About the author:
Rupantar has been the race director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team since 1985, having been asked by Sri Chinmoy to serve in that capacity. As well as working on the big races the US Marathon Team organise each year - the 3100 Mile Race and the Six and 10 Day Race - he also spends a considerable amount of time archiving the Marathon Team's 40 year history on this website.
"London Wins 5 Divisions in 1st International Race" (Press Release). August 2, 1981. Retrieved 2013-01-28. Archive copy at the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, Queens, New York.
"London's M. Caldwell (age 28) came in ahead of 2,000 runners from 50 cities around the world to win the first annual Sri Chinmoy International 2-Mile-Run, held Monday, July 27. Caldwell finished in 9:00.
Four other London entries also won age division trophies in this first-of-its-kind race, making that city the over-all winner. The remaining division winners came from Toronto and San Francisco (two each); Victoria, Stockholm Edinburgh and Augsburg (one winner each) and Australia (two winners).
The International 2-Mile-Run is the first race ever to be held on the same day in multiple cities located around the world. Each individual race was sponsored by a branch of the international Sri Chinmoy running clubs. The run itself was held in honor of the sports philosopher and United Nations meditation leader Sri Chinmoy, whose 50th birthday is August 27.
Local winners were awarded regional prizes and international winners will receive their awards at ceremonies in their own home areas. Among the participating runners were Kathy Binns, the British cross-country champion (age 23) who completed the London race in 10:15; and the "Running Nun", Marion Irvine, who completed the San Francisco race in 12:30, winning the women's 50-59 division trophy.
