Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race

Day 39, 7:16 am. Yesterday Ashprihanal broke his previous record. For 24 days is a row he’s been running more than 70 miles a day. He got 77, 73, and 71, but it’s over 70. He is the only person in the world who can do that. Even Madhupran, the 3,100 mile world record holder, didn’t have such a consistency. Ashprihanal is running very well. Yesterday he crossed the 2700 mile mark and set a new personal record. If everything goes well, he’ll break MAdhupran’s best time, which has been a world record for quite a while. As for me, I am feeling tired (did only 54 miles yesterday). It’s hot and the forecast for the near future is +40C. Towards the end of the race the troubles come from the weather. It’s OK, we shall overcome! Everybody’s legs got thinner. I marvel at Sarvagata’s match-thin legs that do 70+miles a day. I remember that after my first 3,100 mile finish back in 2004, TV was making a program about me. In their understanding an ultrarunner is a man with iron muscles. They asked me to run and stretch for the camera. I disappointed them then. Now I’ve got a good working weight to do the job. Excess weight is gone. Purna-Samarpan quit the race on day 37 at 1984 miles.

Day 36, 6 pm. I am getting old. Like in earlier days, I have intermittently good and bad days. Yesterday my knee was giving me a hard time and it took a while to get rid of the pain and pick up speed. Only to find out that I can’t run and have no strength at all. So today is mostly a walking day. Purna-Samarpan has a semi-walking day. He came up with an idea to put a belt filled with ice on the stomach for “the engine to work well”. It helps him a lot in hot weather. Ananda-Lahari and Pradeep are walking too. Pradeep has a deep blister on his left foot which makes him limp. He must be the slowest today. Others are rushing to the finish. Ashprihanal is likely to finish next Sunday, in a week from now. He says that he is ready to finish because he is fed up. Hope tomorrow will be a happier day. Alakananda made our day by putting together a funny photo collage. See ya!