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photo by Nandana
Seven runners passed 60 miles as the last remnants of the four day heatwave left the area. Asprihanal Aalto again topped 70 miles for the fourth straight day with 71.34. Galya V. Balatskyy moved into second place with a 67.50 mile day, a few laps ahead of Pranjal Milovnik who reached 64.75 miles. The surprise performance of the day belonged to first-timer Dharbhasana Lynn, the thin, slight New Zealand man who garnered 68.05 miles to reach 1000 miles total.
Three runners reached the 1000 mile mark today:
Pavol Saraz – 16 days+02:19:54
Ananda Lahari Zuscin – 16 days+02:26:36
Dharbhasana Lynn – 16 days+16:21:50.

The Wall Street Journal did an article on the 3100 mile race which is pretty cool really.  Because from that article we’ve had several visitors including a couple that drove all the way down from Boston just to check us out.  Another guy came by train from Brooklyn and ran for an hour with Dharbhasana and then ran home.  And yesterday, we had a man come with his home video camera with an idea to create a film of amazing things people do.  Again this race is intriguing the world with a big “HUH?”

It is Sri Chinmoy’s philosophy that we are beyond the body and what we believe impossible- truly is possible.  And these runners are proving that philosophy.  Today at the end of day sixteen, those feet continue to shuffle along that concrete doing an average of 2 marathons a day with still thirty-five more days to go.  It IS possible!  Just like many other things in life.  If we believe in the strength we have within in us, we can conquer anything.

To read the Wall Street Journal article go to:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704895204575320874004223364.html

This one is for a video clip of the race:

http://online.wsj.com/video/3100-mile-race-52-days-one-city-block/7BD5632D-DDC9-41AD-A393-10698AE6F37D.html

And this one is an article from NBC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37907134

photo by Arpan
With the heat wave lingering with mid-nineties(30C) temps, our brave if not delirious crew managed to survive and move on. Asprihanal Aalto again ran 70.24 miles to lead the pack, followed by the relentless Pranjal Milovnik with 68.02 miles. Stutisheel Lebedyev(15 days+08:51:31) and Pushkar Mullauer(15 days+14:14:32) both glided through the 1000 mile split.Seven men still managed over 60 miles today with one more tough day ahead before the weather breaks.

photo by Jowan

The first four runners went past the 1000 mile split today, something that has not happened in the race in years. Asprihanal Aalto has increased his lead with another 71.34 mile day to nearly 16 miles ahead of Petr Spacil in second place. Pranjal Milovnik is creeping ever so slightly closer to third placer Galya (Vladimir) Balatskyy with another 68.05 mile day. Dharbhasana Lynn has increased his best distance every day for the last five days in a row since his lower legs have healed to his satisfaction. Surasa Mairer has shown signs of adapting to the high mileage days as her shin splints are less bothersome. Her spirit remains remarkably cheerful and upbeat no matter the situation. All this during a 90º, sticky NY summer day!
1000miles:
Asprihanal Aalto- 14 days+03:00:39
Petr Spacil – 14 days+05:32:25
Galya (Vlad) Balatskyy- 14 days+15:10:11
Pranjal Milovnik- 14 days+16:34:08

Well, here we are, fourteen days later and still goin.  Already the runners are starting to get stronger and stronger.  Even with the killer heat they manage to knock those miles back each day.  Luckily, each day they change directions adding a little something different.  For me though I’m always confused when I arrive as to which direction they are going.  I often stand there looking way off into the distance waiting with drink and food in hand for Dharbhasana to come around the corner when suddenly he’ll be tapping me on the back.  Doh!

The tiny camp crew is starting to get a little more crazy-in a good way!  Of course when you spend so much time with someone, your guard drops and the fun begins.  We had Sushovita, and her dog Roxy count laps for several hours yesterday and she came with her own sunglasses-not the human!  Also Shakti was in full comedian mode yesterday with all sorts of quirky moments.  Especially showing the pizza tongue.

So as the runners get stronger and stronger, and the camp crew get crazier and crazier, there really is no other place I’d rather be right now, but right here in this little 3,100 mile race family.  And to all those extended family members across the globe, if you tried to send any emails to the address in my previous blog, well…of course I put the wrong address in! Crikey.  The correct address is as follows:   ny@srichinmoyraces.org Letters are received with great Joy.  Thank you!

photo by Arpan

On a deceptively hot summer day, Asprihanal Aalto regained his touch with 71.3440 miles to pad his first place lead to over ten miles.Nine men survived the competition wars beyond 60 miles. Pranjal Milovnik eventually reached 69.14 miles to impress the crowds for the second time. Surasa Mairer passed 700 miles (700 miles = 13+01:57:54).

Journey To The Unknown
Many people try to understand why a handful of runners would want to run day after day for almost two months around about one half mile concrete surface during the summer months in New York City. Most of these runners have done it more than once, so there is even more reason to wonder why they would want to do it again after experiencing the tremendous challenges and difficulties involved in such a very long and arduous journey.
Each of the  runners has their own answers to such a perplexing question and we have heard some of the reasons here on this site especially. Having done it once myself and helping in most of the other races as well, I can talk about the experience for hours. But the words may still not make any sense to those who have not experienced the race in some way or another, either as a runner, a helper or a regular spectator.
Instead of offering any kind of explanation that would probably fall short of satisfying the mind’s curiosity or cynical queries, I wish to offer a poem about the 3100 mile race which I wrote about eight years ago. It was a few years before I even attempted to run the race so it was not from a runner’s perspective at the time. I have offered it every year to those who feel that perhaps there is a reason beyond the logic and rationality of the mind that motivates and inspires these ‘fearless warriors’ to face a peaceful battle within themselves to reach a lofty goal.
Without further introduction here is the poem which I hope you can enjoy as a peek into the mystery of the incredible 3100 mile odyssey on foot.

Journey to the Unknown

A 3,100 mile orbit of concrete, automobiles and local humanity,
Lightly spiced with a hint of nature
And fed by the Grace of God,
Supported with the efforts of friends
Who sympathize with the pain,
The Joys
And the challenges
Facing at every moment
These handful of Hero-Warriors.
Running, walking, struggling
To the beat of their own
Undying aspirations
In this perpetually moving
Epic adventure,
These Ultimate Survivors
Of obstacles unimaginable
Are proving to humanity
With their unparalleled perseverance,
Adamantine wills
And unswerving
Faith,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  That the impossible can be done,
And the Universal Energy
Can be unleashed,
To raise our standards
And lift our minds
Beyond the limits of our broken bodies
And faithless thoughts,
To reveal the Beauty and the Power
Of life’s long and arduous
Journey to the Unknown.
Arpan DeAngelo



photo by Jowan

On a somewhat cooler day than earlier this week, eight of our warrior-runners topped 60 miles. Petr Spacil and Pranjal Milovnik tied for day leader with 69.14 miles. First-timer Dharbhasana Lynn ran his best total today by one lap more(62.5632 miles) as the levels of fitness are revealing new talent within. He went through the 700 mile split in 12 days+02:48:41. Purna-Samarpan Querhammer slipped through 700 miles in 12 days+14:25:33, which is nearly two days faster than his effort of last year.

I noticed the faces change of the runners at a certain part of the day.  Just before dusk, a little after dinner, the time of day when… Sahishnu arrives.  Sahishnu is sort of like Santa Claus I suppose, but instead of bringing wrapped up gifts with ribbons and bows, he brings a better gift, and that is the gift of E-MAILS!

These runners, as you can imagine, see the same setting, hear the same numbers, drink the same liquid, wear the same pair of shoes, listen to the same music, sleep at the same time- day after day after day.  It becomes routine of course and all part of curriculum.  At the same time, to have something new and exciting to experience daily, is like a well enjoyed ice cream in the middle of a hot day. (Which is another thing they enjoy!)  So you can understand the joy they receive when they are handed little white sheets of paper with words of encouragement from their friends and family.  They look forward to this every evening.

If you are following along on this epic journey, please kindly take a moment to send a little hello to any or all the runners, because that five minutes you offer to write a few words, means the world to these guys (and gal!)

Here is the email address:  ny@srichinmoyraces.org

or you can fax at 1- 718-297-2556

To speak to a runner directly, ring the trackside telephone at 1- 917- 613-7396

photo by Jowan

On a hot, humid,rudderless weather day, with storms nearby missing the race left and right, Pranjal Milovnik took day honors with 66.95 miles. The 94º temps and 65% humidity forced Asprihanal Aalto and Petr Spacil to cutback their high mileage of the last week and a half. Still eight men made it past 60 miles without looking worse for wear.Pushkar Mullauer, Pavol Saraz and Ananda-Lahari Zuscin (11 days+00:46:50;11 days+01:46:39; and 11 days+04:36:57, respectively)all went through the 700 mile split.Considering the heat of the last four or five days, most everyone performed admirably.