The Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race

And Sahishnu has the final word!

rupantar — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 03:32:36 +0000

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

Photo: Arpan

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.

Photo: Alakananda

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.

Photo: Arpan

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.

Photo: Jowan

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:

Photo: Alakananda

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.

Photo: Alakananda

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.

Photo: Alakananda

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.

Photo: Alakananda

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.

Photo: Alakananda

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.

Photo: Alakananda

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.

Photo: Alakananda

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.

Photo: Alakananda

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.

Photo: Alakananda

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.

Photo: Alakananda

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.

Sri Chinmoy Challenge chosen most extreme endurance race in U.S.

rupantar — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 02:53:53 +0000

We were grateful to receive an e-mail from Art Weinstein, webmaster of Listosaur.com where he says, “I run a small but rapidly growing website that posts stories of general interest. An experienced marathon runner posted a story yesterday, the Top 10 Extreme Endurance Races in the United States. The Sri Chinmoy 3,100-mile event came in No. 1.” The following is about the 3,100 Mile Race. For the full article click on Listosaur.com.

Written by Michelle Leach

You know the definition of “hardcore” in the endurance racing world has changed when No. 10 on the list is a comparatively “easy” marathon run, completed by some of the slower contenders, in five and a half hours — this following a 112-mile bike ride and 2.4-mile swim in choppy ocean waters. But consider the extreme competition on this list. In one race, you may find yourself hauling 32 pounds of pennies through a cold, rainy Vermont backwoods at 4 a.m. while memorizing Greek text. In another, you’ll run two marathons each day for 50 consecutive days, around the same track, over and over and over again. Given the choice, I’ll gladly pick the Ironman World Championship winding through scenic Kailua-Kona, Hawaii any day.

1. Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race

If you live near Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School in Queens, New York, and pass by the school track at 6 a.m. on your way to work each morning, you’ll see a group of 10 runners. When you get home, you’ll see that same group of runners — still circling the track. If you were to pass by the track at midnight, there they’d be — the same group — still running! These are obviously special runners, given that over the course of 52 days, they circle this same .5488-mile track in the heat of summer 5,649 times, logging on average 60 miles daily. Some runners go through a dozen pairs of shoes. Even those who find the Badwater Ultramarathon a breeze might have a hard time swallowing the sheer monotony of rounding a half-mile city block day in and day out for close to two months. But for these runners, many of whom are followers of Indian spiritual leader and race founder, the late Sri Chinmoy, running provides an opportunity to overcome their preconceived limitations — what Chinmoy called “self-transcendence.” Like a lot of the races on this list, this, the world’s longest footrace, is less about physical strength and more about pushing the limits of what is possible.

6. Race Across America

Its Not Over Until Its Over

rupantar — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 02:06:03 +0000

As the head race director I am often asked in one way or another what the 3100 Mile Race is like, that is, how difficult is it. And my answer is generally, “it is really, really difficult.” Someone once said, “its not over until its over”, and in our race that is the one certitude; not until you actually cross the finish line is the race over, no matter how close you are. Ashprihanal was cruising to a personal best, just a “few hundred miles” from the goal, when the heat wave came. He had to surrender to the weather and ended in third place. Surasa, out most consistent runner, with over 2760 miles completed , pulled up with a muscle strain. Purna-Samarpan and Ananda-Lahari will also testify to how difficult the race has been for them as they will not reach the 3100 mile goal. Four runners remain, and all are within the time frame of finishing. We still have a race going on. Stay tuned.

Sarvagata Wins !

medur — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:42:28 +0000

Sarvagata Ukrainskiy, Day 43

By Sahishnu:

Sarvagata Mikhailo Ukrainskyi, 37, from Berdyansk,Ukraine, won the Fifteenth Annual Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race in a national record time of 44 days+13:38:52. Sarvagata completed 5649 laps of the 0.5488 mile course in Queens, New York, NY while averaging 69.559 miles per day(111.945 km). The first time runner set new records for a novice with highest placing and fastest time. The ten runners in the race experienced the hottest heat wave in years just last week, with the THI reaching 112-114¼F with no wind to speak of. Yet Mr. Ukrainskyi powered on to finish nearly thirty miles ahead of finisher number two, Igor Mudryck, who will reach the finish line Wednesday morning before 9:00 am. Sarvagata is now ranked fifth all-time in 3100 mile annals with his splendid performance. The race will end on Thursday, August 4. Congratulations Sarvagata!

Just Too Hot!!!

rupantar — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:35:02 +0000

Photo: Arpan

In the some thirty years of ultra running the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team has only bowed to the power of Mother Nature twice; and both were because of hurricanes. Now, the power of Her heat has forced us to take a day off after soaring temperatures. All runners will have this day off, July 23. Tomorrow we will start again, but in deference to the record temperatures the runners will be given two extra days to complete the 3100 miles. The day off will be counted towards their overall time. I am in close contact with all the runners and everyone is fine and were grateful for the “forced” day off. Tomorrow is only a day away, so lets hope the runners use their time wisely to recover.

“For Whom The Heat Tolls..”

rupantar — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:03:53 +0000

“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.

Even Their Shoes Need a Rest

rupantar — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:48:02 +0000

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.

These guys are flying! More From Mark D…

rupantar — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:24:24 +0000

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

Igor Gets A Taste of Home Cooking

rupantar — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:35:09 +0000

Igor and Borscht

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!

Day 22 Catch Their Breath

Sahishnu — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:21:30 +0000

A day removed from the whole field passing 60 miles for the second time in three days, the runners of the 3100 mile race continued their assault on personal progress. Igor Mudryck of the Ukraine led the day by one lap over overall leader Ashprihanal Aalto, as both men clipped 72+ miles. Sarvagata Ukrainskyi, a day after running 77.38 miles, reached 70 again for the tenth straight time.Austrian Surasa Mairer reached 60+ miles for the 13th straight day- she now has a 26+ mile cushion above the cutoff. The sticky, rainy conditions throughout most of the day could not deter our hero-runners from moving forward. Happy Fourth of July to all!!