Sometime late this morning Nidhruvi will be the 9th of the 10 runners to pass the 1,000 mile mark. For most of us this would be an achievement of a lifetime but for Nidhruvi it is just one very early milestone on the way to achieving the ultimate goal of 3100 miles. As it is still only day 19, and with 33 more potential days to recover missing miles ahead. It is still way too early to say that the ultimate goal for her cannot be reached.
Something much more interesting is happening for Nidhruvi here than can be observed on lap sheets and score boards. She tells me that before she even came a Doctor in Austria did not have much hope that her knees would do her bidding. He recommended that she wear heavy knee supports. Ones that may have relieved stress but would have most certainly been uncomfortable and encumbered her running.
As she talks about different maladies that have made her acquaintance over the past 19 days she is not gloomy whatsoever. These crippling problems she has learned to somehow to not be a prisoner to them. Recognize that yes, they are there, but then let go. To remove the strangle hold of fear and doubt from the equation. Let the Supreme do his job in and through her, and on her part be an instrument.
I ask Nidhruvi if she is having problems today. “No not really. It is always up and down. There are always some challenges every day. So it is pretty normal.”
She has done many many multi day races and I ask her if there is anything that distinguishes one from the other. “In a way they are all similar. You know how the challenges are. But in a way they are very different and not different.”
I ask her if she was ever frightened about taking up any of her very hard races. “There was always a bit of fear with it but the excitement, happiness, and joy is much stronger. You are totally excited and want to explore new things.”
“I started with 700 miles at Wards island in 1996 I think. I remember there was one moment there which I have never forgotten. I just knew I had to go back there. So this was not the first or last race. This I knew for sure.” She understood it was all part of Sri Chinmoy’s philosophy of self transcendence. If you have the capacity keep going.”
“You want to be useful and try and give it a chance.”
“I think my task this time is for me to offer my total surrender. This is the feeling I had even before I entered into this race. I had a slight feeling that it all may not work out the way that I wanted. When I started I could see it already coming that this race is different.”
“I promised myself that I just want to be a good instrument. A humble and devoted instrument. I am doing my best, and I hope I can inspire lots of people on earth. I know that they are out there and they are praying for me, which is so fulfilling and touching.”
Immediately
Start again
With your willingness-mind
And selflessness-heart
To be an unconditionally choice instrument
Of your Inner Pilot.
Sri Chinmoy, Immediately start again!, Agni Press, 1993
The board at the start of Day 19
Clock
Suhasini rushing
Gints working on the webcam
Vajra leaves
Yolanda snacking
Sergey and Andrey arrive
Camp
Harita and Kaneenika arrive
Vasu
Harita checking lap results
Nidhruvi arrives
Boys
Kaneenika cutting up a shoe
Nearly time
Start Day 19
Sunshine off and on
Vasu did 68 miles 124 laps
He now has 1225 miles and by early morning passed 2,000km
A brief light rain
flower
Nirbhasa did 63 miles 116 laps
He now has 1175 miles
Flower
Kaneenika did 64 miles 118 laps
She now has 1134 miles
Doing well
Flower
Smarana did 63 miles 116 laps
He now has 1113 miles
A bit of green
Harita had her first tough day. She did 55 miles 102 laps
Telling jokes
She now has 1086 miles
foot care
Service road
Flower
Yolanda did 59 miles 109 laps
She now has 1081 miles
Flower
Sergey had a really tough day with 35 miles 64 laps
He now has 1069 miles
Flower
Andrey did 55 miles 101 laps
He now has 1031 miles
Flower
Nidhruvi did 55 miles 102 laps
She now has 977 miles
Gints offering physio advice
Telling jokes
We will see
Happiness
Ananda-Lahari did 39 miles 72 laps
He now has 937 miles
It’s a long way
A bit of green
Photographer
Swamiji
Daulot and Stota do a skit
chalk flowers
Stota with the Daily Prayer
Click to Play:
“It is the greatest birthday present. We make it an annual event to be with our big family. To feel the presence of Guru even more strongly. It is a great birthday present. It is so inspiring. You know how much pain and pressure the runners are going through but they are just gliding. There is such an aura of peace here and determination and inspiration. It is really really amazing.”
“And with 4 women running it is even more blossoming.”
Enthusiasm Awakeners
Click to Play:
I simplify my mind
To be an instrument of God.
I purify my heart
To become a child of God.
Sri Chinmoy, Twenty-Seven Thousand Aspiration-Plants, part 79, Agni Press, 1984
Thank you, everyone, for endlessly striving for self-transcendence Your efforts are a big inspiration and also help for us who daily check in for the latest. Gratitude.