The brief early morning sprinkle passed, the sun stayed between clouds and breezes, and the runners’nine ‘ all moved forward, with conviction. The halfway barrier for the race-26 days, loomed only today, and only for those who had to worry. The top two gentlemen passed that way days ago, but for the main group, this was reality check # 26. ‘Do I have the stuff to make it to the final day?’ or ‘ will my luck continue to roll?’ passed through the thought waves for some. In reality, six runners made it to 1550+ miles before midnight. Now the Race goes downhill, so to speak. Seven of nine remaining athletes went past 60+ miles today. The strong and those full of faith and hope, must move forward. The will to go is now, more than ever. Enjoy every moment, but move on to the next. Time is passing by.

Vasu Duzhiy-1800 miles-25:15:00:00

Sopan Tsekov-1550miles(halfway)-25:10:35:11; 2500km-25:11:31:20

Surasa Mairer-1550miles(halfway)-25:12:05:00; 2500km-25:13:37:42

Ushika Muckenhumer-1550miles(halfway)-25:13:03:44; 2500km-25:14:02:49

Smarana Puntigam-1550miles(halfway)-25:17:36:15

Kaneenika Janakova-1500miles-25:15:01:35

William Sichel-1500 miles-25:15:42:57

Race Director's updates

Six runners made it past 60 miles. Vasu Duzhiy and Kobi Oren both surpassed 1700 miles- Kobi for the first time, Vasu the seventh time. Clouds hid a strong sun, but humidity being low kept it manageable for all. Kaneenika Janakova moved up to seventh place with a good 62+ miles. Smarana Puntigam rebounded from a week of ups and downs to be within a couple of miles of even par for the race.

Vasu Duzhiy-1700 miles-24:05:44:27

Kobi Oren-1700 miles-24:12:53:40

Sopan Tsekov-1500 miles-24:13:41:13

Surasa Mairer-1500 miles-24:15:26:15

Ushika Muckenhumer-1500 miles-24:17:20:55

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Race Director's updates

It hit 90º F (29-30 C) today, with a strong sun and light breezes, enough to force people on holiday to the beach, but not enough to stop our splendid runners from applying their best to the task. Six runners made it past the 60-mile plateau, but only the first five are on pace to finish. Sopan Tsekov and Surasa Mairer are only three miles apart, in 3rdand 4th place , respectively, and both put up 62 mile days to pad their cushion. Ushika Muckenhumer has a ten-mile cushion on the needed pace to finish, and looks steady and ready to move along at fifth place.

Kaneenika Janakova had her best day since Day 13, also touching 62 miles. She is over 40 miles behind pace, but has the capability to claw back to even par by the last week if all goes well. William Sichel is just over 30 miles off the pace, and he, too, has the chops needed to bring back the deficit. We will see how the race plays out, and who has the determination to triumph over adversity- and themselves!

Good luck to all ultra-runners out there, and to lovers of self-transcendence. The surf is up!

Race Director's updates

Seven people made it past 60 miles today, with Vasu Duzhiy once again leading the group with 69.7 miles. He now owns a 32-mile lead over Kobi Oren, and appears to be on cruise control. Both men later passed the halfway point, and even 2500 km, to highlight their day.

Both women runners topped 60 miles, as did three other male stalwarts, but the most dominating and sad story of the day was the withdrawl from the race by walker extraordinare Yolanda Holder. She had large and painful blisters on both feet, and had visited a highly-rated podiatrist just this morning after several painful days of walking. Although severe, the blisters were not infected, and after thorough treatment, she opted out of the race and is off her feet for two weeks for healing. She was sad but determined to return to the race in a year or two, with toughened feet and a steely will to surpass her own best mark. We will miss Yolanda and her wonderful smile at the race, but the Race continues. Good Luck Yolanda, and see you in a few miles (kms).

Vasu Duzhiy- Halfway(1550 miles)- 22:02:19:15

2500 km – 22:03:05:51

Kobi Oren- Halfway(1550miles)- 22:09:05:26

2500 km – 22:09:55:21

William Sichel-1300 miles- 22:03:15:52

Kaneenika Janakova-1300 miles- 22:10:22:49

Ananda-Lahari Zuscin-1300 miles- 22:10:23:45

Race Director's updates

Six runners made it past 60 miles today as moderate temperatures and a high sun in the sky kept everyone moving well. There were a few exceptions, as the weight of the task and the fatigue acquired held back a few struggling athletes, whilst some could not continue for several hours due to injury.

Vasu Duzhiy continued his fine effort with another 68.05-mile day, stretching his lead over Kobi Oren to nearly 30 miles. Sopan Tsekov made the jump to third place with another solid 62-mile day. Surasa Mairer continues to lead the distaff side with a very good 61.46 miles, as well as remaining in fourth place. Ushika Muckenhumer continues to run well, building a small cushion of laps above the required mileage. The top six are still on pace to finish. William Sichel has started to whittle away his deficit with yet a third straight day at or near 62+miles. Hope springs eternal, as well as being like nectar to the aspirant of the higher realms. Let’s see who can reach for that lofty goal again, after the ups and downs of the first three weeks.

Vasu Duzhiy- 1500 miles-21:06:52:34

Kobi Oren- 1500 miles-21:12:30:03

Ananda-Lahari Zuscin-2000km-21:06:48:01

Kaneenika Janakova-2000km-21:11:02:12

Race Director's updates

Five people made it past 60 miles, but several of the runners have various problems, mostly due to the long gone heat wave from a few days ago. The cooler temperatures , clear air and pleasant breezes made it easy to keep going, if it was possible to move at all. Vasu Duzhiy has fashioned a 24-mile lead over Kobi Oren. Vasu is averaging 70.14 miles per day/112.88 km over the first three weeks of the race. His only competition is from Kobi, who is averaging 68.99 miles /111.03 km per day. Sopan Tsekov has moved into fourth place overall, with his consistently good running. Eleven straight days over 60.3 miles will usually keep you up in the standings. He has also been helped by the upward movement of Ushika Muckenhumer, who ran himself onto the plus column of mileage needed to finish. In all, six starters are on pace to finish. Good Luck to all ultrarunners.

Smarana Puntigam- 2000km-20:08:22:06

Sopan Tsekov-2000km-20:09:59:18

Surasa Mairer-2000km-20:10:31:22

Ushika Muckenhumer-2000km-20:13:51:47

Race Director's updates

Six of ten runners made it to sixty miles before the day ended, with Vasu Duzhiy leading all with 67.5 miles. He is over 22 miles clear of Kobi Oren. Sopan Tsekov climbed to within two laps of fourth placer Surasa Mairer with a solid 63.11-mile day. Ushika Muckenhumer cleared the line from behind pace to two laps ahead with his 61.46 mile journey. The top six runners are on pace to finish, which is good considering the difficult heat-wave, now passed. A few days of moderate temperatures and lower humidity should help everyone gather some strength, as we are one day away from three weeks in.

Race Director's updates

The sun was quite hot when cloud covers disappeared, a time to go to the beach or into an air-conditioned suite. Not so for runners of the 3100 Miler. Vasu Duzhiy widened his lead over Kobi Oren to almost 20 miles, yet only four runners went past 60 miles today. Sopan Tsekov and Ushika Muckenhumer continue to impress, both men are above cut-off territory. Fully half the field are in the black ink for overall totals, pointing to renewed fitness and deep resiliency. More later..

Vasu Duzhiy-1300 miles-18:08:10:02

Kobe Oren- 1300 miles-18:11:25:57

Race Director's updates

On a muggy, warm, sometimes overcast Independence Day, the thrill-seeking ten runners of the 3100 Mile Race continued their journey. Vasu Duzhiy continued to build the distance between he and Kobi Oren with a fine 68.05-mile jaunt. Both men passed the 2000km mark- Vasu for the seventh time, Kobi for the first. Six men and women exceeded 60 miles, including another mega performance from Ananda-Lahari Zuscin, who sliced the muggy air all day for 75.73 miles. The bombs started bursting in air just after dark and continued late into the wee hours. The runners in the 3100 Mile race have completed over 1/3rdof their sojourn. We hope the heat and humidity will go on vacation so that the talented ten can put up big numbers again, and stay above the line of demarcation, where joy is real and failure is lurking just below. Carry on, runners!!

Vasu Duzhiy-2000km-17:10:45:13

Kobi Oren-2000km-17:13:40:18

Ananda-Lahari Zuscin-1000 miles-17:01:19:21

Kaneenika Janakova-1000 miles-17:01:52:27

William Sichel-1000 miles-17:05:20:32

Race Director's updates

After five days of high temps and climbing humidity, the group of ten runners experienced the blahs and difficulty of the really long races. Your body is screaming for rest, your mind is almost full of doubt, and even your loyal helper has a quizzical look of ’what are you doing, how could you have signed up for such a torture test?’ both on their face and in their minds. Yet, the race is about recovery, moving forward, never backward, and almost looking for the bright moments to appear and guide your endless running laps. Attitude and acceptance are cornerstones to be embodied in your daily running menu. Doubt cannot build a home in you.

Only four runners could get over 60 miles today, yet, everyone tried to ignite the passions for running and reaching new goals- tiny little triumphs like smiling no matter the struggle, or working in those unused pairs of shoes into the rotation.

Vasu Duzhiy padded his lead by over four miles, running consistently. William Sichel, who in 2014 had to come back from being over 70 miles behind pace, found himself over 30 miles behind pace, but still ran a solid 60.4 mile day today. We always tell the athletes to never give up hope. Hope is like nectar, and can give us the impetus to carry-on, no matter the difficulty.

Surasa Mairer-1000miles-16:06:54:24

Sopan Tsekov-1000miles-16:12:01:12

Ushika Muckenhumer-1000miles-16:14:21:03

Yolanda Holder-1000miles-16:17:51:56

William Sichel-1500 km-16:02:29:21

Race Director's updates

Journalists, running followers and bloggers are in the process of predication- predicting outcomes from a point of awareness, with factors both before the event, and after, with a little tweaking. Kind of like the weatherman, but usually with a smidgeon of more accuracy, although homage should be paid to extreme storm trackers. I will get to the point in a second. As would be expected, the ten intrepid runner-warriors, who braved to run in 99ºF heat and humidity all day Sunday, would be a little beat-up and rearing from such torture to their bodies and head. Yesterday, Monday, saw six runners climb back over 60 miles, with some surprising totals, considering that the temperature dropped from 99º to 95º, and the breezes from the south cooled things down a bit in the evening. Sure enough, Vasu Duzhiy extended his lead over Kobi Oren with another 66.95 mile day. Third placer overall Smarana Puntigam went past the 1000 mile mark for the ninth time in his remarkable career, and six people managed to go past the 1500 km mark, in a meaningful day.

However, the extreme storm tracker did not expect to see the whirlwind runner from the caboose of the train flash past everyone for 80.12 miles, landing in seventh place in a great performance. Ananda-Lahari Zuscin is known as the unknown quantity, the undefinable or unpredictable runner, who runs with heart and soul, and runs when his body says go. Let us hope he recovers from this day with his wide smile intact. He is the Day leader for Day 16, and impressive effort from a 14-time starter in this race. More later…

1000 miles- Smarana Puntigam- 15:17:05:15

1500 km splits:

Surasa Mairer- 15:02:55:47

Sopan Tsekov- 15:09:06:48

Ushika Muckenhumer- 15:10:40:26

Yolanda Holder- 15:13:35:03

Ananda-Lahari Zuscin- 15:15:01:15

Kaneenika Janakova- 15:15:30:43

Race Director's updates

The mercury was a tick away from triple digits (38ºC). The difficulty to run today was obvious. The will to continue was sapped. These are the normal reflexes of athletes of any age in a heat wave beyond the normal. Four runners made it past 60 miles, somehow defying the body’s pleas for rest, cool rooms and 1000’s of BTU’s. Vasu Duzhiy found some new gear to run with during the darkness hours, running nearly 67 miles and finishing two laps ahead of Kobi Oren, for the overall lead of the race. Vasu had trailed Kobe by nearly 20 miles only days ago. The top six are now on pace to finish, their confidence growing with each lap completed. So far they have weathered the wave, if for one more day or two.

Smarana Puntigam-1500km- 14:15:41:50

Race Director's updates

It was bright sun, Summer in the City hot, but the runners traversed the course with caution and purpose. The top two runners, Kobi Oren and Vasu Duzhiy, both passed 1000 miles in the evening, with Kobi reaching 63.66 miles for the day. His sterling 1000-mile mark is a new Israeli national record for the kilo mile, as well as a personal best by over 33 hours. Vasu ran well throughout difficult conditions to become day leader with 69.14 miles. It was his seventh time past 1000 miles, and his second best ever. Kaneenika Janakova ran 60.3 miles to lead the three women through the difficult endeavor. The temps topped 97ºF (37ºC) for the second day in a row. Sunday looks to be the worst of the heat wave, then, somewhat cooler temps will prevail. A few more breezes would be nice as well. Hang in there, runners.

Kobi Oren-1000 miles-13:15:18:29-NR

(old record-15:01:47:49- 22July-05 Aug,2017 by Kobi Oren)

Vasu Duzhiy-1000 miles-13:17:50:28

Race Director's updates

The four day heat wave arrived on schedule, as clear skies led to warm then hot temps, with the mercury hovering around 95º (34ºC). The warnings were out- don’t spend too much time in the sun; drink plenty of fluids; avoid hot rooms with no AC, etc, etc. Of course, the runners in a multi-day just dial it down a notch or two, and wait for sections of the day to gather the laps where they may. Six people still made it over sixty miles today, with Vasu Duzhiy taking Day leader honors with 65.3 miles. He finished the 119thlap right on the nose of 1500km, a prelude to more milestones to come. Kaneenika Janakova flashed brilliance again with 62.01 miles, taking back a few laps from her other tough female competitors.

The problem with heat waves is they last for a few days, so the watch and warnings are still up, and our intrepid runners have to remain smart and cautious as the conditions will dictate what you can and cannot do. One thing is certain, they will all show up tomorrow, and give it a try. Stay cool, friends, in the northern hemisphere.

Kobi Oren-1500km- 12:14:08:17

Vasu Duzhiy-1500km-12:17:58:17

Race Director's updates

On the day of an even dozen, the hearty 10 runners of the 3100 Mile Race continued to move along. A muggy, overcast, sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy day it was. Just before the dinner hour a series of thunder-storms surged through the area, pummelling race course and runner at will. The biggest storm dropped an inch or two of rain within ten minutes, buffeted by stiff winds. The runners were at a distinct disadvantage, but there is no stopping this group so far. Kobe Oren again led the way for the fellas with a tough 67.5 miles. Vasu Duzhiy was a mile behind with 66.4. Kaneenika Janakova led the ladies with 63.11 miles, her best day since Day 1, her gait efficient, her focus solid, a faint smile relaying joy that she could run free again. Somehow, between all the rain and flood warnings (everyone’s phone beeped warning sounds), and the deluges, eight of ten made over sixty miles. Next up, a legitimate heat wave for four days. Stay tuned.

Surasa Mairer-700 miles- 11:03:54:15

William Sichel-700 miles-11:04:43:55

Yolanda Holder-700 miles-11:11:07:50

Ushika Muckenhumer-700 miles-11:13:09:10

Sopan Tsekov-700 miles-11:13:23:47

Kaneenika Janakova-700 miles-11:16:39:12

Race Director's updates

Kobi Oren padded his lead, and everyone else moved along nicely, as a cloudy day in June helped pave the way for a heat spell arriving on Friday. The six runners, apart from the uber top four, each passed the 1000km mark. In all, eight of ten passed the magic of 60 miles, with our top seven above the required mileage for the total needed after 11 days. Kobi was the only runner to pass 70 miles today, and he has yet to fail to do so since the race started on June 17.

William Sichel-1000km-10:00:44:34

Yolanda Holder-1000km-10:05:58:58

Sopan Tsekov-1000km-10:07:34:21

Ushika Muckenhumer-1000km-10:08:27:57

Kaneenika Janakova-1000km-10:09:53:36

Ananda-Lahari Zuscin-1000km-10:10:38:20

Race Director's updates

Seven of ten made it to the level of ‘very good, you passed 60 miles’ today, as a bright, sunny day was speckled with extensive breezes and lower humidity. Kobe Oren padded his lead to 10 miles over Vasu Duzhiy. Kobe is only 11 and a half miles behind his farthest run-distance of 755 miles, in our Ten Day race in 2016, having run over 70 miles this year in every day so far. He inspired the rest of the runners to ‘keep moving’, hence the fine finishes of the day from Smarana Puntigam, Surasa Mairer, Yolanda Holder, and even Ushika Muckenhumer. The latter moved from the caboose of the group to seventh overall. Fitness is being discovered and applied. With 19% of the race completed, we are optimistic for great performances to follow. As we often tell people about this race, you never know what you have until you try. Enjoy the summer days in the Northern Hemisphere, folks.

Kobi Oren-700 miles- 9:05:54:07

Vasu Duzhiy-700 miles-9:09:20:17

Smarana Puntigam-1000km-9:12:43:47

Surasa Mairer-1000km-9:16:30:30

Race Director's updates

Seven of ten made the 60+mile brigade, as the longest running race continued its inner and outer journey. Kobe Oren increased his lead over Vasu Duzhiy from seven to sixteen laps, continuing his over 70+mile streak of nine consecutive days. William Sichel moved up to fifth place from seventh position with his sixth consecutive day over 110 laps (60.3680 miles). Yolanda Holder walked her way up to seventh position from ninth with another sterling effort of 114 laps (62.56 miles). She now has over a handful of laps in surplus, and hopefully has escaped the dungeon that is last place. The fitness level of the athletes is starting to blossom a bit; witness that even Ushika Muckenhumer ran 60.91 miles.

Kobe Oren-1000km- 8days:04:23:27

Vasu Duzhiy-1000km-8days:06:04:57

Race Director's updates

Kobi Oren and Vasu Duzhiy continue to amaze, as both men are averaging 75.18 and 74.71 miles per day, respectively (120.99, and 120.23km). Today was Vasu’s time to lead, as he reached 72.44 miles, taking back four laps from Kobi’s 11-lap lead. Both men have run at least 70+ miles every day of the race. The other striking development is that Yolanda Holder walked 119 laps today-65.3 miles, which led the ladies, and more importantly, placed her two laps ahead of even par through eight days of multi-day competition. She is now in ninth place and only five laps away from the deadlock at seventh place. There appears to be no stopping the ‘Walking Diva’ as she calls herself. We’ll see what the reigning women’s record-holder and the former women’s record-holder might say about that.

Race Director's updates

With cool, overcast but non-threatening skies overhead, the Group of Ten continued their search for more miles/kms, albeit the sooner the better. Kobe Oren wasted no time revealing his intentions, rattling off 6:00 minute or faster laps. At the start he was three laps behind his new rival Vasu Duzhiy, yet within the midday break he had passed Vasu and was headed for a big day. With less than eight minutes before midnight, he had carved out 79.02 miles and a six-mile lead. Vasu continued his own streak of running 70 miles each and every day with a sterling 71.34 – mile effort, yet his was, indeed, silver compared to Kobe’s solid gold day. Surasa Mairer led the ladies with 63.1 miles, and moved into fourth place overall. William Sichel continued a memorable few days with another 99km total, moving up to sixth overall.

Pedestrian Yolanda Holder walked 60.36 miles to move out of the basement dwelling, known as the last place on the scoreboard. She is only nine laps away from level par, and her excitement is building with each mile covered.