Ray Krolewicz ran the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race in 2014. This is his story of how he came to do the race.
“Maybe I have hidden from some of my spirituality. I think this race has allowed me the time to really focus on that and what it means. Maybe recognize that I am not the greatest force in the universe.”
Ray Krolewicz is unique in so many ways. He is a perfect example of how one should never judge a book by its cover. His somewhat grizzly exterior would on first appearance not give you much of a clue as to the kind, intelligent, charismatic, and generous individual who lurks beneath his now sun browned torso. One that has rarely seen a shirt in 50 days and certainly not come close to any sunblock either.
All of us have beautiful and positive qualities within us. Though sometimes the world and more regrettably we ourselves tend to forget this great truth. But it is these bright aspects of ourselves that we are trying to expand and develop. And it is the darker portions of ourselves, the not so user friendly qualities, that we either wish to cast off, or more likely, to radically transform.
What sets Ray apart from the others here is that he is the only one who was personally encouraged by Sri Chinmoy to come here and run this race one day. When the invitation was given, he immediately asked, should I come this year. Sri Chinmoy’s timeless reply was, you will know when the time is right.
We can never control any aspect of time but for Ray something deep and significant was set into his heart that day those words were spoken. A 59 year old school teacher from South Carolina, whose lifelong passion has been distance running this race of course would be the logical culmination of his achievements in the sport. But with his best days perhaps slipping ever so subtly into the past. Maybe it was just too big and impossible a thing to attempt. It could easily have been an invitation to be ignored, if not forgotten. But there again is the Ray Krolewicz who does not take words and promises and dedication to unachievable goals lightly.
He had fashioned his own unique relationship over 30 years with this Indian Spiritual Master living in Queens. Now, even though he had passed almost 7 years ago, something inside of him at last called out. Something he could not ignore, despite all logic that might dictate the complete folly of his quest to run 3100 miles. Because of the man Ray is he knew but one option. He had to come to run this impossible race because the time was most definitely at last perfect.
“I had 30 years when the message should have been perfectly clear. From the day he picked up that shirt (at a race in 1984 when Sri Chinmoy picked up a shirt that Ray had thrown at a chair), till somewhere midpoint in this race. Dang, I had access to so much more. I have had opportunities. I have hidden from my own spirituality. That would be the culmination of that story that started 30 years ago. With this leader, this great man. This connection with the Supreme or God.”
“It finally all made sense somewhere when I was running around this block, and listening to people and sharing with people.”
“I remember Yuri from other races and I love his heart. he communicates so much without language. From a loquacious man like me I try to learn from him. Observation, feeling the heart. Observing him interact with others. Listening to him speak, with people who do speak his language.”
“I realize he has a lot to say, and what good ideas he has. He is well respected and loved as a competitor and a friend. You can observe this even if you don’t understand the actual words that people are saying.”
I ask how is it possible to see these subtle aspects when everything around him is so incredibly hard. “Me sensitive. Let’s dispense with this myth right away.” He jokes.
“2 different plains. When I ran 111 laps one day, I pointed out that it was physical, emotional, and spiritual. I may be in a lot of physical pain but I am not going to lose my empathy.”
I ask him if he thought when he came whether or not he actually believed he could complete the distance. “I came to find out. I stated before I started, that I didn’t know if I could do this. There are very few things that I ever attempted that I simply didn’t know.”
” I can go do 100 miles. That is easy. But to come here and do 60 a day, 3100 in 52 days. I had no idea if I could do it. But I wanted to find out.”
“I thought about quitting. I thought about quitting, going home and coming back for the finishes. Seeing what I could do to help. My friend Casey said, you don’t quit. Even if I have to come up there and drag you around the course, I will. And by golly she did.”
“She proved something to me and she proved something to her. She had never done 100 miles. She came out here and did well over 100 miles in the time that she was here. She suffered as much as any of the runners. This was her longest run.”
“I have so many supporters. I go home and put a little thing on facebook. The message over and over was. Doesn’t matter how much you do, you are amazing. You’re doing a great thing.”
“Somebody pointed out, you are only doing 40 miles a day. A 40 mile a week runner is a fairly serious runner. You are doing 52 days like a 40 mile a week runner would do in a year. I just realized at one point, that it wasn’t about any suffering that I may or may not be doing.”
“I have taken care of myself enough that I could learn. So that I could be here and help others. Doing a little writing and being Ray Krolewicz.”
- Utpal Marshall
Click to Play Interview:
(Originally published Perfection Journey)
Interview with Ray from 2017
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