It was a very different day today. The weather totally turned around from the sweltering 90’s to breezy, dry and cooler weather in the 70’s. We also did not have as many miles to run individually because of some new runners joining and some local people helping out as well. My morning team consisted of Atulya, who was on his last day before heading home again, and Pujari, who is visiting us for three days only. We ran to the outskirts of Minneapolis a very busy road. The noise of all the cars and trucks was a bit annoying to me as I have been spoiled lately by the quieter and more scenic rolling hills and farmland until today. Running into and through a metropolis area will take some adaptation for me and the other runners who have been enjoying the wide open spaces for quite some time now.

Some of runners who ran from St. Paul to Hastings were joined by a friend from Minneapolis, Ismail Guler. He was so excited and enthusiastic that he ran quite speedily with the Torch for about 11 miles. He was so fast that none of our team runners could keep up with him so he gladly ran alone. He really injected a wonderful enthusiasm and energy into the day.

Entering Hastings, the team was greeted by about 30 children and staff organized by Susan from the Hastings Community Education at the Kennedy Elementary School.

After a presentation and introductions of the runners, the children enthusiastically passed around the Torch, offering their wishes for goodwill and harmony. Pat and Russ Hansen from town also came out to offer fresh baked cookies to the runners. The Hastings Star Gazette sent a reporter, Ben Gansy, to cover the story.

In the early evening, our whole team of runners made our way to the Metrodome, a huge covered professional baseball stadium. We ran into this huge facility that holds 50,000 people, but at the time there were about 10,000 people cheering us on. It was definitely the largest audience we ever had on this trip so far. As the announcer described our journey over the loudspeakers throughout the whole stadium, we ran around the whole field to the cheers and waves of many enthusiastic baseball fans.

Baseball is really a family affair, and it was so nice to see so many young people along with adults recognizing our efforts for a harmonious world. Organized sports definitely offers much in the way of a more harmonious and happy world. We are very grateful to Sharanya and the Minnesota Twins staff, especially Monica Miyamoto, who made it possible for us to reach so many people today.

Afterwards, we were treated to a wonderful dinner at a local Thai restaurant. Our good friends in Minneapolis, Sharanya and Pritika, again worked very hard to get us such wonderful food. We are extremely grateful for all their efforts to make our trip through Minneapolis a very successful and memorable one.

We arrived in Hastings for the night, greeted by our good friends Dick and Pam Thorsen. They own and operate two wonderful ‘Bed and Breakfast’ homes called Rosewood and Thorwood .

We stayed in Thorwood, an 1880’s restored mansion that has all the style and feel of a traditional home with many modern conveniences like a Jacuzzi tub in every room and high speed internet access.

Dick and Pam have always treated us royally, offering their whole home to us and even cooking a four course breakfast in the morning. They are ‘legends of hospitality in historic Hastings’.

As I sit here in Thorwood, soaking in the century old atmosphere as I write, I could really feel the peacefulness and harmony that must have permeated the whole area when life was a bit simpler back then. But life goes on, and as we progress through time, we still have to incorporate all the simple joys of life which start from within us and then carry them, like a Torch, to share with others along the way.

Arpan and the team

Can it get any better?

Jowan and I were a team today which may not sound too unusual except when you consider that we began our day in New York and the rest of the US World Harmony Run Team was in Minneapolis.

Michal, who was with the Run from New York to St. Louis drove us to JFK Airport and we flew to Minneapolis. There we were picked up by Yuyudhan, our Minnesota coordinator and driven back to his place. We got the keys to Stripey, were given directions, a schedule and left to our own devices.

Well, this was a pretty abrupt re-entry for me and even more so for Jowan who was last on a torch relay in ’97. Nevertheless we figured out where we had to go, how to get there and began our journey.

It turned out to be a fabulous run and we met lots of very enthusiastic and helpful Minnesotans. We probably ran through some of the most scenic areas of Minneapolis around exquisite lakes, along beautiful nature corridors and beside soothing rivers.

As Jowan began his last two miles we were met by three fit and enthusiastic women, Erin Severson, Cindy Jansen and Tina Daniels out for a training run. They very kindly joined us and carried the torch for a while. It is always great to have company while we’re running so thanks to these three tri-athletes for their company.

Next we went to the Minnesota Twins Baseball game where were whisked into the stadium and did a quick lap around the field.

Out of the stadium we got directions to a Thai restaurant and were treated to a delicious meal by the Minneapolis Coordinators and we were on our way to Hastings.

About 10 miles outside of Hasting the women’s team got a flat tire so we stopped and helped them put on the spare, so all in all it was a pretty full day.

Glad to be back on the road

Salil

NEAR AUGUST

We constantly move on the run

With feet or wheels or thoughts

For days and months and miles.

That’s why, I guess is not surprise,

I feel an urgent need

To change the sport sometimes;

But swimming, climbing, flying with the torch for harmony

Is still not valid…

So dedicated to my running duty

I tried enjoying nature’s beauty.

In a day like this,

When hardship was the name of duty

A little poem came to me, I can not hide I read it and I thought:

It’s written specially for me!

In flower dream I found relief from moving…

LAZY DAZY

Compiled by Rowena Bennett

As lazy

As a daisy

Is what I’d like to be

When August breathes a hot, hot breath

On field and hill and tree…

(I’d like to grow upon a stalk

And never have to work or walk.)

As lazy

As a daisy

Who hears the latest news

From caterpillars climbing up

Her stem without their shoes.

(They’re full of flower gossip

And say things to amuse.)

But when the August heat is gone

And raindrops splash upon the lawn

Then I would rather skip and scoot

And not have any kind of root.

Yours in running duty,

Maria

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