World Run II / Reports

The map shows the position of which the pictures for the day are taken (if any). The start and finish markers are placed at the first and last valid registered position. This is not nessesary the actual start and finish position, if GSM or GPS signals was not available.

Goto: 2008-12-16 2008-12-18 Middle East

2008-12-17:

13
Distance today: 53.0 km (Accumulated: 8189.0 km)
Elapsed time: 04:10:06
Country: Middle East

Start 13:46am, at exit of Assanamein city, 60km N. of th. 26c, clear and l. wind. Finish 18:12pm at city sign Daraa 7km N. of the Jordan border. 9c, dark and same.

Last day in Syria.. !
- I have become to love running in Syria; the friendship, the hospitality, the smiles & the good company by fellow sportsmen !!

Today I was invited to a live interview w. tv and afterwards to deliver a speech at the opening of the conference of the Syrian Sportsfederation. Such is the hospitality & interest in the run in Syria and Arabia !!!

... So far from the image we often are given by tv back home... Their kindness has allmost been a culture-chock to me.

Tonight I had a local tv-interview. Not smalltalk only; we also discussed the infamous drawings by a newspaper in my homecontry (wich in my oppinion is an example of a stunning lack of cultural understanding by that particular newspaper)... But no less stunning how the people wich has been hurt sincerely in their feelings - still recieve me with open arms every minut of my run in Syria !
I think this is food for thourght in our image of Arabia. And perhaps how to find solutions :-)
My answer was that "most common people want peace anda happy meaningfull life according to their culture no matter where in the world. The problems very seldom come from people themselves - only when we forget that we are all people under the same sun and all deserve respect".

My religion ?
- The earth is my religion and running is my prayer :-)