The first day I was extremely delighted that the first part had been done – I safely arrived at the start. I had had a very difficult time before the race as I got injured. And as soon as I started, I was happy that I was there and would be running this race. Also, I am happy that I am running with such people, in such a great team. When on the second day when I got shin splints, I stopped thinking about everything except gratitude. I was so grateful that in spite of the pain I still could run. I didn’t care if it was painful or not. I just wanted to have an opportunity to run.
In comparison with 10-day races, everything is quite different here. It’s difficult to put it into words. Probably, it’s deeper and more intense. I can not even speak any language now (Volodya speaks Slovak, Russian, English and German). I feel how deep the atmosphere here is. The air is full of Compassion from Above… Then feelings of peace, confidence and inner stability have come to me. I have no doubt: I am in the right place at the right time.
Posted in race experiences on Jun 20, 2009 by Alakananda | Comments Off on Day 7
It’s 8 am of the 7th day, Saturday, June, 20. The 2-mile race is going to start nearby. Usually, they run very fast and have a lot of energy, dynamism and enthusiasm. It’s so great to look at them and cheer them up. It’s 5.25 pm; we have already been on the race for 11 hours. At last my running style returned to me. I hope that some impression you can get from the video. So, everything is excellent today. Definitely, it will be another good day. And it’s going to get better all the time. Yesterday, on the sixth day, I did 60 miles and left the track at 11.30 pm. A few times tendonitis tried to come back, but everything went well. I feel better and better. So, everything is just super. I asked Suprabha if it is true that it is her last 3100 race. She answered that many people asked her about, and it was very strange, because all she said was that 13 is a great number. This is her 13th race and she is going to run more and more. We are very happy! (to view the video double click on it)
Posted in race experiences on Jun 19, 2009 by Alakananda | Comments Off on Joke of the day 6
Like I said earlier, our lap is 883 meters. And it happens very often when you want to go to the toilet you think you would better go after the next lap. It is a way to safe time. Yesterday Volodya told us a story about his 10-day race last year. On the next morning after finishing, he wakes up in his room and is going to go to the toilet. He goes to it, but passes right beside it and follows to the kitchen, then comes back to the room and then he finds himself thinking: “Ok, one more lap and then …” One more joke You may think that we only run here, but it is not true. We do a lot of things. For example, some armrestling. Yesterday when Pranab had his day-off, he came to the race (here it was better then at home anyway), I don’t remember why, but we decided to measure our strength, as it doesn’t take more than a minute. The timing was great, as we are not going to feel our arm muscles by the end of the race – only leg muscles will remain. After the race I won’t be able to do even one chin-up. Here, as the result, I defeated him with my right arm, and he beat me with his left arm. Our score was 1:1. So, tough guys were satisfied…
Posted in race experiences on Jun 18, 2009 by Alakananda | Comments Off on Day 5
The 5th day of the race, it’s 7.54 pm. It was raining heavily for hours since early morning, everything was wet everywhere: above, below, beside, inside – everywhere. It’s clear that doesn’t matter how many times you change your running shoes they will get wet in 5 minutes anyway. That’s why I have changed them only once. Later on at 7 pm, when it stopped raining, I changed them once again. My heel cord pain has gone. Let’s hope forever, at least for this race. When it rains, we should be more careful because wet shoes are heavier and add up load to tendons and cords. As the saying goes, we should hurry up slowly. I did not fly, but the day was more stable and I steadily came closer to my course speed. I am satisfied. Pavol has shin splints; he has been walking all day long. Ananda-Lahiri caught a cold. He walked the first part of the day though the rain, but now he is running. Pranab has his second day-off; he is recovering and dealing with his skin problems.
