Sanjay Rawal is human rights activist & award-winning documentary filmmaker. His newest film — “3100: Run and Become” — captures the esoteric, spiritual side of running with the Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei in Japan, the Kalahari bushmen in Africa, the Navajo Nation in Arizona, the forests of Finland and the streets of NYC, tracking the famed Self -Transcendence 3100 Mile Run. This is a conversation about running as a path for enlightenment. Enjoy!
Can running lead to enlightenment? Can it transform your life and make you a better human being? This is the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Run, the world’s longest race – where competitors must average 59+ miles a day in the 52-day window … all around a 1/2 mile sidewalk loop in NYC. How does one even train for this race? A champion Navajo ultra-marathoner, a hunter from the Kalahari Bushmen and a Japanese Monk illustrate how we, as human beings, can and have always used running to transcend our limitations and connect ourselves to realities beyond the physical.
Ashrita Furman holder of the most Guinness Records at the same time (currently over 200) and a team of friends created the world’s largest tennis ball logo within 7 days. The ball composition shows the logo of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, the world’s longest and largest relay run for peace and has a width of 10.08 meter and a height of 5.30 meter. The sixty-three-year-old health food store manager of New York set this Guinness World Record to honour the 87th birth anniversary of Sri Chinmoy an Indian spiritual master, founder of the Peace Run and an avid tennis player. The 53.42 square meter ball logo consists of 12,393 tennis balls in the colours white, blue, green, orange and red.
The content is a factually accurate rendering of what it depicts and has not been modified or augmented except for standard cropping and toning.
The tennis balls were fixed on boards and the other day carried from a backyard down the hill to the birthday anniversary function, where over 900 guests from all over the world celebrated.
Ashrita Furman states: “This tennis ball logo expresses our sincere wish for world peace and is our modest offering of joy to the world. With thousands of tennis balls, we want to honour the memory of Sri Chinmoy, who was the founder of the Peace Run and an avid tennis player. After the record, we will give the tennis balls to people in the neighborhood.”
Ashrita Furman has been breaking Guinness World Records since 1979. His first entry in the Guinness Book he achieved by completing 27,000 jumping jacks. Since then he has broken more than 700 records on all seven continents, including building the world’s largest tennis racket, balancing a pool cue on finger for the longest continuous distance (7 miles 220 feet) in front of the pyramids in Egypt, racing against a Yak in Mongolia to set the one-mile sack-racing record and underwater Aqua Pogo for 3 hours 40 minutes in the Amazon River in Peru.As a teenager, Furman became inspired by Sri Chinmoy’s philosophy of self-transcendence. Indian born Sri Chinmoy also set many records, such as writing 1,301 poems in 24 hours and composing 22,000 songs during his lifetime. Furman attributes his success at breaking records to meditation, which he has practiced daily for over 40 years. Meditation helps him to keep his childlike spirit and the mental and physical power which is needed to continuously set new world records. Ashrita Furman started setting Guinness World Records 39 years ago and hasn’t stopped yet. “Going beyond your everyday capacity is such a fulfilling feeling. The day I break a record I’m just happy the whole day,” he says. “I’m trying to show others that our human capacity is unlimited if we can truly believe in ourselves.” After every record Furman wants to express his gratitude to Sri Chinmoy.
On Canada Day (July 1, 2018) a small team of local Peace Runners passed the torch to people that they met in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa. The simple message of the Peace Run is that peace begins in the heart of each person and then spreads out to the world at large; the team invited those that held the torch to take a moment to wish for peace, reflect on peace or offer a message for peace.
The North American relay began in April in New York City on an over 11.000-mile journey across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The international team of Peace Runners will reach Ottawa on July 25th, 2018 and the relay will conclude in New York in August.
Peace Run visit to Vancouver, BC June 16-17. Includes the visit to Ling Yen Mountain Monastery, Vedic Cultural Society of British Columbia (Hindu Temple), Temple Shalom Synagogue and Indian Cultural Centre of Canada (Sikh Temple), Stanley Park and Peace Arch.
The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run is a global torch relay dedicated to the simple idea that world peace begins within the heart of each individual. Founded in 1987 by Sri Chinmoy, the Peace Run has covered over 395,000 miles (632,000 km) in over 150 nations and has touched the lives of millions.
We were honoured to be asked to participate in the Hands Across the Border ceremony at Peace Arch Park for the second time. The Peace Run was prominently recognized on the event’s program, and were the first booth people saw when they entered the park. Hundreds of Scouts stopped by the booth to learn about peace and make crepe paper torches. The event organizers even incorporated the Peace Run into a scavenger hunt for which participants needed to write down the Peace Run’s official motto: “Peace Begins with Me.”
The event was a celebration of unity between Canadian and American girls and boys Scouts, and featured booths from many inspiring organizations. Peace Runners from both Vancouver and Seattle made the drive to Peace Arch Park, supplying smiles and crepe paper torch-making skills to all.
The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run is a global torch relay dedicated to the simple idea that world peace begins within the heart of each individual. Founded in 1987 by Sri Chinmoy, the Peace Run has covered over 395,000 miles (632,000 km) in over 150 nations and has touched the lives of millions.
Welcome to the 22nd Annual Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race. Called ‘The Mount Everest of ultramarathons’ by The New York Times, this is the longest certified footrace in the world.
Athletes are able to test themselves in a format unlike any other ultra-marathon event. In order to meet their goal of 3100 miles in 52 days, they must log an average of 59.6 miles per day. The runners begin at 6 am and run for extended periods throughout the day, taking breaks as needed. If they want to, they can continue as late as 12 midnight when the course closes for the night.
Two timed races that will challenge your physical and mental endurance and stamina. The loop course is on mixed trails through Magnuson Park and along the waterfront of Lake Washington. Timed events offer the runner a steady format to focus on their pacing, running form and mental and physical fortitude. Plus you get to see your friends throughout the race!