Have you ever owned a piece of clothing that you could simply not bare to part with. Perhaps a great pair of shoes, a hat, or for my generation a pair of blue jeans. Pants that took weeks of wearing to break in. To finally feel as though they had become part of you. Then they became even better when they faded to the point that they were still blue but only just.
Beads, baubles, and bangles will last a life time but clothing never lasts beyond a certain point. No matter even if it is your most beloved wearable item. It will inevitably one day expire from fashion or from function. Classic fibers, cotton, wool, and silk, simply start to fall apart over time when worn. Even new high tech clothing will work wonders for perhaps a brief while longer.
Then there is the problem of your own personal dimensions. Perhaps asking the clothing to continue to do what it was supposed to do when you were a size b and now your horizons have expanded to some letter just a little too far down the alphabet to look decent or remain modest.
Then there is that special purgatory when the clothing sits befuddled in a closet or in a drawer waiting to make at least one more appearance. You can’t wear it and you can’t throw it out. What do you do?
Yesterday Ray wore a shirt that most folks would have simply thrown out a decade or more ago. It is worn down to the point where the cotton is almost translucent and to be honest it is just a little snug. You can still read the writing and it is clear, that even for a guy who never wears a shirt, he has taken extra special care of this particular running singlet.
30 years ago this week Ray was given this shirt for taking part in the New York Road runners 6 day race on Randalls Island. The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team were also there as volunteers to assist with the scoring of the race.
As Ray describes its story now, “It is a silly little thing. Earlier in the run I had worn that shirt.” He mentions the obvious. He doesn’t like to wear shirts. So at some point in the race on the first day, he took it off and threw it at his chair.
“When I threw it I missed the chair.” He tells me that Sri Chinmoy who was near by noticed this, and so went over and picked it up and laid it on the back of the chair. “I thought that was really cool so when I came around I thanked him for it. So we just started talking.”
There is a look of reverence in his eyes as he says, “Guru touched this. That shirt has been very protective for a long time.”
“Maybe it is like Jesus washing his disciples feet. For this great man to bend down and pick up the shirt of a competitor. And just take care of him. In his heart, in his essence. It said a lot to me about this guy who I didn’t know a lot about.”
“Every day he would come out and walk for the rest of that 6 day and I would talk to him every day and that is how I got to know Guru.”
Over the years their paths would cross many times at different races. A relationship that continued even on and up to his passing in 2007. Ray never stopped cherishing his moments with Sri Chinmoy. His fading singlet just reminded him of the very unique and sweet relationship that they had. When he did poorly at one race he would try and give something back by doing better at the next race.
“A week ago when I was going through my clothes I knew I was going to wear that shirt.” He just wasn’t sure which day he would wear it. Whenever it came out earlier,he just knew, “this is not the day.”
“Guru always talked about that you would know when the time is right.” Yesterday was the day, day 19. “I had huge blisters, I got up in the morning and just wanted to focus on the run. While I was running people would speak to me. Wow, you are doing great. It was a surprise to a lot of runners.”
Yesterday became Ray’s gift. A gift to the other runners, a gift to himself, and a gift to a spiritual Master who bent down to pick up a carelessly tossed shirt 30 years ago this week. Ray who had done 58 laps the previous day ran 114 laps yesterday. In the heat, the thunderstorm, and all the torments that come when you try and run for 18 hours in New York.
“I think the message was. You can feel terrible. You can be half dead, and you can be out here not at your best. You just never know when good things will happen and you will put together a great day and a great performance. I think it was a message for everybody. Through my shooting star day.”
Click to Play Interview:
On the inner plane
There is no such thing as luck.
Whatever good happens in your life
Is the result of conscious or unconscious
Inner preparation.
Last night a ferocious thunderstorm passed over the course around 10pm. For at least 20 minutes the rain came down in a deluge.
This morning there has been a threat of showers but they have yet to materialize. Instead all that soggy footwear makes an appearance in order to dry.
Karabi uses her smartphone which says no rain until at least the afternoon. But it never came.
A printed map of the Hurricanes path is brought to the start.
William arrives. He managed his 1000 miles yesterday but his left calf is tight and bothersome.
Sarvagata again had the most laps yesterday with 123
Sarah performs surgery on shoes.
Jayasalini has a snack
Rupantar shoots his daily video
Start Day 19
There is lots of evidence left from a night of rain.
Which will only bring out more and more green over the coming days.
The weather is still unpredictable and thus one of the runners says.
“Tell the counters I will be right back. I just have to go home and get my raincoat.”
Ananda-Lahari had a pretty good day yesterday.
He loves it here so much. His mileage is 856 over 18 days.
The newsletter has just come out and he is enjoying reading about some of the other runners.
So much beauty and so much peace.
“From 9 o’clock when I put these shoes on until midnight I did not sit down, and I never stopped moving.”
“The first 3 hours were my worst. In the afternoon I was running like I was 29 and it was 30 years ago.” He also mentions that one thing that by chance got him focused was dropping his phone in the toilet.
He retrieved it….don’t know how. Then tried to dry it out by sitting it in his car window. “It was quasi effective.”
“I knew in my heart that I was going to put that shirt on.”
I hope a chiropractor comes soon. My neck is killing me.
William is going through a rough patch this morning.
He got his 1000 miles yesterday, and starts day 19 with 1015.
Tim has been a big help through all this but leaves Saturday. Tarit will come and start helping in his place.
He is very tight and gets a much needed massage from Vajra.
Vajra tries to loosen up that calf, which has gone a very long way.
Tim from Manchester has been a devoted helper for the past week for William. He did none of the usual touristy things while visiting here in New York.
“I saw all the sights right here. I have moved about a mile up and down the road and seen it all.”
He came he said at just the right moment. “He was starting to get problems with his calf. It was just the time when he needed someone to do the odds and ends to hold you up when you are going around. When you have to stop and sort out your socks. Find a drink. Very little things that you don’t think about.”
“It is hard and it is rewarding. He is a friend and we knew that he is such a good athlete. It is a privilege to help him, and get the results he’s got.”
Yesterday his time for the 1,000 miles was 17 days, 12 hours, 15 minutes, 24 seconds.
“There are so many facets to this race. There is all the people. We haven’t met before and it seems like we have all been good friends for years.”
“It is a new way of life for a week. I am very happy to be here.”
Click to Play Interview:
Sopan looking much better the last few days.
He looks still a little lop sided in the morning.
He did 92 laps yesterday and is listening to motivational music more.
The day gradually becoming brighter.
Darn those cars. I used to be able to park right here any time I wanted.
Teekshanam had 104 laps yesterday.
He starts day 19 with 1072 miles.
Pushkar enjoying a lap with Teekshanam and Teekshanam enjoying a lap with Pushkar.
Happiness where you find it.
You said I could get out of the car. How about Now? ok ok. How about Now? ok ok. How about now?
Nidhruvi had a really good day yesterday.
She did 110 laps and is not distracted.
A very powerful runner.
Nirjarini runs with her to check on her food requests.
She has 1074 miles and lots of very good help.
The singing is so beautiful here every morning.
“Honestly I just came to hear you sing. You don’t have to pat me if you don’t want to.”
Baladev had 99 laps yesterday.
He has written another poem:
Today my Lord told me.
Best don’t rest.
And I said to him.
We will see my Lord.
We will see.
He doesn’t know how many poems that he has written. He is simply writing them in a notebook. “One day I wrote 6 or 7.”
“Today is a very very very good day. I hope the best.” He then says it might rain which will change everything and then changes his mind. “The first 3 hours in the rain will be good.”
He says that if it continues after that then the rain becomes a big challenge for everybody. But we need to be challenged here.”
For a moment we pass Sarvagata and he asks that I take their picture.
“Yesterday was very nice. We have had 18 days of dry weather. No water. Yesterday was amazing. Everybody was happy. Maybe a few didn’t but basically everybody was happy.”
He saw that it was supposed to rain starting at 1pm and then go on through till midnight. This does not happen.
He says the only problem with we conditions is that it is easier to get blisters. They cause pain and make you suffer.
“Running when it is raining is so nice.”
“I feel good. I feel great.”
Click to Play Interview:
Camp counting
Always know where to go.
“Ok I have had enough of this bare foot running. I am going back to running shoes. This really hurts”
The light only slowly starts to emerge this morning.
Jayasalini taking care of her feet this morning.
She did her 1000 miles in 16 days, 6 hours, and 13 minutes
Pushkar brings Surasa’s greetings to each of the runners.
Takes a phone call.
Still smiling after 1098 miles
Despite the weather yesterday she did 109 laps.
Little flowers and big shoes.
I really think I can keep up with this guy, I just shouldn’t have eaten that bag of peanuts.”
A couple of computer birds of a feather.
It is 10:30 and more snacks arrive.
Vasu and Yuri running together.
Vasu continues to use the healing stick. He had 118 laps yesterday. He has 1129 miles.
Yuri did 120 laps and has 1202 miles.
There have been some unidentified hovering objects around the course.
It is not too mysterious because it probably has something to do with Jowan and his dad Virendra who are making a film.
The runners seem to enjoy it.
Stutisheel had to take it easy yesterday. He did 91 laps.
He is still content. But it is unfortunate that Aklanta left yesterday.
Utashi plays one of his singing bowls.
Click to Play:
Pranjal did 121 laps yesterday. He has 1172 miles so far.
He is 24 miles ahead of last year. “The days are passing one by one. So I hope that people with injuries can get better. So that they can cover more miles.”
The signs of last nights rain remain here on there on the course.
Sarah had 111 laps yesterday and has 1132 miles. 140 miles more than last year.
Pushkar gives some advice to Sarah.
Voldymyr cleaning shoes for Yuri.
The sun is out.
Tomorrow is July the 4th, the American Independence day and a holiday. It should be a mostly cloudy day.
Sarvagata had the most laps yesterday with 123.
He now has 1257 miles, 95 more than last year. Sarvadhara helping with his shoes.
Utsahi walks with him for a short while.
Prayer for the day.
Click to Play:
Enthusiasm-Awakeners
Song of the Day
Click to Play:
The mind can conceive
Great things.
The heart can do
Good things.
Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, Part 3, Agni Press, 1998
this is part of an article about William
-William has known about this incredible event for a long time but never thought he would be able to participate or realistically consider himself a possible finisher. “Trying to clear a two months gap in your life isn’t easy and in fact that becomes part of the challenge. It will be the most incredible trial for me – the ultimate really in long distance running.” For organisational reasons the race is run a bit like a stage race with the runners and organisers having an enforced break between mid-night and 6am every day. The clock doesn’t stop of course. So in effect the competitors have 18 hours a day to cover the daily average of 60 miles required to complete the challenge within the time limit.-
in http://srichinmoy.wordpress.com/2014/03/28/william-sichel-to-attempt-3100-mile-race-in-queens-new-york/
Hi Utpal
thank you.
You can succeed in all pioneering activities if you know that your inner name is “God’s Will” and your outer name is “God’s Grace.”
Sri Chinmoy, October 20 Arise! Awake! Thoughts Of A Yogi, Agni Press, 1972
Once again gratitude! I am currently away visiting family and this blog and the stories of the amazing runners keep me inspired every day and connected to our precious spiritual family world.
PS love all the squirrels:)
Thank you many, many times. This blog is the source of my daily inspiration and joy. It helps me to go a step ahead in my outer life and a step inward in my inner life.
Jayasalini makes you smile, and your animal jokes make us smile. Ray’s shirt story is very touching. I hope William’s calf problem will be solved soon. On one of the pictures I didn’t recognise Baladev. Faces can change so dramatically at the race. Here a little poem for Baladev:
Pain calls in vain,
When we are keen
To climb to the Green.
Just joking!
Today I ran 2 miles. Perhaps my pace was slower then the runners’ after 19 days. But I was so proud of my achievement. By trying to run a little despite injuries I feel I get closer to having more empathy…and make progress…my heartfelt thanks to you all.