Day 20 - Czech Republic into Poland

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June 20

Victor and Richard powering up with gas station food, Czech Republic

In addition to the Blue Planet runners, there is a whole team of support staff that make this Run happen. The vans provide transportation for runners and staff, as well as serve as pilot vehicles. Some of these vans carry bicycles, and on occasion staff has the opportunity to ride behind a runner. Today I had the opportunity to do this and came away from the experience with a whole new appreciation for the difficulty of this Run.

In addition to the physical strain of running 10 miles on a near daily basis, the runners must also deal with other stressors, including:

1. Heat
Today was one of the hottest days of the Run, topping off at about 85 degrees. While this might sound like a perfectly gorgeous day, it can make a 10-mile run a grueling, heart-thumping task.

2. Traffic
It may seem that small, rural roads would be easy to run on, but it is not as simple as it appears. These small roads are often central arteries for a region, and the traffic can be intense. The runners must be constantly alert for cars - not to mention potholes and other unstable ground.

3. Dogs
The Run travels through both commercial and residential areas, and dogs are often unleashed. Today a dog charged one of the runners, thankfully stopping at the end of the yard.

After riding the bike behind runner Victor Lara Ricco today, I was not only exhausted but even more impressed by the dedication of the runners - dedication to their sport and to the issue of clean water.

Laura passes through Frydek-Mystek, Czech Republic

Jason and Dot toast batons at a Czech exchange point

Simon watches Laura toasts with Dot in the Polish countryside