Story Photos
 Photo by Greg Ebersole Salil Wilson, World Harmony Run global director, carries a torch as he runs through Rainier on Friday morning. The team started the day in Portland. |
World Harmony team visits Longview on Cross-country relay aimed at promoting global understanding
Friday, June 24, 2005 10:44 PM PDT
By Marissa Harshman
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E-mail this articleIt's not too often that outsiders praise the weather in Southwest Washington this time of year.
But after encountering gales and drenching rains on way across the United States, nine runners in the World Harmony relay were glad to lope into Longview Monday under hazy skies
"We run through rain, the strong winds in Kansas and Texas, and the strong sun in the desert," team member Maria Latinova said. "We're experiencing all climates."
The World Harmony Run members were greeted by Longview Councilman Dennis Weber early Friday afternoon at Longview City Hall. Weber gave each runner a city pin as a souvenir, then he jogged around the parking lot with the World Harmony torch before sending the runners on their way.
The relay team consists of runners from around the world, representing nine different nationalities. The run across the country is part of a global relay that has been held every other year since 1987.
The team carries a torch to symbolize world peace and encourages people to join them on the run or to run carrying the torch, volunteer coordinator Pipasa Glass said. However, Weber was alone in greeting the team when it arrived in town in the early afternoon.
"The message of the run is that world harmony begins in the heart of the people and then spreads to the community and the world," Global Director Salil Wilson said. "The run allows you to express your love for a world of understanding and kindness."
Latinova, team member from Bulgaria, said the race is building friendships and global understanding.
"We bring different nationalities and cultures," Latinova said. "It's like a culture exchange."
The U.S. team covers about 100 miles every day, with each member running eight to 10 miles, team captain Arpan DeAngelo said. When not running, members follow in cars.
The runners are on the road from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., often stopping in cities to meet government officials, members of organizations and local residents, DeAngelo said.
"We're always meeting really great people along the way," Wilson said. "It's sad to leave, but then as you get to the next place you meet more great people."
Wilson is from Australia. He first became involved with the relay when he ran for the Australian team in 1987. Since then he has ran on six teams in the United States, Wilson said.
Team member Damon Burns, from New Zealand, is running on the U.S. team for the first time.
"For the last three days we've been running along the Oregon coastline, and it's stunning," Burns said. "(The coast) reminds me of home."
The runners will stay the night in Centralia before heading to Seattle and starting their journey back to New York, where the run began April 16, said Lee Berube, U.S. coordinator for the World Harmony Run.
The runners are scheduled to arrive back in New York on Aug. 14, with a closing ceremony planned for Aug. 20. Representatives from each World Harmony Run team around the world will attend the ceremony.
Teams are running across Europe, Russia and Australia and relays just finished in the Caribbean and China, Berube said.
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