Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race

Author Utpal 27 July This morning Igor makes a small joke with Sarvagata. This marvelous young runner, from Vinnitsa Ukraine, is is looking at the daily lap sheet report and points out to his friend, “you only made 99 laps yesterday.” It is just part and parcel of the quiet and gentle humor that is Igor. Sarvagata of course had no reason to run even one additional lap yesterday. For on that day he completed his journey. In the process setting a record for first time runners of the 3100. Read more

Author: Utpal 26 July Sarvagata’s sister, Sarvadhara is with her brother on this his final few hours here at the race. This morning he will simply continue to do what he has done now for so many long days. At the end of this day though, he needs go no further, and what is more, he will also be the champion. He has but 55 miles more to go now, so small a gap it is almost as though his foot is already poised to step at last across the finish line. Just a few laps more, when compared to all the suffering and joy he has experienced and endured now for 44 days. Using an American expression, I tell her that what he has left to do now is but a ‘piece of cake.’ I ask her if there might be a better expression in Ukrainian. She says his race is like a, ‘Gift from Heaven.’ Her expression is much better. Read more

Author: Utpal 24 July They are the quiet heroes. They are but 10 and yet though so small in number, these runners are a veritable army rising up to challenge impossibility. If you look for champions who wear capes and wave magic wands they will not impress you at all. For their foes are not diabolical wizards but things that can subdue us all, like weather and weariness. When our most crushing enemy is a simple lack of faith in ourselves they demonstrate each day, by simply lacing up their shoes that all ignorance can be defeated. You just have to try. Read more

This morning at 8:30am, in his first attempt Igor Mudryck completed 3100 miles.  In 45 days, 2 hours, 30 minutes and 37 seconds.  He now becomes the 6th fastest all time, and the 2nd fastest first timer (after Sarvagata). At the finish line he inundated everybody with his smile, happiness and peace. Bravo, Igor! All these days he had been dreaming of going to the ocean and as the opportunity presented itself, he put off running traditional 13 laps to complete 5,000 km till tomorrow J. So we’ll be privileged to run with him a little more. After the 2 finishes, the energy has changed. Most of us have similar paces and we don’t get to see each other. Only Surasa is always passing us. Ananda-Lahari and Atmavir are walking and that gives the feeling that you are not alone. Ashprihanal is finishing tomorrow. I am having a steady and slow day. The legs are tired. Surasa crossed the 2700 mile mark which is 6 days faster than last year. Amazing!

Today at 7:38 pm Sarvagata crossed the 3100 finish line (44 days + 13:38:52). It’s the best time for the first-time finisher and the 5th best overall. This is also a new record for Ukraine and CIS. Somebody compared him to a running monk with a more of a monk component. Maybe it is so… Others are having a good day. It’s moderately hot. An hour after Sarvagata’s finish, we had a torrential rain. Igor is finishing tomorrow morning.