The conditions for breaking a world report are never perfect, but I wish they could sometimes be only a little less imperfect! On the other hand, having to face the added difficulties may be a a valuable thing - they compel you to intensify your determination and concentration. I know in my case, at minimum, the obstacles certainly make my prayers to Our god considerably more fervent!

 

A new few months ago, We was invited to participate in the Impossibility-Challenger World Record Games in Munich, Germany, to be saved in November. I thought about trying to improve my time for skipping a marathon, but eventually opted to attempt bettering enough time for running a mile while balancing a full pint glass milk bottle on my head. The current record is 9 minutes and 24 seconds. Despite the fact that this event sounds foolish (the distance version with this record was first set up by a clown), it actually requires tremendous one-pointed focus. At no time can the bottle fall off your head, and if the container starts sliding, you aren't use your hands to modify it. Instead, you must gently jerk your neck to reposition the bottle and do this without breaking stride. Likewise, in my case, since my head is not toned on top, I have to keep my noggin bent to maintain a level surface and try to run as fast as possible in this uncomfortable position. It is not necessarily a quite sight!

 

Obviously, since so much of the capacity to balance the container resides in the neck of the guitar, the worst-case scenario while preparing for youra here this event will be to get a sore neck. Well, two weeks before the Munich Games... no, I didn't injure my neck, but I developed a strained calf muscle (from too much rope jumping), which is almost as bad. The important thing to good milk bottle racing is to reduce the bounce in your stride as much as possible. This is best achieved by keeping a low center of gravity and strongly pushing off with your feet, making use of your calves. With a week to go, there was not much enhancement in the calf section, and so i unwisely decided to brush up on another feat I've been focusing on - keeping the most 20-ounce beer glasses stacked up in a massive tower balanced on my chin for 10 seconds. My friend Bipin and I had a strenuous practice, which concluded when the 60-pound glass tower came crashing into the ground. My expectations for damaging the milk container mile came crashing down along by it, because all of a sudden I realized my throat hurt when I turned my head.

 

There was very little point in going to the Games, and so i called the organizer, Anke, to make clear the situation. Fortunately or unfortunately, when Beklagelse answered the phone, the girl was so enthusiastic, We just didn't possess the heart to break the news with her. Well, I thought, if the track condition is good and if it isn't too windy, maybe I can salvage this thing. Wind is a bottle balancer's worst foe. A powerful wind causes the precariously perched bottle to shift in unexpected and unpredictable ways. But when I inquired about the weather, Anke effused, inches Oh, you'll like it, the weather is exquisite for running - cool and windy! "

 

I decided to take up the process anyway, despite all the issues. Because long as my energy of concentration was good, maybe I possibly could still do well. I boarded Lufthansa, flew through the night and arrived in Munich on Saturday, November seventh, hoping to catch up in the sleep later on so I could be sharp for the wedding the next morning. However, at nighttime, after only a 3- hour snooze, I hopped off the bed, totally awake and tuned in to Fresh York time. Finally, at 8: 30 a. meters, having spent a sleepless night, I started to feel really light-headed and exhausted. That was the good news. The bad news was that my event was scheduled to begin in a single hour!

 

I focused on a photography of my spiritual teacher, Sri Chinmoy, and tried to meditate for all I was really worth. To my immediate alleviation, it worked! I sensed deeply tranquil; I could almost touch the sea of inner peace that descended to the room. Our troubles vanished, and when I arrived at the track and planted the milk bottle packed with organic and natural milk on my head, I was in another zone. With the German T. V. cameras rolling and the small crowd of spectators packed with expectation, the required timers called out, "On your mark, get set, go! " I became popular like a rocket and... within 20 steps the bottle fell off my head!

 

That was not only embarrassing, it was totally distressing. I confidently yelled out, "Don't worry, it sometimes does take time to warm up, I'll try again". But in my own mind I'm thinking, "Wow, I am hoping that doesn't happen again! " I refilled the bottle, the timers repeated their lines, and this time everything just flowed. The neck, the calf, the wind, the lost sleep, even the frost on the track, faded into a soft current of peace that just carried me alongside with it. When i rounded the first turn of the 2nd lap, the jar began to slide off, but I was able to rebalance it. On the third lap, I felt my calf muscles getting a little fatigued for simply a moment and, as I rounded the turn on the ultimate lap, I was able to quickly banish the distressing thought that if I dropped the bottle now, We would have to do the whole thing all over again!