2004 Race

Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team articles - more articles

Sundays are a bit different at the 3100 mile race. More local folk come to enjoy sports in the surrounding playgrounds creating a dynamic atmosphere. More visitors come to watch the race and support the runners on a day where they would have more time than the usual weekdays. Sometimes musicians even come to serenade the runners. Jade, a ten year old fan of this race, is the grandaughter of Mario, our official Nurse and Masseur. Jade comes to visit the 3100 every year all the way from Pennsylvania after her school year is over. In this video we get a ten year olds' perspective as Jade speaks about being at the race and some of her interests as the runners pass by on a typical Sunday afternoon.

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Halfway through the race now and more helpers arrive to be part of this epic adventure. This week we have the wonderful services of Aklanta, a doctor from Germany who comes every year to help the runners with any health issues they may have. We also have helpers or handlers of some of the runners who take turns offer their selfless service to keep the runners well fed and hydrated with minimal loss of time as they try to cover their daily mileage with a sense of perpetual motion. In this self-transcendence race even the most qualified of multiday runners need all the assistance they can get to keep them focused on their goal and the immense efforts involved in reaching that goal.

In the following photo slideshow and videos we get to meet Aklanta as well as one of Kaneenika's personal handlers, Tamara. We also get to hear from one of the runners, Nirbhasa from Ireland, who tells us some of the lessons he is learning along the way.

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In the 19th and 20th centuries the ultimate multiday races were 6-day track races, usually indoors. Later in the twentieth century the super long distance runners began to transcend those distances with 1,000 mile races and beyond. Although the record for a 1,000 mile race is 10 days and 10 hours, usually 12 to 13 days would win one of these grueling multidays. Ashprihanal has just completed two back to back 1000 mile distances, each in just 13 days! Now he has 'caught up' to current historical time and is in the '21st century' of this race, so to speak. Galya and others are fast approaching this well over halfway mark also. With just a few more weeks to go this mind-boggling and seemingly impossible task of 3100 miles on a half-mile concrete sidewalk has developed into an amazing race with world and personal records soon to be achieved. It is not over yet, so stay tuned for more surprises and excitement as the concept of 'self-transcendence' grows into an ever evolving powerful reality.

In this following short video Stutisheel talks about how nice it is to receive messages from friends and family.

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Every day at the 3100 mile race course offers new surprises and new arrivals to help or witness this spectacular event. Today two more runners, Kaneenika and Stutisheel, reached the halfway point of 1550 miles on this officially halfway day 26 of the 52 days allotted. Papaha from San Diego, Prabuddha from Australia and some new helpers arrived today as well. Prabuddha loves and follows this race every day on the internet and now, for the first time, he is physically present, coming all the way from Australia to stop by here on his way to Ireland. Vasavi, one of Surasa's excellent handlers, tells us what it feels like to have to leave for home at the halfway point. The rains came late in the evening as we see on one of the videos what it is like for the runners to run in the pouring rain.

Click on the arrows for the slide show of some of today's excitement. Enjoy the videos as we see another great day on this great journey of 3100 miles.

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Being very present and focused in the moment is most important for all the runners. The mind cannot comfortably fathom the length of such a profound race nor the energy needed to stay the course for weeks on end. Yet many of these runners have come back here again and again to experience this ultimate challenge of multiday running. Ananda-Lahari is participating in his eleventh 3100 miler. Even when he does not complete the whole 3100 miles he always goes to the end of 52 days with happiness and joy. In this interview he explains how and why he does it, over and over and over again.

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The logistics for this race are quite complex including the actual infrastructure of vehicles. Each vehicle has multiple functions such as medical, resting places, storage, lighting and protection from the elements.Setting up the vehicles usually involves some team work each morning, especially on the days when they have to be moved due to alternate side of the street parking. The following video demonstrates some of the efforts involved in setting up one of the motorhome awnings for sun and rain protection.

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Four of the runners are Russian or Ukranian as well as many of the helpers in this race. So we get to hear lots of Russian words being tossed around. After Vasu, a Ukranian living in Russia, completed the 1550 miles halfway point, Ashprihanal congratulated him with a small gift. In the following video we have the small celebration of Vasu's halfway achievement and the sweet interaction between him and current race leader Ashprihanal, including a Russian language lesson for him.

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It seems like just yesterday that this epic race began early on a Sunday morning. Step by step, lap by lap, day by day, the runners are making considerable progress towards their goal. Today Galya reached the halfway point, the second runner so far to do so. Regardless of the outcome for each runner, this race is really a journey of experiences in striving for a distant goal.

In the following interview with Baladev, one of the runners who has been here multiple times, we gain some insight into some of these experiences.

Live music is a great encouragement to the runners. In the following video we see some of the women singers offering the runners a dynamic song written by Sri Chinmoy called, 'Only The Top'.

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On this auspicious day of July 4 which is called Independence Day for the U.S., the runners are continuing their journey both independently and interdependently. Each runner has their own schedule, their own goals and their own sets of challenges. Yet together they make up a supportive team along with helpers and well-wishers who come there regularly to help them reach their goals. The leader, Ashprihanal, reached the 1600 mile point in record time as a few other runners are closing in on the halfway point. Nine of the eleven runners are still above the average mileage to eventually complete 3100 miles within the time limit.

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At the start of a new day we see the runners beginning another long day in their journey to the unknown. Being greeted by the sun today, the first clear day in a while, the energy is high and the enthusiasm begins to pick up as they make continuous progress in their own personal journeys. Nearing the end of the third week the runners have become accustomed to this new way of life as the halfway point is fast approaching.

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Each runner has their own unique style and form. Depending on their level of energy and strength for that day the runners vary their pace and their schedule to conserve energy while still trying to cover as much distance as possible as late as possible. The following photos demonstrate some of the styles and moods of the runners for this 19th day of the world's longest certified footrace. The moods vary from hour to hour but being happy is one of the key elements to survival in this most challenging of running challenges, no matter what your style or speed.

In this short video Ashprihanal, leader of the race so far, talks about his new shoes and gives a simple answer to a simple question:"What do you think about during this race?"

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As Galya our second place runner breaks the 1300 mile barrier in under 18 days, which happens to be among the top five fastest times at that distance in the world, life goes on with each runner in their own unique and celebrated ways. Some runners are in recovery mode as they walk and run slowly to gain strength, while others are still breaking the 70 miles barrier almost every day. Regardless of how many miles are completed by midnight each day, all of the runners draw lots of energy from the course, the helpers and all the inner and outer support they get from those who come to offer their time and efforts. Being part of this race is not just the running and walking that these handful of runners do each day, but all of the multifarious activities which happen all around them while they create a uniquely inspired event unparalleled in the sports world arena.

This short video offers a quick look at one of the most important aspects of this race-the Counting Station.

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Today was an unusual and special day all in one. First the vehicles had to be moved off of the street onto the small courtyard by the sidewalk due to street repairs. Then we saw the two women runners both reach 1000 miles within an hour of each other. Later in the evening Ashprihanal passed 1300 miles for the fastest time for the 1300 mile split time in this race since its inception and third best all time for any 1300 mile event. He is still on world-record pace for 3100 miles.

It was a slow day for some of the runners who occasionally need an easy day to renew their strength. In the following video we see a celebration for Surasa's first 1000 miles. I could not video Kaneenika's celebration due to a camera malfunction, but the photo says it all. She was so grateful to have reached her highest mileage to date and then transcend it for the rest of the race. All the runners were working hard today as everyday, but only a tiny glimpse of those efforts can ever be captured on videos or photos.

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A quick look at some of the sights around the 'camp' as the runners spend the day running, eating and a bit of resting. This is where the runners get their credit for another lap completed, food and drink, support from helpers and well-wishers, and a good rest now and then during the day. In the evening people gather to spend the last hours of the night socializing as they support the runners trying to reach their quota of the goals they set for themselves. FInally, it is time to leave by midnight, or earlier if they wish, and get some solid sleep until 6:00 the next morning when they begin again.

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Having a very international field of runners and helpers is a good way to learn the basics of many languages. Today all the runners and some of the helpers as well offered 'Good Morning' greetings in their native languages. You can see that the runners are quite fresh in the morning and usually moving well. They are also very grateful for all the support they have been getting from helpers, well-wishers and supporters who all make this dream possible for them.

Unfortunately one runner was missing this morning, Grahak, from Australia. Due to a recurring injury which could get very serious it was decided that it was best for him to stop running in the race. The directors of the race do not want serious problems to develop due to the stressful nature of this race, therefore each runner is closely monitored especially when they are experiencing persistent difficulties. We are proud of Grahak, as all the runners, no matter what their end result may be.

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'The journey of 1000 miles begins with one step' is a familiar aphorism which is very apropos to this race, especially today. Late last night Ashprihanal reached the first 1000 miles and it seems like only yesterday the race started with the first steps. Today two more intrepid runners reached 1000 miles, Atmavir and then Galya soon after. On a day where there was no sign of direct sun at all and then rain all evening until the midnight break, there were also two birthdays celebrated on the course. Tanuja, one of Kaneenika's helpers, had a colorful cake and birthday song. Sanatan, whose service to the race has been very reliable and regular to the race on the weekends, took a more quite and modest birthday approach. Grahak took some time off the course to visit a doctor to check out a persistent hip problem which we hope won't deter his efforts to continue on.

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Every day on this adventure has special moments. Some of those moments involve welcoming new friends and helpers and some days we have to say good-bye to friends or helpers who usually have to get back to work. Pradeep has been devotedly helping Nirbhasa daily since the race began. Unfortunately today he had to leave for home in the Netherlands. In this brief interview while running we hear a few encouraging comments from Pradeep and Nirbhasa just before Pradeep went to the airport. We are very grateful to Pradeep for his encouraging and invaluable assistance. He, like all the other handlers and helpers, help make this unbelievably long race possible for the runners.

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Two of the many full time helpers were on hand today to explain some of the many tasks necessary to keep this race and the runners running smoothly. There are many people behind the scenes who help to administer the very complex logistics of the longest certified footrace in the world. The following video is just a tip of the iceberg to give a taste of life on the 'block', as they say here at the 3100 mile race.

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Having a birthday during the 3100 mile race can be quite exciting. Customized cakes, lots of enthusiastic helpers singing the birthday songs, and lots of hungry runners to happily devour the cake are all part of the birthday celebrations. Today was the first exciting birthday celebrations of one of the full-time helpers, Dan, from Seattle. We also can get an in depth look at the 3100 Race Kitchen once more as they prepare the special cake and other gourmet goodies.

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In this ever-moving adventure everyone is finding their pace and dealing with their own challenges daily. Surasa has had some health setbacks but perseveres cheerfully as she stays the course and continues on confidentally. In this short but uplifting interview Surasa mentions her main setback but displays the cheerful courage which has taken her through three of these epic adventures.

Click on the link below to view this uplifting moment with Surasa or go to Arpan's interview in the Video Blogs section of the main page.