“I think that in the beginning of the race I tried to do what I do best and that was to win this race. When I came to realize that I could win the race but in doing so I would lose the experience. I decided then that I needed to finish the race. Then I changed my whole strategy.”
“After the first 1000 miles I changed everything. From there on I worked by my book. I did things according to my plan.”
Kobi had mentioned to me on several occasions that he was uncertain he could finish the race. I ask him at what point he had gotten over that. “If you had asked me 4 days ago I would have said, that now I have a 90% chance of finishing.”
“You can’t say that every day exists by itself, leave the moment, and know that you will finish. If I leave the moment so that any moment I can end the race and not finish it. You cannot be in 2 places at the same time.”
“If I come here with a position of killing myself in order to win it. You will see me 2 days ahead of where I am now, but I would finish without powers. I would just finish the race and remember nothing.”
Kobi says he has done many races where he told others that he just wanted to win but in so doing he didn’t have an inner experience and couldn’t remember anything about those races.
“To be here transcending cannot be just about doing something more. It can’t be. If it is just to run 1,000 miles three times more then it is worth nothing. So I thought to myself, I want to do something else. So when I decided to change after I had completed my first 1,000 miles. Which I did in a record time of 13 days I decided I had to live differently. Then came the change.”
Kobi had told me earlier that he felt that his whole experience here was about taking a pilgrimage. He says for now he doesn’t want to analyze or break down what he has learned and felt here by describing it with words.
“I know that I will live with this experience not just for days to come but for years to come. It is an amazing experience.” Kobi says that the usual thing for him would be to break it all done so that he can learn and improve upon himself. “But another part of me says you need to leave it and experience every moment.”
“Do not try and define it. There are a lot of unexplored corners. Slowly, I will let time take place. There is a very big healing process that I need to work through. It is an amazing experience. I believe that for years to come I will be still into it.”
The Board at the Start of Day 47…*Note the totals may not be accurate.. The Magic number is 2,741*
Kobi needs just 16
Quiet camp
Vajra and Kobi have grown close over the many weeks and miles
Kobi’s table
Clock
Aharan starting the generator
Surasa arrives
Niriha brings coffee for William
A very happy Vajra
Kaneenika
Smarana and Ushika
Kaneenika and Leelavatee
Joking
A wide view
Start Day 47
A humid day
Kobi did 71 miles his most since Day 11
It will be a very short day after so many long ones
All his friends and supporters have come
Parvati and the singers will perform one of Sri Chinmoy’s songs translated into Hebrew
Time for joking
Kobi coaches Galit
Flags are waved
T shirts are worn
Pictures are taken
A great achievement
Singers practicing
Ushika did 62 miles
He now has 2831 miles
269 more miles
Flower
Atandra lets people talk to Alakananda
“Goodness gracious is that every sticky.”
Surasa did 59 miles
She now has 2767 miles
With Vasuprada
26 miles over the magic number
The long long road
Flower
Photographers
Kaneenika did 61 miles
She now has 2745 miles…..4 miles over
With Leelavatee
She has lots of support
Looking good and looking strong
Flower
Dan
Sopan did a very strong 63 miles
He now has 2,740…..Just 1 mile under
Getting encouraging letters
359 more miles
Flower
Decorating
William did 57 miles
He now has 2610 miles
Running all the time
Flower
It will be a big event
Smarana did 55 miles
He now has 2602 miles
Dealing with the crowds at Kobi’s finish
His 9th time here
Flower
Bells will be rung
Ananda-Lahari did 49 miles
He now has 2495 miles
Flower
Vasu has come to the race to visit
He will come every day
Flower
Swamiji
“Some mornings I just feel like flying.”
Day 47
Poem of the Day read by Peeyush and Tara
Click to Play:
Enthusiasm-Awakeners
Click to Play:
Unlike the ordinary life,
In the spiritual life
Every moment counts;
Every moment is extremely valuable.
Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, part 22, Agni Press, 2001
Beyond words… unbelievably beautiful, touching, inspiring. What a divine victory, shat a divine family! Thank you Utpal, what you are doing si so so so important! Thank you :o)
CONGRATULATIONS KOBI !!!
THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR DEEP FEELINGS WITH ALL OF US AND RECOGNIZING WHAT IS THIS RACE ABOUT !!!
YOU REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART.
THANKS UTPAL FOR EXTRAORDINARY REPORTS
An enormous thank you, Utpal, for your beautiful coverage of the race! It’s been a heart-expanding experience following all the runners and volunteers!
I am totally speechless and absolutely impressed!!! What a incredible work you are doing so far is really beyond. Gratitude to everyone!!!! I am touched by all. Victory Supreme!
Beyond words as Kobi says, but Kobi did a marvellous speech. We feel the message and rejoice with him and all the great family that are celebrating.