For thousands of years, runners have been messengers. In 490 BC, Phidippides ran his historic 26 miles to warn Athens of approaching Persian ships. In the “New World”, the Iroquois Confederacy was held together by running messengers who could cover the 240-mile Iroquois Trail within a few days. Today, there is the Blue Planet Run.

Yesterday, the team took off from the steps of the United Nations, an institution which has, for over 60 -years, brought nation-states together to address the most pressing global issues: war, disease, poverty, and the environment. In 2000, the world came together at the UN to agree upon and set the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) – 8 specific goals to address development challenges – including the target to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water.

In spite of this push, we are still a far cry from meeting this target.

We need more awareness, more funding, and most important, more on the ground action. In Rwanda (where I have been living), there is a $25 million per year funding gap between funds needed and funds available for the country to meet the goals it has set itself.

And thus, we as runners - as global messengers - are taking this message from the steps of the UN to streets, to patrons of fast-food restaurants, gas stations, coffee shops along the route. We are taking the message that “water is life” to the people.

- From New London, CT – happy trails.