This morning Team A was joined by Julie Boehrer, Laura Pyne, GiGi the dog, and Nancy Walton on a nine-mile run...

...from Lake Harriet Bandshell to the Sri Chinmoy Peace Bridge in St. Paul.

It was so nice to have local runners join us through these beautiful Twin Cities.

Unfortunately, they would be the last miles on the US Run for our Czech Runner, Misa. We will miss her endless enthusiasm and solid running!

While the first team was out running out we attended many local events in Minneapolis.

We had the joy of touching many children’s hearts as we carried their wishes for harmony across the city.

The pictures of these wonderful children full of joy speak a thousand words.

Our first ceremony was an early start with about 13 4th and 5th grade children from Richard Green Central Park Elementary School.

They enjoyed running with the torch and I think it woke them up. Everyone had a wonderful smile on their face by the time we left.

Many thanks to Greg Beyer, coordinator, and the children, and Joe, the physical education teacher.

At the CityView Performing Arts Magnet we met Dr. Levette Thomas, who helped us coordinate, and Christopher Deanes.

The children here were so full of enthusiasm and energy. We briefly met with the kindergarten children who were in awe when we arrived with the torch.

They loved it when we sang the song. Shortly afterwards we met the 1st grade children. It took them a while to settle but they became so adorable and so sweet very quickly.

They really felt harmony inside their hearts. They were so much in the heart that most of them gave Mark a big hug as a way of saying thank you.

And thanks to Jackie, their phy. ed. teacher who directed the class with a lot of spunk.

At the Northrop Plaza we were welcomed to the University of Minnesota by Jerry Rinehart, Vice Provost of Student Affairs. Jerry passed the torch to Atulya who spoke briefly about the Run. Jagadhata beautifully accompanied on guitar as we sang the World Harmony Run Song. Several children from the U. of M. Summer Youth Program passed the torch and made a wish.

Then the Torch was passed to the audience as the group The May North began their noontime concert.

A big thank you to The May North for sharing their stage with us! Special thanks to U. of M. staff and students who helped: Sally, Carole, Megan, Elise, and Michelle.

And special thanks to Cheryl, Katherine, and Arlene who work with Pritika and came by to enjoy the event.

After the event we met Linda, one of Megabhuti's patients.

She was quite enamored with the concept of the World Harmony Run.

At Powderhorn Park we met 9 children from the Powderhorn Theatre Arts class.

They were so excited to see us and they loved playing our game of guessing our runners’ countries.

So much so that one girl said, “Can we play another game?”

As always our ceremony ended with the children running with the torch.

We arrived at Windom Open/Spanish Dual Immersion School and were graciously welcomed by Hernan Moncado. We started our presentation in the library where about 40 children were waiting for us.

First of all we showed them a DVD about the world-wide Run. This captured their interest and we went right ahead and told them about our US route and had them guess our countries.

Everybody wanted to hold or run with the torch so we all went outside and first of all the children passed it along in a line from hand to hand, each one making a wish for world harmony.

They then became very enthusiastic harmony runners in their own right by doing a few laps of the school yard, taking turns to carry the torch. Their enthusiasm didn’t end there – they still wanted to hold the torch again so we took some group photos of them all holding it together in a big bunch.

Finally there was just time to take a group photo. Thank-you to Windom School for inviting us and treating the World Harmony Run like a special school event – they have already invited us to come back next time round.

– Kokila, Atulya, Mark and Pritika

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Distance: 9 miles

Team Members:
Atulya Berube (San Diego), Jagadhata Amrhien (Chicago), Drsalu Gruenstaeudel (Austria), Vladimir Salnacov (Moldova), Mark Collinson (England), Kokila Chamberlain (England), Surya Smolennikova (Russia), Kshetragna Ulanova (Russia), Dima Grygorievski (Ukraine), Sukhada Korshunova (Russia), Michaela Pokorna (Czech Republic), Yuyudhan Hoppe (Minneapolis), Megabhuti Roth (Minneapolis)

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

Gallery: See more images!

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