Running across Ireland

UPDATE 11/21: I finished! After a grueling last day of running 8+ hours, and barely being able to walk, I reached Galway and concluded the 5-day, 126 mile run. It was an experience I won't soon forget - and appreciate all the texts and calls along the way. It was the fuel that kept me going! We've also raised almost €1,200 for charity, which is an awesome achievement. Thanks to everyone for helping to make it happen.  

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The last bit of good weather is still hanging around Dublin, so I've decided to take advantage and go for a run. Tomorrow I'm going to try and run across the country. It'll be a five-day journey, starting in Dublin tomorrow morning at 7:30AM and finishing in Galway. Google Maps has it at around 130 miles total, or five marathons in five days. 

And I'm raising money for a local charity - so be sure to donate here! 

I'll be taking side roads to avoid traffic, and staying in hotels each night (I dropped off packages at each hotel in advance so I don't have to carry five days worth of clothes/food). I'll wear a small backpack for food/drink, spare socks, and Advil. 

Here's the route:

    Why am I doing this? Part of it is probably some sick/misplaced level of curiosity, I suppose. I'm genuinely interested in seeing if I can finish -- and if I can't, at what point my body tells me to stop. My hypothesis is that 80% of this run is mental...but time will tell. Another reason is related to the charity I'm running for. I visited Saint Joseph's a few months ago for a Google volunteering project. I toured the facility and met some of the residents living there with dementia. It was crazy to see people that were physically healthy, but mentally gone. I looked at them and wondered how much they'd give to just have one day of normalcy back. In some way, I feel like I owe something to those residents at Saint Joseph's...I owe it to them to get out and go on adventures. Don't waste the good years! 

    I'm excited to get outside and take in the Irish countryside...judging from the map, it looks like I'll be passing by quite a few sheep. Who knows how far I'll get, but we'll see how it goes! I'll try and post about it as I go...if I have good cell reception you can follow on snapchat (username: benglatt). 

    And here's a video of me running on the beach for one of my training sessions:


    North Korea

    I'm back from spending three incredible days in the most isolated country in the world - North Korea (locally referred to as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK). 

    We stayed in the capital city of Pyongyang. The highlight was on day two when 50,000+ North Koreans gathered in the May Day Stadium to watch ~1,500 pro/amateur runners participate in the international Pyongyang Marathon. I ran my first half-marathon and finished in just over 2 hours. 

    What was Pyongyang like? It was like stepping into a real life time capsule from the 1980s that had been modeled after The Truman Show. The place felt hollow, eerily empty, yet strangely well put together. 

    Here were my initial reactions of Pyongyang when we first arrived:

    • There's not a single piece of litter on the ground
    • None of the locals are talking; nobody smiles
    • Where are the advertisements?
    • Seriously, why isn't anyone talking
    • There are a lot of North Korean flags
    • Most of the people are old
    • Nearly everyone is wearing a pin of Kim Jung Il and Kim Il Sung
    • The entire city is devoid of animals

    Pyongyang gave travelers what any top international city would provide: architecture, culture, rich history, and food. Honestly, the food sucked. But I guess that's what happens when food in general isn't all that common. North Korea has only recently become self-sufficient in food, so it makes sense that options and quality are limited.

    Other highlights:

    • Arch of Triumph - similar to the one in Paris, but bigger.
    • Mansudae Grand Monuments – the giant bronze statues of North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. We had to place flowers and bow before taking any pictures. 
    • Grand People’s Study House - their version of the Library of Congress. Supposedly stocked with over 3 million books. I snuck off to use the bathroom at one point only to discover that it had no running water. Not so grand afterall.
    • The Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum - this is where they tell you how evil the "US imperialists" are, and show off the few pieces of US military equipment that they seized during the Korean War.
    • Munsu Water Park - we went down waterslides with the locals. Like every public building, you were greeted with an effigy of Kim Jung Il at the entrance, this time it was him at the beach (I got a pic of it before we were told photos weren't allowed, and then I got scolded for smiling at it). 
    • Juche Tower - the highest stone tower in the world. Provided amazing 360 degree views of the city. 

    A few of my favorite pictures are below - and here was the detailed itinerary. 

    And then I'll leave you with a few open-ended questions/thoughts I had after reflecting on the trip:

    • The power of media - what if our understanding of this country has been grossly misunderstood or misshaped by the media? The recent cover of Newsweek suggests this, and so does the beginning pages of this book. In no way does that downplay the humanitarian issues - but scholars who study the country suggest it's very different than what's portrayed on TV. 
    • Actual risk vs perceived risk - my safety was a big topic among friends/family after I signed up for the trip. After going on the tour, I'd say actual risk in North Korea is < perceived risk. If that arrow ever flipped though you wouldn't want to travel to North Korea. 
    • Have we lost the spirit to explore? - in 18th century America, you had people going on massive treks and expeditions to uncharted lands. It was a core part of the American spirt. Did this adventurous travel spirit die when we stopped discovering new lands? I don't see enough people doing truly uncomfortable things when they travel. You learn the most about yourself when you do things that are scary. 
    • Utopia is relative - I can't imagine a life without internet. North Koreans can't imagine life with internet. Those of us in the digital age are glued to our phones 24/7 - which is something some people say is destroying human relationships. This isn't a problem in North Korea. 
    • Capitalism and the free-market - stores would gladly accept US Dollars...currency featuring pictures of the "US imperialists" that the North Korean regime has spent years denouncing. In a country where imagery and propaganda is so important, there's a strange paradox in the willingness to take American tourists and their money. 
    • A trash free city - was this part of the propaganda? part of what happens in communist societies when everyone is employed by the state? or maybe this is what happens when you have a society not raised on consumerism? 

    All in all, it was a great adventure. If you're interested in doing it next year, more info here.