About the author:
Tejvan organises short-distance running and cycling races for the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in his home city of Oxford. He is also a very good cyclist, having won the National hill climb championships in 2013 and finished 3rd in the National 100 Mile Time Trials in 2014.
Of the 10 runners who started the Sri Chinmoy 3,100-mile race, 6 had completed the distance before, one had come very close in two previous attempts, and there were three newcomers. Of these, Alex Ramsey and Geng Lu-Cong both had experience of long multi-day challenges covering upwards of 1,000 Miles. Daniela Bojila, although an experienced ultra runner, had never gone beyond 10 days before, with a best distance of 609.3miles /980.900 km. On Monday evening at around 10:45 pm, she achieved a little personal milestone. She completed her 101st lap of the day to reach 609.8 Miles / 981.377 km. The personal milestone she achieved was, of course, surpassing her previous longest ever distance run in a race.
With another 40 days still to run, she will slowly, each lap, each day, be transcending this distance. God alone knows what kind of roller coaster of a journey she will undertake in the next 40 days as she strives to reach the goal. For the mind, the distance to travel just seems impossible; it is so enormous. But to the inner heart, striving to just be in the moment, it always seems within reach.
Five-time winner Andrea Marcato described this well when he commented, “Sometimes in this race you feel like you are swimming in the middle of a huge ocean and you can't see the shore, but you just keep swimming knowing you will be guided there eventually.”
Sri Chinmoy, the founder of the 3,100-mile race, had Self-transcendence as a cornerstone of his philosophy. The ability to push out one's boundaries in whatever activity one is doing has fascinated mankind for eons. Commenting on exercise, Sri Chinmoy once said,” Our aim is only to transcend our capacity, always to transcend our individual capacity. … My aim is to see how much I have achieved, and to transcend my own capacity. When we participate in sports, we try to keep before us the idea of our own self-transcendence. … A child’s goal is to go to kindergarten. … Our goal also is constant self-transcendence…."
All runners get this, as we are constantly striving for better times or better distances. Ultra running epitomises this all too well. As with everything about the 3,100-mile race, it takes things to another level. All ultra runners also know that the numbers and statistics are just a part of the story. There is another inner story of overcoming all difficulties, doubts, and worries when you give your mind the slightest chance to convince you that this is just too hard. Of course it is going to be hard! You know that when you sign up for any challenge, it takes you seriously out of your comfort zone.
Daniela has looked ever more comfortable now that the race has settled down into a routine. She has a good support team helping provide all her physical needs, and gives the impression outwardly that she is relaxed and surrendered to whatever the race will throw at her. She is on her own personal journey of Self Transcendence.
Quote of the day
“Self-transcendence
Is a difficult task.
But not impossible”
Sri Chinmoy
Visitors to the Race
The race is held on open public roads, and many passersby are intrigued at a race unfolding right in front of them. One man (a former psychotherapist) remarked to a race director that the title of the race, "self-transcendence" was so fitting and perfect a title. He went on to explain how he felt that the transcendence of the runners is really long-lasting. The runners are permanently expanding their capacities and not just temporarily experiencing something, then abandoning or leaving behind their achievements. He was astute, as many runners (and helpers) feel the race leaves a permanent mark.
Milestones Day 12
- Daniela Bojila- 700 miles-12d 06:54:17 // Mahasatya Janczak- 700 miles 12d 12d 08:39:20
- Alex Ramsey- 700 miles- 12d 09:21:52 // Milan Javornický - 700 miles 12d 12:37:40.
- Harita Davies- 700 miles- 12d 15:22:48 // Vasu Duzhuy- 800 miles- 12 d 16: 32:59.
- Ananda-Lahari Zuscin- 1000 km- 12d 16:38:22.
Videos
- Stutisheel 3100 Mile Playlist Youtube Channel
- Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team 3100 Mile Race Youtube Channel
- Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team Vimeo Channel
Photos
More about: