The International team for May 11-17 offer their greeting and best wishes to Bulgaria
This map shows our proposed virtual Peace Run 2020 through Europe
Last week we were running virtually through North Macedonia and Greece.
Why are we running virtually?
Jana above the River Thames in Barnes, London. Jana is from the Czech Republic and was on the team running through North Macedonia and Greece. She reports: "I'm loving my Peace Running in Barnes. It feels so beautiful to run with the flame in my heart. So peaceful! I've been enjoying my running more then ever'
A runner carrying the torch through Macedonia in 2018.
Jana recruited a few new team members. Nice pace guys!
Samalya ran his kilometres in his hometown of Berlin.
Macedonia 2018.
Children in Macedonia.
The plan for the run through Macedonia was all devised at Joy Cafe & Bakery in Skopje.
Joy Cafe in Skopje.
The local Macedonian runners are full of Coffee and ready to run.
In Hungary runners prepare for their virtual running. Sahridaya, Raktima, Teca joined Eniko to run for Peace this week.
Eniko was on the International team this past week. She told us a short story: "I went to the forest this week to do my Peace Run kilometres. One day I came across a very nice girl with a big German Shepherd dog. I am totally afraid of dogs. So I kept moving. The girl was looking at me quite intensely, so I smiled, but I didn’t stop. After I had passed her, she shouted “Excuse me, what is your name?” When I told her, she said, “Eniko! You lost your bank card”. On a previous run through the forest, it must have fallen out of my pocket. This girl found it, but couldn’t find me on social media. So she hid it in a bush, near to where she had found it. We retrieved the bank card and went running together. (continued under next picture)
Eniko's story continued: I said, “How can I thank you?” She said, “Please think of me in your prayers so that life can be as good to me as it has been to you”. Then she put her hand on her heart, which is rare in Hungary. After we went our separate ways, I wanted to thank her by offering her some organic food from the place I work, and some aphorism cards (aphorisms by the Peace Run founder, Sri Chinmoy). I couldn’t find her in the forest, so I taped the package to the tree where we had met. As I was running home, on a crossroads in the forest, who should appear? The same girl. I was so happy. We ran to the tree, and I gave her the gifts. It was such a kind and sweet encounter"
International runners in Minsk at the completion of the European Peace Run in 2017.
Milan from Czech Republic.
Kader from Turkey.
Turkish sunset.
Ashcharjya ran his kilometres outside Paris. In France, Natashira and Edwige ran 45 kilometres dedicated to the Peace Run. Ashcharjya reports: "This week we still cannot go over one km away from home for jogging. Fortunately, I live near a nice park with beautiful trees and because of the situation the grass has been left to grow very high and it is like being in the countryside. I run almost every day and meet always the same people doing laps like me. Now I wear my Peace Run gear and I notice that they look at my T.shirt with the logo Peace Run and the website address. I hope they will go to visit it! On April 27th, to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the Peace Run, I sent the information about the Virtual Peace Run to all my Peace Run contacts in the region which we had planned to run through originally (but couldn’t because of lockdown). I mentioned the “Youth at home” project on the website. A Montessori school answered that they will follow the Peace Run and that the program they offer to their young students is perfectly in line with ours!"
Ashcharjya reports: "This morning I went at 7 am and was literally flying. The rising sun gave me hope and I was imagining that someday all of humanity will wake up with the feeling of peace blossoming everywhere on earth. After my 6 km run, I stopped at the “boulangerie” nearby to get the best croissant of the district certified with the logo on the window of the shop!"
Who knew there is a Totem Pole outside Paris? Ashcharjya writes: "This sunday morning it was raining cats and dogs. I started with an umbrella! Then the rains stopped. On the way I met some friends, some obstacles and I paid homage to the totem-god of the land!
A run through France in 2018.
The team ran virtually through Greece this past week.
The Greek coordinator, Mrittunjoy (right), running through Greece in 2018.
Baiba did her running in Latvia.
Pranjal is taking no risks as he runs in Slovakia.
Greek pelicans on Lake Kerkini
Vasuprada is from Germany and ran her miles in Iceland where she lives.
(From left to right) Darnival, Nirbhasa and Suren at Peace Run Reykjavik headquarters.
Mandu from Austria runs for Peace
A connoisseur pontificates about the good life in the Mediterranean
Greek children receiving the torch in 2018.
A Greek octogenarian runs a few metres with the torch.
Mitra from Bulgaria ran 15kms this week. Other runners: Niharika from Finland 32 kms. Pranayani fro The Netherlands 8 kms.
This photograph was taken on May 1st 2020 at the three border point where Austria, Hungary and Slovenia meet. Sri Chinmoy inaugurated this as a Peace Blossom - a landmark dedicated to Peace - on May 1st 2004. Interestingly, May 1st 2020 is the first day of free movement in Austria as the lockdown is easing up.
The monument dedicating this significant place as a Sri Chinmoy Peace Blossom.
This week a new team will continue the Peace Run through Bulgaria (virtually).
The route from Kulata to Ruse, via Burgas, will be 993 kilometres.
Petra is a rising star in the world of Ultra running. Here she is receiving a trophy for winning the 6 day race in New York City.
On the team this week is Petra from the Czech Republic. She will run her kilometres in London where she lives.
Prachar will be running his kilometres in and around the city of Canberra in Australia.
Shamita is an accomplished ultra distance runner, and will be running more than a few kilometres in Austria this week.
Shamita is also an accomplished musician. Here is a photograph of her with her husband, Dohai.
Natashira will be representing France this week.
Its a little windy where Natashira lives.
Dirghajivi will be representing Slovenia this week as we run through Bulgaria.
Pedja is from Belgrade in Serbia. He is also a veteran ultra runner.
Pedja is the coordinator of the Peace Run in Serbia. The Peace Run has been honoured and received at the highest level in Serbia on several occasions.
Dhavala is from Edinburgh, Scotland.
Satyamurthi is from Italy.
Here is a photo of Satyamurthi winning a 47 mile race in New York City.
The torch was virtually handed over from Greece to Bulgaria on Sunday evening.
Vijayanta (right) is the coordinator for the Peace Run in Bulgaria. In this photo he is standing with the Bulgarian Ambassador to Serbia, in Belgrade 2018.
The virtual Peace Run in Bulgaria is attracting a lot of interest from the Media.
Baridhi is on the International Team this week (even though he is from Bulgaria).
In 2018, the Peace Run visited the home of Baba Vanga in Bulgaria. Baba Vanga was a simple lady, who became revered as a great mystic in Bulgaria. She was blind. She had a very optimistic and inspiring view of the world and of the path ahead for humanity.
Todor from Bulgaria.
