Day 43… Sometimes I Am In Heaven (July 29)

I did not take this dramatic picture that links to the video of today’s interview with William.  To my eye it perfectly represents the incredible ordeal that comes when you have been running 18 hours a day for more than 6 weeks.

At the same time, as William has said repeatedly, at this time of night he is at his best.  His body drenched in sweat, fatigue etched across his brow, but inside something beautiful and profound is taking place despite it all.

William lives on one of the most secluded places you could ever imagine.  Sanday, is just one of the many islands that spread out from the northern tip of Scotland.  It is a place so incredibly different from his current habitat it almost defies comparison.

Asked if it is possible to get lost there William says yes, but of course that was before they improved the signs.  “It is lobster shaped and there are quite a few circular routes that you can use to train.  It is quite convenient from that point of view.”

Photo by Spontaneous Beauty

“I have always been an early riser so I try and get out about half past 5 and then I like to do my meditation.  I always like to say that I have had a good day by 9  o’clock.”  William says that he doesn’t do a lot of training.  Put into context he says that because he has been training for 26 years and done 106 ultra marathons and 20,000 miles racing, he doesn’t need to run far each day.

I tell William that his wikipedia page has so many accomplishments it is hard to follow.  “I have trouble myself.  When I get back from racing it takes quite a few weeks to sort it all out.  I have 2 or 3 statisticians that help me.”

He says that accumulating records keeps him motivated and in the sport.  “I use the records to set a framework for my running.  His original goal was 60 records by age 60 and then 165 records by age 65.  Unfortunately he was able to get more than he had originally anticipated.

“So then I came up with the last one, Journey to 750.  Basically all the records I set here 4 years ago I have been able to beat.  I know I have 70.”

I joke with William that the race has been described as everything between heaven and also the direct opposite.  “I am in all of them.  Sometimes I feel that I am in prison and sometimes I am in heaven.  I always say that I like the hours running between 9pm and midnight.  “That is when I run my best. That is when I come alive, the race quiets down a bit.”

“I think in reality we drift between all those things, at different times of the day.”

“Now what I am doing is focusing on accomplishing a few more record points.  I am not just focusing on the suffering and the prison aspect.  At the same time I am dying for home.”

“I was just thinking just now. There are so many things I haven’t done for 2 months.  I haven’t earned a penny, as a self employed man.  I haven’t handled money or even made a cup of tea.  So many things of normal life.  It is quite scary.”

“This is all such an unusual experience, in every possible sense.  Both athletically, physically, and mentally.  It is such an unusual thing to do.  There are only a handful people in the whole world that have ever done this.”

“But those are the experiences that you take with you to the grave.  But you have to do them to get the benefit that they will always give back to you.”

Dipali’s Race Tips

The Board at the Start of Day 43

Camp

Generator refill

William arrives

Vajra works on Kobi

Surasa arrives

Still early

Ushika

Surasa gets a drink

At their tables

Vasu arrives

Some joking early

Sopan has some 11th hour blister work

Start Day 43

A great day with low humidity

Vasu did 67 miles

He now has 2899 miles

201 more miles

With Alexei

Green

Kobi did 65 miles

He now has 2812 miles…. with Liron

With Jaime, he now has 288 more miles

Having fun

Flower

Ushika did 62 miles

He now has 2583 miles

517 more miles

Flower

Sopan did 58 miles

He now has 2526 miles

He is 23 miles over the magic number

Flower

Surasa did 59 miles

She now has 2526 miles, she is 23 miles over the magic number

With her great helper Vasuprada

Truly great

Flower

Kaneenika had a great day with 62 miles

She now has 2498 miles… she is just 5 miles under the magic number

Being patient

With Leelavatee

Flower

William did 54 miles

He now has 2377 miles

With Alan

Telling a joke

Flower

Conversation

Smarana did 51 miles

He now has 2370 miles

Doing his best

Flower

Ananda-Lahari did 43 miles

He now has 2279 miles

Flower

Day 43

“Sure I like barefoot running.  But I just heard that Nike has come out with the perfect shoe for me.”

Sahishnu’s weekend report

Click to Play:

sahishnu

Poem of the Day read by Nayana

Click to Play:

Nyana poem

Enthusiasm-Awakeners

Click to Play:

parvati

Heaven is not behind me.
Heaven is not above me.
Heaven is within me.

2 thoughts on “Day 43… Sometimes I Am In Heaven (July 29)”

  1. Thank you Utpal for the daily reports.
    Can you tell me the name of the guitar piece at the beginning of day 43 video ?

    Also any chance of an interview with Alan? He looks like an interesting guy?

  2. Thanks again Utpal, you get the feeling the race is entering the home straight (probably the longest straight in running – 200 to 300 miles!) Ambarish

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