Self-Transcendence 3,100 mile race

The start of the 2003 Self-Transcendence 31000 mile race. Here are links to the organisers of the race, the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team and other info can be found on David Blakies site Ultramarathon world

ONLY 3100 MILES TO GO
by Mark Juddery

The distance: 3100 miles (or 4989 km). Longer than a drive from New York to Los Angeles, or from Paris to Moscow. It's a gruelling drive - and an even more gruelling run.
To many runners, a marathon is the ultimate goal, the Everest of their sport. Indeed, at 26.3 miles (42.2 km), running a marathon is no mean achievement. The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, however, sees it as a distance to be transcended. While 'ultramarathons' (a broad term for any races longer than a marathon) were nothing new when the SCMT entered the scene, few have promoted these taxing events as keenly as Sri Chinmoy and his students. It follows their philosophy of surpassing their so-called physical and mental "limitations".
Even for race organizers, faced with new logistical challenges, the races have been consistently more demanding. After years of 'short' ultra-distance events (such as 24-hour races and trans-America relays), the Ultra Trio began in 1987, providing runners with the three previously unheard-of races: 700, 1000 and 1300 miles. The last of those distances was not even completed until 1989, when Scottish runner Al Howie ran the distance in a rapid 17 days.
A major achievement, certainly, but not the "ultimate" event. At least, not now. In 1996, the SCMT announced a new race distance that astonished athletes ("Surely that's a misprint!"), making the Ultra Trio seem almost modest by comparison. The 2700 mile race attracted six runners from around the world. Impressively, most of them finished.
Where to go from there? The only place was up.
The next year, the race was increased to 3100 miles. It is easily the world's longest certified foot-race.
So far, the distance has remained unchanged. Seven athletes started this year's Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race - held on a continuous loop in Jamaica, New York - and four made the distance. However, in a race of this length, it is not just the finishers who are heroes. A distance of 2747 miles, for example, is more than many avid runners will run in the space of a year. Abichal Watkins, a veteran of ultra-distance races, compressed those miles into 52 days.
"I've always wanted to do the 3100-mile race," says Abichal, who has run 24 ultra races in the past. "It is the unknown. You are knocking on the door, but you don't know what is going to happen."
What he discovered was, in many ways, pleasantly surprising. "It definitely wasn't as painful [as I anticipated], and I've undergone some transformation that's beyond words," he said, a few weeks after the race. "I'm feeling pretty good at the moment." He could have continued, but had to rush to other obligations at his home town in Pontypool, Wales.
For Abichal, the 3100-mile race might have seemed a logical progression. He had run several other SCMT foot-races, including all eight 10-day events. Australian runner Matt Boulton, however, was a relative novice. Before a sudden inspiration to attempt the 3100, Matt had never run any further than 94 miles (152 km), in the Adelaide Self-Transcendence 24-Hour Run. An incredible distance for most of us, but not quite as arduous as running 3100 miles, over the course of two months, with only a six-hour break each night.
"It's an epic, a bit like The Odyssey or some Icelandic saga," says Matt. "There's a lot of tough times along the way, but at the same time, it's very satisfying. During the race, there were times when I thought 'I never want to do this again.' But now it's over, I feel withdrawal symptoms. I definitely want to be there next year."
Matt continued even after the last finisher crossed the line in 56 days, and ran alone until the official cut-off date of August 13. His time: 60 days. His distance: 2818 miles. Not the full 3100 miles, but enough to run (along the road) to Los Angeles.
However, he didn't go to LA. Instead, he continued, day after day, along the same concrete loop in New York. Not the most glamorous or luxurious track, but that was all part of the game. As the clock struck midnight (signifying the end of the race), and the cheers rang out, he remembered that he was in exactly the right place.

My Notes and Quotes

Photo's by Salil

Thursday August 7, 2003 20:55

Its all over. For me.

2747 miles and 52 days+14:59:37

Trisul, Suprabha will finish Saturday, maybe Sunday for Suprabha and Mighty Matt runs until the 13th. What an amazing experience. Over the next few weeks I shall share some experiences in the ultrarunning section of the site There are so many thank you's to everyone involved

Wednesday August 6, 2003 0:20

About 50 minutes ago I reached 2,700 miles and that just leaves 47 miles tomorrow and then it will be finished.

Tuesday August 5, 2003 0:28

How does it feel...

Oh yes. Smarana does the business.

Monday August 4, 2003 0:16

Namitabha wins the 3100 mile race in a
time of 49 days, 2 hours, 24 minutes
and 45 seconds.What a great guy.

I can't wait to see that little blue tape stretched out in front of me, probably reach my goal on Wednesday night, with luck and grace.

Monday July 28, 2003 0:17
Day 43

Matt reached 2000 miles today so we are all on the same page. Namitabha reached 2,700.

Saturday July 26, 2003 23:52

Day 42
Another great day that equaled Thursdays effort, thanks to the inspiration of Trishul. There is light at the end of the loop.

Friday July 25, 2003 0:21

40 days and tomorrow will have been 40 nights. Now I know. Cooler temperatures helped me to my best day since day 1

July 24, 2003

Yesterday reached 2000 miles amid high humidity. Day before, Chiropractor Dr John Rousseau passed by a gave me a quick treatment which saved the day.

Friday July 18, 2003 0:13

We are extremely fortunate to have the support of a pair of Chiropractors who have generously devoted time every week to come to the race and take care of our tired and worn out bodies out of the goodness of their hearts. Putting us back on the straight and narrow takes several hours and we are extremely grateful to Jamie Warren and to Jeffrey Garofalo, who gave me his card, for their kindness and oneness, we live to tell the tale. Jeff's email address is op2mlhealth@hotmail.com

Tonight I reached just over 1700 miles and the days are going quicker. Matt has had an unbelievable day to take the days honours. Well done Matt.

Sunday July 13, 2003 23:58

15 minute interview with Abichal during early stages of 3100 mile race

races/video/3100/abichal

Friday July 18, 2003 0:30

Oh Yes. It happens!

Sunday July 13, 2003 23:50

Made it to 1500 miles tonight, slightly easier day than of late.

Monday July 7, 2003 0:30

races/video/3100/abichal

Monday June 30, 2003 0:11

Thursday June 26, 2003 23:56

The photo is from the start of the 2003 Self-Transcendence race and today is day 11 just completed and was I glad to finish today. Three hot days in a row and today the heat index was over a hundred. Matt has mostly recovered from his knee injury while Stefan is still on the recovery list. Today was graduation day for the students at Thomas Edison and the course was extremely busy all morning. There are thunderstorms and lower temperatures forecast for tommorrow.

Sunday June 15, 2003 0:01

This is it. Last post. Have a great summer and we'll be back with a new looking Abichal.com in September.Don't forget to check out the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team website for the updates for the race.

Saturday June 14, 2003 10:39

My hearts gratitude
The amount of support I have received has been tremendous and not least from the financial perspective as resources were low, not expecting this opportunity to arise. Subsequently, Sanjay Daid Dhanraj a local real estate broker has raised my entire entrance fee, $750 in less than a week from colleagues and family. Plus my good friend Ongkar Smith and his wife and daughters, athletic footwear specialists par excellence, who own the Run and Become stores in London, Edinburgh, and Cardiff have very generously offered shoes and accessories to ease my plight and concerns. Since the beginning of my running career Ongkar has always offered support unconditionaly and I am extremely grateful for his oneness. Many people have offered their good wishes and encouragement and I would like to thank you all here and hope I am able to utilise these gifts to their best advantage. Not least among my supporters are the Manager, Sahishnu and staff of the Smile of The Beyond, a friendly vegetarian restarant in Jamiaca, Queens, New York, who live above and beyond the call of duty, who share the same vision, and who shall never be forgotten as long as I have a functioning brain.

Friday June 13th

43 hours to go

The seven runners are:

Trishul Cherns (Cananda)
Suprabha Beckjord (Washington, USA)
Namitabha Arsic (Nis, Yugoslavia)
Smarana Puntigam (Vienna, Austria)
Matthew Boulton (Canberra, Australia)
Stephan Warum (Heidelberg, Germany)
Abichal Sherrington (Pontypool, Wales)

Today I'm shopping and tomorrow will be the last day of so many things for such a long time including this website....

Sunday June 8th

Well official. Just heard I've been accpted to run in the Self-Transcendence 3,100 mile race that begins a week today, June 15th. Check out my life as it unfolds on the streets of Jamaica, Queens at the Marathon Team site for daily updates