It was a cooler start to the morning today as we ran in a fine mist and drizzle through the Allegheny National Forest.

The air was cool and very refreshing and it was a joy to run. By midday the clouds broke and the sun shone through.

The men’s team had the most favourable running conditions whilst the women’s team unfortunately ran in the heat of the afternoon. I think they should have got used to it by now.

As Team C was driving to meet Team A for the vehicle switch, they stopped off at Quickstop Market in Kane, PA for a restroom break. Well the owner had seen Team A run by earlier and really wanted to buy the whole team a beverage! Thank you so much for this nice little boost in the middle of the day. These gestures always warm our hearts.

On the way to Ellicottville, we were joined by Colleen.

She had heard about us in the local paper and waited for us on the side of the road about 4 miles from our final destination. She wanted to get a training run for her marathon coming up.

We also got to meet her two daughters.

Both the men’s and women’s team rejoined at our finish point in Ellicotville,New York where...

...we ran into to meet children from the Camp Kids at the Holiday Valley Resort.

They all ran with us from the sidewalk to the resort in their swimming costumes and sandals. They had all been cooling off in the swimming pool, which the resort manager kindly invited the team to use later.

They all held the torch and made their wishes for peace and harmony.

Annie Widger, our local coordinator and hostess, met us at the ceremony.

After the ceremony we went to our night’s accommodation at Annie and Mike Widger’s farm.

They are very good friends of the run and have hosted us since 2001 at Gentle Thunder Farm where we stay in their cabin by a pond.

They are so kind and self-giving and arranged our evening meal by the pond where we were joined by some of their friends.

Whilst Mike cooked corn of the cob on the open fire we chatted with them and their friends into the night.

After we had eaten a delicious meal prepared by Annie and her friends the heavens opened and the much forecasted thunderstorm arrived. We all grabbed what we could and ran into the cabin and finished the food off there in the candle light. The cabin is fairly basic with no running water or electricity but it has the charm of simplicity and homeliness as we sat around chatting.

The torch really glowed in the cabin as we huddled together for a group photograph. It was a fitting end to a wonderful day.

Peace...

– Atulya and Mark

Distance: 92 miles

Team Members:
Atulya Berube (San Diego), Drsalu Gruenstaeudel (Austria), Vladimir Salnacov (Moldova), Mark Collinson (England), Kokila Chamberlain (England), Surya Smolennikova (Russia), Kshetragna Ulanova (Russia), Dima Grygorievski (Ukraine), Sukhada Korshunova (Russia)

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