Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race

July 14 “It is going to be very interesting.  I hope we survive it.”  Pranjal is talking about the weather forecast for today which is predicted to be repeated over and over again every day for the rest of the week.  He describes a relentless march of metric temperatures all in the 30′s, but to most of us he means over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In NY speak what lies ahead, not just for 12 weary runners but also the entire city and a great sizzling slice of the American east coast is simply a long heat wave. Read all

Just a few weeks ago was the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.  Over 3 days of fighting 50,000 soldiers lost their lives in this great struggle that was the turning point of the American Civil war.  Latter that fall the American President, Abraham Lincoln gave a short but immortal speech at the inauguration of the cemetery that was created there as the final resting place for all those who sacrificed their lives on its hallowed ground. With both the significance of the battle, as well as those most powerful inspirational 10 lines that Lincoln spoke there, people from across the country have been making pilgrimages there for generations.  It is a place in which history has indelibly etched its mark.  Such locations have  always been beacons to pilgrims, scholars, tourists, and the curious. Read all

“I can’t stay away.  These people are like divinities brought down on earth for these few weeks.  Each time I come I get stronger and stronger.  I can’t tell you the name for it, but I can tell you that it makes me very very happy.” Snehashila has come by the race this morning as she does on most days throughout the summer.  In fact on mornings nearly all year long she leaves her house, which is about 7 or 8 blocks away and circles around and about the neighborhood in order to get some exercise. Read all

July 11 “You have to do 7 laps more and then you are half way.”  Last night before she went home these were some of the last welcome words Surasa heard before leaving the course for the night.  This morning as she set out on her long day of running the numbers beside her name show just  1547.  Not a number that would immediately be taken notice of by the morning counters. That it teetered on the very brink of half way simply went unnoticed. At least at first. read all

July 10 “When I am here I am focusing only on the running and nothing else. I don’t look around or look at other people. Sometimes I don’t realize that somebody has just passed me. Because I am somewhere else. When I come home I just try and forget it and focus on something else.” read all

A tough day all around as the Dozen endured more humidity, bright sun, dead air, heavy rain,multiple doctor visits (3) and the ever-present mileage awaiting their airspace. Only six people made it past 60 miles, with little fanfare as almost everyone was suffering. Ashprihanal Aalto ran 66.4 miles, closely followed by Atmavir Spacil,65.8 and Vasu Duzhiy,63.1. No amount of ice, sweets, cooler drinks or tarimisu could change anyone’s demeanor- only they could. With steely determination and resolve.And a few more breezes, please. Six have now gone past halfway, with still time left for two or three more if they really bear down.As we are approaching four weeks in, the physiology of super-long racing begins to appear- all runners are thinner, body fat is history and energy is slightly harder to come by. The alternative is fat and food- tons of it. We shall see. Stay cool my friends….

July 9 There was a moment this morning when Ashpihanal went by me as I was crouched on the ground taking a photograph. I heard him call out, “you know some runners have gone half way.”  As I glanced up I saw a mischievous grin on his face as he ran by.   In a little less than a lap later I caught up with him and he announces, “I reached the half way point yesterday.” “When I reach the half way point I always have a big celebration.  It was  really nice.  My big celebration is that I take a half cup of water.”(jokingly) read all