All the Intensity you need for God Realization

This day belongs to Grahak. The score board still bears the streamer, that marked the finish of Pranab yesterday, and Asprihanal, the day before that. Grahak will start the day with just 50 miles to go. This is a distance that will take him less than 12 hours to do. Like all of the runners here, who have given so much of themselves on this battlefield of life, he is the quiet embodiment of self-transcendence. This Australian champion has never craved the limelight, and never asked more from others than he was willing to give himself. He is one, who has pushed his physical being to perhaps the apex of its natural limits and then some. He has endured pain beyond measure, wrestled with doubt, avoided fear altogether, and in the course of his long journey, been grateful for every step, every experience, and every chance to please his Master in his own way.

Christopher arrives with his hopes and courage intact. He has run 2231 miles. Like the hero that he is, he still tries and tries his very best, each and every day.
Suprabha says, "seems like a ghost town here." The absence of the 2 finishers at the start this morning is striking. This, combined with the fact that the days are drawing noticeably shorter does make it feel that the 3100 family is missing something. A something, that cannot be replaced, only fixed by joining those who have already crossed the finish line as well.

Pranjal has an empty chair beside him this morning. He ran 65 miles yesterday his most since his first day. With just 230 miles to go the finish must seem painfully close at hand.

Triumphs of the soul

Were heralded

From the start to the finish.

Excerpt from A Fourteen Hour Peace Concert by Sri Chinmoy.



Grahak had told me yesterday that he wanted to run alone his first 2 laps on his last day. It is clear, not just today, but also on most of the last 46 days he has run here, that he actively tries to pray and meditate within himself. Before he walked over to the start he was clearly trying to dive deep. His, has been an epic journey that has taken him far on his feet and even farther within his heart.

He is more than willing to share his thoughts when I join him on his third lap. He is not at all self congratulatory about his achievement here. He just quietly accepts the fact that he will soon smash his previous best by more than 3 days. He is also very matter of fact as he says, "the last 10 days were really tough." How he transcended himself from last year, he says he accomplished by, "trying to go faster, push harder, and stay out later."

He has excelled at many sports and you can see, it has to come from, his keen self reliance and self discipline. His competitiveness here has been with the only adversary worth taking on heart and soul, himself. He says, "I never race with anyone, I always do my own thing."

I know he wrestled for a time about whether or not he should come back to the race this year. No one could blame him for such a thing. Once you have sampled even a fraction of the challenge here you can know why. But he is also clearly glad that he did come back and by this evening his joy will be complete.

He tells me the unique story of how he volunteered for this years race. It is one in which all the love, humor, and playful mischieviousness his late teacher was renowned for came to the for. A runner had just finished last years race and all those who had already finished sat around exhausted as well. His Guru asked at this time, "Stand up if you are not doing this race next year." Of course no one stood up, and then he gave them all his beautiful divine smile.

He tells me that, "I am happier than last race." He says that thinking of his Guru helps him as well as doing chanting and singing. He tells me that he feels closely connected to Sri Chinmoy at the course and often visualizes him at different spots.

I ask him about some of his physical problems and he tells me a long list without any complaint. I have to prod him to learn of his nose bleeds, his throwing up almost every other day, and now his back, which he says, "is killing me." He doesn't mention the rash that is on his lip and down part of one leg. He mentions that yesterday he spoke with his parents. I wonder, but don't ask, if he has told him about some of the difficulties he has had to endure along the way. He tells me that they are proud of him and that the dog is good.

In the past, he has shared with me, some of the little habits, that he and other runners have grown accustomed to over the miles. I mention the steel fence at the far corner of the course that he and others have continually lifted up the lever as they passed and dropped it with a large clang. So to indulge my curiosity one last time, he playfully picks it up for me, and yes, it drops with a clang.

He says that one of the pieces of good advice he received was from Pranab who suggested that he set clear goals for himself. By working this out, he would have something more concrete to work for. It is his spiritual life though that has been his savior along the way. He says that, "Guru's grace takes away things, pains, poison, and worry." He says that for him if he just smiles, then Sri Chinmoy, takes his poison and replaces it with love, affection, and concern." Without question, this race, "is the hardest thing I have every done in my life. It is also the most rewarding."

He says that it is almost miraculous what we all can achieve if we just allow the Supreme to act, in and through us, "If you are willing." If there is anything he can clearly understand about the great effort that he, and the other runners have put in here, is that he at least has some sense for, "All the intensity you need for God Realization."

It is now nearly 12 hours since he started the race this morning. When he started running then, the humidity was so great he was perspiring almost instantly. In less than 2 laps there were large wet stains up the back and front of his shirt. It would be like this all day. It is now just before 6. Race director Rupantar says of Grahak, "Full tilt, its the only way he knows how to run."

Asprihanal is getting a little treatment after his great victory.

Suprabha is taking a little break before hers.






Abichal had a good day yesterday with 60 miles under his belt. He will likely finish with a personal best.

And two champions standing patiently on the sidelines will soon have another join them.




It all happens so quickly and is so brief, compared to the long long journey, that took him 46 days, 11 hours, and 53 minutes to complete. The beauty of the finish is something worth savoring. The smile of the finisher a sheer delight.






A short song


A few words


And if there is one thing, that would make this champion happier, it just might be, to share it with the one, who made this victory possible. The one who called him back, through the veil of his doubt. What a gift it would be, to offer up once more his heart's favorite quality, gratitude to Sri Chinmoy.

HEART'S GRATITUDE

Your life's quietude

Is not heart's gratitude.

Your love's plenitude

Is not heart's gratitude.

Your surrender's unconditional infinitude

Is heart's gratitude.

Excerpt from I Need Only God by Sri Chinmoy

It is a Golden Opportunity

Today, day 46, belongs to Pranab. By this evening he will be the second person to finish the 3100 mile race. He, who has run the race, 3 times before, will however be the first runner to set a new personal record. In a race in which seconds count like diamonds, he will best himself by nearly a day. There is a lot that can be said about this serious, disciplined, and often funny Slovak champion. Somehow however, his performance here itself, speaks much more eloquently than anything that I can say. At this place, in which courage, strength, and determination are tested with each step, of each mile, over many thousands of miles, he has been superb.

He shows me, what he calls, his 3100 mile toe. My camera does not do justice to the object you see here, which does not in my opinion resemble any of the digits attached to my own feet. He says his big toe, has been like this since day one. He also says it has caused him pain every step of the way. What is more amazing, is that on day 14, he lost nearly an entire day from the course, because of his skin allergy. He came back the next day, after finding a solution, and then ran 69 miles, 3 miles more than the next best finisher that day. In what, that can only be called a spectacular finish, he ran 74 miles yesterday, the most he has run here any day, at this years race. He will only have 60 miles to go today.

There is a conspicuous empty chair at the course this morning. No doubt tomorrow there will be another.

Stutisheel who has less than 400 miles to go walks by the drink table and says, "it must be August, there are bees everywhere."



And if Diganta's mom is reading, she has a little less to worry about. He has run more than 60 miles now for the last 2 days.







And so Pranab steps to the starting line one last time. The man in blue beside him cannot help but think that tomorrow will belong to him. Grahak has just 120 miles to go.


the day begins


There was never any doubt in Pranab's mind that he would come here and run this year. He did not however train, like he would have liked. When he arrived, he was not thinking of records or glory, only of self preservation, and to finish. I ask him as tactfully as possible, if he was not fit, than why would he come here, and put himself to this the ultimate test of endurance. He says simply, "I came because he asked me to come." That 'he', being of course his late Guru, Sri Chinmoy.

Over the 3 previous years, that he ran here, Sri Chinmoy would always ask who was going to come back the following year. It was always framed as a request, but the implication in the question, was more like, 'will you all not come back again.' He tells me that he, without hesitation volunteered last year to come back. He says, "I would be stupid, not to do his last request." And adds confidently, "I knew it was the right thing to do."

The physical reality however, he brought to the starting line on day one, was not pretty. Over weight and out of shape, he says of the race, "It was the last thing I wanted to do physically." But self-transcendence, in even the humblest endeavor, requires self discipline, courage, perseverance, and of course the intangible one, surrender. He tells me about just a small portion of his suffering, including the last 10 days, which he describes as, "lots of pain."

He describes the delicate balancing act he has endured in terms of his mental and spiritual approach to the race. How on one hand he must push and yet not go so far as to be stressed out. How to achieve his very best outwardly and yet to keep track of how inwardly he is responding to challenge and difficulty. He says, "I want to do my best. I want to keep happy but also be focussed."

He describes this focus in relation to the approach used by other runners. He does not criticize their tactics but for himself he wants to run honestly and, "make every lap in a pure way. Every lap, it is a golden opportunity."

He describes, that it is possible to take short cuts. These are not cutting corners outwardly but more like not taking responsibility for your behavior and actions on the course at all times. He suggests, that the correct inner approach, is always there for you. "That thing is just waiting there for you." And, that once you accept and embrace that way, you will understand it is the reason you are here.

For him it is important to, "cry for the the highest. If we don't do this thing we just prolong our time. You are here." His hands sweep wide across the sidewalk we are running on. "You are here, it is a tough experience, but it is the perfect way for Guru to take you through."

He says how each year he has learned and gained much here. "Important things," he says he has gotten here, "every year more and more." Of his Guru he says, "He is present as he used to. It is still under his control, I felt it in the hospital."

Of that difficulty he describes it as an inner block that manifested itself as a skin rash. He says, "The thing I had was my resistance, it had to be broken. It was so obvious this experience." It seems that it was a matter of acceptance and surrender, the outcome being, "everything changed, everything really changed. After this I was running on a different level."

As for Sri Chinmoy's very tangible connection to him and how he runs today, "he told us what to do. He has taught everything. He has told us in so many ways. He is gone from direct reach. It is just up to us to get there. Because he is waiting there."



Pranab's mom Purabi has taken turns with one of his sisters, Padapa, to be a helper at the race. It is a job she takes, with a similar seriousness to her work, as her son does to his running. She is no expert at the needs and whims of an ultra distance runner, but she is a mom, and tries to help in the best way she can. She also tells me, how she tries to help all the other runners. While we are talking she is cutting up bits of carrot to put on to the top of open faced sandwiches.

She says of her experience here, that all has taken place so fast. But also, that being here is transforming, demanding, and at the same time peaceful. She describes an atmosphere here, that for her, is charming. It is created not just by the runners but also by all who come and help, and everyone.

I ask her about the influence of Sri Chinmoy on the race. She describes for me, that how last year, when he came here so often, there was so much excitement when he came and then there would be the down side when he left. When he came she says, "you were in heaven and then it changed to something else." But nonetheless, of his presence and energy, she says, "you can feel it remains here." On a deeper level, "the experience we are having of Guru on the inner level is not so changeable." As for being here, there is no place else she would rather be. She says for her, "it is the most important thing at this moment."

I tell her, that it is a unique situation, that Pranab is in. At first his sister helps, and then his mom. She pauses for a moment at this, and I feel like I have touched a delicate nerve. There is a tear in her eye, and I apologize for being inappropriate, and she tells me no. She describes for me simply, that her whole family cares deeply for Pranab and for this race. She says, that at this moment, when he is about to finish, she wishes her daughter Padapa was here as well, to celebrate and enjoy it with her and Pranab.

And then 13 hours pass, and the mere 60 miles left to run disappear like grains of sand in an hour glass.
It is a big moment for the little country of Slovakia. The Counsel General Igor Pokojny is here with his family to see a new Slovakian record being made.



It happens so quickly, the final few steps to the finish line.

Everyone is proud at what Pranab has done here over 45 days, 13 hours, 39 minutes, and 54 seconds.
There is celebrating




There is singing













The happiness
of the heart
expedites
the speed
of the body

Guru
Sri Chinmoy

Traveled so far

He will be the first to cross the finish line. But it is a place he has known so many times before. And too today, he will drink once more from victory's cup, a sweet reward that he has drunk from 4 times before. The sheer weight and scope of his numbers can baffle and astound, any and all, who have ever attempted the art of running. For those who have watched at his elbow, or sought his progress from the other side of the world. No matter who you are, either casual or serious. If you have ever laced up running shoes, you can and must be impressed at this slight and gentle man from Finland.

We who are shocked at what he can do in one day, and yet he goes on and on for 44 more. Each day he averaged 70 miles. Each step seemed light as a breeze upon a sleepy meadow. Yet most would see his journey, as one done down a merciless path. On the relentless and hard sidewalks of New York. Nonetheless he pranced and ambled and skipped along each day, and seemed all the way, to be slightly above the cares and woes of the city, that rushed with abandon, to and fro, through each single relentless day of his. One that began before the world around him woke, and ended long after, they sought the solace of their beds.

Asprihanal, asked for so little, and yet gave so much to those around him. Yet he did not do it for us, and one can also safely say, he did not do it for himself. He did it for the one, who inspired all the brave souls to come to this place, to take this impossible journey. He did it for the one, whose light and love is perpetual, not just at this sacred oval, but wherever there are those who seek the divine within. He ran this long journey to please the one we can no longer see in this world of ours. Yet he is still safely in our midst, whether comforting the tears of our failure or celebrating, in the glories of our transcendence. He who is always within our hearts, Sri Chinmoy.


These two will be next, to take their final steps, here at the 3100 mile race. They both will do personal bests, if all goes well, and rightly claim their crowns of self-transcendence.





Ananda Lahari, it is safe to say has found the joy in his legs once more. His heart's joy has never faltered.

And when our champion arrived this morning he took the time to greet and encourage all who would have to carry on, to complete their most difficult tasks.


Whether you have come 11 times before or this is just your first time. The journey is so incredibly long, few would believe you have done it all. That is unless they came and saw you circling here, round and around.
Why does she look so fearless, and why does he smile. So many mysteries and unfathomable truths on a scant half mile of concrete.

And so he stands at the starting line one last time. In just over 2 hours he will be calling it his finish line.







He starts this day, as he does most, scouring the result sheet. But what can it possibly tell him that he does not already know. He has just 13 miles to go. Rather, what takes his interest, is the numbers of those around him. Of those who have been such an integral part of his journey here. Of his brothers and his friends. How well was their yesterdays, and how many more tomorrows will they have.

So often he runs alone, because he runs so light and fast. Yet they all hear his footsteps and his jokes, and the only words he seems to have, are ones that are kind and make you smile.
He tells me how happy he was here last night. He also tells me of days in which the happiness seemed just beyond his grasp, and yet miracles both small and grand came to light up his face and his heart once more.

How that his doubt would fly away from him, like the great bird of prey that once soared across his mind's horizon. How he once had dreams of the great and tranquil outdoors, in which nature's world demanded nothing of him and he demanded nothing of it. Yet in an instant, a raccoon ambling on the path in front of him, startled him from his flight of fantasy, Brought him back to the earth, and his task, and his Guru, ever present in his heart who could show him transcendence on every plane.

Here he carries today's prayer. Each day he has been putting it up on a fence, on the far side of the course to inspire others. The first few days the caretaker would take it down, but Asprihanal kept putting it up nonetheless. Eventually the caretaker saw a greater magic being played out around his school and left it there all day.


He recites this prayer.


Tributes from his fellow runners.

Pavol


Pranjal


Suprabha


Grahak


Stutisheel


Pranab


Diganta


Christopher


Ananda Lahari


Petr


Sopan


Smarana


Abichal


Parvati's Enthusiasm Awakeners were so happy to receive flowers from the runners. They had special prasad for Asprihanal and sang for him as well.





And so come the brief final laps. Some know more than others what it took to come and be at this place.







There are songs, and crowds, and celebration. All because he stayed out here for 44 days 2 hours 42 minutes and 15 seconds. Not an eternity but close to it, if you have run 3100 miles over 8 long summers. This mileage, by the way, is about the circumference of the earth.



Sahishnu will speak of him in glowing terms. This 122 lb flying Finn. who never complains and never gets blisters. The final words belong to the best author, and the inspirer of all those who run here, both on the course and in their hearts.

The Human in me loves to live
The Divine in me lives to love
Guru Sri Chinmoy