GRAHAK CUNNINGHAM is an ultra runner and ultra marathoner who lives and works in Australia as a motivational and business speaker.

His highlights in running include coming first in the Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race in 2012, becoming the third fastest finisher in the race’s history, as well as taking second in 2008 and third in 2009. He has also taken the long standing Australian 1,000 mile record (13 days 16 hours 39 minutes) and is the third fastest in the world across 3,100 miles and 5,000km.

Here he opens up about his life and gives us an insight into his book, Running Beyond the Marathon: Insights Into the Longest Foot Race in the World.

Could you give us some information on your background and how you first got into marathon running?

I wasn’t always into running. In my younger years I found ball sports and surfing much more appealing so I think it shows there is hope for us all if we keep at something we don’t necessarily enjoy. I was dragged along to my first fun run and afterwards I vowed to work on my fitness. Importantly I started to run every day and love the sport. The feelings of running, the way it clears the mind and takes us out into nature are very beneficial. I started to combine it with meditation, which is another interest of mine and bringing them both together over speed or longer distances really brings out the self-improvement aspect of sports.

My running career up to the 3100 was pretty uneventful. I progressed from shorter distances to ten-kilometre races to half-marathon and marathon events.

I entered my first ultra on a whim (47 miles) in 2005 which was the day after I had done a marathon. It wasn’t easy but after finishing I started to think about multi day running. I heard about the 3100 and thought ‘If I had to I could probably do that all over again tomorrow.’

What is the history behind the Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race and what have been your experiences of it?

The Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race was founded by Sri Chinmoy in 1997 to help exemplify the endless possibilities of the human spirit. It is the longest certified footrace in the world. Held annually, the course is a cement footpath around an 883 metre block in Queens, New York. To complete the distance runners are given 18 hours a day, from 6am to midnight, for 51 days, to run a minimum of 60 miles a day (96.6km). During the race you are trying strive past what you think is possible. So you set goals for yourself and then try and better them. You can’t dwell on the monotony, the weather or a bad day and you have to draw on all sorts of techniques to do this.

Sri Chinmoy saw sports and human endeavours as a vehicle for self-improvement. He encourages self-competition in any field of life, to go beyond your present capacities, be cheerfully surrendered to your resultant success or failure and never give up. “Do not enter into the world of comparison,” he once said. “Just dare to better yourself, every day without fail.” I tried to do that a lot in the race. Not think about the leader board or the mileage or the other competitors. To just do the best I could and then go a bit further. It wasn’t always easy but it definitely helped. My experiences in this race have taught me a lot about life. If you can stay positive, focused and happy you can really achieve anything.

I have been fortunate enough to compete in this event four times and each time you have really uplifting periods. There is a lot of encouragement and service on behalf of all the organisers and volunteers who selflessly give up their time to help get the competitors across the line. I also love the way this race (and sport in general) brings people together from many different nationalities and backgrounds. If we can get along peacefully in such a competitive, gruelling environment it can’t be so hard to in the world at large!

As with most endurance events you also have the down times, when you want to quit. The body is exhausted and the mind is tired. But you keep moving forward and push on and eventually you get to the finish line.

You have won high profile races around the world and have broken many records. Could you list some of what you see as your most pleasing achievements?

My first finish in the 3100 was probably one my most memorable running achievements. I was way back in the field and finished a week behind the winner but I didn’t care. I had been through so many ups and downs and struggles that crossing the finishing line at many stages seemed impossible. I was a multi-day novice and it took me weeks to get used to the routine, perseverance and determination needed to finish and to get my mileage on track to make the cut off time. When I finished the feelings were indescribable, but it was a mixture of joy, relief, pride and gratitude.

After my first event and gaining more experience I started to get stronger and faster at multi-day running. At a personal level it meant that I improved my finishing time from 51 days in my first race to 43 days in my best race and moving my daily average from 60 miles to 71 miles. Results wise, taking the long standing Australian 1,000 mile record (13 days 16 hours 39 minutes), winning the event in the 2012 and being the third fastest in the world across 3100 miles and 5000km. I am hoping I can still get better.

What effect has all the running had on your body?

Usually after a multi-day I am exhausted and have a break for a week or three but that is just personal preference. A lot of the runners will be out jogging the next day as getting the legs moving definitely hastens the recovery time.

Overall running has definitely made me stronger. I have had no long term effects so far from ultras. I do get some injuries but they usually come from cross training and team sports where there is more lateral and sideways movement or when I do sprint sessions.

What can readers expect from Running Beyond the Marathon: Insights Into the Longest Foot Race in the World, and did putting pen to paper to write a book come naturally to you?

The book gives a pretty candid account of my running approach. It is a book equally for runners or non-runners containing anecdotes from the 3100 Mile Race, the characters that compete in it and the reasons why people would want to enter an ultra-endurance event.

I touch on the spiritual side of running also. I think sometimes the more difficult something is the deeper we have to dig, to draw on the determination and limitless strength we all have. As well as that there are plenty of training tips, affirmations and dietary advice.

I have always enjoyed writing and the book came fairly naturally as the material is something that I am passionate about. Words usually flowed easily but there were other days when it was harder, more like a trickle! The finished product is something that I am happy with and will hopefully inspire people.

You are now a motivational speaker and team builder with an emphasis on youth. What is the message you try to get across when people come to you for help?

I consult usually on team building and leadership and take leadership groups on training courses and ultras. It gets them up to speed on the resilience and confidence needed to tackle something they didn’t think they could do. Most cities have some kind of ultra event within their calendar year so setting a goal and working towards participation and completion can be really rewarding for myself and the staff involved.

Sport has a lot of semblance to corporate goals yet offers everyone something a lot more than financial reward so it is nice letting clients know about the necessity of balance and the feelings of accomplishment that come with personal achievements.

Talking to youth is great. The pressures involved in the developmental periods of our lives are often negative or ill directed. Certain things resonate with them and sometimes to do something positive or go beyond you have to ignore what others will say or go against the flow, and I learn a lot from them as well.

What are your plans for the future and would you consider writing another book?

I will probably do the race again sometime, hopefully this year. Getting the start line is one of the hardest parts. I am also starting to enjoy trail running more and more and working on my tennis games. I will definitely write another book sometime. I have a couple of projects in mind, looking at running and meditation and what drives us all to finish something difficult when sitting on a couch could be so much easier.