We started the day in Murska Sobota, a friendly middle-sized town, where we had a reception with one of the vice-mayors. Local television recorded us as we toured the town's square, vice-mayor in front and us following suit. We waved goodbye and made our way towards the border Slovenia shares with Austria and Hungary, the so-called three border point.

Today, May 1st, marks the three year anniversary of Slovenia and Hungary joining the European Union and also the three year anniversary of Sri Chinmoy, the founder of the World Harmony Run, dedicating a plaque on the three border point to the ideal of oneness between the three different nations. The plaque is a beautiful rectangular stone with a message for world-oneness on each of its sides. The three mayors from the three bordering communities signed their names at the bottom of it and were present at the ceremony three years ago. We thought it a splendid idea to commemorate this event and met with members of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team from Slovenia, Austria and Hungary. We sang the song Sri Chinmoy composed on the occasion. The last two lines of the song beautifully sum up the essence of the message carved into the memorial stone:

"No competition, no challenge-race A oneness-beauty-fragrance embrace".

We drove back to our starting point in Murska Sobota, where we met the other vice-mayor. His warm wishes accompanied us in the ensuing run towards Ljutomer, where our most spectacular meeting of the day took place. The hippodrome where we were to meet with the mayor had become the stage for a true Guinness Book World Record. Today in Ljutomer the largest number of old timer vehicles the world had ever seen together was assembled in the hippodrome: a grand total of 1,000 cars.

As we ran towards the hippodrome we were literally swarmed by old timers, small cars and tractors all leaving the stadium, for the record had already been set when we came in. The sight was still impressive, as a few hundred vehicles were still parked inside with their drivers and a few hundred onlookers standing in their midst. In front of this breathtaking scene we held our ceremony, ending by inviting all those who felt inspired to run one lap with us around the hippodrome, an invitation to which many responded.

In Ormoz, some seventeen kilometres later, we were received by the mayor in the courtyard of a beautiful and picturesque little castle. After we had presented him with our torch in a symbolical exchange of inspiration, an appetizing arrangement of fruits were awaiting for our eager indulgence. Mmm, strawberries and apricot juice! A local newspaper asked questions and we obliged and then went on our way again.

The remaining 23 kilometres towards Ptuj, our final destination of the day, were run in a laid-back and enjoyable fashion. Time permitted us a leisurely pace and we arrived in Ptuj well on time. We were to be part of a May 1st Labour Day celebration held on the shores of the Ptuj lake. Tradition dictated that a giant wooden structure inside the lake had to be set on flames. Our torch was chosen as the means to that end and at nine 'o clock sharp Jana sailed out in a rubber boat, together with the local firefighters, to accomplish a deed which in other circumstances would be considered sheer arson. Upon their safe return to shore we ran onto the main stage to explain who we were and also to pass our torch to the mayor of Ptuj, who was very kind to us. When we finally arrived at our accommodation we realized it had been a very eventful day.

---

Team Members:
Martin Leitner (Austria), Hidde Abhinabha Tangerman (The Netherlands), Jana Chochlikova (Slovakia), Tatyana Chochlikova (Slovakia), Frank Foerster (Germany), Predrag Trkulja (Serbia), Petr Machacek (Czech Republic), Pratul Halper (Austria), Conny Schinke (Germany), Andrejka Fidrmuc (Austria), Senad Mehikic (Bosnia), Janusz Wiewior (Poland), Nidhruvi Zimmermann (Austria), Sonja Reimansteiner (Austria), Annett Paul (Germany)

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

< Slovenia 30 April < Greece 30 April

Slovenia 2 May > Greece 2 May >

Greece 1 May