Sergey has been one of the bright surprises of this years 3100 mile race. He has not had a lot of experience in multi day running only having competed in 4 multi day races in the past 5 years. His personal best of 627 miles in the 2016 10 day race hinted at the potential but over the past 15 days his performance here has blossomed.
*Translation by Lyalya*
5 days ago he comfortably ran past that mark of 627 miles and as of this morning, as he starts day 16 he has 911 miles completed. Every new step taking him further and further into personal self transcendence. When we met this morning I joked with him. I asked if he had at last got the hang of the race yet or did he need a few more weeks. “A lot has happened but it has not become any easier.”
“Every day new surprises and new experiences, and new tests. Because of that the race is becoming more and more interesting to me. You don’t know what to expect. Always newness. It forces you to be in good condition, good spirit, and good form.”
“Every day you have to solve new problems, on a physical level, on a mental level, and on a psychic level. But it is good that this race has with it many experienced runners. Who have already overcome this arduous challenge, and they are giving me lots of support.”
“They very gladly and easily share their experience and help me in my hardest moments. Their presence here touches and inspires me.”
“Even though I only have 4 hours of sleep. It is so amazing how fast my body adjusts itself and I find new strength to get up and run again.”
When asked if Sergey has any special places on the course he laughs. By coincidence we are coming up to the children’s playground at one end of the course. He says he appreciates it most in the evening when the heat of the day is over, “it becomes a real happening place over there.”
“Kids have so much endless, tireless energy. Me on the other hand by that time of day I already have no energy. When I pass by and see the kids running around the fountain and playing on the slides. I just soak in their energy.”
Sergey tells me that the most telling experiences he has had thus far have been mostly inner and connected to the mental work he has to do here. “Especially during the day, sometimes I have very very tough moments. When my physical strength just abandons me. On one hand I may even have just gotten some rest and I have come out on the course and am ready to go again. But I can’t even make one step forward.”
“I just don’t even know what to do next. I don’t have any strength at all. Then I just start crying. God please give me some strength. (he is laughing as he shares this)
Always something new,
Illumining and fulfilling
Has to be our choice.
Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, part 31, Agni Press, 2003
Board at start of Day 16
The early ones
The clock
First class service
Vajra leaving
Gints setting up the webcam
Organizing the board
Sergey and Andre arrive
At their table.
Kaneenika arrives
Yolanda getting out her sun glasses
Vasu and laundry
Nidhruvi arrives
Rupantar taking his daily video
The girls
Baby powder
Nirbhasa checking the mileage
Minutes to go
Smarana wiping his face
Start Day 16
A bright warm day with a mystery afternoon thunder shower
From Sunday Night
Yolanda and Shamus who is helping
Horst and Mario
Nirbhasa
Nidhruvi taking a break
Jacqueline counting Kaneenika
Vasu just after he finished his first 1000 miles
Girls singing
Sergey moving
Nidhruvi starting again
Shamus helping Yolanda
Today:
The children’s fountain is on
Vasu did 66 miles
He now has 1022 miles
He has run the most miles in 10 of the last 15 days
Flower
Nirbhasa ran 65 miles
Service road
He now has 983 miles
Around 10 this morning he became the 2nd runner to make 1000 miles. Sahishnu tells me he is 11 hours ahead of his previous best
Flower
Kaneenika ran 64 miles
Carrying messages she has just received
She now has 938 miles
Her 4th straight day of 118 laps
Flower
Smarana had a good day of 117 laps or 64 miles
He now has 925 miles
Just received a picture of Austrian snow….not taken any time recently
Flower
Sergey did 115 laps 63 miles
He now has 911 miles
Flower
Harita did 109 laps or 59 miles
She has 910 miles and Prapti is helping her this week
Taking a morning break
Yolanda did 109 laps 59 miles
Getting help from Shamus once again
She now has 901 miles
Happiness
Andrey had 48 miles
He now has 853 miles
A bit of green
Nidhruvi did 52 miles
She now has 818 miles
Her shorts say run happy
A bit of green
Ananda-Lahari did 58 miles
He now has 812 miles
Pipasa sidewalk art
Swamiji
Flower
Nirjharini brings the 10 o’clock snacks
Balloon
Sahishnu getting ready to update the board
“Just looking for my car keys. Have you seen them?”
Prapti reads the Daily Prayer
Click to Play:
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Click to Play:
His soulful smile
Is always the beginning
Of a new, illumining
And fulfilling inner race.
Sri Chinmoy, Twenty-Seven Thousand Aspiration-Plants, part 74, Agni Press, 1984
Utpal, thanks for the oxygen!
Ambarish
Oxygen indeed! …and balm, and nectar… and kids fountain :)))
Gratitude to everyone there!
Dear Utpal, I hope you know how much your reports mean! Our heart´s gratitude I hope you can feel. I cannot imagine not having 3100 daily race progress news. Thank you for adding the afternoon shots and capturing Vasu´s 1000 miles! Thank you Lyalya for all your excellent translations :)! And happy 4th July America!!! 🙂