Tidig lördagsmorgon och jag begav mig ut på en runda för att starta min utmaning The Giant’s Causeway.

Det blev det vanliga 5k Elinelundsrundan denna morgon.

Efter denna runda, fick jag det första vykortet från utmaningen.

I have arrived in a land steeped in legend, where the primordial dramas of geology and ecology are refashioned by the imagination into mythology. As in all of Ireland, the great natural processes that shape the landscape are explained and reimagined here by stories. On my walk, following the Antrim Coast north until I reach the Giant’s Causeway, I will look to discover the stories behind the landmarks I pass, for almost every hill, lough, mountain, castle, and crannog has a secret to impart; all one must do is ask.

I begin in Glenarm, where Glenarm Castle dominates. The first monumental buildings here were built during the English Civil War, way back in 1636, by the Earl of Antrim, a Scot and supporter of the doomed Royalist cause. The original house was burned down six years later by the Parliamentarian soldiers. It was rebuilt and destroyed several times over the centuries until finally, in 1750, the structure I’m standing next to today was completed.

I took a walk through the formal gardens and woodlands surrounding the castle. The spicy notes of thyme and sage perfumed the air as I wandered through banks of forget-me-nots, tulips and peonies until I reached the Barbican gate. From here, I turned into the woods and admired the autumnal shades of reds and browns worn by a large pheasant strutting about a nearby field.

I left Glenarm and continued up the coast. I trudged along the fields and up the winding country roads until, after a little help with directions from a local farmer, I arrived at Ossian’s grave, one of the many neolithic (C. 3500 year-old) tombs found across this island.

Ossian lived in Ireland long before history began. He married the fairy princess Niamh of the Golden Head and came with her home to Tír na nÓg, the land of eternal youth. Life in this magical otherworld was easy and pleasurable; the days were spent feasting and hunting in the golden sun, the soft music of harps always sang, and Niamh took care of Ossian’s every desire. Ossian lived here for many years, but eventually, he began to become homesick. Ossian went to Niamh and pleaded for her to spirit him back to Ireland. Niamh reluctantly assented and, as they said their farewells, presented him with a beautiful white horse. Gripping his arm, she warned him never to dismount, never to let his feet touch the soil of his homeland.

Ossian arrived in Ireland and realised he no longer recognised his home. Where his father’s great hall should have stood, there was only a ruin, and when he asked those nearby to point him in the direction of his friends and family, none had heard their names save in stories. For, during the few years he had spent in Niamh’s realm, centuries had passed in Ireland.

Ossian rode out into the countryside until he came to where I stand now. Here, he was called by a group of men to help them lift a great stone. As he bent down to pick it up, his saddle broke, and he fell from his horse. As soon as his feet touched the soil, he instantly aged. He paid back the debt of time he owed our world, his skin turned to parchment paper, his bones to dust, and Ossian died. The men gathered his remains and built this passage tomb, placing Ossian in the centre, where he might rest.

Eftersom jag var färdig med Jesus Trail, tog jag mig ikväll en ny Conqueror Events utmaning.

The Giants Causeway blev det. Hade ju ändå några koder över.

Det blev en efter jobbet runda även denna måndags eftermiddag.

Vi klarade oss undan regnet även idag.

Jag sprang 2,5 km rundan två gånger och han 1-gång.

I och med denna runda, fick jag meddelandet att jag var färdig med min Jesus Trail utmaning!

Det sista vykortet därifrån kom också.

Back on the trail, I hiked through the tranquil countryside until I arrived at Tabgha Church of the Loaves and Fishes. According to tradition, this is the place where Jesus fed 5,000 people with a meager offering of five loaves of bread and two fish. The original church dates back to the 4th century. A second church was built on the same site in the 5th century, and despite being destroyed by the Persians, its beautifully adorned mosaic floor was later uncovered during excavations in the early 20th century. A temporary third church was erected in 1932 to safeguard the mosaics, but it wasn’t until the construction of the fourth and final church in 1982, designed as a Byzantine basilica, that the wetland bird and plant mosaics were fully restored and showcased. A mosaic in front of the altar portrays two fish on either side of a basket filled with four loaves of bread. It is a depiction believed to mark the location where Jesus performed his miraculous act.

The trail headed north for a few miles until I turned onto a road that led to The Church of the Beatitudes. On this site, Jesus supposedly delivered the Sermon on the Mount, a set of teachings on morality, ethics and spirituality.

As I neared Capernaum, I walked alongside the Sea of Galilee (aka Lake Tiberias or Kinneret) and took in this vast body of water that was not a sea but a lake. Situated at around 700ft (210m) below sea level, the Sea of Galilee is Israel’s largest freshwater lake and the second-lowest lake in the world. The Sea of Galilee is important to Jews and Christians, as it is thought to be where Jesus walked on water and where he chose some of his disciples to be his followers.

My next stop was at the ancient ruins of Capernaum. Once a thriving fishing village and centre for trade and commerce, Capernaum was Jesus’ second home. Here he healed many people of their ailments and taught at the synagogue. The town was occupied for quite some time, from the 2nd century BC to the 11th century AD, when it was abandoned before the First Crusade.

Archeological excavations revealed the remains of two synagogues, one built on top of another and a house converted into a church, thought to have belonged to Peter, Jesus’ closest disciple. Today, a modern hexagonal church sits on top of Peter’s house. Oil and grain mills were also discovered, indicating that the land was used for agriculture. Although fishing was the major income source.

Capernaum is a sizable ancient town packed with the history of Jesus’ life and his times. One can envisage him walking the ancient streets or sitting on one of the benches in the ancient synagogue.

I ended my journey here, sitting beneath a shady tree and reflecting on my travels along the Jesus Trail. This was an enlightening experience, hearing the stories of Jesus, walking in his footsteps, and imagining what life must have been like 2000 years ago.

Finally, let me conclude with my favourite street food dish – a falafel in a pita pocket filled with pickles, tahini, hummus, and cut vegetables. For an added kick of flavor, I added the spicy harif sauce. There’s no better way to cap off my journey than with this scrumptious Middle Eastern dish.

Farewell for now.

Inte som det var nog med tidigare löprunda, så blev det även en promenad med Ellie för vår Harry Potter – Chamber of Secrets utmaning.

Det blev Limhamnsrundan på dryga 5 km.

Strax efter, fick vi beskedet om att vi klarat av 20& av den totala sträckan och att vi därmed sett till så att ytterligare 10-st plastflaskor plockats upp ur haven.

Vi fick även vår andra collectible.

En relativt tidig söndagsmorgon, begav jag mig ut för en kort och lugn återhämtningsrunda.

Det blev den vanliga 3k rundan i tempot 6:09/km.

Denna lördag blev det en tidig morgonrunda.

Hade tagit beslutet att det skulle bli den korta 3k rundan, fast i lite snabbare tempo, vilket det också blev.

En tidig torsdagsmorgon innan jobb, blev det en 5k runda för utmaningen Jesus Trail.

Försökte hålla ett lugnt tempo i ca: 6:30/km, men det är svårt.

Det blev den ”vanliga” 5k Elinelundsrundan medsols denna morgon.

Ännu en ”milestone” passerad, då jag fick beskedet att 80% av den totala sträckan avklarats, och ytterligare 10-st plastflaskor plockats upp ur haven.

Det blev även ett nytt vykort från min vandring. Det fjärde i ordningen.

After descending Mount Arbel, I had a short 3mi (5k) walk to Migdal. It is located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee near the ancient city of Magdala, which is believed to be Mary Magdalene’s place of birth. Mary Magdalene travelled with Jesus as one of his followers and is said to have been present at several key events in Jesus’ life and ministry. According to the Gospels, Mary Magdalene was present at Jesus’ crucifixion and burial and was the first person to witness his resurrection. She is venerated as a saint for her devotion to Jesus and her role in the early Christian Church.

In 2009, while building a hotel, the remains of an ancient synagogue dating back to the 1st century AD were discovered. As further excavations took place, the city of Magdala was slowly unfolding. Remains of houses, warehouses, mosaic floors, well-paved streets and traditional Jewish baths were uncovered. One of the most significant finds was the Magdala Stone found in the synagogue. The stone is the size of a small table depicting a carved image of a seven-branched Menorah (candelabrum). The Menorah, one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith, has been used in Jewish worship for thousands of years. The Hebrew Bible says that the Menorah was created by Moses. It was used in the tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, by the Israelites during their wanderings in the desert. Later, a much larger version was made for the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

However, in 70 AD, the Romans sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple. The large Menorah was taken to Rome and eventually vanished.

The most famous representation of the Menorah can be found on The Arch of Titus in Rome. The triumphal arch, constructed to commemorate Titus’ military victories, depicts on one of its walls a triumphal procession carrying the Menorah as part of their spoils following their conquest of Jerusalem.

Interestingly, the design of the Menorah on the Magdala Stone differs from the Menorah on the Arch of Titus. The carving on the stone shows straight branches, whereas the one on the triumphal arch is curved. Despite the display of a 6.5ft (2m) tall Menorah with curved branches outside the Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem, the ongoing debate regarding the accurate depiction of the original Menorah remains unresolved.

Regardless of its exact design, the Menorah is a prominent symbol of Jewish identity, frequently featured in Jewish art and literature, replicated on coins and even adopted as Israel’s national emblem.

As I venture further on my journey, I continue to discover incredible tales, yet my stomach is beginning to rumble with hunger. Given my proximity to the Sea of Galilee and ancient Magdala, once a fishing village, I’m in the mood for seafood. I’ve heard that the local specialty, St. Peter’s Fish, is a freshwater delicacy in Galilee. The best way to enjoy it is to grill it and serve it whole, stuffed with herbs and vegetables. With my mouth watering, I look forward to savouring this delectable dish before heading to my next destination, Capernaum.

Jag tog mig i kragen ”igen” och begav mig ut på en löprunda i Enskede.

Det blev en del gång också, med tanke på vilket tempo jag försökte hålla.

Det var tufft med både andning och ben!

Idag tog jag mig en testrunda runt området där vi bor i Stockholm/Enskede, för att se vart jag kunde springa.

Fick sätta klockan på löpning, trots att jag promenerade, eftersom den annars hade registrerat rundan i Ellie’s och min Harry Potter utmaning 😉

Efter denna promenad, fick jag beskedet att jag nått 60% av min ”Jesus Trail” utmaning, och därmed sett till så att ytterligare 10-st plastflaskor plockats upp ur havet!

Det kom också ett tredje vykort från min vandring.

Having left Kafr Kanna, I enjoyed the solitude as I walked through olive groves and past wildflowers. Once I crossed Hwy 65, I entered Lavi Forest. This forest area covers about 1,800 acres and is recognised for its biodiversity. Established in the 1950s, the forest is named after Rabbi Aryeh Levin, an early 20th-century spiritual leader and social activist. He was referred to as Tzadik (Saint) of Jerusalem for his work for the poor and the sick.

The forest was established as part of a reforestation project featuring a winding trail network. I kept my eyes out for wildlife, hoping to see a rock hyrax either sunning itself or darting between boulders. These little furry mammals remind me of meerkats when standing upright as if on duty. They are the only afrotherian (from Africa) species found in the Middle East.

The trail became more arid, the sun sizzling above with occasional trees stoically surviving in this barren land.

I passed the Karnei Hittin National Park, believed to be the place where the Battle of Hittin took place in 1187. Saladin was a Muslim military commander on a campaign to reconquer the Holy Land that had been captured by the Crusaders ninety years earlier. The battle at Hittin was decisively won by Saladin, recapturing Jerusalem. Saladin had a reputation for being a fierce warrior, but he was also known for his chivalry towards his enemies, his generosity to the poor, and as a patron of the arts and literature. He became the first sultan of Egypt and Syria and is considered one of the greatest military leaders of his time.

I continued my hike to Arbel National Park, where the Arbel Cliff offers the most breathtaking view over the Sea of Galilee. The cliff is part of Mount Arbel, which rises about 1300ft (400m) above sea level.

The cliff of Mount Arbel is home to hundreds of caves, which were formed naturally by erosion. Around the 1st century BC, humans excavated the caves further, turning them into dwellings. Later, the caves were converted into a fortress with secret passages, staircases, halls and cisterns. Sometime in the 1st century AD, the fort was the site of a major battle between the Romans and Jewish rebels. Defeated by the Romans, the rebels abandoned the area. It was largely forgotten until the Middle Ages, when it was used as a place for refuge.

With its 360ft (110m) vertical drop, Mount Arbel’s cliff is Israel’s only approved base jumping site for high-intensity adventurers. Anyone for a jump? The views would be spectacular.