There is a certain kind of shocking wake up call I get every time I look at the live streaming Race Webcam. The portion of my day spent on the sidewalk with the runners is usually just under 6 hours. After which it is carrying 3 bags of cameras home and then trying to make sense of it all.
It feels like it takes me countless hours but the truth is, I can count them. The moment I turned on the race camera this evening an additional 6 hours later I was shaken once again into the reality, that compared to the 8 runners, most of us on the sidelines have it pretty easy.
Todor, my interview subject from this morning walks into frame and is smiling. It is not the hellish weather that makes him smile. It is in the mid steamy 90’s and his shirt is stuck to his back.
It is not even likely the 43 miles he has done since 6 this morning. He is happy because he is doing exactly the thing he was meant to do and in this moment he is heroically doing his very best.
“Really amazing 35 days. The previous longest run for me was 6 days. This race is really self transcendence for me. It is difficult for me to understand on paper it is easy. For me it is more than just mileage. All of us here must overcome our difficulties. We have to just go ahead.”
“I try not to look at the difficulties, just try and overcome them. I just try and find a solution. The important thing is to proceed forward.”
I feel oneness with the people.” Todor says he has received support from around the world and feels this makes him stronger. “It motivates me much more, and keeps me going forward.”
Talking about his fellow runners he marvels that everyone is traveling at different speeds but all share the same orbit of the course. “It is like one solar system.” Each of the moving bodies supports the action of all the rest. “The feeling of harmony helps all the runners.”
The Board at the Start of Day 35
Camp early
Clipboards
Ashprihanal
Matt Green and friends visiting the race
An onion is Ashprihanal’s hat
Smarana
Harita
Garima works on Nirbhasa’s feet
Smarana inside the van
Harita
Aharan pouring drinks
Rupantar giving necessary advice on a really hot day
Start Day 35
hot
hot
Ashprihanal has 2263 miles
He ran 73 miles yesterday
28 miles ahead of Nirbhasa
Making 2300
Running very well
Leaf
Dog alert
Nirbhasa has 2235 miles
He ran 68 miles
With Yahva
Green
Vasu has 2148 miles
He ran 61 miles
He is 23 miles ahead of Ananda-Lahari
Doing well
Flower
A gathering
Ananda-Lahari has 2125 miles
He ran 62 miles
He is 22 miles ahead of Smarana
Flower
A treat
Smarana has 2103 miles
He ran 60 miles
He leads Harita by 31 miles
Flower
Sahishnu makes ice bags
Harita has 2072 miles
She ran 60 miles
With Launa
Indomitable
Dog tired
Clover
Leila and Nirjharini
Todor has 2043 miles
He ran 59 miles
With Todor
Flower
Todor tea
Jacqueline
Ushika has 1799 miles
He made 53 miles
Making 1800 miles
With Max
Green
Nayaja 2 mile race
Max
Kaneenika 2 mile race
Antana and Suhasini
“So are you going to sit with me on this bench or stay over there and stay in a bad mood?”
Poem of the Day held by Mandra
My Lord
Amplifies and amplifies
My heart-cries.
Sri Chinmoy
July 20th, 2006
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Now is the time
To challenge
The outer world
And embrace
The inner world.
Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, part 39, Agni Press, 2004
Thank you Utpal. Love the positivity and goodness the runners emanate.
Dear Utpal,
It’s wonderful to have the feeling that I am part of this day and race. I truly value your work and appreciate the time you spend on the course. It is very inspiring! Thank you
Definitely the best spent 6 hours of your days. 🙂
I love the concept of a solar system with planets spinning at different speeds and sharing a magnetic pull that helps one another. Beautiful!