Kiwi runner smashes record by a distance

Kiwi runner Harita Davies has smashed her own national record when finishing the world’s longest certified foot race in 50 days 13 hours 23 minutes 14 seconds.

Davies, a New York-based Cantabrian, has completed the gruelling Sri Chinmoy SelfTranscendence 3100 Mile Race yesterday.

The only woman in the 2021 field made up of seven runners, Davies, broke her own New Zealand and race record by 20 hours and 11 minutes.

The 3100 mile (4989km) distance is the equivalent of running from Kaitaia to Bluff, turning around and running back to Kaitaia, then turning again to run to Wellington and then still having 107km to run.

Instead, the Sri Chinmoy SelfTranscendence 3100 Mile Race – founded by Sri Chinmoy, an Indian spiritual leader and avid runner – is contested around one 800 metre block in New York.

The race, that must be completed within 52 days, is known as ‘the Mount Everest of Ultramarathons’ in the ultrarunning community.

Davies, 45, averaged around 100 laps a day and became just the second female runner to complete the race three times.

Last week, Davies told Stuff she was not motivated by recordbreaking or the other attention, with the race for her being about following her heart with what she was inspired to do.

When she did finish, Davies spoke on her admiration for her fellow competitors, everyone that makes the race possible and the positive and spiritual experience for everyone involved over her own achievement.

‘‘In this race, for me being the only woman, I really felt like I had real brothers out there and it was such a beautiful experience with a real family of encouragement.

‘‘We were all there for each other at every moment and I have so much admiration and gratitude to all the other runners,’’ Davies said.

Davies first completed the race in 2017, in 51 days 12 hours 48 minutes, before bettering that time in 2019 when stopping the clock at 51 days nine hours 35 minutes.

Covid-19 prevented the race going ahead in 2020.

‘‘I’m so happy . . . really happy that the race took place after everything that has happened in the last couple of years that the race was able to happen,’’ Davies said after her record-breaking run.