[ZenGum]

After 40 days and 4,500 gruelling kilometres, Australian runner Grahak Cunningham is on track to claim victory in the world's longest certified footrace.

The Perth local is currently leading the New York race, which covers 4,989 kilometres.

Rather than tracing a long path that stretches its way across different landscapes, runners make continuous laps of an 883-metre city block in Queens.

By the time they reach the finish line, they will have run the circuit 5,649 times.

Competitors must chalk up an average of 96 kilometres per day to finish the race in the goal of 51 days or less.

Why? WHY???

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-2...t-race/4159090

You start at 6.00 every morning and you run until midnight on a concrete path around a block in Queens.

It's definitely pretty brutal on a physical level. Some people have been walking for weeks because of injury.

Personally I've lost five toenails, and I have a really bad skin rash.

Your legs and your bones really ache, especially in the first few weeks. As it goes on you get a little stronger and it's easier to remain injury-free.

WWHHHHYYYYYY??????????