A view of the 17th Annual Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race runner and his father decided Train Your Life to train him so that he could For Perfection enter the Boston Marathon. When Johnny arrived in Boston in 1926 he is just 21 By Utpal years old. He has no real idea http://perfectionjourney.org of how to run this thing he 20 July 2013 (morning) has trained so hard for. His father says he should simply This is a shortened version of the article, please trail the favorite in the Race, a visit the website for the full version man named Clarence DeMar One of my favorite runners is a man who had won the race the named Johnny Miles (1905-2003) who three previous years. Quite came from a small town in Nova Scotia, to Johnny’s surprise, world- Canada. He was a naturally talented famous marathoner Albin Stenroos from Finland has also Johnny Miles enrolled in the Race. completed — but just how to finish the Day 35 The local press were ecstatic — one in front of them. before them, they thought, was an epic Five Weeks In Sometime yesterday lead-runner battle between DeMar and Stenroos, the Ashprihanal was passed by Atmavir. It By Sahishnu, 20 July 2013 (evening) two greatest marathon runners of the is eerily similar to two years ago when www.3100.ws/blog day. Nobody knew this kid from Nova Ashprihanal’s great, soaring first-place Scotia, who simply followed the great Day 35 was the last day of a seven day heat flight to the finishline was shockingly ones until they fell apart. Johnny unex- wave which shook up the field of twelve interrupted. In 2011, on Day 39 of the pectedly found himself alone in front of and showed that strength and determination Race, he was overwhelmed by this dev- the pack, not really knowing what was are hallmark traits of a super-long distance ilish New York weather. He continued going to happen next and whether the runner. Sarvagata Ukrainskyi led all comers [after some brief downtime and several other two would come back and chal- with 63.66 miles. Only four of 12 reached low-mileage days] and then battled for lenge him. Eventually a car came by with past 60 miles. Battle scars abound from the another 350 miles in eight days just to some marathon offi- relentless barrage of heat and humidity that make it to the finishline — a cials who yelled out plagued the last week. Temps again stayed heroic and supreme effort to him. “You’ve got in the mid-nineties to discourage any by anybody’s reckoning. attempt at speed and repetition. Only eve- it, kid, You’ve got it.” ning showers brought the air quality back to Johnny Miles went What Ashprihanal now a tolerable level. Atmavir Spacil, the leader on to win the Race faces is much more formida- after five weeks, was able to bring some joy and set a Course ble — for what stretches out to the group as he celebrated his 35th birth- Record of 2:25. in front of him is the reality of 870 more miles. Yesterday he day with gifts to all his comrades including * * * flowers, framed photos and special drinks. walked all day and today he is He has 800 miles left to bring his run to Yesterday was doing much the same. In the a conclusion. Of course, there are a few brutally hot and humid at the Self- days ahead the weather is sup- people who think they can get there before Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race. It was, posed to improve and perhaps his wings him. Thus, a little drama for the last 17 days once again, a day when runners were will come out and he will fly once more. trying just to keep moving. Not a day to of life on the road — without ever leaving The truth is, this Race is always much worry about how many laps are to be the neighborhood. more about what we don’t see than what < 81 > The runners walk and sing Happy Birthday to Atmavir at the start of today’s running Atmavir receives a 21 flower salute from the morning singing group (he offered the roses to the singers for prasad) we do. For each runner here, the weather conditions yes- terday were simply so shock- ing it was hard to really grasp how anyone could go on. Yet Ashprihanal completed 74 laps — he managed this with a courage and strength that we have grown accustomed Sarah with a bright smile Atmavir talks with Sulochana, to over the years. ready to face the bright day she is pioneer in ultra-distance running (in the late 1980s she set the then world record With each new lap he She says that yes- for the most mileage ever run by a woman over walks Ashprihanal is entering 50 years old — completing 655 miles in 13 days) terday, “because it was a new and unfamiliar world so hot, I saw many of within himself. An experience There is a little breeze sweeping the boys really suffer- that is challenging him in a lightly over us as we run. “It is blissful. It ing. I was just pray- way that he has never had to is just bliss. This cool wind — I am eter- ing inwardly to the face before. Nevertheless, the nally grateful for, to have one day to be Supreme to please destination has not changed able to breathe. I hope it lasts for some help them. That they — it has always been, and Nidhruvi, with time. You know, it is New York and it is 2,000 miles behind her would be able to run will continue to be, his own summer time. New York is known to be again. And to help them perfection. really humid and what can we do. It is overcome whatever it really tough and rough, but we have to Train your mind was that they had to overcome and go go through it and we have to finish this For transformation. through — to make them stronger. “ She race.” Train your heart prayed, “that they don’t lose hope and, For contemplation. somehow also, stay happy.” She tells me, Of passing 2,000 miles Nidhruvi Train your life “If you are a true runner then you have says, “There is no celebration before For perfection. to go through everything. You have to 3,100. I celebrated at 1,000 — it is spe- accept these kind of experiences.” Of cial. 2,700 is special and I will just be — Sri Chinmoy, excerpt from Ashprihanal’s difficulties, she says that grateful inwardly. I have to reach 3,100 “Two God-Amusement-Rivals: My she has spoken to him and noted that he then I can start celebrating.” Heart-Song-Beauty And My Life-Dance- seemed happy and at peace. “I was very Fragrance, Part 13” (Agni Press, 1996) You are looking for surprised and pleased with him.” The perfect seeker. * * * Of her own experience Nidhruvi Why not train yourself Nidhruvi completed 2,000 miles in the says, “After six or seven days I started To be that perfect seeker? depths of a very hot afternoon yester- to lose weight. I think I have lost 7 kilos Start with yourself. day. “I had a deep feeling. For four or five [15.4 lbs] — my helpers are trying to fill — Sri Chinmoy, excerpt from laps I was totally concentrated. And I me up like anything. I have to really force “Twenty-Seven Thousand Aspiration- chanted all the time ‘gratitude.’ myself to eat and especially to drink.” Plants, Part 222” (Agni Press, 1995) < 82 > A view of the 17th Annual Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race What Concerns Me Day 36 By Utpal The fact that Yuri is not, in any Picking Up Pieces http://perfectionjourney.org way, resentful or disappointed by this By Sahishnu, 21 July 2013 (evening) 21 July 2013 (morning) extraordinary situation is a mark of the www.3100.ws/blog true courage and inner strength that he This is a shortened version of the article, please has within him. He impressively demon- The worst heat wave in two years has visit the website for the full version strated his outer strength for four straight passed and the 12 runners are still about their business. There is a sense of relief “I am taking it as an expression of the weeks and achieved daily mileage totals that for a first-timer were not just good, but the engines are not firing on all cyl- Supreme’s Concern and Love.” For the inders. Except for four runners the oth- better part of the past seven days, Yuri but excellent. But when the fifth week arrived at the Self-Transcendence 3,100 ers failed to make 60 miles. Vasu Duzhiy has forced himself to slow down, to from Russia climbed into second place drink more often, and take more breaks. Mile Race, it literally changed the map for everyone here. with a day-leading 65.3 miles. Nidhruvi In short, to behave in a manner that he Zimmerman again led the ladies with has never before had to do in any pre- All the runners have struggled over 63.1 miles. Now is the time that will show vious race. But then, he has neither run the past week here. It has been seven us who has the strength and make-up to the 3,100 Mile Race nor experienced the extremely challenging days in which reach the lofty goal.