Day 44: Inner Call

Though Andrea completed the 3100 mile race close to midnight last night he has chosen, as many do to run an additional 13 laps in order to make a full 5,000 kilometers.

Asked how he felt, he said,  “Quite good I would say.  I am really happy and satisfied.”

” I never had a clear goal at the beginning.  Because you never really know your shape, and you never know how the race is going to turn out, it’s so long.  But after one week or 10 days, I knew I could do better than last year.”

Sri chinmoy Ultra Photo

“So then it was goal after goal.”  He says that after 2 weeks of running, his helper Arpan, encouraged him to attempt to go for under 43 days.  “Then last week we realized we could go for 3rd place overall.  It was one goal after another.  Luckily I got them all.”

As for why he would choose such a difficult event.  “It is a drive that you feel from within.  Once you do it there is this inner call.”

“Without my helpers, I would not be able to perform at that level.  Definitely I could finish the race, but not in this way.”

Sri Chinmoy Ultra Photo

“Arpan did a great job he was motivating me for 2 days because he saw that I was very close, to go under 43 days.  To get 3rd place overall.  He was pushing and pushing me.  Emotionally and psychologically.  He was telling me you can do it.  Come on let’s go.  Luckily I managed not to fall apart.”

“The inner part of the race, somehow I realized that the race for me was already done. It was meant to be like this.  When you struggle in the race you think it is about you, and your effort.  But in the end I realized it was already meant to be like this.  The inner part already knows in advance what is going to happen.”

 

Sahishnu talks about Andrea’s achievement in the race.

The board at the start of day 44

clock

Camp

Decorations

Nina and Takasumi

Nisanga and Niriha

Vasu and Stutisheel

Wei Ming

Harita

Andrea’s last morning

Start day 44

Wei  Ming did 65 miles

He now has 2621 miles

He will finish Saturday night

chalk artists

photo by Pipasa

With Vasu

Flower

Calculating Wei Ming’s finish

Anjali updates the board

Vasu did 62 miles

He now has 2683 miles

Flower

It’s a good day

Vanuraja

Harita did 62 miles

She now has 2627 miles

With Antana

Flower

Sahishnu

Mail time

Takasumi ran 61 miles

He now has 2570 miles

With Nina

Flower

Andrea’s official time

I

Stutisheel ran 31 miles

He now has 2427 miles

Flower

Italian publication with Andrea story

Ananda-Lahari ran 46 miles

He has 2354 miles

Flower

The inner joy
Gives more.
The inner joy
Receives more.
The inner joy
Becomes more.

5 thoughts on “Day 44: Inner Call”

  1. What a saga—-all the participants are creating this amazing saga— and we get to be there, thanks to Utpal and Jowan and all the reporters on SCMT!!!! Gratitude!

  2. Thank you again, Utpal, for this invaluable service to bring the race and the runners and their experiences to us – and the wolrd!

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