Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race

Author: Utpal It was a dream of our family to be here helping him.”  Sarvagata’s sister is beaming with enthusiasm as she runs beside her brother on this the 9th day of the race.  The sun is low and golden in the sky and the air is still and clear.   It just may be as beautiful a morning as the race will see all summer.  The irony of all this is that in fact Sarvadhara (Sarvagata’s sister) is currently committed to leave later in the day for Chicago.  She flew in from the Ukraine just last night and came immediately here, only to arrive by fate, just as her brother was going home for the night.  Read more

Author: Utpal For the 10 runners taking part in the Self Transcendence race each new day now, and each additional lap is starting to blend and blur into the immense vision of what they are attempting to do here. It is such a massive effort and an undertaking of such proportions that the enormity of it, in its entirety, is really incomprehensible. Only the present moment can remain distinct, and briefly held. Yesterday is gone just as what happened an hour ago. Tomorrow will come of course but all they really have is the precious now. Read more here

Archived – click Post Title to view all. The 7th day of the race, June 18, 17:36. Today I have a pretty good speed, energy and mood, so I managed to run with all our leaders: with Atmavir, Igor and Sarvagata. And when we were running with Atmavir and Igor, Igor said that he was feeling a bit sleepy, so Atmavir offered him to drink some energetic containing caffein and taurine. But Igor replied: «No, thanks, I am the follower of Stutisheel’s health food approach.» So, in such a way I found out that Stutisheel’s health food approach exists. Igor has told me later that he tested and examined carefully my last book ‘Eat to Run’. All my statements about white flour, pack juices and sugar… So, all the practical things which could help us to discover our potential were tested by Igor during training process and now they are being tested here. I was happy that Igor agrees with my entire book! Yesterday the 6th day of the race was over, so now we have full 6 days. I have 366,5 miles after 6 days that is quite good for transition period in my case. I remember this year I had 324 miles in the 6 days race. Igor and Sarvagata feel quite good, they smile and run steadily. I can see Pradeep whose speed a it dropped down. Actually, he honestly tries to run all the time, but according to his own words his body experiences some shock which he can’t get rid of yet. Ananda-Lahari and Purna-Samarpan also…

Stutisheel: 5 hours since the start. Flying good :)

June 17, the 6th day of the race, 13:56. We started running when the rain was so heavy. It was raining starting from night and it kept us wet in the whole first half of the day. Now the weather is changing – it is cloudy and stifling a bit but we run no mater which weather is outside. Rupantar picks up Surasa, Ashprihanal and me and takes us in one car to the start at 6:00. And it turned out that nobody can sleep normally at night. Ashprihanal complained he had slept for one hour only. Surasa says she does not know what sleep is during the first 3 weeks. I also woke up at 4 in the morning today and I felt a bit sick. I had some hot tea, took vitamin C and L-lizine and went to bed again to try to get some rest during the hour before getting up. In the morning I my legs were good. So, having such a «sleep» we can only be amazed how then the miracle happen on the course and everybody is able to run another 100 km. Now I am leaving the course at 23:30-23:40 and at 00:15 I am already in my bed. I have to get up at 5:10.

Author: Utpal Yesterday Pranjal passed a significant personal milestone that tells an awful lot about this incredible Slovakian runner and just why he has been so successful here at the 3100 mile race. Yesterday it turns out was the 3rd anniversary of when he first started his, never miss a day, running streak. After completing the Self Transcendence race here in 2009 he hit upon the inspiration that if he simply kept running, at least 2 miles a day, he was almost certain to get better, and he was right. His strategy, which is a simple one, is one of the keys as to why he has improved so much. In fact from the very first year he ran here, which was 2005, he has transcended himself each year. Now, after 4 days of running he is 4 miles ahead of last years pace. This of course is a razor thin margin but if he manages to keep it up, it will mean he will once again improve his time, in this his 7th year in a row of running the 3100 mile race. Read more

Author: Utpal In many ways each time a runner participates in the 3100 mile race it is like they are starting a new life.  Even the most talented runner however really has no idea what this lifetime here will reveal to them.  One can hope for days filled with joy and satisfaction but like most lives this is not always the case.  Lessons are learned both small and grand, sweet and painful.  Experience are gathered here that are either celebrated or endured and everything in between.  Ones that can never be gained on any of life’s other potential paths. True, all you have to do here is run, but the obstacles one meets here along the way cannot ever be side stepped or avoided.  Pain and fatigue will be relentless opponents and one must never let down their guard for even a moment.  Read more