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Seven Island Hop Begins

Crossing into Indonesia was pretty swift, about a half hour and I was away running into West Timor, Timor Island shared with Timor-Leste being the first of my seven island Indonesian hop.

The roads are better here but still tough to run on. The kids still shout their greeting, it’s constant, always with a smile, a welcome but added with the heat, humidity, hectic traffic, my tiredness, dogs etc this constant non stop chant can become so wearisome, but I am always aware it’s the first time for them to see me, so their enthusiasm is understandable.

Never the less I now have to accept the New Zealand and Australia ‘ holiday ‘ the mental break of sorts is now well and truly over. I will have little or no privacy now for about a year. I ran 37km that was about 15 inside Indonesia, just past a small town called Atapupu. It was dark and as I ran by a supermarket a lady called out to me in English, asking where I was going. It was soon decided that I would stay the night in their friends house across the road. Jon, Santy,Aditya, Usa and Nelg.

Jon.Santy,Aditya and Nelg. I slept well on the floor mat on the left.

I had a short 17km day arriving in Atambua in the rain, not being able to find the post office and then a rat ran out in front of me into a drain. Eventually I found the post office, it had just closed. I have decided to send on most of my gear to places along my route. So I needed time to sort this. As always I started running with too much in my pack. The pack will now be ditched. Now I will have the bare minimum, 2 kilos in a satchel with my bare essentials in a light weight water proof bag. So with the help of Sebastian I found a cheap place. He patiently took me around about 5 places that charge 25/30 euro, come on whats happening, this is Indonesia. Eventually I said please take me to a place that looks like shit! He did and at 10 euro it was alright, continental breakfast included though still expensive for Indonesia.

That night I packed my gear and next morning posted it off. I then had a pocket job done on my UVU running top, and though the local tailor did the job for free, except for cigarette money for some kid that you can see behind him in the photo. However the material I provided was pretty bad, to put it mildly, Think I will have to get it redone! I also had my satchel reinforced by having material sewed onto weak pressure points as seen below.

All this and waiting for the rain to stop meant another late start for a dire 21km, Ah Michael I miss you and your great help. I sometimes wonder what it would be like for you crewing here, waiting for me to arrive and having to deal with the hordes of people around the car!

This entry was posted on Friday, June 14th, 2013 at 2:16 pm 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.

10 Responses to “Seven Island Hop Begins”

Ann Says:
June 14th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
A good insight into Indonisia and great photos. Pity it’s the rainy season there. Take care Ann
Greg Havely Says:
June 14th, 2013 at 11:09 pm
Hey Tony–I am envious again–I love Indonesia–wish I were there to share it a bit with you–you pictures and journal bring back a lot of good memories—
Liz and Max and I are off to Japan in a couple of days—seeing some old friends, and doing a bit of the touristy stuff—
OK man–good running–Greg
Tony Says:
June 15th, 2013 at 3:30 am
You prob realized this blog finished suddenly as the place was closing where I logged on. Am having lunch in Ferdinands house on my way to the airport for my flight to Flores in 3 hours time, should be running Flores Sunday
Terry Cleary Says:
June 16th, 2013 at 10:38 am
Loving the reports and photos, Tony…
Serena Says:
June 21st, 2013 at 6:54 pm
Hi tony,
The pictures really capture the lives of the Indonesian people you have encountered so far. Sounds very challenging at the moment but keep it up you’re seeing more of the world than most people can claim! Be careful.serena
Ann Says:
June 22nd, 2013 at 12:50 am
Great to see spot tracker moving again. See you were running 50 minutes ago. Take care Ann
ferdi Says:
June 22nd, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Hi Tony,
Great !! Remember Compang Kempo village in Manggarai Timur regency?
Ann for Tony Says:
June 24th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Hi Ann pls post.. Flores island has been run under difficult road,rain,hot and humid weather conditions.Taking ferry to Sumbawa island Tues. Thanks for support tony ps 31,884km for 736 road days.Tough day,had 2 dinners on arrival in Labuhan Bajo
kevin scanlon Says:
June 25th, 2013 at 6:17 pm
well done tony. the spot is hopping along nicely with you!!!!
Alan Knox Says:
September 2nd, 2013 at 1:14 am
I Tony! Back here in Auckland we’re still thinking of you. All power and patience to you mate.

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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...