The clear daytime with cool plus pleasant air left the runners moving well. Andrea Marcato led the way, passing 2,300 miles in 34d:06:20:36. 2nd place Vasu Duzhiy is around 94 miles behind, he went past 2,200 miles early in the day. Adrian Papuc reached 2100 miles in 34d:02:21:40. Adrian from Romania was also boosted by the visit of Cornel Feruţă, Permanent Representative of Romania to the United Nations. He met both Romanian runners, Adrian and Daniela Bojila and even took part in running some laps of the great course.
Challenging The Impossible
Yesterday was day 35 of the Sri Chinmoy 3,100-mile race. It seems hard to believe that our intrepid adventurers started their journey on August 30th, five weeks ago. So much has gone on in the world in that time, but every day since August 30th, 10 runners have continued to circle the loop around Thomas Edison High School. From afar, on a screen, it may seem the runners are making daily progress with monotonous regularity. However, each of the runners, every day, is dealing with issues both inner and outer, as they strive to finish the World’s longest certified road race.
The mental issues of just dealing with yourself on a daily basis, day after day, are just as much of a challenge. All ultra-runners know that the mind is a “mischievous monkey,” waiting to take their focus away from the task in hand at any moment. In a long multi-day race like the 3,100 mile race, it would be all too easy, to talk yourself into the comfort zone of taking a day off or going home early one day, but the challenge to achieve an average of around 60 miles a day to reach the goal, is what they have signed up for, knowing full well that, their own inherently strong motivation and belief in achieving the goal, will be challenged on a daily basis.
The physical issues of blisters, little niggles, and monitoring ongoing energy levels always come with the territory for an ultra-runner.
In a shorter race of 50 or 100 miles, or a 24-hour race, one can “tough it out, “ knowing it will be over soon, and a few days' rest will allow nature to take its course and restore the body to normal. In a long multi-day race, any of these issues needs assessment quickly. The key is not to be in denial over any issues and act early, so treatment can be given by the race medics.
Normal wisdom, to allow the body to rest for a few days or undertake an alternative non load-bearing activity to recover, are not really an option here, except in exceptional circumstances.
While the long-term health of the runners is always paramount, the ability to manage and, over time, improve things to restore the body to a level where it can still cope with the huge demands placed on it, is an ongoing reality of the 3,100.
The runners are, in an almost magical way, faced with challenging impossibility on a daily basis.
“Shatter, shatter your impossibility-fear
And your impossibility challenges
Both in your inner life
And in your outer life!”
- Sri Chinmoy
Videos
- Stutisheel 3100 Mile Playlist YouTube Channel
- Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team 3100 Mile Race Youtube Channel
- Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team Vimeo Channel
Photos
- US Gallery - Latest Photos and videos for day 35
- Sri Chinmoy Ultra Photos (link is external) Latest photos for day 34
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