We started today’s run again in Lukow and our long-distance runner friends accompanied us out of town and ran with us for over 7 kilometres. They told us that next year they would be inspired to join us for several days. Then we had receptions in Stoczek Lukowski, Garwolin, Karczew, Otwock and Jozefow.

Today was a little bit different from yesterday due to various reasons. First of all, the weather conditions were different - it was pretty cold and very windy, but the good thing about it was that the wind dispersed the rain clouds and we did not get wet today.

Quite often the wind blew out the flame of the torch so we had to stop several times when running to light the torch again. But needless to say, the wind could not extinguish the flame of joy and enthusiasm in our hearts. At some point the wind was even so strong that it toppled over a tea pot and the big plastic chairs that our hosts had put up for us at a reception and a gust of wind even closed the doors of our bus violently because it was so powerful.

So today I got some insights into what it must be like to be on tour with the World Harmony Run for several months. I guess you do not always encounter the “ideal” conditions for running and you surely learn a lot of flexibility, ingenuity and also humility to adapt to the constantly changing conditions, circumstances and difficulties that might come up. What is maybe most striking is that you have to put the ideals of the World Harmony Run into immediate practice, like e.g. the constant transcendence of inner and outer borders and barriers.

But I also felt the strength that you get from the inner ideal and the mission of the run - even if I felt tired, the tiredness was gone as soon as I was out on the road again, headed for another reception and especially when I was carrying the torch. Besides there are also a lot of other things you can do for the run apart from running - first of all of course all the organisational work, but also driving the busses, cleaning the cars, writing daily reports, practicing and singing the World-Harmony-Run Song, etc. etc. etc. So there are always hundreds of ways you can participate in the Run - this is wonderful because it gives everybody the opportunity to be part of it.

Today we mostly ran through the countryside and smaller villages. It was very scenic and we passed through a very green part of Poland with beautiful woods; people were even selling mushrooms and berries along the road. There were not that many people to greet us on the road like yesterday, but we also had nice experiences with the locals, e.g. when an old man passed us runners on his bike shouting: “Welcome Europe, welcome...”

Another difference was that today we mainly visited towns where the World Harmony Run had never passed through before, so the officials wanted to know more about run, but they all liked the idea very much; in Karczew for example the city council representative expressed his full support and wished that every city would receive us with friendship like they did.

Did I write yesterday that all you need for running is a pair of running shoes? Well, it seems that on the Harmony Run you do not even need that! Interestingly enough we were received mainly by female city representatives and officials today, and most of the ladies joined the runners in their high-heeled shoes! In Josefow the reception committee consisted exclusively of ladies - the Deputy Mayor or Vice President of the city, as it is called here, and some members of her staff. They showed great interest, enthusiasm, appreciation and encouragement for the project. This was a very nice way to end today’s program - even the wind had calmed down so we could enjoy the evening peace (and a good meal) to gain strength for the next day!

Report by Indivar, Vienna

Distance: 135km

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