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Tejvan Pettinger, Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team member and current UK national hill climb champion talks about his secret preparations for hill climbs - including meditation, cake and getting a lighter bike.

• Cycling Weekly

September 6-11, 2014, our Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team member Angikar Djordjevic from Niš, Serbia, achieved a new English Channel Triathlon - swimming (EC solo no 2!), cycling and running all the way from Dover to Heidelberg in Germany. Londoner Adam Thornton was his helper on the swim leg of his EC triathlon and sends this report:

In August, Karteek asked if I would be interested in helping Angikar to swim the English Channel at the start of September. He was then planning to cycle for 500km and run two marathons — all back-to-back, to celebrate Sri Chinmoy's 50th year in the West. “Yes, of course I’ll help!” I jumped at the chance. It was only a few weeks before that Karteek himself had achieved the awesome feat of his 11th English Channel swim, supported by Bahumanya and Devashishu, and I was sorry I had not been able to help too. Besides, I love being by water, and what better than being at sea? I later found out that Mahasatya was also asked to help and he, too, said yes. Angikar had also asked two Serbian friends to help him – Boris and Martin. Boris had swum the Channel four times already and he was training to be an official observer for the Channel Swimming Association, which means he will have the authority to ratify a successful Channel swim.

So it was early (very early) on Saturday morning, 6 September, that Mahasatya and I found ourselves being picked up somewhere in London by Boris (Martin already in tow) so we could be in Dover for 4:30 am to meet Angikar, who had arrived the day before. For me, the joy of the day started with the drive down to Dover. I decided to see if Boris was up for chatting. He was, and it wasn’t long before I found out that he had rowed for Oxford in the Boat Race (3 times—that’s quite special) and won once! As an avid ex-rower myself this made for a very entertaining journey, chatting about all things rowing!

But today was about swimming, and soon we arrived in Dover and met a very joyful Angikar, clearly ready for his journey across to France. After meeting with the boat pilot (James) and official observer (Mike), we all got on the boat and headed off in the dark to Shakespeare Beach, the spiritual home of the start of the English Channel swim. We stopped about 50 metres from the beach, and Angikar readied himself to go.

Angikar, freshly greased up to help protect against the cold water, was clearly in the mood for a successful channel swim. SPLOSH!! He jumped off the boat into the water (“Oooh, it’s cold!”) and swam to the shore from which his swim must begin. Soon he was out of sight in the dark, the only thing visible were two small green lights, attached to his swimming cap and shorts.

The moment Angikar took to pray and meditate on the beach was powerful. The whole crossing felt protected; later that day, when we were half way across the Channel, Boris commented that it felt like being in a dream. Then Angikar walked back into the water, dived in, and started his epic journey.

At this point there was a flurry of activity on the boat as we realised that not only had Angikar’s job begun, but ours had too. Every half an hour he would need feeding with a special salt-free energy drink (he would be drinking enough salt from the sea). He had brought a suitcase full of drinks, gels, homeopathic remedies, and other potions to support him along the way. One important point is that the swimmers are not allowed to touch the boat; it is considered a help, and they would not therefore be swimming using only their own energy. So when we give energy drinks, etc. to Angikar we have to lower the bottle over the side of the boat on a string, and he must eat or drink while treading water. This could be difficult, but he had clearly mastered the art.

And so it continued: every 30 minutes, stroke after stroke, hour after hour, throughout the early morning as the hazy sun rose above the sea, up to midday, through the afternoon, into the evening, as the dark night descended, we would distract Angikar from his swimming-meditation and give him something to eat. 

We were busy on the boat and there was always someone keeping a watchful eye on Angikar, but there was also time for us to chat amongst ourselves, to have a look around the boat, to have a nap, take photographs, and just sit in the pleasant sunshine, looking around the empty sea and meditate on its vastness.

A striking realisation I had during all of this was that whatever we were doing, however much time we spent entertaining ourselves or doing this and that, Angikar was swimming, and swimming, and swimming, minute after minute, hour after hour. Of course, it sounds obvious to say that, but when your mind is distracted by other activities onboard, and 15 or 20 minutes have quickly gone by, or you had a sleep for 40 minutes, suddenly we became aware that this whole time Angikar was still swimming. It was a humbling experience. 

Eventually the sun started to set and we entered twilight. It was about 7:30pm and Angikar had been swimming for about 14 hours. It was impressive that he had not changed his stroke rate. During the whole distance he had been swimming at 48 strokes per minute. I was told that is a good sign, for a successful swim. Boris had warned us that as the swimmer approaches the three-quarter mark this is the time the support team must particularly be on their guard for the swimmer. It is around here that swimmers often tire, and the fatigue of the body and the resistance of the mind start to become strong. So the team must ensure feeds are regular, reliable, and efforts are made to keep the swimmer positive. We did this, but Angikar was doing well.

However, as the night fell and Mahasatya and I were alone on the deck feeding Angikar, he admitted he was struggling, and asked us to sing The Invocation (a song that Sri Chinmoy composed in 1967, and considered the spiritually highest of his songs) for him; this was a very beautiful moment. Singing The Invocation on a boat in the English Channel, I could feel Sri Chinmoy's presence come more to the fore, and Angikar later told us that it had helped him considerably.

It was fully dark as we approached France but the moon was almost full and we could clearly make out the silhouette of the land. Not far to go now; Boris was preparing himself to get in the water to accompany Angikar the last 500 yards to the small secluded beach we could just see with the aid of a powerful spotlight on the boat. Soon he was in the water and, together, they swam off into the dark. All we could see was their small green lights, until, suddenly the lights rose about six feet off the water. They had stood up, on solid ground. Angikar had done it! Such a mix of joy and relief! 

Adam`s swim photos and videos of Angikar ⇒ here

More on http://www.channel-triathlon.com/tag/angikar/

Challenging Impossiblity is a 2011 documentary film by Sanjay Rawal, which chronicles the weightlifting odyssey of the spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy, who in 1984 at the age of 54 took up weightlifting, performing many feats of strength over a 22 year period.

The October issue of the in-flight Hemispheres magazine from United lists Challenging Impossibility in the 'What you want to watch' section of available in-flight films.

The documentary debuted in the Tribeca Film Festival in 2011 and has since been shown in festivals in over 20 countries around the world.

In September 2013 Geoff Oliver had just turned 80 years young, and took part in the Self Transcendence 24 Hour Track race at Tooting Bec in South London. Like all experienced athletes who have been running for many years, in Geoff’s case over 60, he prepared as best he could, and came with a goal and a plan. He duly broke, or set, completely new marks for all the recognized ultra distances from 30 miles up to 24 hours, with the exception of 100 miles, which he fell some 5 miles short of.

Well, as runners, we all know the feeling you get when you are so close to something, and for whatever reason it doesn’t quite work. It bugs you somewhat!  Sometimes you accept it and say to yourself, “I gave it my best shot, lets move on”.

In Geoff’s case, and at Geoff’s age, he freely admits you need a little bit of luck in staying injury free, and in good health to tackle life’s wee challenges, like the odd 24 hour race. In 2013 he had had a few issues in the lead up to the race, but 2014 seemed to have been going well for him. Whether last years race was still bugging him, I am not sure, but he was back for another crack.

In the early hours of the 2014 race, held over the weekend of September 21st 22nd, he set off steadily, as you usually do in a 24hour event.   For those unfamiliar with a 24hour race, the idea is to cover a fixed loop that has been accurately measured, in this case a 400 metre track, and see how many laps you can complete in the 24 hours. Whereas, most running events are the classic set distance like 800m or a marathon, and completed in a certain variable time, in this case the time is set, and the distance is the variable result.  It is as much an inner mental and spiritual challenge as it is physical.  To do well you have to be fit, but also able to tap into all those intangible but also very real qualities, like determination, hope, being in the moment and just dealing with things as they happen minute by minute, or hour by hour.  It is much like any event really, just that it goes on longer, and you usually have more to deal with!

Geoff has learned over a lifetime of running, to handle all these things quite well. Those of us who have known him and run with him in events or observed him, know he is an amazingly quiet, humble unassuming man.

Unlike many folk at a 24hour race, he doesn’t come with a support crew or helper or a car boot full of supplies. He turns up usually having taken the train to the race, with one wee kit bag that has a few spare clothes for the cooler nighttime running.  During the race, he is happy to help himself to the refreshments on offer at the trackside feed station.  Geoff has discovered though that the key to amassing a good distance in a 24 hour race, is to run evenly and just stay on the track, walking or running, with just short pit stops for calls of nature, or to change gear. 

About 6 hours into the race this year, Geoff has just been running steadily. He seems to be locked into his own rhythm and easing into the race without any real idea yet how he is doing.  My key role at the event is looking after all the race stats and timekeeping,

“How am I doing? “ he asks as he passes me standing at trackside.

 “You are doing well” I say, “Slightly up on last year”. 

“Oh really” he replies, “I felt I was going slower”.

Geoff has in fact already surpassed the world best performances for an 80 year old, at the 30mile and 50km points, as he continues to circle the track hour after hour. These are records he already holds, from last years’ event. Over the next 18 hours he will set another 5 world bests and one UK best.

With 4 hours to go and 20 hours of running behind him, Geoff is keen to know if it is possible for him to reach the 100mile mark in the 24 hours, if he maintains the pace he is going. I do some quick calculations after consulting his lap sheets. (Every lap, of every runner is being meticulously recorded).

I inform him, that it is possible, but as we are well aware of his age, just tell him to keep it steady, and no need to push it harder, and at any rate he is on course to set a new record for the 24 hour distance for an 80 year old.

 With an hour to go, it could still go either way, but Geoff, now finally looking a tad tired, is still doggedly circling the track. The determination on his face seeming to proclaim that “age is no barrier”.

With 10 minutes to go, Shyamala, my daughter who has been monitoring the progress of the runners towards the 100mile point, informs me, that it looks like he will not quite make the 100 miles before the 24 hour hooter goes to signal the end of the race, but it will be agonizingly close.  Her brain is obviously working better than mine, (I have had no sleep, she managed to grab a couple of hours!).

Shyamala has worked out he will probably be less than a lap short of the 100 mile mark, so why don’t we let him keep going so he has at least recorded a 100mile time.

 A quick chat with Shankara, the race director, and also a quick word with Geoff, and we have a plan!   At the 24hour hooter everyone stops and drops the little marker they have been carrying the last few minutes so the final part lap can be recorded. Geoff will continue running to reach the 100mile point.

The hooter duly sounds and shattered runners come to a standstill, all relieved they can now finally stop.

For Geoff, he has literally another 200 metres to reach the 100mile mark, which he does in 24 hours 01minute and 18 seconds.  It doesn’t matter that it is outside the 24 hours. We will still put the time forward for ratification, as we believe it is the first time an 80 year old has run 100 miles in a continuous effort. (It has certainly been achieved in a multi day race.)

To say he is unsteady on his feet at the end, is a bit of an understatement, but help is on hand, in the  shape of his grandson and his wife , who have been here for the last 2-3 hours of the race looking out for him.  The medical crew too, all too aware of what Geoff has been trying to achieve are monitoring from a distance, but seemed happy he is in good hands.

At the post race prize giving, after race winner Fionna Ross, Geoff  probably receives the loudest cheers and applause of anybody, and asks to say a few words.  He then says a few choice words of encouragement to the “younger runners“ and   heaps praise on Shankara and her organizing crew. Then it is time to head off to catch his train home to Leicestershire. I feel sure we will see him again in 2015 though, health and fitness permitting. That minute and a half will bug him!

Here are Geoff’s respective times and distances for 2013 and 2014.  All 2014 performances are (subject to ratification) world over 80 best performances, except the 100km* which is  “only” a British record.

 

 

                              2014                                    2013

30 Miles             5:19:37                                  5:32:31

50KM                  5:29:19                                 5:43:07

40 miles             7:51:26                                  7:55:45

6hours               52.800 km                             52.265 km

50 miles             10:17:14                               10:20:32

12 hours             91.413km                               9.732KM

100km*              13:21:24                                13:55:09

24 hours            160.745 km                         152.295 km

100miles            24.01.17                               not reached

The 60th Anniversary Issue of Sports Illustrated highlights Sarvagata Ukraniskyi's victory in the longest certified foot race in the world, the Self-Transcendence 3,100-Mile Race.

Excerpt from the article written by Elliot Chester called 'Marathon and On and On': "Less than 1% of Americans have ever run a marathon. Over six weeks Sarvagata Ukrainskyi ran two, occasionally three, a day on his way to winning his second Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race..." read more on the Sports Illustrated site »

Ian Corliss interviews William Sichel from Orkney, Scotland, who in 2014 became the oldest person at 60 to successfully complete the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race, the world's longest certified foot race.

"...it was a once in a lifetime experience. In a way, all this builds to make the event what it is. It’s part of the process. It focuses the mind. It’s part of the journey and ultimately what the self-transcendence is about." See more at RunUltra.com.uk

Watch: William's finish, filmed by fellow runner Pranjal Milovnik

July 30, 2014 - Karteek Clarke, member of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon and Swimming Team swam the slowest and toughest of his 11 Channel crossings on 30 July (19 hours and 1 minute). He is indeed a champion of champions. Looking at the map of his route, you’d think he really didn’t have a clue where France was, or else was getting awful advice from his crew. This drunken arc is all the work of the tides: his swim was made all the more challenging for falling on a Spring tide, the strongest and most wilful of ocean currents.

Imagine swimming in a pool on the roof of a building. While you are swimming, King Kong picks up the building, puts it onto a gigantic swing, and starts rocking the swing through an enormous arc in the sky. You think you’re swimming in a straight line which you sort of are but your position on a GPS goes all over the place. For the whole 19 hours, Karteek was swimming straight towards France, yet the tide ensured his predominant motion was always sideways. There were times when – even though Karteek was always swimming forwards and towards France due to the tide and the curvature of the coastline, he was actually moving further away from the shore.

Don’t even start to imagine what this can do to your mind and your will! Now imagine that the ‘pool’ you are swimming in is actually a huge washing machine or butter churner (oh yes, and it’s also very, very cold in there). No two strokes you take are the same—one moment you breathe to your left and a mammoth wave smacks your face; the next you stroke to the right and flail in thin air at the edge of a heaving precipice. Especially at night, your universe above, below and all around – is a constant unstable relentless surging disarray. Only the shore is certain: it can be seen, always apparently just ahead (at night you see the lights) — but where and when it will be reached is not worth guessing at.

To me, the most impressive and amazing thing about Karteek’s performance, is that he never once – not once – asked where he was or how far or how long he had to go. That seemed almost irrelevant. Yet how the mind – in the midst of constant sickness, disorientation and discomfort – must have been screaming to know “How far??” For hour after hour after hour, he could see the shore ahead. As the sun set, France was looming – and all through the night, the lights were just there before us – though day had dawned before the pilot finally declared the water too shallow for the boat to proceed and bid Karteek to swim ashore alone. 

 

24/48 hodinový běžecký závod 

Self-Transcendence Race 

Kladno 2014

Třináctý ročník v běhu na 24 a 48 hodin „Self-Transcendence Race˝, uskutečněný 25.-27.7.2014, byl opět ozdoben národním rekordem. Tentokrát dánský národní rekord v běhu na 24 hodin si celkovým vítězstvím mezi ženami a vybojovaným výsledkem 219 km zajistila Anne Marie Geisler-Andersen, následována novou mistryní ČR v běhu na 24 hodin pro rok 2014 Markétou Gruberovou (200 km) – běžkyní domácí, tedy přímo z Kladna. Pro bronz si doběhla Veronika Mocko (176 km).

To jsme ale trochu předběhli. Začít bychom měli závodem na 48 hodin, který vystartoval v pátek 25. 7. Na start nastoupila řada ostřílených běžců, ale také několik „osmačtyřicetihodinových“ noviců. Odvážlivců bylo 31, z toho 2 ženy. Počasí letos běžcům přálo. Nebyla saharská vedra ani vydatné několikahodinové deště. Déšť krátce ovlažil pouze ty, kteří zůstali na trati a nedopřávali si kolem sobotní půlnoci krátký odpočinek.

Čeští ultraběžci byli zastoupeni především v běhu na 24 hodin, a tak nebylo velkým překvapením, když měli po dvou dnech v neděli v poledne nejvíce naběháno čtyři borci z jiných zemí. První místo tak obsadil Ivan Máčaj (Slovensko, 314 km), druhý skončil loňský vítěz Radi Milev (Bulharsko, 303 km) a třetí Stanislaw Giemza z Polska naběhal 281 km. První český běžec Rostislav Wágner obsadil pátou příčku s výkonem 252 km.

Mezi ženami v běhu na 48 hodin zůstala po odstoupení dánské závodnice jenom Vinati Docziová ze Slovenska (SCMT), která se svým výkonem 241km skončila v celkovém pořadí osmá.

Jak již bylo zmíněno, pro většinu českých ultraběžců byl ale nejdůležitější závod na 24 hodin, který odstartoval v sobotu v poledne a byl zároveň mistrovstvím ČR na 24 hodin.

Závod vyhrál poslední dobou velice dobře běhající Radek Bruner, který se opět vrátil po několikaleté přestávce k ultraběhům. Výkonem 231 km si doběhl pro titul mistra ČR v běhu na 24 hodin pro rok 2014. Jako druhý skončil Jaroslav Bohdal také z Kladna výkonem 221 km (vylepšil dokonce svůj osobák), následován Pavlem Markem s 208 km.

A dámy? Těmi jsme přece naši reportáž začínali ;-)

Musíme ještě podotknout pro ty, kteří tam nebyli anebo již zapomněli, že většina běžců se cítila jako vítězové. V Kladně, ale i kdekoliv jinde, na jakémkoliv ultraběhu, běží především každý sám proti sobě – anebo spíš SE SEBOU. Se svou vůlí, se svým odhodláním, se svými sny a svým srdcem, dychtivým posunout své hranice zase o kousek dál. Za to patří všem veliký obdiv.

Díky běžci. Díky Kladno.

Videa ze závodu:

Pavel Machačka, Aleš Jahelka: závody na 24 a 48 hodin Kladno 2014 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTIeDBzZhh8&list=UUhEt_wSWdgGM4_6qaj6-M4A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyBh8HQZiQU&list=UUhEt_wSWdgGM4_6qaj6-M4A

Výsledky:  

Výsledková listina závodu na 24 hodin - Self-Transcendence 24 h race results

Výsledková listina závodu na 48 hodin - Self-Transcendence 48 h race results 

Výsledky MČR na 24 hodin, Muži

Výsledky MČR na 24 hodin, Ženy

Tabulka mezičasů na Marathon, 100, 200 a 300 km 

Interested in a Sprint Triathlon?

 

Try the Self-Transcendence Swim-Run Instead!

 

 

The Self-Transcendence Swim-Run at Lake Welch Beach is the perfect multi-sport event designed with various types of athletes in mind, from beginner triathletes, to swimmers, runners, and the occasional multi-sport dabbler.

If the length of a sprint triathlon or a mini triathlon is of interest you, it might be worthwhile to try a race with similar distances, minus the cycling.

Boasting a 1-kilometer freshwater swim and a 10-kilometer run, it is the perfect sprint triathlon alternative should you need, or desire, to leave the bike at home, as well as a fun and charming race, a perfect farewell to the end of the outdoor racing season!

Race start is on Sunday, September 8th 2013 at 10 am!

For additional information on prices, registration, and directions, please visit us at:

http://us.srichinmoyraces/nyswimrun

Interested in a Sprint Triathlon?

 

Try the Self-Transcendence Swim-Run Instead!

 

 

The Self-Transcendence Swim-Run at Lake Welch Beach is the perfect multi-sport event designed with various types of athletes in mind, from beginner triathletes, to swimmers, runners, and the occasional multi-sport dabbler.

If the length of a sprint triathlon or a mini triathlon is of interest you, it might be worthwhile to try a race with similar distances, minus the cycling.

Boasting a 1-kilometer freshwater swim and a 10-kilometer run, it is the perfect sprint triathlon alternative should you need, or desire, to leave the bike at home, as well as a fun and charming race, a perfect farewell to the end of the outdoor racing season!

Race start is on Sunday, September 8th 2013 at 10 am!

For additional information on prices, registration, and directions, please visit us at:

http://us.srichinmoyraces/nyswimrun

"Sri Chinmoy 13-Mile Race...A Running Duel." Runner's Gazette. February 1980.

A running duel dominated the December 9 Sri Chinmoy 13-Mile Race in Flushing Meadow Park as 20 year old John Doyle of St. John's University, Queens and 28 year old Rejean Gauthier of Ottawa, Canada quickly moved out from the pack of 400 runners...

Partial Race Results...

1. John Doyle, 20, St. Johns Queens: 1:09:08

2. Rejean Gauthier, 28, Ottawa, Canada: 1:09:42

3. Roger Sheldon, 32, Flushing Meadow Track Club: 1:11:06

40-49 age category:

1. Cahit Yeter, 44, Cahit's Pacers: 1:15:12

2. Richard Gazda, 40, Port Washington: 1:18:05

3. Charles Kennedy, 41, New York: 1:18:52

Women's Division

1. Kathy Naughton, 25, College Point Track Club: 1:32:05

2. Lucille Corva, 28, Bronx: 1:34:08

3. Margaret Greco, 29, College Point: 1:38:51

Over 400 runners crowd the start of the Sri Chinmoy 13-Mile Race at Flushing Meadow Park on December 9, 1979.

Partial Scanned Results...

For several years now Sri Chinmoy’s birthday in August has been an inspiration for Ashrita and others from the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team to create something extraordinary in honor of their late Spiritual teacher.

Last year Ashrita organized the world’s largest floral garland which extended around Flushing Meadow.  This year he decided that building a 50 foot long tennis racket, “was as big as we could do.”

When asked whether or not the Guinness record people ever get amazed at these ideas for new records he says no.  “They have seen it ALLL.  They are serious about it.   They just want to see that it has been done properly.  They gave us permission to use a wooden racket as the model.  That was the conditions.  It has to be made completely to scale, and of the same exact materials.”

For the complete story visit Perfection-Journey...

 

 

Photo: Marty Sprengelmeyer (l), Ray Krolewicz (c)and Tom Grace (r) enjoy a few minutes rest in the Sri Chinmoy 1,300 Mile Race

The race was run in three divisions - 700 miles, 1,000 miles and 1,300 miles - and entrants selected a division in which to participate and receive awards. The race itself holds the record as the longest annually held certified race in the world.

Overall mileage winners were Marty Sprengelmeyer of Davenport, Iowa, with 1,250 miles in the 1,300 mile division; and Pippa Davis, a British citizen living in Westford, Massachusetts, with 832 miles in the 1,000 mile division. Both now hold the record for the most mileage ever run in history in a certified race - Sprengelmeyer overall and Davis for women. Tom Grace of Richmond Hills finished as the first man in the 1,000 mile race with 567 miles and Sulochana Kallai of Jamaica, NY set the world record for the most mileage ever run by a woman over 50 - 655 miles in 13 days. She finished fourth overall in the 700 mile division.

One especially rewarding aspect of this race was the large number of trained women participants - 10 in all, none of whom dropped out (two men dropped out, for health or other reasons). Less than ten years ago a main topic of sports discussion was whether women were physically and emotionally capable of running a marathon (26.2 miles). It was not until 1984 that the Olympics permitted women to run the marathon in international competition. In the 1,300 mile race, national women's records were broken or established for the USA, Canada, Britain, France and Japan, as well as world records. Perhaps more importantly, the women stood high in competition against the men. Their top mileage finishers hold positions 5 through 10 in the over all results, against highly accomplished men ultrarunners. The popular theory that at ultradistances the competitive differences between men and women diminish is given factual support in this event. Women took first place in overall standings in both the 1,000 mile (Pippa Davis) and 700 mile (Antana Locs of Canada with 691 miles) divisions. Seven of these women are from the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team itself. Team founder Sri Chinmoy has, from the Team's beginnings, been a strong supporter of equality in training and opportunity for men and women.

More photos of award Ceremony - photos by Jowan...

Photos of the last day by Alakananda...

Race photos by Jowan

More photos from Alakananda

More inspiring photos from Baladev

Everyone is doing well on the first day. Photoes by Alakananda.