Five months.
Ten thousand miles.
Fifty States.
The numbers are amazing when you’re on the run promoting world peace.
An international group of runners stopped in South Sioux City on Tuesday afternoon, taking a break on their 10,000-mile journey that touches all 50 states in a relay-style effort to promote world peace.
The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, named in honor of the man who was an Indian spiritual teacher, author and athlete, has been on a 10,000-mile journey throughout the United States since mid-April. The group of 11 runners from all over the world started in New York City on April 16, traveling clockwise around the country and running through each of the 48 continental states over the course of five months to promote peace. They will finish off Alaska and Hawaii with visits to those states in late August and early September.
The Peace Run started in 1987 and is meant to celebrate “the shining promise of America’s dream of a oneness-world.” With the United States celebrating its 250th birthday this month, the run has taken on a special meaning for the runners who come from as close as California and Massachusetts, and as far away as New Zealand, Germany and Russia.
The group that stopped in South Sioux City on Tuesday ran through South Dakota last weekend and crossed the Nebraska border on Highway 81 at Yankton, traveling south before turning on Highway 12 and running through Ponca and Jackson before reaching City Hall here early Tuesday afternoon.
Salil Wilson, executive director and one of the 11 runners involved, said he is amazed at all the positive experiences the group has had during their 10,000-mile journey around the country.
“It's really fantastic, and there's so much goodness, you know, really,” he said. “Everyone is amazed at the kindness. I've run about it somewhere like 70 countries and nothing matches the American heart. It’s something unique and it’s really special.”
The group runs in what is called a “leapfrog relay” — one runner will run 2-3 miles while another drives ahead and runs a similar distance. Using as many as four runners at a time, the team covers between 80-100 miles a day. Wilson said it took about six hours to run through northeast Nebraska.
While in South Sioux City, the group meet with Mayor Rod Koch, City Administrator Lance Hedquist and some other local residents to talk about the purpose of their journey and share some inspirational songs the group sings.
Before leaving South Sioux City, the group picked up a small sample of dirt that they will take back to their NYC headquarters in the Queens borough. They are collecting dirt simples from each of the 50 states that will be used to plant a special peace tree in the meditation garden at their headquarters.
After spending the night in Sioux City, the group heads north toward Minneapolis, Minn. They are scheduled to arrive back at their starting point near the Statue of Liberty in New York City on Aug. 15.
