Our day started outside our hotel accommodation where we met up with the Czech local runners. From there we ran to Prague Castle and the surrounding gardens where we had a panoramic view of the city, with towering spires, red roofs and bridges over the River Vltava.
At the front of the castle there were many Japanese and Malaysian tourists, who took a great interest in the mass of runners with a torch and flags.
There were no ceremonies planned today, but the tourists mingled around us and we told them about the run. The Malaysian people where so keen to hold the torch and have their photographs taken with the runners.
We ran through the courtyard to the cathedral that towered above us, and ran through arches to the wall of the castle to see Prague in all its glory, sparkling in the sunshine.
We also met some French tourists and gave an Impromptu ceremony. Just as we finished talking to them some young girls all in red shorts and white sports t-shirts were descending some stairs to the road. We found out that they were from London, England and had been competing in a lacrosse U19 international tournament, which they had won. Mark told them about the Run, and they held the torch and briefly ran with us through the narrow streets to the river's edge.
At the Charles Bridge that spans the river we climbed up the Lesser Town Bridge Tower. From there the view of the spires of Old Town of Prague unfolds across the river.
This multitude of spires gives Prague its epithet "Hundred Spired City". The whole historical centre is included in the UNESCO Heritage list.
From the top of the tower we dropped a few World Harmony Run leaflets and watch them flutter slowly downwards and then being caught by the breeze and spiral upwards and away over the red roof tops. Half way down from the top of the tower there is a small bridge so we dropped a few leaflets down onto the street below to see if people could catch them. The very first one took about a minute to flutter downwards and without looking up it landed in the hands of a passing gentleman. We all cheered; he just smiled and carried on walking.
Along the bridge we gave an impromptu ceremony to some Belgian tourists. They looked forward to the Run when it visits their country in September.
We continued running over the bridge, about an hour behind schedule as we had performed these impromptu ceremonies to tourists.
As we ran along the river, we met the former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Vladimir Spidla taking a Sunday morning stroll with his wife. This was a coincidence, luck or destiny, whatever you wish to call it, but it was a pleasant surprise for all of us. If we had been on time we would have never met him. Many of the International Team quizzically asked the Czechs whether this was a planned meeting (as they were all speaking Czech and we didn't know what was going on, or why they had stopped to speak to this gentleman and lady), because it looked such a perfectly planned moment.
After this moment the runners split up - the Czech runners continued with the running the rest of the Prague route for the day and on to Jilove u Prahy (less than 20 km to the south of Prague), whilst the International Team headed off to visit Dana Zatopkov (former Olympic javelin champion) and the wife of the late Emil Zatopek (legendary middle and long distance runner). Despite being in her 80s she is still very active, travels widely and is highly regarded in the Czech Republic sporting community.
It was a joy to meet such a special lady. She lit a candle from our torch, and led us to her garden where she gave us chocolates and apple juice. Pavel, Martin, Michela and Jitka had dressed in traditional Moravian costume. Michela and Jitka read out poems whilst Pavel and Martin sang traditional Moravian folk songs playing the violin and hapsichord. We all enjoyed the music. Dana Zatopkova ran with the torch outside her house, and for a moment it looked as if she was not over 80, but 18 years old again.
After a great morning running in Prague our Czech hosts treated the Team to a fantastic oriental meal and delicious tea at Maly Buddha (www.malybuddha.cz). This is a place that we had great delight in visiting last year.
After the meal the Team had time to unwind and do all the necessary chores in preparation for the important ceremony tomorrow in Prague old city hall.
Distance: 40km
Team Members:
Anete Klavina (Latvia), Bogdan Copil (Romania), Daniel Schenke (Germany), Jadranka Grbic (Serbia & Montenegro), Jarek Werner (Poland), Mark Collinson (England), Marlen Bernhard (Germany), Ondrej Vesely (Czech Republic), Petar Mihaylov (Bulgaria), Petr Machacek (Czech Republic), Svetlana Gorshkova (Russia), Valentine Bebik (Ukraine), Zoltan Theobald (Hungary).
Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.
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