Day 4… To Arrive At The Destination (June 19)

Kaneenika’s arrival at the 3100 mile race for the first time in 2015 was much anticipated. She had been participating in multi day races for many years previously and had clearly demonstrated her talent and capacity to take on the longest race in the world.

This race however bestows its rewards on those who run here in many unforeseen ways. Despite a courageous effort she was unable to complete the distance on her first attempt. Instead of being disappointed or beaten she then came back the 3 following years and in the process not only completed the race but also set, in 2017, the current women’s record of 48 days and 14 hours.

Now this summer in what would have been her 5th race she is unable to enter due to a knee injury. This morning I had a chance to speak with her. “I am definitely missing the race,” she says.

“Until March I was still hoping I would be doing this race and then it was clear that I would not be able. But I think I am on a good track to recover.”

I suggest that she must have experienced a full spectrum with her 4 previous races. “It is like life. You do the same thing every day but every time is different.”

“This experience ( running 3100 ) is really doing me good. Especially in my inner progress. I think that is why I am missing the race this year now. I really feel that this is the place to be for me.”

Kaneenika is clear that there once was a time when she was reluctant to take part in it. “But when I entered it for the first time it really became a part of my life.” She says that until she actually ran it she never understood the fascination of those who looked forward to returning year after year.

Nidhruvi once mentioned that if she should ever enter the race she would find herself addicted to it. “I said, this will never happen to me. But here I am.”

She once asked Vasu if he would come back to the race and he told her, of course, this is my life. “I think this has happened to me too.”

“There is something that draws you here. It is definitely not something that can be explained on an outer level. As she speaks about her many experiences her she says that all the pain and suffering that she endured here has vanished. Instead she says she can only see the positive.