Dokkodo: Lonesome Road of Running

Encountering is to touch someone’s life. Or should I say it’s to touch someone’s heart and to touch someone’s spirit. It’s almost impossible to encounter 7 billion people on the earth but I’s like to meet as many people as possible. Have a good one today…

Not losing to the rain Not losing to the wind Although Miyazawa Kenji, one of the greatest poets in Japan says in his poem, I guess it’s important to have breadth of mind, broad enough to accept anything including heavy rain and strong wind. I don’t even want to fight against my-weak-self. Even though I fight against me, it doesn’t make sense that both winner and loser are just myself. The policy of PEACE RUN is Never fight, never compete and never contend. Exist together with anything. And never haste, never panic and never give up…Take it easy and keep it slow and mellow. Be free from anything just like assimilating into air and wind. Never get obsessed, never be narrow-minded and never restrain yourself. Run as free as a bird!

It is just 4 years today since Christchurch Earthquake struck the Canterbury Region in New Zealand's South Island. 185 people including 28 Japanese were killed on that day. When I saw ChristChurch Cathedral for the first time in 20 years, I was so shocked at the building that I was not able to move for a while. It was the same feeling as I had felt when I first visited earthquake & Tsunami disaster stricken area in Japan. Actually I found the similarity between both of two earthquakes. It always takes a long time to recover from the disaster. Local government keeps making an effort. But I guess we civilians also have something we can do for restoration. After my PEACE RUN 2014 Running Across New Zealand, I’m trying to tell my pals about what I saw and experienced in New Zealand. Some may visit New Zealand as tourists. More or less it will help in many ways. As a runner I want to address to Japanese runners to participate in Christchurch Marathon held on ...

Saturday in the park in One-Tooth Geta...  Love to see people smile.  It's the very moment when I do feel PEACE of mind.

Around noon I went out for a walk in Ipponbageta(One-Tooth Geta) in Osaka Castle Park. On a warm Sunday afternoon, the park was kind of crowded with tourists. And I was talked to by a young man around a plum-grove. “Can I take a photo of you?” He’s Brindhan from Sydney, just 20 years old. He said his parents were from Sri Lanka. I said to him, “Wanna try it on?” He smiled and nodded. I let him to walk around in Ipponbageta. I’m sure this is a magical clog which can make people smile. He seemed satisfied and asked some questions on Ipponbageta. I answered his questions one by one and talked about my PEACE RUN. We talked for a while. As I had nothing special to do in the afternoon. So I followed him as a tour guide. He said he was interested in Japanese culture and history. Then I got a phone call from Piapi my wife. I told about Brindhan and I wanted to introduce him to her. She said there was a Japanese calligraphy class at 3pm at Temma Mantendo, h...

I don’t want to become anyone’s enemy. So I’d like to be someone’s company but don’t want to quarrel or fight with anyone. That’s why I never pick a fight with anyone to avoid conflicts. I listen to him/her not ignore. I spread a smile instead of raising a fist. Do not look back on the past with regret but build your hopes in the future. Have a big heart to accept anything. Forgive and love anyone including you. Lend a helping hand to anyone whether he/she was friend or foe. Think about others first not only about yourself and build a relationship to let each other grow. “Live Together Run Together” That’s what we only can do just because we were born on Earth in the same generation and live on the same planet and under the same sky.

On the final run of Adventure Runner's KAY's PEACE RUN 2014, we ran together to the final goal at Cathedral Square via Riccarton Road and Hagley Park. Kay completed 2800km in 83 days in New Zealand. Photo&Movie by  Atsushi Hayasaka, Roy Sinclair and Nigel Rushton Music by "Sumire Road" by Tenkyu Ping Pongs

  Thanks supporters & friends of mine! I'm back in Osaka in the afternoon on February 10. My wife Piapi had been waiting for me for as long as 3 months. Home sweet home! There are so many things to do here in my country. And I got to get ready for the next.

The final morning in New Zealand. It’s time to go back home. I have been staying with Mr.Yuge in Cashmere since Thursday, when I ran the final. He is also Osakan, who used to travel abroad a lot when he was young. There are so many things to learn from him. He enjoys many kinds of activities such as piano and karate. I should say he’s the very expert who’s really enjoying his life. Also he has a challenger’s spirit. He tries anything interesting whether it seems difficult or not. And once he finds interesting, he continues it. Extremely active for late 60s. Super middle-ged in many ways. But now he tries to live a simple life. He told me many stories about his experience and what he had learned himself. I realized how ignorant I had been and there were more and more I had to learn about the future of Japan as a citizen of the world. In the afternoon I borrowed a mountain bike from Mr.Yuge and rode to a shopping mall in Riccarton to see Roberto and Annika. Rob...

Three days after the final run. Enjoying a day off in Christchurch. We had a running clinic at Hagley Park. About 1 hour starting with warming up, I introduced how to make an efficient running form and how to run long distance at ease. At 1pm, World Peace Bell Meeting was held. I had a simple speech about my PEACE RUN and why it is important to run for world peace now. We rang the World Peace Bell one by one wishing for eternal World Peace. May the sound of the bell ring loud and clear all over the world! We had a party tonight too 4 nights in a row! ＊Some more photos Running Clinic World Peace Bell Meeting

Two days after the final run. Enjoying a day off in Christchurch. Antonio allowed me to use his mountain bike, so I went to Southshore to visit acupuncture clinic which was introduced by Mr.Hayasaka. 16km away from Cashmere where I am now. I enjoyed riding a bike here in New Zealand for the first time in 20 years. Isn’t it good for me to use different muscles from ones I usually use for running. Spent almost 2 hours at the clinic. So refreshing!! On my way back to the city, I happened to see Nigel on his bike. I chased him and shouted his name but he couldn’t hear me. Fortunately he stopped pedaling at intersection and I caught up with him. He was surprised to see me too. We went to have ourselves coffee at cafe in the Container Mall. Then another cyclist came and sat on the bench before the cafe. It’s Mr.Sato whom I met in Lumsden 3 weeks ago. He recognized me as soon as I said hello to him. He said he just finished his cycling in New Zealand and was go...

The day after the final run…It’s Waitangi Day here in New Zealand, one of the national holidays. Looks like a sunny day. A new day begins from laundry. Antonio(Mr.Yuge) takes care of me until 9th when I leave New zealand. We walked for a while along the trail nearby after breakfast. In the afternoon we drove to visit Mr. Hayasaka. Had a running clinic for kids and mothers. They say most of them are those who evacuated Japan after 3.11 earthquake. We ran about 15 minutes around Mr.Hayasaka’s croft. After that I had a lecture for kids about my adventure. And another party begins… ＊ Some more photos

Here comes the day of the Final Run. That’s what I have long been waiting for. 2800km in 83 days is not a big job but in this country riding the same distance on bicycle is not that easy. Running across the Nullarbor Plain is absolutely hard but it is because of boringness of the landscape and shortage of food. This time I had to skip the route I had planned. But maybe the next time I’m going to run along the west coast. I love New Zealand because people are nice, the climate is moderate, the distance between towns is not that far and public safety is so far so good. In total New Zealand has become one of my favorite countries. I’ve come to New Zealand for the first time in 20 years but most of Kiwis are nice and friendly. I checked out backpackers hostel at 10am and had been waiting for the time the final run started. Until then I cleaned up VIENTO the buggy. It was totally covered with sand dust because of the sand storm yesterday. Before 2pm, Mr.Haya...

Just 60km to the goal. Funny how time flies. 3 months is too short. I have run about 8000km including running across Australia in 246 days in total. There are 22000km on 3 more continents left. Still a long way to go. Full moon was seen before the dawn, so beautiful. It was fine weather this morning but before noon wind started to blow. Started to follow the side road of Route73 but it was a gravel road. Sand storm attacked me. Sand dust covered everything white. I couldn’t open my eyes, which means I couldn’t see anything at all. Sand dust got into my eyes, mouth, ears and nose were It reminded me of the Nullarbor Plain I ran in Australia last year. Tomorrow is the final but what the hell does it mean? Westerly wind…still lucky because it was not head wind. As I found it dangerous, I checked out Google Maps and got out of the gravel road into Route73 again. I got back in Route73 at the town of Kirwee, where there were nice tail wind blowing. I ran abou...

Woke up at 4:30am. Got outside and looked up to the night sky. Southern Cross was up there. I cannot see it in Japan, northern hemisphere. Misty morning. Blue sky was seen just a few while but rained in the afternoon. The elevation is about 300-400 meters. With no sunshine it was chilly. No supermarkets between Geraldine and Darfield but only a small grocery store was seen in Mt.Somers, which isn’t shown on googlemaps. All I can see is sheep, cows and horses. Some gravel roads, too rough with stones and rocks to run with my VIENTO the buggy. Hills were not so steep except Rakaia Gorge. At the gorge, 200 meters down to the bridge and 200 meters up from the bridge. Pushing hard to the peak but didn’t take so long. Met James and Kelly, cyclist from Perth for honeymoon! They both love cycling and they look enjoying their ride. They say it is the first day from Christchurch. Isn’t it nice to for them to enjoy the same activity together? Took a break every 10-15...

Left Geraldine at 7:20am. Did some shopping at town center. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow there are no such thing as supermarket. Following Inland Scenic Route, traffic is not so heavy but there are no shoulders. Yes, it is very scenic. But gradually climbing hills again. I had lots of head wind this afternoon. Some drizzle. Running 10km took 2 hours! It’s slower than walking! lol It’s not easy pushing buggy in climbing hills and running against the wind. About 5pm I finished today’s run at holiday park in Mt.Somers. No more chance to sleep in my tent in New Zealand. I saw a couple cyclist from Switzerland this morning and we met again at holiday park in Mt. Somers. Dinner time I enjoyed chatting with a couple from Germany. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow I have to run 60km. I have run 310km since Tuesday last week but I got to hold on! According to my plan... Tue. 3 Glentunnel　 Wed. 4 Upper Riccarton Thu. 5 Christchurch(Finish) *Di...

February starts. I’ll be back in Japan 10 days from now. 3 months was long. I feel as if I left Auckland only yesterday. But at the same time it seems like more than a year ago. I make a prayer every day. Peace Run is a pilgrim's journey making a prayer. I pray so that the world will be filled with love and peace, there will be no one with unhappiness and everyone will be pleased and live in peace. May someone with grief be with a smile! May someone with disease be in good health! May someone in trouble be at ease! Sheep and cows own nothing. Every day they just eat grass in the pasture field surrounded by electric fence. I don’t know if they are happy about it but I guess they know how to live their lives with no desires. Blue sky is blue wherever we are. And white clouds are white anywhere we are. I hope we can create the world where we can smile anywhere we are…so that something dark and negative are gone away. About 3pm I finished DAY79 at bac...