Fifty-four year old Surasa Mairer of Vienna, Austria finished first lady and fifth overall today in the penultimate day of the race.She became the oldest runner to ever complete 3100 miles and bettered her own previous finish by over three days. She averaged 61.74 miles per day(99.37 km) and moved into the realm of earlier finishers getting under the original 51 day standard. Her time still ranks 24th out of 34 all-time finishers(3100 miles = 50 days+04:57:24). Almost nine hours later Sarvgata Ukrainskyi of Berdansk, Ukraine finished his third straight 3100 miler, in 50 days+14:33:11. There are two runners left who will reach the coveted goal of ‘Finisher’ in tomorrow’s final day. Go Runners!!!

Finnish legend Ashprihanal Aalto made race history again, becoming the first male to ever finish the 3100 mile race twelve times, trailing the immortal Suprabha Beckjord by only one finish. Mr. Aalto placed third this year but remained cheerful throughout the race. Today he ran 65.3 miles to reach the goal in 48 days+16:14:33. He is still the second fastest runner to ever attempt the world’s longest certified footrace, and has the most first places with seven. Pranjal Milovnik will finish on Sunday in the mid-afternoon. He has been a model of consistency and fears nothing that the race can throw at him. Good luck to all ultra runners….

Vasu Duzhiy,47, from St. Petersburg,Russia won the Seventeenth Annual Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race today, finishing the 5649 laps in 47 days +05:39:00. The race started on June 16th with 12 runners circumnavigating a 0.5488 mile (883 meters) loop in the neighborhood. Mr Duzhiy averaged 65.6 miles per day(105.6 km). He was trailing by over 20 miles with only seven days of running left but made a charge that included four days over 70 miles out of the last six. The whole field had been reeling from a second heat wave lasting seven days in the middle of July. Vasu ran four days faster than his first-time finish of last year(51 days 10 hours). Tonight Atmavir Spacil will finish late in the evening which will be his seventh completion of the longest footrace and his highest placing ever. Stay tuned….

On a cloudy, hazy, not too hot but sticky day, Vasu Duzhiy all but cemented an insurmountable lead with a 72.9 mile total. His lead is nearly 20 miles over Atmavir Spacil as the race heads to a conclusion. His mileage today was his best since Day 1. Vasu will probably finish in the noon hour on Friday, barring any health issues or acts of God. In the meantime Surasa Mairer had second best total with 63.6 miles and is within three laps of fifth place. More later…
Vasu Duzhiy: 3000 miles = 45 days+16:55:52

Day 29

The 12 daring ultrarunners taking on the world's longest certified ultra race are enduring high heat and humidity as the race heads to day 31 on Tuesday July 16.  There is a very "cool" (both in temperature and degree of cleverness and originality) refrigerator trailer parked at the race course.  This was created many years ago by world-class carpenter/ inventor (also associate race RD) Bipin Larkin and some of his co-workers.  Side panels open outward to reveal large refrigerated compartments in which all manner of food and drinks-- from yogurt to ice cream to soda pop to non-alcoholic beers (city and park ordinances prohibit alcoholic beverages) are stored.  There are other compartments in the trailer for dry goods, fruits, snacks, etc. 

Here are the race standings after day 29 (Sunday):

1.  Asprihanal Pekka Aalto   (67.51 for day),     1,991,05 total.

2.  Dr. Atmavir Petr Spacil    (62.51)                1,937.26

3.  Vasu Duzhiy                       (64.21)                1,902.69

4.  Chef Sarvagata Ukrainskyi (68.05!)               1,882.38

5.  Pranjal Milovnik                  (62.56)                 1,845.61

6.  Yuri Trostenyuk                   (61.47)                 1,825.86

7.  Sopan Tsekov                    (57.63)                 1,703.48

8.  Baladev Pavel Saraz, Esq. (56.52)               1,631.58

9.  Coach Ananda-Lahari Zuzcin (47.19)                1,617.31

Women:

1.  Surasa P. Mairer           (61.47)                       1,792.93              

2.  Nidhdruvi Zimmerman   (62.01)                       1,726.52

3.  Sarah Barnett                 (43.91)                       1,515.24

I will post more news and updates in a few days-- I am off to the northern New Hampshire wilderness leading a group of 8-10 year old girls over various remote peaks.  Even the TOUGH runners in the 3100 get to sleep in cozy BEDS in air-conditioned apartments and houses, whereas I will be sleeping on rocky ground on my foam pad.

REMEMBER that you may check out all the 3100 mile action at:

  3100.srichinmoyraces.org/

CHEER on the runners (send them e-mail greetings, phone them, send post cards-- they will remember you forever!)

Writer-philosopher "Guru" Sri Chinmoy opined that "encouragement points the way to the pole-star."  I see the pole star on all non-cloudy nights here, far away from air pollution and city lights.  And when anyone has something nice or encouraging to say to me, I SEE the pole-star that much more clearly.

Best wishes to all ultrarunners around the globe,

Mark D

Fairlee, Vermont

On a hazy, warm summer day with a lot of upper clouds, the pack of 12 put on their survival bibs and carried on. With only nine days left, Vasu Duzhiy pushed on to take day leader honors with 68.6 miles. With a maximum of eight possible finishers in the next week and a half the runners realize that this race is winding down. Atmavir Spacil maintains a large lead and should finish on Friday midday or afternoon. It is almost inconceivable that the race will end soon, but it must.
Ashprihanal Aalto: 2700 miles = 42 days+04:28:57
Pranjal Milovnik: 2700 miles = 42 days+17:27:44

After 41 days of struggle with the elements, super high mileage on the legs,doubts and fears, Atmavir Spacil looks poised to get this horse in the barn. Mr.Spacil took day honors with 69.6 miles and was as smooth as silk on the tough concrete surface.With only 420 miles to go he is poised to finish on Friday of next week as his lead continues to widen. Pranjal Milovnik shuffled into fourth place with a routine 61 miles. He is aiming for his ninth straight finish. Five of the dozen topped 60 miles as the overall fatigue level is wearing on everyone. Their cheerful spirit, determination and inner strength are keeping them moving forward as the days wind down. Eleven days remain. Keep it going, great souls all.

In some sort of strange twist, we find our race at the three quarters point. The 12 are still at running in circles, and the group was blessed with a cool night for the first time in over a fortnight. Vasu Duzhiy brought day honors to his table with a 68 mile day. He is only 25 laps behind the lead and is looking strong as ever. Ukrainian Yuri Trostenyuk reached 62.5 for the consolation prize and his best day in the last 12. Nidhruvi Zimmerman and Surasa Mairer continue to run consistently and have comfortable mileage cushions. With 13 days left there is nothing else to do but run until you reach your goal.Even those who know they will not make it to 3100 still have a goal to reach, and each new day is a chance to do better or best. As has often been stated in our race lore of multidays- there is no loser in these events. By toeing the line you are a winner. You are challenging yourself and your capacity, thus you cannot lose. Good luck runners and go the distance.Soon…