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.
When the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team started using the one-mile loop not only for ultra races but for all of our races many runners were upset and refused to run our races. However, today, the loop is a common practice for many races, for both shorter races and ultra races. Hear what Roger Callahan had to say about the one-mile loop during the 1984 Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Race.
Nick Marshall: 1984 Ultradistance Summary, p71. "Roger Colahan did 115.10 miles and said, 'It was fascinating to watch Kouros running by himself. Since we were on an enclosed mile loop, you were constantly aware that he was moving at an incredible pace, never appearing to slack off and totally within himself, never acknowledging anyone else. It seemed I spent the entire 24 hours with him passing me. I was only vaguely aware of the other runners who would ultimately cover 20 or 30 more miles than me, because Kouros was passing everyone with such regularity.'"