In the Media

Consulate General of Finland Congratulates Ashprihanal Aalto

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.

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The Consulate General of Finland in New York congratulated Ashprihanal Aalto upon winning the 23rd Annual Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race.

"The Finnish ultramarathon runner from Vihti, Ashprihanal Aalto, has won the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race for a record ninth time, turning in a solid performance under difficult summer weather conditions. The 3100 Mile Race is the longest certified road race, and the New York Times has dubbed it the “Mount Everest of Ultramarathons”. This year’s race began on the 16th of June and has lasted all through the summer. We congratulate Ashprihanal warmly on his victory! " Link to Facebook comment »

Also the Finnish ultra running web site, ultrajuoksu.fi, covers Ashprihanal's finish at the 23rd Annual Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race. Complete article, located on the home page

1 News Now (New Zealand): "Tears, smiles and hard work"

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.

pre-harita-1022396.jpg1 News Now, New Zealand's number one TV station, reports on Harita Davies's completing the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race.

"Christchurch-born Harita Davies has completed one of the more remarkable feats in endurance running, finishing the Sri Chinmoy 3100-mile race around a half-mile block in Queens, New York." For complete story...

(Photo: Harita Davies, right)

Newsforkids.net: Sri Chinmoy – a 3,100-Mile, 52-Day Race

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.

pre-board-1055706.jpgNews for kids, "real news, told simply", covers the 23rd Annual Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race.

"The Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence Race (SCSTR) is the longest running race in the world. It’s a 3,100 mile (4,989 kilometer) race. It’s also a very short race – the entire track goes around just one city block."  For the complete article...

Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Embrace the pain.

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.

pre-ahsprihanal-1044606.jpgChristopher Maag from the Rockland/Westchester Journal News came out and spent the day with us, resulting in the following insightful article:

"Two minutes before sunrise, the greatest long distance runner in the history of the world arrived. He wobbled on his feet, unsteady. His hands fell against a lamp post, which he used for balance, leaning in to stretch his calves. His eyes were hollow. He looked nearly dead. Then he limped to the start line, where he pressed his palms together in prayer."

For the whole article...

Bulgarian 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.

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Here is a list of the current media publications covering Todor Dimitrov at the 23rd Annual Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race as of August 8, 2019.

  1.    https://www.actualno.com/goodnews/bylgarin-probjaga-naj-dylgoto-systezan...
  2.    https://www.dnevnik.bg/sport/2019/08/07/3948199_bulgarin_probiaga_5000_k...
  3.    https://www.24chasa.bg/novini/article/7595843
  4.    https://trafficnews.bg/sport/balgarin-probiaga-nai-dalgoto-sastezanie-sv...
  5.    https://www.dnes.bg/index/2019/08/07/podvig-bylgarin-uspia-probiaga-nai-...
  6.    https://www.moreto.net/novini.php?n=402390
  7.    https://www.bgonair.bg/a/2-bulgaria/171766-balgarin-pobedi-v-nay-dalgoto...
  8.    http://www.shum.bg/article/187661/
  9.    https://theworldnews.net/bg-news/blgarin-probiaga-nai-dlgoto-sstezanie-v...
  10.    https://www.flashnews.bg/balgarin-probyaga-5000-km-za-51-dni/
  11.    https://www.mignews.info/balgarin-s-vpechatlyavashto-postizhenie-finishi...
  12.    https://offnews.bg/leka-atletika/balgarin-probiaga-naj-dalgoto-sastezani...
  13.    https://gong.bg/oshte-sport/drugi-sportove/bylgarin-probiaga-naj-dylgoto...


   

 

The U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, congratulate Todor for his participation in the 3,100-Mile Race.

 

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Reuters covers Ashprihanal Aalto's finish

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.

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Reuters video clip of the 23rd Annual Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race winner, Ashprihanal Aalto.

Video Clip

Wall Street Journal article - 'Calling All Ultra-Runners: One Block in New York City Promises Transcendence'

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.

team_iphono_1.jpg Today's Wall Street Journal carries a very nice report on the 3100 Mile Race...

"Ashprihanal Aalto is ready to go to sleep.

"The 48-year-old Finn just won this year’s Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race. He crossed a duct-tape ribbon Friday after running more than 60 miles on each of 48 consecutive days around the same half-mile course in the Jamaica Hills neighborhood of Queens, N.Y."

For the complete article...

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CBBC: The Longest Footrace in the World: Self-Transcendence 3,100 Miles

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.

CIMG3781[1].JPGNear the race start, the BBC wrote an extremely in-depth article on the 3,100 Mile race which attracted a readership from all over the world. Now, a modified version of the article can be found at CBBC, the children's division of BBC primarily aimed at ages 9 to 15. 

From that article: "Imagine running 118 marathons, and still not quite being at the finish line. Well, that's what runners at the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race are going to be doing..."

For complete article...

3100 Mile Runner Yolanda covered by Vanity Fair Italy

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.

yolanda.jpgVanity Fair (italian edition) highlights the American racewalker and fashion diva, Yolanda Holder, as she tackles the longest certified road race in the world, the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race.

"La signora Holder, conosciuta come Walking Diva, è stata invitata alla più lunga gara del mondo dai discepoli del religioso Sri Chinmoy: «L’importanza di superare i propri limiti»

 

«La corsa mattutina è la bellezza della purezza, la corsa serale è la luminosità della spiritualità». Parola di Sri Chinmoy, un religioso indiano scomparso nel 2007 secondo cui la pratica sportiva anche estrema è una tra le vie praticabili per aspirare alla personale illuminazione. La signora Yolanda Holder, una cinquantanovenne afro-americana madre di due figli, in realtà non è una sua discepola, ma date le sue incredibili capacità fisiche è stata invitata a partecipare alla Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race, la più lunga corsa del mondo, organizzata in onore del maestro spirituale."

for complete article with photos...

The New York Times profiles 3100 Mile runner Yolanda Holder

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.

yolanda.jpgThis year, Yolanda Holder aimed to be the first person to complete the 3100 Mile Race race by walking the entire distance. The New York Times' Corey Kilgannon came to visit the course and wrote a profile beginning as follows...

"On a recent weekday, a woman in hot pink exercise wear and a matching fedore strode briskly but effortlessly down a sidewalk alongside the Grand Central Parkway in Jamaica, Queens. The woman, Yolanda Holdler, 59, an endurance racewalker known as the Walking Diva for her fashionable race outfits, has drawn attention as a first-time entrant to an unusual race held every summer in which runners circle a single block for more than seven weeks straight, 18 hours a day, breaking only between midnight and 6 a.m. to sleep."

 

Sanjay Rawal wins Best Director at Varna Film Festival

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.

The following story is from Sopan (Tzvetan Tzekov):

On June 16th and 17th Sanjay Rawal’s film, 3100:  Run and Become, was entered in the prestigious 18th International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films, held in Varna, Bulgaria.

sanjayaward1.jpgThe motto of the festival is: "By humanism to peace and friendship" and it is held every two years. The Bulgarian Red Cross is the main organizer of the forum. The festival has a growing importance as a powerful tool for the dissemination of humanitarian and cultural values through cinema. The Vice President of Bulgaria is its patron and, this year, she was at the opening of the festival.

Sanjay’s film was one of 59 films to be selected out of 3200 films to participate in the festival!!!

The director of film critics in Bulgaria, Mr. Manov, mentioned our film on national TV as one of 2 special films that he would recommend. He used to be the director of European film critics.

Sanjay came all the way from NY for the evening of the festival when the film was shown. Before the showing, I was interviewed by the national radio station and we met with Mr. Manov.  Later, Mr. Manov introduced Sanjay and me (Sopan) on-stage and a Q&A with us after the film.

Sanjay left the following morning for NY but a few members of The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team stayed for the awards ceremony in case the film won a prize. Sanjay won the Best Director Award of the whole festival for 3100: Run and Become!!! At the awards ceremony were the mayor of Varna, Red Cross Representatives from a few neighboring countries and film directors from Turkey, Serbia, New Zealand and Bulgaria. The jury that selected the award was also international.

They also showed another film by Sanjay, Challenging Impossibility, at the City Hall in Varna but not as part of the competition.

 

 

 

The Slovak Spectator covers Kaneenika's 3100 mile world record

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.

The Slovak Spectator logo "The new women’s record for the world’s hardest run was rewritten by a Slovak, 47-year-old Kaneenika Janáková from Bratislava. After 48 days, 14 hours, 24 minutes and 10 seconds she reached the finish of the longest and the hardest run in the world – 3,100 miles (4,988 kilometres) in New York. She beat the world record by more than 17 hours. In the final ranking, she ended up in second place behind runner Vasu Duzhiy from Russia. He won the 21st Annual Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race, finishing the run in 47 days +05:39:00."

for complete article in the Slovak Spectator...

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Bengali TV Covers the 3100 Mile Race

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.

smarana-1044488.jpgThe 23rd Annual Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race was covered by Time TV, a Bengali news channel. The broadcast was on June 26, 2019. For the video clip.

BBC.COM: Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence: The 3,100-mile race around a New York block

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.

team_iphono_1.jpgOne of the most insightful and revealing stories about the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race appeared on the home page of the prestigious BBC.COM this past Friday, June 21. Including interviews with past and present runners, the article gives the reader a runner's insight into why anyone would want to run for 52 days around a New York City block, and what the experience is like for these pioneer ultra runners.

The article is written by long time reporter Justin Goulding of BBC Sports, under the Sport Insight section.

From the article: "It is a race so long that runners need a haircut during it. They can get through 20 pairs of shoes. They run more than two marathons a day. For almost two months. On five hours of sleep a night."

For the complete article...

Harita Davies featured in "Walking 4 Health"

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.
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Harita en route to finishing the 2017 Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race.

Harita Davies of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in New Zealand, was selected as one of the '2017 Inspiring People of the Year' by "Walking 4 Health", which was founded by Guinness World Record holder and 3100 Mile Race finisher Yolanda Holder.

In her first effort at the New York City based race, Harita finished the race just within the 52 day cutoff in a time of 51 days, 12 hours, 48 minutes and 14 seconds.

How was she able to climb this "Mt. Everest of Ultrarunning" (as described by the New York Times)?

As she cites in the article: "As it happened, right from the beginning the whole experience felt like I was flowing in the river of God’s Grace. Each day was a world unto itself, bringing with it new challenges on every level- especially physical and mental. Yet at the same time, the never-ending obstacles and challenges were teaching me so much!" For the complete article...

Outside Magazine Reviews Documentary Film, 3100: Run and Become

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.

Heather Hansman's October 26, 2018 online Outside film review of Sanjay Rawal's documentary film, 3100: Run and Become, examines the 'philosophical side of long-distance running". The film explores the importance of running in the Narajo community, the 'marathon' monks of Japan, Kalahari Bushmen of Africa and the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race. The film centers on Finnish runner Aalto Asphrihanal and the 2016 3100-Mile Race. (Photo: start of the 2106 3100-Mile Race. Asphrihanal Aalto, first from right).

From the article:

"It's hard to show transcendence, especially the kind that comes from the devotional practice of moving your body, but that's what director Sanjay Rawal was trying to capture he filmed runners around the world."

More from the article:

"I was a competitive runner," Rawal says, "but I nver had a coach that told me what Shaun (Navajo runner) says in the movie - that running is a prayer and a teacher and a celebration of life."

The film is currently being shown at the Village Cinema East, Manhattan, New York.

For the Outside online review...

The home page of the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race...

 

Daily Telegraph article: Nirbhasa talks about finishing 3100 mile race

About the author:

Nirbhasa is from Ireland. He is an enthusiastic multi-day runner, having completed four times the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race - the longest race in the world.

Nirbhasa Magee from Ireland recently finished the 3100 mile Self-Transcendence Race on his first attempt. He became the first Irishman to finish the world's longest certified race - a unique race founded by spiritual Teacher Sri Chinmoy as one of the ultimate tests of physical, mental and spiritual self-transcendence. Nirbhasa recently spoke to the Daily Telegraph about what it takes to finish the race within the 52 day time limit, about using up 11 pairs of shoes, and whether he will go back and do the race again.

"If you possess a low pain threshold, get bored easily and need more than four hours' sleep a night, the 3100 Mile Race is probably not for you." Read more on the Daily Telegraph website »

The following video, made by Utpal Marshall, shows a short interview with Nirbhasa on the last day of the race, where he remains in a cheerful and positive frame of mind, despite the accumulation of deep fatigue by this point.The video is taken on this final day - hence Nirbhasa pretending to sprint out of the blocks.

Before entering the 3100 mile Self-Transcendence race, Nirbhasa had some experience in running multidays. He has finished two 10 day races, including an impressive 702 miles in the 2014 Ten Day Race. This performance indicated long-distance running capacity. However, nothing can really prepare a runner for the ordeal of completing the 3100 mile Race. To complete the race requires an average of just under 60 miles for 52 consecutive days. The remarkable thing about Nirbhasa's race was that he finished on the last day, with just a few hours spare. It was so close, that in the last few weeks, every minute became precious as he eked out mile after mile. 

Some other articles about Nirbhasa and the 3100 Mile Race:

Outside Magazine Examines the 2015 Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race

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.

Author Martin Fritz Huber presents a detailed examination of the 2015 Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race in his Augsut 12, 2015 Outside Magazine online article, "The Path To Self-Transcendence Begins with 3,100 Miles". The article centers on runner Nirbhasa Magee and his answer to several of the author's quesitons. (Photo: start of the 2015 race. Nirbhasa Magee, second from left in white t-shirt).

From the article:

"On Tuesday, August 4, at 6:12 p.m., a former IT professional named Nirbhasa Magee completed a half-mile lap around a nondescript block in Queens, New York. That may sound like an unspectacular feat of endurance, but what distinguishes Magee from most other joggers plodding around Joseph Austin Playground, is that, over the course of the last 52 days, the 35-year-old Irishman has done the .5488 mile loop 5,649 times, an astounding total of 3,100-miles."

For the complete article...

The Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race home page...

3100 Mile Race featured in video selection of Endurance Records

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.

pronjal_2014.jpgThe video channel Mad Lab features some epic records from around the world.

In this video, of 10 impressive records, they feature a short clip on the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race - which is the world's longest certified footrace in the world. Video also features other distance records including most miles covered in 24 hours.

 

Photo: Pranjal Milovnik enroute to completing the 3,100 Mile Race in 2014.

amNewYork reviews film 3100: Run and Become

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.

In Lisa Colangelo's review of '3100: Run and Become', a documnetary film by Queens native Sanjay Rawal, the reviewer begins the article by offering the quesiton: "Why would anyone run 3100 miles on one city block for 52 days in a row". The film answers this quesiton by comparing the importance of running by the Kalahari Bushmen of Africa, the 'marathon' monks of Japan, the Navajo running community and the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race. The film centers on the 2016 Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race and world record holder Asphrihanal Aalto. (Photo: start of 2016 race. Asphrihanal Aalto, first from right in blue shorts and light blue top).

The film is currently being shown at the Village Cinema East in downtown Manhattan.

For the full article in amNew York...

For the home page of the Sri Chinmoy 3100-Mile Race