Photos by Alakananda

Photos by Jowan

The sun is bright and everyone is well. All photoes by Jowan.

Six Day - race starts April 23

Men

John Geesler,51,St. Johnsville,New York, USA.  In over 25 years of running John has completed over 100 ultras, including 157 miles for 24 hours(age group 40-44 US rec.) and 248.54 miles for 48 hours. John was first man in 2008 in the Six Day with 433 miles. He has done 14 multidays.

Markus Mueller,45,Eagle,Clorado,USA(German)  Marcus has completed 63 ultras and six multidays in 25 years of running.He finished third place in the Ten Day in 2000 with 630 miles. In 2001 he finished in 10th place in the Trans Australia Race(2703 miles); In 1998 he was third finisher in the Trans-Germany Race.

Smarana Puntigam,38,Vienna,Austria  In nearly thirty years of running Smarana has completed over 30 ultras and 13 multidays, including finishing the 3100 mile race seven times. His best for 3100 miles is 48 days,4 hours(Ausrian record averaging 64 miles per day).He has done 700 miles in 10 days+18 hours.

Vladimir Balatskyy,38,Graz,Austria(Ukraine)  In eight years of running Vadimir has run 11 ultras and five multidays. Bests include 660 miles for ten days, as well as 3100 miles in 48 days, two hours, in his first attempt (64.4 miles per day).

Ananda-Lahari Zuscin,34,Kosice, Slovakia  Ananda-Lahari has run seven multidays with best of 202 km for 24 hours;8:30 for 100km, and a staggering 49 days,14 hours for 3100 miles in 2006. He is a four-time finisher of the world’s longest race.

Stutisheel Lebedyev,39,Kiev,Ukraine  Another superlong multiday specialist, Stutisheel has run 15 ultras including six finishes of  the 3100 miler, with a best of 48 days,12 hours.

Bob Oberkehr,55,Northvale,NJ USA  Bob has run seven multidays and 62 ultras in 35 years of running, including 624 miles for ten days(2008) and 403 miles for six days. Last year he won the Arizona Six Day Race.                                                  

Dharbhasana Lynn,33,Auckland,New Zealand  Dharbhasana has run 13 ultras and two multidays in 12 years of running. Bests include 300 miles for six days and 442 for 10 days.               

Alex Swenson,45,Vashon,Washington USA  In over 20 years of running Alex has completed nearly fifty ultras including 146 miles for 24 hours. This will be his first multiday.                      

David Holt, 51, Pepperell, MA., USA  David has run 14 ultras in over 30 years of running, including several trail races. His bests include 126 miles at 24 hours  and 5:55:33 for 50 miles.                                        

Marvin Skagerberg,73,Plano,Texas USA  One of the most prolific ultrarunners to ever toe the line, Marvin has run nearly 30 multidays and over 300 ultras in several decades of running.He is famous for running a duel with Malcolm Campbell across the USA in 1985- and winning by a fraction of time! Welcome back, Marvin!!                                                        

Allan Harman,48,West Vancouver,BC Canada  Allan ran 251 miles in his first multiday last year after 20 ultras of various distances.                                                                              

Pete Stringer,68,Osterville,MA USA  A seasoned veteran of 55 years of running, Pete has completed  countless marathons and nearly 80 ultras with a best of 332 miles for six days.This will be his fifth multiday race.

Chanakhya Jakovic,56,Jamaica,NY (UK)  In 27 years of running, Chanakhya has completed over 50 ultras, including 27 multidays. His bests are 308 miles for six days, 470 miles for Ten days, and 653 miles in the 1000 mile race(2003). Last year he ran 277 miles in the Six Day.

Ales Pliva,32,Prague,Czech Republic  In five years of running Ales has run 13 ultras and two multidays. Last year he ran 293 miles for six days.                             

Baridhi Yonchev,28,Sofia,Bulgaria  In seven years of running Baridhi has completed several ultras and one multiday- last year he ran 276 miles in the Six Day event.

Andrey Bondarchuk,34,Mariupol, Ukraine  In 11 year of running Andrey has run two ultras and several marathons.This will be his first multiday.

Nikolay Duzhiy,44,St. Petersburg,Russia  Nikolay has run six ultras and over 20 marathons in 15 years of running.This will be his first multiday.

Veaceslav Dodonu,33, Geneva,Switzerland  Slava has run five ultras in eight years of running including 253 miles in the Six Day in his first multiday event last year.

Vladimir Lunev,22.Omsk,Russia  In four years of running Vladimir has run five ultras and several marathons. This is his first six days race. 

Oleksandr Nihalchuk,27,Vinnitsa,Ukraine  Oleksandr has completed two ultras and 15 marathons in four years of running. 

Oskar Ganz,44,Zurich,Switzerland  Oskar is running the Six Day for the first time. He has been running seven years and has run several marathons.

Women

Dipali Cunningham,51, Melbourne,Australia  Dipali is one of the world's best women ultra-distance runners. She has won 25 of the 30 multiday events she has entered since 1992, including seven overall victories. Last year in the Six Day she emerged first overall with 514.82 miles, a new women’s road best In the spring of 2001 she set a women’s world record on the road for six days with 510 miles, defeating all the men in that race. In 2001 she ran 700 miles in 9 days 11 hours, the third fastest all-time for women. In 1998 she set a  women’s world best on the road for six-days with 504 miles, despite heavy rains at Wards Island Park. In 1999 she won the 700 mile race overall in 10 days, 21 hours. She is ranked third in the world for 700 miles, and third for 1000 miles, having dominated the women's 1000 mile race in 1997 in 13 days, 20 hours.  She has won all eleven Six-Day titles in our spring-time event. She is also the women’s course record holder for the Ten day with 723 miles. In 2004,Dipali set a new women’s age group 45-49 world best for six days with 479 miles. Later in the fall, she won the 700 mile race overall, her eighth victory in that event.

Kate Condon,54,Chichester, England  In 22 years of running Kate has completed 12 ultras and six multidays. Her bests include 351 mil;es for six days and 501 miles for ten days. She has also run 801 miles in the 1300 mile race.

Lydia Fischer,39,Vienna, Austria  Lydia has completed 13 ultras in 14 years of running. Last year in her multiday debut she garnered 307 miles.                              

Regina Plyavinskaya,44,St Petersburg,Russia  Regina has run five ultras and two multidays in 11 years of running.She ran 288 miles in the six day last year.                  

Liubov Stebneva,54,St Petersburg Russia   Liubov has completed nine ultras in 15 years of running, with two multidays. She also ran 288 miles last year in the Six Day.

Svitlana Samarina,34,Kiev, Ukraine  In 13 years of running Svitlana has finished five multidays and 10 ultras. her bests include 555 miles for10 days and 351 miles for six.

Sophie Anderson,32,Auckland,New Zealand  In nine years of running Sophie has completed six ultras but is making her first multiday the Six.                                     

Niribili File,64,Auckland,New Zealand  In 14 years of running Niribili has completed 30 ultras and seven multidays.                                      

Abhaya Field,65, Christchurch,New Zealand  Abhaya has run four multidays in six years of running. Last year she did 415 miles in the Ten Day.                                 

Sandra Tribulin,33,Nis, Serbia  Sandra finished the Six Day with 284 miles last year in her first attempt.                                                                        

Rageshri Muzychenko,40,Kiev, Ukraine  In ten years of running Rageshri has completed four multidays, with a best of 245 miles for six days.                                 

Divyata Kryuchkova,32,Tambov,Russia  Divyata has run two ultras and a few marathons in eight years of running. This is her first multiday.                                 

Barbara Szeprethy,30,Bishop,CA USA (Hungary)  In six years of running Barbara has done four ultras and one multiday. She did 202.7 miles in the Arizona Six Day last year.She has completed the Badwater Race three times.

Tania Ryan,43,Christchurch,New Zealand   Tania has finished three ultras in four years of running.This is her first multiday.   

Marianna Csillag,42,Budapest,Hungary  Marianna has run three ultras  and several marathons in 15 years of running.                                                      

Prasasta Armstrong,28, Christchurch, New Zeal  In 10 year of running Prasata has finished 15 marathons and a few longer race. She is running multiday number one.

Ten Day Race - Men (Race begins April 19)

Igor Mudryk,36,Vinnitsa,Ukraine Igor has run five multidays in 15 years of training and racing, with a best of 712 miles in the Ten Day race in 2009. He improved by an astounding 179 miles over his previous best.

Yuri Trostenyuk,46,Vinnitsa,Ukraine Smiling Yuri T. reached 629 miles last year in the Ten Day, good for fourth place and a personal farthest distance. He has been running 11 years and has completed four multidays, including 383 miles for six days.                             

Andrey Andreyev,44, St. Petersburg, Russia Andrey reached 555 miles in his third multiday last year, taking seventh place for the men. He has been running for 20 years.

Luis Rios,62, Brooklyn,NY USA In over 35 years of running, Luis has finished over 200 ultras including 14 multidays. He ran 514 miles last year in the Ten Day, and has a best distance of 640 miles in 12 days. In years past he has had several fast 100 milers and has gone over 140 miles for 24 hours.

Mark Dorion,50, El Paso,TX USA Mark has completed nearly 200 ultras in 38 years of running, including five multidays with a best of 397 miles for six days. Mark is also a correspondent and contributor to Ultrarunning magazine, as well as a race director in the outback of west Texas and New Mexico. He is a college professor and insructor in English and writing talents.

Don Winkley,72,Corpus Christi,Texas USA Don has run over 30 multidays in 32 years of running, including several age group world bests for 48 hours(200.5 miles age 60), 1000 miles,(14 days,11 hours age 59), oldest finisher at Spartathlon in Greece and Comrades in South Africa, and the oldest finisher of Trans America race in 1995. Don won the Ten Day Race back in 1997 with 531 miles.                                                                          

Michel Gouin,49,Drummondville,Quebec,Canada Last year Michel ran 538 miles in the Ten Day, and has had a long and prolific running career.He has completed more than 100 ultras in 30 years of running. His most acclaimed achievement is a treadmill record in the Guinness record book five years ago.

Shashanka Karlen,49,Jamaica,NY (Switzerland) Shashanka has run ten ultras and a few multidays, including 830 miles in the 1000 mile race. He directed the successful Basel, Switzerland 24 Hour Race for several years.                     

Frederick Davis III,62,Cleveland,OH USA Another prolific athlete, Frederick has completed  214 ultras in 26 years of running. He reached 504 miles in the Ten Day in 2008. 

Chakradhara Caslava,33, Zlin, Czech Republic In eleven years of running Chakradhara has completed eight multidays including his personal best for ten days  at 501 miles set in 2008.

Syona Ionov,39,Kiev,Ukraine Syona has run 23 ultras and three multidays in 15 years of running. His best for ten days was 472 miles in 2007.

Barney McBryde,45, Auckland,New Zealand Barney has run 54 ultras and four multidays in over 14 years of running, including 516 miles for ten days and 373 miles for six days.      

Padyatra Komak,34,Bratislava,Slovakia Padyatra has run five multidays in 10 years of running, with a best of 314 miles for six days and 464 miles for ten days.

Volodymyr Hlushchuk,49,Vinnitsa, Ukraine Volodymyr has finished eight ultras and over 20 marathons in ten years of running.Last year he finished second in the Six Day event with 391 miles in his first multiday.

Andrey Somov,30,St.Petersburg,Russia Last year Andrey ran 343 miles in the Six Day event. He has run eight ultras and three multidays in ten years of running.

Pradeep Hoogakker,30 Den Haag,Netherlands In ten years of running, Pradeep has completed ten ultras, including 314 miles for six days and 481 miles for ten days.                           

MykhayloUkrainskyi,36,Berdyansk,Ukraine                                                                         Last year Mykhailo ran 540 miles in the ten day, good for eighth place and a personal farthest distance by 57 miles.

Alexander Harko,46,Kiev,Ukraine Alexander ran 317 miles in the Six Day last year. He has five ultras in eight years of running.

Ten Day Women

Kaneenika Janakova,38, Bratislava,Slovakia Last year Kaneenika dominated the women’s race at ten days with 707 miles,her second victory at that distance and third place overall including the men in a very strong field. In fifteen years of running, Kaneenika  has completed nine multidays and 20 ultras. Her bests include  437 miles for six days, 700 miles in 10 days, 19 hours, and 1000 miles in 15 days, 19 hours. All three marks are Slovakian national records. Her 707 mile effort last year is the second best total for women in Ten Day Race history.

Jayasalini Olga Abramovskikh,29,Moscow,Russia   Last year Jayasalini ran 619 miles in the Ten Day, good for third place for the women and her sixth multiday in six years of running.

Nataliya Hlushchuk,34,Vinnitsa,Ukraine Nataliya was first woman in the Ten Day in 2005 with 515 miles.In 2006 she ran her best distance of 600 miles while finishing in second place. She has been running  for 11 years with 15 marathins and 15 ultras to her credit.                                               

Pratishruti Khisamoutdinova,66,Smolensk,Russia  In 2001 Pratishruti finished the 1000 mile race in 16 days 01 hours, becoming the oldest finisher of that event at that time. reached She has a best of 615 miles for ten days. She was a former professor of physical culture at Smolensk Institute, and was also a champion speed skater in earlier years.                                          

Elena Kareva,33,Volgograd Russia Last year Elena ran 550 miles in the Ten Day in her first multiday. She has run ten ultras and sixteen marathons in15 years of running.                    

Sylva Stradalova,31,Zlin,Czech Republic Sylva has completed six multidays in seven years of running,including last year when she ran a personal best of 525 miles for ten days.                  

Kushali Tarantsova,43,Kiev,Ukraine Kushali has six multidays to her credit, with a best of 413 miles in ten days.                                                                                 

Zuzana Doczlova,31,Kosice,Slovakia Zuzana ran 503 miles in the Ten Day last year in only her second multiday

Nishima Knowsley,50,Auckland,New Zealand In 20 years of running Nishima has run numerous marathons and a few ultras. Her only six day attempt netted 328 miles in 1998.

Bigalita Egger,69,Culver City,CA USA (Austria) Bigalita walked 357 miles in her first multiday at age 68 last year in the Ten Day.

Gudrun Freier,38,Winterthur, Switzerland Gudrun has completed seven ultras in five years of intense running training.This will be her first multiday.

Manjula Boehler,38,Innsbruck,Austria Manjula has completed five ultras in six years of running and is trying her first multiday.

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This year's Self Transcendence 24 Hour Track Race in London on October 8th & 9th will be the official AAA of England 24 Hour Championship race.

"It created a tremendous feeling of oneness as all the runners, fast or slow, were constantly flowing together in the same self-transcendence river."

"We seemed to find a rhythm and somehow we became a unit-the miles fairly flew by"

Thanks to Dan who has penned this excellent report on a memorable race.

Sri Chinmoy A.C. Self Transcendence 24 Hour Race 2003 (11&12 October)



Dan Coffey, ultrarunner & much valued friend of the Sri Chinmoy AC.

This was a continuation of the race last held in 2000, cancelled in 2001 due to 9/11; the following year postponed to allow the 100 mile track race to honour Don Ritchie's world mark of so many years ago - 25 I believe!

 Despite rumours, the Self Transcendence / Sri Chinmoy race is now back on the list so don't believe anything to the contrary!!

This race was first held at New River Stadium, North London for two years before being moved to Copthal Stadium where Don Ritchie ran an astonising 166 miles; then moved to Kingsmeadow Stadium, Kingston where the recording marshall's tent was blown away in very windy conditions; moved to Tooting Bec where it has been held ever since; it might be worth remembering that on the last occasion it rained for the first 23 hours of this event. What would this year bring? I was mulling over these thoughts as I sat lost in the one way raffic system at Streatham with just under an hour and a half to go and still wondering whether there was any truth in the magnificent write up in Runners World re the Hull 24 hour event in July that that was the only 24 hour race being promoted in the UK this year.

However I had total faith in Ongkar Tony Smith, Race Director, who had invited me; he surely would not have left me lost in a one way system if there was no race as erroneously reported! Finally I extricated myself from the system and promptly got lost again; now reslved that I would only stick to the track as I could only go two ways without mch chance of getting lost. I comforted myself with the knowledge that I had packed a silva compass in case I got in trouble on the track, at least I would be able to spot magnetic north and work it out from there! At last I arrived at the track and parked my trusty steed then prepared myself for the coming onslaught; was greeted by many very fit and young looking competitors including the President of the RRC Don Ritchie MBE. I asked him how he would go and he replied that he would be taking it easy as he was getteing on; I believed him, what a mistake!

 Also spoke to David Green about whether numbers were required front and back - he was not sure as this was his first atempt at this kind of race. Fortunately Ongkar had arranged a short but informative briefing about half an hour before the start which answered most of my questions as every race is different. After a week of windy weather I was certain that it would be a continuation of the same but Ongkar Tony Smith had promised good weather and he was a person who kept his word. There was no wind on the Saturday just bright sunshine and warm too; this could not last. It did not, as the night became cold, damp towards dawn, and the night seemed to go on for a very long time. The birds got up at dawn, sang their songs and prmptly went back to bed but finally a new day dawned, the Sun finaly got up, so did the wind and a chill breeze but we wereon the way home by then and nothing could stop us!

Noon arrived and it was all over yet again; if only I had had a few more hours what I could have achieved: at least another mile!

Thanks:

Firstly the lap counters, I had only two, to my knowledge, for the whole time and I had total confidence in them and remembered to thank them. This is the most arduous of tasks as one has to be always alert and polite to a runner who is tired and does not know whether they have been noticed or not. Then those good folk who work behind the scenes preparing hot food and having it available almost at the drop of a hat with a welcoming smile. The magnificent support staff who supplied me with endless cups of tea when I could not digest anything. PS I must remember to get the recipe for bean bake, it smelled so appetising and I was able to manage tw spoonfuls of an excellent meal (I did not waste any as Ken Shaw, Father of the 24 hours event who had turned up to lok after me was able to finish it up and still give very vocal support to all the other runners).

The handlers for the other runners who were always available to urge one on as you passed their "patch" - always the word of encouragement even though one did not know them and this went on for every hour of the race. If you have never done an ultra then this is where you will find true comradeship, friendship and real honesty. Lastly but not the least, mention must be made of the Race Director who updated the leader board every hour and organised the four hour turnround with the help of the race referee Ian Champion, RRC, who kept a very sensible eye on the event the whole time. Finaly the official timekeeper Don Turner, also RRC, who with his assistant made sure that the clock was always running and ensured all the intermediate distances including the most important 100 miles times for the fortunate ten runners rigtht up to the end, and then measured all the final bits of laps around the track for the last minute or so.

The Reader might be forgiven at this stage for wondering what the runners, walkers and shufflers were doing all this time so now I will finish with a resume of activities on the track. The RAce Before the first four hour change of direction it was apparent that Don Ritchie and eof Oliver were not out for an afternoon stroll, with Garth Peterson who believe3 was third in the earlier Hul event they were establishing their credenials. All comparatively young runners, Gath (RRC) 40, Don (Moray R) 59 and Geoff (100 Km Association) a mere 70! Several other runners were to feature in the final analysis including Brian King and Timothy Rayney who bided their time.

Just in case the reader thought that this was a Man's race I must draw your attention to Sandra Brown (Surrey Walkers Club) who walked the whole way and topped 100 miles yet again. She has now done well over 100 24 hour events so is just getting the hang of this event (a few weeks earlier achieved her best position ever in the classic Paris to Roubaix walk, finishing in 6th place!). Also Jane Janman (RRC) another Hull contender who quietly just gets on with it. There were so many individuals who achieved their own greatness whom I should mention but if I do

I will undoubtedly miss out someone who quietly achieved their own personal target and should have got a mention; suffice to say that to me it was an honour to be permitted to take part in such an epic adventure of courage and for some delving into the realms of the unknown. This is why it is called the (Self Transcendence Event). One thinks that it could be possible and then allows the body and mind to prove that it is really possible to achieve. There is a truly magnificent feeling afterwards of achievement.

Of course one hurts both during and after the event but this fades into insignificance on a personal result. Consider Don Ritchie who looked to be on course for somehting fantastiv yet had problems with his feet but still won the event with 117 miles plus. Consider Geoff Oliver who set a new world best for 100km for an over 70 year youngster with 11 hours 02 minutes 02 seconds and then went on to set a 12 hour world age best; I do not know what other records he broke on the way but it must be quite a few! He finally finished up 6th with a distance of nearly 106 miles.

Consider Tadeusz Syty cannot speak a word of English (from Poland) yet achieved an impossible 100 miles when it looked impossible; this was his third Sri Chinmoy race and his third 100 in this event! I will stop here as he was the last century maker in tenth place but this does not in any way belittle the achievements of all who competed and I apologise to all those not mentioned; you were carefully noted by one who now moves with the grace of an ancient sailing ship, becalmed, because I cannot go any faster.

Once again on behalf of all the competitors very grateful thanks to those magnificent folk who gave of their time and talents to enable us to participate in the sport that we love .......and this also includes the Physios, who were available to help when desperately needed.

DAN COFFEY

"something within me kept me going"

"Normally I do not like marathons."