Author: Sahishnu

photo by Jowan

The band of thirteen continued on in the 3100 Mile Race despite heavy rains in the morning and strong squalls in the afternoon. Asprihanal Aalto led the way with 66.4 miles, closely followed by Pushkar Mullauer and Petr Spacil. Grahak Cunningham moved from eighth place to fourth with a workmanlike 62.01 miles. Suprabha Beckjord moved from 11th to ninth as well, as the younger runners slipped a little as the rains pummeled the course.

photo by Jowan

Asprihanal Aalto kept extending his lead over the field by a few more laps, but most seemed still sore from their new chosen profession-constant movers! Pushkar Mullauer,Petr Spacil, Grahak Cunningham,Pranjal Milovnik and Diganta Adhikari all passed the 60 mile mark.Showers are starting to hit the area and might last through the weekend.The versatile warriors will deal with each test as a new challenge.Pranab Vladovic has a serious skin infection that will sidline him for at least two days. His return might be a tough decision later in the week.

photo by Jowan

Asprihanal Aalto and Pushkar C. Mullauer from Switzerland have started to move ahead a little over the rest of the field. Asprihanal ran 70.24 miles to extend his lead, while Pushkar totaled 68 miles to widen the gap over third place. The temps fell to the middle 50’s after a rainless day. The high mileage adaptation period takes at least a week or two, so expect many of the runners to register ups and downs.

Rain showers greeted the intrepid 13 runners as the second day started. Asprihanal Aalto again led the charge with 75.73 miles. Pushkar C. Mullauer climbed into second place with a sparkling 72.44 mile effort, while Ananda-Lahari Zuscin remained only one lap behind him.Cooler temps allowed good evening running after a second storm pummeled the course at about 5:00pm.

Five-Time winner of the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race Asprihanal Aalto from Helsinki,Finland did not disappoint on Day 1 of the 13th edition of this race. Mr. Aalto,a courier back home, ran 85.06 miles to lead the field of thirteen runners.Annada-Lahari Zuscin of Slovakia held second place with 80.67 miles as pleasant daytime temps cooled off to the low 60’s at dusk. The field looks ready to do well this year.

Thirteen intrepid runners from nine countries burst from the starting line  at 6:00am near Thomas Edison and Jamaica High Schools in Jamaica,Queens,NY to commence the 13th Annual Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race. The race lasts up to 51 days or more on the hard surface course which measures .5488 of a mile or 883.3 meters.Five-time winner and 8-time finisher Asprihahal Aalto,38, from Helsinki,Finland  led the packs of runners circling the quiet neighborhood. Runners are allowed 18 hours per day to try and accumulate 60 miles or more, with the course closing at midnight each night. Twelve-time finisher and women’s champion Suprabha Beckjord ,53, the lone American,is attempting to finish all 13 editions. Light rain and mild temperatures are expected for Day 1.

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At a few minutes before midnight, American woman Suprabha Beckjord,52,completed the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race for a record 12th time, reaching the line in 56 days+17:51:22. The petite gift-shop owner from Washington,DC averaged 54.634 miles per day(87.925 km). She has run 39,900 miles on the concrete half-mile loop around the neighborhood the last 13 summers, and is also the oldest finisher of 3100 miles in race history. A total of eleven runners completed the distance this year out of a field of 14, with six claiming personal bests from one hour to four days better.

On a pleasant evening, Ananda Lahari Zuscin knocked out 66.40 miles to reach the 3100 mile goal for the fourth time in his multiday career (55 days +16:47:36). He averaged 55.658 miles per day(89.573 km) and was finisher number 10. Earlier in the evening, Pavol Saraz reached his secondary goal of 2700 miles, the longest distance he has ever covered. Suprabha Beckjord needs 50.3 miles on Sunday to complete the 3100 mile race for the twelveth time in a row -an amazing record.

Forty-seven year old Welshman Abichal Watkins finished his fifth straight 3100 Mile Race in 54 days+11:34:37, which was a personal best by 16 hours over his 2007 performance. Mr Watkins moves up the all-time rankings to the 22nd spot. He averaged 56.902 miles per day(91.575 km). Ananda Lahari Zuscin has 121 laps(66.4 miles) left to reach 3100 miles on saturday, but he may not have enough left in the tank to finish until sunday am.

Austrian distance runner Diganta Adhikari finished the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race in 53 days+11:39:50 today, his third finish in three attempts. Welshman Abichal Watkins should reach the summit by 6:00 pm Friday, as he has only 37+ miles to go.