Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 7 & 13 Hour Races 2016

Follow one Seattle runner's journey through his ups and downs (literally), as she braves the Sri Chinmoy 7 Hour Race.

"To be honest, I don't know where or when I heard about this race. I think I was aware -- at least faintly aware -- of their recurring 2-mile race series, since it shows up on local race calendars. I think maybe they entered my consciousness when I heard about the 3100-Mile Race, held annually in New York City. (More on that at another time...)

"But the the last couple of years this race has been knocking around my consciousness. And this year, I screwed up my courage and signed up. I was nervous -- I mean, how far COULD I run in 7 hours? Remembering, of course, to factor in that I hadn't run longer than 13.1 miles in months and months and months..."

For more amusing and revealing antidotes, with some great pictures, read the complete article..

About the author: "We're Team Wil-Sun -- two runners, writers, and travelers who run lots of half marathons and love to tell their stories." From their website....

The inaugural Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 13 Hour Race started at 6:02am with first light, rain and wind of the day.  Undeterred, the runners set off into the weather and the long trail ahead of them while lap counters wrapped themselves in blankets and fired up the camp stove for hot drinks & set up refreshments tables.

Steve Walters set out with an  impressive  pace that remained solid the entire 13 hours and set a high mark (73.92 mi.) for future runners to aspire towards. Steven Lazen at second ran 61.6 miles.  Del Scharffenberg had signed up for the 13 hour race last year but due to low entries (2) that race did not happen. Thanks for hanging in there, Del! He completed this 13 Hour Race with 53.9 miles.  Deborah Erdemon 1st woman was 4th overall with 52.36 miles. Michael Breeze, a truly seasoned ultra marathoner from Canada, turned 80 years young the day before, then ran 46.2 miles!  We will add an 80+ category next year, Michael!  His friend David Westdorp, also from Canada, ran his first ultra, studied, steady and smiling for 50.82 miles.

Starting at 12:02pm, the 5th running of the 7Hour Race welcomed back 4 time competitors and brother and sister duo Jill and Keith Hudson.  Jill had to finish up the race early to watch over her school’s prom as principal. Keith stayed to the end and won a pie! Alan Smith stayed well ahead in his race, finishing with a best in his 3rd 7 Hour Race at 41.58 miles.  Gabrielle Orsi, another solid and steady athlete won the woman’s race for the 2nd time with 38.5 miles. You can see Gabe Loh (35.42 mi.) in mid-leap in the slide show of the event! How did he do that?! Our photographer Yatkara from Vancouver Canada captured many smiling moments.

The rain let up, a little sun broke through and crew and runners huddled our tired selves into the shelter of the tents for a hot meal prepared by our friends at Silence-Heart-Nest Restaurant (Fremont), awards, prize pies (from A la Mode) and awesome cake (TM Dessert Works).  Great job everyone!  Our smilers were as well worked as our legs.  Some of you reached your mileage goal and were satisfied with that. Your efforts to transcend your previous capacities were truly humbling to us.  You each found the best in yourselves in order to persevere and finish, encourage and cheer others’ efforts along the way.

 After the race, we hope your long travels home were safe. (Steve, Del, Cyndie from Oregon; Peter from Vancouver, WA;  Michael & David from Canada; Bobbie, Dena from Olympia, Janice from Selah; James from Aberdeen; Mitch of Federal Way, Deborah of  Sammamish; Suzanne, Georgeta  of Bothell; Gabrielle, Lori of Issaquah; Gabe of Bellevue;  Keith of Lake Forest  Park; Steven, Alan, Jill, Sunny, Samarpita of Seattle.

We are already eagerly anticipating next year’s races. We would appreciate your feedback on how to improve. For example, the timing of the 2 events:  Ideally we feel that if both races finish together it brings an increase in enthusiasm & celebration to all the runners & helpers. Perhaps if we started the races 1 hour earlier (5am for the 13 & 11am for the 7) then we could finish together 6pm. Any thoughts?

Big thank you to our Sri Chnimoy Marathon Team volunteers…and to Sri Chinmoy, our founder and guide,  for his boundless enthusiasm for the sport of running.

“Life’s perfection-road
Is very long.
But the journey
Is richly rewarding.”   

~ Sri Chinmoy

 For Your Information & Inspiration:

Sport & Meditation, a book by Sri Chinmoy.  Title of this book says it all!

Other events we sponsor:

Monthly first Saturday 2 mile race (easy!), http://us.srichinmoyraces.org/seattle-2-mile-race
Our classic triathlon, duathlon,  at 38 years! http://www.victoriatriathlon.com/
And… coming into the NW soon in June, our worldwide  running torch relay  will be run into Seattle June 20 https://www.peacerun.org/us/

Daulot & Stota Fountain
Directors, Sri Chinmoy 7 &13 Hour Races

2016 Race recap:

The inaugural Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 13 Hour Race started at 6:02am with first light, rain and wind of the day.  Undeterred, the runners set off into the weather and the long trail ahead of them while lap counters wrapped themselves in blankets and fired up the camp stove for hot drinks & set up refreshments tables.

Steve Walters set out with an  impressive  pace that remained solid the entire 13 hours and set a high mark (73.92 mi.) for future runners to aspire towards. Steven Lazen at second ran 61.6 miles.  Del Scharffenberg  had signed up for the 13 hour race last year but due to low entries (2) that race did not happen. Thanks for hanging in there, Del! He completed this 13 Hour Race with 53.9 miles.  Deborah Erdemon 1st woman was 4th overall with 52.36 miles. Michael Breeze, a truly seasoned ultra marathoner from Canada, turned 80 years young the day before, then ran 46.2 miles!  We will add an 80+ category next year, Michael!  His friend David Westdorp, also from Canada, ran his first ultra, studied, steady and smiling for 50.82 miles.

Starting at 12:02pm, the 5th running of the 7Hour Race welcomed back 4 time competitors and brother and sister duo Jill and Keith Hudson.  Jill had to finish up the race early to watch over her school’s prom as principal. Keith stayed to the end and won a pie! Alan Smith stayed well ahead in his race, finishing with a best in his 3rd 7 Hour Race at 41.58 miles.  Gabrielle Orsi, another solid and steady athlete won the woman’s race for the 2nd time with 38.5 miles. You can see Gabe Loh (35.42 mi.) in mid-leap in the slide show of the event! How did he do that?! Our photographer Yatkara from Vancouver Canada captured many smiling moments.

The rain let up, a little sun broke through and crew and runners huddled our tired selves into the shelter of the tents for a hot meal prepared by our friends at Silence-Heart-Nest Restaurant (Fremont), awards, prize pies (from A la Mode) and awesome cake (TM Dessert Works).  Great job everyone!  Our smilers were as well worked as our legs.  Some of you reached your mileage goal and were satisfied with that. Your efforts to transcend your previous capacities were truly humbling to us.  You each found the best in yourselves in order to persevere and finish, encourage and cheer others’ efforts along the way.

 After the race, we hope your long travels home were safe. (Steve, Del, Cyndie from Oregon; Peter from Vancouver, WA;  Michael & David from Canada; Bobbie, Dena from Olympia, Janice from Selah; James from Aberdeen; Mitch of Federal Way, Deborah of  Sammamish; Suzanne, Georgeta  of Bothell; Gabrielle, Lori of Issaquah; Gabe of Bellevue;  Keith of Lake Forest  Park; Steven, Alan, Jill, Sunny, Samarpita of Seattle.

We are already eagerly anticipating next year’s races. We would appreciate your feedback on how to improve. For example, the timing of the 2 events:  Ideally we feel that if both races finish together it brings an increase in enthusiasm & celebration to all the runners & helpers. Perhaps if we started the races 1 hour earlier (5am for the 13 & 11am for the 7) then we could finish together 6pm. Any thoughts?

Big thank you to our Sri Chnimoy Marathon Team volunteers…and to Sri Chinmoy, our founder and guide,  for his boundless enthusiasm for the sport of running.

“Life’s perfection-road

Is very long.

But the journey

Is richly rewarding.”    ~ Sri Chinmoy

 For Your Information & Inspiration:

Sport & Meditation, a book by Sri Chinmoy.  Title of this book says it all

Other events we sponsor:

Monthly first Saturday 2 mile race (easy!), http://us.srichinmoyraces.org/seattle-2-mile-race

Our classic triathlon, duathlon,  at 38 years! http://www.victoriatriathlon.com/

And… coming into the NW soon in June, our worldwide  running torch relay  will be run into Seattle June 20 https://www.peacerun.org/us/

Daulot & Stota Fountain

Directors, Sri Chinmoy 7 &13 Hour Races

Self-Transcendence Race slide show!