Running Reunion: Sanjay Rawal - Ep. 4

Have you ever wondered what a podcast guest has been up to since you heard them interviewed?  We have, and so Running Reunion was born.   Tina last interviewed filmmaker Sanjay Rawal in 2019, after the release of  3100: Run and Become, a documentary about the world’s longest running race, the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race. You can learn more about the race in Running for Real episode 277 with Harita Davies, who has completed it three times.  Since then, he’s released Gather, about Native American food systems, looked at through the eyes of an Apache chef from Arizona. It’s also, Sanjay says, about “resilience. People who value their relationship with the land, whose people have had histories with particular pieces of land or areas of the world, in their words, ‘since time immemorial,’ and what it means to be a steward, rather than a consumer.”   Living through Covid for the past couple of years has reminded Sanjay of something he was told by a Hopi elder, that “the point of running and life is to find the joy in the exertion.” Sanjay volunteers at a little natural foods store in Jamaica, Queens, and has found “a little pocket of joy” by being of service to others during the pandemic. He also runs every day, and would “like to remind people that we've got the biggest blessing in the world to be able to go outdoors, regardless of our capacity, to take a few moments on our own. To take a deep breath, to connect to the sky, to connect to the earth, and feel not only what that means to us, but to really every other human being that's out there on earth today.” You can find Sanjay at Guru Health Foods, or on Instagram.  To hear his original episode from December 2019, you can go here. Thank you to UCAN for sponsoring RUNNING REUNION! UCAN uses a one-of-a-kind carbohydrate to provide a steady release of glucose over several hours that’s easy on your stomach and doesn’t cause a sugar crash. It comes in powders, bars, and gels, and they actually taste good! Their gel, UCAN Edge, was voted by Runner’s World as one of the best foods to eat during a run. Tina has been a fan of UCAN for years and uses it exclusively for fueling when she’s training and racing.  Go here and use code TINAUCAN for 20% off your order!   Thanks for listening! We know there are so many podcasts you could listen to, and we are honored you have chosen Running Reunion.  If you appreciate the work that we do, here are a few things you can do to support us: Take a screenshot of the episode, and share it with your friends, family, and community on social media, especially if you feel that the topic will resonate with them.  Be sure to tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram If you are struggling through something a guest mentions, chances are others are too, and you will help them feel less alone.  Leave an honest review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player. Your ratings and reviews will really help us grow and reach new people. Not sure how to leave a review or subscribe?  You can find out here. "Thank you" to Sanjay.  We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the show.