"Each step forward has a sacred meaning of its own"   Sri Chinmoy

NYC 2 Mile Race, Jamaica, Queens, April2019

The encouraging thing about my running this year has been the gradual disappearance of all the injuries or niggles that have hampered me for the last 10 years. In fact on the last Saturday of April Celebrations I was able to go all out in the 2 miler without fear of pulling up with a calf strain or limping away with a sore achilles. I have no idea how long this will go on for, but I'm grateful for it while it lasts!

The field was not that large, maybe people were surprised to have a 2 mile race on April 13th itself, but those who did turn up had perfect conditions to race in.It was roughly 12 or 14 degrees with a light breeze and the expected showers held off for the duration of the run. I warmed up in the light drizzle but was pleased I could ditch my jacket when things dried up just in time for us to gather at the start.

I always used to "fly and die" at these, but lately I've taken to a slower start and a see-how-it-goes approach. I came through the 1 mile mark in arount 6.20 - I clocked my time on my stopwatch at 6.24 but I have a feeling I checked at the corner rather than the actual 1 mile mark which comes a little earlier. Anyway, it was slower than I'd hoped for so I pushed myself a bit harder into the second lap, edging ahead of the young American, Brian, and staying within sight of some of the quick Italian guys (though I was never going to catch them).

I finished pretty spent (but not totally trashed, so it wasn't exactly a 100% effort) and the time on my watch when I got it together to press the button was 12:35. I think the clock might have been on 12:33 when I actually crossed the line, but I'll submit 12:35 to the oneness race results (our collective monthly competition). These 2 milers are getting quite consistent now and twelve thirty something is my benchmark.

We gathered afterwards for the race prayer, brief silence, awards and prasad then legged it to the park for our breakfast under the trees ready for the start of the big event, the celebration of the 55th aniversary of Sri Chinmoy's arrival th in the west. Happy April 13th!

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