This morning we were running by 8.30 and we quickly covered some distance in order to make some free time to enjoy the colossal geography of Meteora. This area is incredibly unique with massive stacks of stratified rock once covered by the sea but long since weathered so that only the toughest rock remains. These bulbous outcrops peer into the sky with sheer cliff faces. The rock is a mass of bright grey, charcoaled in some areas with land climbing to the feet of these towering features.

Equally amazing are the Monasteries that are perched on top of these outcrops. Ranging between a thousand and few hundred years old some of these settlements are difficult to reach and must have been next to impossible to build!

As we drove up towards some of the Monasteries a shepherd tended his flock of sheep as they crossed, wary of the busy traffic. Further up, mountain climbers were scaling a vertical sheet of rock towards hollowed caves from which bats fluttered here and there.

After our uphill adventure we started running from the city of Kalampaka at the foot of Meteora. The road swept through a vivid display of fresh greens with irrigated fields of lush vegetation bordered by deciduous trees, which also lined the road shading the passing runner. It was just like a large garden. One unfortunate runner, Peter from Bulgaria, missed a turn off and was found unnecessarily climbing a steep hill. These things happen!

Throughout the day the landscape quickly changed from this garden-like region to hills and hills of deciduous trees and into hills of multicoloured fields of all types of tillage and crops. These hills made for quite enjoyable running with the best of all types of styles, uphill, downhill, and flat. Further on a sea of golden fields flowed until they merged with bright yellow hills, which then gave way to larger grey hills. Then piles of red soil buffered the road before entering a canyon of layered rock with a turquoise river flowing through. We passed through some sleepy villages, walls a wash of white, the roofs amber bright, and locals bemused as we appeared and disappeared.

By 5 o’clock we reached Kozani where we had a final uphill push through the centre and to our accommodation. With the heat of the day gradually fading away we ended a tough day of running, our muscles telling the real story.

Later we thoroughly enjoyed some Italian cuisine; we were having withdrawal symptoms from Italy! Iordanis Andreadis, Prefect of Kozani, most kindly sponsored us a very comfortable hotel where we spent the night.

Distance: 135km

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