Starting the day with breakfast at the Hogg Brothers Café in Anchorage, we were fueled and ready for the long run that was awaiting us north of the city heading towards the small town of Talkeetna at the foot of the incredible mountain, Denali, (Mt. McKinley).

It truly was a Mother's Day full of harmony and energetic running as we had many mothers running all or part of our 14 mile run today to the small town of Talkeetna, Alaska. Palyati Susan Fouse, our local coordinator and a mother herself, arranged for us to meet some local runners 14 miles out of town at the ‘Y', as the locals refer to it. At first I thought it was a local YMCA where we would meet runners at a building with gym facilities, showers, etc. But it was actually just a parking lot at a fork, they call the ‘Y', in the road with a visitor's center that was closed.

But that was good enough as a starting point for our run with two local ‘moms', Elizabeth and Christie, leading with the Torch. Elizabeth ended up running the whole 14 miles into Talkeetna, her personal distance record. Christie also ran her longest run with nine miles. Along the way we were also joined by Eric, a local nature guide and ultra-marathoner, who ran about eight miles with us. Sharon Montenino, a friend of Palyati's, joined us for about five miles as well and also hosted us to stay at her spacious country home. Two other local women, Lisa and Noelle also ran a few miles into town with the Torch.

By the time we reached the center of Talkeetna with Denali, or Mount McKinley looming large in the far distance, we had quite a varied and enthusiastic group of local runners with some of their families driving along as well. It was truly an inspiring event that brought the spirit of harmony, friendship and fitness to this small but intimate town for all to share. In Talkeetna people meet to socialize and to cater to tourists who come to enjoy the incredible mountain ranges to the north.

Climbers who plan to attempt an ascent up Denali, the native name of the tallest mountain in North America, come to Talkeetna as their last civilized stop. Many climbers take planes to the base camp of the mountain to begin their ascent, as you cannot reach it by car.

After a brief ceremony, we walked down the one dirt road as its main street and paid a quick visit to the Susitna River formed by snow melt and glacier run off. Then we all gathered at the local Roadhouse Café for some delicious home cooked food. Elizabeth Tatera, still ecstatic from her fourteen mile run, kindly treated us all to dinner and dessert as well. We are so grateful to her for her generosity as well as her courage and determination in supporting us with her enthusiastic running. Her daughter Seneca also offered her moral support at age two and a half.

The sun does not set here at this time of year until almost 11 p.m., and much later in the summer. It is getting late but there is no sign of darkness yet, so one tends to keep working as it is deceptively light here when most people are going to bed. Luckily I am not tired yet as I try to share yet another inspiring day on this Alaskan leg of the World Harmony Run while our main team members are in St. Louis, Missouri.

Again, the photos may not do justice to the vastness and beauty that accompany us as we discover yet another fascinating aspect of this incredible Alaskan environment on this great planet, Mother Earth.
Happy Mother’s Day,

– Arpan and Salil

Distance: 14 miles

Team Members:
Salil Wilson (Australia), Arpan DeAngelo (USA), Palyati Susie Fouse (Alaska, USA), John Fouse (Alaska, USA)

Gallery: See more images!