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Cross-posted from uk.srichinmoyraces.org
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"I will definitely be running another one- fear of the unknown has been washed away"
My first marathon! (aka total boredom)
So, Reminiscing about"THE MARATHON"-
No Blinding Light
No Spiritual Breakthroughs
No Afterglow from Accomplishment
Just Double Jetlag.
The Odyssey begins with my flying into the USA the evening before ‘The big M' due to circumstances beyond my control. Having an extremely late night, 3.75 hours of sleep- high on jet lag and starting at 7am the next morning - believe me, I would have planned this better if I could have.
Anyway, here I must admit I did not train - don't spit on me all at once! I have been steadily becoming more unfit and lazy as the years have progressed and somehow I have not worked through all the excuses in the book yet on why not to run.
So, the start was great! So many people- one was forced to do little snail hops- would have been quicker walking- but somehow looked totally defeatist at this point of the play. Jogged a bit. It was ages until we got to a sign post."At Last!" I thought. It was only 1 mile- GREAT!
I was very good and did not let the old mind tell me anything such as"ARE YOU CRAZY? You must be crazy- 1 mile, and you are dead- 1 mile! How are you going to do 25 more and some? You noo-noo! You Idiot! Give up now and sleep!"
So I just kept looking at the scenery around me. Thankfully it was very beautiful as we were running so early. The light and air felt very clean. Running with other people really helped kill the boredom. More of that later.
Also I would personally measure the 3 mile circuit so there would first be the extra pretty bit: in shade and light; then the first refreshment stand; another long run mainly in no shade but going on forever, with finally the second station that my friend was helping at- so I always got the biggest encouragement here (life saver). Then another pretty bit and finally one would hit the singers.
Here one was on the homeward strait and this was the best bit- as one would turn a corner and see cheering people in the distance coming very slowly closer. Even when the body was dead the pride would kick in which would carry one until after the crowd at least!
So this went on for a while. I ran until 12 miles and really decided that I was much happier walking! The force of self preservation (laziness) is strong within me!
I was very happy walking - I would get a little blue every now and then as so many people were passing me and distance took SO LONG. I would play the game of deliberately NOT looking at the mile signs so I would get a surprise later that would carry me a while on the large number I had run!
Then disaster struck. The mind and body just became bored. They wanted to do something different- anything different really - did not matter what! I was at 17 miles and I was So Bored that the last 3 miles had been torture. I just could not concentrate on turning the brain off. At this point unless something changed I was going to give up.
Luckily for me (not for him- hee-hee) my Father came over to say hi. And I blackmailed him to walk with me a while. I felt like a petulant teenager. I just kept repeating to him"I am SO BORED!!!!!!! I am not really tired, nothing hurts, I am just BORED!" He could not stop chuckling. I instructed him to tell me a story- anything NOT BORING- that he proceeded to do- very badly I may add!
Then he ended up keeping me company for the next 9 miles. Ho Ho! And people think I am a push over! Yak-Yak-Yak!
We chattered which was very nice and I was happy so I walked faster and faster. In the end we were walking at about a 12 minute pace! I was even overtaking some runners- Joy!
At the last straits my ego let me run and I was surprised at how much energy I had. I finished and sat down as soon as I could. Such joy to just sit!
Well conclusions- I never thought I would be crazy enough to even attempt this. But it is true. It is all in the mind. It is just a number. Anything can be achieved if we can just turn the brain switch to OFF! I will definitely be running another one- fear of the unknown has been washed away.
Who knows with a little bit of training this time I will try to attempt running the whole time. I will also plug my ears into music next time to force the brain to drain!
I was hoping for a little weight loss after- but no such luck- if anything I think I put some on with all the crisps I ate!
As I said at the beginning- there was no envelopment of light etc etc. But I surely felt that someone was being super-super kind and indulgent towards me up there. Wouldn't be the first time either!
Cross-posted from uk.srichinmoyraces.org
"I guess that my journey was just different"
Marathon Day
It's marathon day. I am standing at the rear of the field, waiting patiently for the race to start. I have not trained for this race, and have therefore promised myself a leisurely stroll in the countryside, empty of urgency, and of an indeterminate length which I consider to be flexible and open to re-adjustment at all times. 'Let's just see how it goes,' I say to myself. To me, everything at the beginning of the race is rather curious and incongruous - the aid stations, the large numbers of athletes in running clothes, the starting line, the number which I am pinning to myself. I'm not paying much attention to these things, as they are all vaguely disturbing and are somewhat spoiling my very pleasant illusion of informality.
So started the day on August 25, 2004 in upstate New York.
Now, before I go any further I should explain to you what I was even doing on that starting line, as you are most likely wondering by this point. The odd and inexplicable thing, even to myself, is that I actually enjoy these marathons alot. Even though I am so painfully slow; even though I am so challenged in the realms of dynamism, speed and discipline, I still love to simply cover distance. Part of me, inexplicably, loves that slow, patient crawl over the miles, and it feeds something inside me in a way that I can't even begin to understand, let alone explain.
So I began my journey cheerfully enough on that morning, even though I was such an unlikely candidate for the job by any usual and measurable criteria. And for nearly 7.5 hours thereafter I mostly just immersed myself in the beauty of the park. Now, if you were able to actually run that marathon, maybe you didn't have time to stop and stare. I did. I stared alot. Actually, I stared alot without stopping, which is just fine when you're travelling at my pace (no speed wobbles here). And so I gazed at the water and the reflections of the sun. I watched the geese and the swans, which seemed to be everywhere. I looked at the deer which grazed right by the side of the track once the faster runners had disappeared from the course. I watched what (if the world's animators are doing their jobs correctly) can only have been a chipmunk when it scampered across the path right in front of me.
So, I guess that my journey was just different. It wasn't to do with speed or targets or pacing. It certainly wasn't to do with the miles melting away under my feet, or even with the joyful action of running itself - as I mostly just had to walk. It was slow and clumsy, inelegant and laborious, and probably bordering on the pathetic by many people's standards. And yet how can I be remotely negative about that day? In my heart-of-hearts, really I can't. The surroundings were idyllic, I suffered no illness nor significant discomfort, and my whole being ended up deliciously exhausted by the sheer distance, a unique sensation which only the marathon distance or greater can yield up. And when, after 7 hours and 22 minutes, I finally staggered home, somebody even put a medal around my neck. Yes, it was all very good.
I have been lucky enough to complete, in my very limited way, all three of the Self-Transcendence Marathons which have been held in upstate New York, and I have to say that I really treasure this event. OK, I wish that I were not so painfully slow, and I wish that I had even an iota of discipline buried somewhere deep within my being so that I would train more thoroughly for the event. And yet, with all of these difficulties and incapacities of mine, I still wouldn't miss these marathons for the world. In conclusion, I really have to send my most sincere thanks to the organisers (who did all the hard work and didn't get to play), and my congratulations to all of the other participants, but particularly to those very few brave souls who were behind even me but somehow still managed to finish the race.
Sarada
It's marathon day. I am standing at the rear of the field, waiting patiently for the race to start. I have not trained for this race, and have therefore promised myself a leisurely stroll in the countryside, empty of urgency, and of an indeterminate length which I consider to be flexible and open to re-adjustment at all times. 'Let's just see how it goes,' I say to myself. To me, everything at the beginning of the race is rather curious and incongruous - the aid stations, the large numbers of athletes in running clothes, the starting line, the number which I am pinning to myself. I'm not paying much attention to these things, as they are all vaguely disturbing and are somewhat spoiling my very pleasant illusion of informality.
So started the day on August 25, 2004 in upstate New York.
Now, before I go any further I should explain to you what I was even doing on that starting line, as you are most likely wondering by this point. The odd and inexplicable thing, even to myself, is that I actually enjoy these marathons alot. Even though I am so painfully slow; even though I am so challenged in the realms of dynamism, speed and discipline, I still love to simply cover distance. Part of me, inexplicably, loves that slow, patient crawl over the miles, and it feeds something inside me in a way that I can't even begin to understand, let alone explain.
So I began my journey cheerfully enough on that morning, even though I was such an unlikely candidate for the job by any usual and measurable criteria. And for nearly 7.5 hours thereafter I mostly just immersed myself in the beauty of the park. Now, if you were able to actually run that marathon, maybe you didn't have time to stop and stare. I did. I stared alot. Actually, I stared alot without stopping, which is just fine when you're travelling at my pace (no speed wobbles here). And so I gazed at the water and the reflections of the sun. I watched the geese and the swans, which seemed to be everywhere. I looked at the deer which grazed right by the side of the track once the faster runners had disappeared from the course. I watched what (if the world's animators are doing their jobs correctly) can only have been a chipmunk when it scampered across the path right in front of me.
So, I guess that my journey was just different. It wasn't to do with speed or targets or pacing. It certainly wasn't to do with the miles melting away under my feet, or even with the joyful action of running itself - as I mostly just had to walk. It was slow and clumsy, inelegant and laborious, and probably bordering on the pathetic by many people's standards. And yet how can I be remotely negative about that day? In my heart-of-hearts, really I can't. The surroundings were idyllic, I suffered no illness nor significant discomfort, and my whole being ended up deliciously exhausted by the sheer distance, a unique sensation which only the marathon distance or greater can yield up. And when, after 7 hours and 22 minutes, I finally staggered home, somebody even put a medal around my neck. Yes, it was all very good.
I have been lucky enough to complete, in my very limited way, all three of the Self-Transcendence Marathons which have been held in upstate New York, and I have to say that I really treasure this event. OK, I wish that I were not so painfully slow, and I wish that I had even an iota of discipline buried somewhere deep within my being so that I would train more thoroughly for the event. And yet, with all of these difficulties and incapacities of mine, I still wouldn't miss these marathons for the world. In conclusion, I really have to send my most sincere thanks to the organisers (who did all the hard work and didn't get to play), and my congratulations to all of the other participants, but particularly to those very few brave souls who were behind even me but somehow still managed to finish the race.
Sarada
Cross-posted from uk.srichinmoyraces.org
In July 2004 Karteek swam the 10.5 mile length of Windermere from North to South - I was privileged to accompany him in my canoe, along with crewman Jim. Here is Karteek's account of the swim.
Swimming Lake Windermere. (Notes from a swimmer accompanying a pair attempting to canoe the length of the lake. )
Roger and I had discussed the possibility of lake Windermere the previous year. It amounts to a 10.5 mile swim through picturesque mountain scenery in water with a summer temperature of 14 to 15 degrees. Last weekend everything finally came together. An unusual event featuring a musical concert led by Suswara in a vast candle lit cave in one of the hills overlooking the lake brought together about 15 disciples. Roger had brought up his canoe and together with Jim who would act as paddler we set about making a few modifications. As things stood the canoe was liable to capsize drowing the crew and more worryingly sending swimming gear, phones and cameras to the bottom of the lake. This was cunningly solved by the the addition of a spar and two empty plastic containers attached to the ends. The addition of a copper pole with an orange flag fluttering on top completed the safety requirements set down by the lake warden.
I had contacted them about the swim expecting to find all sorts of red tape about being allowed to swim in the lake. They were actually extremely supportive and went as far as suggesting the best route and direction. This would be to hug the shoreline and keep to the east of the islands in the middle close to where the steamers ran. The prevailing wind is normally from the south but the weather forecast was predicting a north westerly breeze so we elected to start from the north. In order to bring the canoe back afterwards this meant leaving one car at the other end. I spent a restless night in the Youth Hostel the night before as one often does before these events. It was hard to sleep and this was not helped by the springs in youth hostel beds that creak madly each time you so much as breathe. Poor Jim in the bed below was probably cursing me.
With regard to the swim I was fairly confident that I could complete the distance and the water temperature was quite pleasant compared to the freezing north sea that I had been training in over the previous two weeks. I had completed longer and more arduous swims but that knowledge does nothing to dispel the butterflies and anxious moments. On the morning I think my helpers were so inspired and enthusiastic about getting going that there was no time for any doubts or delays. By 8.30 the canoe was in the water and loaded up with hot thermos flasks, warm clothing and snacks for those in and out of the water.
It was a beautiful sunny day and as expected there was a nice breeze coming down behind us making our makeshift flag look quite regal against the lush green hills. Five minutes later I jumped in to the lake clad in swimming trunks and my yellow cap. As best as I could I made for a castle on the other side. From that point on Roger had decided that the best route would be to follow the shoreline down to the islands at the half way point. As I brought my head round to each side to breathe there would be that wonderful pure smell of fresh water tinged with cold vegetation and then I would look down into the dark green water and see the tiny specks of plant matter looming up toward me. When the sun shone the surface of the water went a light green colour against the dark green of the depths and the little specks in the water seemed to stream past my goggles. The water had a curious faint sweetness I could taste when the drops sometimes entered my mouth as I breathed to each side.
The experience of swimming in fresh water is markedly different from the sea. On the lake you are surrounded by beautiful scenery and a whole array of things of interest. There are woodlands and large houses at the end of immaculate lawns stretching down to the water. The tree lined pathways with private landing jetties and little islands lend wa magical quality to it. In the sea on the other hand a lot of the time there is no view and you spend your time looking down into a cold grey murk. In addition to that you can be made nauseous and sea sick by the movement of the waves. Then there is the salt which causes chafing and your tongue and mouth to swell from the drops of sea water that you inevitably swallow. Of course this is not the only side to the sea, there is the sheer exhilaration of swimming in the waves and the feeling of being at one with the elements. Sometimes if swimming near the coast there can be beautiful views of cliffs and the deep blue skies against the shimmering sun drenched surf. The salt water also makes you more buoyant which is easier on the muscles over a longer distance. Whatever the case you enter into a very different environment as a swimmer. You may be only metres away from friends and support but you feel in another world emotionally.
Water has always been associated with the feelings and deeper intuitive urges of our nature. Your view is restricted to looking out of goggles that are often misted up and distort the vision at the best of times. As you twist your head to one side to breathe you only have a split second to interpret what you see. A few seconds later you have another chance to build up a better idea as you twist your head back again but this time you may be lower or higher down due to the waves and the object of your attention may have disappeared. What may have looked like an elephant just behind you turns out to be an island in the distance and what appeared to be something like the decorated ceiling of a church just to one side of you turns out to be some poles on the boat with some light reflected off a window. The feeling of confusion caused by goggles and movement of water is further exacerbated by the fact that you are in an almost soundless environment under your swimming cap. In fact I've found that low flying military jets overhead are about the only thing that can break into that space. What you do hear is your own breathing as you lift your head up to inhale and then a soothing surging sound as you exhale sending a stream of bubbles into the murkiness of it all.
On the emotional and psychological level there is a similar stirring up of feelings. There is the sense of isolation as well as the feeling of being burdened and having a task to fulfil that others around you seem to be free from. You wish you could be the man strolling along the beach or the tourist hanging over the rails of a small ferry. All the time you know that there is no escape and that you cannot stop and pack it all in. It is cold and uncomfortable and the times and distances seem too much. Inevitably you ask yourself if there is any point in the whole thing. You are not in extreme discomfort but enough not to want to continue for another 5 hours or 10 hours or however long it is likely to take. Feelings towards family, friends and loved ones are thrown into sharp relief as you realise just how important they are to you and how painful it would be to lose them or cause them any suffering. These worries, fears and anxieties seem to revolve about as your mind moves from one thought to another but they slowly give way as you get bursts of energy and moments of intense joy and well being.
As the event progresses and you have some mileage and time under your belt the goal comes into a clearer focus. Physical tiredness and muscle ache start to set in but you know deep down that you will complete the distance. Time starts to pass by much more quickly and the tricky feelings and emotions seem to fade away leaving you in touch with a core of inner strength. There is a curious relationship between helper and swimmer in the early stages. As soon as you start and especially at the beginning you feel very dependent on the helpers who are with you. They are your lifeline to normality and to you they are in a safe zone away from this battleground of fears, isolation and physical discomfort. You really want them to take control of looking after you, telling you when it it is time for your drinks and deciding on the route and everything to do with the outer body of the event. However as a helper you feel quite beholden to the swimmer as if they are the ones in charge and you are just secondary. You fear doing something wrong or disturbing them in some way. This couldn't be further from the truth as all you want is their feeling of oneness and support for you. You don't want them to feel any anxiety towards you. I've noticed on the channel swims that the best thing is when they are very visible and are looking at you. If they disappear from sight it is quite depressing and best is also if they appear happy and not concerned. In your slightly confused state if you see them standing up and pointing at something you immediately start to think there must be something dangerous up ahead like a submerged live electricity cable that has surfaced just in front of you or some unusual and dangerous sea creature.
We made it across to the shore with the castle quite quickly. This was a relief as we had to pass across the route taken by the steamers carrying hundreds of people up and down the lake. By chance over that half hour period we had obviously managed to go in between the sailings. Much was going through my mind but I felt reasonably strong as we went in close to the densely wooded shore.
After about an hour I signalled that it was time for a hot carbohydrate drink and for them to decide when each hour had passed and to inform me the drinks were ready. Jim smiled and handed me the white drinking bottle which was full to the brim. It was too much liquid but was probably good to take on plenty at this early stage. I told Jim that it could be much less and could be a wee bit warmer too next time. Luckily it was a calm and beautiful day which meant they were having a good time. By the time the next hour came along Roger was looking relaxed and was consulting the map to check our position and the best route. We were amongst some yachts and islands on the western side of the like next to the town of Windermere and Bowness. A welcome drink appeared and as I took it I noted that at that particular point I could touch the bottom with my toes. A few minutes earlier as I had been swimming I noticed long spindly weeds growing up from the bottom and gently scraping along my arms implying it was quite shallow. In a lake that is not an unpleasant feeling whereas at sea if it is not seaweed then it is usually the tendrils of a jelly fish which will result in a slight sting something similar to walking through stinging nettles. Having completed 2 hours I knew that the halfway point couldn't be far away and of course in my mind I imagined that it was possible that we had already crossed it. My energies seemed to go through a slight low but then I started to think that I had completed 7 or 8 swims of 9 miles in the pool and this was only 1.5 miles longer so it should be possible. My speed picked up quite well as we left the islands and headed out into the middle of the lake. There seemed to be quite a few of the smaller steamers crusing by on either side of us. They were giving us a wide berth so the orange flag on the copper pole was standing us in good stead. When I gave it to Roger I realised it was a wonderful lightning conductor so we agreed that at the first clap of thunder we would ditch it. In fact the night before the forecast had mentioned thunder but there was certainly no sign of it. The canoe went through a small area in the middle of the lake bounded by 4 red buoys and a danger marker in the middle. I was suddenly scared to swim through this and was sure that it was some kind of submerged wreck full of explosives from the war but it turned out just to be a very shallow area as I looked down and saw brown sand underneath me. At the third hour I asked for some banana as I was starting to feel a bit hungry and was going through a slightly slow patch.
We rounded another headland and I noticed that the flag was flying in the other direction showing that the wind had changed to the south meaning that we were going into it. The water was certainly more choppy and they told me later that it was hard to paddle at this stage. A small motor boat appeared and a man watched us for a while before saying a few things to Roger. I thought he was complaining about something but decided not to stop and just to plough on. Later I heard it had been the lake warden coming to check everything was alright and if we needed help. He had said we were making good progress and had completed about 7 miles. I didn't hear any of this of course as I prefer not to know the distances - that way I can invent things in my mind and don't have to deal with the reality of it.
At the 4th hour we were nestling in close to the eastern shore near some jetties and canoeists. The wind was rustling in the trees near by as I took a longer break and a good long drink. I started to feel quite a muscle ache now and definitely slowed down. In my head I had decided it was probably about another 3 miles or 1.5 hours swimming. After 20 minutes Roger informed me there was only another 2km left. I calculated that it was only 8 lengths more than a mile in the swimming pool and it would only take me 40 minutes. Actually thinking about it now I realise I had miscalculated and in fact in the pool it would have taken me about 35 minutes at the most.
My stroke rate went up quite considerably and I felt strong again. It's amazing how the sense of joy and relief at hearing that kind of news can take away all your physical aches and pains. I saw a building in the distance in the sunlight and Roger informed me that it was on the other side of the lake from where we would finish but about the same distance. I know from experience that these things can seem close but the harder you swim the more they start to recede into the distance. It's almost as if you have to get close enought to the object to seewhat it really is before you realise how far away it is.
After 5 hours and 18 minutes we reached the landing jetty at Fell Foot park which marks the end of the lake. Roger and Jim navigated the canoe onto the landing stage and gave me thunderous applause although it was really them that deserved it. There had been a great bonding as they canoed the length of the lake and I swam it. Each time they pulled on the paddles I watched and felt that we were making progress. It's a great way to help in an event rather than being in a car or sitting down on the sidlines. At that point all that remained was to get dry, load up the canoe and jump into Roger's car. Everything had gone so smoothly that the fact Roger had left his car key in his bag at the other end of the lake was passed off as being just 'the nature of the beast'. (Note from Roger - if the photos I took actually come out, they will be added shortly!)
Cross-posted from uk.srichinmoyraces.org
" I intend to make a very serious comeback!"
I was still suffering from having just arrived the previous night by plane from England, but I can say that the marathon certainly cured my jet lag!
At first I was holding back as I'd been injured and hadn't been able to run at all for four weeks before the marathon. I was sticking to a ten minute pace then in the third lap I joined Suswara who was doing a run/walk thing; I started doing that too and it really helped.
I turned he race into a social event, finding different people and groups of people to run with - some complained that every time they saw me I was talking or laughing and seemed to be having way too much fun. Whatever way you need to take to get to the finish, I'l take it!
I ran with Suswara, Karteek and Homagni for a long time. It was great; I had a very good experience. Usually the energy just runs out at some point, but this time as I was holding myself back a bit there were no major fatigue problems. I finished 26 minutes slower than my previous marathon, last year's Self Transcendence Marathon, but I was happy (considering I'd got off that plane at 8pm the night before, and I had a cold as well!). Back in England I'd told so many people that I was going to run a marathon that I just had to do it. Besides, if you don't run you have to be a helper and stay for three hours after the race clearing up - I prefer the pain of running to the pain of clean up!
I was very happy afterwards, recovered quickly and felt fresh again very soon after finishing.
My future plans are go get back to my old form and run 3.30 again. I intend to make a very serious comeback!
(editor's note: the above is transcribed from an interview with Devashishu in Suswara's sitting room, and as I don't do shorthand it isn't quite word for word, but its close! Thanks to Devashishu for allowing us the honour of an interview - we know its not easy for him to queeze it into his hectic work schedule.)
Cross-posted from uk.srichinmoyraces.org
"I can still hardly believe that I did it"
On 25th August I completed the Self Transcendence Marathon. Now this might not sound like such a big deal to many but for me it was a minor miracle. My last marathon was the New York in 2000, which I completed in a P.B. of 4.56.00. However, physically I struggled to recover from the race and for a few months running was problematic. When I was finally feeling myself again, I went out one morning full of enthusiasm, over did it and promptly got the first serious running injury of my life! The injury was to my hip flexor muscle, although it took me a year and numerous sports therapists to establish this fact. For the first year I couldn't even walk far without pain and virtually all exercise caused problems, so it was a case of pilates (good but dull) or nothing. During the second year cycling became possible and walking easier but running was still a complete no-no. It wasn't until half way through the third year, after months of treatment from a brilliant cranial osteopath, that I was finally able to start running again. Even then I had to be very careful, sticking to short runs a couple of times a week. Finally at the start of this year, I was introduced to the Egoscue exercises which focus on rebalancing posture, putting right bad habits that you have had for years. Through doing these regularly I was able to run more frequently and with less discomfort. At this point, encouraged by Sri Chinmoy, I started to do the Self Transcendence races again. It gave me so much joy to see my very slow times gradually improve over the weeks and I will never forget the feeling of absolute euphoria and gratitude when I completed my first 4 mile race. So it was that in April, with some trepidation, I signed up for the Self Transcendence Marathon due to take place in August. I knew that I would not be as prepared for it as I would normally like (four months is not really long enough to prepare for a marathon when 5 miles seems like an almighty challenge!) but I felt that if I could fit in some long runs over the summer, then I would at least be able to complete the course. Well, the long runs never materialised. For the first time in my life, I seemed to spend the whole of the summer under the weather. What with two infections, an upset back and stress at work, I arrived in New York with a maximum of 7 miles achieved on any single run. Not good! The thought of the impending marathon terrified me and filled my every waking and sleeping thought. In vain did I try to suppress images of the pain I was going to endure on August 25th. But I kept telling myself ' just start, you can always pull out when it gets too tough'. Not starting the race wasn't an option, I had promised I would do this so as long as I wasn't sick or injured, I would be on that start line. The dawn of the 25th finally arrived. Actually we were all up and out before the dawn to get to the 7am start on time. Anyway, I got to the start in time for Sri Chinmoy's pre race message. Unfortunatley I couldn't hear it as I was at the back of 750 runners but I felt his peaceful, meditative presence and as I crossed the start line, I saw his light flooded smile. After the first lap my body settled into the running and before I knew it, I was at the 8 mile mark, from then on it was all self transcendence as I was going further than I had run in nearly 4 years. It certainly wasn't hard to feel inspired as this course has to be the most perfect marathon course in the world. Each loop is 3 miles; long enough for you to feel you've achieved something with each lap, but short enough for you to survive until the medical tent if you get any problems. And boy is it beautiful. The course takes you round a lake, with the water glistening invitingly, and all around is nothing but trees. Only a couple of points are unshaded, so although it was a hot 'New York in August' day, to my knowledge no-one suffered from heat exhaustion. There are drink stations at each mile where you are guaranteed a roar of encouragement and once a lap you get to see Sri Chinmoy's huge smile, I was quite certain that this alone was enough to get me round the next lap. I also had my mother at the main drink/food station and although she claims to have done virtually nothing, her support was invaluable. Pretty soon I was at the half way point, okay so the leader was on his final lap but I didn't care. I knew that I would finish. Yes the second half was going to be considerably slower and I could already feel my body protesting, but I was going to complete the race! In all sincerity, I have rarely been happier. I'll admit that miles 15 to 20 were tough, but once I knew I only had two laps to go it was all joy. When I crossed the finish line in a personal worst of 6.09.00, I had the biggest grin on my face. When Sri Chinmoy called me up immediatley after to take my photo, I had tears running down my face as I tried to offer him all my gratitude. If it hadn't been for his ceaseless encouragement and a good bit of grace from above, there is no way I'd have done a marathon this year. I also had the joy of seeing my sister complete her first marathon (noticeably quicker than me) and my father complete his umpteenth despite an ongoing hip problem. It was a really great day. Next year I will have to concentrate on time again and try to improve on my P.B., but for now, weeks later, I can still hardly believe that I did it. I work in a running shop (Run and Become, Become and Run) and as customers start to ask my time, I will proudly announce 6.09.00. Sure a few may look disgusted, but I know that the majority will share in my joy of completion. If nothing else, none of our customers need ever feel intimidated by our shop as they know they can all complete a marathon quicker than at least one of the staff! I almost forgot to mention the real miracle of the day; although just about every part of my body screamed with pain at some point, my old hip injury remained completely silent. If anyone is looking for a marathon to do next August in New York, believe me, this is the best marathon you will ever find. Shankara Smith London
Cross-posted from uk.srichinmoyraces.org
"At almost every turn there is some sort of inspiration."
The great day arrived and as usual no time to fret or worry, which is good. To be at the lake at dawn is totally awesome. The colour of the sky, all pink, is gently reflected on the lake, so beautiful. A perfect start I would say. For a while I drink in the fragrance of the early morning, the smell of the trees, and the beauty that is all around me.
Then it's time to go to the start line.
This time, I couldn't hear the pre-race prayer, but I could feel it. The prayer and silence at the beginning seeps into you and carries you along.
Away we all go, smiling, happy faces. At almost every turn there is some sort of inspiration. The singers, people clapping and cheering you on, the water stations all so encouraging and cheerful. I really liked the poem reading just beyond the main aid station, I am not very fast and I have to stop quite a lot, and I had been out there for about five hours. With three laps still to go, can you imagine my joy, when the poem at that time was: "Never give up. The distance is shortening, the Goal is beckoning". (Sri Chinmoy). It was like being lifted and it carried me right to the end.
Any marathon has to be an amazing experience, but the one at Rockland Lake is truly special. Sure, there are bits that are tough, but the joy, inspiration and support that is given makes it a really remarkable one.
Many, many thanks to all you lovely people who supported and encouraged us, who fed us and took such first class care of us.
For the Grace that allowed me to finish, thank-you Sri Chinmoy.
Then it's time to go to the start line.
This time, I couldn't hear the pre-race prayer, but I could feel it. The prayer and silence at the beginning seeps into you and carries you along.
Away we all go, smiling, happy faces. At almost every turn there is some sort of inspiration. The singers, people clapping and cheering you on, the water stations all so encouraging and cheerful. I really liked the poem reading just beyond the main aid station, I am not very fast and I have to stop quite a lot, and I had been out there for about five hours. With three laps still to go, can you imagine my joy, when the poem at that time was: "Never give up. The distance is shortening, the Goal is beckoning". (Sri Chinmoy). It was like being lifted and it carried me right to the end.
Any marathon has to be an amazing experience, but the one at Rockland Lake is truly special. Sure, there are bits that are tough, but the joy, inspiration and support that is given makes it a really remarkable one.
Many, many thanks to all you lovely people who supported and encouraged us, who fed us and took such first class care of us.
For the Grace that allowed me to finish, thank-you Sri Chinmoy.
Cross-posted from uk.srichinmoyraces.org
"What helped me a lot was that there were people cheering you up, many of them I didn't know at all"
This year I did my second Self Transcendence Marathon which was also my second ever marathon. I was looking forward to it; to see whether I was going to improve my time because I had done a bit more training than last year. Maybe it was not to the standard recommended in various training programmes but working till 6pm and then going to English classes didn't give me that much time.
Anyway, I felt very happy, getting up early in the morning (3.45am) in order to allow myself time to get to Rockland Lake. It was a very peaceful morning and when we came to the start, Sri Chinmoy was also there to encourage us and give us his inner blessing. The race started and everyone was full of energy, about 750 of us. I was trying to set my own pace which would keep me running as much as possible. I was stopping only at the water stations, which were positioned about every mile, to get some isotonic drink and water alternately in order not to dehydrate myself. Seaweed providing salt was also available, so these things helped me considerably throughout the race.
I passed 15 miles and after that my muscles became very stiff and tense, which was also painful, so I had to do some stretching exercises and also some walking which was in fact more painful for me because my knees were hurting more than when I ran. Some unexplainable pain in my left arch was also present some of the time, so my battle actually started after I'd done half marathon. What helped me a lot was that there were people cheering you up, many of them I didn't know at all. Sri Chinmoy was also there and every 3 miles, which was one lap, I could see him and express my inner gratitude to him. The second to last lap was the worst because I felt like I had enough strength to finish just one more lap and then go and have a rest.
Luckily I didn't give up and managed somehow to complete the marathon. I'm sure there were people who probably had worse pain than I did and I really admire them. It took much longer for them to finish the marathon but they did it. My time was 5.50.19 and it was half an hour batter than my previous result. I wanted to do it much better but then I was very, very happy that I did it at all. I am defiantly going to train harder for the next one. Sri Chinmoy wrote a considerable amount of poems dedicated to running, some of them set to music. They are really inspiring and sometimes I sing them during my run which gives me great joy and encouragement to continue and transcend myself with what I am already doing.
Sladjana Vracar
Belgrade
Cross-posted from uk.srichinmoyraces.org
Shankara Smith, co-organiser and scoreboard official, describes the race.
For the first time I was able to attend the race from the start. Usually I work at Run and Become during the day and then go on to the race to do the midnight to midday counting shift. But this time I was lucky.
It was interesting to see how the race started easily with a low key atmosphere and then, as darkness descended, became more intense and electric. It was as if with the challenge of running through the night came an extra strength and energy. At this time the rest of the world ceases to exist and its just the runners, counters and helpers and together they create this amazing atmosphere. I always feel it as soon as I arrive at the track in the evening after work and found myself a little surprised in the first few hours because it wasn't there. Then I realised it only comes when it is needed. Ultras are really unlike any other races. The competition is between the runner and the distance not the individual competitors. A successful 24 hour race depends on everyone working together: the lap counters have to communicate with the runners and offer support, encouragement (and accurate lap recording!); the runners support each other and it is not uncommon to see pairs going round together in the middle of the night, keeping each other awake and entertained. Then the helpers and track side refreshment team need to offer not only food and drink but smiles and cheers.
This year my job was score board. It took me about 20mins each hour to update the score board so that the runners could see how far they had gone. Then the rest of the hour was free, so I could check out how things were going in the counting area, chat to the refreshment people, or just watch the runners (quite hypnotic, you can do it for hours!). I got to see the runners like Tarit Stott, digging deep down to find the power to get back on the track after injury threatened muscles or stomach upsets had taken them into the warmth of the medical room. And at about 6.30am we were all rewarded for night of no sleep with the most beautiful sunrise, I have never seen a sky painted so beautifully in pink and blue. Then before I knew it we had reached 24 hours and the race was done for another year.
I have never run a 24 Hour race but I have helped at many over the years and each time the race draws to an end, I feel such happiness and pride in the runners. I may not have run a step but I have been part of the support group and feel I can fully share in the runners' achievements. Its a case of real oneness. Its then that I appreciate why Sri Chinmoy puts such emphasis on these long races. Not only do people transcend their limitations but everyone involved works together and created an atmosphere of enthusiasm, support and respect. All things that this world needs more of right now.
Shankara Smith
Cross-posted from uk.srichinmoyraces.org
Abichal Watkins,45, from Pontypool,Wales completed the 3100 mile race for the third time in 58 days+16:22:04. He was the thirteenth finisher, tying the record from 2005.He was greeted by a large throng of friends, well-wishers and fellow runners.
Details of the race including daily reports are online at: 3100 Mile Race Index
Abichal's profile is on the runner's biography pages.
Cross-posted from uk.srichinmoyraces.org
About the author:
Rupantar has been the race director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team since 1985, having been asked by Sri Chinmoy to serve in that capacity. As well as working on the big races the US Marathon Team organise each year - the 3100 Mile Race and the Six and 10 Day Race - he also spends a considerable amount of time archiving the Marathon Team's 40 year history on this website.The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team was formed in the fall of 1977 by members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre, who were students of the Indian meditation master, author, poet and philosopher Sri Chinmoy. The athletic looking teacher had been a champion decathlete, sprinter ,soccer player and volleyball coach at the spiritual community where he lived for 20 years. He had begun requesting his students to place more emphasis on their physical fitness as a means of enhancing and complimenting their practice of meditation. He felt that running was a perfect sport to enhance fitness and well being. Many had begun to practice athletics, particularly long distance running, walking, cycling and swimming. In 1976, 33 members of the Sri Chinmoy Centre organized and ran a continuous , non-stop relay through all 50 states, carrying a flaming torch and calling themselves the Liberty Torch Bicentennial Relay. Sri Chinmoy wished the runners to spread the message of dynamism and kindle the flames of love of country. They covered nearly 9000 miles of running, many runners averaging 100 miles a week in the process. Soon members of other countries conducted relays to show that spiritual people could also be dynamic, responsible members of their communities. We also entered 200 members in the 24 hour bike race in Central Park, garnering numerous awards and developing an appetite for training and racing.
As a service to the running community, the Marathon Team was formed to organize races of various distances. Sri Chinmoy felt that holding races for the public would give the running community joy and an avenue for friendly competition. He encouraged his students to train daily and compete often. On October 2, 1977, our first race of ten miles was held in Greenwich Ct. To make it special Sri Chinmoy had us offer split times every mile, have water and refreshment drinks every mile as well, and to provide enthusiastic support along the whole course. We even had singers line portions of the course and sing uplifting, encouraging songs about running and transcending.
A few weeks later about 60 members of the SCMT participated in the five borough New York City Marathon, starting a tradition that still flourishes today. Sri Chinmoy himself began long distance training, running every day and practicing for any and every local race. His enthusiasm was contagious. We began to search for courses in parks and on the streets of New York. We would even look for the hilliest stretches of road for important resistance training. A giant chart with everyone's weekly mileage was erected on the wall of our meeting hall and gym. Much inspiration was gained from seeing our daily and weekly totals in full view of everyone. Sri Chinmoy began to train for marathons and eventually ran 22 himself, with a best of 3:55:07 at the Heartwatchers Marathon near Toledo, Ohio, on March 25, 1979, at age 47.
We also conducted a monthly lecture series featuring famous local and national runners, who gave talks about their running and encouraged us in our training. Some illustrious athletes included Ted Corbitt, Joe Kleinerman, Nina Cusick, Tom Fleming, Cahit Yeter, Craig Virgin, Bob Beamon, Calvin Smith and Carl Lewis.
In August of 1978 Sri Chinmoy suggested a 47 mile race in celebration of his birthday of 47 years. We hastily organized a 47 mile invitational race amongst the students, with help and advice from Ted Corbitt, the legendary runner and father of ultrarunning in the USA. Fifty-six out of 57 starters finished the race. Our interest in ultramarathons was being created. This particular race provided a springboard for excursions into longer and more demanding events. Talent began to emerge as well from our own group. Virendra Gauthier's time of five hours nine minutes still stands for the men, while Dipali Cunningham heads the women's standard in just over 6 hours, as well as having won the race 14 times for the ladies. Sri Chinmoy himself entered the race a few times and completed it in 1979 within the 13 hour limit with his inspiring determination.
As the number of competitors began to grow so did the number of races. 1979 saw our first marathon and half-marathon offered in Flushing Meadow Park, as well as shorter races and even triathlons. In 1980 we formed our first 24 hour race in Greenwich, Ct. In this race Marcy Schwam , the pioneer American runner, set three women's world track records for 50 miles, 100km, and 100 miles. The following year in the same race Cahit Yeter from New York set a North American 24 hour best of 155+ miles, and Sue Medaglia set a women's 24 hour world record of over 126 miles.
Branches of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team were formed in 20 other countries, and have expanded to nearly 100 around the world. Today, the Sri Chinmoy Triathlon in Austrailia is the National Long Course Championship, as well as the 100km road race. Our 24 hour races in Europe are highly respected, particularly in England, France, Germany, and Switzerland. In the 1993 24 hour event in Basel, Switzerland, some 120 runners from 15 countries took part, with the President of the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), Malcolm Campbell, calling it " the best 24 hour event ever staged".
The cornerstone of Sri Chinmoy's philosophy is the expression of self-transcendence- going beyond personal limits and reaching new levels of inner and outer perfection. This vision of the complete seeker-runner was also practiced by his students, many of them discovering talents they didn't know they possessed. Some began to train for marathons and ultramarathons, others began long distance swimming training.
As the enthusiasm for running began to grow, Sri Chinmoy felt that standard procedures for his races must be kept. We began to organize races on one-mile or two kilometer loops, using flat courses, so that runners could always expect a chance to do well. Water and refreshment drinks were to always be available, as well as accurate scoring and enthusiastic support. The number of our races began to grow, as weekly two mile events and sprints for children and seniors were offered. We also began to offer much longer races- 70 miles, 100 miles, 24 hours and 5 days.
I984 saw the appearance of the Greek legend Yiannis Kouros at the New York Road Runners Six Day Race, in which he set new standards for 48 hours, and broke the 100 year record for six days by running 635 miles. A few months later Yiannis came back to New York to run our 24 hour race, in which he established new road bests for 100 miles in 11hours 46 minutes, and smashed the 24 hour absolute best by 7 miles with 177 miles. A year later in the same race, but running in the teeth of high winds from Hurricane Gloria, Yiannis broke his own record with 178 miles. In the 1997 Adelaide Sri Chinmoy 24 hour Race, Yiannis Kouros set the new and probably unbreakable world record of 188+ miles( 305 km).
In 1985 we offered our first 1000 mile race in Flushing Meadow Park, the first of its kind in this hemishere in this century. Three runners actually completed the distance in the allowed timeframe. Leading the group was American distance pioneer Don Choi from San Francisco, California.
The Marathon Team also began holding monthly marathons at Flushing Meadow Park, hoping to inspire the runners to increase their capacity at the 26.2 mile distance. The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team also developed a special and unique relationship with the New York Road Runners Club, the largest running club and organization in the U.S. We would often help them with the scoring of their National championship 100 mile race, as well as their 6 day affair at Randall's Island. We have often participated in the New York Marathon, having had over 350 SCMT runners the last several years, as well as offering support in its organization and providing aid stations along the course and clean-up in Central Park after the race.
Sri Chinmoy took up weightlifting in 1985, slowly working his way up to eventual massive numbers of pounds with his special one arm lift, plus adding unusual lifts and feats of strength. His chronic knee injury prevented long distance running, but did not terminate his boundless energy for excelling at any sport. We had a special 200 mile race in honor of Sri Chinmoy's 200 lb one arm lift, in March of 1986, in which over 30 men and women ran 200 miles in his honor. In January of 1987 he eventually lifted 7,063 lbs in a miraculous one arm lift.
We began to offer track and field meets for athletes over age- 40, men and women, with our annual Sri Chinmoy Masters Games in 1985. Many former regional and national champions and some former Olympians including discus legend Al Oerter have taken part in the Games. Similar events are now held on the West Coast and in Europe. Sri Chinmoy himself practiced sprints and throwing events, as well as weightlifting, a number of one -arm lifting and calf-raise events. In 1991 Sri Chinmoy surpassed his best times in this country for the 100 meters, 200m and 400m set in Puerto Rico in 1984.
In 1987 Sri Chinmoy increased his vision of the running world. He felt that a longer race of 1,300 miles would inspire a challenge for the ultramarathon runners. The Ultra Trio was born- a set of three ultra races of 700, 1,000 and 1,300 miles. World class distance specialists began to attempt the increasingly difficult mileages. This unique race is still contested every fall.
That same year a new running adventure was born- the Sri Chinmoy Oneness -Home Peace Run, a relay run through 55 countries around the world, carrying a flaming torch for peace. The public was encouraged to participate, and local and national officials embraced the event. Over 250,000 people ran with the torch and took part in ceremonies that designated peace as a primary objective for world harmony- one person at a time, one step at a time. The Peace Run is now a biennial event, attracting millions of participants in over 70 countries. The U.S. event runs through all the 50 states, with thousands of runners joining in. Politicians,monarchs, heads of state, celebrities and people from all walks of life take part and hold the torch.
Sri Chinmoy's students began to excel in running and swimming as well. To this day 18 of his students have swum the English Channel, and several others hold or have held distance records for running in various countries, including the U.S., Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Hungary, and Japan. Others have recently taken up mountain climbing as a means of testing their limits.
The Marathon Team held national and world championship events in 1988 and 1989 at Flushing Meadow Park. The 1988 1,000 mile event was the I.A.U. (International Association of Ultrarunners) World Championship. Yiannis Kouros of Greece ran 1,000 miles in 10 days,10 hours, breaking the previous record by 1 1/2 days. Suprabha Beckjord of Washington D.C. won the women's 700 mile race in American Record time. Sandra Barwick of New Zealand set a new world standard for women at 1000 miles in 14 days,20 hours. In 1989 Rae Clark of California set a new U.S. standard for 100 miles and Ann Trason did the same for the ladies in the 24 hour event, besting the entire field for the National Championship, as well as setting a new world women's standard for 100 miles. Later that year Al Howie of Scotland became the first person to complete the 1,300 mile distance in a certified race (17 days 9 hours).
1989 saw the women's world best for 1000 miles claimed by Suprabha Beckjord as she broke Sandra Barwick's time by a mere 27 minutes. In 1991 Ann Trason broke the women's world best for 100 miles in 13 hours 47 minutes in our 100 mile road race. The 1991 Ultra Trio had a field of over 60 runners for all three races- unheard of considering the great distances being attemted. Al Howie came back to break his own record for 1,300 miles by 13 hours and Sandra Barwick became the first woman to run 1,300 miles in a certified race; enroute she smashed the 1,000 miles standard by two days! In 1992 Suprabha Beckjord returned to join the super elite group who have run 1,300 miles in a certified race, which currently totals ten men and six women. In the 1993 1,300 miler, Istvan Sipos of Hungary broke Al Howie"s record by nearly two hours. In 1994 Antana Locs of Canada won the 1300 miler overall, and was the first person to ever complete the 1300 three times. In 1995 Georgs Jermolajevs of Latvia broke the world mark for 1300 miles in 16 days 14 hours.
In 1996, the Marathon Team increased the Seven Day Race to 10 days. Latvian Georgs Jermolajevs won by a slim margin over Australian Dipali Cunningham, 725 miles to 723. A more astounding event took place in the summer of 1996. Six runners toed the line on a flat paved course around a park and a school in the neighborhoods of Jamaica, Queens, New York, only a few blocks from our Headquarters. The worlds' longest race of 2700 miles lasted 47 days, with a remarable five finishers out of six runners. Georgs Jermolajevs of Latvia again prevailed, setting new world marks for 3000km and 4000km as well as 2700 miles, in 40 days 11 hours. Suprabha Beckjord of Washington ,DC finished first for the women in 43 days, one hour.
In 1997 Sri Chinmoy increased the world's longest certified race to 3,100 miles, hoping the runners would again transcend their capacities and inspire the running world . Edward Kelley of Huntington Beach,Ca. won the race in 47 days, 15 hours, even running an additional 7 miles to reach the magical 5000 km barrier. Suprabha Beckjord followed Kelley two days later to finish the 3100 miles as the first woman ever to run that great distance in a certified race. 1998 saw Istvan Sipos of Hungary smash the 3100 record in 46 days, 17 hours. Miss Beckjord repeated as women's champion with another sterling effort in 49 days, 14 hours. In 1999, in the heat of a record hot July, Edward Kelley won the 3100 mile race in 48 days, 12 hours. Suprabha Beckjord also completed the distance for the third time. 2000 had only four starters, but also the youngest finisher in Ashprihanal Aalto, a 29 year old Finn who dominated the race in 47 days, 14 hours. Beckjord again finished, making it four in a row. Rimas Jakelaitis, a native of Lithuania, set a new 1300 mile world best time of 16 days+00:28:10 in another remarkable performance at Wards Island Park. In 2001, Dipali Cunningham from Australia returned to break the women's six-day road record with 510 miles. Ultra pioneer Ted Corbitt, 82, astounded the world by running 303 miles, an octegenarian record thst exceeded the previous record,his own, by 63 miles. Rimas Jakelaitis set a new 10 day event best of 901 miles as the field for the two events swelled to 59 runners. A month later, Ashprihanal Aalto repeated his 3100 mile victory in 48 days 10 hours. Suprabha Beckjord continued to amaze with her fifth finish in a row. In the last race of 2001, Paula Mairer rewrote the women's 1300 record with an astounding performance of 17 days,21 hours, breaking Sandra Barwick's ten year old record.
Madhupran Wolfgang Schwerk rewrote the record books in 2002 with an amazing 3100 mile race of 42 days+13:24:03- some four days under the previous record. In all, Schwerk broke 74 marks for miles, kms and days throughout. In the fall of 2002, Paula Mairer broke two women's world bests-1000 km and 700 miles, both marks set in 1991 by Sandra Barwick , in the 700 mile race of the Ultra Trio.
The horizons of the running world are still expanding according to the remarkable vision of Sri Chinmoy: Run and Become. Run to succeed in the outer world. Become to proceed in the inner world. As we attempt to manifest Sri Chinmoy"s dream for the continuous progress of mankind in all endeavors, we offer our best wishes to all the seeker- runners who share a dream of going where few have ever gone. The challenge and the joy of transcending is the greatest gift and the best opportunity at true satisfaction in human life. Our oneness with their efforts is our true joy.
Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team
Cross-posted from us.srichinmoyraces.org
Over the years Sri Chinmoy, an avid athlete and self-transcendence advocate, has written and spoken on numerous topis related to running and training. Enjoy the topics listed below.
Cross-posted from us.srichinmoyraces.org
Question: I find that sometimes I go through a period of making very good progress in sport; and then after some time everything falls apart and my training goes downhill.
Sri Chinmoy: It happens to everyone. Life is not always smooth sailing; it goes up and down. The main thing is to get satisfaction. In sport, when you touch a peak you are very happy. When you are unable to reach your peak, you should not feel that it is your fault. It is not that you have deliberately injured yourself. You have not said to your body, "I fed you so many times; now I want to starve you." If you are deliberately enjoying your lack of speed or lack of enthusiasm, then you are to be blamed. But if circumstances have led you to this condition, please try to maintain your equanimity and peace of mind. Feel that you are going through a phase that may last for three or four weeks, but that eventually it will pass. Try to think of the summit which you reached two or three weeks earlier, and try to remember the joy that you felt. Then you will see that the joy you got from your previous achievements will carry you through, and very soon you will not only reach but transcend your previous height. You are not fooling yourself; you are only bringing happiness into your system, and this happiness is confidence. Again, confidence itself is happiness.
Try to feel that your problem is just a small obstacle, a hurdle that you will soon overcome. Then you will be able to diminish the frustration that you now feel. Once you diminish your frustration, again in a week or so you will be able to regain your capacity. But if you maintain or increase your frustration, then the problem will linger. It may go on for two or three weeks.
Question: Always when I become very interested in the physical and playing sports, I injure myself to the point where I have to stop completely. Why does this happen?
Sri Chinmoy: What actually happens in your case is that when you enter into the physical world - playing tennis or other things - you do not give value to the physical as such. You remain in the mind. A portion of your existence you throw into the game and another portion you keep totally in the mind-world. It is like cutting yourself in half. You are keeping your body on the first floor, but your consciousness is always on the upper floor, in the mind. If you can direct more of your mental energy into the physical when you play, this will not happen. You want to play; you want to win. But actually the concentration of the mind, the real concentration, is not in the physical itself. You know that you are playing tennis, but the concentration that the body needs from the mind is not there. There is a gap. The body without concentration from the mind is helpless. So, when you play, do not think of your mental work. Your mind may not be aware that it is thinking of the wrong thing, but it is one thing not to be aware of doing the wrong thing and another thing to concentrate consciously on the right thing. Inside you and all around you there are many beings. Because there is a gap between the mind's concentration and the physical activity, these beings can attack the physical. They need not actually be wrong forces, but they may create unfortunate experiences in life.
Question: How can running help me overcome my spiritual weaknesses and impurities?
Sri Chinmoy: While you are running - especially when you are tired - you are much more conscious of your breathing. You are more aware of when you are inhaling and when you are exhaling. While running, when you inhale, you can consciously invoke divine energy to energize you. This divine energy energizes the willing reality in you and illumines the unlit reality in you so that you can become a perfect instrument of God. When you breathe in the divine energy, automatically it changes or transforms undivine forces into divine forces.
Each time you breathe in, if you can repeat just one time God's Name, or 'Supreme', or whatever divine name or form comes to mind, then that spiritual thought will increase your purity. Either it turns into purity within you or it grants purity to you. Then, when you breathe out, feel that a new eagerness and a new promise are going out from you to the Universal Consciousness. This new promise is nothing short of your sincere willingness and eagerness to become a good and perfect instrument of the Supreme.
Question: Should we run even when we are extremely tired?
Sri Chinmoy: As a rule, when we are extremely tired it is not advisable to run, for it will not help us in any way. At that time, running will be nothing but fatigue and self-destruction, and it will leave in our mind a bitter taste. But sometimes, even when we are not extremely tired, we feel that we are. At that time we are not actually physically tired. We are only mentally tired or emotionally tired, but the mind convinces us that we are physically tired. Our human lethargy is so clever! It acts like a rogue, a perfect rogue, and we get tremendous joy by offering compassion to our body. We make all kinds of justifications for the body's lethargy and make ourselves feel that the body deserves rest.
So we have to be sincere to ourselves. If we really feel extremely tired, then we should not run. But we have to make sure that it is not our lethargic mind, our lethargic vital or our lethargic physical consciousness that is making us feel that we are extremely tired. This kind of tricky cleverness we have to conquer.
With our imagination-power we can challenge the tricky mind and win. We weaken ourselves by imagining that we are weak. Again, we can strengthen ourselves by imagining that we are strong. Our imagination often compels us to think we cannot do something or cannot say something. We often use imagination in a wrong direction. So instead of letting imagination take us backwards, we should use it to take us forward toward our goal.
Question: How do you run through inner pain?
Sri Chinmoy: Inner pain is a joke. Outer pain I believe in. Sometimes I can't place my foot on the ground without getting such pain! But inner pain, which comes from frustration, depression, jealousy and insecurity, is a joke. Inner pain should be discarded like a filthy rag! Outer pain you cannot so easily ignore, but inner pain must be discarded.
If you have inner pain, if you are jealous of someone or are in an undivine consciousness, then the outer running will actually help you. When you are running and perspiring, when you are struggling, at that time the inner pain goes away to some extent. Otherwise, if because you are depressed you don't go out to run, then you are just a fool. If you feel depressed while you are running, you can sing loudly and deliberately try to sing wrong notes. Then laugh at yourself. Some of my friends used to do this. They were good singers, but deliberately they would sing wrong notes while they were walking, and it would make them laugh. In that way they got rid of depression.
Question: If one is in generally good health, what would cause pain and aches in the body?
Sri Chinmoy: It is one thing to have good health and another thing to deliberately maintain good health. Unless you are consciously keeping good health, at any moment you may be attacked by some forces. It is like having a large amount of money without knowing about it. If you are not conscious of it, you may easily lose it. If you are not conscious that you have a flower, you are likely to lose it. Anything that you have must have some place in your awareness. You may have good physical health, but perhaps in two months' time you have not thought of your body once, let alone tried to increase the strength of your legs or arms or to get some extra capacity.
Unless you touch something every day, it does not shine. Often I have told people to touch the furniture in their homes every day. As soon as you touch something, it gets new life. If you are aware of something, immediately it shines and gets a new luminosity. If you have good health, if you touch your health every day, it gets new life. By giving attention to something, you give new life to it.
Question: When I run I sometimes get a slight knee pain. Should I stop running at that time?
Sri Chinmoy: If you get just a slight pain in your knee, and if the pain is bearable, then you should continue running. At that time, feel that if you run a hundred metres more, the pain will go away. Then, after you have covered a hundred metres, feel that the pain will definitely stop if you run another hundred metres. If you do this five or six times, then most of the pain will go away. Even if some pain remains, the mind has already taken away your awareness from it. Your mind has forgotten about it. But if the pain is absolutely unbearable, what can you do? You simply have to surrender to it and stop running, at least for a while.
Question: How can we spiritually heal injuries?
Sri Chinmoy: It is a matter of inner capacity. One kind of capacity is to heal the injury by bringing down peace and light from above. Another kind of capacity is to ignore the pain altogether. During your meditation, if all of a sudden you have intense aspiration, then you can bring down more light from above to cure your injury. But you have to do this consciously during your meditation. If during the day you casually say, "Oh, how I wish I didn't have any pain!" that will be useless. But while you are meditating, if you suddenly remember your pain, that is the time to pray and bring down more light.
Again, you can increase your capacity to tolerate pain. Now you have pain, let us say, but still you run; whereas if you had had the same kind of pain four years ago perhaps you would not have been able to run. Again, sometimes the pain is unbearable and it is absolutely impossible to run. Then what can you do? But if it is bearable, try to run according to your own capacity. At that time, don't think of how fast this person or that person is running. Just go according to your own capacity and remain cheerful. All the time think that you are running only against yourself. Again, if it is beyond your capacity to ignore the pain, in addition to praying and meditating, you can also go to the outer doctor. Light is also inside the doctor.
Question: Sometimes I feel pain in my foot, and I start worrying that if I keep running, I might get a stress fracture. This happens even if the pain is not that bad and I know that probably nothing will happen.
Sri Chinmoy: If it is unbearable, excruciating pain, then something serious might happen. But if there is just a tiny pain in your foot, this kind of fear is only false anxiety that is coming to your mind. If you are worried, you can take rest for a few days and see if the pain goes away. If it leaves in just a day or two, you will know that it was nothing serious. In this way you will become more confident that nothing will happen to your foot if you run.
So if the pain is not that serious, you do not have to worry. Your foot is not going to give out. It is only that fear has entered into your mind, and the mind has created false anxiety in you, a false alarm. You should not cherish these fears.
Morning running is purity's beauty. Evening running is simplicity's luminosity.
Don't take a late start. You may lose the race altogether. Keep your love-devotion-surrender Always on the alert. Then you cannot have a late start.
Run! You can easily challenge The pride of frightening distance.
Cross-posted from us.srichinmoyraces.org
Question: If your goal is to run fifty miles per week, is it better to run seven miles a day or to vary the distance?
Sri Chinmoy: It is always good to have easy and hard days. It is best to have two easy days and then one hard day. Even having alternate easy and hard days is not good enough. If you run fifteen miles one day, it is not good to run seven or ten miles the next day. Instead, on your hard days cover twenty or twenty-five miles or even a full marathon. Then take two easy days. In this way, you can cover seventy or eighty miles a week.
Only those who are very strong and who are seriously training for long-distance running should do more than seventy miles a week. They can run one hundred miles or one hundred twenty miles.
Question: How much importance should we give to physical exercise in comparison to our regular work?
Sri Chinmoy: You are working very hard at your business, but you are thinking that that is the only work you have to do. You are giving one hundred per cent of your attention to your business and not even one per cent to your body. You have to feel that the body is also something necessary. So when you are here taking exercise or practising sports, you have to think that this is the only thing in your life. Otherwise, while you are practising sports you will still be thinking of your business. If you give importance to sport, you will get extra energy from it for your work.
Question: How do you feel about bicycle training to improve running?
Sri Chinmoy: I did a great deal of bicycling when I lived in India in my youth. For at least two and a half hours every day I used to cycle as I did errands. It does not increase running speed at all, but something is better than nothing. Sometimes cycling can actually be a hindrance to running speed, because it develops special kinds of muscles which do not complement the speed muscles. Bicycling does help for endurance, but if you want to increase your running speed, then I don't advise it. You can cycle for endurance, or if you are injured and cannot run. For a little bit of stamina you can do it. But again, cycling stamina is totally different from running stamina. If one wants to become a good runner and maintain a five-minute pace, then cycling is not the answer. Quality road work is the answer.
Question: What is a good exercise to strengthen the legs when they get tired from standing all day?
Sri Chinmoy: If your legs get tired from standing all day, there are two exercises that are very good to strengthen them. One exercise develops the knee muscles. You sit on the floor with one leg straight, and the other leg bent with the knee up, both hands on your hips. Then you switch, bending the straight leg and straightening the bent leg. Then keep switching.
The other exercise is to do a deep knee bend on one leg, with the other leg out in front of you, and then stand up again, still keeping one leg in front of you. First you do it with a flat foot, then on your toe. If you can do it three or four times, your legs will have tremendous strength from top to bottom.
Question: Do people really need more sleep when they are training for athletics?
Sri Chinmoy: For ordinary people, it is true. If they run a few miles, they need more sleep. But for spiritual people, especially advanced seekers, it is not necessary. By drawing down cosmic energy, in two minutes they can get the rest of two hours, three hours, four hours. It depends on how effectively you can draw in cosmic energy. But ordinary runners do have to sleep longer.
Question: What time of day is best to run?
Sri Chinmoy: It depends on the individual runner. Whenever the individual feels most physically fit, most vitally fit, most mentally fit and most psychically fit is the best time for that individual to run.
Running makes the body young. Striving makes the vital young. Smiling makes the mind young. Serving makes the heart young. Loving makes the soul young.
Cross-posted from us.srichinmoyraces.org
Craig Virgin (American 10,000 m champion, twice World Cross-Country champion, 2:10 marathoner)
Question: How do I cope with the pressure of winning or, on the other hand, the disappointment of losing, in a sports competition?
Sri Chinmoy: You can cope with the pressure of winning if, a few days before the race or even just before the start, you can imagine the pleasure of rejoicing in your victory. Imagination is not wishful thinking; it is not a baseless reality. Imagination is reality itself in another world. We bring it down to this world the way we bring down fruits from a tree.
To cope with the disappointment of losing, you have to ask yourself whether the mind is disappointed or the heart is disappointed. You will realise that it is your mind that is disappointed and not your heart. The mind creates division; the mind is division itself, and division is another name for pain, devastating pain. The heart, on the other hand, creates oneness; in fact, the heart is oneness itself, and oneness is another name for joy, spontaneous joy. When you live in your heart, even if your worst rival wins the race, you will not feel miserable. To your wide surprise, you will find that his joy quite unconsciously and unexpectedly will enter into you and widen your heart. Then you will feel almost the same joy that the winner feels.
Eammon Coghlan (Ireland, Olympic Finalist in 1500 m, 1976 and 1980 in each case 4th place; world-record holder for the indoor mile)
Question: Given an Olympic final, ten competitors are lined up in the race. All are 100% physically fit and prepared. What does it take for one runner to win over the others?
Sri Chinmoy: It is not just a matter of luck as to who wins, for there are two ways to become a winner: one way is to concentrate on each runner and, like a magnet, draw into oneself the will power that each one has and almost empty them of their will power or life energy. This is called sheer determination-power. The determination-lion devours the weaker animals.
The other way is to identify oneself with the sources of the fastest speed and endurance. Here one consciously becomes one with the higher realities that are invisible, yet infinitely faster and stronger than the outer realities or the outer capacities.
If a runner is a conscious Truth-seeker and God-lover, then he will adopt the inner way and not the outer way. The outer way is the way of the lion: roaring and devouring the rivals.
Don Kardon (USA, President of the Association of Road Racing Athletes; 4th place in the 1976 Olympics marathon in Montreal)
Question: Why do you think runners are often able to achieve a kind of meditative state while running?
Sri Chinmoy: Concentration and meditation are members of the same family. When a runner focuses all his attention on a particular race, he is in a position to free his mind from uncomely distractions. Here one-pointed concentration is the path-finder for deeper meditative consciousness.
Franco Columbo (Body-Building: Mr. World, Mr. Universe and twice Mr. Olympia)
Question: How important are yoga stretching exercises to the mind?
Sri Chinmoy: If one is practising stretching exercises thinking that he will be able to achieve peace of mind, then he is totally mistaken. No matter how many stretching exercises one takes, no matter how many hours one spends stretching, one cannot get peace of mind. Peace of mind comes only from one's prayer-life and meditation-life. I have a few students who are extremely good at stretching exercises. But unfortunately, their minds can easily defeat a monkey in restlessness. So if a bodybuilder or weightlifter wants to have peace of mind, then he has to be a God-lover consciously and devotedly.
Dick Beardsley (USA, Winner of London Marathon 1981 with 2:11, 2nd place in Boston 1982 with 2:08:53)
Question: I ran a 2:08:53 marathon with primarily a road-racing background. Would it improve my chances of making the 1984 Olympic marathon team if I partake in training and racing the 10,000 meters on the track?
Sri Chinmoy: Definitely you will improve your marathon time if you run 10,000 meters on the track. Running is a physical subject, a mental subject, a philosophical subject and a subject of the Beyond. In the physical aspect, nobody will be able to tell you more than you already know.
In the mental aspect, if you become used to running shorter distances, it can really help you. When you are running a marathon, mentally try to feel that you are running only thirteen miles rather than twenty-six miles. If you can convince the mind of this, and if the mind can convince the body that it is running only thirteen miles, then it will be a great advantage for you. This is not mental hallucination. A new discovery has dawned in the mind and the mind is passing it along to the body. Both the mind and the body will have to act together in order to reach the ultimate goal.
In the philosophical aspect, you have to feel that your problems are as insignificant as ants and pay no attention to them. You have had problems with cows, dogs, puddles and road hazards of all kinds. You should take these problems philosophically. Although these things are extremely unfortunate and discouraging for a great runner like you, you have to feel that they are almost part and parcel of a runner's life. If you can see them in this way, then when discouragement and temporary lack of enthusiasm attack you, at that time you can also overcome these obstacles.
Finally, if you can think that through your running you are doing something that has a direct connection with the ever-transcending Beyond, which is far beyond the domain of the earth-bound physical mind, then you will get tremendous inspiration. This inspiration embodies added strength, added joy and an added sense of satisfaction.
Mary Slaney-Decker (Athletics: world-record holder and twice gold medallist in the 1983 world championships)
Question: How fair is it to know that other female athletes, because of drugs, have a chemical advantage over their competitors, and how can a natural athlete such as myself justify the use of world rankings knowing that other athletes using chemicals are consistently ranked higher than so-called natural athletes?
Sri Chinmoy: Sometimes it is good and necessary to know what others are doing. If one is a runner, this can encourage one's competitive spirit. Again, sometimes it is a great hindrance when we know what others are doing. It puzzles us and, at the same time, we have no inclination to adopt their methods. In cases like this it is always good to have confidence in our own natural abilities.
Nature embodies the cosmic energy. This cosmic energy is infinitely stronger than any man-made chemicals. This energy comes from the ultimate Source and it leads us to the ultimate Source while fulfilling and satisfying us along the way. Chemicals and other artificial things will ultimately fail, for they are unnatural. Anything that is unnatural is like a balloon. For a while it will dazzle us and puzzle our human mind, but eventually it will burst.
Greg Meyer (USA, Winner of the 1983 Boston marathon in 2:09; US record holder for 15km and 20km)
Question: Why do I get more satisfaction from training than from running?
Sri Chinmoy: You get more satisfaction from your training than from your racing because when you train, you have more oneness with your inner life, which embodies infinite satisfaction. When you race, you are competing with the others because you want to defeat them. The challenging spirit that comes in competition quite often suffers from anxiety, worry, doubt, hesitation and despair. When you are just practising, however, you are performing before the most intimate "members" of your family: body, vital, mind, heart, and soul. In fact, these intimate members of your own being are practising with you. It is totally a family entertainment. While practising, you are consciously working to transcend your capacities. At that time, you are listening to the message of the ever-transcending Beyond, and the message itself is complete satisfaction. But when you compete against others, you are more concerned with victory than self-transcendence. So naturally hesitation, anxiety and doubt have free access to your heart and mind and you do not and cannot have satisfaction.
Rod Dixon (New York marathon winner, Olympic Games 1972 1500 m bronze, 1976 Olympics fourth place in 5000 m)
Am I being unreasonable to expect my family to understand my physical urge to pursue my running life? I want to please my family, yet I also want to please my running career.
Sri Chinmoy: You are a great runner. Already you have achieved astonishing glories in your running career. In order to achieve such sublime heights in the running world, you have made tremendous sacrifices, and the members of your family also have made tremendous sacrifices. This kind of mutual sacrifice is in no way an indication of your negligence toward your family. In the course of thinking of the Ultimate or meditating on the Ultimate, along the way you make apparent sacrifices. You have to know that ultimately these sacrifices themselves become a source of illuminating satisfaction. Or they pale into insignificance when you are repeatedly crowned with Himalayan success.
With their human hearts, the members of your immediate family want to possess you and have you all the time around them. Your affection and love for them and their affection and love for you mean everything to them. Perhaps your running laurels are secondary to them.
But again, these same members of your family each have a divine heart. Unlike the human heart, which wants to possess and be possessed, the divine heart wants only to give of itself, widen itself, receive the vast world and be received by the vast world. These are the messages that the divine heart receives from the higher worlds and offers to the outer world at large.
Those who live in the divine heart are meant for the whole world. The messages that this heart gives them they do not keep secretly or sacredly inside their immediate family. No, they offer these messages to all humanity.
So if any want to possess you or want to claim you as their own, very own, they should try to live in the divine heart, just as you are doing. If you and also the members of your immediate family can all live in the divine heart, then your commitment to your dear ones and their full understanding of what you were, what you are and what you are going to become will eventually and unmistakably bring boundless joy and boundless satisfaction to you and also to them.
John Savage (American tournament tennis player)
Question: Why is it so difficult to progress or excel in sports?
Sri Chinmoy: In life, fortunately or unfortunately, nothing is easy. If things are easy, then we will be satisfied with our self-complacent life. Like a frog, we have to jump, jump, jump! If things are easy, if we always succeed, then we won't value our capacities or appreciate our achievements. At every moment we must value not only our successes and achievements but also the efforts we make. We must value at every moment not only what we become but what we are doing in the process of becoming. We cannot separate the effort from the result.
Unfortunately, we do not appreciate our efforts. We admire and adore only the result. for years and years we practise hard. Then, in a short time, the tournament is over. Afterwards, the world only remembers that there was a champion at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open or in France. But for that, how many years of preparation did it take? Four, eight, ten, twelve years! This the world doesn't appreciate. It only appreciates the victory, not the preparation.
Channel-Swim-Team '86 (Swimmers of the SCMT who in 1986 attempted to swim across the Channel (33-42 km; 12-22 hours; water temperature 14-18 C)
Question: This year about half the swimmers have swum the Channel. How can one prepare oneself better inwardly in order to be more successful next year even with bad weather conditions like cold water, high waves and unfavourable current conditions?
Sri Chinmoy: As soon as you jump into the water, you have to imagine that behind you is fire. If fire does not frighten you, then think of any kind of animal that frightens you most - a lion or a tiger or an alligator or a jelly fish or anything. As soon as you enter into the water, feel that the animal is behind you, chasing you. So you have to go forward and not backward. At the same time, always feel that something most beautiful is beckoning you. Try to imagine a most beautiful garden or golden shore in front of you. That is another reason why you are going forward.
While you are in the imagination world, you will definitely feel less tiredness because you are in the dream world. Only be careful that you are still swimming. Otherwise, you will enter into trance, and your trance will take you downstairs.
Imagination is reality in its own world, and imagination has strength in it. I have written thousands of poems and thousands of songs all from imagination. When you swim, you should sincerely pray to the Supreme in you. In my weightlifting, before I attempt each lift, I pray and meditate for three or four minutes. I go to this side and that side to pray and meditate. So you also should pray and meditate before you swim, and not only on the day that you are going to swim the English Channel.
For us, the physical is just a vehicle for our soul's expression. The body itself can do nothing. When I see that my wrist has held 2,000 pounds, it is unimaginable, unbelievable. But I did it.
Even if you are healthy and in good form do not depend on yourself. Depend 100 per cent on divine Grace and feel that some higher force is pushing and pulling you forward.
Cross-posted from us.srichinmoyraces.org
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