Iva is 27 years-old and lives in Prague.

For someone who started running just 6 years ago, Iva has already taken some huge strides by participating in ultra-marathons and multi-day events, in America and in her homeland of the Czech Republic. "Running," she says, "felt quite natural to me." 

She explains her love for running this way: "It's always a very unique opportunity to experience the message of self-transcendence, both on the inner and outer plane. It's a pilgrimage."

During April and May, as a warm-up for her run in Australia, she is planning to participate in a 10-day race!

"The World Harmony Run gives me the greatest joy," she says, "when you see the shining faces and happy hearts, eager hands to carry the torch and eager feet to run...when you feel the flaming torch in the hearts of people striving for harmony, friendship, love,...when you feel the need to share all this together in our world-family...this all makes me feel that it really WORKS!

Iva is looking forward to seeing kangaroos and crocodiles; and to carry the flaming torch "inside the Aussie heart!"

Ivana is on the right