The season seemed to change overnight as a cold front moved into the area bringing clouds, wind and very cold temperatures. We had to break out all our warm gear, including gloves and hats to keep warm when not running. After a first week of relatively summer-like weather, we now had to prove our adaptability on the road. Our team of international runners were fearless though, as we relayed the torch on the roller coaster type of hilly terrain through the beautiful countryside and towns of North Carolina.

The town of Chapel Hill welcomed us with a police escort through the whole town and into Carrboro which also offered us their wonderful services by the police force. As usual, the police were very enthusiastic and friendly and were thrilled to hold the torch, offering their goodwill and wishes for a harmonious world.

Later in the day, there was an Earth Day Festival and Earth Action March to celebrate the blessings of Mother Earth and to offer respect and gratitude for living harmoniously with nature as well as humankind. Since this concept seemed to fit in perfectly with our own philosophy, we had some of our runners who had already finished running to join the March.

As Michal and others were enjoying the Earth Day Fair, my team of runners including myself (Arpan), Salil and Hayden were running to Greensboro. Before we arrived there, I passed a woman standing at a bus stop. As I approached, she smiled and seemed to want to know what I was doing carrying a flaming torch down the busy street. I let her hold the torch while explaining a bit about our Run. She was so happy to hold the torch and to wish for harmony and goodwill. Then her friend approached with a camera and wanted to take photos of us all holding the torch. She also seemed to really appreciate and embrace our message and was quite grateful to hold the torch and offer her goodwill.

After a long day battling the cold headwinds and fast moving traffic with very little shoulder to run on the rolling hills, this unexpected and impromptu stop I had towards the end of my 13 mile run uplifted my spirits and gave me more strength to finish a hard day on the road. Harmony and oneness seem to come in unexpected ways and forms.

Arpan

Earth Action Fest

“I came into the parade late but managed to find the rest of the team. We walked for about half an hour, talking with people along the way about the World Harmony Run. There were a couple of hip-hop artists, poets, graphic designers and others who were leading the people in cheers for the planet Earth. It was a beautiful walk through town with coffee shops and restaurants and quaint little shops lining the streets. It had a great small town feeling.

When we arrived at the actual Earth Day Fair, the parade split up and everyone walked around looking at all the individual exhibitions. It actually began with a blessing from a local medicine man. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to see what he did because I found a vendor selling Organic Peruvian coffee. Coffeeeee!!...I felt I deserved it because I was quite tired and it was very cold around 50 F. I also got some for my Kiwi teammate,

Damon. Bonus points. He was very pleased.

Oh I forgot, back to the Earth Day Fair. They had ice cream, vegetarian meals, crafts, 100% organic cotton, live music, people selling art and music. There were also many exhibitions that explained about pollution, how to garden, and why we should eat organic foods. I did not get a chance to speak with too many people at the Fair, but I felt that these people were sincere in the message they were spreading. It is similar to the message that the World Harmony Run is trying to spread, ‘Learning to live in harmony with nature as well as with other human beings.’ This made me feel good about participating in the Fair.”

Michal

Tampa, Florida

Special Thanks

We were treated to some great food at Moe’s Southwest Grill in Greensboro by the manager, Chap. Applebee’s —for the second time— also kindly offered a few meals to some of our runners who came in later that evening. The Amerisuites Hotel and Wingate Inn in Greensboro also contributed kindly to our needs by offering rooms for our weary runners.

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