July 2 A Mountain That Has To Be Climbed

When most of us are asked, what our idea of heaven and hell are, our impressions of them can change as quickly as grass shifting in a breeze.  Most, but perhaps not all, would like to see heaven as a place with all beauty and light and perhaps precious little to do.  Hell therefore would then be obligated to be on the other dark extreme of the spectrum.

The truth is that most of us, if we really examined our notions of Heaven and Hell, might just be a little disappointed once we arrived at the proverbial Pearly Gate and found all our wishes granted.  Heaven, where we hoped for peace and tranquility might just be a little boring and the other alternative might start to appear to have some more merit.  Excluding of course brimstone, fire, and dancing demons.

When most of us look at those who run here, we can appreciate and admire their efforts but few would want to be inside those pounding shoes.  If we were obligated to spend two months out here and be forced to do it, then logically it could easily be described as a kind of hell, and why not.  The runners of course have a different perspective.  Not every day are they dinning on ambrosia nor are they forced to eat stinging nettles.  The highs of course far surpass the lows, if not then all would have exited with speed to comforting homes in quiet countries long ago.  And yet they come back as well, again and again.

The best moment may not even be crossing the finish line after weeks and months of struggle.  It may not be to return home and recover and dream of precious moments when they ran through hot days and still nights here.  Instead heaven may exist in those singular moments of the present, when they know with utmost certainty that they are doing the right thing by being here and pushing themselves to their limits and beyond.  That they are listening to the call of their inner pilot who is asking them to go beyond and still further beyond.  This is the elixir that all of us wish to drink.

We do not have to come here and do what they do but we all need to listen within  and act upon the call of our inner voices.  To not be swayed by the siren cries of inertia and doubt.  There is some task in front of us all that we need to do, and we can do it.  And even if we fail, our sincere effort will be its own reward, and mark a moment when our own personal heaven was within our heart’s reach.  Hell is that we just didn’t even try.

Petr ran 70 miles yesterday and is now 65 miles better than where he was at the same time last year.  His improvement last year over his first race in 2007 is a phenomenal 4 days.  It is of course too early to even suggest that he will break his personal best but it seems as though it is easily within the range of possibility.

He has been running with strength for several days now and though this may not be happening all day long his mileage total of 70 miles is a good indicator that he is.  He does however seem tired and not his usual easy going self.  He tells me, “It was a harder day yesterday.  I was absolutely exhausted.”  He tells me that there are always ups and downs and often it depends on the weather.  I don’t want to mention therefore that heavy thundershowers are forecast for late in the day.  But he probably knows already.  The air even now is thick and charged with a restless energy.

He tells me, “I am trying to make my day flexible, according to my tiredness.  I am not pushing for the same miles every day or reach the same goal.”  His moods as well also reflect the lives and races of those running around him.  All runners are in one way or another sensitive and in tune with all those who share the path.  He was saddened to see the departure of his friend Pranab but is also gladdened to know that Pavol is doing much better this year.

A car comes by and asks us for directions to Union Turnpike.  Petr cannot answer.  His world has and is only this loop.  “This year I am quite successful.  I am trying to be without thoughts.  I am more under control.  I want to be mentally relaxed then my body is relaxed.”  We come across Vlady who is his friend and is running very well.  They start immediately to chat and cut jokes.  In an instant his mood has changed. They move off around the course.  A duo sharing light steps and light happy dreams.      Petr interview

“Last year was so hard,” says Pavol who is 70 miles better than he had done last year at this time.  “Every step was hard.  This year it is not so easy but it is nice.”  Last year he came to the race with an injury was unable to run for most of the 2700 miles he completed here.  Of his experience he had last year here clearly it was more than a struggle.  “Every day, every hour and every minute there was pain.”

It is sometimes difficult for people to understand why a person would subject themselves to this kind of discomfort.  The answer is both simple and complex.  On the easy side no serious injury is taking place.  They watch themselves and they are watched by the race directors.  More complicated is how little we understand the limits of the human body.  Even science cannot really measure and comprehend what is taking place here.  Self-Transcendence does not come easily no matter what the field of endeavor.  Sacrifice is an intimate component of life’s struggles.  Ultimately one’s inner voice is the only true arbitrator of such a challenging experience.

Now Pavol can run and he is happy for this.  It is a running race and this is where he wants to do his running.  “Everything is good.  Consciousness is good.  Everything inner is good.  When you are running it is easier for the mind. ”  In just a few hours he will pass the 1000 mile mark.    Pavol interview

Karanayati has been visiting New York for a few days and every morning without fail she has been here at the race and helping.  She has a tremendous wealth of distance running experience herself and is one of those rare individuals, when asked her feelings about the race, says simply, “I just want to do it.”

“I think it is kind of like a mountain that has to be climbed.”  She says that during her visit to New York her favourite thing has been simply being here and being at the race.  The best she says was doing a few laps with Suprabha yesterday.  “I know how hard it is because I have done multi days.  I have no idea if I would make it, but I have the dream in my head of doing 2700 miles, and this is the only way I know how to do it.”

Right now she is hindered by a sore knee.   As we are chatting she has some clip boards in front of her and is busy as well with the job of marking in the time as each of her runners goes by.  She is pastient and focussed but it is clear that she would be happier if she could just get up from the table and go run around the course as well.  For now she says, “I love to watch them.  I really want to be out there with them.  The whole atmosphere here is phenomenal.  Just to be part of this world is a real priviledge.”   Karnayati interview

Parvati group