Grahak Cunningham's 3100 Mile Race book reviewed in 'Ultrarunning' magazine

Willis, Christopher. "On My Bookshelf: Running Around the Block." Ultrarunning, May/June 2013.

BEYOND THE MARATHON; INSIGHTS INTO THE LONGEST FOOT RACE IN THE WORLD. By Grahak Cunningham. Available for $5.99 from www.grahakcunningham.com.

The Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race was founded in 1997 by running guru Sri Chinmoy to exemplify the endless possibilities of the human spirit. It is held on a concrete footpath around an883 metre (roughly half-mile) block in Queens, New York. To complete the distance, runners are given 18 hours a day, from 6:00 am to midnight, for 51 days, to run a minimum of 60 miles a day. This involves circumnavigating the block 55,649 times. Over the duration of the race, many runners wear out 15 pairs of shoes, and their feet swell an extra two sizes. In a New York summer, temperatures reach 100 degrees with 85 percent humidity. Competitors must contend with the usual pitfalls of ultra’s - boredom, fatigue, torrential deluges, extreme pain, injuries and sleep deprivation -  but because the 3100 lasts for days on end, the runners mainly have to deal with themselves.

While there is a documentary – Spirit of a Runner, by talented filmmaker Jessie Beers-Altman  - on the 3100 Mile race’s most seasoned performer, 13-time finisher American Suprabha Bjeckford (Beers-Altman has kindly made the documentary freely available at 3100.srichinmoyraces.org) and the odd smattering of articles in New York newspapers, not much has been written about the race. In fact not many people have heard about it. Perhaps this is because of the small field that author/runner Grahak Cunningham talks about, or that no prize money is involved, or the fact that race directors don’t accept commercial sponsorship, or the entire massive effort of counting laps and cooking for the runners is conducted only by volunteers.

Grahak is a friend whom I have seen grow from an everyday fun runner to a four-time finisher of the world’s longest race. He first did the race when he was just 30 years old and his book is the first real account by any runner to explain their reasons and inspirations for doing it.

In the first few chapters, Grahak takes us through his rookie race, training for it, thinking about it, being consumed by it. And why not? He made the massive jump from a handful of marathons and a couple of 50-milers to a terrifying 3,100 miles on a cement path, all with a bit of determination and the faith that he deserved to be out there. Without any multi-day experience, however, he paid the price for not going through the usual rites of passage from 24-hour to six- and ten-day events and predictably gets into some serious physical difficulties.

 ‘All I could do was run five laps at a stretch then collapse in the medical van. Crying and feeling hopeless,’ he shares, with 47 days remaining. ‘I would catch my breath and cool off. Then I would get up and repeat the process… I wasn’t last but I was heading that way.’ But Grahak carries on happily anyway closer and closer toward the finish.

Why do any of us run ultras? It can be painful, expensive, uncomfortable and cause injuries. Grahak has the same doubts, ‘You’re probably wondering why I would choose to run 3,100 miles around a city block on a surface of solid cement that’s six inches thick. Believe me, I have the same thought every time I compete, yet something keeps drawing me back.’

The book explores the qualities that it takes to push yourself way beyond marathons. Grahak says he does it to make progress and overcome the perceived limits we have on life. Ultimately, it is a spiritual journey and the book explores the connection between running and meditation the ultimately drew him to the race founder Chinmoy who inspired him to use sport as a vehicle for self-change.

Chinmoy was an ultrarunnner himself and loved the sport. ‘Spiritual people often like running because it reminds them of their inner journey,’ he said. ‘The outer running reminds them that a higher, deeper, more illuming and more fulfilling goal is ahead of them in the inner world, and for that reason running gives them real joy.’

It’s one of many quotes from the race founder dispensed throughout the book and most would be pretty handy pick-me-ups to read in any running event where we are battling out our inner demons. ‘The success-road is paved with patience and perseverance,’ is a good example.

Also dispensed through the book are Grahak’s training and nutrition tips and, although they occasionally interrupt a good yarn or anecdote, most runners can learn something new – I didn’t’ know cabbage leaves were a good treatment for shin splints for instance, or that licorice cold help a stirred-up stomach.

The 2012 winner, Grahak, finally stops. Photo: Maral.

Grahak somehow finishes his first race in 50 days, just hours before the cut-off time and comes in sixth. Fine, you would think, he can tick that one off the to-do list and relax. Wrong. He goes back another three times and each time gets faster and stronger, the rest of the book touches on the 2008 and 2009 races, where he finished second and third respectively. He then goes into his victories 2012 race in more detail and some of he characters that are intrepid enough to travel this immense distance year in and year out.

Grahak ended up wining in 2012, becoming the third-fastest runner in the event’s 15-year history, averaging over 71 miles a day for 43 days. Overall, if you are looking for a unique book on a unique event that touches on the spiritual dimension of our chosen sport, you will enjoy this book.

Christopher Willis is an Australian web designer and ultrarunnner currently recovering from foot injury. When he starts running again, he is not planning on ever entering the 3100 Mile Race.

Reprinted with permission of the publisher.