Photos day 40
I Can Learn To Be Everything Here
Utpal blog from July 4, 2010
On June 26 1976 Sri Chinmoy stood in front of the Statue of Liberty and meditated before 27 young men who were about to run across all of America’s 48 states. It was to be a journey of 8,800 miles and for 46 days they would carry a lit torch the entire way. It was a continuous relay run and 2 teams ran in 12 hour shifts 24 hours a day. America was celebrating its bicentennial that year and the mood and enthusiasm in the country was unbounded. Read more
Day 39
Galya’s birthday was real fun! It started with all the runners congratulating him, then the Enthusiasm Awakeners joined in. A little later Nandana brought a cake, and Alakananda put in her favorite unblowable candles. Then came the phones calls from Austria from his friends and emails from Ukraine and Russia. There was so much joy! The day was hot and sticky (36C) though. The birthday boy and others did the least miles…It’s day 39 after all, and exhaustion is all too present, especially in such heat when the body perseveres and struggles at a larger scale. At night, Asprihanal crossed the 2,600 mile mark and now he’s got only 500 miles to cover. It’s such a nuisance in comparison to what has already been accomplished.
Dharbasana was hoping so much to be able to run again, but as he said, “This race is the best school for giving up all expectations”. He still has hamstring problems. Purna Samarpan has done 2,000 miles for the first time in his life. He’s been having a difficult time here. “My body is falling apart”, he jokes.
Everybody appreciated the jokes that Grahak had sent to support the runners. I remember one: a blond bear has been trapped. He chew off his forelegs and a rear paw, but still remained in the trap.
Running is a Transformation Process
Utpal’s blog from July 3, 2010
“It is the one great school on how to be surrendered.” For the past week Pranab has been a visitor to the race. He has come from his home in Slovakia to support his friends, and at least for a brief while, be a part of the thing that has meant so much to him. He has completed this race on 4 occasions and at each race he found ways to self-transcend. Both by bettering his times each time and also growing as a spiritual person as well. Read more
Not Giving Up
Utpal’s blog from June 29, 2010
She has been to the race many times before. Today however Niharika is returning to her home in Finland. She is here this morning cheering for fellow Finn, Asprihanal and of course all the other runners. She is smiling and calling out to them as they pass by but it is clear that she looks just a little bit sad, because soon she will have to leave to catch her flight. Read more
