I met Harita this morning at the corner of 168th st. as she came up the service road towards me. I often run along this route during the year and am hardly aware at all that it is anything more than a slight incline. But to Harita, who has now circled this same corner 1270 times now in the past 13 days it is a hill.
When you lay on the sidewalk, as I have done taking pictures, you can see it unmistakably. It helps me to get a better understanding, that all the little details of the course get observed by the runners in ways that we can never fully grasp or understand.
For the last 2 days now Harita has been running 111 laps each day which is just about 61 miles. “I kind of realized the first few days of the race that if I want to do the necessary miles each day that I would have to stay really focused.”
“I don’t always stay really focused in my regular life. It is a really good practice for me and a really good opportunity for me. I can but I often get distracted. I love people, I love talking to people. I am interested in a lot of things.”
I saw her early speaking on the phone. “That was actually one of the first times I spoke with people on the phone. I haven’t really used my phone much. I felt, especially for the first couple of weeks that it was really important to practice focusing.”
“I feel that is more like trying to be one with God’s will. Everything is a flow, and if you can silence your mind, and connect with the higher part of yourself. For me it is more about not being distracted by other things. Keep my mind as calm as possible. Keep myself very present in the moment. To really have faith, that if I do that then everything will flow from within.”
“I guess trying to focus inwardly which is challenging outwardly as well. Trying not to get too strict, or serious, or regimented. Do what I need to do and have faith that everything will flow.”
Sometime in the past week Harita had accumulated more miles in competition than she had ever run before. “It was a big deal. It gave me a lot of joy and encouragement. Because I still felt strong.”
“I guess at the end of the last 10 day race, I was really at the end.” She ran 540 miles. At the start of day 14 she has 789 miles. After 10 days here she had 606 miles.
“Because of the fact that I still felt strong. This race is all about transcending yourself and going beyond what you conceive of as possible. When you can go beyond what you have ever done before then that gives you joy.”
Every day
I shall climb up higher and higher
On my aspiration-mountain-heights.
Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, part 49, Agni Press, 2008
The board at the start of Day 14
It is significant to note that 13 days marks the exact first quarter of the race. Any runner with less than 775 miles is behind schedule of completing the race.
It will be a peculiar weather day. With light showers passing through from time to time.
Joke on the fence
Yolanda thanking Jadranka for her help
Yuri pouring drinks
Nidhruvi arrives
Rupantar checking the results
Sergey and Nirbhasa arrives
Jadranka helping Satyaroopa get set up
Smarana putting on his shoes
Vasu drops off his laundry
Nidhruvi showing something on her phone to Kaneenika
Vasu ready to start
Start Day 14
Slightly overcast
Vasu did 65 miles
Yesterday Sergey did 1 more lap than Vasu
Vasu has 885 miles
A bit of green
Nirbhasa did 64 miles
He now has 853 miles
A bit of green
Kaneenika did 64 miles
Giving attention to one of her big fans
Getting help from Suhasini
She 1 more lap yesterday than Nirbhasa. She has 809 miles
A bit of green
Harita did 111 laps or 60 miles
He now has 800 miles
Morning sun
Flower
Harita ran 111 laps or 60 miles
Telling jokes with Nidhruvi
Taking a break
Flower
Sergey did 65 miles
He now has 782 miles
Sun and clouds
Flower
Yolanda did 110 laps or 60 miles. She has 779 miles.
Mario working on her feet
Sean from Jersey has come to spend the day helping her
flower
Andrey did 112 laps or 63 miles
He now has 742 miles
Coming
Nidhruvi did 53 miles
Having some work done to her feet
Telling jokes with Harita
Ananda-Lahari did 45 miles
He now has 678 miles
Trying his best every day
The hill
Swamiji
Untiring server Alan
Sahishnu chopping ice
Nirjharini arrives with a cake for Harita
Today is the 22nd anniversary of her becoming a student of Sri Chinmoy
Brought in a special counter
A closer look
Green
Jimmy reads the Daily Prayer
“Definitely I wanted to be here today. I have been away for some weekends but I want to come and run these 2 mile races. Particularly now when my brothers and sisters are running 3100 miles. I can’t even imagine.”
“Even though I can’t imagine it I can be inspired by it. What is life about if not about getting inspiration from those around you and those that God has put around you. All we have to do is open our hearts and drink it in. That’s what I am trying to do today.”
Click Below to Play:
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Click to Play:
If you forget to dream
Of higher realities,
The higher realities
Will never be manifested.
Sri Chinmoy, Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, part 22, Agni Press, 2001
A wonderful lesson on Focus from Harita’s interview. Gratitude! And a most Happy Anniversary!!
Thanks Uptal.
I know the runners don’t say they look at the miles. I’m sure they can’t really afford that. But sitting here in Texas, I look and see they are not yet at 1000 miles after 14 days; and it is a 3100 mile race. It is something to ponder that situation is.