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.
The storm continues
Despite optimistic forecasts of better weather, the storm continued for most of the day. The consistent rain, coupled with lower temperatures, is testing the resolve of the 3,100-mile runners. Small tree branches fell overnight, and the Grand Central slip road that runs along the north side of the course has several large puddles.
Even Vasu, our veteran 13-time finisher, has been heard to comment that "the cold rain is very hard on the feet." Despite all that, the runners are still putting in some impressive distances.
- Andrea Marcato is back in the groove and hit 70 miles yet again for the highest daily mileage. His 70.2 miles took him to 2,080.6 miles total.
- Radu Budan had another solid 64.7 miles to finish the day on 1,994.5 miles; 2,000 miles beckons for him on day 31.
- Wei Ming Lo had the second-highest total of the day, clocking 69.6 miles. He seemed to embrace the rain. As one of the volunteers, Mark, commented, "He seems to have plenty of fuel in the tank, with an excellent support team." His 69.6 miles leapfrogged him above Annabel, and he finished on 1,911.7 miles.
- Annabel, though, maintained her steady momentum, clocking 61.9 miles to leave her on 1,905.7 miles at the end of the day.
- Vasu also ran 61.9 miles, finishing on 1,855.2 miles.
- Nayaja was also in 60-mile territory with 61.4 miles, taking her total to 1,808 miles.
- Stutisheel and Nina battled the elements well.
- Nina ran 46 miles to finish on 1,558 miles.
Stutisheel was above 50 with 51 miles and a total of 1,410.5 miles, and has moved back ahead of Ananda-Lahari.
Ananda-Lahari did not have the best of days, struggling in the conditions but finishing with 30.7 miles, just reaching 1,400 miles (1,400.6) by the day's close.
The Role of Volunteers
An event like the 3,100-mile race could not take place without the help of numerous volunteers.
Along with the core team from the local New York Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, visitors come from out of town to help out. One of the furthest-travelled visitors is Uddipan Brown, whom we caught up with at the race.
Tarit: Uddipan, you are here helping at the 3,100-mile race. First of all, where are you from?
Uddipan: I'm originally from New Zealand, but now I make my home in Rarotonga, an island in the Cook Islands group in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Tarit: It seems we have helpers from all over the planet at this race. What inspires you to come here and help at this fabulous event?
Uddipan: I have been a runner for a very long time, and when I was competing, I really appreciated the incredible help and assistance I got from the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. So once I finally retired from competitive running, I was inspired to offer that same kind of assistance myself. I feel very much a part of this race, even though I am not running it myself.
Tarit: We have all helped at little local 5Ks, 10Ks and even half marathons — maybe the odd shorter ultra race. They are all done and dusted in a morning or a weekend at most. At this race, people are here helping for two weeks, three weeks, or even longer. How long have you been here?
Uddipan: I have been here since before the start of the race on 30th August, and I am going to be here until the race officially finishes on 20th October.
Tarit: Wow! So you are helping for the whole 52 days. That's quite an adventure in itself.
Uddipan: It is. It's a fantastic adventure, and I am learning a lot about myself. Not for nothing is it called the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race — I find myself transcending like anything every day, in all the tasks I am doing. I am just trying to do them better and better each day.
Tarit: So what time of day do you come to the race? Is it a set time?
Uddipan: Well, my job is to shop for the race kitchen. There are other things I do, but that is my main role. That starts at around 8 am. I come in, and we talk over the shopping list. By 9 am, I am out on the road, shopping at various restaurant depots, supermarkets, or even tiny little Indian stores, depending on what the kitchen staff want that particular day.
I have a budget that Rupantar (race director) has given me, and so far I have managed to keep well within it, so I am very happy about that.
When I get back, I unload everything in the kitchen. Also, if any supplies are needed directly at the race, I take them straight there. After that, I wash dishes in the kitchen, and then I have a little break.
In the afternoons, I am usually at the race, helping with a lap-counting shift. Then there are other things. Once a week, I am the overnight guard at the race village itself — that's on Mondays. Apart from that, I do anything that Rupantar asks me to do. Sometimes we go and pick up propane tanks for the race site, or fuel for the generator. Sometimes Bipin will ask me to do other errands.
It's a team effort. I don't have bright ideas of my own — I just do what I'm told by all the experienced people, who intuitively know how to make the race run smoothly.
Follow the race
- Sri Chinmoy Ultra Photo 2026
- 3100 Mile US Gallery 2026 - Arpan's Galleries
- Perfection Journey 3100 Mile Race 2026
- Instagram - SCMT
- YT - SCMT
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