Harita has been on the road with the Peace Run now since early spring. She and the team have carried the Peace torch across the country and she has enjoyed serving a project that impacts thousands and thousands of people as it makes it way, not just across the US but also around the world. Her break away from this epic journey has come to an end and she will soon fly off to Chicago today to once again rejoin the North American team.
Today before she left I asked her what her experience has been like helping and observing the 3100 mile race from the sidelines.
“When you run the race you realize that you wouldn’t be able to last more than a single day by yourself. There are so many aspects of support, oneness, and encouragement and love that go into this race.” Harita says this giving comes from many many people who serve the race in many many ways as well.
She says that over the last couple of weeks she has enjoyed and appreciated being able to observe the race. “It is unfathomable how much goes into this race behind the scenes.” Harita is impressed with people such as Vajra ,who do so much service to the race with the utmost humility and selflessness.
She says that people who are drawn to the race to serve do so for the opportunity to be a part of it. “I had the sense when I was running the race that I was just a small part of it. The runners are just one part of it. The race creates this powerful reality here.”
“As a runner the most powerful thing that I could receive was encouragement. In that encouragement you feel, oneness and you feel strength. Everybody who takes part in it. They feel that they are part of it. They are also getting that strength and that encouragement and enthusiasm. Thus becoming part of something greater than themselves.”
“We all know that are lives are unfulfilled if we are just thinking about ourselves. Real fulfillment in life comes from being part of something bigger than ourselves. We realize that we all have something to offer to the world. You don’t have to offer something amazing. You can offer something really small, but if you offer it with all of your heart. That is the most fulfilling feeling.”
The board at the start of Day 25 *Please note the totals may not be updated…..the magic number is 1,430
Early
Vajra starts the generator
William arrives with Tim who heads back to England this afternoon
Vajra and Kobi
Surasa arrives
Rupantar does his video
Smarana arrives
Atul came by to visit he has been on the Peace Run
Kaneenika arrives
Niriha gets ready
Ushika applies cream to his skin
Vasu arrives
Kaneenika puts on shoes
Start Day 25
The weather will be very good for the next good at least until the weekend
Vasu did 66 miles
He now has 1677 miles
He leads Kobi by 34 miles
He is having a great race
Flower
Larisa singing
Kobi did 64 miles
He now has 1643 miles
With Oscar
Flower
Oscar
Sopan did 62 miles
Sopan now has 1453 miles
He starts the day 3 miles ahead of Surasa
Flower
Surasa ran 62 miles
She now has 1450 miles
Suras asked me to take this picture of her and Vishvarupani
Flower
Aharan breaks the ice
Ushika did 60 miles
He now has 1440 miles
Ushika is 10 miles above the magic number
Telling a joke with Max
Flower
Smarana did 50 miles
He now has 1426 miles
Enjoying a lap with Atul
The long long journey
Green
Camp
William did 58 miles
He now has 1399 miles
He is comparing his results from 4 years ago to work out a strategy for the last part of the race
Tim leaves Saturday
Flower
Kaneenika did 62 miles
She now has 1387 miles
With Lotika
On day 25
Green
Ananda-Lahari did 48 miles
He now has 1368 miles
Flower
Swamiji
Flower
“I am starting to get some lower back problems. I wonder if it is my posture. Do you think I should see Vajra for a massage?”
Harita reads the Daily Poem
Click to Play:
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Click to Play:
The real fulfillment
Is when the body is alert,
The vital is dynamic,
The mind is pure
And
The heart is self-giving.
Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, part 14, Agni Press, 1999
Harita, always so beautifully spoken and from the Heart. Thank you! And now off you go from the world’s longest run to the world’s longest global relay run. Enjoy the Peace Run! Utpal, thank you for all the different perspectives you give us daily.