Team A

Green at last...

It has been very refreshing after witnessing the full spectrum of reds, browns and greys over the past two weeks to have a complete change of colour and contrast:

a cooling balm soothing our thoughts and senses after these many days of running toil.

As our team had no formal engagements for the day, our task was to each run 20 km along the road between the township of Ravensthorpe into the biggest city we have seen since Adelaide – Albany.

Our journey took us past the magnificent Stirling Ranges, whose ancient volcanic peaks jutted magnificently from the surrounding pastures.

Something else new and refreshing in our path today – hills!

Even though these climbs are often hard going, there is always a welcome downhill to follow.

We are savouring these hills and pastures, as we know this verdant corner represents an oasis only too rare in our journey around this massive, dry continent...

– Veeraja Uppal (Australia)

Team B

Even though we left Ravensthorpe Caravan Park very early, our host Jane Chadwick came out in the morning cold to farewell us. Thanks very much for the night’s accommodation – it’s really a unique and friendly environment here!

We were escorted out of Ravensthorpe by a full moon, hanging low in the sky.

Today was a great day for running: perfect weather, inspired runners, beautiful changing scenery, and to top it off at the end of the day – a wonderful school ceremony!

Friederike Makowka from Switzerland felt completely in tune with her body as well as with nature today and became inspired to run a marathon. However, Friederike couldn't stop at a marathon, and continued to run to make a total of 52 km! She remarked: “I have no reason to stop at 42 km. Running feels very good today and outside in nature it is so peaceful.”

Bravo Friederike! Needless to say, we are very happy to have such an accomplished ultra-runner on our team.

We finished our total of 94 km by 2pm and ran into Jerramungup District High School. The reception here was very warm and inviting. All children, teachers and Principal Maria Vanderlinden met us at the gate by lining up to form a corridor for us to run through. The children then joined us to assemble in their meeting hall where Elke Lindner from Germany led our presentation.

Elke asked the children – ranging from preschool to high school – to see if they could find a peaceful spot inside their hearts and we all shared a moment of silence.

The group enjoyed singing with us, picking up the words of the World-Harmony-Run Song immediately and joining in with confidence.

We went out to the school oval to form a ring and pass the World Harmony Torch.

These children have such good manners! Every child from age 4 to 16 said "thank you" as I gave out some stickers! Even the teachers took stickers and held the Torch all together for a staff photo.

The children then joined our team for a lap around the oval.

When it was time to leave, the whole school once again ran behind the Torch to the front gate and all cheered and waved us goodbye as we ran out of the school. Meeting the children and answering their questions gave us continued inspiration for the journey ahead.

– Kylie Williams (Australia)

Team C

After waking bright and early, we began running from the town of Jerramungup. All day long the sky was a beautiful blue with big white fluffy clouds. We had a long day, with everyone running over 20 km and we encountered some nice hills and hollows along the way.

In the afternoon we visited Wellstead Primary School, greeted by cheerful faces and beaming eyes as we entered a classroom where everyone had assembled.

The children were extremely bright and listened very intently. They asked very thoughtful questions about how, where, when and why we run. One boy asked if we all ever get really tired, to which the reply came: "We make sure to eat lots of food, especially chocolate!"

We then gathered outside and the Torch was passed to each student.

Full of enthusiasm, the teachers joined the children in running a lap of the oval.

Each teacher ran a few metres with the Torch before passing it on to the children. The children were excellent runners, probably because they do quite a lot of athletics in this school. This small primary school was full of joyful students and teachers and they filled us with inspiration ... and chocolate (literally) before we set off for more running.

To save time, Standa Zubaty from the Czech Republic had been running during our school meeting. When we caught up with him he was 10 km down the road. As we covered more distance, the landscape became noticeably greener with pine forests on some of the hills.

Mountains that had been distant at the beginning of the day now loomed large ahead of us.

With a few more 7 km stretches our running was complete. It's amazing how quickly 120 km of running flies by when you're enjoying yourself!

– Colm Magee (Ireland)

Where It Happens

On the road

Is where it happens.

Where this golden flame

Whispers softly why.

Where earth's touch nods:

"With each of these steps."

Where each thumping heartbeat

Proclaims itself the moment.

On the road

Is where it happens.

Where the motion forward

Draws itself across the still landscape.

Where the panting breath

Mingles into one air, one sky.

Where all of this solemn effort, powerful struggle

Leans its casual elbow on the finish line.

On the road

Is where it happens.

Where the alchemy of the beyond,

The alchemy of becoming

Reaches into these striding legs,

gasping lungs and this beating heart

And playfully winks its all-knowing eye.

– Prabhakar Street

Team Members:
Kylie Williams (Australia), Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine), Angela Muhs (Germany), Friederike Makowka (Switzerland), Elke Lindner (Germany), Prabhakar Street (Canada), Colm Magee (Ireland), Standa Zubaty (Czech Republic), Runar Gigja (Iceland), Misha Kulagin (Russia), Dima Lehonkov (Ukraine), Sandro Zincarini (Italy), Shapathanal Daly (New Zealand), Veeraja Uppal (Australia), Prachar Stegemann (Australia), Edi Serban (Romania)

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.

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