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This is me after completing the 3100 mile Self-Transcendence Race in 2004 at age 52. It was my first 3100 mile race experience and it was certainly the most difficult race I had ever attempted. Having incurred an injury to my peronius muscle, commonly called a 'shin splint', I was reduced to walking for 12 days before I could fully run again. Since it was quite early in the race I had enough time to catch up on my daily mileage average in order to finish the race within 52 days. Coincidentally I finished on the 52nd day, I turned 52 during the race and I was born in 1952.
I am very grateful to Sri Chinmoy, my Spiritual Guru, who I can also call my 'running Guru' as he has inspired me from my very first days of running to learn how to race faster and longer and to experience the thrill of self-transcendence through running.
Eight years after completing this most difficult multi-day race I decided to attempt the 3100 mile race again, in 2012. Since his passing from this world in 2007 I wanted to offer Sri Chinmoy something significant in the running world, something I feel he would be proud of. After over six months of training I felt I was ready to take on the challenge again, this time at age 60. I did make it to the starting line everyday for 52 days and I completed 2742 miles in total. Due to three serious and painful injuries in my lower legs again I had to walk for three weeks total. I did this in order to stay in the race and try to heal enough to finish as many miles as I could.
This experience was just as thrilling as I remember finishing the full 3100 eight years ago. This time, even though I did not complete 3100 miles, I was able to break the age 60 and over mileage record in this race of 2700 miles by 42 more miles. It seems that my perseverance to stay in the race through the multiple setbacks that I experienced on the way inspired many people, perhaps more than if I had made it look easy by finishing the full 3100 miles. Either way, the race is an experience of a lifetime and hopefully I will be healthy enough to attempt it again in the near future.
This is my first finish of the 3100 mile race in 2004 at the age of 52. I was only the second American man to do so and on the 52nd day after averaging 60 miles per day I could only feel one thing: Gratitude!! Gratitude to all the runners and helpers and especially to Sri Chinmoy who personally encouraged me to run and then to not give up when I was having a very difficult time with an inury. His unsurpassed vision, which created this unparalleled running event, also allows all the runners to bring out the absolute best in themselves and to demonstrate the amazing reality of Self-Transcendence. This is the cornerstone of Sri Chinmoy's philosophy which will truly help to shape a better world.
Stories
First-hand experiences of meditation and spirituality.
The day I made a useless and ridiculous weightlifting machine for Guru
Devashishu Torpy London, United Kingdom
I know where you are
Kamalakanta Nieves New York, United States
Now you are in the boat
Kaushalya Casey Toronto, Canada
An early spiritual experience
Ashrita Furman New York, United States
My Life with Sri Chinmoy: a book
Tejvan Pettinger Oxford, United Kingdom
People see something in Guru and want to be part of it
Saraswati Martín San Juan, Puerto Rico
Seeing the God inside my son
Utsahi St-Armand Ottawa, Canada
The spiritual life is normal to me
Shankara Smith London, United Kingdom
Learning to follow my intuition
Saranyu Pearson Geelong, Australia
Akuti: a pioneer-jewel in our Centre
Akuti Eisamann Connecticut, United States
Meditation: Touching The Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
Breaking the world record for the longest game of hopscotch
Pipasa Glass & Jamini Young Seattle, United StatesSuggested videos
interviews with Sri Chinmoy's students
How meditation helped me swim the English Channel
Abhejali Bernardova Zlín, Czech Republic
Where the finite connects to the Infinite
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
My typical day
Pranlobha Kalagian Seattle, United States
Beginnings of a spiritual journey
Mahatapa Palit New York, United States
Starting a spiritual café
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand
Sri Chinmoy's vision of the Peace Run
Harita Davies New York, United States
Why we organise ultra-distance events
Subarnamala Riedel Zurich, Switzerland
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