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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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

As the second week is underway and runners are acclimating to their new lifestyle, the race goes on with many helpers, counters, cooks, and spectators offering support and encouragement. At the end of the day the results board is the main center of focus to see the progress the runners have made. Tonight Asphprihanal reached 700 miles as others are approaching that auspicious number.

More rain welcomed the runners at the start of the second week which happens to be Fathers' Day in the U.S.A.. Light rain is usually welcomed by the runners as it cools things down and keeps the sun and heat away. This morning, as with every morning around 7:00, a group of women singers inspire the runners with uplifting songs. Some of the runners in turn may offer a short funny skit or joke to the singers as they pass by on a lap. The following link is a short video of the singers and runners offering each other some inspiration and laughter.

This video by Arpan can also be viewed on the Video Blog section of the 3100 Mile Race home page.

Grahak on the way to the start. Cycling those few hundred metres saves the legs for the next 16 hours of running.

The runners set off at the start of the day.

Life on the block.

View more photos at Sri Chinmoy Ultra photos

Some of the runners have helpers for most of the day. These helpers, also called 'handlers', have a big responsibility to cater to the many needs of the runners as they try to maintain their strength and energy Throughout these long 18 hour days of perpetual motion. In this short interview Vasavi, Surasa's handler, explains some of the tasks involved.

Besides the regular workers and helpers that come to assist the runners in their epic quest the race also gets many visitors, both local and from afar. Interestingly veterans of the race itself love to come and help and watch as they can relate to the adventures and struggles of all the participants firsthand. 

Besides the regular workers and helpers that come to assist the runners in their epic quest the race also gets many visitors, both local and from afar. Interestingly veterans of the race itself love to come and help and watch as they can relate to the adventures and struggles of all the participants firsthand. 

Grahak Cunningham currently ranks third fastest time in the world for the 3100 mile race. In 2012 Grahak won this race in 43 days, 10 hours and 36 minutes, almost three days ahead of the second place finisher. This fact does not make it any easier to start, continue and finish this most difficult of all multiday races. In the first days of the race all of the runners seem to struggle with adapting to their newly found lifestyle. Grahak briefly discusses his experience of the first three days of this year's 52 day (or less) epic adventure of perpetual motion.

After the first two days of relatively high mileage as the runners break in to a new very active lifestyle, the legs start to feel a bit fatigued. There is still lots of enthusiasm and energy from morning until midnight for many of the runners and helpers. But everyone has to adjust to this unique way to spend most of their summer hours on the 'road'. As the energy waxes and wanes so does the rain. Unmbrellas and shoes are drying out during the sunny hours and the clouds keep returning to cool things down.

A short and sweet interview with Nirbhasa, our runner from Ireland, as he runs on the third day of this epic journey. 

After a long hot and humid day with some scattered rain, the runners run late into the night trying to get as many miles in before midnight when the race closes down for 6 hours. With sore legs after a long first day the runners are slowly adjusting to their new, ever-moving lifestyle with the help of friends and supportive spectators.

After many months of training and preparation these twelve brave runners toe the starting line and start their epic journey with tremendous enthusiasm and support. These few photos can give you a glimpse of what the scene was like at the start of the 3100 Mile Self-Transcendence Race.

The world's longest certified footrace is about to begin for the 19th straight year. Here are some of the things the runners are doing to prepare.                                              Shopping for large fruits to last the whole race, running barefoot on the beach, eating pizza and carbo. loading, shopping for clothes or getting together with their helpers. All of this is important to get organized for a new lifestyle which will last almost two months.        

Nirbhasa Magee comes originally from Ireland, but has been living for the past couple of years in Iceland. Here are a couple of interviews he had before the race start:

• 100km a day for 52 days - interview with Morgunblaðið, one of Iceland's 2 main daily papers (that's Nirbhasa's picture on the left below the mast)
• Irish man to attempt world's longest road race - interview with Irish Times

Grahak will be one of the 12 runners starting Sunday June 14 in the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race. Here are some interviews he has done in the past few days:  

• 'Single-Mindedness of the Very Long Distance Runner' in The Australian (subscription only, but you can reach it by typing 'The Australian Grahak Cunningham' into Google)
• Very nice radio interview on ABC Perth - click to listen
• Television interview on Channel 9

Grahak's mother seems undeterred by all the media attention her son is getting. When told the time that Grahak's appearance on channel 9 was due to air, her response was 'I'll be out then'. When asked out where, she said 'Out the back, gardening.' :)

We've just created the biography page for the 2015 runners - you can read it here...

The Book of Extremes (Das Buch der Extreme, available at Amazon - German only), highlights the longest certified road race in the world, the Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race, held annually in Queens, New York.

"Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race: Kings of Queens. 3100 miles equal 4989 kilometers. The participants in the annual Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race cover this distance, a little more than the distance from Lisbon to Moscow, in maximum 52 days. At least the course is not particularly difficult, no mountains are in the way of the runners.The course is flat for the whole distance and because the race is being held on a loop, the runners have run 5649 laps." (translated from the book).