And Sahishnu has the final word!

(the following is a slightly edited version of Sahishnu’s speech at the awards ceremony)

Dear Friends, esteemed runners, seekers of the Ultimate Truth, just a mere 36 hours ago we saw the conclusion of the fifteenth edition of the world’s longest footrace on a concrete sidewalk course as ten courageous runners ran in search of their dreams. You can call the race a test of strength, will-power, fortitude and a display of rare talent for running nearly 17 to 18 hours a day. The athletes we are honoring tonight have gone deep within themselves to acquire a resolve and determination rarely seen or even needed to overcome any obstacle. The obstacle in this case is formidable- a relentless pile of laps, hundreds of them every day, every week, until the total reaches 5649- the multiday runners’ version of the top- the summit, if you will, of the linear Everest. In addition,  along the way their is the  ever-changing or ‘always there’ presence of fatigue, boredom, doubt or a feeling of lonesomeness that few of us have ever experienced.

 

 

 

Add to that the New York summer with weather so difficult that breathing is a chore; temperatures in the 90’s with humidity, no breezes, reaching 100 sometimes (which is 38-40C), or feeling worse. For 18 hours a day there is no escape, yet, somehow, the runners respond. Douse the head with cold water, wipe the brow, fill the hat with ice cubes and continue on. Some might say- this is pointless, ridiculous, even crazy would be the adjective to the casual observer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yet,  they go on. Like the struggles of humanity, we must go on. You see, the runners know that if they go on, struggle and strive, the goal will be won. Not just the finish line- it is just a piece of glorified tape. The real Goal is satisfaction through self-offering. Along the way they bring their determination, perseverance and heartfelt oneness with the Goal. They collect the fruits of their labor as they progress- inner strength, new levels of patience, concentration, humility, Light and the ever-increasing satisfaction-smile… The worlds’ longest race teaches us that though the Goal is long, the Journey is richly fulfilling. As Sri Chinmoy often said,”Today’s Goal is Tomorrow’s starting point.”

 

 

 

Thank you, oh runners, for showing us all your heartfelt attributes as we reflect on your marvelous performances and oneness with each other for 54 days (due to extreme temperatures, 2 additional days were added to this year’s race, editor). And thank you for inspiring us to continue with our lives with added intensity and fortitude due to your illuminating examples.

We would like to thank those who helped with the race in so many ways. ..and finally to …Sri Chinmoy himself, who has left the indelible mark on all who have run this race or have seen the beauty behind the Self-Transcendence races. They are special. It is no joke that the impossible race has yielded 109 performances from  31 people in 15 years of existence. The runners have received the Blessings around the course and have continued on, on to reach the Highest. Thank you, Sri Chinmoy, for your Banyan tree of the Marathon Team as it passes  34 years of existence.

And now the hero-warriors of this year’s race:

This young man has come three times to test himself with not the results he had hoped for. Yet, he has remained steadfast and happy. Purna-Samarpan Querhammer reached 1984.46 miles in 37 days, averaging 53.63 miles per day(86.31 km).From Hamburg, Germany- Purna-Samarpan.

This next man is a five-time finisher of the 3100 mile race, with a best of 49 days,14 hours. This year he fell short, reaching 2732.4752 miles in 53 days 10 hours     while averaging 50.601 miles per day (81.435 km). Yet, even though he walked the last few weeks, he remained happy, cheerful, and content while living the journey within as well as without; from Kosice, Slovakia the ever aspiring Ananda-Lahari Zuscin.

 

Our next competitor has become only the second woman ever to finish the 3100 mile race. On pace for a faster time, she tore a calf muscle on day 47 only four days or less from finishing the race. She rested a few hours and came back to limp for a day and a half, then fashioned a power-walking style and finally willed herself to run again and finish the task. Surasa has become the epitome of the Never Give Up athlete. She never gave up hope and miraculously finished in eighth place, first woman in  53 days+ 15:54:25   which is an average of 57.771 miles per day(  92.973 km), the always smiling, effervescent Surasa Mairer from Vienna, Austria.

 

A happy, cheerful young man was an eleventh hour addition to the race. He was interested in trying the 3100 next year, but due to cancellations was asked less than three weeks before the event if he wanted to be a starter in this year’s race. After consulting with friends, family and work colleagues he sent a message saying ‘I’m in’. That was all he needed to boost his vision and approach, and only four weeks removed from a good performance in the Ten day at Flushing Meadows, he dug in and hung on for dear life. And hang he did. As luck or Grace would have it, Pradeep Hoogakker from the Netherlands finished the 3100 in seventh place  in 53 days +09:03:25 which is an average of  58.096  miles per day ( 93.497 km) From Den Haag,the bright star and  new national record holder-Pradeep Hoogakker.

Our sixth place finisher has completed the 3100 miler an amazing seven times in eight attempts, a remarkable feat for anyone. He is ranked 17th on the all-time list. This year, overcoming recurring knee problems and bouts with heat and stomach maladies, Stutisheel Lebedev finished the 3100 mile race in 52 days+ 16:19:18, which is an average of 58.849 miles per day(94.708 km), from Kiev, Ukraine, the great Stutisheel.

 

 

 

 

 

In fifth place stands a man who has run five straight 3100 milers in five years, and is still ranked seventh fastest of all-time ( 45 days 3 hours). He can be found bouncing a ball along his thousands of laps around the block. He has kept his concentration alive. Although attacked by weakness and stress from heat, Atmavir Spacil reached 3100 miles in 50 days+08:59:07, which is an average of 61.542 miles per day(99.043 km). From Zlin, Czech Republic a great athlete-  Atmavir.

 

 

 

 

 

In fourth place stands a man who has been told that he should be a swimmer or a biker, he’s too big and too heavy for the 3100 miler. He has quieted all the critics, in his own inimitable way, by running and dedicating his life to this race. He trains all year. He even blogs after each days’ efforts during the race. And is the first one here every day, and the last one to leave. The seven-time finisher, and still ranked 12th all-time, Pranjal Milovnik reached 3100 miles in 48 days+02:27:05, which is 64.449 miles per day(103.721 km), from Bratislava, Slovakia —–Pranjal.

 

 

 

 

 

In third place this year stands a man who is a champion inside and out. A seven-time winner of this race, he is ranked second all-time for 3100 miles. He holds the race record of 24 straight days reaching 70 + miles each day. He has reached the goal eleven times including eight straight years and is one of only two men to average 70 miles per day for a whole race. He has run 34,101.88 miles (54,881.657 km) on this concrete colossus of a course. Finishing this year in 46 days+12:06:08, while averaging 66.684 miles per day(107.285 km) from Helsinki Finland , the great Ashprihanal Aalto.

 

 

 

 

 

This next gentleman was a newcomer to the 3100 miler, but some observers had seen potential in his quick and economic stride, his humble, stoic manner, and his deft ability to recover and get stronger day by day. Not only did he get better day by day, but he ran his way into the annals of 3100 mile race history with a tremendous performance. He is now ranked sixth all-time while reaching 3100 miles in 45 days+02:30:37, which is an average of 68.733 miles per day (110.615 km). In second place from Vinnitsa, Ukraine, the great Igor Mudryck.

 

 

 

 

 

And lastly, the final competitor was also a fill-in for the field of ten this year. In April he ran 605 miles in the Ten Day race at Flushing Meadows, a personal best. When he called a few weeks later on another matter, I asked him if he would be interested in coming to the 3100 -in three weeks time. He said later that he inwardly knew what I was going to ask him and he knew his response. Yes, emphatically. He came, and watched and learned on the spot. He ran the first 10 days with 656 miles, the next ten days with 720 miles, and the third ten days with 749 miles, the fourth ten days with 718 miles. Finally he reached the summit of 3100 miles in 44 days+13:38:52, an average of 69.559 miles per day(111.945 km). From Berdansk, Ukraine, please welcome the fastest first timer, the fifth fastest all-time, the Ukrainian record holder , and the  new  2011 Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race Champion, Sarvagata Ukrainskyi.