Skies were grey for most of the day, and our running surface relatively flat. “A good day for running, indeed” was the general opinion among the team. Highways, fields of sunflowers and pale yellow cereal, cosy towns and cities, bright-eyed children brimming with enthusiasm and energy, warm welcomes, and a fairly brief torrential downpour during the final stage of the run – these things coloured and shaped the day.

In all the towns and cities we visited today we had wonderful children and youths running with us, and all the city representatives gave encouraging speeches.

In Ishtiman we were greeted by the Deputy Mayor and treated to a delightful bun-cake, fresh and warm from the oven.

Jovial bagpipes played for us as we ran into Pazardzik centre...

where we were greeted by the Mayor.

Just before Plovdiv four of our happy runners got to experience being utterly soaked. Plovdiv actually marked the halfway point in our run: 12,000 kilometres.

Here we made a lengthy tour of the city with the local children, running through shopping streets, up steep slopes, and through an ancient Roman amphitheatre.

The children were full of life, cheering and clapping wildly when the torch was passed to a new runner. We ran into the city square to the sound of a children’s band playing a jolly arrangement of the World Harmony Run song. Here the Deputy Mayor received us, and we got to enjoy a lovely folk dance performance.

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Distance: 156km

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