Multidays.com

EZ6 -Vol.4

A newsletter for the 6 & 10 day race ‘05

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Contents
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Editorial
Training - Suprabha Beckjord
Q & A - Chanakhya Jakovic
Race Life -
General & Unsubscribe Info

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If our capacity surrenders
To our will-power,
Then at every moment
We can challenge impossibility.

Dreams do not know any distances

Sri Chinmoy

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Editorial
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As I write there are just over 6 weeks left before the Self-Transcendence 10/6 day race in New York and 4 weeks left before the 6 day race in Arizona. Hopefully the worst of the weather is behind us now and the Northern hemisphere should be warming up.

Most people planning on running the six day race are at the peak of their training at this point and should be getting in some long runs to prepare the feet and legs for the long hours on the track.
Its important to keep in mind that a balance in the bodies strength is necessary. Any additional alternative exercise like swimming or weights, strengthening the body's core muscles will make a huge difference in the middle of the race.
As soon as I have a list of entrants I will post it on the website. Usually there are a lot of last minute applications.

The next newsletter will look at the New York course and the setup.

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The four main areas we will be looking at are:

Goals
*Outline your goals, create your schedule, manifest your dream
Training
*Daily and weekly plans, monthly cycles
Equipment
*Shoes, clothing, supplements
Race life
*Putting the plans into action: the weather, living in the dorm, the tent...

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Training
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Excerpt from an interview with Suprabha Beckjord

1. How did you start with running long distances?
I began running 19 years ago. I did not do a marathon for over a year. I was just running a little bit. And my first marathon was the Inspiration-Marathon in the middle of winter. For a few years they had it in Vermont. It was freezing cold. Out-and-back course. I will never forget that the wind was against us coming back all the way. It took me five hours to complete it.

After that I did quite a few marathons, and then I started running Sri Chinmoy's 47-mile race on his birthday. I got very inspired to do more running, to run an hour a day. This was the year when Sri Chinmoy was doing his weight-lifting, 1986, starting with a forty pound lift and by March he lifted 200 pounds. This was his goal. In such a short time, in just 8 months he lifted 200 pounds with one arm. So we had a big celebration in NY. I came from Washington to the celebration and I heard people talking, just out of the corner of my ear about a 200-mile race. No announcement, just talking. I asked Ashrita, "What is it about a 200-mile race? Can anyone run?" Because I felt something. He said, "Yes, definitely you can do it!"
So, I went home, I got all my shoes and things and came back. And we started, 27 of us ran 200 miles to celebrate the achievement of lifting 200 pounds with one arm. So, this is the beginning of my ultra-marathoning. None of us practised, it was very spontaneous and it was such a beautiful thing, it was really in a spirit of celebration. I think, all of us felt that without God's Grace we could not have finished this 200-mile race. Every 20 miles I would chant gratitude 200 times. After 24 hours I remember that I was having a very hard time. I ran through the night and in the morning I took a break for 45 minutes. When I came out I was so stiff, I could hardly move. And I felt that something was chopping here, into my ankles - it was very painful. I was walking around the course and I put on my big jacket. And then Sri Chinmoy came. Like the sun. He was walking and smiling. All of a sudden I felt very warm, I took off my jacket. He went home and he sent a message to us. He said, "In order to reach the goal you have to transcend the pain. And pain is in the mind." It was amazing. I thought, "Well, he says it's possible, so I'll just try." So, I started running again. And everyone else too, picked up the pace. Everyone was having a hard time, but after his message everyone tried really hard. Almost everyone finished the race. A few people were walking. It took me 69 hours. But I actually finished second overall. Trishul, who was very experienced in ultra-running came in first. And about 1 day later I finished.

So, Sri Chinmoy was really happy because even though I was a woman, I came in second. He really encouraged me after that to continue ultra-running. So, then I did 24-hours, etc. and I built up. We had our 5-day race, and I ran it. And I really loved it from the beginning, this feeling of infinite time, and you just keep going and going. You know that you have a goal, but you don't worry about the whole distance. I think, Sri Chinmoy loves it because for him, it represents the spiritual life. You know, sometimes it's difficult, sometimes it hurts, you want to stop but if you keep going, then things are fine. Many times the problems are in our mind. Sometimes you have to go to medical, you know that something is really wrong. But you learn to feel the difference between the problems in your mind and physical problems.
Sri Chinmoy encouraged me and some of the other girls to do the multi-day races. To train he suggested that on the weekend we do one really long run, more than a marathon, like 30 or 40 miles, and on the other days, 3 to 5 miles. He said, by doing this training we would not have a fear of distance. But actually, one step, one step, you just keep going and there you are. You have to become physically strong too, but a lot of it is to overcome the fear of distance. So, I learned so much from him.

For me, I would never even imagine doing these races without meditation. It's really the key. And we find even non-disciples who come to our races also have to go deep inside. Because after a few days... You know, they are trying to run really fast to get ahead of everybody, but it just does not work. You have to go inside your heart. The ones who come again and again they know. They come for a journey. This is like a spiritual journey. And may be they don't think of it exactly that way, but they know that that's why they are coming. So, that's really beautiful that Sri Chinmoy can reach the running community in that way - that they know that the most important thing is to be able to feel in the heart. Once people asked a question about competition and he said, "One very important thing is to establish our oneness with other runners at the start of the race." I thought, that's so beautiful to really feel that you are one; a team. It's one thing when you run two miles and look if someone is behind you. And for many, many days, it would be a torture if you always had to look behind you. Sri Chinmoy does encourage some competition in the races. If he sees that we have the capacity to go faster, this is a way to bring it forward.

Q and A

Chanakhya Jakovic has been running multidays fo many years and he kindly answered some questions

1. What inspired you to get into six day races?
I started running ultra's after watching Don Ritchie win the New York 100 mile race in 1979. The following year I supported Don Choi when he did a 200 mile training run to prepare for the first modern day six day race. These two things ultimately led to me running six day races.
2. How many six day races have you done?
I am not sure exactly, I think it must be at least l0, if I include splits in seven day races and 1000 mile races the number goes to about 20.
3. What was your best 6-day race?
The Sri Chinmoy 6 day race 2003, I just felt like I was completely in control of myself for the whole of the race, relaxed and without pressure.
4. When was it?
Spring of 2003.
5. Where was it?
Near the lake in Flushing meadow park in New York City.
6. How many miles did you cover?
I I covered 297 miles.
7. Who was in the race?
It was a mixed bag; some good runners some first time multiday runners.
8. What did they do?
Everyone seemed quite pleased with their results.
9. How old were you?
I was 48 years old.
10. What were the weather conditions like?
Not too warm during the day and not too cold at night, so weather conditions were pretty good nothing much to worry about.
11. How many miles did you do the first day?
I think it was 70 miles.
12. How many did you do the 6th day?
Only about 40 miles.
13. How many breaks do you take?
After the first day I take a 90 minute rest to start the new day. Then I try to get a decent chunk of mileage with short 5,10,15 minute breaks mixed in, after eight hours I take my main sleep break of around four hours, I do the bulk of my mileage during the second 12 hours of the day. I think this may have answered questions 13 through 17.
18. Did you have a handler?
I like to handle myself.
19. Do you get any help?
I accept help from any cheery face during the race who wants to get me a drink or hand me some food.
20. What did you eat?
I pretty much eat whatever is available, my body usually tells what I need I just like to keep my fires well stocked up.
21. How many pairs of shoes did you bring?
I find that four is enough if I rotate them frequently.
22. How long did you train for this race?
I run every day and find that this consistency means that I am always training.
23. How many miles per week for how many weeks?
About 40 to 50 miles. A week all year.
24. Were you concerned about speed in your training or just putting the miles in?
Speed is fun and it is nice to put some in every once in a while to add some quality.
25. Did you maintain your speed by racing?
I like to run in some short races when I get a chance.
26. What kind of distances?
2 mile races up to 10k
27. Marathon speed?
My best time for the marathon is 3:09:54.
28. 100k speed?
100k time 11hrs 43mins.
29. 50 mile speed?
50 mile time is 8hrs 27 mins.
30. 2 mile speed.
My best time for 2 miles is 11:50.
31. How many miles did you do in your first 6 day race?
I think I did 276 miles in my first 6 day, I had run 252 in a 5 day race just before that.
32. Did you have any serious problems?
I had major problems with bursitis in the metatarsals of both feet, it was extremely painful but I learned from the experience.
33.What seem to be the most common problems that runners have to deal with?
Blisters of course are common, but shin splints seem to surface a lot.
34. Did you ever doubt you would finish?
I have always felt that I can finish a race.
35. Do you listen to music?
In my early races I listened to music, now I enjoy being aware of everything that is going on around me.
36. What do you like to listen to?
The sounds of nature.
37. Who is/was your favorite competitor?
My favourite old time competitor is George Littlewood.
38. What was your fiercest or most memorable competition?
My most memorable was at a race in 2003, I was having some physical in the middle of the race, and my mind was trying to tell me to stop, my heart told me to surrender to the will of the race and in the end I managed to achieve the goal I originally aimed for, when earlier it seemed impossible.
39. As you e gained experience in these races how has your training changed/developed?
I don't train quite as intensely as I did for my early races. Now I find being more consistent is the key to good training.
40.Did you run higher mileage in the early years of your training?
I did train more miles in my early years, the general consensus was that more mileage was the answer.
41.Are you able to train less yet maintain your standard?
I run less miles now with more consistency and results in races have improved.
42.Do you supplement your running with other exercise?
I have a job that requires a lot physically and I find that helps me, I do occasionally like to do some light weight training when I get the chance.
43.Do you feel its true that women have particular advantages over men as far as multiday running is concerned in terms of how they handle certain psychological situations like issues of patience, discomfort, being non-competitive, relying on Grace?
My observations from all the races I have led me to believe that the women in the races seem to deal with the pressures on a much better level than most of the men.
44. What your advice to a first-time 6 day runner?
My advice to first time 6 day runners is don't try too hard just to try and get a comfortable result and use this to give them something to aim for in the next race. Most of all try to enjoy the experience.
45. What the best way to deal with the shock of the second day of running?
On the second day of any multi day race when reality hits do not panic, stay calm and everything will gradually come back to rights.
46.What should a novice expect from him/herself?
Any novice 6 day runner should expect to find out that it is not easy, but if they are patient everything will come together.
47.In what way are these multiday races spiritual events?
The spirituality of multiday races comes from the connection that is made with the inner self, and that to achieve a goal we need to listen to the heart and not the mind.
48. What the best part of it all?
The best part is the true joy you feel when you complete a race.

Race Life

The Handler
We asked Bahauliya Moss what advice would you give to someone who intended to be a helper.

1. Get it yourself - you may be walking/running a half marathon to a full marathon a day.

2. Have good shoes - if possible, two pairs of running shoes, good warm clothing/wet weather gear, etc. - everything you could possibly need for as long as the race is. You may well not be able to leave the race course until the end of the race.
3. The most important thing is oneness with your runner. Your runner may be in a bad mood about something - don't take it personally. The helper can only try and understand what the runner is going through.
4. Stay cheerful throughout everything. The runner needs to see your smiling face at the beginning of each lap especially when he or she is down.
5. If you don't know your runner very well, try to get to know him or her as well as possible before the race.
6. If you do get tired - don't grumble to the runner about how tired you are - they won't understand!!
7. Helping at a multiday race may well be the most intense thing you have ever done!!
8. The handler must be able to take breaks and to sleep. The helper schedule is set with the runner and depends entirely on the needs and demands of the runner and also how much the helper can cope with. If the helper needs a certain amount of sleep and cannot do without it. This really needs to be worked out before the race starts. If say the helper needs 6 hours and sleeps from midnight - 6 a.m. and the runner sleeps from midnight - 3 a.m. the helper can then arrange things before he/she sleeps so that the runner does not loose time when he/she gets up.
9 I think the psychological support is crucial. It is very important to try to help the runner not get too down with any problem. If this is happening a great thing to do to help is arrange for your runner to run with another runner. They know much better than you do what the runner is going through. The runners can also talk to each other for longer. I do know some runners who need theemotional/psychological aid of their helper/friend each lap and that chatting and being with their helper each lap is what keeps them running. It varies from runner to runner I don't think the helper should be like a crutch for the runner. The handler is not there to "hold the runner up".
10. Being a handler is the most exciting, intense, stimulating oneness, serving experience that exists. You are constantly learning. Keep a diary of what worked, what did not work, what your runner liked/didn't like. Even if you don't help him/her again, it will help the runner and any future helpers. You will acquire an extremely intimate knowledge into the physical, mental and spiritual self of your runner.

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14-03-05

Produced by members of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team.
http:www.srichinmoyraces.org

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Multiday Running

Multidays.com is also the online home of a new magazine called Multiday Running which is published 3 times a year and features race reports and results, photos, articles by and about multiday runners, a multiday race calendar and a 24 hour race calendar: a magazine that covers the multiday scene all over the world.

Next edition: February 2005 (out in March)
Self-Transcendence Ultra Trio
La Transe Gaule
Cliff Young 6 day race
2004 Ultracentric 24 & 48-Hour Run
Across The Years
Articles by Andy Milroy,
Interview with Jesper Olsen
Columns by Trishul Cherns and Chanakhya Jakovic and lots more.