About the author:

Medur is our go-to person for many of the essential tasks involved in putting on our races: race setup, our lap counting system and our website. An enthusiastic runner himself, he has participated in many editions of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run in Canada and the US.

In order to provide the best possible experience to runners and helpers alike, we offer the following guidelines:

COUNTING:

Counting forms the heart of the race and accuracy is of utmost importance. With each lap, the runner should hear his name called and make visual contact with his assigned lap counter. Your race number must be worn and visible at all times.

  • There is a new counting shift approximately every 6 hours. At shift changes, your new counter should make his responsibility known to you.
  • Absolutely no pacing beyond 200 meters of the counting station by anyone.
  • Cutting course at any point will result in immediate disqualification.
  • Any anticipated time off the course, (medical, rest stop, food) which may last longer than 4 minutes should be reported to your counter, as these are recorded and must be part of the official record keeping.
  • Runners will be responsible for their own wakeup.
  • The score board is NOT official. Your lap counter maintains the official records. Any issues should be directed to the on-duty race director and not the lap counter for resolution.
  • There is a backup scoring system via video.

STAFF AND HELPERS:

The staff members of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team hope to serve the runners as best they can. They are there for the general support of all of the runners, as well as for the administration of the race. As such, they can not serve as individual helpers to any runner. By all means, runners are encouraged to have dedicated helpers during the race, who can service their specific needs. Except in rare instances, a Race Director is always present on the race course. Should any special problems or needs arise, kindly contact the on- duty Race Director.

RACE DIRECTOR SCHEDULE:

  • Bipin Larkin: 8 am - 6 pm
  • Sahishnu Szczesiul:6 pm - 1 am
  • Sandhini Fitch: 6 pm - 1am
  • Rupantar LaRusso: 1 am - 8am

FOOD SERVICE AND KITCHENS:

There are two kitchens on the course: a dedicated Runners' only kitchen and a general Camp kitchen. The Runners' kitchen is for the exclusive use of the runners, and only the runners. Three healthy, tasty vegetarian meals are provided for runners on a daily basis. Meals are provided cafeteria style. Coffee, tea, sodas, water and mineral replacement drinks are also available. Snacks are available all day long. The Runners' kitchen is accessible for the runners around the clock. However, the morning, afternoon and evening meals will be served at approximately the following times:

Morning: 6:30 am; Afternoon: 12 noon; Evening: 7:00 pm.

Helpers may purchase food on a per day basis or per meal basis, should they wish. Purchased meals should be pre-arranged with the Race Director. Purchased helpers' meals will be served separately from the competitors' meals, in the Camp kitchen. As mentioned, the meals provided are vegetarian. Meat is certainly allowed on the course for our non- vegetarian guest runners, but must be self-provided and cooked in the Camp kitchen. Alcohol of any sort is expressly forbidden both by our race regulations and by those of the New York City Park Department. A second kitchen, the Camp kitchen, is for the convenience of handlers, race helpers (and the runners if they wish). Special foods brought to the race by participants may be stored here. Tables, a stove, toaster, microwave, blender and a hot water urn for preparation of foods are available. In addition, there are many snack foods available for all authorized helpers and race volunteers. As with the Runners' kitchen, if you use this facility, please be considerate of others by cleaning up after yourself. This includes washing anything you use...pans, blenders or whatever; wiping off tables; and removing any trash.

DORMS:

Community dorms are provided for men and women. Please note that dormitories are strictly segregated by gender. Because they are communal in nature, please be considerate to your dorm mates with regards to cleanliness of the area and clothing. As much as possible, try to honor one another's personal space, needs and resting habits.

THE DUGOUT:

The dugout is a long covered area with an open front adjacent to the race course. It is located directly across from the kitchens. The dugout area is provided to give runners quick and easy access to their gear. However, space is limited and we must adhere to the following guidelines.

  • Two runners per table.
  • No beds or reclining chairs are permitted in the dugout area.
  • One chair per runner. Handlers must use their runner's chair if they choose to sit there.
  • All food and gear which does not fit on your half of the table must be stored in your personal tent or dormitory space.

MEDICAL SUPPORT:

  • A medical tent is provided for massage and specific treatment of injury. Please be aware that medical is provided in large part by volunteers who may not be professionals but are very good at general massage and kindness. Therefore, it may not always be possible to receive immediate professional help for specific injury.
  • Medical support will be provided for as many hours a day as possible, including evenings and night if staff is available. However, because it is supported by volunteers, it may not be available 24 hours a day. Medical hours will be posted.
  • The medical tent is divided into 3 areas: men's; women's; and a mixed area for husbands and wives. The men's/women's area is exclusively for men/women respectively.
  • The medical area is dedicated to medical services and is not intended as a rest area. Please rest in your tent or dorm space. 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.
  • Nutritional supplements may be provided to runners on a per need basis. These supplements must be administered by the medical staff only. Under no circumstances should "bottles" of any supplement or medication be taken from the medical area.
  • Ice packs are generally available.

TELEPHONE USAGE:

The official race telephone is for race administration business only. We are requesting all runners/helpers to provide their own cellular phone for their personal usage. Unfortunately, in the United States cellular charges accrue when making a phone call and receiving a phone call. Therefore, the race number not to be used for personal calls. In the extreme case, should the race telephone need to be used, by all means, it must not leave the counting station. It must not be taken on the course"for a lap." Again, should the race phone be required for personal usage, the runners must provide a phone card for all long distance and international calling. Phone cards will be available for sale at the counting trailer.