Today, Sunday, May 29, when the sun was still resting beneath the horizon and the parking lot at Pleasant Valley Park was empty and dark, a small group of runners met with a banner and a Torch to start running a 54 mile loop around the city of Austin, Texas. It was the fifth annual Austin Harmony Run as part of a larger World Harmony Run.

An early start

A moment of silence

Aklilu Gebrewold, a resident of Austin, has organized the Run every year since 2007. With the help of a few friends and former residents of Austin: Jalal Clemens and Jeromy Cheatham; a few friends from New York: Arpan and Vajra; and local runners as well, the Harmony Run Torch was carried from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through the streets and secondary highways of this large and beautiful Texan city.

Zerehun and Arpan start off at a quick pace

Zerehun ran. And smiled.

He ran and smiled some more.

He carried the torch almost 18 miles at a quick pace and never forgot to smile at the world.

Even though the temperature reached close to 100F, we were gratefully joined by some local runners and visited by some curious passersby who would stop their cars to hold the Torch or even as they rode bicycles. This relay run inspired many of the people of this community who either just saw the Torch or stopped to carry the Torch for long or even very short distances on this Memorial Day weekend. Some of those people who helped us carry the Torch along the way were: Zerehun from Ethiopia, who carried the Torch for 17 miles, Barrett , Eva, Dorothy, Jeromy’s parents Bob and Kathy Cheatham, and Ruthy and Karl.

Vajra is all enthusiasm

What a team they make!

As I carried the Torch around this very dynamic and beautiful city I often thought of those who sacrificed their time or even their life to help bring about a more peaceful and harmonious world over the years. The light which we carried represents the memory of all that is harmonious in life which includes all those who strive or have strived for a more harmonious and peaceful world.

Jeromy's mother and father put in some much welcomed energy.
Thank you for coming all this way.

So does Jalal really always get the downhills??

Jalal runs across this bridge every year. He just loves it!

Our intrepid organizer, Aklilu

In a short, simple and almost poetic way, Aklilu explained the run the next day: “Some of my friends from the East Coast and the West Coast came over, and for some reason Austin was a congregating place and some flame just went around, literally around the place and ended up by the river. So fire and water joined together. And the wind was blowing, so there was air, and the land, the ground, the earth was just fantastic. So you have harmony.”

Arpan ran many, many miles today

Our good and ever-dependable friend Barrett is back again this year.

As is Eva.

And Dorothy.

Taking it over than dam to finish to loop. Well done guys.

On the trail to Auditorium Shores for our finishing ceremony. Thanks for stopping us Todd!

Ruthy and Karl met us for the final "Walkers' Mile"

We did it!

A final moment of silence. . .

. . . and the flame rests until next year.

The World Harmony Run proudly supports the International Year of Youth (IYY) and the International Year of Forests (IYF) proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.

See also recent Youtube video which illustrates IYY slogan "Our Year Our Voice"  International Year of Youth - Zambia World Harmony

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage (WH) Centre supports IY of Forests.  ... Convention for conservation of forest biodiversity. (more)

Distance: 54 miles

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

Gallery: See more images!