In the movie Forrest Gump, the main character on an impulse starts running throughout the entire United States and along the way he alters the course of history. For four months through all 48 contiguous U.S. states and for eight months along the highways and byways of Europe, groups of runners, all running under the banner of the World Harmony Run, cross entire continents for the cause of friendship and mutual understanding. - always accompanied by a flaming torch. For two weeks I had the good fortune of being a member of the European team on the Run, the worlds longest relay race, as it made its way through Switzerland and Italy.
How far still? my Austrian teammate asks in broken Italian to the 79 year old man who runs with us during the last part of todays stage to Florence. Solo uno kilometro, he replies sullenly. One more kilometre. That kilometre seems never to end as ten minutes later we receive the same answer, Solo uno kilometro.
Ive joined the European team of the World Harmony Run as the representative for The Netherlands. The World Harmony Run is the longest relay run in the world, which takes place simultaneously on different continents. The purpose of this Run, which was founded in 1987 and takes place every two years, is to foster friendship and understanding among people and nations. On the way the team visits many schools, but also mayors and athletic clubs to pass on the torch of harmony and friendship. Todays stage runs from Bologna to Florence, a distance of 110 kilometres or 70 miles.
After having already run about 20 kilometres or 12 miles today, my knee suddenly starts hurting. The team vans have already driven to the finish so Im forced to continue running. The pace dictated by our guest runner isnt really the problem; I can keep up while speedwalking. However, we have a meeting planned with a group of children and a number of dignitaries from the city council and were already more than an hour behind schedule.
We continue at a jog-trot. The old man now functions as our guide, since he is the only one who knows, or at least should know the area. He leads us away from the highway on a deserted gravel road. On the left looms a large factory, on the right an overgrown grassy field. The view doesnt look very promising. After about another kilometre the gravel road suddenly ends before a large iron gate and we come to a full stop. The old man throws his arms heavenward in desperation and rages in Italian. His friend was supposed to meet him here, he maintains. Meanwhile, our torch has run out of fuel and gone out.
The European part of the relay started on March 2nd in Lisbon, Portugal. In Europe alone 24,000 kilometres will be covered altogether in 45 different countries. The European coordinator and team captain Dipavajan Renner (whats in a name?) is the only one to complete the entire eight months on the road. The rest of the team consists of runners joining for a few weeks or perhaps for a few months. You can decide for yourself how much you would like to run every day, for there are two vans driving to and fro which the tired runner can use to jump into at any time to take rest.
The front runner carries the ever burning torch, a symbol of friendship and harmony, which passes from hand to hand during the Run and in a greater sense, from nation to nation as the Run progresses. Quite a heavy piece of equipment to be carrying along for all those miles, but according to Dipavajan the torch gives energy. Whoever holds it inevitably runs about ten per cent faster. We usually have to slow him down.
Were now following the old Italian into the grassy field on our right. Thistles are pricking at our legs and bushes are lashing against our arms. Running is out of the question here, so we proceed walking in single file like a family of ducks. Suddenly the old man falls down head first into the grass. My heart skips a beat as for a terrible second I think of a cardiac arrest. At 79 years of age anything can happen. Fortunately he gets up quickly and marches on grumbling crankily. After what seems like an eternity we finally reach a gravel road alongside a highway leading towards civilization. At a local restaurant we borrow somebodys cell phone to call the team captain. It turns out were pretty close, so sprightly we resume running.
It still takes longer than expected, however, and my knee is also hurting more than I dare to admit. I decide to keep the ambling old man company instead, while the rest continue running to the finish. Finally the two of us also reach the small school building, where, much to my amazement (were two hours late), a group of children is still waiting for us with banners and slogans for peace, harmony and friendship. Viva la fiaccola! they chant, Long live the torch! The big shots from the city council have already left (understandably of course!).
One has to have a reasonable level of fitness to participate in this relay. Although its up to you to decide your daily mileage, it is silently assumed that youll be able to do an average of about ten to twenty kilometres (six to twelve miles) a day. My Austrian friend Pratul runs about a marathon a day - an exceptional feat. His secret: Italian olive oil, about half a glass a day and undiluted. Olive oil is my discovery of this run. I recover extremely well because of it, he explains. I surreptitiously try out a spoonful which leaves an unpleasant burning sensation in my throat. I decide to apply some to my knee instead. Two days later the results speak for themselves: the pain in my knee has vanished.
We usually spend the night in pensions or small hotels. Once we stayed in an abandoned gym hall; occasionally we will lodge at friends houses. Food and lodgings are often sponsored by the communities where we end the days stage. It proves very helpful, since we do not have a big budget. The World Harmony Run is financed by the runners themselves, who are all members of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team (SCMT), a worldwide organization of ultra runners coordinating the event. The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team sponsors over 500 athletic events each year, including a number of multi-triathlons in Australia, a swimming marathon in Lake Zurich, Switzerland, and the longest certified road race in the world, the 3100 mile race (4988 kilometres) in New York. Founder of the World Harmony Run and the related marathon team is Sri Chinmoy, a spiritual teacher, author and artist living in New York. To Sri Chinmoy sports form a significant instrument to develop international friendship and global harmony.
After a refreshing nights sleep in Florence we lace on our running shoes again for our next stage through the Tuscan hills towards the medium sized town of Arezzo. Early in the morning we start by visiting two local schools to share the inspiration of our run with the children. Here in Italy the enthusiasm of the hordes of bambini we meet is unbounded. We are greeted as if we were movie stars and more than once are asked for our autographs. The southern European temperament shines forth as the children run a few laps with us around the schoolyard. Madly sprinting would be a better term for it.
When Dipavajan is asked about the highlight of the relay he doesnt have to think long. For me the kids are the highlight. Todays children are tomorrows adults, so I think its important to give them the right example. Children are always enthusiastic and really feel what the Run is all about. They get a kind of magic twinkle in their eyes as soon as they hold our torch. Having had many first-hand experiences of children running with us, I cannot but wholeheartedly agree with him.
After the school visit we immerse ourselves again in the ocassionally rough, but always inspiring Italian landscape. Here in Tuscany we enjoy and marvel at natures beauty and the breathtaking, picturesque villages built on the undulating hills surrounded by the ever present olive groves. It would be a completely different experience if one would cover the same distance by bicycle or car. As a runner one can completely merge with the surrounding scenery. This feeling of oneness with nature which the runner experiences is surely one of runnings most beguiling charms. In this I am most generously accommodated during this relay.
We are often joined by local athletic clubs who run with us for a few kilometres by way of training. To meet that many different people and to run together for an initiative that unites people, nations and continents is truly uplifting. It is an idea that speaks to many people directly. During the Run drivers honk their horns at us or give us a thumbs up in appreciation.
A runner makes friends easily. Already in these two small weeks Ive met hundreds of wonderful people, both old and young, from all walks of life. Kindred spirits sharing the same longing, the same ideal, the same aspiration for a world of peace and a world of oneness. True friends. I feel that through everyone we meet, through every smile we put on a face, through every heart that opens to our message, we are sowing a seed. A fertile seed. One day these seeds will germinate and little plants of peace will start growing all over the world. Over time these plants will become trees and a day is bound to dawn when this beautiful forest will give shelter to the entire human race. This is the vision that is behind our Run. This is why we lace on our shoes every day. This is why we are here.
Running through the city centre of Arezzo we see a robust Italian man, a real macho, coming out of his local pub. Arms crossed in front of his chest he observes us from behind his cool, dark sunglasses. As we pass him, however, we are surprised to hear a sincere and enthusiastic 'Va ragazzi!' Go kids! I smile in silence. Can there be any greater reward?
Abhinabha Tangerman is a member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre in The Hague, Netherlands. He is a keen marathon runner and musicia.
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