Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race

Archived – click Post Title to view all. Day 16. 8:28pm Today I’ve done my first 1,000 miles (15 days 6 hours and 6 min). This is 11 minutes slower than my fastest 1000 miles last year. So, the pace is quite normal. The only thing is that in the evening I feel wiped out. I am a little tired. Maybe I just need a longer sleep at night. Other than that, everything is fine. When I was about to cross the 1,000 mile line, I saw a firefighter car with a waving American flag at the back. I took it as a congratulations sign :)<неиThe weather is still indulging. It hasn’t gone above +28C.<неиThe only runner who is being slow is Ananda-Lahari. He must be trying to figure out again which food is good and which food doesn’t go well with him. Others have been running quite vividly. We’ve got 6 people who have already done 1,000 miles. Tomorrow a few others will join in. <неи<неиFunny stories from Sarvagata.<неиHe told us about the start of his multiday running career. When he was debating to apply for a 6 or a 10-day race, he calculated the cost of one day and figured out that to run for 10 days was cheaper. That’s the notorious Ukrainian character: “I go for the cheaper”. That’s how he started running 10-day races. Then he adds addressing me, “Now I understand how smart you are. You figured out long ago that the cheapest is to run a 3,100 mile race”.<неи<неиBefore the race, he bought…

Author: Utpal 23 June. I think I know what draws me out of bed before dawn each day and come to the race.  Over the years it has become ever more clearer to me that I can receive and experience something here that is available for just 52 days, and only right here.  As the race enters its 12th day it is also becoming obvious that gradually more and more people are slowly being drawn here.  Not just in the early morning but also through out the day as well.  People who may not know exactly what it is that happening here but still feel an irresistible tug from within to show up on the course.  To walk the route, to bring gifts, to even feel that they are in some way a small part of this unique journey.  Read more

Today is Sunday which means a lot of activities on all playgrounds. There was a football match across the street, next to our camp there are Puerto-Rican families with dogs, children and loud music having fun. Surprisingly, I am taking it easy. The pace is good, the spirits are fine.  The first 4-digit figures starting appearing on the scoreboard. Ashprihanal, the race leader, was the first to cross the 1,000-mile mark. He was followed by Pranjal and Igor who “did a grand” for the first time in his life. Sarvagata is only a few laps away from his own first “grand” . They  look very fresh and keep soaring as if nothing special  happened.  Ananda-Lahari is walking more than others, Purna-Samarpan is resting the most. Neverthless, all runners without exception are climbing the 3,100-mile Everest.

Author: Utpal 24 June.  There are for me many times when I wonder what it would be like to actually do the Self Transcendence 3100 mile race myself.  It is an absurd if not even crazy question but still it is one that forces me to examine more seriously just what I am doing with my own life.  Read more