Story Photos
 Photo by Roger Werth USA World Harmony runner Kaspars Zakis of Latvia, left, and local runner Dick Anderson of the Cowlitz Valley Runners carry the torch into Longview on Friday afternoon from the Lewis and Clark bridge. The run began April in New York and will end back there in August. Four local runners provided their support by running with the team from the Oregon border to Castle Rock, and some continued on to Winlock. |
Run for Harmony
Friday, June 23, 2006 11:59 PM PDT
By By Stephanie Mathieu / The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleA nationwide torch run helped some local, seasoned runners get their grooves back Friday. And it finally gave them the chance to run with fire.
Participating in a torch run has always been an aspiration for members of the Cowlitz Valley Runners club, said club president Dick Anderson, who is in his 60s. The club was founded in 1980, and the group had been passed up to carry the 2002 Summer Olympics torch when it came through the area.
He gathered three of his running pals --- all older than 50, and some who hadn't run in an event since 2003 --- to join the USA World Harmony Run as it passed from the Lewis and Clark bridge on its way to Castle Rock via Pacific Avenue and Pleasant Hill Road. The foursome took turns running 2-mile legs, and some went on to Vader and Winlock.
"People honked and waved," said Anderson, who carried the torch from the bridge into Longview. "Average runners don't usually get a chance to do that."
The relay paused at Longview City Hall for a brief ceremony, where Longview mayor pro tem Kurt Anagnostou, dressed in navy blue track pants and a long-sleeve T-shirt, welcomed the runners . His goal was to run with the group into Kelso.
"I'm not a runner," Anagnostou said. But, "I appreciate your cause."
That cause --- to inspire harmony through sports --- means something different for each of the participants.
Harmony is a universal word, said Arpan De Angelo, the U.S. team captain of the run. "It can be a sense of value, peace and commitment. It allows you to see the good in people."
The USA World Harmony Run has taken place about every other year since 1987. This year's run began April at the United Nations headquarters in New York City and covers roughly 100 miles per day through the 48 continental states. Participants are expected to cross the finish line in August, back in New York.
The World Harmony group has 17 runners, and each one runs about 10 miles per day. The torch weighs less than 2 pounds with a flame about 3 inches tall. It has to be refueled about every 2 to 3 miles, and the World Harmony runners have six backup torches just like it.
For more information, see www.worldharmonyrun.org.
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