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Updated > In Melbourne Where The Only Way Is Up.

Hi All!

I arrived here in Melbourne Sunday and was greeted at the airport by Michael Gillan and his partner Jin. Michael will be my crew man for the next 3,800km north through the great outback, right through the very heart of Australia! Yes we are going to rip it in two! We are busy sorting out our baggage, shopping for food, emergency supplies for Michaels car etc. The plan is to start on Wednesday morning as early as possible. Melbourne time is +11 hours GMT.

I did an interview for a Sydney newspaper which will be published St. Patrick’s weekend.

As we know many Australians like to talk up how tough and challenging this country is… Yes of course it is all of that but it’s pretty routine for us folk on the blog after what we have been through, of which only a small part has been disclosed on the blog I might add!

Not sure how my reply to that question saying that …… ” At long, long last I am looking forward to a nice rest as I run through the outback as I will not having to horse a cart as I push it , or hump a backpack – for this part even carrying one water bottle in my hand will be optional. Yes you got snakes but I got my own Crocodile Mick DunGillan! “ I wonder how that reply will go down with the media!!! ”

All this is only possible due to the kindness of my support driver Michael Gillan, Thank you so much Michael

Michael has a most amazing story to tell. A very riveting life story that will leave you gasping in astonishment! So much so that I won’t know how to begin telling it.

Many times I have talked on this blog about how I often feel so lucky, not just to be living my dream but with general luck which just keeps knocking on my door as though I have a helping hand pushing me around the world.

By way of a teaser take a look at this HERE a little about Michael, just a little I might add and this is the luck that knocked on my inbox about six months ago with this very kind offer of help. I am so honored.

Michael in action as bodies fall around at the Colac 6 day race in 2005

We intend to tell his story bit by bit. From time to time I will allow Michael to do some blogging..

‘ A Michael for Tony…. ‘ update format, that is when we do get some internet access. There will be long, long spells between internet and mobile phone connections, let’s just see what happens…

After over two years running south through the Americas with each step Ireland became more and more distant as I looked over my left shoulder.

Then on the way to the airport as I made my way to here someone asked me was I going home…

I flashed a big smile and said… ” Yes I am now! I am finally on my way home! ”

I have run my final day south. From now on I will be only running north and west.

Now as I look ahead as I run over a giant world map which is plotted out in the road map of my mind. As I look further ahead to the north I can see China in just a few short months. I will turn left in China. Yes when I make that big turn in China that will be a monumental day for me. Then I will look to the left….Soon it will be straight ahead – far off in that misty distance I can see Ireland, 6 Merrion Square North, where I began 27,274km ago – far off in the distance. It will become clearer every day; day after day as I run towards my finish line, the finishing line of the Dublin City marathon on October 27th 2014. I will run and run till the only mist I can see will be the mist in my eyes, the emotional tears in my eyes as I run for home, at the end of the world

A great world full of great people.

Yes I am going home and as the song goes….. The Only Way Is Up!

Route:

Queenscliff, Ballart, Ararat, Stawell, Horsham, Dimboola, Bordertown, Murray Bridge, Gawler, Clare, Crystal Brook, Port Gerkmin, Port Augusta, Alice Springs

Map please press HERE

This entry was posted on Monday, March 11th, 2013 at 2:47 am and is filed under jogging. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “Updated > In Melbourne Where The Only Way Is Up.”

kevin scanlon Says:
March 11th, 2013 at 9:28 am
tony, it certainly feels like you are coming up over the hills and home!!!!! good luck on wednesday. hopefully the spot tracker will keep tracking………kevin
Mam Says:
March 11th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
Good luck down under Tony. Take care Mam
Ann Says:
March 12th, 2013 at 11:34 pm
Great to see your spot moving along again Tony. Enjoy the next leg of your journey Ann
Jin Says:
March 14th, 2013 at 8:24 pm
Hi tony. U r not lucky. U r blessed. And u spelled my name wrongly. I m insulted!!!!

since Tony began his World Run on 25th October 2010

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About Tony

I have always considered myself to be an average runner. In school, I was even bullied for I was a sports wimp. Through hard work, dedication, perseverance, self-belief and a strong mind I succeeded in not only running around the world but breaking four ultra running world records during my competitive career. Having previously cycled around the world I didn't start running until I was almost 30. Then I had a dream of running around the world. For many reasons, I waited for over 20 years. One reason was to establish my pedigree as an endurance athlete. I started and finished my world run as the current World Record-Holder for 48 Hours Indoor Track 426 kilometres (265 miles), a record I have held since 2007. I also broke and still hold the World Record for 48 hours on a Treadmill 405 kilometres (251 miles) in 2008. When I retired from competition, more pleasing than any of my world, European or Irish records I had the respect of my fellow athletes from all over the world - in my opinion, sports greatest reward - an achievement I am most proud of. Then I finally put myself out to pasture, to live my ultimate dream to run around the world! This blog was written on the road while I struggled to find places to sleep and to recover from running an average of 43.3 kilometres or 27 miles per day for 1,165 road days. There were many nights I typed this blog on a smart phone, so fatigued my eyes closed. Many journalists and endurance athletes have referred to my world run as the most difficult endurance challenge ever attempted. During my expedition I rarely had any support vehicles, running mostly with a backpack. In the more desolate areas I pushed my gear, food and water in a cart which I called Nirvana, then I sent her on ahead to run with my backpack once again over altitudes of almost 5,000 metres in the Andes. I stayed in remote villages where many people had never seen a white person before. I literally met the most wonderful people of this world in their own backyard and share many of those amazing experiences in this blog. My run around the world took 4 years. There were no short cuts, I ran every single metre on the road while seeking out the most comprehensive route across 41 countries, 5 continents, I used 50 pair of running shoes and my final footstep of the run was exactly 50,000 kilometres, (almost 31,000 miles) I eventually finished this tongue in cheek named world jog where I started, at the finish line of my city marathon. I started my global run with the Dublin Marathon on October 25th 2010 and finished with the Dublin Marathon on October 27th 2014 at 3 05pm! Thank you for your support, I hope you can share my unique way of seeing the world, the ultimate endurance challenge! Read more...