At 14.5 hours (8:30 p.m.) of Day 18 of the New York Self-Transcendence 3100 mile, standings were as follows:1.) Grahak Cunningham (Australia) 1,268 miles
2.) Sarvagata Ukrainskyi (Ukraine) 1,209 miles
3.) Pushkar Chris Mullauer (Switz.) 1,181 miles
4.) Pranjal M. Milovnik (Slovakia) 1,169 miles
5.) Atmavir Peter Spacil (Czech Rep.) 1,122 miles
6.) Vasu Dzuhiy (Ukraine) 1,119 miles
7.) Stutisheel Lebedyev (Ukraine) 1,099 miles
8.) Arpan S. DeAngelo (NYC/ USA) 1,003 miles
9.) Baladev P. Saraz (Slovakia) 1,002 miles
10.) Sopan Tsekov (Bulgaria) 1,000 miles
11.) Pradeep M. Hoogakker (Netherlands) 991 miles
12.) Ananda-Lahari Zuscin (Slovakia) 974 miles
13.) John Ghost Tarrant (UK/ RSA) 946 miles
The youngest runner in the field (age 29), Sopan is really suffering with a quadricep injury. He will try to run again Thursday (July 5), but he is in so much pain that he might have to abandon the race. I am sending him LOTS of positive vibes from high in the Catskill Mountains, 90 miles north of the 3100 mile course in Queens (NYC). With high-powered binoculars from the clifftop summits of Hunter, Sugarloaf and Kaaterskill Peaks, I can see the buildings of New York City and even (I think) the picturesque bell tower of Jamaica High School that stands on a hill 300 yards away from and high above the 3100 course.
The oldest runner in the race, Arpan of the USA, appears to be getting over many of the injuries and problems he has battled the past several days.
In a multiday more so than in a 50 or 100 mile race, it is often possible to take it EASY for a day or so, take precautionary measures with an injury, and then get right back to normal running! Unfortunately, I have seen many multiday novices throw in the towel too quickly at the first sign of pain or discomfort.
Along these lines, I had a fascinating conversation with 7 time finisher of this race, Pranjal, several days ago. His shins were bothering him tremendously, but he remained optimistic and upbeat even as he just walked slowly around the course. He explained to me that “I know if I push too much right now, the shin will get really bad and I will not be able to do any good running for 5 days or more. But if I take it very easy now, just walk, one day from now I can get back to running.” And guess what? Within 24 hours of our conversation, he was back to his usual smooth running stride!
Sri Chinmoy once wrote about the importance of taking a long race in small increments. Sometimes should take it only as far as the next tree, bush, lightpost or trash can. Time and again I see great multiday runners physically, mentally and spiritually taking it one hour at a time, one mile at a time, sometimes less than half a mile at a time!
SO– to all ultrarunners around this world of our’s I say– just take it one step at a time.
All best wishes,
Mark D
Inspiring!
This is some incredible stuff. When I first heard about this event I thought that it was a joke. I just finished my first 100 and I can’t even begin to imagine the highs and lows that these runners go through. Amazing.