Today we started together with six enthusiastic runners: Mr. Kakihara with his daughter and son Kotaro, a 70-year old excellent runner Mr. Takeno and one more runner with his daughter (Yoshimura family). Staff members also joined the running team, including Mr. Hasegawa who came to help from Yokohama for two days.

All runners before the start from Saijo station

Kotaro's father says that his son has been participating in the Run since the age of zero because he brought him in already as a baby. He ran happily side by side with Eric from Czech Republic. His sister, on the other hand, became friend with Jarmila from Czech. The oneness of the team was tangible.

Erik and Kotaro became friends during the run

After some 10 km they left us but they seemed they would prefer to run together much longer.

Finishing 10 kilometers

Then our team enjoyed running through the beautiful hills of Hiroshima prefecture while looking at rice fields filled with water and farmers' houses and later, after passing in front of Onomichi station, overviewing the inner Seto sea. On the way we greeted the locals and passed the torch to several children.

Erdenebaatar and Karel running for harmony

Pramiti and Jarmila running for harmony

Today's goal at Fukuyama city hall

Finally, we joyfully arrived at Fukuyama city hall. From there we drove to a youth hostel at Washuzan, where we were overwhelmed by the splendid view of the sea and Seto Great Bridge that we had from our rooms, and by the kindness of local staff.

Seto Great Bridge

Distance: 75 km

Team Members:
Erdenebaatar (Mongolia), Erik (Slovakia), Gunarashi, Harashita, Hasegawa, Jarmila (Czech), Jyotirmala, Karel (Czech), Ombo (Mongolia), Pramiti, Tsogo (Mongolia), Vikshanam (Mongolia)

Gallery: See more images!