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.

Denna torsdag, då vi kom till Lalandia i Rödby, gick vi en runda, för att se hur det skulle se ut att eventuellt springa.

Vi startade med en bild utanför vårt hus.

Därefter blev det en bild då vi kommit en bit på vägen.

Det blev även en bild med Aquadome i bakgrunden.

Så här såg rundan ut.

Efter denna runda, kom det första vykortet från Ellie’s och min utmaning Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets.

Idag tog Ellie och jag och startade vår nya utmaning i The Conqueror Challenges utmaning; Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets.

Vädret var fint och vi gick lite längre än beräknat.

Denna fredags kväll, gav Ellie och jag oss ut på vår sista sträcka i vår The Conqueror Events Challenge Harry Potter & The Sorcerers Stone.

Vi tog en runda förbi Hyllie IK, upp mot Sivåkersvägen, för att sedan vika av mot Emporia, där vi pausade vår runda för att gå in och handla lite godis på Hemmakväll. ”Man måste ju fira!”.

Vi fortsatte hemåt längs cykelbanan och kom i mål när vi var i höjd med Killan!

Då var vi klara med våra 113 km, på 17-tillfällen, vilket gav oss ett snitt på 6,65 km/runda.

Vi startade vår första runda den 25 augusti 2024 och avslutade det hela denna fredagen den 4 april (mormor Katjas 80-års dag!)

Vid hemkomst, registrerade vi oss för nästa utmaning: The Chamber of Secrets.

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.