Skönt att det bara var ett BAS-pass denna frostiga morgon i minusgrader! Det var mörkt och kallt och något blåsigt, när jag begav mig ut på min vanliga Elinelundsrunda medsols kl. 05:17.

Det var stelt i benen, men tog det lugnt. Fick mer känningar i höger baksida lår, så tog det extra försiktigt de sista två kilometerna. Det fick bli så, att det blev ett extra varv runt kvarteret för att få ihop det med tiden.

Efter avklarad runda, fick jag mitt andra vykort från ”Jesus Trail” utmaningen.

Having left Nazareth, I hiked northwest to Zippori National Park, an archeological site and home to the ancient city of Zippori. It was inhabited from the Hellenistic period (circa 323 BC to 31 BC) until the Arab conquest in the 7th century. The site contains a beautifully preserved Roman amphitheater, the ruins of a Crusader fortress and synagogue, and several intricate mosaic designs. Zippori was a significant Jewish hub for learning, and it’s where Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi compiled his life work called the Mishnah, the oral tradition of Jewish law.

After exploring the park, I connected with the Israel National Trail, a long-distance trek that spans the entire length of Israel from north to south. The two trails intersect at several points, making it easy to switch between paths if needed.

As I continued on the Jesus Trail, I came across the quaint village of Mash’had, inhabited by a fascinating minority group known as the Druze, with traditions dating back to the 11th century. Their faith incorporates elements from a variety of beliefs and philosophies, emphasizing the importance of the mind and the value of honesty. Although they honour several prophets, like Jesus and Mohammed, the Druze also hold the Greek philosophers Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates, and the Macedonian king Alexander the Great in high regard. This unique blend of faith and philosophy gives the Druze a distinctive and mysterious nature.

Less than a mile further (1.6km), I arrived in the small Arab village of Kafr Kanna. In ancient times it was identified as Cana and associated with the biblical story of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding. The story goes that the wedding hosts ran out of wine, and Mary asked Jesus to help. So, Jesus asked the servants to fill six large stone jars with water which he then turned into wine. This transformation of water to wine was the first miracle attributed to Jesus. The site where it took place is now the location of the Wedding Church, a Franciscan church built in the late 1800s.

The church is built in a gothic style with a white façade and decorated with sculptures of angels. It has two levels, with the lower section serving as a museum containing artifacts from Jesus’ time, including a jar believed to have been used to convert water into wine. On the upper level is a beautifully detailed portion of a Byzantine mosaic dating back to the 5th or 6th century discovered during excavations below the church. The mosaic includes an Aramaic dedication to the patron who commissioned it. Built on layers of history, the church is a connection to Jesus and ancient times.

Feeling like satisfying a sweet tooth, I looked for a place to indulge in a slice of Kanafeh, a Middle Eastern cheese and phyllo dessert. This delicious dessert is made of crunchy shredded phyllo drenched in floral and orange syrup, wrapped around a gooey cheese, and topped with chopped, toasted pistachios. Finger licking good. I finished this delight with a strong coffee powering me up for the next stage.

Dessutom fick jag beskedet, att jag klarat av 20% av den totala sträckan i ”Jesus Trail” utmaningen, och därmed plockat upp ytterligare 10-st flaskor från havet.

Dagens pass var inte eftertraktat, eller ens önskvärt. Kände inte speciellt för att gå ut och springa, även om vädret var fint och solen lyste. Dock var det endast runt 10 grader varmt.

Det började med 10-minuters uppvärmning i tempot 6:30, vilket efterföljdes av löpning i 18-minuter i tempot 5:20. Det hela avslutades med nedvarvning i 10-minuter i tempot 6:30.

Det började trögt, men kom ganska snart upp i tempot, vilket även överskreds. Men när löpningen startade, fick det bli i intervaller, då det var riktigt jobbigt att hålla tempot, speciellt i uppförsbackarna.

Jag sprang den vanliga Elinelundsrundan medsols och fick avsluta med ett vänstervarv runt kvarteret.

Eftersom jag var klar med The Conqueror Events Challenge Camino de Santiago igår, startade jag en ny idag, där jag gjorde mina första 4,8 km på löpbandet, då jag genomförde dagens träningspass mot Broloppet 2025.

Jesus Trail innebär en sträcka på 63 km, som jag tänkt avverka genom endast löpning.

Efter dagens runda, den första i denna utmaning, kom det första vykortet.

Israel is a Middle Eastern country placed between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and bordering Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt on the remaining sides. Its history dates back to ancient times and was a major crossroad for trade, largely because of its central location and proximity to the sea. It is also a special place for three of the biggest religions in the world: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jews call it the ”Promised Land”, Christians know it as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, and for Muslims, it’s where the Prophet Muhammad went up to heaven. All these influences shaped the culture and history of the country. Furthermore, it created some of the most deliciously varied cuisine, where spices and fresh ingredients are masterfully blended to create mouth-watering dishes with tantalising aromas.

I opted to hike the Jesus Trail among the many trails available in Israel because of its rugged terrain, scenic villages, and ancient ruins. Moreover, the trail offers an opportunity to learn more about Jesus’ life and to connect with my own spiritual journey. The route begins in Nazareth, goes through Kafr Kanna, over Mount Arbel, down to the Sea of Galilee, and wraps up in Capernaum.

So here I am in Nazareth, a city best known as the place where Jesus grew up, received his education, and lived most of his life. I started my day with a hearty buffet-style breakfast of yoghurt, fruit, refreshing salad (served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and shakshouka, a specialty dish of poached eggs in a tomato sauce spiced with cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper.

With my belly full, I went exploring Nazareth, visiting the Church of the Annunciation. The church is said to be the site where the angel Gabriel came to tell Mary that she would bear a son. The original church, built in the 4th century AD, was destroyed and rebuilt many times. The current structure was finished in 1969 in a very modern style over two levels. Outside, a garden and a courtyard connect to St Joseph’s Church, considered the site of Joseph’s carpentry workshop. Joseph was Mary’s husband and Jesus’ earthly father. He is believed to have been a humble and compassionate man who played a crucial role in raising and protecting Jesus during his childhood. In 1870, Joseph was canonized and became known as St. Joseph.

In ancient times, Nazareth was just a small and rather insignificant village occupied by farmers and artisans. The houses were built of stone and mud, and the streets were narrow and unpaved. Situated in a small basin surrounded by hills, Nazareth was not very accessible. Anything known about Nazareth results from archaeological discoveries, as there are no historical records from that time. Nazareth only gained significance after Jesus became a resident. To get a feel for life in ancient times, I visited Nazareth Village. It was an open-air museum where the guides and staff were dressed as first-century villagers telling stories that brought the era to life. Here, I had a traditional first-century meal of roasted chicken, lentil soup, delicious flatbread, and an ever-so-tasty trio of dips.

Modern Nazareth is a bustling, sprawling city with a mixture of old and new architecture. Its narrow alleyways are lined with shops selling pottery, textiles, and aromatic spices. Mary’s Well, located in a quiet square, is thought to be where Mary came to collect water. Surrounded by cafes, I’ll take a moment to indulge in a heart-stopping Arabic coffee spiced with cardamom before I continue on to Kafr Kanna.

Efter ett söndagsbesök av Robert & Carina, med god mat och snack, tog jag och bytte om, för att göra mitt träningspass på löpbandet.

42-minuter i tempot 6:30 avverkades i ett svettigt och varmt rum.

Efter detta pass, fick jag det sista vykortet från Camino de Santiago och beskedet om att jag var klar med utmaningen.

Congratulations, you have travelled in the footsteps of the early pilgrims and the many that followed throughout the Middle Ages. A journey deep in rich history, architectural diversity and stunning landscapes.

Now that you have reached the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the final UNESCO site on the Camino Frances, be sure to explore its mixed Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque structure. Building began in 1075 and took 136 years to complete. It is 100m long (330ft), 70m wide (230ft) and 75m high (246ft), with a seating capacity of 1200 people.

The cathedral was built atop one of Jesus’ disciple’s tombs, St James the Great, and it is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese Santiago de Compostela. Relics of St James were discovered in 1879, and once authenticated, they were buried in the crypt beneath the altar alongside two of his disciples, St Theodorus and St Athanasius. 

Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia, and the city’s old town was designated a UNESCO site in 1985. Aside from the Cathedral, some of the major sites to visit are: the neoclassical palace Pazo de Raxoi, the highly decorative baroque Abbey of San Martin Pinario, one of the world’s oldest universities still in operation University of Santiago de Compostela and the highly modern and contoured City Culture of Galicia (a complex of cultural buildings).

774 km avverkade sedan lördagen den 13 april 2024!