Author: rupantar

“It tolls for thee..” What’s going on here? Who is the next the fall to the rising temperatures? With the THI near 110 today, and with no let up for a couple of days, the runners are just “treading water” and trying to keep their mileage respectable. Ashprihanal, seven time winner, had to  bow to the heat a few days ago and is still not up to full strength. He has chosen to back off the last few days, a wise choice, and not worry about winning, but just finishing at full strength. He vows to be more careful in his eating habits (i.e. NO MORE COFFEE!). First timers, Igor and Sarvagata are doing well but they are being watched very carefully so as to avoid any heat related problems. Eat, drink and SLOW DOWN! Will they listen?  They better, for as race director, at the first sign of trouble I will pull them out of the  race immediately. I am not kidding. Just ask Ashprihanal. Pradeep is doing surprisingly well in the heat and has shown a real maturity and natural instinct for this kind of ultra running. Stutisheel is an old pro and knows what it will take to finish. The same is true for Pranjal, Atmavir, Ananda-Lahari and Surasa.

Although the course is open from 6 am until 12 midnight, the 10 runners will takes short breaks throughout the day; 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there, maybe 2 or 3 times a day, depending upon the runner. However, what about their running shoes, do they ever take a rest? They sure do! After pounding the concrete pavement  hour after hour, a short rest is welcomed. Here, just after almost a day of rain, some of the runners “rest” their shoes against the fence. You can just here the soles signing, ah, this  feels good. They know they will soon be called upon to hit the pavement again so the “rest” is thoroughly enjoyed.

The following blog is by Mark Dorian. Photos by Arpan;

I must have missed the Friday visit of Larry Phillips and Family by mere hours, as I got out to the famous loop around Edison School and Austin Park at about 9 p.m.  It was raining steadily but the temperatures were pleasant, and I put in a few enjoyable laps with Sundar Dalton (the Irish poet, also well-known NY hair stylist) and 3100 racer Purna-Samarpan O. Querhammer.  I chatted with old friend and race leader Asprihanal P. Aalto, and then surprised him by placing a realistic-looking skunk (a gift for him, as I know he enjoys the wildlife in ultras) under his food and gear table.

My joke on Aalto was quickly returned by Atmavir Petr Spacil, who hid in the dark shadows of a large maple tree and then lurched out at me with a scream!  I jumped, then laughed.

While all this joking and chatting was going on, the Ukrainian “Torrid Twosome” of Sarvagata Ukrainskyi and Igor Mudryck were churning out laps in the 6:00 range (10:30>11:00 per mile pace)– this as they neared 2,000 miles of day-after day running.  I estimate that on the downhills Sarvagata was cruising at 9:00 per mile pace, or even faster.  Whether on TV or in an actual ultra race, many of us have seen great athletes when they are “in the zone.”  While I ran the reverse direction on the loops for many laps (so as to clap and cheer each runner), the straight-ahead, intense focus on Sarvagata’s face had me wondering if he even noticed I was there.

I helped race directors Sahishnu, Bipin and Vajra fold tables and chairs and clean up the start-finish zone (basically, each night right after midnight most equipment is stacked in the vans and RV and driven back to the RD’s homes, only to be delivered back to the race site a mile away at about 5:30 a.m.).  After many errands and some business (including meeting with Guinness-world record holder legend Ashrita Furman regarding an upcoming record-attempt) in NYC Saturday morning, I started running a bit after 2 p.m.  I intended to put in about 6 miles at a good pace, then hop in the car to hightail it back to Vermont and summer camp, but before I knew it I was lured into many, many more miles at all sorts of paces by the great stories, jokes, and intellectual discussions of Purna-Samarpan, Ananda-Lahari Zuscin, Utpal Marshall, Pradeep Hoogaker and others.  Pradeep (in his first 3100) told me what I have heard so many other racers in this super-long event tell me over the years– the first week to 10 days was the hardest, and now after the halfway point (days 27/28) he actually felt better.  This is the classic case of the athlete’s physical and mental condition adapting to the day-after-day racing.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing in the next few days, think about these runners who are out there at 6 a.m. in New York, starting sleepily and then pushing the pace throughout the heat of the day and onto into night.

And remember to watch out for skunks/

Best wishes,

Mark Dorion

Our great cooks are always trying to find new foods that the runners will enjoy. Actually, this is a real challenge because as the weather gets hotter some of the runners will start to lose their appetite and just stop eating.  So the cooks will try new recipes to get the runners to eat. I think they found a winner with our first time Ukrainian runner, Igor. Borscht. Just look at that smile. He said it tasted just like his mom’s borscht. Don’t worry mom, you are still the best cook!

(The following blog is by our dear friend and supporter, Mark Dorian)

I can attest that a local Queens (NYC) lounge singer who sounded and looked a bit like Frank Sinatra Jr. (if you ever want to see/ hear a cool you tube music video, Google his “Wedding Vows in Vegas,” a hit c. 1987) sang several original variations on “Happy Birthday To You” to Purna-Samarpan  (Olaf) Querhammer during the ongoing 3100 mile race.  There were also balloons, flowers, streamers, cakes, etc.  Purna-Samarpan is in good spirits and looking very strong (he must have been in the gym lifting all winter, in addition to lots of running kilometers).

Wildest of all, both a donkey and wolf were seen chasing Dr. Querhammer around the loop under the full moon.  The little terrier Roxy who belongs to well-known NYC pastry chef and 3100 race helper Sushovita Taylor was grrring and chomping at the bit to chase after the wolf.

There is lots of action going on around the .55 of a mile loop at Edison School.  On Saturday June 17 there is a 2 mile race on an adjoining .85 of a mile loop, followed Sunday by a special Fathers Day Marathon across the road from the 3100.  I would love to help out or join in, alas will be starting work in Vermont on Father’s Day.

On Thursday there was a great sitar player sending hauntingly beautiful Indian music out from under the big hardwood trees next to the path.

I put in 47 miles in 2.5 days out at the race– not even the minimum DAILY 50 miles required for a runner to remain in the race.  My fastest lap with a racer was 4:31 chasing Ashprihanal Pekka Aalto (that equates to about 8:00-8:10 mile pace).  How many ultra runners will do one mile of even a 50 mile race at that pace??

Best wishes to all ultra runners/ Watch out for skunks as summer is now upon us/

Mark D

 

I remember the 1970s film starting Alan Akrin called “The Russians Are Coming”, about the mock Russian assault on a small town in New England. Everyone was on high alert, not knowing what the Russians intentions were. Well its 2011 now, and in our small town of Queens, the “Russians” are “Ukrainians” (and there is a difference, just ask them) and at almost the half way point, it is clear what their intentions are: they are out to win the race! Just ask Ashprihanal. I pick him up everyday, along with Stutisheel and Surasa. These three prefer to be driven to and from the race, unlike the other runners who prefer the freedom of biking. He talks about Igor and Sarvagata, the two new runners,  almost every day, but  with glowing admiration.

The 7 time champ is well aware of the two newcomers because they are faster the the flying Finn; just count the number of times they pass Ashprihanal during the day. How can it not ware on his nerves during the course of 18 hours. But the champ has the right attitude. Competition is good as it will always bring out the best in you, as long as you take it in the right spirit. And Ashprihanal does: he likes the challenge and admires how fast  the two Ukrainian boys  are and that they finish almost always at 10:30 pm so that they  can go home earlier and go more sleep. Ashprihanal stays almost to midnight everyday just to maintain his slowly dwindling lead. He feels that he is going about as fast as he can; to go faster would invite injury.

So what are Igor’s and Sarvagata’s strategy? They will not tell me, but, I heard from a friend of theirs, that right now they are being somewhat cautious as this is their first 3100 mile race. But, soon, if they continue feeling strong, they will start staying out later, past 10:30 pm,  to make up the miles on the champ. With their speed, will they have enough time to make up the 50+ mile deficit? It seems we have a race going on here.  Keep an eye on the daily results. They tell the real story. Stay tuned…

The 3100 Mile Race course is open between 6 am and 12 midnight, seven days a week. Each day a variety of neighborhood people pass through out staging area. Students, mothers with their children, kids en route to play basketball, some walking to and from  masque, others returning from shopping and, yes, even joggers, like us, circling the  familiar block completing daily exercise routines.

 

 

One such local began running our measured half mile loop one year ago after witnessing the race for some time in wonder. Last summer he  befriended Dharbhasana, a New Zealand disciple of Sri Chinmoy competing in the event for the first time. Dharbhasana encouraged him to begin running.

The new jogger  confided that his parents have weight and high cholesterol issues and although he is in his thirties  and healthy at the moment, his doctor warned him about a recent weight gain. At the time he was employed as a meter reader by New York City and expected to be promoted to direct traffic at a busy rush hour intersection.

So thrilled at the prospect of running with the handful of competitors in the 3100 Mile Race last year he began walking and running the block along  side the runners in the evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He said he hated the cold winter weather. No way he wanted to continue exercising through the winter months. Dharbhasana told him “Do Not Stop!” Whatever you do, do not stop.” and that he should go to a gym for the winter months.

He joined a local Queens’ gym in the late fall and went religiously running on a tread mill and doing pushups and chin ups.

I met him for the first time this week and heard the story. He went on to list by name each runner, as well as each runner not competing from last year.

With joy and pride he credited Dharbhasana and the race with new found joy and encouragement.

By Stutisheel

The nineteenth day of the race. 5.23pm local time. The weather has been indulging these days: it’s only moderately hot, even cool and a little windy. However, the runners are having different paces. Petya has recovered and is hopping like a rabbit. Balatsky had stomach problems yesterday, but did manage to do a daily minimum. Today he is faster. I am running more slowly, but still I am running. Today Cathy Oerter, the wife of a four time Olympic Champion in the discus throw Al Oerter visited us.

By Dipali Cunningham

My name is Dipali Cunningham and I have been a member of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team for 30 years and competing in multiday events for nearly twenty years. My first multiday was a seven day race and like any beginner I endured the challenges and discomforts of running nearly twenty hours a day. I have completed thirty-one multiday events (7 day races, 6 day races, 1,000 mile, 700 mile) and now hold Australian National and World records. I continue to run these races with inspiration and enthusiasm and now only as a spectator at this amazing 3100 mile race take you into their daily lives around this half mile loop. Continue reading “Thoughts from a Champion, Dipali Cunningham”

Mahasamrat Bill Pearl and his wife Bhavatarini Judy Pearl take time from their busy schedule to say hello to the runners and offer them encouragement.