“It makes it easier when you are doing your miles. It is a challenge when you are behind. It is a race and there is a cut off at 52 days. I am trying to do my best. When you are not doing your miles it is more difficult to be happy, and I want to be happy.”
The past 16 days have been mostly good ones for Ananda-Lahari. Yesterday he ran 61 miles and within a couple of hours this morning he will be the 4th of the 8 runners to reach 1000 miles. One of those no joke kind of numbers that catches your eye when you see it on the board and hopefully for Ananda-Lahari continues to build his confidence that this is the year he once again makes it all the way.
Ananda-Lahari is one of those relentless types who stays most nights until there simply is no more time left to run. When asked the glaringly stupid question, if he is happy when the day is over. “Yes I do. When I get home I know the work is done.”
https://www.srichinmoyultraphoto.com/3100-mile-race/2019/Day-Sixteen/
When asked an additional poor question, whether or not he has a hard job his answer, “Probably.”
He feels that even if he was the only runner on the course he would be happy with that. “We are not here to socialize. We are here to run your miles.”
“This world is not only about the physical. It is connected altogether. Our mind, our spiritual heart, our vital energy, and our soul the boss. It is not only to work on the physical level. I guess the goal is to bring the soul forward so that the soul can take over.”
Our conversation stops briefly as we pass by the girls singing group Enthusiasm Awakeners. “This is a precious moment when I go around the course. I wanted to enjoy it.”
“I hope I have made some progress. It is easy to be happy sitting on a sofa and drinking coca cola. It is more difficult to be happy when you are being squeezed.” He takes his hands up and imitates the motion of wringing out a wet towel. “There are different levels of happiness.”
“The first one isn’t real happiness. We can be happy only for a while this way. But in the long term if we make a sincere effort. We can transcend ourselves and transform ourselves into better people, then this will make us really happy.”
The Board at the Start of Day 17
Camp early
Lots of time
Ashprihanal arrives
Ananda-Lahari
Rupantar and Anupam
Harita at her table
Getting her feet ready
Smarana arrives
Encouragement for Ushika
Boys
Start Day 17
First steps
A good day to run
Ashprihanal has 1052 miles
He ran 67 miles yesterday
Still working on his digestion
He leads Nirbhasa by 12 miles
Ice under the hat
Green
Nirbhasa has 1040 miles
He ran 64 miles yesterday
Getting help from Yahva
21 miles ahead of Vasu
Green
Birthday cake for Leila
Vasu has 1019 miles
He ran 67 miles
Getting help with shoes
With Vladamir
He is 3 miles ahead of Smarana
Flower
I want you to be happy sent by Sandor
Mango
Smarana has 1016 miles
He ran 63 miles yesterday
Running very well
Flower
Sahishnu readies a morning board update
Ananda-Lahari has 989 miles
He ran 61 miles yesterday
Feet
Doing well
Flower
Benched
Todor has 957 miles
He ran 64 miles yesterday
With Todor
Leads Harita by 1 mile
Flower
Getting ready to go
Harita has 956 miles
She ran 63 miles
With Anita
Flower
Garima
Ushika has 886 miles
He did 40 miles
check up
Max
Max says that massaging the legs and feet is really helping
Flower
Pictures
“I am coming into the jungle to find you Joe. Just keep singing.”
Leila celebrates her 27th birthday
Poem of the Day held by Leila
Prayer
Is our
Mountain-climbing
Pride.
Meditation
Is our
Fountain-enjoying
Heart
Sri Chinmoy July 2 2006
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Trials in the outer world
Awaken you.
Trials in the inner world
Illumine you.
Go, go, Ananda-Lahari, you can definitely do it!
There is such a special connection between runners and Enthusiasm Awekeners.
Happy birthday Leila!
Jokes work for me so well, Utpal! Hope he will find Joe! Recently a blackbird tried so hard to escape my bike by running very quickly across the street. It looked so funny, that I asked him what was wrong with his wings! I would have risked an accident for sure, not to hit him. 🙂
Ananda-Lahari has such a gentle sweetness in his voice, no matter what! There is a shift noticable, that tells you he inwardly works hard on something. Go Ananda-Lahari! Go everybody!
Another delightful and inspiring post! I remain deeply touched and wondering if I can create a way to spend a few days to help… If you will, will you let us know what today’s music was please?