Eddie gasps in the thin air after a long climb at the end of his eight mile run.

Video of first month in USA

Abiqui Elementary in the mountains of New Mexico, is a small school with a big heart that embraced us.

We left Santa Fe and our good friend Sunamita who has done so much for us since our arrival yesterday. Heading north towards the San Juan Mountains, we stopped at the Abiquiu elementary School where we met the children and staff at the outdoor classroom. It was quite unique to have a classroom set up outside in harmony with nature, sitting on logs under the shade of the trees.

The kids and teachers were excited and ready to run when we gave the Torch to them as they did a short run around the parking lot. Most of the teachers and even the Principal, Elizabeth Martinez, were joining in on the Torch relay.Their appreciation and understanding of what we are doing for harmony in the world will always be remembered as we carry their goodwill to Colorado and beyond.

Before reaching Colorado we had a stop in Chama. At the elementary school there were only teachers as the children were already on vacation. Principal Larkin Vigil and about 14 teachers and staff were very excited about our arrival.

With the children already gone on summer vacation, the teachers at Chama Elementary more than matched their students youthful exuberance.

They were like children themselves as they passed the torch around and even ran a few loops around the parking lot. One of the teachers, Steve Rendon, came out to the route afterwards to run a few miles with the women’s team.

One of the teachers from Chama escorts the flame out of town.

Along the way he had a cheering section of teachers and their children, complete with cheering pom-poms, really getting into the spirit of dynamism of running for harmony.

These were the among the sweetest groups of cheerleaders so far.

Entering Colorado, we stayed the night in Pagosa Springs, nestled in the mountains of the southern Rockies. Pagosa is a native american word meaning ‘healing waters’. Some of us had the opportunity to experience the soothing waters of the hot sulfur springs at the Springs Resort who offered a room to us and at the Spa at Pagosa Springs who also offered us a nice room and use of their pools.

We met Greg there as well as ‘Grandma’, who is a 91 year old owner of the facility there.

She was quite healthy and spry for her age. Her secret, she told us, was the healing waters of the springs as well as regular ‘square-dancing’. As she held the Harmony Torch with us, I really felt the positive and energizing energy of such a kind and determined woman who looks like she will definitely make it to 100.

The Pagosa Inn and Suites also generously offered two rooms for the night, Eddie, our runner from Romania, was pleased to find the receptionist for the afternoon was also from Romania.

After six weeks on the road this is the first time he could converse in his native language with someone else. We are grateful to Eddie and all of our runners who have sacrificed much to come to another country and offer their tremendous efforts to inspire and share harmony here in the U.S.

Thanks to Pagosa Spring Resort for the incredible time we spent there relaxing our tired muscles in the hot springs.

Arpan and Team Harmony

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