Day 221

The final finisher

August 7th, 2012



It's Day 52, the last day of the Self-Transcendence 3100, and Vasu just knocked out his 3100th mile, making him the sixth and final runner to complete the race in its entirety this year. That's Pranjal enjoying a piece of cake on the seat to his left; the runners who've already finished still come out to the course to support the others.

Day 221

Last men standing

August 7th, 2012



Walking a lap and chanting together are Vasu (who's doing an additional 13 laps to reach 5000 kilometers) and the remaining five runners who won't quite reach 3100 miles this year.

Day 221

A mighty pine tree

August 7th, 2012



Arpan always looks forward to passing this part of the block, near its northeast corner. He calls it his forest.

Day 221

Portal of the day

August 7th, 2012



This is one of three support vehicles on the block — the runners' homes away from home. Actually, it probably makes more sense to consider the racecourse their home, making the places where they go to sleep for 4-5 hours each night their homes away from home.

However you prefer to phrase it, these vehicles are where the runners go during the day to take a break, lie down, and maybe nap for 30 minutes or so.

Day 221




Arpan snaps a photo of the gorgeous sky on his final trip around the block (they're not running until midnight tonight; the race will be over as soon as Vasu finishes 5000 kilometers).

Having spent 52 days in a row out here, running around and around and around, from 6 AM to midnight, Arpan told me he can barely even remember what life was like before the race started. He hasn't had to think about work (he's a carpenter); he hasn't even had to prepare a meal for himself in all that time. His one and only job was to keep going around the block. No matter the weather, and no matter the pain, he kept circling. That was his sole focus — his identity — for almost two months.

And this is his last lap.

Day 221

Victory!

August 7th, 2012



Arpan didn't quite make 3100 miles this year, but he still managed to finish with 2742 — more than two marathons per day — which broke the previous 60-and-over record of 2700 miles. That's Pushkar in the blue shirt, applauding his efforts.

Day 221

And so it ends

August 7th, 2012



Vasu completes his 5000th kilometer, and the final lap of the entire race.

(If you've looked closely, you may have noticed that the runners seem to be going different directions on different days. To even out the strain on their legs, they alternate between clockwise and counter-clockwise running each day; otherwise it would always be the same leg on the inside every time they turn a corner.)

Day 221




Now that it's complete, you can see a compilation of all my posts from this year's race here.