The 18th Annual Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race started precisely at 6:00 am this morning(June 15) here in New York. Fourteen runners answered the call to run for up to 18 hours a day for 52 straight days.The early miles were crisp and easy, but the cloudless sky offered a glimpse of a possible hot week ahead.Temps reached 82ºF(25ºC)in the afternoon.The evening cooled nicely as 6 men and one woman topped 70 miles. Defending champ Vasu Duzhiy from Russia wasted no time in logging 79.02 miles to lead everyone.Baladev Saraz from Slovakia checked in with 75.18 miles. Yuri Trostenyuk of the Ukraine reached 72.99 miles, as did nine-time finisher Pranjal Milovnik. Jayasalini Olga Abramovskikh reached 71.34 to lead the women’s contingent. Scotland’s William Sichel,60,had a good first day with 71.34 miles as well. Ray Krolewicz, the lone US participant, reached 65.3 miles. The race was established in 1997 by Sri Chinmoy and quickly became the flagship event of the Marathon Team that he founded. To date 36 people have completed the race a total of 124 times. We hope that everyone will enjoy the race and its unique profile as the longest certified footrace in the world.Tomorrow’s another day, and another chance to get closer to a goal difficult to fathom.We wish the runners good luck and Godspeed.