Vasu finished! 46 days + 17:38:22
Vasu Duzhiy, 51, of St Petersburg, Russia won the 21st Annual Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race for the second time in 46 days+17:38:22. He has completed the longest footrace six straight times. He is still ranked fifth all-time and is one of only five men to average 70 miles a day for the duration of the race. Vasu was serenaded with songs and flowers by a throng of over 120 people. You can see pictures of the day # 47 by following link
Day 45…To Better Ourselves (August 1, Utpal)
This morning Kaneenika got a sweet surprise. While she was passing Parvati and the Enthusiasm Awakeners, Parvati stepped out to hand her a picture. It was taken, at best guess 11 years ago, when Sri Chinmoy used to come to the race each morning and teach the girls a new song. In the photo Kaneenika is across the street watching, arms comfortably folded, and wearing a Sri Chinmoy Marathon team shirt. Her days of watching of course are long over. This is her 3rd summer here and as she starts the day here she is 310 miles away from doing something historic. Setting a new world record for women at the Self Transcendence 3100 mile race. This morning as we are talking and the subject of this great ordeal nearly being over comes up. She feels that, “There is a time to start and a time to finish.” 
“You have to do things a day at a time, actually even a lap at a time. But there are things that are surprising me. I have had experiences in the previous races when you feel like you can’t go on. This is it. How can I possibly make another step and then something happens and you are running again.” “It is definitely all about the miracles and grace out here.” Continue
Day 42… All Gratitude To Be Here (July 29)
Imprinted on the running shorts that she is wearing today are the words, Happy Run. They are a perfect match for the smile that she has so often carried with her these past 41 days. In a race that did not develop quite as she had hoped but in many ways as she intuitively expected, she has now run 2128 miles. Nidhruvi’s joy and infectiously positive attitude will most definitely help her with the not so easy next 11 more days of running here at the Self Transcendence 3100 mile race. I ask her if over the course of the race she can value the hard days as much as the better ones. “I guess so. It is not just the days it is even the moments. You have moments when you are totally happy and then it can switch so fast, and sometimes you don’t even know why.” “Sometimes you start crying and you have no idea why. So it is really really interesting.” “For me there is so much gratitude that I have to be here and to serve my Guru and to serve the world. So it doesn’t matter how hard it is. It is just such a privilege. Therefore I am totally grateful.” Continue
Day 41…School Of Life (July 28, Utpal)
If Sergey had started running east from his home in Nizhny Novgorod on June 18 instead of around the block that contains Thomas Edison High school, his 2139 miles would have taken him across much of Russia. Instead, after 40 days he begins his day in the exact same spot he started his epic journey. Circling the same block now 3898 times. Of course Sergey’s journey, like that of all the 10 runners is not just about how far they have gone by foot, but just how much then can accomplish within. What new horizons in their inner life’s journey can they reach. New goals that can never be tracked or recorded by lap sheets and score boards 
In our previous discussion Sergey philosophically spoke about all the runners he shares this sacred path with. This time I hoped he might speak more about himself. But always the humble smiling selfless man that he is, he continued this time to speak about the inspiration he has received from the many visitors to the course over the past 40 days. “I would like to talk today about the other people who come to the race to help. I am much more inspired by their example. They are stories of daily trials and heroism. In this way we are inspiring one another. Here it feels that the entire universe is composed of those who are inspiring one another.” Continue
