Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race

Day 40, 3:24pm The temperature is +34C and almost 100% humidity. The right conditions for self-transcendence. We had an unordinary event – a change of the race leader. Now it is Sarvagata who is leading the race. Yesterday Ashprihanal wasn’t feeling well, ran slowly, made long breaks. It turned out that he had dehydration and a heat stroke. He stayed on the course until 7.30pm, did 71 laps and then he was taken for an IV. As he was taken there in the evening, he came home at 2.30 am. Around 10 am Rupantar declared that Ashprihanal would have a day-off. He had 2800 then and very soon Sarvagata got 2800 miles too and ran further. Others are half-walking, half-running. In comparison with yesterday, I am doing fine. Yesterday I mostly walked, did only 42 miles and was very happy with the result. Kaushal said that energy losses were due to liver problems. We are working on it now. Today I am happy that, no matter how slowly, I have been still running in such hot and humid weather. The days ahead are going to be even hotter but I hope to hold up. For the first time today I put on a Solumbra sun-protection suit.

Author Utpal The runners have all now completed 5 full weeks of running. That is 35 straight 18 hour days. If you or I, or in fact most of the world set to work for that same period of time we certainly would most likely want to see some obvious benefit. A reward, that we could hoist aloft or even some fancy folded paper that could be stuffed into a bank account. At the end of the road for these 10 athletes there is no tangible reward whatsoever. Perhaps some bragging rights if you were that kind of person but certainly none of them are that. What all of them in fact do receive is applause and songs and as much congratulations as can be mustered by a hastily assembled group of enthusiastic friends and well wishers. Read more

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.

Author Utpal 16 July It is a much different place when the Sun slips away. The heavy chore the runners bear, never an easy one, certainly never finds much additional lightness in their steps, with the inevitable arrival of the dark night. For some it offers a cool reprieve from the heat of day and an anonymity when the shadows draw so close you can almost disappear. Invisible, but not for long, at least until you hear of course the hopeful call of the counters, who always cry out, “I got you.” Read more