By 8.00 am it was already about 95 degrees and rising. We were back on the road and burning up. When it is this hot the flame from the torch really makes its presence felt. It seems to even take the oxygen away from your breathing space.

Vilupti and Wilfred hold the torch with one of our Police escorts.

We were met at the Indiana state line by the East Chicago Police and our state coordinator Wilfred Makere who is originally from Tanzania now living in Gary IN. Wilfred has this big booming voice and an infectious enthusiasm which came in very handy on a hot day like yesterday.

In fact thanks to Wilfred we had more police escorted miles yesterday than we have had on the whole run, or so it seemed.

East Chicago police lend their support to the World Harmony Run.

When we reached East Chicago Veteran Park we were joined by the East Chicago Track club who escorted us through town, fortunately not at race pace.

Members of the East Chicago Track club brave the heat and join us.

We stopped in Gary IN for a newspaper interview and a couple of photos before heading into a much appreciated air conditioned restaurant for lunch. Wilfred very kindly bought the whole team lunch.

Prabhakar sweating out the miles.

Next my team of Prabakhar and myself headed out into the now furnace conditions to drive to our starting point. Prabhakar was the first lamb to the slaughter and after 1.5 miles all he could manage to say was “Your turn!” Not exactly what I was hoping to hear from the air conditioned comfort of the support vehicle but something I had to heed anyway. So I took a deep breath, a handful of ice in my hat and began a slow and determined slog 1.5 miles down the road in 100 F heat.

After sweating about 5 gallons and 15 minutes later I arrived at the van and Prabhakar looked none too keen to re-enter the fray. We decided to run in 1 mile intervals from there on.

Two old school friends from the Czech Republic running in Indianna.

Fortunately, Blazej from Seattle showed up with his friend Martin from Chicago. Both of whom grew up in the Czech Republic. They ran about 2.5 miles before Martin called it quits. We were very grateful to have Martin’s company and miles.

Martin and Blazej join New Buffalo Mayor Joe Kennedy as we make our way east.

Along the way we stopped in New Buffalo and met Joe Kennedy, the Mayor, who came out on the hottest day of the year to run a few steps with us.

So for the next 12 miles or so Blazej, Prabhakar and myself traded miles before finishing in Galien where we high tailed it to our campground and a much needed swim in Lake Michigan.

It was a pretty hot night and I just remember sweating a lot. It is not all peaches and cream out here.

Salil and the team

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