We started early leaving at 5:50am to head to the University of Virginia track to meet with an amazing man and an amazing group he has gathered over the years.
In the pre-dawn hours, runners from near and far come on Wednesdays to train at 5:30am before their busy days to transcend themselves under the guidance and inspiration.
Mark Lorenzoni leads training for over 100 runners who are magnetized to his enthusiasm and encouragement to go beyond their perceived limits and realize their potential. In 1982 he founded the Ragged Mountain Running Shop in Charlottesville selling shoes and running gear to the newly growing running community.
At one time he will have multiple teams running both on the track, short runs and long runs and circling the track on a wider sand and carpet track.
Runners in groups shout out their group color so Mark can give them splits and push them for their next lap.
We ran with a few of the runners in their warm-down.
Sarankhuu jumped in for a few laps with one of the teams and held up well for a while!
As the sun rose, Mark encouraged his runner to come hold the torch.
We met doctors, business owners, students and runners from all walks of life inspired to pack an intense workout into their morning before going off to work and school.
Later in the morning we ran from the other side of town to the University of Virginia (UVA) for a special Torch-Bearer Award ceremony.
UVA was created and designed by Thomas Jefferson in 1817 and finished in 1825.
Thomas Jefferson considered UVA one of his three greatest achievements — the other two being authoring the Declaration and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. (He left his presidency off his tombstone.)
As we gathered to pay tribute to the lifework of Mark Lorenzoni, Upasana Young described how she was drawn to UVA and reminisced about the great experience she had going to school at the historic university.
Rupasi Young was the emcee and coordinator for Charlottesville, making wonderful arrangements and connections.
Cecilia Lapp Stoltzfus is a previous Torch-Bearer Award recipient in 2024 from the International Rescue Committee, committed to providing comfort and welcome to immigrants and refugees. She brought members of their New Roots program to speak about how they have been helped after escaping from difficult situations in Africa.
Ben Allen, the Executive Director of the Center for Community Partnerships is a previous recipient of the Torch-Bearer Award. He came to contribute to the introduction and praise for Mark Lorenzoni, because Mark knows everyone!
Mark's daughter Audrey Lorenzoni Sackson told stories about growing up with Mark, going away to college and then coming back to take over the business, recognizing the value of the service to the community the running shop offers Charlottesville.
Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade continued to describe and appreciate Mark's contribution to the wider Charlottesville community.
Mark Lorenzoni spoke about his inspiration to gather people together for inspiration and good cause, much like the Peace Run.
Mark was joined by his dynamic wife and partner Cynthia who surprised us with her 2:38 marathon personal best! Mark credits her as his better half and shares the award with her.
We gathered for a group shot in the back of the Rotunda.
A family visiting the campus held the torch.
Sheri B. Winston is the UVA Rotunda Director and enthusiastically joined for our ceremony and peace walk on the campus green.
UVA is a gorgeous and peaceful campus. It is a true work of art.
Thomas Jefferson was the first US President to found a University. He also founded the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Finishing at UVA, we set out to run to Mark's old running shop.
Ragged Mountain Running and Walking Shop is an institution in Charlottesville, founded by Mark Lorenzoni in 1982 and now co-owned by his children. If you want expert fitting for running shoes, Alec Lorenzoni is the best!
We found the right shoes for Saihna!
We met Mark's friend Matt, an elementary school teacher like Mark was.
We ran into a lovely couple at a lunch from Yogaville. They warmly remembered our visit there two years ago.
Nepalese lunch at Himalayan Fusion.
Himalayan Fusion was kind enough to offer a discounted meal for the runners. Some of us had run in Peace Runs in Nepal and enjoyed the food and atmosphere.
A Montessori school teacher had to leave just before our ceremony there but took a moment to not only held the torch and ran into the the ceremony.
Many thanks to Soren who is the Administrator of Montessori School of Charlottesville and a special thanks to Gloria who wasn't able to attend the ceremony.
We then went to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and some chose to scale the path up the small mountain.
Devashishu from Great Britain admires the posture and poise of the life-sized statue of Thomas Jefferson.
The team gathered for a very special tour of the Monticello household. Chris, a young tour guide gave the introduction.
We were greeted at the steps of the house by Mr. Jefferson himself, portrayed by the great Bill Barker, who was a recipient of the Torch-Bearer Award in 2022. Bill mesmerized then, and blew us away as Mr. Jefferson led us through his household, telling stories, describing furniture and artifacts, and inspiring us beyond expectation.
In the entryway, he showed us the daily clock and some of the artifacts brought back by Lewis and Clark from their expedition.
Mr. Jefferson showed us his library and described his drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
You can see the resemblance! This was said to be an accurate portrait painting of Jefferson in his later years, hanging on the wall.
After the tour Mr. Jefferson opened up to answer questions. He was asked about whether his phrase in the Declaration of Independence "all men are created equal" applied to everyone. He pointed to how his first draft (held in his left hand) he referred to African slaves as MEN, capitalizing the word to add emphasis. Unfortunately two states refused to sign on unless that paragraph was removed, so it never made it into the final draft, and few even know if that important paragraph. He described how as a young lawyer in 1770 Jefferson represented a slave arguing for his freedom, saying "Under the law of nature, all men are born free, every one comes into the world with a right to his own person, which includes the liberty of moving and using it at his own will." Just six years later, Jefferson would insert this concept in that immortal phrase that continues to inspire us all today.
Mongolia + America + Mongolia!
It was an unforgettable day. In this year of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it was an incredible experience to be received by Thomas Jefferson in his own home of Monticello!
We were provided an incredible Peruvian meal at Inka Grill. This meal was unique because it not only tasted wonderful, but it was very healthy! The staff couldn't have been nicer and cheerful!
