Special Supplement: Self-Transcendence and Swimming

Special Supplement: Self-Transcendence and Swimming - Aug. '04

This special supplement features many posts on the subject of
swimming. It begins with Sunamita's excellent article clarifying the
spiritual purpose of competitive sports. This is followed by a
thorough discussion of Karteek's English Channel crossing, plus
Jozef's English Channel crossing. Then we have Viktoria's swim
around Iceland, followed by the 17th International Self-
Transcendence Marathon Swim, held in Switzerland. Finally, there's a
Swimming Potpourri section, mostly drawn from early July. It's like
a "prequel" to the Channel Crossings later in the summer.

I hope readers find this compendium of interest!

Assistant Moderator

Contents

1. The Power of Competition & Self-Transcendence

2. Karteek's English Channel Crossing

3. Jozef's English Channel crossing

4. Viktoria's Swim Around Iceland

5. 17th International Self-Transcendence Marathon Swim - Switzerland

6. Swimming Potpourri

The Power of Competition & Self-Transcendence

From: Sunamita
Date: Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:11am
Subject: The Power of Competition & Self-Transcendence
#5662 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5662

How illumining can a sports event become?

While serving carbo treats to jubilant athletes after a biathlon in
La Jolla, CA this past Sunday, I was delighted to meet an 11-year
old gal who had just completed the one-mile swim and 10K run. She
was the youngest competitor in this event--the 20th Self-
Transcendence Swim & Run organized by our Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team
(SCMT). Congratulations to Venu too, for participating all 20 years!

Many wonder about the purpose of our sports events, asking questions
such as "What is the spiritual purpose of competitive sports?" From
his book, Pioneer-Runners of Tomorrow's World-Peace-Dawn (1998) ...
here is Sri Chinmoy's response:

"Our aim is not to become the world's best athlete. Our aim is to
keep the body fit, to develop dynamism and to give the vital
innocent joy. Our aim should not be to surpass others, but to
constantly surpass our own previous achievements. We cannot properly
evaluate our own capacity unless we have some standard of
comparison. Therefore, we compete not for the sake of defeating
others but in order to bring forward our own capacity. Our best
capacity comes forward only when there are other people around us.
They inspire us to bring forward our utmost capacity, and we inspire
them to bring forward their utmost capacity. This is why we have
competitive sports.

"Always there should be a goal. Having a goal does not mean that we
have to try to defeat the world's top runners, far from it. In the
spiritual life, our goal should be our own progress. Progress itself
is the most illumining experience. If we want to make progress, and
if somebody else is with us, immediately his mind or our mind may
think that we are competing. In the ordinary life we compete with
others to gain supremacy. But in the spiritual life, we are not in
competition with others. We are only trying to transcend our own
capacity."

"Competition is good,
Provided it is the competition
Of self-transcendence
And not the competition
Of ego-demonstration." –Sri Chinmoy

More than ever, this past week of glorious events in the arena of
self-transcendence from sports to selfless service has been
monumental! My heartfelt gratitude to everyone with a "fitting poem"
by Sri Chinmoy from page 52 of this book:

"You can enjoy a limitless life of glory
If you do not allow
Your life to be bound
By your body's rules and regulations."

Dynamically yours,
Sunamita

***********************************

Karteek's English Channel Crossing

From: Ahelee
Date: Thu Jul 29, 2004 10:43am
Subject: Karteek Conquers Again - #6!
#5758 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5758

Karteek Clarke, a member of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team from
Edinburgh, Scotland, completed his 6th crossing of the English
Channel yesterday. He was struggling through the "washing machine
water" to the finish just about the time that his Centre was
settling into their evening meditation hour...

A very long, grueling swim for him - 16 hours, 13 minutes. His best
crossing time is 10 hours, 53 minutes.

This is really fantastic news for us all. Mid afternoon yesterday,
we were told from an outside source, that his boat was running into
problems and may have turned back. But lo and behold, I woke this
morning to this happy news of Karteek's finish!

Watch for his personal report to be posted soon on the Sri Chinmoy
Channel Swimmers web page.

Congratulations Karteek!

Next tide, coming soon - Henrik, Jozef, and Vijaya!

***********************************

From: Shankara
Date: Sat Jul 31, 2004 9:17am
Subject: From Shankara: Divine Heros
#5759 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5759

Wow, what a day for divine heros. In the early hours of the morning
Karteek completed swimming the English Channel. Is this his fifth or
sixth time? He completes this amazing challenge so often I've lost
count. Then later on the same day, my father calls me from New York
to say that Ashprihanal has just finished the 3100 Mile Race. And
here I am worrying about how I'm going to manage the marathon in
August. I guess I will just have to tap into a bit of their
inspiration-dynamism-stamina.

Thank you, you two divine heros, we are so proud of you.

Shankara

***********************************

From: Karteek Clarke
Date: Sat Jul 31, 2004 2:33 pm
Subject: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5765 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5765

55,680 strokes across the Channel.

This year's Channel swimming odyssey can be traced to various
starting points, like the pool training in early Spring or the start
of the open water work in the cold North Sea on June the 23rd.
Instead here I shall focus on my arrival in Dover two weeks before
my successful swim and ten days before the first possible date for
swimming (24th of July).

The longest swim I had done up to that point had been the Lake
Windermere swim, which was just under six hours in time but was done
at race pace. At the beach (about twenty miles from Edinburgh) I had
done plenty of one to two hour sessions, and towards the end two
back to back three hour swims. The water temperature was around 12
degrees, which is extremely cold, so I felt that these counted for a
little bit more. My plan for the start in Dover was to do an eight
hour swim and then follow it the next day with four hours. That
would give me a good double swim and about a week to recover. My
preferred preparation is always to do a minimum of three double six
hour swims (six hour swims two days in a row and repeated three
times usually on three consecutive weekends). The water was just too
cold in Scotland to do that, and I hadn't been able to get down to
Dover for weekends as I had in previous years.

I managed only four hours that first day as conditions were cold and
stormy. After two hours I had the strange experience of being
attacked by a cormorant (a big black sea bird). It flew at me and
then dived down grabbing my hand in its beak. Often sea birds fly
down low overhead thinking you might be something edible, and then
disappear when they realise that you are a bit too big for them. It
wasn't until I got out of the water about ten minutes later that I
noticed its razor sharp beak had drawn blood and there was quite a
cut on my finger. These birds are quite rare in the harbour and the
way it all happened had a hostile feel to it. No one else had ever
heard of it happening to a swimmer.

The following day I managed to do another four hour swim. During
this swim there was the most unbelievable thunder and lightning
storm. All the street lamps came on as the skies darkened. The
torrential rain pelted down on the water, creating a loud roaring
sound as forked lightning appeared all around on the horizon. At one
point the water literally started bubbling around me, and it was
only when I noticed big bits of ice floating in the water that I
realised it was hail stones. I have never seen hailstones the size
of marbles before, and have never had them beating down on my bare
skin. Far from being frightening, it was a special moment as it took
away the worry and tension of having to swim for a long time up and
down in the cold harbour water. It made me laugh aloud as I imagined
how hard the Channel already was without having thick pieces of ice
stinging your back and hitting your head. There were some other
swimmers around too, and I felt that the lightning would only be
dangerous if you were near metal objects. It turned out to be the
worst storm Dover had experienced for twenty five years, causing
major flooding and knocking out the power and transport systems.

It was good to have two four hour swims under my belt, but I felt as
if I was not prepared enough and knew that it is not a good sign to
have these feelings one week before the proposed swim. I toyed with
the idea of switching to the August tide three weeks later, but I
also knew that there were three other swimmers on this tide and the
chances were I would not get to swim. The tide I was booked on was
completely free, which meant I would be able to choose the best day
out of the whole week.

I awoke from a very peaceful dream on Sunday night. I dreamt that I
had successfully swum and was being congratulated by lots of people.
The positive feeling was only slightly dampened by the fact that I
hadn't actually completed it yet in real life! I walked along the
quay that Sunday night feeling somewhat depressed about the swim,
and aware that there was some spark missing. I used to love walking
around watching the ferries come in with their different coloured
navigation lights and the loom of the lighthouses from the French
coast. It would always be very peaceful at that time of the evening,
with the small waves lapping at the bottom of the promenade and
sometimes the glint of moonlight on the water in the bay. This time
I looked out and only felt the harshness of the sea and imagined the
cold in my bones. I told myself I had completed the swim before, but
somehow I felt more alienated from it than ever - perhaps from
remembering the difficulties on previous swims and perhaps from not
having done so many long six hour swims in preparation. The
following day I went in with the aim of trying to complete two
hours, which I thought would be manageable and would at least keep
up the momentum of the training. It was a beautiful, calm, sunny day
and I felt light and in good spirits. I decided to make it four
hours, which when added to the first two days, would mean I had done
twelve hours over four days. As it happened, I was able to do six
hours and still felt good.

My plans changed very quickly, and I decided that I was ready after
all for the following weekend. Everything was full steam ahead for
that Saturday. I was staying in the Youth Hostel with Jozef, who had
just arrived from Prague and who is currently preparing to swim on
the August tide. Things were complicated at the Hostel, in that we
had to keep moving our bags, and sometimes would end up in the
dormitory accommodation with five or six strangers. This wasn't the
best arrangement, and contributed to a slight sense of being tired
and unready. The Saturday came around all too quickly.

It was a 1:30 am wake-up call for a four o'clock start from the
beach. As we got down to the boat, the weather forecast printout
looked good - although there was a light northerly breeze blowing
down over the cliffs that hadn't been mentioned in the forecast.
After a good start to the swim, the water very soon became quite
rough and choppy, making swimming extremely uncomfortable. Luckily,
the dreaded seasickness didn't bother me the way it did last year. I
was trying out some homeopathic pills mixed in with the hourly feed,
and they seemed to be working.

As the conditions became more and more unbearable, I was sure that
my helpers would stop me or at least suggest stopping and going
another day. I was managing all right, and even laughing at the
hilarity of the waves crashing over my head and twisting my whole
body around as I tried to swim. I knew that unless the conditions
changed fairly soon, I would not be able to deal with it for the
whole swim. I was desperate to stop and escape from the hellish
prospect of having to continue like this for many hours. All I
wanted to do was get warm and be back on the boat, regardless of any
idea of 'not giving up' or 'persevering through it.' After two and a
half hours, I suggested postponing but they didn't really pick up on
it; in fact the official observer appeared and said he thought it
wasn't too bad. I had the same horrible pangs as I had early on in
the previous year's swim when I found it overwhelming and just
wanted to give up.

At moments, I would just try to completely surrender my being and
almost feel that I didn't exist. This would immediately grant
moments of peace and the feeling that the swim could just happen
automatically. At the same time, I was extremely frightened of
pushing it in that way. It was too close to an annihilation of all
the things I wanted to hold onto – my life and thoughts and personal
ways of doing things. Perhaps this was the call to try to surrender
the ego - something I wasn't ready to do. Finally I managed to
persuade them that it was really rather nasty, and made an agreement
with Dave, the pilot, to take me again on a better day. I would just
pay him to cover expenses. Generally if you stop the swim in bad
conditions before the three or four hour point, the pilot will take
you again without charging you the full amount of hiring a boat and
crew for the day. It was great to be out of the torment; but far
from being a joyful feeling, it was a feeling of muted
dissatisfaction and the worry that maybe I had just given in to
something.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing out in the Youth Hostel
garden. I had more or less resigned myself at this stage to giving
up the whole Channel swimming project – it had just become too
arduous. I must add at this stage that perhaps with the exception of
the second swim, when the weather turned very windy after seven
hours, all the swims have been joyful experiences and the idea of
giving up has never entered into my head. People have always told me
what a nightmare it must be to have to swim the Channel, but I have
always had very positive feelings about it and have always looked
forward to each summer. Admittedly (and of course you tend to forget
the painful parts), there are always times when it's a real hard
push, and the training can certainly be quite gruelling. It seemed
as if a whole new force of doubt had crept in, and along with it a
part of me that felt strong enough to give up on it all and leave it
for good.

Last year's swim was very difficult, and I had made up my mind to
give up at least three times. I still don't know how I got there. I
think I was like an angry screaming child being woken up and carried
somewhere it didn't like - but by caring hands that knew what was
best.

Everything changed that evening when I got a call from Annam Brahma,
the vegetarian restaurant in New York. They called with a short
message from Sri Chinmoy. He sent his love and blessings. He had
heard that I had to stop due to the weather changing, but he was
very happy that I was going again later in the week.

In reporting what had happened that morning, I think I just said in
a matter of fact way that it was a problem with the weather, and I
would of course go again soon. I hadn't communicated the thoughts
that this was now enough for me, hadn't perhaps wanted to admit
defeat. When Annam Brahma relayed Sri Chinmoy's message, they also
stressed how Guru had 'the sweetest smile.' Something about this
message and imagining his smile stirred something deep within me,
and I realised I could do it.

All I had to do was conquer that moment of wanting to give up, and
the feeling of going through unnecessary suffering that had started
to hit me after about three hours. I had the feeling that Guru had
known exactly what I had been going through earlier that morning,
and that these were difficulties in life that probably hadn't
changed much for thousands of years. I started to imagine that this
new feeling of wanting to give up was like a nasty monster that
tried to attack me at a certain distance out from the beach. All I
had to do was slay this beast and then everything would flow
according to plan. I started to imagine the various myths and
stories about people having to conquer monsters and beasts to get to
their goal. I don't know if I can say that I was sure I was going to
succeed at this point, but I know that I was determined to give it
my all.

The day of the swim was set for the following Wednesday, when there
looked to be a particularly clear spell of weather. Far from
dreading the prospect, part or me was actually looking forward to
getting out there and chopping the monster's head off! Of course,
there were the nerves and the times when you just wanted to be free
from the upcoming challenge.

A final idea came the day before the swim. The idea was to imagine I
was the lead swimmer amongst an army of very powerful swimmers who
would be accompanying me. Our combined energy I felt would be able
to get us through anything, and with this army to help fight the
monster it wouldn't stand a chance.

Wednesday was beautifully sunny, very calm, and it was also the best
day for the tide. I couldn't believe my luck and started to think
that although it was going to be a hard push, maybe the expected
fight wouldn't take place. For the first hour as you twist your head
back to breathe you can look back and see the white cliffs receding
behind you.

I have always sung lots of songs whilst swimming, and as I started
singing I felt that the army of swimmers were singing in unison with
me. I felt a strong sense that we were swimming in a 'v' shape -
rather like a flock of geese. Then came the feeling that we were
carrying an important message from one country to another. This was
concealed deep inside the pack of swimmers.

Once you start swimming, you really need a reason to be doing it.
You cannot just be out there purely for the sake of swimming and
getting to the other side. It's as if you are quickly transported
out of the realm of being an independent individual. You rely on
strength that is outside you, whether that is coming from thinking
about and intensely identifying with people close to you, or from
something more spiritual. Besides this, there is always the feeling
of a tearing of bonds between you and those you are close to,
whether they be family or friends. You feel as if you are going
further away from them. Sometimes you can try to imagine that you
are producing tremendous positive energy for them, but this is a bit
too unsure. In the face of the immensity of it all, you can no
longer be just yourself, but must be there for an unselfish reason.
On dry land before the swim (and maybe even retrospectively), you
may think that it is just a question of the individual getting from
one side to the other - but no one has the mental strength for that
to be sufficient. The great ocean is always such a reminder of how
small and insignificant we are as individuals in comparison to the
vastness of what is not us. The idea of being entrusted with some
very important secret inner mission was a powerful inspiration.

The large ferries started to appear as the route of the swim took us
directly out in front of Dover port. After about three and a half to
four hours, I started to see the big tankers and cargo ships
coasting effortlessly down the northwest shipping lane. This point
is about five miles out, so you know you are at least a quarter of
the way across. It is also at this point for some reason that there
is a lot of seaweed, and of course the jellyfish that seem to excite
the imagination so much in the retelling. Two years ago I had swum
through a thick morass of tiny jellyfish that extended for over a
mile, so I wasn't too put out to see them again. This time the small
ones were out in their hundreds and I had to swim through them, but
the patches were relatively isolated. In amongst them there were
some bigger ones, some of which have beautiful blue bulbous tops
that are picked up by the slanting rays of sunshine penetrating down
into the murky depths below you. I remember one sting, but it was
not too serious and only ached for a few minutes. You can liken the
jellyfish to walking through stinging nettles. There were moments
when I would swim into a huge bit of seaweed and it would coil
itself around my neck. The initial feeling was that it was the
tentacles of a jellyfish, but luckily it was not.

I had started very well in the first hour, but then really felt as
if I was slowing down in the second. I wasn't unduly worried as I
assumed it was probably necessary to save energy, but was a bit
concerned when I had a curious feeling that my arms had turned into
massive concrete pillars that I couldn't move. It reminded me of a
strange nightmare I had when I was younger in which my limbs would
become huge and heavy and I would be unable to move them. However,
these feelings again passed and just recurred once more very briefly
later in the day.

At the six hour point Dave, the pilot, signalled 'ten' to me with
his hands, and my first reaction was that we were on target for a
ten hour swim. I immediately felt a surge of inspiration as I
thought that meant we could be finished soon. Four hours certainly
seemed like a manageable amount, and I could think of the many times
I had done that in the pool. Then it occurred to me that maybe he
meant we had done ten miles. That would mean that we were just under
halfway and, with the toughest part of the swim still to come, was
not such good news. Sometimes this ambiguity is good. One part of me
was thinking we were less than halfway, whilst another part of me
was able to argue that we would be finishing in four hours time. For
the time being there was equal evidence for both, though it
certainly seemed that we were more than halfway.

It was at about this point that the situation slowly started to
deteriorate, as the waves got bigger and started throwing me around
a bit. Not that I have ever done it, but I have always likened this
to swimming in a washing machine which is spinning back and forth
from side to side. At first I thought it might be just isolated wash
from shipping, or a small patch of turbulence; but it continued and
got slightly stronger right up to the end of the swim. The effects
of wind and tide, even though I was swimming fairly strongly, now
worked to completely change the curve of the predicted 'ten hour
swim' (which Dave later confirmed was what he had been signalling).

By hour eleven I was told we were two and a half miles away from
France. I worked out in my head that at that pace it would be about
one and a quarter hours, but allowed myself two hours. Two hours
later, I asked how far to go and was told one more hour. After this
hour again I asked and was told that this was the final hour. After
that hour, it was another hour and a quarter. So it was three and a
quarter more hours from when I had been told one hour, and five and
a quarter from when I had been told we were two and a half miles
distant.

This experience with the time at the end of the swim always seems to
be the same. Adhiratha, who was the first man in the Sri Chinmoy
Centre to swim the Channel (1987), has dubbed it the 'eternal hour.'

The darkness set in quite quickly, and with it a beautiful yellow
moon. I knew we were probably relatively safe from the strong tide
outside the bay, but I was feeling extremely cold and although the
lights seemed clear up ahead on the French coast, I was unsure how
long I would be able to continue.

Two luminous light sticks were handed down to me, to be lodged
between cap and goggles to enable the crew to see me in the dark. I
remember streams of bright phosphorescence every time I moved my
hands through the water and thinking how beautiful it was. I was
just too tired to appreciate it. The coldness seemed to get more and
more intense as the lights, if anything, seemed to fade away into
the distance. France didn't seem to want to yield itself.

I had lost track of the time by this stage, as it was dark and I
couldn't even see my watch. The white boat was lit up with all the
nighttime navigation lights, and each time I looked over at it in
the dark blue-black water, the coloured lights seemed to take on
different shapes. At times it almost looked like a spacecraft. I
don't think this is a hallucination, but rather the effect of
staring at the same object for so long while tired that everything
seems to merge into one. As a swimmer at sea, your senses are so
muted anyway. You look out through misty goggles under a cap that
blocks virtually all sound. Since you are breathing from side to
side, your head is continually moving so you cannot look directly at
an object. Instead it is like a series of camera shots taken at
different angles. Each time you look up to breathe, you take in some
aspect of the scene - and of course that may be from the trough or
the crest of the wave. Sometimes you have strange feelings,
imagining that you might have started tagging along with another
boat altogether. Sometimes there are feelings of detachment: you
feel you are out there doing one thing, and the boat and crew are
out there doing their own thing. At that point, the boat and you
just happen to be together. It's as if you are part of the group and
the little expedition, but they have forgotten about you and you
have forgotten about them. As you look at the waves out of the
corner of your eyes, you always think you have seen bits of
coastline or even walls. One year for hours I thought I was swimming
into a bay, as there seemed to be land on either side of me - but it
was just the tops of the waves.

As we progressed, I wondered if there was a chance that the beach
was much closer than the lights, as often with a town the buildings
are set well back from the shore. The crew told me later that they
didn't know where the beach was because it was so dark. In fact, the
observer thought that we had maybe started swimming up a river on
the French side. Finally I saw something in the water next to me. It
was quite a bizarre sight, but turned out to be Jozef with his
multicoloured swimming cap with a light stick on it. Shortly
afterwards, I felt that wonderful feeling that you dream about of
the sand under my hands. I shouted to him and stood up. I waded and
waded only to find that the beach was still quite a way away, so I
even started swimming again.

Finally we were standing on a bit of beach out of the water - which
is the stipulation for successfully crossing the Channel. It is the
moment you dream of, but when you are there you are so tired that
all you want to do is get back to the boat and warm up and
contemplate it the next day. Normally on the way back I feel
reasonably sprightly and sit up at the back watching the lights and
the shipping; but this time I was exhausted and very cold. I wrapped
up warm and fell asleep for most of the return journey. It had taken
a lot longer than expected, but I had finally made it in 16 hours
and 13 minutes, to make a total of six successful Channel swims.

Ashrita got back very soon afterwards with a congratulatory message
from Sri Chinmoy. One of the things he said was not to worry about
the time, that the weather was the hostile forces. It's strange
because every time I went to the beach in Scotland to train, the
waves were quite big and choppy and I always had to swim through
them. Last year it was calm and the water was always clear with
views down to the sand and the crabs. When I did my training swims
in Dover this year, the water was also generally quite disturbed.
During the aborted Saturday swim, I had to fight against these waves
and declined the contest in the hope I would get a good calm day. I
have had such calm days on two prior swims, the one when I did my
best time (10hrs 53 mins) and my very first one (11hrs 57mins).
Perhaps there was no point in going through that experience again. I
felt that Sri Chinmoy had taken away ninety five percent of the
power of the weather in the second half, but left just enough for me
to fight against to learn the lesson. Of course, then you realise
that the five percent is also all Grace.

I have made very little mention of my two helpers, Dave and Jozef,
who were fearless, inspirational and devoted to the cause from start
to finish. More than anything else the Channel is a team effort, and
they were perfect team members. Jozef (Slovakia) will be joined by
Henrik (Finland) to swim an upcoming tide in August. Vijoya from New
York will also swim. Watch this space for more news.

***********************************

From: Projjwal
Date: Sun Aug 1, 2004 0:20am
Subject: Re: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5789 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5789

Dear Karteek,

congratulations on your heroic victory Nr 6! What an incredible
achievement! When I see you, you have to tell me the whole story in
German since my English is so bad!!!

Projjwal
with unconditional admiration

***********************************

From: Doris
Date: Sun Aug 1, 2004 4:42am
Subject: Re: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5790 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5790

Hello Karteek,

I am very, very, very grateful to you for sharing all your
experiences with us. It gives one a deep inspiration to look humbly
at one's own little monsters, and to be more determined to overcome
them.

Be sure, next time I go out for swimming I will conquer fear once
and for all. No excuses anymore, or better - no fear anymore.

I have printed your very inspiring message and I will hang it up on
our board. We have some good swimmers in our enterprise like Robert
and Milan from Slovakia and Czech Republic.

What you have achieved six times is beyond mental understanding. I
am deeply touched by your very soulful attitude toward the event.

gratitude, gratitude, gratitude

Doris

***********************************

From: Sumangali
Date: Sun Aug 1, 2004 1:47am
Subject: Re: Divine Heros
#5791 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5791

I would like to echo Shankara's message. I'm absolutely in awe of
both of these achievements, and congratulate both divine heroes for
their respective divine victories.

I am very grateful to Karteek for posting his account of his sixth
Channel crossing. He so eloquently conveyed many, many aspects of
the challenge which I could never have even imagined. It was very
humbling to read, and really put life into sharp relief. It's so
easy to get stuck in one's own little world and caught up with
things which are not important at all. This glowing account served
to remind me of what really is important – the Supreme's Victory,
and nothing else.

I hope one of the runners of the 3100 mile race writes something of
their experience at some point in the future. Like Shankara, I am
also worrying about how I'm going to manage a marathon, and have
spent most of this week recovering from what to me was a momentous
training run of a mere 20 miles!

It is thrilling though to think that the Supreme can manifest
seemingly impossible victories, through whoever He chooses as
instruments. Although I could never imagine being in this heroic
league, I am very proud to be in the same spiritual organisation as
Ashprihanal and Karteek, as well as those still running the 3100!

Sumangali
:oD

***********************************

From: Adhiratha
Date: Sun Aug 1, 2004 10:24am
Subject: Re: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5793 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5793

Karteek, dear brother, I am humbled not only by your achievements
but by your ability to recall all the different inner experiences
and sensations with such detail. Your poetic expression is amazing
and especially the ability to communicate the wild variety included
in the "washing machine" and the "eternal hour" when the end seems
to be a distant dream nowhere to be seen. Once again you have done
it. Thank you Sincerely- Adhiratha

***********************************

From: Akankha
Date: Sun Aug 1, 2004 9:24am
Subject: Karteek and overcoming obstacles
#5794 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5794

Hi all,

Congratulations, Karteek! And thank you for your inspiring
report of your 6th successful Channel swim. I like the image of many
supportive people swimming with you.

Reading your post reminds me of a new book I am enthralled
by: "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" by Aron Ralston. He is the
brave young fellow who, a year ago, while hiking through a remote
narrow canyon in Utah, had his right hand pinned by an immovable
(except when it fell) bolder. After 5 days he finally realized that
the only way he could survive was to amputate his own hand, which he
did. Sounds gory, but his book is fascinating and inspiring.

Others have mentioned here Lance Armstrong's books in the same
vein.

"Cheerfulness is progress,
Progress is satisfaction,
Satisfaction is God Himself."

-Sri Chinmoy

Have an inner and outer sunny day, Akankha

***********************************

From: Shardul
Date: Sun Aug 1, 2004 10:04pm
Subject: Re: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5803 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5803

Hi Karteek,

Congratulations on "The Crossing!" and your wonderful account of the
events surrounding it. Projjwal wants to hear it in German but I
would like to hear it in Gaelic. I do not understand Gaelic but just
love the sound of that language. It reminds me of home somehow.

With sincere admiration for our brave Scottish brother ... Shardul
and all the Kiwis.

***********************************

From: Martanda
Date: Sun Aug 1, 2004 11:28pm
Subject: Re: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5804 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5804

Congratulations, and thank you for telling your story of the ups and
downs in the waves of the channel.

Karteek Clarke - Clarke Kent...
Any relation to Superman, ...no?

Martanda

***********************************

From: Bernice
Date: Sun Aug 1, 2004 11:43pm
Subject: Re: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5805 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5805

Karteek, I am so in awe of you and anyone else who is able to swim
the Channel. Unlike running, swimming has never come easy to me, and
this feat would have to be one of the most terrifying things that I
could ever imagine. (Hopefully that doesn't mean that I'm actually
meant to do it some day.) It was fantastic to read all about it.

Cheers

Bernice
Australia

***********************************

From: Terri
Date: Mon Aug 2, 2004 11:39am
Subject: Re: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5816 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5816

Thank you, Karteek for such a wonderful accounting of your swim! It
brought tears to my eyes. All these self-transcendence feats will
be of tremendous inspiration to me in my 3-week [ :-) ] marathon
training program which commences today!

Terri
Tampa, Florida

***********************************

From: Igor
Date: Mon Aug 2, 2004 0:56pm
Subject: Congratulations for Karteek
#5817 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5817

Hi Karteek !

Congratulations !!!

I've gotten so much inspiration from both your Lake Windermere and
English Channel swims. It inspires me to swim more. As a former
swimmer I know what it means to swim the Channel and other open
water marathon swims. You are doing something really unique. Thank
you very much.

I would like to share my humble achievement that gave me a lot of
joy.

I participated in 1-mile fun swim race in Chicago on the 27th of
July. I came to Lake Michigan to have my regular Tuesday swim, and
found the competition. It was quite wavy and my time of 23.49 gave
me abundant joy.

I finished in 6th place. A few significant dates of my life are
connected with this number, like the month of my birth, date of my
second birth, and cabbalistic number of my name (I don't know how
much truth is in the last one), etc. Needless to say, it is the same
number as your completed English Channel swims.

Thank you once more and good luck in all your future activities.

Igor

***********************************

From: Vasudha
Date: Mon Aug 2, 2004 2:14pm
Subject: Re: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5818 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5818

Wow, Karteek! What a great account of your incredible achievement!
It's so good of you to take the time to write in such detail. Those
of us who are but mere witnesses to these awe-inspiring self-
transcendence achievements LOVE to hear all the bits of the story.

Congratulations on your 6th crossing. I'll look forward to next
year's story!

Vasudha

***********************************

From: Prachar
Date: Tue Aug 3, 2004 1:24am
Subject: Re: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5834 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5834

Hi Karteek

Your stories of swimming the Channel and also Lake Windermere are
beautifully told, living adventures. You have uplifted our community
by your heroic deeds, your captivating writing and the selfless
sharing of your illumining experiences. Your body, vital, mind,
heart and soul are each and together shedding their light on us
profusely. Thank you.

I am delighted to invite you to swim the length of our own Lake
Burley Griffin, in Canberra. The distance for you is a trifling 9.3
kms (less than 6 miles!) Perhaps you can be the first person to swim
the lake from end to end and back again!

Just planting a seed - we can discuss details when next we meet
(wherever that may be).

Your aquatic admirer and friend (but not on the running track!)

Prachar

***********************************

From: Stuart
Date: Tue Aug 3, 2004 7:12am
Subject: Re: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5838 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5838

Great effort Karteek, what an effort! Water that is 14 degrees
sounds fr..fr.. freezing. There is a fantastic channel swim in West
Australia not quite as far, and no nasty tides. You will have to
come and do the Rottnest channel swim some time as a warm up.

see you soon
Stuart

***********************************

From: Aruna
Date: Tue Aug 3, 2004 11:08am
Subject: Re: 55,680 strokes across the Channel.
#5842 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5842

Hello Karteek,

congratulations on your amazing achievement. You sure are a great
instrument of the Supreme! A Channel-swim makes the Marathon seem
like a relaxing bath in the jacuzzi.

I hope I will remember it when my muscles start aching a few weeks
from now!

Usually I don't really read postings as long as yours because I'm
just too lazy, but I did read your inspiring and thrilling story
about your experiences. My father said I should, and since I always
do what he says(!!!), I did. And he was right, it was totally worth
it.

Thank you for the inspiration.

Greetings Aruna

***********************************

From: Karteek
Date: Mon Aug 16, 2004 2:51am
Subject: The Channel 2004 - a summing up.
#6163 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6163

I posted a note last weekend to say that Jozef had completed his
swim in a time of 14 hours and 28 minutes. He completed it on
Saturday 7th of August.
(For some reason it didn't go through - probably hit the wrong
button.)

Vijaya swam for an epic and heroic 18 hours on Tuesday 10th with
still a little way to go to finish.

Henrik bravely tried again but suffered from sea sickness problems
so unfortunately had to pull out quite early into the swim.

(This is the first time I have managed to get back to look at this
site in three weeks and note that people sent some messages to me
after my swim on 28th of July. I haven't managed to read them all
yet but thank you very much for your inspiration and apologies for
not having replied to them)

Karteek

***********************************

Jozef's English Channel Crossing

From: Pataka
Date: Sun Aug 8, 2004 8:16am
Subject: Another Channel Hero!!!
#6037 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6037

Just a brief piece of news,

(as is it is too shameful that so far, none of those of us who KNOW
has posted anything about the great feat):

Yesterday (Saturday, Aug. 7), our brother Jozef from Slovakia AND
Prague :-) conquered the English Channel in a terrific time of
14:28!!!

I do not know many details, but it seems that more than the swimmer
himself suffered. Apparently Pranab, one of Josef's faithful
helpers, experienced some seasickness on the boat. :-) This much I
CAN tell:

All our victory-banners are flying in Jozef's honour now!
Hope to hear the whole story from him soon.

Full of oneness-joy,
Pataka

***********************************

From: Mate Szekely
Date: Tue Aug 10, 2004 4:42am
Subject: Re: Another Channel Hero!!!
#6041 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6041

I have been lucky enough to witness Jozef's Channel crossing:

Smooth stroke, head down - very short breaks, no questions, no
complaints. He could have gone (if needed) for another 20 hours at
the same pace. Indeed a very, very strong effort. Mobile phones were
busy for the whole afternoon - Czech and Slovak centres kept calling
and texting for news on their Hero. (Jozef is a Slovak living in
Czech Republic.)

We started out at 4 am, and landed half past 6 pm, so holidaymakers
(or rather locals from Calais) were still on the sandy beach.
(People usually go to make their holidays by warm seas, not
frightening cold ones.)

At the end, all I could see was Josef jumping up and down like a
7-year-old kid. Then he swam back to the boat - greasy like a
monster, but with a very relaxed face, as if nothing had happened.

It is my second crossing to assist, and what I saw in both cases was
the swimmer turning his face into a very strange expression during
the swim - a freezing-salty-sour-would-like-to-go-home expression.
At one point, when Jozef swam close the boat I told Karteek: "Look
at his eyes." He simply answered: "I know..." in a meaningful tone,
with a long silence following.

That is for Josef's swim. Henrik (from Finland, Ashprihanal's
brother) is also swimming soon. He looked strong and very well-fed.
He completed some 6-hour training swims in Dover Harbour's "leisure
area." Vijaya was also around; she may swim on the same day as
Henrik.

Gooood luck! - if there is such a thing...
Mate

***********************************

From: Sangvad
Date: Tue Aug 10, 2004 11:54pm
Subject: Re: Another Channel Hero!!!
#6065 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6065

Dear Pataka
As a person who lives in England can I add my heartfelt

CONGRATULATIONS
to
Jozef!!!!!

We are all very proud of him.

Sangvad, Bristol Centre

***********************************

From: Igor
Date: Wed Aug 11, 2004 1:54pm
Subject: Re: Another Channel Hero!!!
#6079 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6079

Hi Pataka !

You're right!

Every year we have 3-4 English Channel swimmers. That's why it
seems to be very easy to do that. But it's not at all. Behind
each attempt are long hours of training, self-discipline,
willpower, determination, faith, etc.

So our gratitude is for all English Channel swimmers. Their
swimming is a manifestation of these mentioned qualities.

***********************************

From: Ahelee
Date: Wed Aug 11, 2004 2:32pm
Subject: Re: Another Channel Hero - Jozef!!!
#6088 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6088

Congratulations to Jozef, the English Channel Swimmer!

If you look on our relatively new website for the Sri Chinmoy
Marathon Team Channel Swimmers, you will see a photo of Jozef in the
English Channel. Yes, that is him in the rainbow swim cap!

http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/channel/channel_swimmers/

Several years ago, Jozef was working with us in San Diego. I
remember the guys telling me that he was a good swimmer. Then
sometimes I would see him in New York and the guys there would tell
me that Jozef is a very good swimmer. Then last year the guys told
me Jozef wanted to swim the English Channel. "Finally, finally" I
thought to myself! All these times, Jozef would be standing behind
"the guys" just smiling and smiling. Sometimes he was quite
sunburned from swimming so much!

This guy Jozef smiles ALOT! And he is a good swimmer. These two
things are very key ingredients to swimming across the English
Channel!

Jozef's swim makes 33 English Channel crossings by students of Sri
Chinmoy! No other team has recorded this many crossings.

What an excellent accomplishment for Jozef, his crew, and his
centres - Slovakia and Prague! It isn't always evident how many
individuals are instrumental in an undertaking like this swim. Thank
you for the reports Mate and Karteek!

Next year marks the 20th Anniversary of the first English Channel
crossings for our team by Vasanti and Adhiratha. It would be
wonderful to have many more Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team swimmers in
Dover; then to swim the Channel in tribute to this great tradition.

_
Ahelee
San Francisco

***********************************

From: Amur
Date: Thu Aug 12, 2004 0:37am
Subject: Re: Another Channel Hero - Jozef!!!
#6096 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6096

I would like to add few more things about Jozef.

His good qualities are not obvious only during swimming. He is a
great cook, responsible employee, friend around the clock, and
excellent helper - first to come, last to go.

He is a living example that spiritual qualities do not manifest only
on special occasions like swimming across the Channel, but in
everyday activities as well.

And this seems to be the rule in the case of Sri Chinmoy's students,
as far as I can tell. I read the same about Matt, Arpan, Mate and
others... their special efforts are proof of their integral
aspiration in different fields.

Congratulations

Amur, Prague

***********************************

Viktoria's Swim Around Iceland

From: Ganagane
Date: Fri Aug 13, 2004 9:38am
Subject: Swimming around Iceland!!!
#6126 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6126

One woman from the Reykjavik Centre just finished a swim across a
big bay in Iceland earlier this week. A total of 62 k! She started
on the 24th and has been going for a twice-a-day swim, covering on
average one mile. Last Thursday she finished when she arrived at her
home town of Stykkilsholmur in Western Iceland. She used the swim to
draw attention to the work of a charitable organisation.

We have not yet translated any of her diaries or comments, but if
all works well we will report properly on this heroic swim on our
Icelandic Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team site.

The temperature of the sea was from 9 to 12 degrees Celsius. I swam
with her the first leg of the swim (about 3.5 k, in about 11
degrees), and it was an extraordinary experience. The landscape was
spectacular and very inspiring. I was pretty proud of myself after
the swim, but I only did 3.5 of the whole 62 k, so it's obvious who
the hero is!

- Ganagane, Reykjavik, Iceland.

***********************************

From: Pataka
Date: Sat Aug 14, 2004 0:03am
Subject: Re: Swimming around Iceland!!!
#6132 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6132

Ganagane

It really IS obvious who the hero is -- it's YOU yourself! 'Cause
just thinking of entering into water 9 to 12°C cold turns me - a bag
of bones - into a frozen blue stick! :-)

This year, our little team had to skip the Zurich lake swim due to
lack of time, and already long before we knew how much we would miss
it. (Haha, Pradeepta called our not-coming a God's Grace, as she
wouldn't be able to get yet another boat for us anyway... So
apparently we have been perfect instruments!)

I am no way a great swimmer, yet I love the feeling in the water
when everything gets soft and limpid and flowing, while the mind
goes still and calm.

Jozef the Channel Swimmer inspired us so much with what he said
before leaving for his attempt: "Whenever I look in Karteek's eyes,
I see deep, calm vastness. If I can ever get this by crossing the
Channel, I will be so grateful."

Gratitude to God the Waters!
Pataka

***********************************

From: Igor
Date: Sat Aug 14, 2004 7:32am
Subject: Re: Swimming around Iceland!!!
#6134 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6134

My sincerest congratulations, Viktoria, for such an achievement!!!

I'm just wondering how rich is this year by its amazing swimming
events! One by one. It's so inspiring.

I'm sure that this action will draw attention to charitable
activities - actually it's already done. To swim in 9-12 C water is
not a joke at all. Just amazing.

I wish you all the best in your future activities, and expect to
read your impressions about the event in English.

Igor

***********************************

From: Ahelee
Date: Sat Aug 14, 2004 6:16pm
Subject: Viktoria's Swim Around Iceland!!!
#6138 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6138

Yes Congratulations to Viktoria!

I'm still trying to figure out the conversions of temperature and
distances... but this certainly sounds like a fantastic step and
training toward an English Channel Swim Crossing next year... 20th
Anniversary for the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team Channel Swimmers.

Looking forward to your story to post on our Channel Swimmers team
site, Viktoria!

_
Ahelee
San Francisco

***********************************

From: Igor
Date: Sat Aug 14, 2004 7:50am
Subject: English Channel, for Ahelee
#6139 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6139

Hi Ahelee!

First, I'm very grateful to you for all the information about
swimming on our Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team page. I read it with great
interest and get so much inspiration!

I used to swim in my school days for almost 8 years. I wasn't the
worst swimmer at that time. Then I took a huge break, no swimming at
all. I did only pool training for short distances. But the English
Channel specification requires cold water training as well as long
distance swimming.

These two things I have to do to be ready for an EC attempt. Could
you say something about this matter? I'll be grateful for any
answer.

Igor

***********************************

17th International Self-Transcendence Marathon Swim - Switzerland

From: Martin From Zurich
Date: Tue Aug 10, 2004 10:08am
Subject: Self-Transcendence Marathon Swim in Switzerland
#6048 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6048

Beautiful weather and great performances by the swimmers this Sunday
in Switzerland marked the 17th International Self-Transcendence
Marathon Swim from Rapperswil to Zurich.

Winner overall was the junior swimmer Mario G. (age 18) from
Switzerland. His time for the 26.4km: 7h:30m:47s.

33 solo swimmers and 22 relay teams coming from all over the world
made this Marathon Swim an unforgettable event. Swimmers came from
India, USA, Australia, South Africa, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Greece,
France, Iceland, Czech Republic, Luxemburg, Hungary and Switzerland.
There was a great delegation from Great Britain (13 athletes!).

You can view all the results on srichinmoyraces.org by using this
shortcut link:

http://tinyurl.com/4ojeb

We will let you know as soon as the beautiful photo gallery and
video clips become available.

***********************************

From: Kedar
Date: Wed Aug 11, 2004 3:21pm
Subject: New Video: Marathon Swim in Switzerland - Sri Chinmoy TV
#6081 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6081

On Sunday, the Swiss Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team held its 17th
International Self-Transcendence Marathon Swim from Rapperswil to
Zurich, with a distance of 26.4 k. Solo swimmers and teams from
around the world participated, and enjoyed the beautiful weather and
fairly quiet water conditions. An 18-year old Swiss junior was the
fastest solo swimmer with a time of 7h:30m:47s, and a Swiss team was
the very first to arrive in Zurich after 6h:37m:27s. Among the
international swimmers, many came from Great Britain - including
Alison S., known as the "Queen of the Channel." She has already
crossed the Channel between England and France 43 times! Two solo
swimmers from the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team were also among the
finishers: Vedika from Zurich (13h:47:m:17s) and Viktoria from
Hungary (13h:29m:12s).

A brand new video of the event is now available to view or download.
Please use this shortcut to Sri Chinmoy TV and enjoy:

http://tinyurl.com/4syhm

Format: Real Video
Length: 10:29 min
Kedar Misani, Zurich

***********************************

From: Kanai From Zurich
Date: Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:09am
Subject: Self-Transcendence Marathon Swim Switzerland
#6128 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/6128

The marathon swim (26,4km) took place last Sunday and was a full
success. 100 swimmers (solo and relays) from 15 nations took part.
Each swimmer was accompanied by a private boat.

New! Beautiful photo gallery (Markus, Zurich):

http://tinyurl.com/3lo6z (shortcut to srichinmoyraces.org)

Video (by Kedar):

http://tinyurl.com/4syhm (shortcut to srichinmoy.tv)

Marathon results:

http://tinyurl.com/4ojeb (shortcut to srichinmoyraces.org)

Here is the first comment we just received by mail:

"I took part in the Lake Zurich swim on Sunday and am writing to
thank you for organising such a great event. I [participated in
another event] earlier in the year and [your] event was in a
different league in terms of organisation and occasion. I will
definitely be back next year and hope to [bring] a few others to
join me. Thank you for all your effort."

***********************************

Swimming Potpourri

From: Tejaswi
Date: Mon Jul 5, 2004 3:43 pm
Subject: Channel Swimming Feature Site
#4868 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/4868

Hi Guys

The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team (SCMT) website now has a featured
sub-site dedicated to swimming the English Channel. The SCMT has a
total of 31 crossings to its credit, which is the most by any team
as far as I am aware (please let me know if I am mistaken). Any
Channel swimmers who would like to contribute to the site should
contact Tejaswi. We are hoping to have personal accounts of both the
triumphs and tribulations, training and nutritional tips, book
recommendations and anything else that will be useful to inspire
would-be Channel swimmers out there. So far we have two accounts by
Karteek and Tejaswi. Check them out at:

http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/channel/channel_swimmers/karteek/

http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/channel/channel_swimmers/tejaswi/

respectively.

We would really like to make this an excellent resource for people
interested in swimming the Channel.

Thanks
Tejaswi

***********************************

From: Asthaloy
Date: Tue Jul 6, 2004 3:45 pm
Subject: Re: Channel Swimming Feature Site
#4922 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/4922

Tejaswi,

Thanks for your posting.

I just read your great account of your own channel crossing in 2000.
These kinds of experiences are so inspiring to read about. Self-
transcendence almost beyond the mind's imagination. So much
training, patience, perseverance and poise needed to untertake this
grand a venture. Congratulations to you, and to all who have dared
to attempt it.

P.S. I eagerly await my countryman and friend Henrik's attempt this
summer. He is trying to become the first Finn to complete the swim.
Good Luck!

Asthaloy

***********************************

From: Aleksandar
Date: Wed Jul 7, 2004 7:08 am
Subject: Tejaswi's swim and Channel Swimming Feature Site
#4936 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/4936

Hi Tejsawi

Last weekend, a few Macedonian guys (Toni, Aleksandar, Zoran, Kosta
and Sashko) had a small swimming race. It was in Ohrid Lake. The
swim was long (about 2.4km), and Toni was the winner with a time of
59min.

Since we are little in the swimming mood these days (particularly
myself), it was so inspiring to read your story about the Channel
crossing. I was lucky to hear some of it during last year's 10 day
race in NY, where your service for the runners was very much
appreciated.

Gratitude from my heart for sharing all these soulful experiences.
Of course, we are still waiting for other champions and their
beautiful stories!!!

With love,

Aleksandar
Macedonia

***********************************

From: Ahelee
Date: Wed Jul 7, 2004 4:45 pm
Subject: English Channel Swimming Season!
#4948 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/4948

This past few days saw the opening of the season for English Channel
Swimming. As far as I have heard, 3 (yes, 3!!) Irish National Relays
have crossed the Channel as well as relay teams from Oxford,
Cambridge, and Eton Prep School. No reports of solo crossings yet,
though. The weather has not been co-operating and some swimmers are
waiting out the days to have a good start.

Now my questions is... Henrik? Karteek? Vijaya? Who else from the
Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team will be swimming this year?

The team that I coach here in San Francisco is sending a team of
women over some time this summer for a relay swim. It is very
exciting to watch them venture into this huge physical undertaking -
the biggest ever for all of them!

A few days ago, Venu asked me which is harder - The Ironman
Triathlon or swimming The English Channel. For me there is no
question: the English Channel is the hardest. In the Ironman, there
are 3 different sports and therefore 3 changes of work or muscle
groups. Lots of things to look at and distract you in the process.
And if you are tired, you can stop to rest awhile or slow down.
Swimming The English Channel, however, gives the swimmer only a few
things to occupy the mind. If you slow down or stop, well, you
freeze in the cold water! I cannot imagine how one does this big
swim without meditation or something very close!

For me, swimming is pure meditation. It is my fastest way to a
meditative consciousness when I am "on my own." I wish everyone
could experience this kind of peaceful swimming. But I have learned
that everyone has their own way - art, music, writing, running... so
many different avenues!

Good luck swimmers!

_
Ahelee
San Francisco

***********************************

From: Amur
Date: Fri Jul 9, 2004 12:46 am
Subject: Re: English Channel Swimming Season!
#4983 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/4983

Hi Ahelee,

Our brother Jozef from Prague is getting ready for this big
challenge sometime this summer. He is working hard and it will be
his first try, of course solo.

I will be very happy to do once a long triathlon, so called Ironman,
which is my dream, my inner and outer promise. So far I am trying to
be at least an average swimmer, but it is much easier for me to get
in a meditative mood by running or on the bicycle. Each specific
sport in the triathlon is offering its special consciousness and
experiences, and I feel that my being is aspiring for each specific
flow offered through these sports.

I dare to think about the Ironman and its difficulties, but the
Channel is a greater challenge.

Good luck Jozef

triathlon beginner
Amur

***********************************

From: Roger From Cardiff
Date: Thu Jul 8, 2004 4:23 am
Subject: Man swims lake
#4956 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/4956

On Monday (5th July) Karteek from Edinburgh attempted to swim the
length of England's longest lake - the 10.5 mile Lake Windermere.

Jim from Glasgow and I accompanied him in a specially modified canoe
which served as a support boat, and we were blessed with amazing
weather - winds were light and the sun was shining all the way.

Karteek began his swim at the northern end of the lake at a jetty by
the youth hostel (a number of us had been staying there over the
weekend for the "concert in the cave" - see Suswara's message
#4847). After meditating inside the hostel and preparing all his
food and drink for the epic trip, Karteek plunged into the cool
waters of the lake at about 08:40, and emerged some 5 hours 18
minutes later looking remarkably fresh!

Hopefully Karteek will give an account of his experiences - from a
supporter's point of view I can say it was a very rewarding day,
seeing someone attempt such a feat and go on to succeed well ahead
of expectations (we had estimated 6 hours).

Jim and I had to paddle hard at times, and negotiate a route around
islands, moored yachts, ferries and powerboats, etc. At other times
it was all tranquility - in quiet sunbathed sections of the lake in
a forested valley with views of some of England's most lovely
mountains.

I had a really great day - inspiring, challenging at times and great
fun too.

I can't say I enjoyed my one attempt at supporting a Channel swimmer
quite so much though - as Abhijatri will remember, I was seriously
sea-sick for 9 hours while he did all the work in the boat fixing
drinks etc. for Balarka. Lakes are so much calmer!

Roger

***********************************

From: Shardul
Date: Fri Jul 9, 2004 6:52 pm
Subject: Re: Man swims lake
#5014 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5014

Dear Roger,

Please pass our heartiest good wishes to Karteek for his swimming
accomplishments. Well done Karteek! - and congratulations from all
here in New Zealand.

I am not in any way a swimmer, but I imagine that a fresh water swim
would be tougher than in the sea, as the salt water would aid
buoyancy - no?

There are a couple of lake swims here that Karteek is welcome to try
anytime - come on over - it's on the way to New York; kind of.

Cheers ... Shardul.

***********************************

From: Tejaswi
Date: Mon Jul 26, 2004 1:24 pm
Subject: Mate's Channel swim story
#5624 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5624

Hi

This is Mate's Channel swim story. It is also posted here:

http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/channel/channel_swimmers/mate_szekely/

with pictures.

................

My channel experience

I remember my long childhood summers at the Lake Balaton. On the
south coast the water is shallow and warm all summer. With my
brother we spent hours daily in the water. There I developed a
strong love for swimming.

Although from the age of 6 I did `competitive' swimming for three
years, but then I forgat about it all. It was later, in high-school
that one of my friends inspired me to go for the largest open-water
swimming race in Hungary that is 5,2km. We started training hard,
and we made it. For a long time I was proudly wearing the race
T-shirt. It said "I DID IT! Swimming Balaton 5236m". It was around
that time, that I joined the Sri Chinmoy Centre. On one of my first
meetings two guys came to me: "You did it? We are looking for a
third member in our team to swim the length of Zurich Lake!" So more
trainings came, and the following year we swam Zurich Lake, and the
year after again.

Then following the philosophy of self-transcendence, the Zurich-Lake
solo swim came, twice. (And my first 13kgs of body-weight gain – the
second 13kgs I took up before my first Channel attempt). Zurich is a
really beautiful event. There I really got to love it.

In this way, in just a few years time starting from zero, I found
myself on Europe's longest open water race in the company of a dozen
channel swimmers. I started to believe, that it is possible to swim
from England to France. So I started training more, and to dream about
the English Channel. And then some day I just found myself in Dover.

My first attempt was on 30th July 2002. We started 3:30 am. It was a
calm, nice morning, 5,9m tide. Devashishu, and Tyagambar were my
wonderful helpers. We started well, and before 6 hours we crossed
halfway. It really seemed we will make it. Then strong wind got up,
and we got bigger and bigger waves. We slowed down a lot on them, and
started losing it. After 13,5 hours they reported me, that
realistically the order of the day is a twenty-hour swim, and that the
pilot recommends to give it up. I gave it up. The main thing is that I
lost it mentally, and spiritually. The truth is that I started really
fast for myself, and I was not prepared neither phisically, nor
mentally for a swim longer than 16 hours. I have set this limit in my
mind.

I came home deeply frustrated. All the effort I had in this project –
it was really too much to come home with a failure. It took me really
a long time to learn to treasure this experience. – Out there, facing
the Channel, facing Mother Nature you realize how small a creature you
are. All your efforts in your life put together is nothing compared to
an `Ocean Breeze'*. There you learn to conciusly, and constantly
depend on God's Grace at every moment.

The second year I worked even harder. I joined a club in Budapest, and
I trained with short-distance swimmers to gain more speed. The
distances I have built up only in the last four months. My crawl got
really much faster.

We went out for my second attempt on the 3rd Aug. 2003. We started
again 3.15 am, nice, clear morning, 6,4meters spring tide. This time
the weather kept good. After 5 hours we crossed halfway. Devashishu
kept me in good condition with liquid foods, and jokes he wrote on a
double A4 size writing pad. By the end the current got very strong,
but since my pilot, and his crew seemed very relaxed, I was 100% sure,
that this time we make it. We landed 4:20 pm. The French were still on
the beach. They were happy to see me comming from England – gathered
around me, clapped, and shook my shaky hands.

It was a smooth crossing, but still very tough. With Karteek's words –
an experience that needs some time "to sink in". It is a wonderful
thing. A real treasure. To quote Sri Chinmoy's words, that in my
personal experiences proved to be 125% true:

"The English Channel frightens the human body.
The English Channel challenges the human vital.
The English Channel puzzles the human mind.
The English Channel invites the human heart.
The English Channel treasures the human soul."

Sri Chinmoy

*the name of my pilot's boat

- Mate Szekely

***********************************

From: Roger From Cardiff
Date: Tue Jul 27, 2004 6:12 am
Subject: Re: Mate's Channel swim story
#5666 http://tinyurl.com/2z72h/5666

Congratulations to Mate - thanks to Tejaswi for posting his story.

It's nice to hear the background to an achievement like this - the
training over so many years to build up the technique and endurance
needed.

As a non-swimmer I have to try and compare it to running, and to
think of 13 hours of running without being able to stop at all is
mind-blowing.

The longest endurance events I've attempted are the 12 hour walk and
the 47 mile race, both of which were very intense for me - I've not
done anything requiring sustained endurance for years, so I hope the
marathon next month will be a stepping stone for me back towards the
"ultra" world.

The achievements of other centre members around the world are a
constant reminder of what's possible, and certainly make make me
examine my own life to see what challenges I could take on. A
customer in our running store recently told me of a 75 mile traverse
of South Wales in which the runner visits the summits of all 33
peaks over 2000 feet in height - I instantly wanted to take this
challenge on, but again it's going to be a long haul for me to get
the endurance required to tackle it safely. I'm mentioning it now in
this post as a way of forcing myself not to forget about it!

Roger
Cardiff
Wales
UK

***********************************

Note: Vedika is another one of the heroic Channel Swimmers from the
Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. She has swum the English Channel five
times! To read more about her exploits, please visit this page and
follow the link:

http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/channel/channel_swimmers/vedika/