“This is the longest race in the world and I am here. It is an honor and I really value it. I really love the experience, and I am really happy that I am here.”
This answer could come from no one other than Ananda-Lahari who now in his 17th straight year at the event on his 24th day has completed 1359 miles. Now most days he walks with an occasional spurt of running.
” I think for all of us we just don’t have enough gratitude. We are unable to value life at all most of the time.”
At his first race in 2004, “I was happy like anything. I knew it was going to be a super hard experience. But I was really thrilled and really happy. There was no doubt about doing this race.”
Ananda-Lahari says that during the early races he was thrilled at the nearly daily visits of the founder of the race Sri Chinmoy. “Somebody may say, ‘So what.’ But for me when I look back on my life it was really significant.”
The Board at the start of Day 25
Camp
clock
Rupantar
Andrea checking the daily mileage
Nina
Stutisheel
Harita
Andrea
Start day 25
Andrea ran 70 miles
He now has 1700 miles(with Anupam)
Doing well
Flower
Wei Ming completes half way
His time 24 days 2 hours 22 seconds
He ran 65 miles
Extraordinary
Flower
Anjali
Vasu ran 66 miles
He now has 1489 miles
Doing well
Flower
Koala
Harita did 58 miles
She now has 1481 miles
Harita
Flower
Sahishnu
Swamiji
Takasumi did 59 miles
He now has 1431 miles
With Nina
Flower
Nina and Rupantar
Stutisheel did 62 miles
He now has 1424 miles
Camp
Flower
Arpan and Mario
Vajra
Experience is not required observation.
Experience is the result of an inner investigation.
Hi Utpal, it is real experience to be there with you guys, so many familiar faces, and everybody seems so happy. Even if runners are walking and having some problems they are all accepting the experience and doing their best. It is so inspiring watching your reports everyday, thanks a lot
Another awesome interview— so many valuable insights everyday, about self-transcendence joy.
Thank you so much.
Even though I live so close, I haven’t been able to come to the race too much this year. So reading about it has become more and more important. It is so inspiring to look at the pictures and read your commentary, Utpal. Thank you so much for making it really come alive!