“Yesterday 2 full thunderstorms with full power, and also super humid. Now we change to extreme heat.” Ushika of course is describing conditions at the 3100 mile race. A rather shocking wake up call to the kind of conditions that now lay before the runners for the next 39 days. In other words welcome to a typical New York summer.
To his credit Ushika has had a superb start to the race. In speaking with Ushika this morning at the start of day 13 I ask if he is prepared for these kind of conditions. “We will see. I have not gone through it yet.”
As for his race so far he says, “By God’s grace it is getting better and better. I am finding it easier to run. Sometimes it feels effortless.” The main concern for all of the runners is of course making their daily miles. For him he finds that just being able to do so is a miracle. “I couldn’t do it during the 10 day race such mileage.”
His focus every day is to reach 109 laps. “But I don’t push it to get there. I had a couple of days with much less miles the first week. He also is happy that when he didn’t reach the mark on those days earlier in the race his mind was not disturbed. I remember other races when I was more concerned. But this time my mind kept totally quiet. Basically I focus on just going around and around.”
Ushika says the reason he is so much more successful here at the 3100 is the inner light. “You feel it. It creates all the miracles that happen. I feel that every day that I am able to appear at the starting line as a miracle. Every day that I am able to cross the finish line in the evening is a miracle. And every day that I reach the mileage goal is beyond a miracle.”
The board at the start of Day 13
Many runners had difficulty adjusting to the periods of heavy rain yesterday
Kobi starting the day off with help from Vajra
The camp early
Rupantar taking down the rain canopies
Yolanda arrives
Clock
William is dropped off
Rupantar putting up the sponsor’s name
Yolanda greets Surasa
Ushika inspects Max’s bike
Smarana checks the extreme heat suggestions
Kobi returns from his massage
Ushika adjusts his clothes
Kaneeninka ties her shoes
Start of Day 13
It is going to be very hot for the next 4 days
The course is pleasant at least for the morning
Kobi ran 67 miles yesterday. His first day under 70 miles
He now has 882 miles
Cris is his morning helper. 
Himangshu is trying to repair his shoes
Flower
Larisa counting
Vasu ran 66 miles (with Alexei)
He now has 867 miles, 15 behind Kobi
Vasu knows the race very well.
Green leaves
Smarana had a good day with 63 miles
He now has 764 miles
Going through camp
Flower
Surasa did 61 miles
She now has 750 miles
Flower
William did 60 miles
He now has 744 miles
With helper Alan Young
After another successful joke
Flower
Yolanda did 53 miles yesterday
Yolanda has 718 miles
Bahula helping with her feet which took a beating with yesterdays heavy rain
Miles of smiles
Flower
Everyone is encouraged to drink lots of fluids
Sopan did 60 miles
Sopan has 716 miles
Green leaves
Ushika did 62 miles
He now has 716 miles
With Patanga
With Max applying oil to his shoulders
On day 13
Flower
Team Ushika
Kaneenika had a tremendous recovery day yesterday and ran 63 miles
She now has 705 miles
Changing shoes seems to have helped
She has done well in the heat before
Flower
Ananda-Lahari did 50 miles
He now has 692 miles
Flower
“I really love watching this event but the seating is just terrible.”
Nilpushpi and a special guest read the daily Poem
Click to Play:
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Click to Play
Enthusiasm
Is the inner light
And the outer light as well.
Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, part 40, Agni Press, 2004
Thanks Utpal, inspiring accounts, miracles within miracles in rain or shine. That sums it up…..
Always inspiring stories and photos! Thank you Utpal