It’s 4 am in the morning, and it is dark. I am on a quiet suburban street in Queens, New York. In the last 24 hours, a small 100-metre section of the street has been prepared for an event. Well-secured portable gazebos and a handful of camper vans and caravans line the area. A small row of portaloos is set a little back from the street. A few people are working quietly and efficiently, making final preparations for the set-up .In under two hours, 14 runners will quietly assemble and, with little fuss, commence running around the local block at the start of the world’s longest certified road race, the Sri Chinmoy 3100-mile race.
Runners pause for a moments silence before the start of the Sri Chinmoy 3100 mile race on August 30th, Pic SCMT
The 14 runners in the Sri Chinmoy 3100 mile race come from 10 different countries. Taiwan, USA, Slovakia, Italy, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Ukraine and Russia are all represented. All are experienced multi-day ultra runners with a strong sense of both inner and outer adventure. They have previously completed 24-hour, 48-hour, 6-day or 10-day races and see the 3,100-mile race as a pinnacle of achievement. A few are returning 3100 competitors, some with multiple finishes.
Outwardly, they are challenging themselves and undertaking a physical journey of 3100 miles. Inwardly, they are all consciously challenging themselves to see what they are capable of.
The physical journey means that all the usual ultra-running issues of fatigue, blisters and minor repetitive strain issues may have to be dealt with daily, along with the nutritional reality of constantly maintaining enough essential calorific input to keep energy and immune system levels at optimum, while avoiding any potential stomach or digestive tract issues inherent in the multi-day running.
The inner journey is an ongoing challenge to overcome the enormity of the distance. The repetitive daily routine has to be embraced as a discipline if the goal is to be achieved.
As if to confirm that, the New York Times likened the race to the Mount Everest of Ultramarathons.
The looped course they are travelling is certified by US Track and Field at 0.5488 miles (883 metres). The runners will complete 5,648 laps within the 52-day cut-off to complete the race.
Logistically, the small loop works well for a multi-day race as the set-up includes a potential refreshment stop every lap, so the all-important food and fluid intake is adequately available. A dedicated race kitchen brings snacks and meals for the runners at regular intervals throughout the day. Local residents who have developed empathy with the race over its 27 years have been known to bring treats like cookies or ice cream for the runners to enjoy.
In addition, medical backup is constantly available with a dedicated race doctor, along with masseurs who visit to administer essential remedial help, enabling the runners to stay as loose and flexible as possible. Competitors are encouraged to report any minor issues as they develop to the experienced crew, who have years of experience managing all manner of physical problems that, if addressed early, can enable the runner to continue on their ultimate journey with the minimum of time off the track.
IN NUMBERS
To meet their goal of 3100 miles in the 52-day cut-off, they must log an average of just under 60 miles/98km miles a day. Every runner will have their personal strategy for achieving this, often relating to their ability.
The course is open for 18 hours a day from 6 am in the morning until midnight when there is a mandatory 6-hour break. Runners break up the day into running spells, walking spells, eating breaks, and power naps. They also factor in time for massage breaks and stretching exercises.
Faster runners can achieve their daily mileage quickly and go home early to get added rest. Slower runners may be on the course until midnight to ensure they reach their daily total.
On warmer days, some will take a break in the heat of the day for a longer power nap, knowing the cooler, morning and evening conditions are more conducive to logging the miles without expending as much energy. In Multi-day events, even more so than shorter ultras of 100k or 100 miles, the ability to know your body and listen to it, while problem-solving on the move is an acquired skill.
Like any marathon or short ultra, you are pretty much guaranteed to have a bad patch. In a short ultra, this can last a few minutes or a few hours at worst. In a long multi-day, it can last for a few days. The diagnosis and advice of the race medics can be crucial sometimes in helping decision-making for the runners. Deciding whether to have an easy day or two while knowing that perceived lost miles can be clawed back in the succeeding days or weeks!
In a worst-case scenario, like any ultra-race, the medics’ decision, while empathetic in why the runner is challenging themselves, is always final for the long-term health and well-being of any individual.
The race record is held by the phenomenal multi-day runner Asprihanal Aalto, from Finland, who took 40 days, 9 hours, 6 minutes and 31 seconds to complete the distance in the 2015 race. That time equates to an average daily mileage of 77 miles a day.
The women’s record is held by Kaneenilka Janakova of Slovakia, who ran 48 days,14 hours, 24 minutes and 10 seconds in 2017, an average of approximately 64 miles a day.
As I write this, it is day 14 of the 2023 race. Three-time winner and current race leader Andrea Marcato from Italy passed through 1,000 Miles on Tuesday this week in a new PB of 13 Days, 07 hours, 12 minutes and 25 seconds. The 10th best recorded 1,000-mile time on a road course. You would think that alone was an astonishing achievement, but Andrea knows it is just a stepping stone to his goal of a 4th finish. A goal that is still a few weeks away.
Womens race leader at day 14 Wen-Ya Tsai.
Wen-Ya Tsai, 53, one of the trio of Taiwanese runners in the race, reached 1000 miles on Day 15. She reached the distance in 14 days +08:08:08 and is currently in second place overall. There is no doubt she has become a new force in multi-day running, not only in Taiwan but also in Asia, as well as being an inspiration for all women over 50 years of age.
THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION
The Sri Chinmoy 3100 mile race was the brainchild of Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007), a spiritual teacher, artist, musician, poet and humanitarian. His emphasis on self-transcendence and the triumph of the human spirit provides the inspiration which has powered the race since its inception. He has been likened to the ultimate adventurer, always willing to challenge himself in many fields and encourage others to do the same in their chosen field.
A network of Sri Chinmoy Meditation Centres and affiliated sports teams has been established globally. The Sri Chinmoy Marathon team in New York started by organising their first ultra race over the classic 24-hour distance in the late 1980’s. Ultra running then was not the popular sport and pastime it has become today. 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. As runners embraced and completed these longer challenges, distances increased to create a new challenge. The 3100-mile came into being in 1997 and has stayed there ever since.
Only a few laps or 11km shy of 5000km, at which national and international records are acknowledged, the majority of competitors having reached the official 3100-mile finish, after a small congratulatory break, usually crack on to record a 5000 km time.
They might as well, having come this far!
For full information and updates on the progress of the runners in this year’s race visit,
https://3100.srichinmoyraces.org
Scotland’s William Sichel, a previous finisher of the Sri Chinmoy 3100 mile race, talked to Runners are Smilers with his thoughts on multi-day running View HERE
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