“Its been very good. I have really enjoyed it.” After completing 2 days Vikena Yutz from Columbus Georgia is leading the 6 day women with 142 miles.
This will be her 4th 6 day race but the first time that she has come to Flushing Meadow for the Self-Transcendence race. “I have wanted to do this for 4 years. It just worked out that I could come this year.”
https://vimeo.com/164166026
“When I started doing multi days I read about this race and another one, and that is what inspired me to do them in the first place. To come here was very important for me for that reason.”
Vikena says that 18 time champion Dipali Cunningham was also a big reason for her coming here. “I was really sad to hear that she was sick. I was afraid that I wasn’t going to get to meet her. Because she has inspired me, and helped me without even knowing it to do what I do now.”
When I ask Vikena if numbers on the board matter to her. She says that for the most part she is running for the simple experience of participating. “I would like to have a goal that I would like to meet, but I am just trying to stay inside.”
She has a dedicated team supporting her and Vikena is also impressed with the presence of all the other runners and helpers. “Everybody is so joyful and happy here. It is a unique place and I really like that. I think it is how I envisioned it.”
I have only
One thing to do:
To stay peacefully
Inside my heart.
Sri Chinmoy, My Christmas-New Year-Vacation Aspiration-Prayers, Part 47, Agni Press, 2006
May 16 1985, Sri Chinmoy with Fred Lebow at 1,000 mile race in Flushing Meadow.
Taking a peak at the board as the end of 6 days approaches
10 day board
Achim has been battling a bad back
He is pushing as much as he can
Soren has moved up into 3rd place
Sarah
A bright clear day
Arun
Yolanda does a headstand for the 85 day in a row. She also has run 379 miles in the past 6 days.
Wai
Janos
Budjargal
A resting cyclist and a running Ushika
Tatiana
Bipin working on the generators.
Anna
Gautami working on her feet
Gautami working on her feet the other way.
Suparna
A tree
George Biondi the handler
Erlinda the handilee
Vikena crossing the finish line
Sergey taking lunch
Lunch for the helpers
Nipura the chief cook being splendiferous
vinati
Pedrag and Richard enjoying the moment
A gathering runners looking at the board at noon
Ed and Sarah taking a closer look
Some just keep running
Karteek on the road
Karteek taking a break
The dugout
Patanga taking a break
Roger
The street
The boys
Getting a massage
Working on the feet
Ratuja
Going by the Heart Garden
Rimas
Vasuprada takes a break
David putting in another mile
David
Peace rock
Pushparani and Manoshri
This really does help
Richard learning about the sea
Making the turn
Kimberly
Lyalya
Mark and Anna
John
Hoskuldur’s son is coming to help him tonight
Georgs talks with Stutisheel
Gudrun and Vasuprada
10 day counters
The Worlds Fair
I hold God
Not inside my head,
Not inside my hands,
But inside my heart.
That’s a NICE post, Utpal! 🙂
Thanks a lot for all the posts!
A warm greeting from Austria!
Reading the stories and seeing all the known and unknown faces from around the world,makes me really wish to be once more part of this unique running experience.
Making miles is just one part or let us say the means to experience much deeper and profound experiences, that influence you even long after the race is over.
Thanks to all the runners and helpers and of course writers for inspiring and sharing this extraordinare chapter.
Smarana