Almost every day on the Peace Run, we have started with a runners’ breakfast of porridge (or oatmeal). Much as we enjoy this, and it certainly sets us up for the day’s running, it was great to begin the day with breakfast at Moondarra Accommodation Village – and eat the way that miners do, with a full buffet. This would give anyone the strength and energy for a day working down a mine ... or in our case, running a long distance.
This morning at 8.30, we had 3 engagements simultaneously in different parts of Mt Isa. One of our boys teams received the official welcome to the town, at the council chambers, from the Mayor, Councillor Tony McGrady, and the local Member of State Parliament, Rob Katter ...
As a youth in his native England, Mayor McGrady took part in peace marches, and is still inspired by those who embark on journeys for peace. Before we departed, the Mayor gave us a basket of locally grown fruit, which would be useful as we embarked on the next section of the journey.
The Mayor told us stories of his many years as mayor and as a State MP for the region, as well as furnishing morning tea for the team.
Meanwhile, Haley Renault of the local newspaper, The North West Star, interviewed several of our runners.
The schools were back after their holidays and we were all very happy to be back visiting the students – we haven't had any school visits since Western Australia, nearly 2 weeks ago. This morning while some of the boys were visiting the Mayor, our girls team visited Mt Isa Special School, a small school with lots of heart.
This school has a total of 13 students; we were fortunate to meet with about half the school today. We sang them the Peace Run song which they all enjoyed.
We showed them the actions of the World Harmony Run song, and were joined by some of the students in the actions.
Each of the students was given the opportunity to hold or stand with the Torch and make their own wish for peace.
We were thrilled to offer the first Peace Run Torch-Bearer Award in Queensland at this school.
As with many of the students with disabilities who attend this school, carers are the key partners in assisting the school to provide an education for the students. Reno, the Principal, had nominated Ben Sluzenski for the Torch-Bearer Award. Ben is the carer of one student who has been attending this school for the past three years. Despite severe intellectual impairment of the student, it is clear to see that the student holds great respect and loyalty towards Ben. This is returned to the student from Ben.
As we departed, Reno came out to offer water and biscuits for us to take on the Run as we continue to Julia Creek. Thank you Reno for your kindness and openness of heart.
The third function at 8.30 this morning was attended by our second boys team – at the Mount Isa Central elementary school. It must have been the shortest presentation yet on the Run, since we only had 10 minutes with these wonderful kids.
Yet a lot can happen in ten short minutes!
We sang the Peace Run song and then sang the World Harmony Run song together with the kids, and it was time to go again.
Despite the tight deadline, the children certainly got into the spirit of the Run. They surely warmed up to the song we sang with them, and the dynamic movements it included.
Then it was a long 120km of beautifully winding roads in front of us until the town of Cloncurry, where the other teams took over. This was the highest mileage of any single team on any day of the Peace Run so far. The scenery was absolutely beautiful, with hills rising up on both sides and trees interspersing the yellow bush – a real contrast to what we have been running through for the past week, and what we will encounter for the next few days.
Abhinabha used the big mileage day for another long run to cater to his marathon training program. He started off and ran 27km straight off the bat, after which he gratefully retired for the day (save a very slow 2km at the very end with Bayarkhuu) ...
There is not a day that goes by without us meeting someone special along the road. Today that special person was Peter Freeman, a Canadian on a road bike, circumcycling Australia. It turns out Peter is doing pretty much the same route as us, only in the opposite direction. He rides about 200km a day and has to be the lightest packed cyclist on the planet ...
... his tent, sleeping bag and down jacket fit into a bag the size of a regular sleeping bag, which he had tied underneath his saddle. He had a water pack built in under his frame to get him through the desert areas ...
... Oh, and Peter also happens to be a world-class Masters athlete, ranked number one in the world in his age group in the 400 metres (which he runs in a blistering 56 seconds). We swapped cards and he enthusiastically posed for a picture with the Torch.
Kaspars was having a very different experience today. His body was not really cooperating (stomach problems causing a sleepless night) and every step of his 18km was a struggle. Poor Kaspars! He still managed to take most of the gorgeous photos of this report.
Bayarkhuu seems really infected with the running virus. After yesterday’s 27km he went all out today and ran an admirable 33km – a new personal distance best for him on the Peace Run.
Drishalu was the efficient Austrian running machine, ticking off his 5km bouts like clockwork on his Vibram five finger shoes.
And our seasoned ultrarunner Sukhajata did what he came here to do: run a lot of kilometres with the Peace Torch (23 today) ...
... and thus we covered the distance to Cloncurry with minimum fuss and maximum enjoyment!
While our boys were making strides towards Cloncurry, our girls team were still in Mt Isa, visiting another school – St Kieran's Catholic Primary School. We were met by Phoenix and Isabella, the two Sports Captains ...
... who ran us over the oval to the assembly.
Today's focus for the assembly was Peace. They started by offering a Peace blessing:
May God be in your head, May God be in your heart, May God be looking over your shoulder.
The students spoke of being Peace Makers of the world.
Ms Wagstaff, the Principal, was invited up to speak about one of the students and the good and selfless work that she is doing: LaRochelle Nel has taken it upon herself to help a school in Africa. She has made numerous phone calls to businesses in Mt Isa asking for donations. With the money she has raised she has brought much needed school supplies for this school. Last year she was fortunate enough to go and visit this school, which has no walls and only a roof for the students to sit under. She saw that the students did not have shoes, so she is now collecting not only more school supplies but was to get shoes for all the students there as well. A truly remarkable student. She was ill today and the Principal accepted the Peace Run Torch-Bearer award on her behalf.
At the conclusion of our presentation, one student from each class was called forward as a shining example of a Peace Maker in their school for the week. We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Alexander, Nicholas, Preston, Shekinah, Callum, Derek, Jamie and Linzee-Kate. To hear of all the positive and heartfelt things that you all do in your day to day life shows us what amazing future leaders we have in Australia.
... most of the students then had to return to class, with one class staying behind to play the Continents game with us and then run around the oval a few times.
What a great send off from Mt Isa!
Before we departed, Ms Wagstaff told us about Scott – one of her teachers – who had just completed a race in Queensland. It was staged over 3 days and you had to run a marathon a day! He won this event in 13 hours and one minute. What an amazing feat, it would be wonderful to have you on our team, maybe next time. Congratulations Scott!!!
With the girls still in Mt Isa and one boys team on the road, our other boys team drove 120km straight from meeting (and morning tea) with the Mayor of Mt Isa, to meet (and have morning tea with) the Mayor in Cloncurry, a mining and pasture town famous for having recorded the highest ever recorded temperature in the southern hemisphere – a mere 53.1 degrees in the shade, back in 1889.
The Mayor, Councillor Andrew Daniels (on the left), and Shire CEO, David Neaves (on the right) gave us a warm welcome to Cloncurry ...
... and kindly laid out a most inviting morning tea.
Like many of Cloncurry’s nearly 5000 people, Mayor Daniels is a grazier, running a cattle station not far from town (where we would soon be running). He is a real character. For Ion and Samalya, he was an introduction to a laid-back Queensland personality (well, apart from their team-mate Steve.)
We shared stories and really wished we could have spent longer here in Cloncurry.
Where does the Outback finish? There is some disagreement, but Cloncurry proudly announces itself, in a large sign, as the end of the Outback. Obviously, we had to pay homage to this sign. We have posed next to many significant signs, but when we can actually pose on top of a sign, it can only mean ...
... that the police will come and ask what is going on.
When the police found out what we were doing, however, they were happy to join in the fun. Meet Kit, one of Cloncurry’s finest.
After a big shopping expedition in Mt Isa, our girls team had by now driven the 120km to our start location ...
... and we're ready for action ...
... our starting point was the 60km an hour sign as we enter into Cloncurry. Our finish location was at the JC (for Julia Creek) 100 sign. Something different to keep us on our toes.
We are operating out of the campervan today, now loaded to the gunnels with supplies after our big shop in Mt Isa ...
The sun was hot and fierce today. We all piled on the sunscreen and hat before leaving for each run.
At times it was totally windless and the Road Trains gave us a nice blast of wind as they flew past. There is an art to giving them a quick wave and then grabbing for your hat quick smart.
After their morning of mayoral visits and morning teas, the second boys team now needed to earn their keep ... After the section out of Cloncurry being covered by the girls team, there lay ahead a mere 100km to our finishing point in Julia Creek – a reasonable afternoon's undertaking. We soon realised that Cloncurry was indeed not the end of the Outback ...
... with 100 kilometres to run between five of us, though we were confident we would find a way to do it, the prospect was still daunting ...
Samlaya approached the task as he does all others – with a smile and a light tread.
In the outback, a lot of trees ahead usually indicates the presence of a river or creek ...
In outback Australia, a river means something different to what it might mean in Europe or other parts of the globe, where it might signify a flowing body of water. Here it sometimes means that too, but generally this is what you get – a bed of dust, lined with trees which lie in wait to soak up the water whenever it is available ...
Mostly, this is what we saw today ...
In the end, we had only 15 kilometres left to cover, everyone was worn out, and we would soon be running out of daylight. It was Steve’s chance to step up to the plate. Since the Peace Run began, and he agreed to join the team as a novice runner, he has improved his speed and endurance. He had run a half-marathon in the space of one day on the run, but he was still hoping to complete an even greater distance.
Having already run 15 kilometres during the day, he volunteered to run the final 15 kilometres. This gave his teammates great joy. Prachar was happy because self-transcendence is one of the tenets of Sri Chinmoy’s philosophy on running (and everything else). Samalya was happy because of his pride for his new friend. Ion was happy because it proved that the team was so strong. And Noivedya was happy because, if Steve was running the last 15 kilometres, he himself could just stay in the van, read magazines and drink chocolate milk.
... so as we drove ahead to Julia Creek to prepare for the night, the other teams were instructed to give Steve their support – and a drink – as they drove past him. They cheerfully did so.
Thank you so much to Sharon, her daughter Taylor and council worker Kenny who welcomed us to McIntyre Park, where we are camping courtesy of the McKinlay Shire Council alongside the race track at Julia Creek.
As Steve ran into the small community of Julia Creek, his team was there to greet the conquering hero, who had obviously worked hard for his personal victory. Thirty kilometres – a Peace Run highlight for our Brisbane brother.
