After 2,300 km of running today we thought we would do some swimming. Rather than running abot 10 km around the scenic Hvalfjörður bay one of our team, Viktoría, decided to swim 2.6 km across.

Jóhann with his trusty thermometer measured the temperature at 10.4 degrees celcius. However, this was in about 4 inches of water that had been no doubt warmed up by the last few days of sunshine.

Here is Viktoría with our very kind rescue crew who volunteered to escort her across the fjord. Apparently they incorporated this act of selfless service into their honeymoon.

To give Viktoría a moral support a few other members swam a hundred meters or so.

Viktoría holds the torch before launching into her epic swim.

Gangane's brother Sverrir kindly provided his very large boat as a support vehicle for the rest of the team.

Apaguha from Czech and Nivedak from Italy enjoyed scotting around on the extra little boat.

Viktoría created a lot of interest for the sea gulls who stayed with her for most of the swim.

Gangane jumped in to provide a little moral support with about 1 km to go and stayed for the remainder of the swim.

A victorious Viktoría finally makes landfall after 2.6 km battle with a windy chop and sub 10 degree celcius waters.

Meanwhile our land based team was covering the kilometers starting in Garður

At Reykjanesbær we were greeted by the town's sports director

In Hafnarfjörður we met very young kids who were eager to run with us.

The kids passed the Torch around and made their wishes for harmony.

Moving on, the land-based team made its way to the town of Álftanes.

As always, the kids were really eager to run with the Torch. But it was striking to see how disciplined the kids were (in a good way!).

These adolescents from the summer-work of Álftanes had very good leaders. The leaders, young people themselves, were very inspired about the message of the Run, and their enthusiasm rubbed off on the kids.

The last town of the land-based team was Garðabær, where we were joined by the teenage girls of local football team, Stjarnan.

Joining us also was chairman of the town council, Páll Hilmarsson. Páll gave a beautiful speech, full of insights into the Harmony Run:

Dear runners – Welcome to Garðabær

It is a great honour to the people of Garðabær to have you for a visit in our hometown on your course around Iceland where you have been running with the burning World Harmony Torch. We welcome with jubilance the Torch, the courier of peace and friendship. After being graced with it’s presence our society of Gardabaer is certainly richer.

It has been a pleasure to track the progress of the World Harmony Run on it’s official website and have an opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere surrounding the participants of the run in the many locations which have been visited around the country.

It is inspiring to see the emphasis that you put on the participation of children and young athletes in the World Harmony Run and how you have encouraged them to carry the World Harmony Torch as many of their peers all around the world. Thus you have encouraged them to look to international friendship and contribute to increased harmony and a positive society of the world’s population.

In Garðabær as in other towns and cities of the world we strive to build a society where our children have the opportunity to grow and prosper while at the same time they face and solve challenges in their development. Our children have the right to freedom, protection, respect and that we aid them in their self-realization, learning the useful things in life and communicating with other people. This does not only apply to our children because it is vital that we all join forces and support each other all through our lives.

I want to thank the people of Stjarnan for it’s participation in the run and also use this opportunity and encourage them to continue their great work.

In closing, I want to wish the World Harmony Run all the best for your final day but the trip of the Torch in Iceland will soon come to an end.

May peace and harmony follow you on your journeys ahead.

Páll Hilmarsson

Chairman of Town Council Garðabæ

 

Meanwhile, the swimming team had got its bearings again and was almost flying towards Mosfellsbær.

Pranava was interviewed by RÚV, the national state-sponsored television station.

We had a lot of fun running with the kids.

Finally, everyone got to hold the Torch. Another good day on the run, and now there's only tomorrow left of this great event.

– Salil

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Distance: 53 km

Team Members:
Salil Wilson (Australia), Dipavajan Renner (Austria), Apaguha Vesely (Czech Republic), Judit Elek (Hungary), Roos de Waart (Netherlands), Eila Buche (Switzerland), Sandra Aurenhammer (Austria), Bhoiravi Achenbach (Austria), Chahida Hammerl (Austria), Edi Serban (Romania), Jiri Albrecht (Czech Republic), Mukul Fishman (Israel), Maria Horvath (Hungary), Pranava Runar Gigja (Iceland), Johann Fannberg (Iceland), Tirtha Voelkner (Germany), Neelabha Senkyrova (Czech Republic), Udayachal Senkyr (Czech Republic), Iva Nemcova (Czech Republic), Nivedak Corradini (Italy), Blanka Pernicka (Czech Republic), Gangane Stefansson (Iceland), Yuyudan Hoppe (USA), Viktoria Askelsdottir (Iceland), Daulot Fountain (USA), Suren Suballabhason (Iceland), Edward Silverton (UK)

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

Gallery: See more images!

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