cap mother, Jenny who though in a hurry out to work on the night shift as a nursing home nurse still took time to make us some coffee with canned milk… I had been lectured earlier in the day that the only coffee that mattered in Canada was Tom Horton’s, which is a chain rivalling Starbucks here.

” That’s the way we like our milk her out of cans, always have since my great grandad O’Dwyer came over here as a stowaway on a ship from Ireland. We got a great Irish tradition here and Paddy’s Day is almost as important as Christmas Day! ”

Tomorrow…Out into the great wide open, my first foreign country of the world run….

Got back to Dublin this evening by bus and train from Dunquin and Tralee.

For those that don’t understand this detail please remember I ran from Merrion Square North to Dunquin, Ireland’s most westerly point. I didn’t have an aircraft on standby in the Dingle peninsula ready to take me directly to the most easterly point in North America!

So, I am backtracking and the most important point is I will not be flying over or skipping any land I could have run over. All possible land kilometres will be run and Oceans flown/sailed across. I chose to fly from Dublin because the date I booked, Nov 6th required  50% more frequent flier miles from Shannon. Why did I not run to the airport? Because I have to have some kind of logical and structured plan. In short that was not necessary as I have already run Ireland and besides no mater what I did people would still ask about other alternatives.

Remember my plan for the World Jog is for the most continuous route around the world on a world map. You know there are some begrudgers out there that will probably question that when I get to somewhere like Indonesia where there are probably hundreds of islands with little or no seasonal ferry services between them!

I will do everything I reasonably can to make this as continuous on a world map.

At 7.40am on Saturday I fly to New York via Atlanta, indirect route dictated by my frequent flier miles.

 In New York I stay with my friend Phil McCarthy of the USA 24 hour team for that night. During my 20 hour layover the New York marathon is on Are you thinking what I am thinking?

I did entertain the thought of running the Big Apple marathon but to be honest I would have to change my 6pm ish flight to a later time and that would have messed up my arrival in St. John’s New Foundland. Monday I will be resting up in so far as there are some logistics to be put in place. The plan is to start the North American leg on Tuesday the 9th November but that date is not cast in stone..

As I speak my beloved Nirvana, wonderful Chariot Cougar 1 Jogging stroller is being Fed-Exed on ahead of me to St. John’s, NF, so it will also depend upon that arrival date.

I understand there is a group of runners on the Running Room runners forum that want to run the start with me from Cape Spear to St. John’s. That will be a pleasure. I can hardly wait to start. In fact within the first 24 hours of the first posting on that forum I had no less than 4 offers from local people offering to pick me up from the airport and put me up.

Thank you so much Newfoundland I have heard so much about your wonderful hospitality.

10 marathons average in the last 10 days here in Ireland, what did I do when I got back to Dublin this evening? I went out for a short run! Emphasis on the short.

Briefly the Canadian and immediate USA plan is to run through Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to Maine, USA. From there I will run to Boston and onto Little Falls and St. Johnsville, NY home of my greatest rival John Geesler and his Club The Kurahura Kickers (sorry about the spelling lads!) They made me an honorary life member, so I just got to stop there

Running Into The Atlantic Ocean

Just like to remind those still ringing my old number that this got damp along with my camera, and ipod last week.

Please phone me (for world jog related logistics only)  on this number 086 2033672

I also see the Spot tracker is still not updating properly.

Still raining hard, been the same for over a week now. Am getting a headwind now as I get closer to the coast.

 Outside of Abbeyfeale there was another long drag of a hill, ran on soaked to the skin again. Through Tralee and on and on through breathtaking luscious scenery. The roads are getting narrower now, sometimes I am holding up the traffic. I have to switch sides of the road to run on.

I am really enjoying the run, the World Jog goes on and on.. My spirits are high, the rain will never dampen them. The body has adapted well.

I’m wet and cold and stuck between the two main towns on this part of my route, Tralee and Dingle.

Colm phones again and says, ” I got a place for you tonight, when you get to the Inch crossroads John Foley will be waiting for you, you are staying in his bar tonight. ”

Before I left I had considered not taking a mobile with me as I thought a ringing phone at an inopportune moment could ruin a beautiful peaceful moment when I am at one with myself and nature.

I now know the answer to that one….  turn off the phone! 

” That’s great, Colm, tell him I will be there in an hour ”

Right enough John was there and the World Jog was commuted the 3km to and from Inch for the night.

Next to Foley’s bar were cottages rented out to tourists in the summer. In the winter they are vacant.  John’s wife, sorry I can’t remember her name, got problems in the name department before I even leave Ireland!

Says its nice to give something back to the community and is delighted at the opportunity to put me up.

I light a log fire in the cottage fireplace making an attempt at drying out my clothes, shower and eat the plate of rice and stirfry veg John gave me before rushing off to Indoor football training.

The next day, Wednesday, my last day on the road in Ireland, rain again, what else down towards the Dingle peninsula. I ran by The South Pole Inn in Annascaul, birthplace of legendary south pole explorer, Tom Cream DETAILS 

Got my first dog encounter outside Anthony Flattery’s pub, not much to talk about, the dog didn’t like wine gums and soon lost interest as the distance increased.

On into Dingle, more funny looks. Went into a clothing store for directions, ” Straight on, ye can’t miss it, next stop America ” That was north west on the R559 towards Ballyferriter, I getting excited I can smell the ocean now. Beautiful, glorious running up and down the hills, though it always seems more up than down. Feel I could run forever. It’s now my tenth straight day, will miss this during my forced rest transit period to Cape Spear.

I run into Ballyferriter, deep in the Irish speaking Gaeltacht area. Colm is an avid language speaker with a large network of local contacts. He is also the editor of Suil newspaper. He calls me around 2.30 tells me to run on to Louis Mulcahy’s Pottery shop. He tells me there is a photographer there. On I go thinking its in the town, turns out to be 3km the far side. I get there but the photographer has gone on to Krudgers bar in Dunquin. No worries as I am treated to a cup of coffee and cake.

Outside my pace quickens to around 11kph as I sense the end, have been running around 8 at what I call ‘ zero effort, ‘ or as it comes. I run into Dunquin, down towards Krudgers, a big yellow building. In this area much of Ryan’s Daughter was filmed. The photographer Daithe also Donal and Joe,my host for tonight are waiting with a couple of other locals. A big cheer as I run up to them. I ask where is the most western place. They point towards it. I fast foot it down a boreen for about 2km towards Dunquin Pier. I wonder is the photographer following me as Colm has commissioned him to photograph me running into the Atlantic. Then I wonder did he just think it was the photo in the car park. I stop and wait, then I backtrack, yes he is coming. Daithe drives on, I see there are many places to go down to the ocean, don’t really know where he is. Eventually I see his black car, it’s getting dark as I run down the twisting ramp towards my destination. Towards the bottom I see tourist coming back up, they wonder what is happening. I continue running down and down about eight ramps. Its slippery at the end. I see the water. I grab the rails and run into the freezing cold water as Daithe snaps about 10 photos, front, back, drinking out of water bottle, pressing stopwatch, arms aloft.

I am elated, have crossed my country running every almost step except for about 600 meters walk through Borris last week. I look out at the Atlantic Ocean. They say the next parish is America, North America, for me the nearest piece of land will be in Cape Spear, the most eastern part of that continent where I will place my next serious foot mark.

 You are next my friends.

Tonight I am staying with Joe and Aine from Clogher Head about 10 km from Dunquin. Joe and I went out for Dinner in John Murphy’s bar in Dingle. To celebrate I had one of my favourite meals, sheppard’s pie.

Aine can’t do enough for, mothering me, asking if I have eaten enough fruit.

We stopped at Moran’s service station on the way back. I went in for a copy of The Kerryman newspaper.

The assistant laughed and said, ” There must be something special happening when a Dub is buying The Kerryman! ”

” Yes, I said..

” Just checking out page 77,”

Right enough there was Mondays photo from Castleisland, this time the journalist did mention the website.

The remnants of the horse fair were evident with my left foot clearly placed in the horse shit.

One thing is for sure, the Irish people are a great people, they came out in force with huge hearts. Taking me into their homes with enthusiasm and great acts of kindness.

Nenagh Olympic,Limerick,West Limerick and Roicht Athletic clubs have done Irish athletics proud.

Thanks for being with me I will update on my return to Dublin before going onto North America Fri night/Sat morning.

My run into the Atlantic is dedicated to the good people of Ireland that made the Irish leg of the world run possible…But remember, Ireland is incomplete, I got a date to keep Rosslare Harbour to 7  Merrion Square North in just under 3 years time.

My run across Ireland is dedicated to the memory of my late, great step-father, John Foley, the kindest and most gentle person I have ever known. John would have been one of my greatest supporters.

Total for Ireland: 377.6km.

Go raibh maith agat, Tony

A Long Way From The Dublin Marathon Finish Line.

Another tough day. It rained all day. Still having problems getting early starts. I pushed on from Newcastlewest up a steep hill, was climbing  for  about half an hour before Abbeyfeale. Then the descend.. They are always lovely. Just before crossing into County Kerry, locally proudly known  as ‘ The Kingdom Of Kerry ‘ I had lunch in the local Spar. I had been singing the Bruce Springsteen song, ‘ These Are The Kingdom Of Days ‘ in my mind all morning.

I sat inside the doorway out of the rain drinking my 2 Lt bottle of milk, sardine roll and apple cake. The friendly shop attendant asked me what I was doing.

” I am running around the world ”

” Oh! I see, well you picked a bad day for it! ”

Am getting a lot of funny looks and comments ” Where’s the baby? ”

To which I generally reply, ” Strapped in there under all the baggage! ”

As a cyclist when coming up to junctions I am so used to motorists pulling out in front of me, now they realize I am not a cyclist and probably wonder what I am doing with a buggy. I detect an unusual patience with motorists. From the distance they probably think I am a cyclist and when they are turning right out of a junction in front of me or even when making a right turn off a main road in front of me, even with little traffic they wait until I have passed, such is their curiosity, I think they can’t quite figure out what is coming up the road, I guess.

About 4km out of Abbeyfeale I started climbing. Think I was climbing for a good two hours, it was still raining heavy with a strong headwind in my face. My gps was telling me I was fluctuating between 5.5 and 7kph. Not very steep in comparison of what is in store in the Rockies and the Andes. Am still finding my fitness and at times like this am not too bothered by the gradient. Am working on my mind, staying positive, pushing on almost meditative to the summit.

Got there, then Sheila from the local athletic club Riocht AC pulled up in her car, I had about 10k still to run. Gave her my bags, she wanted to drive along in front but I sent her on. It was getting late, the photographer from The Kerryman newspaper was waiting in town for me to arrive. Told Sheila about 5pm.

The road dropped down sharply, Nirvana was a joy to run with after such a tough day…

Now it was easy, I was clipping along at about 11.5kph. Sometimes she was hard to control being so light, would be great to always travel so lightly. Will have to ditch some of my ‘ essentials ‘ when I finish the Irish leg.

Just before the roundabout on the new road I tripped on a cats eye reflector on the edge of the hard shoulder. A fully laden buggy would have prevented me from falling, instead  being so light now it  jerked out in front of me as I fell on the hard shoulder with Nirvana halfway across the inside lane, luckily enough there was not much traffic at that time. I was fine, just a bit shook up.

Ran into town. There was a horse festival on today. The Kerryman photographer stopped me to take the  photos as I stood in a load of horse shit on the main road. They were not going to bother with a reporter as they were writing the story from my site. I gave him my card and asked him to mention the website, they never do.

Sheila brought me down to Riocht’s clubhouse, a fine big building  with a gym attached.

I was looking for the legendary hill runner, John Lenihan, a legend on the hills and former world mountain champion. John is still dishing out world class performances, he had a great run in Poland in the world championships recently.

He is 50 now, they had a big party in town for him a few weeks ago.

He is a very humble man. He wasn’t about, I was told he was either out running or feeding the pigs. I was a bit disappointed at missing the big tough Kerryman.

Now I was getting cold and hungry. We walked to Sheilas house. Her husband John had cooked a big pot of Irish stew. Then the offer of a hot Radox bath or eat first. I get asked that question all the time, It’s always eat first, need a bit of chill out time before the soak.

The stew was wonderful.. Big helpings

Am getting close to Dunquin now. Think I can make it a day earlier, no point in dickin’ about with 3 easy days. They expect me on Thursday, I know I can make it on Wednesday. I told Colm my southern co-coordinator about this. Apparently they have a big reception planned for me when I wheel Nirvana into the Atlantic..  He says they are broadcasting updates on my progress on Radio na Gaelchta.

Don’t want to spoil the party by arriving a day early.. He suggests let him know for sure in the morning from Tralee which is only 18km away. Will wait till then as I got a few errants to do there.

Today: 45.2km.   World Jog  Total: 287.7km.