Nidhruvi is celebrating her birthday at the 3100 mile race today. It is not a new thing for her to run for 18 hours around a New York city block on this very special day. She did after all run the race twice before, in both 2013 and 2104.
I am not quite sure now if the course was generou enough to smile beneficently upon her efforts back then. Today at least the sun is shining, the air is dry, and the day ahead looks to be as perfect as it ever gets here deep in the final grinding days of June.
This morning I interviewed her, and though the weather was being nice to her this day I was not so. I started of with a tough question. I was curious what she would like for a birthday present? Both from the Supreme, the world, and from herself. Her response, not unexpected, “that is too early to ask.”
Nidhruvi not unfamiliar to tough challenges then replied, “Surrender. Just to be able to surrender no matter what. And through this surrender then to be the most perfect instrument for the Supreme and for Guru.”
I was curious to know why surrender is so difficult for all of us. “I guess there are many reasons. We are still so very much human. We live in our own little worlds. There are so many things that we don’t know and we have to learn. I think it is learning by doing. Step by step you learn more. Also we have to find out what surrender really is.”
“This is my 3rd race.” I ask her if there is always something to be learned by coming back. She laughs, this is a never ending story. “This is transformation for yourself and transformation for the world. You feel everything, because you are just in it. All is one.”
“Sometimes you quite often feel this heavy weight. But then again on the other side you also feel this beauty and joy in this world.”
Nidhruvi tells me that she was very excited about coming back to the race after a 3 year absence. “Till about one month before. But then, like 2 weeks before, I was still looking for helpers and then I got totally sick before the race. So many challenges.”
“I was always thinking to myself. Stay calm, stay quiet, and just have faith in Guru. If you are supposed to be here then I will be here.” Ultimately she decided that there was nothing to be gained by worrying and that the Supreme would have to be responsible for getting everything organized and readied.
She also says that up until the night before the race she had a persistent bad cough. “On the last night before the start I was literally crying inwardly and outwardly. What should I do? I am weak and I am coughing like crazy. There was so much fear. How am I going to run for 52 days in this condition?”
“Then I went to the meditation the night before and something must have happened. It was so calm and peaceful and light.” But then again later while in bed she felt a wave of fear come over her. “But then I said okay, it doesn’t matter. I am here. Everything is organized. I am going to the start.”
Still coughing at the point when she got to the starting line the coughing completely disappeared.
“Everybody goes through ups and downs. You have your goals. It such a hard tough race, with such a high standard. I have done it before. I know how hard it is. My big goal is just to surrender, always do my best, and not be attached to the outcome. Just be happy, whatever it is. Surrender means that the Supreme is running in and through me. He is running, not me. Once you realize that then it makes it easier.”
“Because then you just and try and be the instrument. Okay, take my body, my soul, my heart, and whatever you need take it. I will try and to be of your service as best I can.”
The divine journey never ends.
Each ending is the preparation for a greater and more fulfilling beginning.
The Board at the start of Day 9
The clock
Suhasini is ready
Yuri cutting apples
Yolanda washing out her water bottle
Nidhruvi arrives
Instructions
Andre and Sergey arrive
Stutisheel updates the board
Andre gets ready
Nirbhasa arrives
Girls having fun
Rupantar checking the result sheet
Start Day 9
The runners all sing the birthday song in honor of Nidhruvi
Pradeep sun gazing
It is a perfect morning.
Vasu ran 66 miles. The most mileage of all the runners
He now has 549 miles. Vasu is carrying an email that has just arrived at the course
He stops every day to do strengthening exercises for his back
Flower
A quiet Monday
Nirbhasa ran 60 miles
Alan has been helping him
Nirbhasa has 529 miles
Smarana and Nirbhasa running together
A bit of green
Smarana did a great 64 miles
Smarana has 492 miles
Flower
Kaneenika had a tremendous day with 63 miles
She now has 491 miles
Short pit stop
Yes it is a chicken on a bicycle on a bicycle
This is Harita’s 4th straight day of 60 miles
She now has 486 miles
Flower
Yolanda did 60 miles
She now has 477 miles
Flower
Nidhruvi did 58 miles. She has 468 miles
With her morning helper Devarupi
At 10 o’clock there was a short party
Nirjharini and her cooking crew brought a cake
Fresh drinks have just arrived at 10
Rupantar wrestling with a bag of ice
Flower
Sergey had a great day with 63 miles
He now has 459 miles
Flower
Andrey did 60 miles
He now has 448 miles
Happiness
Ananda-Lahari did 51 miles
He now has 434 miles
Flower
Sun shining down the course
“Yes, there are those of you who will come me foolish but I scoff at you. I am just a risk taker, and while you are at it please let me know if you see a car coming.”
Nirjharini
Sahishnu updates the boards
Pradeep has come to help Nirbhasa
Vanaraja reads the Daily Prayer
Click to Play:
“Every time I come here I feel Sri Chinmoy very strongly. When I see the runners they give me energy, enthusiasm, love, and everything. Sri Chinmoy’s 3100 mile race is very special, for me, and I think as well for everybody. This is my life. I am feeling very nice here.”
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Click to Play:
I am not the doer
But an instrument.
I am trying every day,
Every hour, every minute
To become a better instrument
Of God’s Will.
<3 <3 <3
Happy Soul`s Day to Nidhruvi! It is so great to read and listen to the interviews of all of you amazing girls – and of course the boys too, but the girls give me most special joy! Great to see Harita doing so well, smiling Yolanda, and the “weathered” runners coming back and facing the 3100 again! Gratitude to Utpal and all the helpers, organisers and supporters, for sharing, documenting and making it possible! What an amazing thing to keep it all going – and what a transformational blessing-gift to the world!
When are we going to hear Nirbhasa? Would love to see him featured one of these days. Thank you as always Utpal, for your sterling service!
Happy Soul´s Day to Nidhruvi! And thank-you for this nice interview.
SMARANA
You and your fellow runners are doing awesome job! Inspiring people around the . Im very proud and inspired watching every day your excellent performance!!! Wish you a Great experience and a lot of joy!
Greetings from Slovenia.
Tomaz