I asked Surasa the question that I suspect many people have been wondering. How are you?
“If you don’t ask about my legs than I am fine.”
Surasa never stops smiling and for the past week she has more or less not stopped walking. What is not within her reach right now seems to be the ability to run.
The pain from shinsplints has restricted her mobility but not her poise. A solution seems painfully elusive as does now the likelihood of breaking her own world record from last year.
“It doesn’t want to leave me. I have to kick it out. But I don’t know how to kick it out.” Yesterday after Mitch the chiropractor adjusted her she had a few sweet precious hours of freedom.
But the pain soon came back as did the frustration of a problem that seem not to have any solution. Or at least a quick and easy one at this time.
“I think the solution is to pray more. To be more inside.”
“The character of the race now is totally different.” Surasa describes that it is actually harder to walk now than it was earlier to run before she had the problem. She feels that going slower takes even more energy than when she can run freely.
“It takes so much effort just to move forward.”
“I can only say thank you, thank you to all those who are thinking about me. It is always very very touching when I hear people say, that they pray for me. It really touches me deeply.”
“Each ultra runner eventually has this same experience. That an injury comes. In this race so many are suffering.”
*with Vishvarupani*
“I am so spoiled. In the last few races I had no problems. Now I have a new experience. It is okay.”
“I think it is so important to stay positive. No matter what happens we always have to accept all the things that come. It is just part of the race. So it doesn’t make sense if you complain. You just loose energy. It is so important to have positive thoughts.”
My Lord,
Do give my heart the strength
To love You most intensely.
My Lord,
Do give my life the strength
To need You most sincerely.
My Lord,
Do give my legs the strength
To run most speedily.
My Lord,
Do give me the strength
To manifest You here on earth
Most unconditionally.
Sri Chinmoy, My Race-Prayers, part 2, Agni Press, 2006
*Click on Read More to see rest of the report*
*Click Below to watch Dipali’s Race Tips*
The Board
Nobody here just yet
“I had a really tough night. I just need a little rest. O, and let me know when the sandwiches come… I mean Stutisheel.”
The van arrives
Vasu and Ananda-Lahari
Baladev reading the results.
Very popular activitiy
Rupantar making his video
The race leader Atmavir arrives. Today is his birthday.
No obstacles
Start Day 32
The entire group slowly walks along singing to Atmavir the birthday song
It is a gorgeous morning and will be a beautiful day to run
Atmavir had a very good 65 miles yesterday
He now has 2085 miles. The Enthusiasm Awkeners sing for him and he in turn offers all the girls and all the runners flowers.
Nirjharini and the kitchen crew have made a cake
Once again he stops as the birthday song is sung in his honor
The weather is about to change
The next few days look to be hot and muggy
Yuri also had 65 miles
He now has 2074 miles
Time passes
Ashprihanal had the most miles yesterday 66
He now has 2059 miles
Having a laugh
Ashprihanal is just 15 miles behind Yuri and 29 miles behind Atmavir
Not perfect
Vasu did 62 miles yesterday
He has done a little more miles each day for the past week. He now has 2011 miles
Nobody else
Aleksei preparing Vasu’s drink
Coming into camp
Kaneenika did 63 miles
She now has 1977 miles. She is 117 miles ahead of last year.
Kodanda playing music in the field
So delicate
Surasa did 53 miles. She now has 1933 miles. She is still 10 miles ahead of her world record pace from last year.
Sopan from a distance
Sopan did 50 miles yesterday. He now has 1778 miles
Bold
Baladev did 48 miles
He now has 1756 miles
Sushuti counting Baladev
Coming into camp
Stutisheel did 63 miles
He performs a solo skit this morning
Click to Play:
He now has 1762 miles
Ananda-Lahari on the service road
Ananda-Lahari had 44 miles. He now has 1645 miles
Angels
Some false images coming through the webcam
Uddipan updates the board
“I am absolutely thrilled to be here. It is amazing. It is a dream come true.” Hridayinee has just come to the race after traveling the long journey from New Zealand.
“I got in at 11 o’clock last night. So this morning was my first experience of the race this year. I have just sung with the Enthusiasm Awakeners and seen everyone.”
“I think I will get more of a feeling for the race soon. I think every time you are here it is different. It is an amazing feeling.”
When asked what inspired her to come so far to be here. “It was just a strong feeling that I wanted to be a part of the race. I feel very much entwined with the race. It felt as though a part of my being had already come over. When the race began. So that only left a part of me back home.:
“By following it every day on Perfection Journey I felt very very connected to the runners.”
“I was able to organize my outer life and come here. But before I came it was harder and harder to stay away than it was to travel from New Zealand and come here.”
Hridayinee has helped for many years at the 6 and 10 day race each Spring. I ask her what the difference there is between the races. “The 10 day race has also become a big part of my life. I have been there for many years now.”
“But this race I think just the enormity of it. The length of it is incredible. It is mind blowing. The athletes run 18 hours a day, every day for up to 52 days. It is much more a communal feeling. Anybody can come at any time of the day or night and support the runners.”
Click to Play:
Poem of the Day
Click to Play:
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Click to Play:
The more you love the divinity
Inside your life,
The sooner God’s Reality
Will flower inside your heart.
Sri Chinmoy, Ten Thousand Flower-Flames, part 40, Agni Press, 1982
