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

Where most of the year lie empty grass fields, annually they are transformed into the Race Camp, a tiny village complete with kitchens, showers, running hot and cold water, a camping area, dugouts, lap counting trailer, electrical generator, and toilets, all enclosed with 4 ft. high fencing.  Please continue reading below for further details

Lap counting forms the heart of the race.  Sri Chinmoy strongly felt the live personal communication from lap counters to runners adds significantly to the energy of the race and the overall runner experience.  As such, the lap counting station is staffed by volunteer counters and an announcer 24-hours a day during the entire race.  Each runner will hear his or her name and lap total announced each time he or she passes the lap counting station.

Accuracy is of utmost importance.  We utilize two counting systems in order to minimize errors:  1) Lap times are entered by hand on paper lap sheets for each runner, and 2) a separate semi-automated backup system wherein all runners’ laps are entered into a computerized lap counting system.

Please adhere to the following:

• Your race number must be visible and worn on your stomach or torso at all times (not your side, leg or back).  Use of a bib belt is recommended, $10-12 on Amazon >>
• Any anticipated time off the course, (medical, rest stop, food) which may last longer than four minutes should be reported to the lap counters beforehand, as these are recorded and must be part of the official record keeping.
• Absolutely no pacing beyond 200 meters of the counting station by anyone.
• Cutting the course at any point results in immediate disqualification.
• Minimum requirement of completing 27 miles / day to stay in the race.
• Any issues should be directed to the on-duty race director or lap counting captain for resolution.

There is a large analog scoreboard adjacent to the lap counting station displaying each runner with total mileage accumulated.  For the most part, the physical scoreboard is regularly updated (less frequently at night), but please note the scoreboard is not official, the lap counters maintain the official records.

There are digital scoreboards in the camp kitchen (along course) displaying all runners’ current total laps, mileage, and kilometers.

There are two separate kitchens: 

Runners Kitchen

Every day, three healthy, tasty vegetarian meals (including some vegan options) are provided self-serve buffet-style, for runners only, in the Runners Kitchen at these approximate times:  6:30 am, 12 noon, 7:00 pm.  Additionally, soup, hot drinks, various snacks, and Skratch Hydration electrolyte drink are available continuously.

Note: The rear kitchen area of the Runners Kitchen is for use by race cooks only and is off-limits to runners and helpers.

Meals for runners’ helpers are not included in the entry fee, but may be purchased on a per-day ($35) or per-meal ($12) basis. Please pre-arrange with the race director.

Camp Kitchen

This is a separate structure where runners and helpers can prepare their own food at any time, 24/7, and includes:  refrigerators, tables, stove, pots, pans, kitchen utensils, paper plates and plastic untensils, toaster, microwave, blender, sink with hot and cold running water, and a hot water urn.

Please:

• Label any items you place in the fridge with your name.
• Be considerate and clean up after yourself when finished – wash dishes, pots, pans etc., wipe tables, dispose of trash.
• Meat is allowed for non-vegetarian runners, but must be self-provided and cooked in the Camp Kitchen.
• Alcohol, Marijuana and drugs are expressly forbidden both by our race regulations and those of the New York City Parks Department.

In addition, there are many snack foods available continuously in the Camp Kitchen for all authorized helpers and race volunteers.

There are two showers in the shower trailer available to runners 24/7, with hot and cold water.  Please keep shower length reasonable.  There is a utility sink with hot and cold water on the side of the shower trailer

Affectionately referred to as the ‘Dugouts’ (it’s an American baseball thing…) these long covered areas with open fronts directly alongside the course provide each runner with their own small table space and a chair, for quick and easy access to a selection of their gear, and for short breaks.  However, as dugout space is limited, kindly observe the following guidelines:

• Two runners per 6 ft. table. (approx. 24” x 36” space per runner)
• All food and gear which does not fit on your half of the table must be stored in your personal tent.
• One chair per runner.  Plastic folding chairs are provided, bring your own chair cushion. Helpers must use their runner's chair if they sit in the dugout.
• No beds or reclining chairs are permitted in dugouts.
• Electrical outlets are provided for charging phones, electronic devices, etc.

• A medical tent is provided for limited medical treatment. It is supported entirely by volunteers so 24-hour coverage is not possible. 
• Between the hours of 7am and 7pm at least one MD is always present. Hours of coverage may be increased on a day-to-day basis depending on staffing availability.  Hours are posted daily.
• Massage is possible only when one of our very experienced volunteers is available. 
• The medical tent is divided into an area for men and an area for women. In order to assure privacy we request everyone use the appropriate designated area. 
• The medical area is dedicated to medical services and is not a rest area. Please rest in your tent. Generally, no more than 15 minutes is allowed per runner per medical break, and no more than 2 medical breaks per runner per day is a good guideline.

Sleeping quarters for this race are camping tents.  Please use the designated area of the Race Camp for this purpose.  We have a limited number of tents available to runners, we are grateful to those who can bring their own tent.  When registering, please indicate whether or not you need a tent.  Also see the tent guidelines section below for tent selection, and proper set-up.

RVs, camper vehicles, trailers etc. are not allowed in the park.

Race staff are unable to repair or rebuild tents during the race, so please adhere to the following guidelines for selecting and setting up your tent:

Tent size:   Tent height should not exceed 4 ft. / 1.5 m.  The most suitable tents are the smaller 1–2-person kind; the larger 6–8-person stand-up tents simply can’t handle the winds often experienced in Flushing Meadows in April, and sway heavily, dislodging stakes and covers.  In the past, some of these monsters have been flattened, torn and in a couple of instances, even blown into the nearby lake!

Waterproof plastic fly:  For a tent to remain dry during the seemingly inevitable rain storms it must have a plastic tarp as a waterproof fly.  This fly is NOT the one that comes with the tent; it is a separate additional waterproof plastic tarp that must cover the tent and go all the way to the ground around the perimeter of the tent, to prevent rain and wind from entering. A fly that does not cover all the way to the ground will leak water and flood the tent floor.

Waterproof plastic ground tarp:  Each tent requires a plastic ground tarp under it to prevent flooding. The plastic tarp must remain completely out of sight under the tent floor. (i.e. the edges of the tarp should not be visible). Ground tarps that extend beyond the tent footprint funnel water under the tent and flood the tent floor.

We have a limited number of plastic tarps available for use as flys and ground tarps

There is no electricity in the camping area.

Folding army-style cots and a limited number of wool blankets are also available for runner use, max 2 blankets per runner.  Blankets should not be used for chair cushions or foot rests.