The Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race
The World's Longest Footrace
photo by Jowan
Aussie Grahak Cunningham ran 72.44 miles today to take Day honors as well as pass 1700 miles.Petr Spacil had 70.24 miles in third place. Pushkar C. Mullauer passed halfway(1550 miles =24 days+03:43:00) as well as Pranjal Milovnik(24+04:33:15) and Vladimir Balatskyy (24+07:25:47). A total of seven runners passed 60+ miles.
photo by Jowan
Led by a trio of seventy miler men, the fantastic field had the better of nine clear at least sixty miles today. A rebounding Asprihanal Aalto led with 72.99 miles, followed by Grahak Cunningham and Ananda-Lahari Zuscin who both tallied 70.24 miles. Ukrainian Stutisheel Lebedev moved into seventh position with a fine 65.31 miles. Three more runners should pass the halfway point on Wednesday.
photo by Jowan
On a day when three men went over seventy miles, Grahak Cunningham took day honors with 71.89 miles. He went through the halfway split in 22 days+10:06:20. Asprihanal Aalto and Petr Spacil each made 70.24 miles, with Asprihanal making a mini streak of three straight 70 mile days, and Petr reaching the halfway mark in 22 days+17:16:51 on his last lap of the evening. Pushkar Mullauer rebounded from a stomach ailment to post 64.75 miles, while Vladimir Balatsky and Stutisheel Lebedev each recorded 65.85 miles. Eight runners in all reach above the 60 mile plateau yet again as warm temps in the low 80ºs are in the area. Suprabha Beckjord reached 1300 miles for the seventeenth time in her long and storied career.
photo by Jowan
When you think about it, this race seems miraculous. How can the runners endure this pounding day after day, week after week, with no outer or apparent reward. Their mindset and determination must be so focused that entertaining thoughts about stopping are never considered. That is where the special charisma or even aura of mystery comes into play. Asprihanal Aalto, the famous Finn who has dominated the event this year, was sick for two days but still maintained focus and is almost healed- without stopping for any extended length of time – amazing. He ran 70.24 miles today to lead the footbeats of the pavement. Grahak Cunningham closely followed with 69.14 miles. In all eight runners cleared 60 miles. Again – amazing! More later….
photo by Jowan
Grahak Cunningham tallied his fifth day in a row over 70 miles and took third straight Day-leader honors with 72.99 miles.  Asprihanal Aalto reached the halfway point in 20 days+17:50:36, the second fastest halfway total in history.  He is averaging 73.826 miles (118.812 km) per day. Nine of the 12 warriors passed 60 miles for the day, including Pavol Saraz who made 60.36 miles, his best day since Day 3. Purna-Samarpan Querhammer reached 1000 miles for the first time (20 days+01:59:30). The weather was clear with breezes, high near 80º. More later!!
photo by Arpan
Grahak Cunningham and Petr Spacil both ran 70.296 miles today to lead the field of 12.
Asprihanal Aalto ran 63.66 miles and was feeling better than 24 hours earlier,when a weakness descended over his efforts.
Eight runners topped sixty as rains stayed away from the course.
photo by Jowan
Grahak Cunningham ran 71.34 miles to take Day leader honors as the runners were confronted by a few thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening . Seven warriors were still able to go past 60+ miles.
photo by Arpan
Asprihanal Aalto (75.1856 miles)ran his 13th consecutive day of 70 plus miles and widened his lead in the 3100 mile race. Grahak Cunningham of Australia and Petr Spacil of Czech Republic both went over seventy miles for their efforts.Suprabha Beckjord astounded the observers present by passing the 1000 mile mark(17 days+10:28:53) for the nineteenth time in her illustrious career.
photo by Arpan
Asprihanal Aalto and Grahak Cunningham dominated the daily totals with 74.63 and 71.89 miles respectively, and three more runners passed 1000 miles. Diganta Adikhari ran 16+01:37:55 for the fourth time for the kilo, and was followed later by Stutisheel Lebedyev who passed the mark for the sixth time in 16+11:59:00. Finally Ananda-Lahari Zuscin reached it in 16+16:53:22.
photo by Jowan
The temperature reached 83ºF today with somewhat sticky conditions, but our runner heroes would not back down, Four made it to 1000 miles to bring the total to six beyond the kilo. Asprihanal Aalto led the charge with 75.73 miles today, his eleventh straight day over seventy. Petr Spacil had his best day since Day 1, with a sparkling 70 miles including 1000 miles in 15 days+00:59:04. Next Pushkar Mullauer ran past the 1000 in 15+07:37:33. Pranjal Milovnik topped 1000 in 15+14:27:51, and first timer Vladimir Balatsky reached the first major milestone in 15+16:42:18. In all eight runners made it past sixty miles as their fitness is starting to show.