When I look back to this morning when I interviewed Vasu I am still in a kind of state of awe at just how good a person he is. We all have people, or at least we should have people in our lives that inspire us and lift up our perspective and appreciation of the sometimes not so perfect world around us. I have played the opening part of our conversation again and again.
Me: Is it a good day ?
Vasu: Every day is a good day
We all can mouth those words mechanically and out of politeness when asked how our day is going. Vasu however when you hear him say it you absolutely know and feel it to be true. How this world of ours could do with more, many more Vasus.
Of course as he is saying this he is actually running and not walking in obvious pain as he has done off and on for at least 2 weeks. “The blister is almost gone.”
Yesterday he did what was for him a not so great day. He ran 60 miles. Asked if he is disappointed, “no, no , no, I try to be happy. Everything is in God’s hands. Not in mine.”
Another piece of good news that he recently learned about was that his helper Nikolai had decided to change his ticket and stay and help Vasu till the end of the race. “Yesterday he changed his mind and I am very happy. He helps a lot. From the morning until the evening.”
Last year Vasu won the race for the third time. In this, his 8th year in a row of running I ask him if he minds not being in first place. “No matter. Just be happy. Everything is good. We are all a family. If somebody else is leading it is also good.”
The Board at the start of Day 30
Camp early
The clock
Vajra leaving
Vasu
Ashprihanal
Smarana
Garima helping Nirbhasa
A little foot care
Boys
Harita
Start of Day 30
Weather
Not a bad day
Ashprihanal has 1922 miles
He ran 62 miles yesterday
He leads Nirbhasa by 23 miles
Flower
Aharan
Nirbhasa has 1899 miles
He ran the most miles yesterday with 66
He leads Vasu by 68 miles
Flower
Garima and Suprabha
Vasu has 1831 miles
He ran 60 miles
He is 22 miles ahead of Smarana
Flower
Bell ringers
Smarana has 1809 miles
Smarana ran 61 miles
He is 11 miles ahead of Ananda-Lahari
Flower
Ananda-Lahari has 1798 miles
He ran 63 miles yesterday
He is 35 miles ahead of Harita
Flower
Czech joy day
Harita has 1763 miles
She ran 60 miles yesterday
Cutting her hair on Sunday….Courtesy of Anita
With Suprabha this morning
Doing well
“I think they missed a lap.”
Flower
Sahishnu bags ice
Todor has 1751 miles
He did 63 miles yesterday
Doing well
Flower
Cooks have arrived
Ushika has 1543 miles
Celebration of half way
Doing his best
Flower
A Nirjharini hug
“I told you before. I gave at the office.”
Poem of the Day held by Suprabha
The world’s
Longest-distance-runner
Has at once won
God’s Compassion-Eye
And
God’s Protection-Heart.
Sri Chinmoy
July 15th, 2006
Enthusiasm Awakeners
I must know by this time
That my sincere aspiration
Has a giant strength.
Utpal,сердечная благодарность за ежедневные репортажи с 3100-мильного забега. Они помогают нам стать лучше. Васу сейчас это божественная простота, чистота, искренность. Именно эти качества замечали слушатели на встречах с ним. “Улыбки и слёзы сердца-единства” – это про него. Всем бегунам,помощникам,поварам,организаторам – огромная благодарность и восхищение.