Wei-Ming Lo, the Taiwanese runner competing in sandals, reached another personal milestone, passing 3000km for the first time in 29:01:18:12. A pioneer in ultra running in his home country, Mr Lo has made his race look newsworthy, if not easy, by his measured, but functional running style. He is always posing for local or Taiwanese folks stopping by for selfies or other group photos. 

Andrea Marcato clicked the counter for the 17th time straight at over 70 miles/ 113 km. 

Six of seven runners moved past 60 miles today. Early evening showers subsided before 9:00pm/ 21:00 hours. 

Five of seven runners made it past the regulation of 109 laps- 59.819 miles/ 96.269 km- today, the first four weeks completed by the hearty souls all. The top five are on pace to finish, and the gap between first and second is widening, with the terrific performance by Andrea Marcato . Even though Wei-Ming Lo, the Titan of Taiwan, goes home earlier for extra rest, Mr Marcato stays to the last minute to ensure a full effort. He now sports a 15-day streak of mileage above 70+ miles/ 113+km. Andrea will reach 2000 miles on Sunday morning between 8:15 and 9:00 am, depending on speed and breaks. Give him a shout out if you have a chance, he would love to see or hear from you, wherever you are. See the cams on our website 3100.srichinmoyraces.org for updates and live visuals.

Daily averages:

Andrea Marcato             70.971 miles / 114.216 km                          

Wei Ming Lo                    64.111 miles / 103.177 km

Vasu Duzhiy                    61.955 miles /   99.707 km

Harita Davies                  61.328 miles /   98.698 km

Takasumi Senoo             59.623 miles /   95.954 km

Stutisheel Lebedev         57.820 miles /   93.052 km

Ananda-Lahari Zuscin    56.330 miles /   90.654 km

The Magnificent Seven have had their dreams fulfilled in the longest race, or not. Today, the remarkable athlete from Japan- Takasumi Senoo- became the first runner from the Land of the Rising Sun to challenge and cross the finish line within the time limit. Takasumi finished in 51:12:50:52. Mr Senoo was very thankful of all the help offered, and of course, praised his wife for her steadfast help and knowledge within. Mr Senoo and the other remaining runners endured a lot, but grabbed the brass ring, just as a bonafide N’oreaster rocked the New York area all day, with heavy rains and wind. The 25th Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race reached its conclusion, but the stories and friendships have created a lifetime of memories.

See you next year folks, when the race around the block moves forward again, one day at a time, one lap at a time.

Final results

1.  Andrea Marcato     3100 miles- 42:17:38:38                     

                                         72.544 miles / 116.748 km              

2.  Wei Ming Lo           3100 miles- 48:11:52:01                                 

                                         63.928 miles / 102.882 km

3.  Vasu Duzhiy           3100 miles- 49:12:45:26                                

                                         62.589 miles / 100.728 km

4.  Harita Davies         3100 miles-50:13:23:14                                

                                         61.319 miles /  98.683 km

5. Takasumi Senoo     3100 miles-51:12:50:52        

                                         59.864 miles /  96.341 km

Ananda-Lahari Zuscin  2871.32 miles /4620.94 km  

                                         55.217 miles /  88.864 km

Stutisheel Lebedev      2741.25 miles/4413.389 km           

                                         53.861 miles /  86.680 km

Day 25

Only three made it past 60 miles today- the Fearless Andrea Marcato, the Irrepressible Wei-Ming Lo, and the surging Stutisheel Lebedev. For the Italian Mr Marcato, this was a 12-day 70-mile streak of domination. He is two and a half days ahead of second place, and Mr Lo is locked into his journey. He is not competing with anyone else, only with his fears of the unknown, which are microscopic right now. Wei-Ming is also smiling more, and receiving a lot of joy. The third runner of note- Stutisheel Lebedev- has had his share of tough days since September 5, however he remains confident that he will finish this year. 

The other four runners are giving all their energy to their running challenge. We will see who will be the smartest, the most self-giving, and the wisest of the bunch. 

Wei-Ming Lo- Taiwan (ROC) Halfway (1550 miles/ 2494.483km)- 24:02:32:00 This is the farthest he has ever run.

Andrea continues to move along at a remarkable pace, the cooler nights allowing faster paces in the evenings. His last few laps each evening resemble an interval workout on the track, which many an athlete knows is macho death-traps, with intervals between the repeats becoming increasingly smaller, the pain of anaerobic running leads to lactic acid buildup stopping or forcing one to slow down. Only, Andrea instead is fighting that time clock as it heads to midnight, though he knows a lap saved is a lap earned. Ten straight 70’s ring nicely in his multiday lexicon so far. 

Second placer Wai-Ming Lo has run 23 straight days over 62.56 miles (100.68km), so, although it seems overwhelming, the sandals wearer is the world-wide envy of every sandal wearer on earth. 

Harita Davies and Vasu Duzhiy are deadlocked in third place, as an Achilles tendon has had some swelling and pain for the New Zealand running Queen. She still runs along, but without the snap in her gait that terrorized everyone watching. Like Vasu has done, she will weather the storm and emerge again as the tendon heals up. 

Hang in there, runners. You are all amazing, even if you don’t know that.

The cooler, clear sky and north westerlies laid the foundation for runners to get to more approving results. Alas, the rush for more laps increased as the halfway signs came into play, and three more reached halfway, under regulation. Andrea Marcato listed 13 straight days at 70+ miles and over. Wei-Ming Lo went home at 8:15:pm after reaching 64.2 miles, content as a chesire cat who knows some simple secret. Vasu Duzhiy rebounded from a worrisome day to 66.4 miles. Tamasumi Senoo made it before the day’s end with 1550 miles.  And finally, signaling to those following the Race that he was still in the fray, Ananda-Lahari Zuscin from Slovakia ran 78.47 miles (126.29km) before the day ended. 

Vasu Duzhiy- halfway- 1550 miles/2494.483km- 25:02:29:30

Harita Davies-halfway- 1550 miles/2494.483km- 25:03:22:19

Takasumi Senoo halfway-1550 mi/2494.483km-  25:17:37:47

 

Five runners made it past 60+ miles (97.15km) today, a clear, crisp, low humidity day that was perhaps a forerunner of weather and days to come. At this juncture, the top five are on pace to finish the race inside the 52-day limit, the other two are looking for laps to bolster their chances. Andrea Marcato made it past 70 miles for the seventh straight day, his approach is filled with green flags, just as long as he avoids deep blisters, and gets adequate sleep in the weeks ahead. Wei-Ming Lo needs another mention here, as he approaches three weeks on the road. He has run in plastic sandals, which shows how perfect his running form is, and how disciplined his whole opus of good to very good performances reveals. Plus his attitude is off the charts good. Harita Davies is a big surprise in third overall, but on further review, her running gait is in great form. Her determination and positive outlook are what has set her course here in the race on a great outlook. Vasu Duzhiy has been through heck and back, and is rounding into solid if not spectacular form. His experience all but guarantees a quality finish. Takasumi Senoo has stayed away from blisters and injuries, so his stoic approach to the 3100 is right on pace. His helper Nina has been a big plus to his effort and race tactics. Stutisheel is still dealing with leg and stomach imbalances. His experience will help him get close to a finish. Ananda-Lahari has all the tools to finish the race under the limit, he just needs to want to do it. We will see.

Andrea Marcato-1400 miles-19:15:09:31

Wei-Ming Lo- 2000km- 19:05:51:51 NR

Harita Davies- 2000km- 19:15:31:27

On another perfect running day, replete with light, cool breezes, moderate temps, and good air-  helped the race to receive three more runners past 1000 miles. The parade of kilo movers started with Vasu Duzhiy, slinging past the significant milestone for the ninth time in his multiday career.

Takasumi Senoo answered the call with his fastest time by three days, four hours- a national record pending ratification, his second 1000 miles in a strong running resume. Finally, Stutisheel Lebedev passed the line for his 13th time beyond 1000 miles, the concentration and confidence apparent in his brief speech of thanks to everyone. Fitness was on display all day, as Andrea Marcato ran his fourth straight day of 70+ miles per day. Vasu Duzhiy has recovered from several injuries and setbacks, moving forward with less stress, and more determination. Harita Davies is running faster than ever before, taking advantage of the cool temps before brief rain showers touched the area last night. 

With two and a half weeks gone and five weeks remaining, the runners will need a continued effort and calmness to reach more difficult marks. And surely they will rise to the occasion and reach their goal. It is just a matter of time. As Sri Chinmoy said: “ Each goal is a starting point for a new goal, a new adventure, a deeper fulfillment, a lasting satisfaction.”  

Stats

Vasu Duzhiy- 1000 miles- 16:08:34:43

Takasumi Senoo-1000 miles- 16:12:41:43

Stutisheel Lebedev – 1000 miles- 16:13:10:13   

Overall leader Andrea Marcato seems to have solved the giant rubix cube of the 3100 Mile Race, as he passed his own 1000-mile national record by 10 minutes, 59 seconds. He chose an almost perfect day of weather to kick it into gear in the morning, setting up another late round flurry to reach 70+ miles in back to back days. Wei Ming Lo has redefined the running in sandals to almost a ballet art form. He reached 63.66 miles today, and like the previous eight days of running, headed home before 10:00 pm/ 22:00 hours. His chauffer Mark Dorion from El Paso remarked that even the runner’s exit from the car consisted of a few steps, a glide to a short stairwell, and vanishing into the night. Vasu Duzhiy, after six rough days from the previous nine had taken a toll on his confidence, rebounded nicely, and somehow, regained fourth place. The runners are reaching a higher level of fitness, and must feel excited, as a fall chill entered into the air last night late, and the Autumn Equinox arrives with the new week. 

Keep up the good work, runners. Consistency is the name of this game.

Andrea Marcato, Italy- 1000 miles- 14:05:09:21 NR,  Previous record- 14:05:20:20

Wei-Ming Lo, Taiwan-  1500 km-    14:08:08:11 NR

Harita Davies, New Zealand- 1500 km-14:15:48:44 PB

Vasu Duzhiy, Russia-  900 miles- 14:15:47:50