So it eventually began for me for real when I left mams house at 10.20. the day after the marathon.
I decided to delay the start for over 2 hours as my 2 buddies were coming over to the house to see me off., Liam Fenelon race director of the Longford Marathon and Alan Young my great crewman had come over especially from Scotland.
They started with me, I ran a sentimental lap of Sundrive Park as mentioned before this park I have run in so much in the past, thousands of kms almost enough for a smaller world run!
We ran past my house on Sundrive Road..Then I was on my own pushing Nirvana up the Long Mile Road..Had a bit of difficulty around the Clondalkin area trying to get around the roundabout and onto the right road..Half expected the Gardai to pull me off the road!
Eventually I made some progress.. Half way to Newbridge I played the first song of the World Jog.. Had often wondered what it would be..I scrolled through the 6 days of stored music, have decided I will listen to every song, eventually. I wondering who to play, Arcade Fire, Dylan. No not really, I had been struggling a bit and wanted something a bit uplifting. The dial stopped on Bon Jovi, Yes that’s good! So it was ‘ Living on a Prayer.
Immediately I was revitalised and it was easy my Chariot carrier buggy now named NIRVANA just glided along my arms pumping in the air as I pushed Nirvana along with ease.. Sometimes I can get a good 15-20 mts with a good angled push. As I am running in the hardshoulder and with the camber there is no fear it will wheel onto the road, more into the ditch. I soon learned to give it a correcting directional push with my left hand and a push on with my right..And on it goes..During these pushes I can run faster… Its great on the long downhills I can get up to 13.5 kph holding onto it with the lock I have around the handlebar or just grabbing it at the right moment..Moments like this its great fun.

Into Newbridge, no Youth Hostels and not knowing what to do for accom, The Limerick athletic Clubs and Nenagh AC are taking care of me after I emailed them. 2 emails to Newbridge AC were ignored.
I joked with the friendly garda, ‘ I don’t suppose a letter of introduction from the Dublin Lord Mayor works here! ‘
I went to the local church and was told there was no possibility of camping in the large wooded area behind..
‘ Sarcrillage? ‘ I said.. ‘ No we cant be letting anyone camp there, even an Irishman running around the world ‘

Went next door to the Patrician Brothers and was told in a very tolerating tone ‘ Yes ‘
What’s happened to the land of a thousand welcomes…Not anymore..Not even a drink of water..Getting a very bad send off from my own country…I know it will get better when I get a bit further west..
I pitched the tent and then remembered a friend, a Polish woman called Catrina lives in Clane about a half hour drive away.
I sent her a text asking to meet for a coffee.
While waiting I got some nice fish and chips..
Had a nice evening chatting with Catrina in a pub, didn’t want to let Nirvana out of my sight so roller her in.. Catrina decided upon the sex of the Chariot Carrier by the way… ‘ You don’t want a man Tony, You need a good woman! ‘
She was always aware of my interest in travel books and had often teased her after reading camel crossing of Africa books that she could come along with me!’ No Tony what about not having a shower for weeks! ‘o when I texted her a couple of weeks ago she thought it was a windup till she actually saw the show on the road.
She couldn’t quiet believe I was started the World Jog and have little help.. There are a few people batting for me..Thanks Catrina has set up a place for me to stay tomorrow in Portlaoise. Also thanks for the Madonna medal you insisted on chaining around my neck… That’s 4 medals and 6 mass cardsto the collection…Am I joining the priesthood or is everyone worried about me?
So my second day on the road. I wheeled Nirvana down to last nights finishing point at the Garda station and started running.. Ran for about 15k and had a breakfast roll and then ran on.. Some of the hills were a bit brutish for me at this stage I am trying to regain my fitness that I lost during the build up I am afraid I neglected it.are

Yesterday I was coming up to a service station and a man called Philip McGee stopped and gave me a fiver for my charity Aware, Then he asked me what I was up to. So he took the fiver back and gave me 20, then he gave me the fiver again and bought me an ice cream.
I arrived in Portlaoise drenched as it had been raining heavily this last hour and a half. Pulled Nirvana into Lethians pub for tea. The friendly barman PJ was gobsmacked, treated me to the tea and took photos while I updated this and my online daily log (on the route page )

Eben, the South African friend that Catrina put me in contact with arrived and said his place is only a mile away…Seemed more like 3! I ran fairly hard for ages in the dark following his Mercedes, got lost a couple of times before he came to my rescue.

Eben’s wife, Dubliner Melanie had prepared a delicious meal with an enormous portion of pork and veg…My first decent meal of the World Jog, got the nutrition ratio up significantly here!
The young couple have 2 children 10 year old Buddy and 3 year old Elana love it out here in Portlaoise, though Eben commutes daily to his Dublin job in a property management company, Melanie is quiet happy not to have been back to Dublin in 3 years, she has everything here she says.
I finished off this posting after dinner. This was my second night on the road and first with electricity, had a lot of charging up and odd jobs. Felt I was being a bit anti-social as they watched The Apprentice, but I know they didn’t mind, a wonderful genuine family.

Before the World Jog began I put a lot of effort into the structure and editing my blogs, now time is an issue and I will more or less type it as it comes, so sorry for any typos!

Got 5 of my devices charged up as they ran low without power last night… Have even taken to getting my phone and Garmin Forerunner GPS (which I use as a guide to my distance) topped up in service stations or places I go to have tea.

TOTAL DISTANCE TO DATE DUBLIN TO PORTLAOISE = 86.3KM

For me this was the first real step of the World Jog. From my mams house.

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