Twelve courageous runners stepped up to the start line and moved forward precisely at 6:00am as a crowd of 200 people watched the beginning of the 20th Annual Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race today. The setting is the same .5488 mile (883.2079 meter) concrete sidewalk around a vocational school, playground and athletic field used for the previous 20 summers (the forerunner of this race - the 2700 Mile Race - used the exact same course in 1996). The men’s and women’s record holders headlined a strong field from seven countries.

The race employs a mandatory 6-hour curfew at midnight. After the first 18 hours, Ananda-Lahari Zuscin from Slovakia led the pack with 85.51 miles, a scant one lap ahead of Czech Republican and eight-time finisher Atmavir Peter Spacil. Russian Vasu Duzhiy, who finished third last year, was third again today, with 13-time finisher and world leader Ashprihanal Aalto comfortably in fourth, tied with three-time finisher Yuri Trostenyuk. The top five men total an amazing 33 finishes of the world’s longest certified race.

The distaff side was led by Kaneenika Janakova of Slovakia with 75.18 miles, good for sixth overall as well. Three-time finisher and women’s record holder Surasa Mairer of Austria was sitting at 70.24 miles. Shamita Achenbach-Konig was third with 66.95 miles for the ladies.

Race Director's updates

It is less than 18 hours before the start, and raining cats and dogs. All ten runners are in town, ready to tackle the challenge of running up to 18 hours every day- for 52 days. The lone non-starter is William Sichel, Scottish and UK champion, and finisher from 2014, whose wife has taken seriously ill and so he cannot run. We all miss his presence, and pray for him and his wife as they deal with a difficult situation back in Scotland.

Best of luck to the runners who will start. This is a golden opportunity to experience success and progress, inwardly and outwardly.

See you at 6:00 am, The webcam should be working.

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Race Director's updates

Continuos rain is music to your ears if you are sleeping, but the 10 runners about to embark on a journey of 3100 miles probably hope for cool, dry conditions. We might not see those conditions here in Jamaica, Queens, NY, home of the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race for at least a few days.

About the author:

Tejvan organises short-distance running and cycling races for the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in his home city of Oxford. He is also a very good cyclist, having won the National hill climb championships in 2013 and finished 3rd in the National 100 Mile Time Trials in 2014.

A moment's meditation before the epic journey
Early morning sun for one of the first laps
Kaneenika and Shamita
The race is well supported by members of Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team

On 19th June, 12 intrepid runners lined up for the 20th edition of the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race. Over the next seven and a half weeks, the runners will attempt to complete 3,100 miles - which requires an average of just under 60 miles per day.

The event was founded by Sri Chinmoy, a spiritual Teacher who saw ultra-distance running as an effective way to encourage physical and spiritual self-transcendence.

Last year, Asprihanal Aalto (Finland - lead runner on right in blue t-shirt) set a new course record finishing in a record time of just 40 days and nine hours to complete the 3,100 miles, averaging an astounding 76.7 miles a day. This year he returns to attempt a different record of completing the event for the fourteenth time - which will be one more than ultra-distance legend Suprabha Beckjord. Surasa Mairer (Austria) also returns a year after setting a female record for the event in a time of 49 days 07:52:24.

As well as the 12 runners, there are also numerous organisers, cooks, counters and volunteers who help to keep this unique race in motion over the summer months in Queens, Jamaica.

Start of 3100 Mile Race

This video, by Utpal Marshall captures a small glimpse of the opening moments of the race - the activity and dynamism of the runners and organisers, combined with an inner serenity as the challenge looms ahead.

How to follow the 3100 Mile race

3100 Mile home page
Perfection Journey - video / photo blog by Utpal Marshall
Latest Results

The 3100 Mile Race in the media

Media coverage of 3100 Mile Race

Photos: Jowan

Cross-posted from www.srichinmoyraces.org

About the author:

Medur is our go-to person for many of the essential tasks involved in putting on our races: race setup, our lap counting system and our website. An enthusiastic runner himself, he has participated in many editions of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run in Canada and the US.

Men

Ananda-Lahari Zuscin		Slovakia
Ashprihanal Aalto		Finland
Atmavir Petr Spacil		Czech Republic
Baladev Pavol Saraz		Slovakia
Sopan Tsekov		Bulgaria
Stutisheel Lebedyev		Ukraine
Vasu Duzhiy		Russia
Volodymyr Hlushchuk		Ukraine
Yuri Trostenyuk		Ukraine

Women

Kaneenika Janakova		Slovakia
Shamita Achenbach-Konig		Austria
Surasa Mairer		Austria

In the Media

About the author:

Rupantar has been the race director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team since 1985, having been asked by Sri Chinmoy to serve in that capacity. As well as working on the big races the US Marathon Team organise each year - the 3100 Mile Race and the Six and 10 Day Race - he also spends a considerable amount of time archiving the Marathon Team's 40 year history on this website.

This article from Coach Magazine, a UK online website and magazine concerned with fitness and health, examines the 2015 Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race. Included are interviews from 2014 finisher Willaim Sichel and associate race director Sahishnu Szczesiul, as well a collage of photos from each of the 52 days of the 2015 race. The article also examines what makes this race so unique and challenging.

"Imagine running a marathon. Then another. And, for kicks, finishing with a seven-mile jog. On the same day. Sounds ridiculous, right? Now imagine doing it all again the next day. And the one after that. In fact, for 52 days in a row.

"That, in essence, is what the annual Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race demands of anyone brave – or barmy – enough to take on the world’s longest certified ultra-running race. Yet every year a dozen or so athletes allow their bodies and minds to be put through the wringer." Complete article »

The 2016 edition of the race will begin in Queens, New York on June 19.

Cross-posted from us.srichinmoyraces.org