Sri Chinmoy Ten-, Six- and Three-Day Races 2026 Results 2010

2010 Self-Transcendence Ten Day Race

April 2010 By Medur Wilson

Stories Curbside by Utpal (Perfection-Journey)

Great Race Photos from Spontaneous Beauty

"There are times when you just know that something special is happening. The Self-Transcendence 6 and 10 day race is just a few hours old and already 36 year old Igor Mudryk from Vinnitsa Ukraine seems to be doing something above and beyond everyone else in the field . . . " Illumining and inspiring stories about our pioneer runners and enthusiastic staff.

Post-Race Comments by Runners and Staff.

Shashanka Michael Karlen, 10 Day Runner
Sahishnu, Race Director
Mark Dorion, 10 Day Runner

Current Results

Ten Day Men
Ten Day Women

The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team is proud to sponsor the 15th Annual Self-Transcendence Ten Day Race. These races feature an international field of runners who come to test their endurance, skill with pacing, and ability to recover from the stress of constantly moving. The competitors run with minimal sleep, all the while trying to accumulate as many miles as possible.

The course is a very flat, scenic, 1 mile loop in a pleasant park setting near the famous areas of the World’s Fair of 1964 and close to the USTA facility, home of the US Open. There are many patches of green and trees, as well as close proximity to Meadow Lake. Temperatures in April in New York generally vary between 52º and 71º with extremes at 33º and 90º. In other words, plan for any conceivable weather condition, including rain and windy conditions.

Great Race Photos Here:

With several very talented and creative photographers on site for the duration of the race, we will be posting daily their inspiring and insightful images. See how your friends are doing as these artist paint a wide range of pictures with their cameras. And, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then by the end of the race we should have a whole library of amazing images!

This race is held concurrently with The Self Transcendence 6 Day Race for 2010.

2010 Edition (6 Day Race)

6 and 10 Day Race Article in YourNabe.com

May 2010 By Rupantar LaRusso

Read about 6 Day runner Chanakhya Jakovic in a recent YourNabe.com article:

"The six-day and 10-day races sponsored by the Jamaica-based Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team attracted 68 runners from 17 countries to the Queens park. Sri Chinmoy, who died in 2007, moved to Briarwood from his native India in the 1960s and emphasized the spiritual benefits of physical fitness . . ." YourNabe.com

Moments In Paradise

May 2010 By Rupantar LaRusso

Moments in Paradise: a personal account on the Self-Transcendence 10 Day Race 2010 – Shashanka Michael Karlen

No, no, no! It is not that I was running10 days in paradise! On the contrary, many hours were physically and mentally very hard work.

No, no, no! This is not 10 days of vacation from work with easy jogging in a nice park. On the contrary, several of the 75 runners, already on day 2 or 3, would have probably preferred to be at work than at Flushing Meadows Park.

The Start

Soon after the start you realize the dimension of the endeavor. You realize that you are in for a multilevel experience where every aspect of your being from body to soul is involved. Experiences on different levels often follow each other in almost breathtaking cadence. The experienced old-timers like Stutisheel Lebedyev call this “the real fullness of life” and he adds immediately that he find this fullness nowhere as tangible as in these multiday races. Don Winkley, the oldest participant at 72 years, always had an uplifting story from his many years of ultrarunning, and calls the difficult moments “the character building miles”. I definitely had many of these – time will tell whether my character reaped the benefits of them.

One thing is sure: these races expand your capacities - physical and mental. Who would believe that at fifty you can run 531 miles or 850km in 10 days. And other runners did more than that. But it is also qualities like faith, perseverance, determination, patience, cheerfulness, inner focus and balance among others that are constantly trained and expanded. You are learning about your limits and you are trying to find ways to push the limits further or to go beyond them. In this “self-transcendence” lies one of the main goals of the race and also one of the main joys and fulfillment. Carl Lewis once said: "believe me, the joy that comes from 'going beyond' is the most incredible feeling in the world…" The ultimate joy comes from performing one’s absolute best, no matter one’s order of finish. I believe this statement by the legendary sprinter proofs also true for most of the participants in these ultra long distance races.

And then there are those magic moments when you unmistakably feel the close presence of your teacher, you experience the “perfect” running, the movement, the speed, the strength. If this running flow continuous it may develop into a kind of a trance where you do mile after mile almost effortlessly. Or suddenly you are running together with someone on the same speed and a team has been born. The teamwork may be only running together in silence, with a deeper inner understanding or you may chat along as the miles go by.

For me the best experience was on day 5 which was also the start of the 6 day race. It was a beautiful day, no cloud in the sky, absolutely perfect. At some point in the morning while listening to some devotional kirtan music on my Ipod, suddenly my whole perception changed. I saw not only the few meters in front of me but I looked up and saw the whole course with all the runners. I felt the tremendous aspiration of all the runners and I felt absolutely one with it. I also saw and felt nature around the course as never before. The different trees, the leaves, the grass, the lake, the birds, with all the creation there seemed to be a direct connection or oneness. It was emotionally overwhelming and tears of gratitude were flowing. This moments in paradise lasted for several hours and it was clear that for that experience alone it was worth to have done the race.

night-time in the camp

The real challenge of the race came with the following days and strong long lasting rains that flooded many parts of the course and that at certain parts brought up associations with the legendary “Woodstock Festival” where rain turned everything into mud. There were times when it felt like an epic battle against the elements. Later, a very strong wind, further challenged body and mind and when you add the permanent traffic and noise from the 3 surrounding highways and close-by La Guardia airport then you can imagine the difficulty of the conditions.

“Keep moving”, told me Louis Rios - another old timer, is the secret of most of the great ultrarunners and this is what you have to remember in these moments. There was definitely something of a heroic spirit in the air.

In the end there is a deep feeling of accomplishment and gratitude. Gratitude also to the organizers, the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, and the many volunteers that spend days and nights at the race to make it happen.

10 days at Flushing Meadow- not always paradise but a spiritually very rewarding
experience.

Awards Ceremony Speech by Sahishnu

May 2010 By Rupantar LaRusso

Awards Ceremony Speech by Sahishnu for the Six and Ten Day Race 2010:

Dear Friends, Special guests, Excellencies, Esteemed runners,

Good afternoon, and welcome to the awards presentation of the 15th Annual Ten Day and 13th Annual 6 Day Race.

For the past week and a half the runners present have circumnavigated a course of one mile numerous times, against all kinds of elements, difficulties, trials in just getting to this spot from faraway lands, and the difficulties of constant motion on the body and mind. They have an obvious love for running, why else would someone invest so much time, effort, and expense to run in a park that floods, has the worldʼs craziest traffic patterns, is the most difficult venue to find in all of runningdom, and has a constant blast of wind at night that will freeze the skin on your face if it doesnʼt blow it off your face first. On top of that, Meadow Lake is tied to the ebb and flow of tides, so it will overflow its banks if the moon is
just right. Plus, no one in New York knows about this race, other than a few thousand likeminded devotees around the world who are also capable of doing races beyond the marathon distance.

So what is this race about. Runners sleep in tents or in big dormitories on cots or on the floor like refugees. They eat food and keep moving at the same time. They go round and round and round for hours, days, a week even, on the same flooded, perilous coarse. They run morning, noon, night, after midnight, 4;00 am, just about anytime. There is no prize money. there is no financial incentive. There is no logic to this behavior.

AHA

That is the point. They do this because they love, and they care. They care about movement, they love being better. They care about support, and love to help their own competitors. So then, this race is not just a competition. It is an inspiration. It might be tough, but its symbolic goal is parallel with the deeper, farther Goal- a life of Real Satisfaction, of Real Understanding, A life of Self-transcendence not only in oneʼs life but always, in all Life. Athletics has a way of helping an individual to reach his potential not only in the physical realm, but with many of lifeʼs endeavors. But extreme athletics has done more to help the athlete in the inner world.

So it is with this race. Dear Runners, you have shown us that dredging rains and blasting winds cannot stop you, cannot postpone your date with a better tomorrow, due to your self-determination and oneness. We thank you for all your performances and wish you Joy, happiness and peace-Inner and outer peace from your efforts.

Building and Day staff
Food
Medical
T-shirts
Photos
Web pages
Counters

And the last person to thank, but not the least, is Guru Sri Chinmoy. He single-handedly pushed us to offer these races for the public when they were seedlings or saplings. He has given us the concern and oneness needed to help and inspire the runners to reach their goal, if not their potential, in the running world. Thank you, Guru, for allowing us to offer 105 multidfays here in New York the last 25 years!

Victory, Victory,Victory!

Final Results 6 Day - 2010, Women

May 2010 By Medur Wilson

#	Runner	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6
	Dipali Cunningham	101	173	243	308	372	446
	day total	101	72	70	65	64	74
	Svitlana Samarina	63	116	169	219	272	326
	day total	63	53	53	50	53	54
	Sandra Tribulin	61	104	156	205	252	310
	day total	61	43	52	49	47	58
	Sophie Anderson	63	108	156	195	241	303
	day total	63	45	48	39	46	62
	Uljana Jevdokimova	53	100	150	194	240	285
	day total	53	47	50	44	46	45
	Niribili File	62	109	154	196	239	283
	day total	62	47	45	42	43	44
	Regina Plyavinskaya	51	93	141	183	230	278
	day total	51	42	48	42	47	48
	Liubov Stebneva	51	93	140	183	230	278
	day total	51	42	47	43	47	48
	Prasasta Armstrong	62	108	150	190	230	263
	day total	62	46	42	40	40	33
	Divyata Kryuchkova	53	103	143	180	220	261
	day total	53	50	40	37	40	41
	Tania Ryan	53	94	137	171	215	255
	day total	53	41	43	34	44	40
	Barbara Szeprethy	59	93	136	171	205	245
	day total	59	34	43	35	34	40
	Abhaya Field	55	87	129	163	207	245
	day total	55	32	42	34	44	38
	Rageshri Muzychenko	54	92	135	161	196	238
	day total	54	38	43	26	35	42
	Lydia Fischer	52	91	137	171	196	238
	day total	52	39	46	34	25	42
	Marianna Csillag	49	82	111	140	170	206
	day total	49	33	29	29	30	36
	Kate Condon	64	84	84	84	84	84
	day total	64	20	0	0	0	0

Back to 6 Day Home Page

Final Results, 6 Day - 2010, Men

May 2010 By Medur Wilson

#	Runner	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6
	Vladimir Balatskyy	93	163	224	283	350	422
	day total	93	70	61	59	67	72
	Smarana Puntigam	87	161	214	279	345	410
	day total	87	74	53	65	66	65
	Alex Swenson	108	157	245	298	366	396
	day total	108	49	88	53	68	30
	Markus Mueller	84	146	199	247	306	375
	day total	84	62	53	48	59	69
	Ananda-Lahari Zuscin	72	130	191	243	303	365
	day total	72	58	61	52	60	62
	John Geesler	104	159	217	267	320	365
	day total	104	55	58	50	53	45
	Dharbhasana Lynn	64	118	172	232	283	347
	day total	64	54	54	60	51	64
	Nikolay Duzhiy	90	155	207	246	282	330
	day total	90	65	52	39	36	48
	Bob Oberkehr	92	132	203	236	287	330
	day total	92	40	71	33	51	43
	Stutisheel Lebedyev	73	127	178	228	270	321
	day total	73	54	51	50	42	51
	Oskar Ganz	75	125	168	215	257	315
	day total	75	50	43	47	42	58
	Veaceslav Dodonu	65	125	179	233	279	313
	day total	65	60	54	54	46	34
	Andrey Bondarchuk	65	119	165	210	259	308
	day total	65	54	46	45	49	49
	Ales Pliva	77	118	167	205	253	297
	day total	77	41	49	38	48	44
	Allan Harman	65	106	150	202	239	286
	day total	65	41	44	52	37	47
	Pete Stringer	54	101	135	188	231	275
	day total	54	47	34	53	43	44
	Vladimir Lunev	72	106	147	178	207	256
	day total	72	34	41	31	29	49
	Oleksandr Nihalchuk 6	64	103	143	185	215	251
	day total	64	39	40	42	30	36
	Baridhi Yonchev	57	86	107	146	176	226
	day total	57	29	21	39	30	50
	Chanakhya Jakovic	55	91	123	156	191	222
	day total	55	36	32	33	35	31
	David Holt	87	120	155	155	155	155
	day total	87	33	35	0	0	0
	Marvin Skagerberg	46	66	78	96	107	114
	day total	46	20	12	18	11	7

Back to 6 Day 2010 Home Page

Final Results, 10 Day - 2010, Women

May 2010 By Medur Wilson

#	Runner	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7	Day 8	Day 9	Day 10
	Kaneenika Janakova	89	159	227	293	362	430	494	551	611	675
	day total	89	70	68	66	69	68	64	57	60	64
	Jayasalini Abramovskikh	77	144	209	275	340	400	462	520	582	644
	day total	77	67	65	66	65	60	62	58	62	62
	Manjula Boehler	66	130	195	260	329	392	445	504	565	631
	day total	66	64	65	65	69	63	53	59	61	66
	Elena Kareva	74	132	189	245	304	353	400	450	500	560
	day total	74	58	57	56	59	49	47	50	50	60
	Zuzana Docziova	73	123	176	226	280	330	380	434	492	556
	day total	73	50	53	50	54	50	50	54	58	64
	Nataliya Hlushchuk	80	136	190	241	291	338	385	435	485	533
	day total	80	56	54	51	50	47	47	50	50	48
	Nishima Knowsley	69	130	190	243	300	322	365	413	460	521
	day total	69	61	60	53	57	22	43	48	47	61
	Pratishruti Khisamoutdinova	63	111	159	209	257	300	336	370	412	444
	day total	63	48	48	50	48	43	36	34	42	32
	Sylva Stradalova	88	129	178	225	259	284	309	337	369	408
	day total	88	41	49	47	34	25	25	28	32	39
	Kushali Tarantsova	54	96	139	179	222	260	301	336	372	406
	day total	54	42	43	40	43	38	41	35	36	34
	Gudrun Freier	54	92	130	163	194	230	266	301	340	390
	day total	54	38	38	33	31	36	36	35	39	50
	Bigalita Egger	50	87	139	163	201	233	267	284	310	338
	day total	50	37	52	24	38	32	34	17	26	28

Back to 10 Day Home Page

Final Results, 10 Day - 2010, Men

May 2010 By Medur Wilson

#	Runner	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7	Day 8	Day 9	Day 10
	Yuri Trostenyuk	89	162	227	295	365	427	487	559	621	693
	day total	89	73	65	68	70	62	60	72	62	72
	Igor Mudryk	90	140	207	282	356	420	480	538	595	660
	day total	90	50	67	75	74	64	60	58	57	65
	Mykhailo Ukrainskyi	72	127	186	244	300	353	403	471	533	601
	day total	72	55	59	58	56	53	50	68	62	68
	Volodymyr Hlushchuk	98	167	234	292	327	366	412	471	531	595
	day total	98	69	67	58	35	39	46	59	60	64
	Alexander Kharko	74	127	183	238	293	338	389	443	500	551
	day total	74	53	56	55	55	45	51	54	57	51
	Shashanka Karlen	83	138	188	243	294	340	385	435	479	531
	day total	83	55	50	55	51	46	45	50	44	52
	Andrey Andreyev	69	123	168	217	262	309	351	397	458	527
	day total	69	54	45	49	45	47	42	46	61	69
	Michel Gouin	70	122	172	218	260	310	358	376	458	526
	day total	70	52	50	46	42	50	48	18	82	68
	Mark Dorion	85	135	182	229	280	327	371	417	461	523
	day total	85	50	47	47	51	47	44	46	44	62
	Frederick Davis III	86	154	192	250	292	317	381	395	461	505
	day total	86	68	38	58	42	25	64	14	66	44
	Syona Ionov	52	106	152	189	231	273	333	381	441	503
	day total	52	54	46	37	42	42	60	48	60	62
	Luis Rios	73	132	172	230	278	313	342	387	434	474
	day total	73	59	40	58	48	35	29	45	47	40
	Andrey Somov	64	114	156	197	240	282	326	367	408	451
	day total	64	50	42	41	43	42	44	41	41	43
	Barney McBryde	81	134	184	239	286	323	347	376	411	450
	day total	81	53	50	55	47	37	24	29	35	39
	Padyatra Komak	84	112	159	198	237	272	313	353	390	427
	day total	84	28	47	39	39	35	41	40	37	37
	Pradeep Hoogakker	65	127	165	209	238	276	310	345	379	417
	day total	65	62	38	44	29	38	34	35	34	38
	Don Winkley	62	112	165	215	265	301	326	348	365	402
	day total	62	50	53	50	50	36	25	22	17	37

Notes and Thanks from Mark Dorion

30 April, 2010 By Rupantar LaRusso

This year's Self-Transcendence 6 and 10 Day Races in New York's Flushing Meadows-Corona Park are over, but in my heart and dreams they continue...I am currently washing two week's worth of dirty laundry and chasing my kids around the yard.

A longer report is forthcoming, and hopefully should appear in ULTRARUNNING magazine, on multidays.com, and in ULTRARUNNING WORLD ( European ultra magazine).

Some brief notes (made in sloppy scrawl during long flight home to El Paso)

I wore out/trashed four pairs of Asics DS Trainers (2010 model), two my normal size 11.5, two size 12. I also finished off a pair of adidas adizero aces (this in a mere 520 miles of running). Note that those shoes all weigh less than 10.8 ounces in size 11.5 according to my scale. I had a pair of adidas supernovas (heavier, 12 ounces), but they were too stiff and hurt my feet after two miles. I wear all these shoes in training and in trail races too. Generally, I have trained and raced in lighter shoes for the past 39 years--but that's just me.

JG1_5183[1].jpg This was the first race in my life (200+ ultras, and an additional 800+ races dating back to 1971) where I have had a shoe sucked off my foot by aggressive mud! And this was a "road" race. Suffice it to say the south little loop along Meadow Lake was a mudbowl, and also featured ankle deep ice water and floating foot bridges at times.

Once again I am in AWE of the work put in by The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. Without the expert medical help of Dr. Meghabhuti, chiropractors Mitch, and Garesh, message therapists Yuri and Tomas, Nurse Bahula, I could not have stayed healthy and moving. One European runner and I remarked how some USA runners who were running themselves further and further into injuries still avoided going to the medical tent (European runner to me: "Why Americans don't go to doctor?!" Certainly the worst injuries in the races all befell Americans, and I count my blessings I was not among them.

Without the round-the-clock gourmet food cooked up by Nandana Lynn, Sushovita, and Crew, I would have run out of steam (there was never once a shortage of food, even when cold, wet runners crowded the cafeteria grabbing like wild wolves at anything hot and savory). As hard as their running task will be, my friends in the 3100 mile this summer will also get to enjoy the repasts of these wonderful, always-smiling chefs. Also Shakti, Nandana's 8 year old daughter, provided endless energy and entertainment for the runners (one night I swore there was a cardboard box moving slowly across the path--it turned out that a certain 8 year old girl was inside the box playing a joke on tired runners! Ha!).

One person in particular whom I feel doesn't always get the credit he deserves is Bipin Larkin, the athlete village architect, lead carpenter/electrician/plumber. He and his small but tireless crew (Pavol, Asankita, Rajpal and others) could be seen out in their heavy yellow fisherman's coveralls in the teeth of the worst storms, pumping out overflows, replacing cones and barrricades, hauling gas canisters and supplies back and forth, fixing leaks -- and seemingly never sleeping. I met Bipin almost 30 (thirty) years ago at a wonderful wintertime marathon he directed along the New Hampshire seacoast (it was cold but less stormy there in February than it was in April this year in Flushing Meadows!).

Some folks have asked me how the 10 day was different from the 6 day, and my initial response is -- it was just longer! The last two days in particular dragged for me, and I missed my home and family, but then again the wonderful group of international runners and helpers at the race are like family too. Also, after 40 years of running, racing, my body does not recover from day to day as in my never-tiring youth.

One recent list topic I thought about during the race was Yiannis Kouros's opinion thta real ultras--REALLY going beyond the marathon--start at 24 hours. I have run some very tough trail 50kms and 50 miles, BUT must admit I hear what Yiannis is saying. Running for days requires other skills not needed in a shorter ultra. A multiday is doable by anyone with enough determinationb and some decent training, but the ongoing mental battle is different from a race lassting less than 24 hours. I do feel certain "spiritual" and philosophical approached are needed in such an unimagineably long event (see my interview with Utpal Marshall on "Perfection Journey" blogsite).

My race ended Thursday at noon, but my next two days in New York were anything but restful. Friday I saw one of my favorite people, Don Winkley,we off (we managed to make it the 1/2 mile to the nearest Holiday Inn Express after the race before both succumbing to deep sleep). Then I drove through heavy traffic into NYC for a walk around Fort Tryon's lovely flower gardens before a fancy outdoorss dinner overlooking the city.

Saturday I met old friend Chanakhya Jakovic (now of Slovenia) for brunch at one of my favorite NYC restaurants, The Smile of the Beyond, where race director Sahishnu cooked up fluffy pancakes, eggs, fresh orange juice,...The good food was matched by the good company of many of the runners from the races. Then Dr. Jakovic dragged me all around on a historic walking tour of Jamaica (this included the endless 150th Street hill site of marathons years ago, as well as the 3100 mile loop), before my legs said "enough." Note that Chanakhya and two other runnenrs from the 6/10 day did the weekly 2 mile RACE around Jamaica High School early Saturday!!

After buying a sari for my daughter Amalia from "The Divine Robe Supreme" (store could have been in a Harry Potter set), foisting all manner of excess "stuff" on poor Sahishnu (luckily he seems to have a larage garage), buying MORE gifts at the Card Shoppe and wonderful pastries and coffee at The Panorama Cafe (site of many Guiness World records set by Ashrite Furman), and saying emotional goodbyes to my Russian/Ukrainian friends (a bunch of young Ukrainians shared the shelter/dugout I was in with me), I rushed to LaGuardia Airport.

As I sped past Flushing Meadows one last time, I had a mental image of Sri Chinmoy himself. I thank him for his vision in creating all these challenging and beautiful multiday ultras. Best wishes to all ultrarunners,

Mark Dorion

El Paso, TX

Sahishnu Takes a Breath and Summarizes the Races So Far!

29 April, 2010 By Rupantar LaRusso

Day 4
It might be spring but the Ten Day competition has heated up as Yuri Trostenyuk assumed the lead by four miles after a 69 mile day, over previous leader Volodymyr Hlushchuk. Igor Mudryk, also from the city of Vinnitsa in Ukraine that gives us Yuri T., had the best day with 75 miles. Kaneenika Janakova, the defending women's champ, moved into second overall- only three miles behind the gents.Fred Davis III has been holding onto fourth place for a few days with a strong and consistent running gait. Jayasalini Abramovskikh has remained in second place and matched Kaneenika step for step the last 36 hours, but somehow cannot gain ground on the lanky champion. The cool evenings and sunny, clear days have allowed the runners to stay on track- however, rain looms on the weekend that might carry into most of next week. Another test for our heroes of the pavement- and that is what they expect. Four men are battling for fifth place and higher, as competition is igniting dormant or hidden talents in many of the competitors.And with more than half the race remaining, things are getting interesting.

From Sahishnu's Notepad, Day 5

29 April, 2010 By Rupantar LaRusso

With the addition of the Six Day field igniting the flames of speed and stamina, our heroes of the Ten did glide along with a certain purpose today.Yuri Trostenyuk ran 69 miles to remain in front of the other 28 runners, but his grasp on first is giving way to the onslaught of Igor Mudryk, his friend and compatriot from Ukraine. Mr Mudryk sliced his way through tired signs of his own fatigue to garner 74 miles on a sunny,breezy weekend . The palpable energy helped Kaneenika Janakova remain far ahead of her competitors with another 69 mile day. She also creeped up to Yuri T.- only 3 miles separate the two leaders of the race.

Meanwhile, the start of the Six Day revealed speed in abundance on the men’s side. Newcomer Alex Swenson wisked his tall, thin frame around the loop with precision reaching 108 miles for the first 24 hours. He was four miles clear of American 48-hour record holder John Geesler and seven ahead of twelve-time champion Dipali Cunningham. Dipali is the undisputed Queen of Flushing Meadows. This park is the site of numerous records and overall triumphs by the thin Australian woman, who last year turned 50 but shows no signs of slowing down. The rest of the field did their best to stay close, but with diminishing returns. Swenson and Geesler are speed merchants in a sport of turtles, but also possess stamina and the will to maintain. Dipali, on the other hand, is a relentless runner who always seeks to find new ways to push herself, even without competition. The race for 144 hours should be an intriguing story as it unfolds lap by lap. Stay Tuned!!!

Curbside Stories by Utpal

27 April, 2010 By Rupantar LaRusso

Illumining and inspiring stories about our pioneer runners, handlers and staff.

Read about Dipali Cunningham: “It’s not easy to break a world record.” Once long ago Sri Chinmoy told this to Dipali Cunningham as she set one of her many world bests. It is also not easy to run 446 miles over 6 days as she did here in Flushing Meadow today.

And hear her audio interview...

For more on the following runners:

Alex Swenson, Manjula, John Geesler, Nishima, Shashanka, Smarana, Dharbasana, Barbara Szeprethy, Bigalita, Marvin Skagerberg, Fred Davis, Misha Ukrainskyi, Barney McBryde, Pete Stringer

Click on individual photo to hear audio interview...

Read about Yuri Trostenyuk: "To me it is an inexplicable mystery that the first 3 men in the 10 day race are not only from the same country, Ukraine, but also that they come from the same small city, Vinnitsa. If that were not enough to make you scratch your head in amazement, there are also 2 other citizens of Vinnitsa in the race...."

Read about Dipali Cunningham: "She is not just the leading woman in the 6 day race, Dipali Cunningham 51 from Melbourne Australia is the leader overall. In so many ways it is this race that is the focus for her of an entire years worth of training..."

What is it like for our runners and staff during the night: "When the sky is bright and the air is fresh and warm it easy to see how and perhaps why 68 runners would choose to be part of this amazing world of self-transcendence running. I am at the race now though in the dwindling seconds of a Saturday night, which in moments, will stride into the even inkier dark wet blackness of a dismal Sunday..."

Read about Alex Swenson: "He is the new kid on the 6 day block, but you would never know it. He is moving easily here around the course on this gorgeous Saturday afternoon without any signs of wear and tear. It is really hard to believe, as he runs so effortlessly now, that he has been at this for more than 24 hours.

About Smarana... "The very need to run is a primal aspect of our beings. It hearkens back to a long ago ancient time when the ability to run was an integral part of our makeups...."

Six Day Race Start: "At noon time today, the second great wave of runners stepped off from the starting line in Flushing Meadow. There were 40 in total and under bright sunny skies they set off on a journey that will not be completed until 144 hours have passed..."

About our cooks..."The race is heading into its 3rd day now and the sun bright weather of the past 2 days took a decidedly damp turn this afternoon..."

Some opening thoughts on the beginning of the race..."I don’t know what you did last night but I have a good idea what 29 ten day runners in Flushing meadow did. As the warm bright afternoon of their first day settled away and was replaced by a still cool night, the true enormity of their task truly opened up in front of them..."

Read about Igor Mudryk from Vinnitsa Ukraine : "There are times when you just know that something special is happening. The Self-Transcendence 6 and 10 day race is just a few hours old and already 36 year old Igor Mudryk from Vinnitsa Ukraine seems to be doing something above and beyond everyone else in the field.

Beautiful Flushing Meadow Park ..."The skies are fresh, bright, and clear over Flushing Meadow today. Below, by the rippling waters of Meadow Lake, the walkers and the gawkers are out and about enjoying an usually early spring. One in which the flowers have emerged much ahead of schedule."

Sahishnu Recaps the Race, Day 7

27 April, 2010 By Rupantar LaRusso

Like a good soufflé, the cream rises, steadily and unerringly. Kaneenika Janacova ,two-time defending women’s champion in the Ten Day race, whipped another day of 64 miles to take the overall lead by seven miles. What is most special about that day total is that she and her cohorts ran throughout the day of rain and the night of cold rain, punctuated by a spectacular thunderstorm that flooded everything in sight in Flushing Meadows Park. The men crept behind, led by Yuri Trostenyuk, with 487 miles,who keeps holding the lead from his other male counterparts , and Igor Mudryk, with 480 miles. Volodymyr Hluyshchuk is at 412 miles but is feeling the heat from young Mykhailo Ukrainsky who lurks only nine miles behind. Back on the distaff side, Jayasalini Abramovskikh has garnered 462 miles but feels pressure from behind by the multiday rookie Manjula Boehler of Austria, who is running a fine race so far with 445 miles

In the companion Six Day, Alex Swenson fromVashon,Washington has the three-day lead with 245 miles, closely followed by Dipali Cunningham, (243 miles)the perennial women’s champion who seeks to win the race overall again. In a bid for the top tiers sit two 3100 mile runners, Vladimir Balatskyy and Smarana Puntigam, both residents of Austria, who remain at 224 miles and 214 miles, respectively. At this point in the race six men and one woman are over 200 miles completed, with less than half the race remaining. With yet another 36 hours of rain expected, our heroes from both races must summon the willpower to continue on and fight the good fight. Yet, the outer race is still in question, the final places yet to be determined.