Self-Transcendence 6 & 10 day
Encyclopedia
History
The Sri ChinmoySri Chinmoy
Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, also known as Sri Chinmoy was an Indian spiritual teacher, poet, artist and athlete who immigrated to the U.S. in 1964., the founder of the religious organization "Sri Chinmoy Centre Church, Inc." better known as "Sri Chinmoy Centre"...
Marathon Team held a 1000 mile race in the spring of 1985, and later in the year held the first Sri Chinmoy
Sri Chinmoy
Chinmoy Kumar Ghose, also known as Sri Chinmoy was an Indian spiritual teacher, poet, artist and athlete who immigrated to the U.S. in 1964., the founder of the religious organization "Sri Chinmoy Centre Church, Inc." better known as "Sri Chinmoy Centre"...
Five Day Race at Flushing Meadow Park in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, which lasted for three consecutive years and led to the Seven Day Race, the forerunner of today's Ten Day event. The first Five Day Race featured 15 competitors as did the first Seven Day Race. By 1995 the longer event grew to 34 starters.
In the inaugural Seven Day Race in 1988, Marty Sprengelmeyer of Davenport,lowa narrowly beat women's winner Suprabha Beckjord
Suprabha Beckjord
Suprabha Beckjord is an ultramarathon runner. The only person to have completed every edition of the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race, she is one of the most enduring multiday athletes in the world...
of Washington, DC. 527 miles to 521 miles.
In 1990 ultra legend Al Howie
Al Howie
Al Howie is a Canadian long-distance runner who has won more than fifty marathons, ultramarathons and multiday races in over two decades, including the 1991 Trans Canada Highway run in the record time of 72 days and 10 hours...
set a new record of 530 miles. The following year Charlie Eidel of Gardiner, NY ran 550 miles for a new course record, while Suprabha Beckjord ran 523 to claim the women's record again. Suprabha won the Seven Day five times for the ladies. In 1994 Antana Locs of Canada won the Seven Day overall with 518 miles.
Georgs Jermolajevs came all the way from Latvia to win the Seven Day Race in 1995, in record-setting fashion, running 578 miles, while England's Pippa Davis finally laid claim to the women's title as she ran 525 miles.
In the 1996 inaugural Ten Day Race, Georgs Jermolajevs again fashioned a victory with 725 miles, but was hard pressed by Dipali Cunningham
Dipali Cunningham
Dipali Cunningham from Melbourne, Australia is one of the world's best women ultramarathon runners. She began multiday running in 1991 with the Sri Chinmoy 7 Day race in Flushing Meadow, Queens, New York. Cunningham has won every edition of the Self-Transcendence 6 Day Race since it began in 1998...
of Australia, who garnered 723 miles for the ladies. In a smaller field in 1997 veteran Donald Winkley of Corpus Christi,Texas prevailed with 530 miles.
In 1998 the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team added the 6 day race to their calendar and it became an immediate success with Dipali Cunningham breaking Sandy Barwick
Sandy Barwick
Sandra Barwick is New Zealands most famous female ultramarathon runner who shot to fame in 1990 by setting a new 6 day track world record in Campbelltown, Australia Nov.18-24, 1990...
's record with 504 miles.
In 2000 Ted Corbitt
Ted Corbitt
Ted Corbitt was an American long-distance runner and an official of running organizations. Corbitt is often called "the father of long distance running." He was an ultramarathon pioneer, helping to revive interest in the sport in the United States in the 1960s and 70s...
at 81 set a new World age-group best (80-84) with 240 miles and in the following year, 2001, the last races held at Wards Island yielded another great performance from Dipali Cunningham - winning the 6 day overall and set a new World Record with 510 miles.
The Self-Transcendence 6 Day Race is the only race of this distance in North America apart from a low key event in Douglas,Arizona and draws runners from around the world. Excellent support in a non-commercial setting provide runners with an opportunity to perform at their best.
Location
The current location of the 6 & 10 day races in Flushing Meadows – Corona Park in Queens New YorkReference
- Allison,Don "144 Hours in a City of Dreams: Inside the Self Transcendence Six Day" Ultrarunning magazine, July-August 2005