Harita’s performance at the 3100 mile race last year was a great achievement, one that no doubt surprised her but not so much to those who could not help but see her tireless enthusiasm and energy over the course of the long hot summer. For a first timer to complete the distance is a big deal. But also for one who had so few multi day races on her resume it was even more astonishing.
She has been out on the road crossing America with the Peace Run but has taken a break and is home in New York for a couple of weeks. She has come out every morning to enjoy the race from the sidelines this time.
“It is a really special place and to be honest and cannot believe that I did this race, because it is just so unfathomable. I don’t how you can have the capacity to run every day for 52 days.”
“I really did it because I had an inner calling that did not just develop overnight. I had a feeling for many years that perhaps one day I would do it but I felt it was not going to happen until I really felt I would be happy doing it. When that happened it would be the right time.”
Harita described that as years passed it occurred to her that she might never do the race and then, ” 2 years ago I had such an inner feeling that Sri Chinmoy would be happy if I did the race, and that my own soul would be happy. It felt like it was the right time. It was such an inspiration. That’s what made me do it.”
I confess to Harita that I did not recall ever taking a picture of her when she was not seeming to enjoy herself. “That happiness was coming from my soul. That is the only way that I can explain it. I guess I really learned a lot of things during the race.”
“One thing I learned is that we have these different parts of our being which we know. But if the soul can be happy. You might necessarily feel happy in your mind, your body might be suffering. But the soul’s happiness overrides everything.”
“A lot of the time I didn’t feel consciously as though I were happy. But when I look back at photos of myself from the race I look so happy. That is amazing.”
“I really imagine that I will come back again next year. Sri Chinmoy is the founder of this race and I can’t imagine that he would think that once was enough for me.”
The board at the start of Day 15
It is going to be a seriously hot day
It will remain hot all week
Sill early 
