Delza Smith arrives at Peace Hostel Amelia around 7:30am ready to do some miles on this years Run For Freedom.
Jim Toren with "Rosie the peace pug" greets Delza Smith who has loaded his gear into Jim's van. Jim, Delza and Jim's dad John Toren are getting ready to make their way to Little Turtle monument in Newport KY where they will meet the rest of the runners and supporters for this years Run For Freedom.
Mark Porter-Webb, Terry Stagman with his back to the camera is standing in front of Jim Toren, then Delza Smith and Jon Blickenstaff are greeting each other and catching up on how things are going in their lives.
Jim Toren is getting ready to set up his camera for the customary group photo taken before the start of each event.
Mark Porter-Webb is telling Jim Toren, left, and Terry Stagman, right, about his plans to work in France this summer and that he may be able to take part in the London to Geneva walk that FootPrints For Peace is co-sponsoring.
Jon Blickenstaff, a life member of FootPrints For Peace, listens with intent as Mark Porter-Webb is talking about the walk through France. Jon and Larry Crane, who will be joining in on this run later in the day, will also be in France for the last three weeks of the walk and Jon is excited about the possibility that Mark may be able to join them.
The chatting is over and the circle is complete. These are the starting runners and supporters for this years run. Left to right are Jim Toren, Jon Blickenstaff, Terry Stagman, Mark Porter-Webb, John Toren and Delza Smith. All will be setting their footprints down and praying for Leonard Peltier that he may find freedom soon.
John Toren, second form the left, explains the route that will be taken on this years run. Terry Stagman, Jon Blickenstaff and Mark Porter-Webb check out the route on the map. These are experienced runners and walkers and will have no trouble staying on the route.
Mark Porter-Webb starts the Run For Freedom as his running mates cheer him on. Mark will do the first 11 miles.
Jon Blickenstaff is running as Mark Porter-Webb's running mate and will do the second 11 miles.
As Mark Porter-Webb rounds the corner on his way you can see Jim Toren who was taking the photos of Mark. He will team with Delza Smith and his dad John on the second leg of the first day's run for Leonard Peltier.
Delza Smith is ready to go. Delza will do 20 miles today. Delza and his wife Kathy will also host the overnight for the running group at their home near Williamsburg. They have been hosting us for the last four or five years and Delza started his participation in the event 2 years ago.
There is Mother Earth's beauty all around us while we run, walk and peddle our way towards Serpent Mound where we will end the run for Leonard Peltier. This marks the 13th run we have done for Leonard who is still imprisoned at the federal prison in Lewisburg PA for a crime we believe he did not commit. We pray that someday Leonard will be able to see this beauty in person.
Delza Smith is on his way for the next twenty miles.
Delza can do as many as 45 miles in one run but today is only doing 20. He will also be with us tomorrow.
The " mad cow" is on his way. John Toren does not specify his miles but just does what he can in the time alloted. He is the only member that has been on every Run For Freedom and has pledged to Leonard that he will run or walk for him as long as he is able.
John Toren, the "mad cow", is finishing up his segment of the event. This run is a sacred event for John who believes in his heart that Leonard Peliter is an innocent man and should be released forthwith.
Jim Toren is the last guy on the road for this day. Jim is recovering from a knee operation and has been hobbled by this injury. He is still out there doing what he can to help Leonard Peltier. Jim started the Run For Freedom many years ago in order to have an event to promote public awareness concerning political prisoners.
As you can see Jim, a one time very strong runner, now has to use a knee brace and a cane to move along. He belives that his Foot Prayers still count no matter how they are earned. He is absolutely right in this belief!
Day 2 of the 2008 Run For Freedom begins at Kathy and Delza Smith's home where we all gathered. Larry Crane, left, joined us for this day and Jon Blickenstaff, right, was present both days. These two guys are off for France tomorrow to join up with the Nuclear Free Future walk from London to Geneve.
Delza Smith and Jim Toren just finished loading the equipment into Jim's van. Delza and wife Kathy have been hosting the Run For Freedom for quite some time and this is Delza's third year of participation.
Delza Smith is the first one out on this final day of the Run For Freedom 2008. Delza is doing the first 20 miles of the route to Serpent Mound. A number of us are considering using the bike as our means of praticipation mostly because of knee and let injuries. Delza tell us it is a lot less stressful on his knees than walking or running.
Larry Crane is climbing out of the support vehicle Jon Blickenstaff is driving. Larry is the first guy out in the last group of the day and will walk his pledged miles.
Larry Crane is off for his segment of the run. Larry will cross over route 32 and walk through Peebles on his way to the end of his destination. Larry is very familiar with this segment of the route since his has walked it for the third straight year. Jon Blickenstaff who will walk the second segment is in the background.
Jon Blickenstaff is loosening up in preparation for his segment of the run. Jon will start where the segment walked by Larry Crane ends. Jon is usually our best long distance runner but has been hobbled this year by a knee injury.
The "mad cow", John Toren, walks the last segment of the Run For Freedom. This is also familiar territory for John since his has finished all the runs to Serpent Mound that have occurred since this route was incorporated.
The next set of pictures was taken on John's segment and his upcoming commentary will give you an insight as what goes through the participants minds as they put down their FootPrayers.
There comes a time on this walk when you are dialed into Leonard. For me it usually happens the last four miles of the event because I am walking on back roads with little traffic and a great deal of Sacred Mother Earth's beauty. It seems that I always get this section of the walk and I am pleased that I get it because I can really reflect on why we are doing this walk.
When I see all of nature's beauty around me as I am strolling along I try to vision it for Leonard and pray that it comforts him in some way.
I know it seems strange but I sometimes feel that Leonard can see what I see and if I try hard enough perhaps he can hear the sounds of the creek running or the birds singing.
Maybe Leonard can hear the bumble bee humming and smell the fragrance of the flowers. I can only pray that he does.
At times I am simply overwhelmed at what Sacred Mother Earth can produce in spite of our attemps to destroy her. We must begin to take her side and pledge to her that we will do nothing to harm her. I know in my heart that if Leonard could be with us he would be praying for her as well.
This far out in the boon-docks there isn't as much trash in the water ways as there is on the major highways. Sometimes you can hear frogs and see water creatures swimming around in the clear water.
I love the little streams. There is always so much life in and around them. Both plants and animals thrive in these secluded areas. They are interesting and fun to watch.
When you come around the last bend you can see the end of the walk which is the entrance to Serpent Mound. Only a few tenths of a mile left to walk. It's hot and I'm tired. My thoughts and prayers for Leonard are strong now.
The last mile marker before the road up to Serpent Mound. We chose this place back in 2000 when Jim was in Australia and we didn't have enough runners to go to Levinworth. It seemed a fitting end to Leonard's run since it was a holy place to the native Americans whose ancestors built it.
The entrance to Serpent Mound is now in plain sight. Just a few tenths of a mile and I will start up the hill and into the Mound area. No matter how many times I do this my emotions begin to overwhelm me. I am free but Leonard and many, many others are in prison unjustly.
I am getting real close to the end now. I am hot and tired but my mind is racing with thoughts of Leonard and how I wish that he could just be with us soon.
As I approached the driveway I glanced over to the left and saw these beautiful clouds in an otherwise clear blue sky. I searched them for signs but I could see nothing but their white beauty. Just a few more minutes and I could sit in the shade with a cold drink.
I decided to take a picture of the road sign to show you where we are in relation to several close towns.
Locust Grove, a very very small town where I started my day, is 4 miles back and Hillsboro, a much larger town is 19 miles away. In other words I am out in the middle of nowhere.
And now up the hill to see the Serpent.
This area is maintained by the Ohio Historical Society and is kept in fantastic condition. I recommend a visit to all who are interested in the history of Ohio and in particular what the ancients left for us to contemplate.
A fitting place to pray for Leonard as well as all those around the world who are imprisoned unjustly.
When you drive up to the top you miss a lot of nature's beauty. Off to the left a cliff will begin to grow in height as you go forward. At the bottom of the cliff is Brush Creek and there is nothing man made in this magnificant view. But you can only see it on foot and not from a car.
If you look closely you can see Brusch Creek through the brush and trees. Along this creek far below the Serpent grave sites and relics of some sort of village where discovered. The Indians who build this great and sacred Mound may well have lived and died below on the plains.
Just about half way up to the top you can start to see the park entrance. Not far now and it’s a good thing since I need to get to a rest room SOON!
Closer and closer and looking for the rest room which, if I recall correctly, should be close on the left. Nature's call has a way of blocking out all the thoughts and prayers that where being put forth and my focus in now on extremely urgent business!
At last the small entrance building where you pay your entrance fee. It is cheap, 6 dollars a car load if I remember. Usually there is noone here and you put your money in a envelope and drop it in a box at the little museum building up ahead.
Still no rest room in site though! It can't be very much further! I hope!
This is a view of the Serpent Mound taken from an observation tower. Actually it is two pictures joined together because the camera didn't have a wide enough zoom. Both the tail, left and the head far down on the right, stand at the edgae of cliffs overlooking Brush Creek. I wonder every time I visit the place how in the world they were able to place it so close to the edge without falling.
It is a magnificant sight!
Jim Toren getting the camera ready to take our end of run group pictures.
By coincidence Mark Porter-Webb and his family were picnicing at the Mound when we arrived. Mark has participated in many previous events with as including this year's Run For Freedom. Jon Blickenstaff is on the left, them Mark's dad, grandpa and mom.
Delza Smith and John Blickenstaff poking a little fun at the camera man. (me)
Larry Crane, Delza Smith and Jon Blickenstaff trading stories.
Mark Porter-Webb is leaving for France to train young folks on how to organize and maintain peace camps. Mark hopes to catch up with Larry Crane and Jon Blickenstaff who are joining the anti-nuclear walk from London to Geneva for the last three weeks and will be close to where Mark will be staying.
When we had our final circle Jim Toren gave us a little speech on why we did this run. He related, as did Larry Crane, how the event was not just for Leonard Peltier but for all those prisoners of conscience around the world.
Jim Toren, John Toren, Larry Crane, Delza Smith, Jon Blickenstaff and Mark Porter-Webb are the walkers, runners and riders who gave their time, energy and prayers for Leonard and a host of others on ths Run For Freedom day.
Thanks!
Peacehq
FootPrints For 
