The start of the 3100 Mile Race, 2017 edition, is in a month

The longest foot race in the world of 3100 miles will start on June 18th at 6 am in New York City. It will be the 21st edition since the inception of the race in 1997.

The annual 3100-Mile Self-Transcendence race was named ‘The Mount Everest of ultramarathons’ by the New York Times. Runners have to average 59.6 miles per day – for 52 straight days – in order to reach the goal of 3100 miles within the time limit. The running surface is concrete sidewalks around a playground, ball fields, and the confines of a vocational high school, all in a city neighborhood setting. The runners have 18 hours daily to be out on the corse.

The physical and psychological demands are prodigious, if not overwhelming. Thus, participation is limited to invited athletes who have a convincing resume of multi-day running experience and have demonstrated elite endurance abilities. No more than 14 runners participate per an event.

Over the past 20 starts of the 3100 mile race, only 39 athletes from 18 countries have been able to cross the finish line.

If we really want to run forward,
Fly upward and dive inward –
There is nothing,
That can actually resist.

Sri Chinmoy, the founder of the 3100-Mile race

Although I will not take part in this year’s race, I will still try to provide reports from the event with a certain regularity. Following links below, you may get acquainted with the runners of 3100 in 2017, as well as find more in-depth material for further reading.

Stutisheel