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.”
“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:
Poem of the Day read by Nayana
Click to Play:
Enthusiasm-Awakeners
Click to Play:
Heaven is not behind me.
Heaven is not above me.
Heaven is within me.
Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, part 35, Agni Press, 2004
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?
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