A parting beauty for the Peace Run team before we leave Adelaide.
Peace Run started the day with the Torrens Parkrun, where the team ran with local runners and everyone got a chance to hold the Peace Torch.
Have a great run Sue! It was really nice to meet you!
On his own adventure, Peace Run teammate and champion 3100 Mile runners, Ashprihanal Aalto from Finland, visited a local “Backyard Ultra” race in which one of our good friends, Gerardo Ruiz was a participant. Coming 20 hours into the race, Ashprihanal’s visit was a huge boost for Gerardo.
Poland and Russian Teammates make a bold finish in oneness and peace.
And Roxana makes a dynamic finish.
Thank you to the Torrens Parkrun for having the Peace Runners join you. The team had a wonderful time!
Breakfast in the Park
A legacy day of memory for Adelaide teammates. At the Parkrun we met a lady whose brother had won a medal at the Sri Chinmoy Peace Mile race 20 years ago. This had given her such joy she never forgot it.
Here in beautiful Adelaide, the team regenerates, with several new runners arriving from Czech Republic, Scotland, France, Russia, Poland, the USA and Canberra. The Sri Chinmoy Peace Mile is one of the oldest established such courses in the world, dating back to 1986; a perfect location for the team’s sumptuous breakfast and the handover with fond farewells to departing team members and a hearty welcome to the new sets of legs which will see the Torch across the Nullarbor and all the way to Perth.
Teammates from the first leg of the journey say their fond farewells. This is their last day on the Peace Run in Australia, at least for now! Thank you Daniel, Roxana, Preetidutta, Rupasi and Saranyu!
The women's team dropped St Peter’s Cathedral, for a photo of this picturesque church, and met Archbishop Geoffrey Smith.
Archbishop Smith offered a message on how faith in God has given him hope for peace.
Meanwhile, Nastia and Preetidutta started the run for the women...
...and made a few friends along the way.
The women ran the next 42k in Gawler. Teekhnata's first Peace Run in Australia.
Two friends finishing their last leg.
In Gawler, the women's team met Councillors Cody Davies and David Sambell. Brian Sambell remembers his meeting with the Peace Run when he was Mayor of Gawler and the team came through 20 years ago. His enthusiasm and good nature said he was very happy to be reunited with in this current edition.
Cody, it was really great to meet you! We look forward to seeing you next time!
Rita at Levant Pizzaria offered the women's team a complimentary meal, prepared by star chef Maya. Our favorite was the Za’atar pizza, inspired by the flavours of their country of birth Lebanon. This item snuck onto their menu and proved such a hit it stuck. It echoed what Cr Davies said to us about peace “ taking our diversities as a strength” – this new flavour was an added joy for the people of this area.
Thank you Rita and Maya!
The men's team bade farewell to the local Adelaide Peace Run organisers, at the Sri Chinmoy Peace Mile. Our team drove to our starting point, a shopping centre in Gawler. Edgars took the first running leg. Due to construction, the team in the van finally made it out of the carpark, after two orbits of what threatened to be a Mobius strip of endless perambulation.
The men discovered that Edgars had taken a different route to the one that we were driving. Thanks to WhatsApp all were soon reunited, and gradually made their way to simpler, more rural climes.
Team C had the easiest assignment today, a mere 24 km into the lovely town of Clare, in the heart of the Clare Valley, one of Australia’s most renowned wine-making regions. Here the tea collected a large box of fresh fruits donated by the Clare Woolworths,
Two members settled in for the night in rooms generously offered by the Clare Hotel.
As I write this our Team members from overseas are marvelling at the Bogong moth which has taken a liking to my leg, where it sits placidly. Its prodigious size attracted many comments. “Lucky we put the bread away!” exclaimed Ashprihanal, half-joking that the moth might consume all our provisions during the night.
Finally the women's team reaches their lodgings for the night. Ian from the Rotary Club at the last minute heard about the Peace Run and drove back from Adelaide to offer us the club house. His only regret was not having known about it sooner.
