Off and Running

Early start to catch the ferry to Holyhead, Wales

My team finished running at 8.30pm last night, we had lots of support from the Irish along the way tooting their horns and giving us all the thumbs up - word must be getting out that these people running along major highways with a baton are not just mad, but mad with a wonderful mission to fulfill.

We got to the hotel in Dublin at 11.30pm, straight to bed and then up at 5am the next morning to catch the ferry to Hollyhead, Wales. It was a calm crossing and we arrived in quaint Holyhead about 9am. I could smell the wonderful sea air and their was strong breeze, it made me feel right at home in Wellington.

Our day in Holyhead was spent catching up with some laundry and Taeko ( my Japanese roommate) and I took a trip to the Holyhead launderette. Had a great old time chatting to the owners Pam and Rob from Manchester and getting the locals to teach me some Welsh. I must say I am doing a great old job teaching Taeko English the Kiwi way. We have been working on ‘gidday mate’ and I will have this Japanese girl talking English with a kiwi accent very well.

I managed to locate a massage therapist in a town nearby, my body was in desperate need after all the flying and 2 hard runs over 10miles. I was very grateful when I went to pay my 30 pounds and they only wanted to charge me 10 pounds because of my involvement with the Blue Planet Run.

I ran the last leg for my team today finishing at 9pm and well I had the most amazing scenic run over a historical bridge ( I love running over bridges), and finishing with the Snowden Mountain in the backdrop.

I am writing this in the van as we drive to our hotel in Swesberry, we don’t start till 3pm tomorrow so have a well needed sleep in and then finish closer to London tomorrow evening,. Being so close to London I am going to take the opportunity to pop in and catch up with friends for a meal - really looking forward to that.

Oyasuni ( good night in Japanese - yep I am trying to learn a bit and I have the perfect teacher with Taeko).

- Melissa