The longest certified road race in the World.
What, Where, Who, Why, How, When.
The annual Sri Chinmoy 3,100-mile got underway in New York at 6 am on Saturday 30th August. Yes. You read that correctly. A THREE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED MILE RACE!
While several thousand runners have descended on Chamonix this past week to take part in the annual UTMB trail races in the beautiful surroundings of the Alps, 10 intrepid adventurers will take on this awe-inspiring challenge of running for up to 52 days around a small block in the New York suburb of Queens from August 30th to October 20th.
What exactly is the 3,100-mile race?
In simple terms, it is an opportunity to run 3,100 miles on a 0.5484-mile loop around a suburban block in the borough of Queens, New York. A total of 5,653 laps or 118 marathons. The course has been certified by USATF, and each lap run is meticulously recorded.
How does the race work?
The course is open for 18 hours a day, from 6am in the morning to midnight, when there is a mandatory six-hour break for all runners.
Runners are encouraged to be at the course at 6 am to start each day.
They can run continuously all day, and some do, but most break up the day with walking breaks, food, massage breaks, and power naps. They can finish their day at a time of their choosing.Most runners have a daily goal they wish to achieve, to keep them above the mythical redline, which is the daily total needed to reach the 52-day cut-off.
Isn’t running a small loop boring?
Although running a small loop for such a long time may sound crazy, it is a familiar concept to multi-day runners. Conventional 24 or 48-hour races, or slightly longer six and ten-day races, are generally held on a 400-metre track or a small road loop.
They are easy to manage logistically, as the essential food and drink needed to survive the event are available regularly each lap, along with medical attention and the important moral and physical support from personal helpers and race volunteers.
HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE RACE
You can view live webcams, the leaderboard, and all the latest daily news at the race website
You can also send messages to the runners, which are printed off each day and handed to them at the race. They appreciate these messages like anything, knowing runners and friends from around the world are following their progress.
Follow the race on instagram https://www.instagram.com/scmtny/
WHERE IS THE RACE?
If you want to visit the race to check things out?This is where you need to get to. Do drop by if your in the neighbourhood and offer the runners some encouragement.
This is where you need to get to. Do drop by if your in the neighbourhood and offer the runners some encouragement.
Thomas Edison High School, 165-65 84th Ave, Jamaica, NY 11432
WHY 3,100 Miles?
The race is organised by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. They have been organising ultra races globally for over 40 years. This will be the 29th edition of the 3,100 race.
The Sri Chinmoy Marathon team in New York started by organising their first ultra race over the classic 24-hour distance in the late 1980s. Ultra running was not the popular sport and pastime it has become today.
Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007), the founder of the marathon team, was a spiritual teacher, artist, musician, poet, and humanitarian. He also placed a huge emphasis on physical fitness and self-transcendence of the human spirit over adversity. A simple concept of always striving to push one’s boundaries, that all running, especially ultra-distance running, embodies completely.
As runners competed and became competent at 24 hours, Sri Chinmoy encouraged his students to organise longer races to enable runners to challenge themselves further. 48-hour, 6-day, 10-day, 1,000-mile, and 1,300 and 2,700-mile races followed over the next few years until 3,100 miles was set as an ultimate challenge in 1997.
Although the race is officially 3,100 miles, after the customary celebration at 3100 miles, most runners continue and run the thirteen extra laps needed to reach 5,000 km, a distance at which national and international rankings are maintained.
THE 2025 RACE.
Ten runners from nine different countries started the race. This year, the runners come from New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Romania, Italy, Slovakia, China, the USA, and the Czech Republic.
Sadly, Australian Multi-day specialist Annabel Hepworth was a late withdrawal due to injury.
Andrea Marcato, with five consecutive wins at the event, starts as the favourite. The 42-year-old Italian has the third fastest time for the race. He clocked 42 days, 17 hours, 38minutes, and 38 seconds in 2021.
Andrea ia a former member of the Italian 24-hour squad, as well as being an experienced long-distance open water swimmer.
Vasu Duzhiy is a three-time winner in his 12 finishes at the race.
Another multiple finisher Ananda-Lahari Zuscin, started his 21st, 3,100 mile race. He has a record of six finishes and just loves the special atmosphere the race creates.
In 2023, Mahasatya Janczak became the first Polish runner to complete the race. He is back for more and hopes to surpass his previous time of 50 days + 17:38:38
For Milan Javernicky, it will be his third attempt at the distance. In 2023, he came very close to finishing, accumulating 3031.5 miles in the 52 days.
Romanian Adrian Popic is returning with unfinished business. He struggled with shin and foot issues in 2023 but feels he learned a lot about his physical issues that will help him be stronger in this years race.
Harita Davies from New Zealand is running her 5th race. She has a best time of 50 days+13:23:14. That time, along with several intermediate distances are New Zealand national records.
Three runners are running their first 3,100-mile races
Daniela Bojilla from Italy has several competent 6 and 10-day races to her credit.
Lu-Cong Geng is the first Chinese athlete to run the 3,100-mile race. He is a very experienced multi-day runner and, if he paces things well in the early stages, should run well.
Alex Ramsay, from Ohio, has run numerous 6 and 10-day races as well as some of the world’s clasic ultra races like Badwater, Leadville 100 and The Spartathlon. He will be relishing the challenge of taking on the 3,100-mile race.
Sadly, Australian Multi-day specialist Annabel Hepworth was a late withdrawal due to injury.
WHAT DO I GET FOR RUNNING 3,100 Miles?
A good question you might well ask?
With the only tangible reward at the event, a tee-shirt a trophy and the usual spontaneous rounds of applause, runners must have their own special reasons for running such a long distance. Check out the 3,100 mile race runner video interviews HERE
Five-time winner Andrea Marcato offered his own thoughts.
”The name of the race says it all. Self-transcendence means going beyond your own limits to improve yourself. You become a better runner but also a better human being. You can become more capable of extending your skills in any field of life.”
At the end of the day, although extreme in nature, it is a race like any other with a start, a course, and a finish line. Just like an 800-metre or 5,000-metre race, it is a lesson for anyone in personal preparation, goal setting, planning, and execution. Several weeks of it!
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Adrian Tarit Stott.
The author is a former GB 24-hour ultra international with over 100 ultra race completions. He has also been involved in organising ultra-distance races for over 30 years. Still an active recreational runner, he is currently a member of UKA’s Ultra Running Advisory Group (URAG) and the Mountain and Trail Advisory Group. He also contributes as part of the selection and team management for both Scottish and GB ultra teams. A freelance writer in his spare time, he contributes articles and reports to several websites and magazines including Athletics Weekly and Irunfar.
