Team A

This morning our team met with Class 6A at the Maryborough Central Primary School and talked about the Australian World Harmony Run. The pupils were from many different cultural backgrounds. Matt Avery, the teacher, explained that everyone in the school from grades 5-7 learns German, so the pupils were excited that we had two Germans in our team. We answered many questions and sang the World-Harmony-Run Song together, before heading off.

We ran out of Maryborough along a 60 km stretch of the road towards Noosa. We passed through very beautiful countryside today – it was a mixture of moist native forest alternating with pine plantations, contrasting nicely with patches of exposed white sandy soils. Many plants were in flower – banksias, grass trees, pink boronias, white tea trees, and bright yellow native pea flowers. Being an Australian native plant fan, I was in heaven. We were blessed with hardly any cars on the road, which made it a joy to listen to the birds and take in the scenery while running.

Our accommodation this evening is at the Quantum Health Clinic of Noosaville locals and dear friends of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, Rudrani and Peter Tooth. We are most grateful for their gracious hospitality, attending to our every need with love and concern.

 

 

 

Runner Profile: Elke Lindner (Germany)

How did you become involved in the World Harmony Run?

During my philosophy studies I read about the founder of the World Harmony Run, Sri Chinmoy. I was deeply touched by the simplicity and depth of his philosophy – that we have to try to become better citizens of the world, so that this world will become a better place.

I like running and I love travelling. The World Harmony Run is an ideal combination of the two. The Run is a constantly changing environment so you need to be flexible and spontaneous, otherwise you will find it difficult. I just love it!

Have you been on the World Harmony Run before?

Yes, many times. The most important experience for me was the Millennium Run in Europe in 1999. It lasted for twelve months and went through 48 countries. This was the first large-scale World Harmony Run in Europe. It was a kind of pioneer run and it had an important impact on me. It was an experience that somehow changed me. That’s why I wanted to join the World Harmony Run again. To run around Australia sounded challenging to me.

You have been on the World Harmony Run here in Australia for 12 weeks. What are your impressions?

I travelled across half of Australia 20 years ago, so I knew a little about what to expect. This time it was a totally different experience. When you are running every single step through the country you are really diving much deeper into it. I loved the vastness of the Nullarbor Plain, the purity and the untouched nature of the west coast and the tough outback life in the Northern Territory. The beauty of Queensland reminds me of Europe.

The people we met along the road were so friendly, open and kind-hearted. We were warmly welcomed in so many places and often felt the big and generous heart of the 'Aussies'.

The World Harmony Run is much more then just running. When you join the team you know that you will also have other tasks to fulfil. I love to work with children when we visit schools and teach them about the Run. They have so much enthusiasm. I like to navigate and driving with our support vehicle was fun. I was happy to see that our women’s team was nearly always on time and managed to find its way through foreign infrastructure very well. I feel we were a great team and tried to bring to the fore the best in everybody.

You were also one of the team cooks. How was that?

I love cooking – I’ve worked in many vegetarian restaurants all over the world and I give cooking classes called 'Food for the Soul'. But I could talk for hours about it…

It’s important for a running team like this to have good tasting food that is also nutritious. It gives joy to the team and that’s most important.

Is there anything else that you’d like to add?

The whole Run was a very nice experience. The co-ordination was outstanding – great organisation. The efforts of all the Australians that we met along the way were great. Most important for me was that our team worked together in harmony. This was a real achievement because when we live in harmony, people are inspired by this. They see it in us.

Australia is beautiful!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

– Bernice Matthews (Australia)

Team B

Day 109 dawned bright and clear with a very nice run along the back roads from Tin Can Bay through to the farmlands and rolling countryside of Kin Kin.

An aphorism of Sri Chinmoy was aptly read out along the way, which applied well to this third last day when the spirit is willing but the legs profoundly protest:

Surrender is a magnet that brings down

Heaven's greatest treasures.

– Sri Chinmoy

On the way we met an orchardist named Dave, a practising Buddhist, who offered us copious encouragement and best wishes. Thanks Dave.

As we ran through the rolling farmlands, it was easy to feel that this would indeed be a pleasant place to live, with the sun streaming through the trees and shedding light everywhere on the green-grassed fields.

– Nicholas File (New Zealand)

Team C

Today we welcomed Atul Arora from India to our team. Atul is a keen runner and brings fresh, dynamic enthusiasm to the group.

His arrival coincides with the first clouds I have seen since joining the World Harmony Run in Mackay. Welcome to the Queensland winter!

We have runners from many different countries and some have been together for the entire duration, living in close quarters. The atmosphere in the group is still as light-hearted and jovial as day one, testimony to how world harmony is easily achievable if only we try.

Our first port of call was Gympie Central State School.

There we were warmly greeted by smiling faces and the kids happily joined us in running around the school field, taking turns to hold the World Harmony Run Torch.

The road from Gympie to Noosa and down the coast is beautiful, passing through quaint townships, lots of native bush and amazing views over the coast and beaches.

Our final stop for the day – Coolum Beach for a well earned swim…

– Aaron Carey (New Zealand)

 

 

 

Runner Profile: Sandro Zincarini (Italy)

At the age of 23 (he had his birthday on the Run in May), Sandro is the bambino of the Australian World Harmony Run team. Not that we see him as such. He is in many ways one of the senior members of the family. In the relatively short time that he has been a World Harmony Runner, he has already taken the Torch through 29 nations in Europe, Asia and the South-Pacific. At this rate, by the time he is as old as the oldest World Harmony Runner (52 – but we won’t reveal who that is), there won’t be any more world left for him to run. By then, of course, we will all be living in Mars or Vulcan, so he will still have more places to spread the message of universal peace and harmony.

Sandro’s wit and enthusiasm have been a real boon to the World Harmony Run. However, there are some important things you need to know when joining a team with him…

1. When you are running with him, and he says “Do you want to do this next section a bit faster?”, it’s best to say "No." His version of “a bit faster” will leave you feeling like a wreck after only a few minutes.

2. As an Italian, he knows his pasta and pizza. For that reason, you won’t impress him if you offer to buy dinner from an Australian pizza bar. He is very particular. Oh, and he doesn’t drink cappuccinos. Or, for that matter, macchiatos and affogatos. What kind of Italian is he???

3. If you find yourself overeating on the World Harmony Run – after too many exquisite feasts from Standa, Elke, Angela, Rathin or one of the other great cooks – he will offer you a perfect cure. He will happily make you a dinner that you won’t possibly want to eat. Of course, he is capable of making perfectly edible meals … but there’s more to life than food, isn’t there?

4. His Italian tastes don’t seem to extend to music. On many late evenings, he will sit back in the van and listen to his favourite CDs on the stereo. While you might hope for a Verdi opera, or a wonderful vocal performance by Pavarotti or Caruso (or even Frank Sinatra), he would much rather enjoy the best of Harry Belafonte. Anyone who has spent enough time with Sandro will now be able to sing “Coconut Woman” by heart, which is a dubious skill. Sandro also happily plays all of Bobby McFerrin’s hits, for several hours at a time. As Bobby McFerrin only had one hit, this can get repetitive. But don’t worry – be happy!

5. For Sandro, soccer isn’t just a game. It’s a waste of a good ball that could be used to kick around aimlessly. There is no greater joy.

Sandro isn’t sure where he will go next – or whether he will finish his studies first. With so many more continents to go, we can be sure that the World Harmony Run has not seen the last of Sandro. (If you need someone to run in Antarctica, or through the Sahara, we have just the man…)

– Noivedya Juddery (Australia)

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Team Members:
Aaron Carey (New Zealand), Amalendu Edelsten (Australia), Anastasija Aleksejeva (Latvia), Nigel Webber (Australia), Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine), Prabhakar Street (Canada), Edi Serban (Romania), Atul Arora (India), Dima Lehonkov (Ukraine), Bernice Matthews (Australia), Nick File (New Zealand), Noivedya Juddery (Australia), Standa Zubaty (Czech Republic), Runar Gigja (Iceland), Elke Lindner (Germany), Sandro Zincarini (Italy), Angela Muhs (Germany), Misha Kulagin (Russia)

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

Gallery: See more images!

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