Running in the rain can be both a blessing and a burden. There is no hot sun to slow you down or to burn the skin, but at the same time your muscles can easily stiffen up from the cold and damp conditions.

The rain today was at times quite heavy and even difficult to drive in. We were running along a busy road today so we had to be extra careful of the traffic with limited visibility in the rain. All of these factors have to be considered as we stress safety first while traversing this vast land on foot.

Two destinations today made it all worth the effort though. Our first stop was at noon at the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in Belleville, Illinois.

Principal Rene Goodman, along with some of the teachers and staff and a gymnasium full of children all welcomed us enthusiastically as we ran into the school.

Newspapers from St. Louis and from Belleville both covered the story as we shared with the children and adults why we are running for harmony and what it all means.

We had some very interesting responses as we encouraged the children to think of harmony and try to practice it in their lives. We are very grateful to this school for the great welcoming and hosting they did for us.

The next school, at 2 p.m. was the Nelson Mandela Elementary School.

Principal Elon Seaberry was very excited and well prepared for our visit. He led us in to the auditorium of exciting children as we jogged a lap around the gym.

The children then shared with us lots of their artwork around the theme of harmony and friendship in the world. After our presentation and answering very insightful questions by some of the children, we had the teachers jog around the gym with Mr. Seaberry. At that point the decibel level went through the roof and the teachers were full of energy generated from the children’s enthusiasm and excitement. We probably could have made them do a few more laps or log some miles for us out on the road.

After a request from the teachers to purchase some of our official T-Shirts we found it difficult to venture out into the pouring rain once again. This was the last stop before our first day off of running since we started in New York on April 16.

It truly made for a memorable way to head to our accommodations at the Shrine Hotel of the ‘ Our Lady of the Snows National Shrine ’ in Belleville. We were most generously offered accommodations there for two nights and hope to enjoy the beauty of the 200 landscaped acres during our free time. I am sure we will have much to say about this wonderful retreat for body and spirit in the days to come.

Arpan and the U.S.A. Team Harmony

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