From Povazska Bystrica square we commenced our day's running after singing the World Harmony Run Song filmed by local television.

With the view of the steep forested mountain slopes in the background we ran the 5 km to Precin where refreshments awaited us.

As yesterday it was going to be another hot sweltering day and we all drank as much water as we could.

We first met children at a summer's camp and we lit their torch.

We mostly ran with children, but on a few occasions dogs also took the time to run with us.

As always children enjoy the experience of holding the torch.

At Domaniza we met the mayor and ran to a local orphanage up on a hill. It was a steep run up, but we looked forward to running down the hill. In the courtyard of the orphanage we talked to some of the children about the Run. They held the torch and avidly ran with the torch. At first just around their building, and then they ran with us down the hill to the roadside. A local runner carried his young son in his arms as he ran with us. The young boy was quite bemused by all the runners running with his father. The gentleman couldn't keep running for long as it is a challenge to run with a young boy in one arm and a torch in the other!

On the outskirts of Rajec runners joined us from Rajec Marathon Club.

One guy had run 40 marathons to date. In the town's square we met the mayor and children sporting Rajec Marathon t-shirts. A famous marathon renowned throughout Slovakia is held in Rajec at the end of August each year.

The marathon runners set a brisk pace of the 6 km to Rajecka Lesna. There we met the mayor and was invited inside a small building that houses Slovensky Bethlehem. This is a 18m intricate wooden mechanical carving of Bethlehem and history of the Slovak nation. It was carved by master woodsman Jozef Pekara and took 15 years to complete and is quite a sight to behold.

Outside the mayor had laid on an amazing lunch of pasta and salad. Sat on the bench the jovial local priest sang us songs and wished to be photographed with each runner holding the torch.

After a great lunch the priest invited us into the nearby beautiful church.

Once inside he blessed the torch.

He invited us for a drop of homemade wine, but we had to politely refuse.

At Cicmany, situated in a shallow valley of the Strazov hills and by the spring of the river Rajcianka, we observed the village's painted wooden houses of ornate motifs and designs.

We met the mayor and a local singer with a harpsichord entertained us with such energy and enthusiasm.

At Liestany we met the mayor at the village football pitch where they were having a tournament between the three football teams of the village. We all ran around the football pitch to the cheers of the watching crowd. Afterwards they provided us with massive slices of melon.

We had the opportunity to swim in a nearby lake with spectacular landscape in the background.

We ran to our final destination of Bojnice, in the foothills of Mala Magura mountains in a basin created by the river Nitra , with its most famous castle, which ranks among the most beautiful architectonic treasures of Slovakia. We met a representative of the city with the Japaka Orchestra playing as we arrived. It was a wonderful party atmosphere.

We later had an invitation to meet Mr Cagan, member of City Council at the grand castle.

Bojnice castle was built in the Middle Ages on a travertine mound overlooking the town. Representative palaces and comfortable residential areas had been added to the original Gothic core during Renaissance and Baroque periods.

After the ceremony we all went together to the restaurant for pasta and much needed ice cream. After the meal we sadly send farewell to Bogdan who is leaving the International Team. We hope to see him on the Team next year.

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Distance: 81km

Team Members:
Anete Klavina (Latvia), Daniel Schenke (Germany), Jadranka Grbic (Serbia), Jarek Werner (Poland), Mark Collinson (England), Marlen Bernhard (Germany), Ondrej Vesely (Czech Republic), Petar Mihaylov (Bulgaria), Svetlana Gorshkova (Russia), Valentine Bebik (Ukraine), Zoltan Theobald (Hungary).

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

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