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.
As runners enter the third week, the mileage totals continue to rise. As a casual observer, we can become complacent about the great effort of running multiple marathons, day after day, but this is what the runners are quietly doing.
After day 22, six runners are above the daily average of 59.6. Nayaja Perugini has a buffer of just 0.5 miles but, after coming through the challenge of shin splints, is recovering well.
It is not just a physical challenge of running up to an average of 60 miles a day for 52 days, but also a mental challenge. The race founder Sri Chinmoy knew the importance of inspiration for the runners. He gave runners advice such as trying to smile, maintaining cheerfulness, and offering gratitude during the race.
Sri Chinmoy also founded the early morning singing group Enthusiasm Awakeners. This group of women sing Sri Chinmoy's English songs every day and offer the runners prasad (blessed food). In turn, the runners sometimes perform short skits and jokes. But, for the runners, the singing group offers a new inspiration every morning, just at that time of the day, when the body can ache from the previous day's efforts and is slow to get going.
Out in the open, the runners have to contend with everything that Mother Earth sends to them. Yesterday, there were periods of heavy rain.
This is a short video captured by Arpan. When it rains in New York, it can be like a tropical downpour. But, the runners must keep going.
“When the heart has aspiration
And the mind has enthusiasm,
There is nothing
That we cannot accomplish.”
It is not just a physical challenge of running up to an average of 60 miles a day for 52 days, but also a mental challenge. The race founder Sri Chinmoy knew the importance of inspiration for the runners. He gave runners advice such as trying to smile, maintaining cheerfulness, and offering gratitude during the race.
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