It is decidedly an exclusive New York Address. It is one in which there are many who would love to visit, but perhaps don’t have the very unique requirements to call it home. 
A stay here is never permanent. At the very best one can move in for just 10 days each spring. For those who are brave enough to come and do their very best it will be no vacation, and certainly no metaphorical walk in the park. To come and stay here in Flushing Meadow is to be part of the Self Transcendence 6 & 10 Race, an event so challenging and yet so fulfilling you will probably remember your stay here for the rest of your life.
For a week now, a construction crew led by Bipin, has been putting it all together. The first race starts on Monday and the preparation, just to be able to say “Go.” at noon on that day is an incredible undertaking in and of itself.
To put it mildly, the weather has not been great. For most construction crews this could mean lengthy delays but the clock never stops ticking here. There is just too much to be done and so little precious time.
I arrive at the race this evening and hear some shocking news. Madhupran is talking with Dipali who is still a few days away from starting her race. He says, “My race is over.” He points to his knee and indicates that there is a problem there. What makes this news even more surprising is that through his first 24 hours he had run 136 miles. It was a pace that could easily have pushed him comfortably towards his goal of 1000 miles in 10 days. Since that time however he has done just an additional 9 miles.
For a man who has just had such a dramatic turn of events occur, Madhupran appears amazingly calm. I think it prudent to not to ask too much at this time. Later I will see him back on the course and walking instead of running.
“It’s great, it’s a new experience for me.” Muslim is standing in front of the counting hut and calling out names of the runners as they approach. It is one of the many jobs that is so crucial to making sure the event goes smoothly. He tells me that the longest race he had ever worked on prior to this is a 24 hour race back in his home town of Aukland New Zealand. He says, “It is really amazing being around people who are really pushing themselves and trying to transcend. It really reflects on Sri Chinmoy’s philosophy of never giving up and self-transcendence. He adds that he is so inspired he just might one day try and run it himself.
Kaneenika has had a good first day, she has run over 100 miles. She leads the other women runners by more than 10 miles. She tells me, “I trained as much as I could and I have done everything that I thought would help me in the race. We will see if I have done the right thing. I have been preparing almost the whole year.”
“It was very hard conditions for me.” Arun Bhardwaj is a 40 year old runner from New Delhi India and he is telling me the shock he experienced when he came and ran the 6 day race in 2003. How leaving India and 42C weather and arriving just a few hours before the start of the race and having to adjust to 4C New York climate.
He tells me that in India there are no ultra distance runners. He felt that by running in very challenging races he would inspire his children to become world class runners. He says, “I do it so that they will have some icon for them. I think it is good that there own father is an example for them. This is the reason I am doing these ultra distance runs.”
In the race in 2003 he became the first Indian to complete more than 500km in a race. I asked him why he would come here for such an event when there must be races closer to his home in India. He says, ” I heard that the Sri Chinmoy Marathon team puts on the best races in the world, and I saw that also when I came here last time.”
“The organization is perfect,” says Daniella Miliev who is translating for her dad Radi. She has come t0 help her father run the 10 day race and both Father and Daughter seem to be having a great time. Radi is 60 years old and has run nearly 20 multi day races and this is his first time running in a Sri Chinmoy Marathon team event.
The dugout is a place for brief and necessary breaks. Tirtha is getting some help with her shins.
He describes how all the runners get a better consciousness by participating and that all who help can experience this as well. He says, “I am part of this race too.”
Iris, from Christchurch NZ is running her second multi day race. She has never run further than 248 miles and has already completed 60 here.
Yogi Beara, an iconic figure in American sports, once said, “It’s not over till its over.” All the time I am at the race Madhupran continues to move. He is walking swiftly and determindly. I cannot help but wonder what will happen with him in the days to follow.
Give