Coming back to the race this year for the 4th year in a row Kannenika has a hard act to follow. Last year she set a new women’s record for the distance at 48 days and 14 hours. She broke the previous record set by Surasa by 17 hours. At age 48 she could easily have retired with her phenomenal record.
That of course is not what thr self transcendence 3100 mile race is all about, nor is it in the heart of Kaneenika not to keep trying to transcend challenges with every effort of her being. It is not for nothing that she just so happens to be wearing a shirt today that has lettered across its front, Never Give Up. When asked whether she struggled to make up her mind to come she replies, “It was the clearest decision in years.”
Of course that is not say that little doubts didn’t nibble around the edges as the race drew near. “I feel those moments.”
After 9 days of running she has accumulated 535 miles. When asked if she has got into the flow of things just yet she laughs and suggests it will take as much as another week to toughen herself to the hard concrete sidewalk. She says however that recovery from the race last year was not too bad. “I think it was my best recovery.”
Her training over the past year she says was interrupted by illness now and then.
Asked about setting the course record she humbly replies, “I don’t think that it was me who broke the record. I don’t claim it. It was given to me.”
She says the most important result of taking part in these incredibly difficult endurance races is, “I feel that I am getting closer to my soul. Closer towards what my soul wants me to do, or what my soul wants me to become. This is the way for me to make spiritual progress.”
“When it is hard it forces you to go within and ask for help. This is the opportunity to rely more on your inner source.”
The board at the start of Day 10
Aharan
Kobi and Yolanda share a selfie
Paramartha readies the tables
It is still early
Quiet still
Kobi talks to Vajra about his tight back
Kaneenika arrives
Jumagul is counting
Surasa is here
Yolanda’s head stand
Kobi gets a massage
Ushika
Resting feet
Vasu is here
Miles of smiles
Nearly time on a cool morning
Start Day 10
A perfect morning
Kobi once again had the most miles with 71
He now has 672
He leads Vasu by 8 miles
Flower
Kobi’s new helper
Vasu did 66 miles his first day under 70
Changing shoes
He now has 664 miles
Green leaves
Smarana had 62 miles
He now has 575 miles
Still early in the day
Running well
On day 10
Flower
Surasa did 62 miles
She now has 564 miles
Enjoying the race with Vishvarupani
Flower
Getting ready
William did 61 miles
He has 554 miles
His joke, “I am having a hard time learning the alphabet. I can only remember 25 letters. I can’t get the last one and I don’t know Y.”
With the greatest handler in the world, Alan Young.
Flower
Sopan did 46 miles
He now has 540 miles
Flower
Yolanda did 62 miles
She now has 540 miles
Changing shoes
With a great great helper BJ
Doing very well
Flower
Kaneenika did 55 miles
Getting the once over by nurse Bahula
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Camp
Flower
Ananda-Lahari did 54 miles
He now has 535 miles
Flower
Ushika did 60 miles
He now has 531 miles
With helper Patanga
Flower
Swamiji
Flower
Higmanshu describing the details of shoe repair
Cooks
Nirjharini
Sahishnu at the control panel
Poem of the Day read by Paramartha
Click to Play:
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Click to Play:
With a happy speed
I run and run,
To cheerfully feed
My human race,
To transform
My human face,
To begin
A new journey’s course,
To salute
The sunlit Source.
Sri Chinmoy, A soulful cry versus a fruitful smile, Agni Press, 1977
I laughed through much of the video — the unique challenges of this race being done in NYC are so “eloquently” audible. Not only are the runners self-transcendence warriors — but urban warriors as well! The runners’ attitudes are a great reminder to just go with the flow, focus on your own journey and not allow anything external to you.