“I was not a runner.” This morning a local Slovak girl named Kanala was running with Ananda Lahari. She was very animated and was sharing with him some experiences from her recent visit to their country Slovakia. She and another girl, Kaneenika (the great 10 day runner) had just given a public talk and Kaneenika had made this remark at the beginning of her lecture.
Before Kaneenika became a student of Sri Chinmoy she had not been an athlete at all. But like many young people who join the group she quickly got inspired to take up the sport of distance running. Her mother as well, had always told her that, “no matter what you do, you will be good at something. Just follow what inspires you.”
Kaneenika has now been competing in multi days for 18 years. In last years 10 day race(2012) she had numerous difficulties in the weeks leading up to the event. Many things went wrong for her including a broken finger. Yet throughout the difficulties she realized, that somebody else was ultimately in charge of the experiences and her life. She also had a profound realization, that there was no need to worry, “it is taken care of.”
With all this happening to her she realized that all she needed do was surrender inwardly. “During the race, whenever the mind problems or the body problems came up she remembered. It is not me who is influencing the result. Just surrender and do your best.” During that race she not only set a personal best of 724 miles but she was also the overall winner and now has set 3 Slovakian distance records.
Kanala’s part of the talk was to remind people, “that we are all unique. We have to find what is special for us. Which is our own inner self. We can find this by meditating.”
Ananda Lahari all this time is running quietly beside us. I ask him if he thinks that any of this also applies to him and the other 3100 mile runners. “Yes definitely,” he says.
Do not follow me.
Follow the eternal runner
Who is running along Eternity’s Road.
And who is that eternal runner?
The eternally awakened God-lover in you.
Sri Chinmoy, Ten Thousand Flower-Flames, Part 68, Agni Press, 1983
Chairs that never get used much
Until the runners come
Yesterday Pranjal passed 1000 miles and has his first blister.
Surasa will pass 1000 miles early this morning.
Counters choosing pencils
Ashprihanal had the most laps yesterday 130
Pedro gets the clipboards ready
Start
Atmavir is once again off to a strong start.
He is currently still in first place and is around 112 miles ahead of his results from this time last year
Nidhruvi remains cheerful and positive…(Doris was correct about the tree)
She has a real injury she must deal with and yet she still continues to flow.
Her morning helper Silvy is doing everything she can so that the time and distance go forward
Sarah now has a bad blister. She is doing everything she can
She is getting help from very experienced people.
Sarah simply keeps going
This is a big morning for Surasa
The board gets changed to read 1000 miles
Bells ring and a conch is blown.
She stops briefly and never stops smiling
She says, “just 2100 more miles to go……….almost done.”
Nidhruvi could possibly do the same tomorrow
Yuri made his 1000 miles yesterday
His daily laps remain steady and consistent. He is currently 4th
Ashprihanal is about 40 miles behind Atmavir
He is also about 40 miles behind the pace he ran here in 2011
Jagadhata works on shoes
Compression stockings are very popular here
Ananda Lahari had a good day here yesterday with 106 laps. Prabhakar’s book of photos from the 6 and 10 race just came out.
An unknown person has created a piece of contemporary art.
If it is an actual store it is hard to imagine what Ananda Lahari can make off these items
Vasu is 40 miles ahead of last years pace
He ran 114 laps yesterday and is simply a very strong person in so many ways.
Some collective Russian translation takes place with the day’s prayer
Rupantar provides some hands on work with the words.
Something exotic
Baladev had a good day yesterday and ran most of the day and finished with 104 laps
Sopan had a breakthrough yesterday
He got back up to 100 laps for the first time in a couple of days. He is very grateful that his injury has subsided and allows him to run again.
He is close friends with Ashprihanal and this is what they did after the race 2 years ago.
His goal is to stay focused and within himself. Hopefully find those 113 lap days once again.
This an update. With the help of Sopan’s just uploaded photo, it is clear that Ananda Lahari’s store is now selling more items.
Sarvagata is about 60 miles behind his last years race
He is still slowly recovering from injury. He ran 115 laps yesterday
The race has just begun
I ask Pranjal about something he had said a couple of days ago. About having inner experiences happening to him while he runs. “It is not like you see it with your eyes. It is like you see something inside you. Like qualities that maybe you haven’t seen before. Things like that.”
“It is hard to describe. It is probably different for every person. It is something inner, in your heart, or part of your soul. I don’t know. Your soul is coming to the fore.”
He ran 114 laps yesterday which is about average. I ask him how he is this morning and says, “it is a regular morning. (Jokes) That means it is bad. Every morning is bad.”
Todays Prayer
Recited by Pranjal
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Aspiration-road wants
Only aspiration-runners
And not desire-winners.
Sri Chinmoy, My Christmas-New Year-Vacation Aspiration-Prayers, Part 43, Agni Press,
Thank you!