Author: rupantar

Day 34: The Race is Warming Up


Colorful Bottles
photo by ArpanPost by Sahishnu

Asprihanal Aalto again led the way with 70.79 miles as the temps and humidity increased. Galya Balatskyy hustled to reach 68.6 miles and draw within six miles of the overall leader – Pranjal Milovnik. Dharbhasana Lynn reached 2000 miles for the first time and looked great doing it (2000 miles = 33 days+04:31:07)

Amalia Dorion, aged 9.5…

The following blog entry was submitted by Mark Dorion*



Amalia Dorion, aged 9.5, observed that “the runners all have cut-up shoes, and there are pieces of shoe around the loop. The little girl from New Zealand, Shakti (whose Dad is in the race and whose Mom is one of the race chefs), is very nice.  We built fairy houses in the trees.”  Time and time again, I am reminded of the energy and enthusiasm of children, and I feel all ultrarunners would do well to try to emulate this spirit and creativity.  Sri Chinmoy himself often spoke to runners about the importance of “running with the heart of a child.”  There are days I am in a multiday race, or running cross country through the woods,  or just jogging on the 3100 mile course, and I suddenly no longer feel like an old, limping, gray-bearded 51 year old, but am again “a 7 year old boy!” jumping hedges and skipping and singing while running (and i do some of my fastest miles when in that frame of mind too).

I asked ultra world record holder and personal trainer/ coach (she has given me some great coaching tips) Dipali Cunningham if she would ever consider trying a race of this length and she responded with an immediate, emphatic “No!”  However, she did allow as to how she might try another 1,000 mile if it were offered, and also that she planned to travel to Canada for the famous Ottawa Self-Trans. 24 Hour in the Fall.

Monday afternoon I had an interesting, multicultural 7 mile run from near LaGuardia Airport (where my family was staying) through Flushing Meadows-Corona Park (where some of the 6 and 10 day loop was STILL flooded!) and down through Jamaica to the 3100 mile race site.  I heard at least five different languages on the streets, passed through several parks and playgrounds, saw big patches of poison ivy along the roads, stopped to say Hi and use the restroom at the Oneness-Fountain Heart gourmet restaurant, and arrived on the 3100 loop to enthusiastic greetings from runners and race workers alike.  I was also enroute to picking up my car, which had driven from out west to NYC by my old friends and well-known ultrarunners Arpan S. DeAngelo, Esq., and Vajra Henderson.


photo by Jowan

One rather dour runner who works at a restaurant near the 3100 mile race course told me that we should be careful “not to bother the runners,” and that he never went near the course, yet to a person the 3100 mile racers told me they were always happy to see a new, smiling face!  In fact several of the competitors caught up to me to ask me questions or chat for a while.  Dharbhasana Jade Lynn gave me a big smile and loud welcome, after which we had an analytical discussion on the pros and cons of different shoes and different styles of running.  He is wearing very light Mizuno shoes, and I suggest he may want slightly heavier/ more supportive shoes to rotate with his 7 ouncers as the days on this concrete collosus of a course mount.

Pranjal Martin Milovnik explained that he had trained hard over the winter, but also tried to put on some weight before the race, and was concerned “maybe I did not gain enough.”  While Pranjal is a muscular 6’3”, it is still estimated he will lose 15 pounds (2 stone) or more during the race.  He has done several Ironman length triathlons and many multidays.  Several spectators/ observers mentioned to me how “all the Slovak and Czech runners are very outgoing and friendly– Pranjal, Petr, Ananda-Lahari and others, who are not running this year.”  Poor Petr has lost his voice (something that has happened to me many times in long ultras), and while running strong was stopping for regular ginger teas, cough drops, etc.


photo by Karnayati

One overriding impression I have of the race is how EASY the runners make it look.  Most do not have handlers but just casually amble past the aid tables each lap, grabbing a little of this or that.  It seems shoe adjustment and foot treatment (massage, new insoles, more cutting and adjusting of shoes, etc.) take up the most time for the athletes.  The 1Km loop has a generally unforgiving concrete surface, although I will say that I have run on concrete paths that are much rougher and more sloped and potholed.  I do enjoy the length and variety of the little loop, although a few more shade trees on the rugged north side might help.  As we run, a young woman arborist plants flowers at the base of many of the big trees.


It is perhaps difficult for current-day US trail ultra specialists to see the appeal of running for weeks on end on a small, rock-hard loop.  Oscar-winning director/ actor Roberto Benigni, in one film, opined dramatically that “It is a sad and beautiful life.”  I feel this way after hearing US runners go on and on about how “boring” a race like the 3100 must be, how they can’t see any reason to ever consider doing something like this (an aside– most runners would be incapable physically and mentally of surviving a few days in such an event).  It is SAD to me that people can have so little imagination, so little acceptance that there are all kinds of events, and many types of runners.  YET it is a BEAUTIFUL race in its own way– the subtleties around the neighborhood, the variety of sights and sounds and smells in the course of the day, all this in the middle of the world’s most multicultural city (Queens, NYC).

I hope to be back to visit the 3100 runners in a few weeks and see how they are progressing.  Several runners, in their parting words yesterday, told me “we will all be much skinnier!”
Best wishes to all ultrarunners,
Mark Dorion
Fairlee, VT, USA
———
*Mark George Dorion, age 51, ran his first mile track race (6:06) in 1971.  He has run over 200 marathons and ultras, and has PRs ranging from 32:01 10,000 meters to 2:27:23 marathon to 523 mile 10 day race.  He, his wife Helen and children Amalia and Toby have been supporters of and participants in numerous Sri Chinmoy/ Self-Trans. events over the years.  Mark and Helen are counselors at Aloha Hive Camp in Vermont where they have worked for a combined 35 summers.

By the 15.5 hour point…


photo by Jowan

By the 15.5 hour point (9:30 p.m. E.D.T.) of Day 1 of the New York Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile (5000Km) Race, top runners had already accumulated over 70 miles.  For many of us, this would be a great split in a 100 mile or 24 hour race in which we get to go home and rest for days afterwards.  BUT the 3100 mile runners will be back Monday morning at 6 to take on another full day on the rolling 1Km loop around Edison School and Joe Austin Park in Queens, NYC.  And they will be back again on Tuesday morning … and on and on until the 52 day official race ending cut-off is reached.

Several ultra runners have asked “how many pairs of shoes do these guys go through?”  ANSWER:  Most start the race with 5-6 reliable pairs, and will finish off 10-12 pairs in the 3100 miles.  But some runners have used 20 or more different pairs during the race.  The footpath is mostly concrete, smooth for the most part, and with a notable 8+foot sharp rise at the east end of the loop.

Another question often asked:  How do these runners get the time off work?  ANSWER:  This varies widely from runner to runner.  Keep in mind that in general Europeans have more holiday (vacation) and leave time than do North Americans.  Some of the runners have very understanding bosses.  Some runners are between jobs  Some own their own businesses and can create their own schedule.  I believe a better question = How do the race directors and race workers manage to get the time to be at the race!!  These folks are really juggling many commitments, in some cases burning the candle at both ends and in the middle.
I had a good chat with well-known chef Nandana Lynn today– her husband Dharbhasana is in the race, and she is the daily dinner cook.  Her gourmet dinners should give tired runners something to look forward to during the long, hot afternoons.  I am guessing their daughter Shakti will be helping prep the food and entertain the runners.
I will post a first-hand update Monday or Tuesday, after I have been out to the race and talked with the runners and crews.
Best wishes to all ultra runners, and an early Happy Fathers Day to all Dads and Grandads.
Posted by Mark Dorion

So Far The Peacefulness…




photo by Jowan

So far the peacefulness from yesterday still remains, as I’m sure it will until the last steps on day 52.  There seems to be this silent understanding, not only with the runners and the crew, but also with the earth and outside activity.  As the school kids bounce through the aid station and as busy cars zip past, it seems though we are all intertwined and working together on the same journey- a journey with the destination of greater goodness.  I feel honoured to participate in such an event. Post by Nandana, wife and handler of Dharbhasana.

Today Is Day ONE!

Today is day ONE! So far everything seems pretty peaceful. The weather is warm with a tad of humidity. The two vans and one motor home have been gutted out and fitted with beds to accommodate the runners for those well deserved rests which are only an average of 15 minutes long. Friends have planted lovely flowers around the trees so there is some beauty to look at. The kitchen crew have prepared already three different meals and it’s only 11am!
It’s truly amazing how much work and preparation has been put into this whole set up. There really is a lot of oneness with the organizers and the runners. It makes the journey so much more comfortable that’s for sure!
The two first timers, Dharbhasana and Surasa are fitting in just nicely amongst the handful of the long time elite. They both have great enthusiasm which will do doubt, get them through any challenge. Post by Nandana, wife and handler of Dharbhasana

Day 1, There They Go!

Day 1 began with hazy overcast skies as 11 runners answered the start of the Fourteenth Annual Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race. Asprihanal Aalto, the six-time winner led everyone from wire to wire, reaching 83.96 miles. Pranjal Milovnik and Vladimir Balatskyy gave chase with 79.57 and 76.83 miles respectively. Surasa Mairer, the lone woman in the race reached 68.6 miles before retiring for the night. With 51 more days to go for some of the runners, and over 3000 miles ahead, any victory of miles and accomplishment are welcome. The 18 hour day allows for some recovery for the next days’ foray on the road. More to follow. Sahishnu

12 Hours Before the Start

Continuing a tradition that started who knows when, the race directors, helpers and cooks gather to discuss last minute race details. While the runners were enjoying pizza, general race details were discussed, and an update was given on the big construction project that will last throughout the summer. Some general questions were asked  and everyone seemed ready to go. See you tomorrow! Rupantar

D Day Minus 2 to Start of 3100 Mile Race

With 2 days remaining before 6 am start on Sunday, most of the major race preparations have been completed. We have two vans with a combined odometer reading of over 400,000 miles. We just had a rebuilt transmission put in one,  and the other van had one put in some 50,000 miles ago. The vans are ready to go. The 1987 motor home is good enough to travel the 1/2 mile back and forth from the overnight parking area to the race.

Tomorrow we will have a prerace meeting with all 11 runners, handlers, cooks and the immediate staff of about 5. As the race director I have never run a distance anywhere near 3100 miles. But I have been involved with the Sri Chinmoy Marathon since its first real ultra race, a 1,000 race held in Flushing Meadow Park in 1985. So I have seen a great deal and I think that entitles me to put in my 2 cents worth of advice to the runners.

Continue reading “D Day Minus 2 to Start of 3100 Mile Race”