A tranquil morning starts this years local finnish Peace Run...
...at the statue of Peace Run founder Sri Chinmoy in Hietalahti park, Vaasa.
From here the team splits into two...
Team A start at Gerby skola...
We are honoured to have former Chairman of the City Council and MEP Håkan Nordman as part of our team! He has been a true friend of the Peace Run for many long years!
Thank you Gerby skola! A team of runners from the school are following us to the next school 4 km away...
All the youth are ready and waiting at Borgaregatans skola.
The team of runners runs off right away with part of our team, as we are a little behind schedule, while Håkan stays behind to talk about the Peace Run and the dreams and ideals of its founder, emphasizeng that each one of us is responsible for taking the first step and creating peace and harmony in our own lives and in our surroundings, by our actions.
Thank for the help holding the banner!
At Vöyrinkaupungin koulu these young runners join the team...
Another great talk by Håkan! The previous talks he gave in Swedish. Now it is Finnish!
On the left in shades we have Peace runner Ashprihanal Pekka Aalto, one of the foremost ultra runners of our times! This summer he is running his 13th 3100 mile race in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. He has 7 wins to his credit. In preparation for this summer he's been training hard to achieve a personal best. Let's all wish him luck! Usually averaging over 100 km a day, todays 10 km run is probably like a light snack for him, but he really enjoys it!
The youth in white shirts ran with us from Borgaregatans skola. They were so fast our photographer didn't make it to take pictures of them there!
The amplified team are soon ready to set off for the next school...
Onkilahden koulu.
Today is the eve of May 1st, Vappu, a national holiday in Finland. Some of the childred have dressed for the occasion!
A few blocks from Onkilahden koulu runners join from Vaasan Lyseon Lukio and Vasa Gymnasium...
And run full circle to our starting point, Vasa's proudly cherished Peace Run Statue in Hietalahti Park.
Team B are visiting schools in Vähäkyrö. They start off at Tervajoen koulu...
The headmaster was really supportive and encouraging and accompanied us all the way to the last school...
The heart is the home of Peace...
The whole school accompanies the team to the road from where they start their Unicef walk, walking for 12 km!
Mimmi and Ida run with us 6 km to the 2nd school...
Accompanying the girls is Paavo and their teacher. They run with us 14 km all the way to the last school! Their teacher is extremely encouraging and motivational!
At Savilahden koulu the whole school of 250 children was waiting to cheerfully welcome us on the schoolyard.
This teacher served as worldwide Peace Run CEO Salil Wilson's translator. The Finnish Peace Run team is delighted that Salil came for our local run!
Vappu costumes!
A huge running crew!
From Savilahden koulu 20 children with teachers accompany us the full 8 km to the last school.
Peace Run
Well done guys! Almost there...
We made it!
Group picture of the fabulous running team!
Wait a minute! With runners from the 3rd school we are running an extra 5 km loop along a river! Oh well... as you can see from the picture our Peace runners look happy :) !
Both of our teams come togehter for a cordial greeting from Merikaarron koulu...
The children have just finished their 1 hour Unicef walk, where they have been trying to get as many laps as possible!
It's time for the country guessing game!
Josef
Salil
Sanita
Jan
Andreas
The children guessed all the countries, and yet they sang a song for us! Bravo!
Passing of the torch...
At the end the children and we are treated with traditional Vappu goodies: mead and jam-filled doughnuts!
Thank you everyone from all the schools for a wonderful day!
In the afternoon our team heads up to Seinäjoki to set up a Peace Exhibition featuring Sri Chinmoy's artwork 'Jharna Kala' at the local library.
The exhibition also featured photographs accompanied by Sri Chinmoy's poetry, organised by finnish coordinator Iiris, has toured several libraries in Vaasa, and libraries in Jyväskylä and Kokkola.
The dark shape behind us is actually a padded alcove, where you can lie down and read a book.
The finished result.
Thank you for today! Tomorrow we drive 600 km up to Lapland, heading for the point where Norway, Sweden and Finland meet!
