July 1 Something Great is Revealing Itself

It is a hard picture to take, that first step taken by all the runners at 6am in the morning.  That step always comes every day precisely at 6 sharp, and even though there are sometimes a few missing feet on the starting line, the race begins nonetheless.  Within a few minutes all feet will be in action.  Today those feet are heading downhill though truth to tell there is not much of an incline to measure.  It just looks as though they are going down hill.  Tomorrow they will go uphill.  The direction will flip back and forth each day.  Sometimes most people will not even remember which direction they ran the day before.

There are days when I can admit that I am almost taking for granted what is happening here.  I feel like someone in a car speeding along on the service road nearby who just, for the briefest of moments glimpses out their window and sees the little group of runners circling the block.  Then for no obvious reason, the true inner experience of the race just takes hold.  Perhaps it is as simple as stepping back from the mind and entering my heart.  With this it becomes effortlessly easy to be humbled by the magnificence of it all that is taking place here, on every level and to be grateful too.  Grateful to have even just seen those feet for a moment, shuffling away from me.

Rupantar could be talking to Pavol and Petr about how great they are doing.  Pavol is 35 miles ahead and Petr 50 miles ahead of their last years totals.  He could, but he isn’t.  Instead he is talking about another topic altogether, Wimbledon. Checking the counters book to see who is signed up is quite a different discussion.

“It feels like I am getting stronger and can do more miles.” Purna-Samarpan has entered this race for the first time and is without question having a profound experience by being part of it all.  Recently he his daily mileage has increased.  The last 2 days he has completed more than 51 miles each day.  When I see him out on the course he always appears confident and comfortable with the great task that is in front of him.  For someone who has never attempted something so massive as the 3100 mile race it is easy to see how one’s plans can be shredded by the monumental reality of it all.  Still he seems to be slowly adapting and admits, “I am in last place and this is not so easy.”

He has come to terms with this by realizing that, as he said, “there are really good runners here, and most of them have run the race already several times.   He tells me that he is keeping his focus and maintaining his confidence by reminding himself that in other races he has run 700 miles.  He says, “there are not many people on earth who would even think of running 700 miles in 2 weeks, so I am quite happy with that.”

He has adapted to the ups and downs that are all part of the runner’s race experience.  He admits to being at times frustrated but more so, it is a positive experience and there are real moments when he is teaming with joy.  Here he is not caught up in the day to day routine of normal life.  Here it is all about reaching within and being in the moment so that you are not pushed and pummeled by the outer world.  When you are attentive to the inner life time just flies by.

The distance yet to go for Purna-Samarpan is immense.  He is several days from even reaching his first 1000 and it is anyone’s guess what it will take for him to reach the final number.  His attitude however is not intimidated or shaken whatsoever.  “I also want to improve. That is the only way I can finish the race.  My feeling is that my body is getting stronger.  I am having more consistency.  I should be able to increase my mileage by a few laps a day.  The rest will come.”  Purna-Samarpan interview

Suprabha has a special companion today running with her.  Savita has been her for friend for about the same number of miles they have run together.  Perhaps not good math on my part but good friendship on theirs.  Suprabha is maintaining her lead over her last years pace by what now is a little over 7 miles.  Late this afternoon she will finish her first 1000 miles.

They are casually chatting and the miles seem to just melt before the two friends.  They have run marathons together and trained together but Savita admits, “I don’t have what she has.”  Suprabha is grateful for not just for Savita’s companionship but all the love and care she has recieved from her.  “She has supported me every thime I have done a long race.”

She is helped of course by many others who are also happy to be part of the race experience in any capacity.  Suprabha says, “I am very lucky I have a great team.  There is so much love and concern.  Every year it is a special experience.”         Suprabha and Savita interview

Tatyana has become a familiar figure here.  Nearly every morning she has been one of the early counters.  She is visiting from the Ukraine and has heard a lot about the race from Stutisheel but this for her is the first time she has had a chance to see and experience it first hand.

“I like to be here.  It is a very special to me, it is very significant.  I feel something very significant is happening here.  The runners are transcending themselves.  They are making an enormous effort.  I think any time we make such an effort something great is revealing itself inside of us.”

She speaks with such enthusiasm and heart about the race.  She has read with great interest all of Stutisheel’s books about his experiences here.  Still, “I couldn’t imagine how they could do it.  It is impossible for them to do it.”  When she returns to the Ukraine she will be able to share her own experiences.  Tatyana interview

Somehow a penguin wandered onto the course this morning.  Such a thing would be surprising had there not been a lot of other mysterious creatures that have turned up in the past week, including monkeys and chickens.  Once again the penguin looked a lot like race leader Asprihanal who ran more than 74 miles yesterday and is now on a world record pace.

Grahak, who is 47 miles up on his pace from last year, and ran nearly 72 miles yesterday, somehow comes to the aid of the waddling water fowl.  His care and compassion are clearly evident.  He asks the creature what his name is.  The answer, “Lost.”

Not content with just identifying him he asks if he would like something to eat.  The bird’s reply, Burger.  Grahak ever attentive asks what kind.  The answer, “Ice burger.”

Grahak skit

Parvati’s group