Day 56 - Zhangbei, China

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July 26       Photos by Chris Emerick

Jason and Taeko, who met on the Run, are reunited after the long trec across Russia on separate running teams The two announced their engagement in Belarus.

The team in general is enjoying their run through the Chinese countryside as they head through Hebei province toward the Great Wall. Every step towards Beijing, though, brings chaos and pollution.

Unfortunately for many of the runners, after following a rigorous schedule of limited sleep, long hours in a van, dehydration, and food poisoning on top of running ten miles everyday, they are not in the best shape. Other team members are trying to help out when they can by running extra; the Team is doing all it can to support each other during these difficult times, both physically and mentally.

Taeko runs through a small Chinese village.

During her morning run, Taeko Terauchi of Team Blue ran through a small village where locals seemed very interested in the cause and the Run itself. For many, it was their first contact with so many people from so many places around the world; consequently, they were eager to interact with the Blue Planet Run runners, listening to the message intently while slapping the stickers onto their clothing. Later on, during Jason Loutitt’s run, Team Green stopped at another village to talk with some shop owners and people in the market.

Team Yellow fought its way across China, suffering from injuries, intestinal mayhem and lack of sleep. In the evening, Paul Rogan miraculously survived his run, passing through the only town of the day: Zhangbei.

On the bright side, only a few hours to the Great Wall!

A local farmer shepherds his sheep by motorcycle past the runners.

Laura on the road to Beijing.