The Sri Chinmoy Marathon

Rockland Lake State Park, Congers New York

Join an international field of runners from over 30 countries in this flat, fast, and scenic race!

Boston qualifier
Aid stations every mile, plus a well-stocked main aid station
All runners' laps counted
USATF certified course and sanctioned event
Custom race shirts*
Custom finisher medals
Post-race vegetarian meal
Free parking at race site (if in by 8am)
Bag check
Shuttle Bus from Manhattan available

About the event

Welcome to the twenty-second annual Sri Chinmoy Marathon, taking place on Friday, August 23, 2024, 7AM around beautiful Rockland Lake in Congers, New York - just 45 minutes north of New York City.

Sponsored by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in cooperation with the New York State Parks System.

All proceeds from this event support the Self-Transcendence 3,100 mile race.

View full race details >>

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Race video

Distance

Marathon
View course map »

Start time

  • 7AM

Cost

  • $60 through Jul. 31
  • $75 through Aug. 20, 5pm
  • $90 Race-day 6:00-6:30AM CASH ONLY

Contact

Sahishnu
718-297-2556 or (516) 710-8084
Send Email

Award categories

  • Male and Female:
  • Top 7: Under 50
  • Top 3: 50-59
  • Top 2: 60-69
  • First Place: 70 and over

Certification

  • USATF Sanctioned event, certified course (#NY21019DNB)

RACE DETAILS

Registration and Fees

Register online through RedPodium (small processing fee applies).  Register by mail - download entry form.  Entries must be received no later than August 18.  Registration also available through RunSignup and Active, but processing fees are higher.

Early registration: $60, through July 31
Late registration:  $75, through August 20, 5PM
Race-day: 6:00-6:30AM, $90, CASH ONLY

Entries cannot be transferred to another person.

 

The Course

A beautifully scenic, "Pancake Flat", USATF certified 2.95-mile loop around Rockland Lake.  The loop was repaved in 2020 and is flat, smooth, and free of potholes and cracks.

Marathon = 1 partial 2.64 mile lap, + 8 full laps.  All runners' laps counted.

View course map

Course records:  Men: 2:30:32-Bahadur Szabo, Hungary.  Women: Annie Heffernan, Boston,MA 2:37:24 

 

SHUTTLE BUS FROM MANHATTAN

Sit back, relax, and let someone else do the driving!

Our dedicated shuttle bus service from Grand Central Station, Manhattan direct to Rockland Lake is available for an additional fee of $35 roundtrip per person. The option is available when registering.

5:00 AM departure, return by 2:30 ~ 3PM. You must purchase shuttle seats in advance (no race-day walk-ups, sorry). The shuttle is open to non-participants as well - you can purchase additional seats for friends / relatives. Shuttle seats only (without race registration) can be purchased anytime on our RedPodium Registration page.  Please note that you must finish the Marathon in less than 6 hours in order to sign up for the shuttle.

Exact pickup point is E. 43rd St. and Lexington Ave., near Cafe Grumpy.  Map it >>

Bus will load at 4:45am and depart promptly at 5:00AM. Don't be late!!

 

Race Start

Race start is at 7:00AM SHARP.  Strictly no early starts.

All participants, including late starters, will be timed from the actual gun time, regardless of the runner's actual start time. Please allow yourself at least 7 minutes before the race to walk from the number pickup area to the race start.  The race clock starts ticking for everyone at 7AM, regardless of where they are!

 

Race Packets

Choose Packet Shipping when registering ($6.45), to avoid the lines on race day and have your shirt and bib delivered to your door before the race.  Option available to US addresses only, through August 12.  Packets will ship out en masse on Aug. 15.
For runners that do not choose packet shipping, packet pickup is available at the race site between 6:00-6:45AM.

To ensure your laps are counted and you are included in the results, please wear your bib visibly on your stomach or chest throughout the race, not on your leg, back or underneath a jacket.  If you would like to avoid pinning your bib to your jacket or top, use of a bib belt is recommended ($10 on Amazon)

 

Race Shirts

*Race shirts guaranteed for all participants that register by July 31.  Shirts are your choice of Unisex/Men's or Women's Fitted, in sizes X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and Unisex 2XL.   We will do our best to provide shirts for runners who register after July 31, but no guarantees - register early!

 

Aid stations

There will be three aid stations on the loop, approximately one each mile.  All will have water and Skratch Hydration electrolyte drink.  The main aid station, next to Race-Day Central, will have fruit, chips, snacks, etc.

 

Awards

Men and Women's awards categories:

Under 50: Top 7, 50-59: Top 3, 60-69: Top 2, 70 & over: First Place.

Custom medals for all finishers

Awards ceremony 12:15 PM.

 

Vegetarian Meal

Served starting at 11:30 AM.  There will be some vegan options also.

 

Time limit

7-hour cutoff (2:00 PM), strictly enforced.  1:15PM is the latest any runner can begin their final lap.  No early starts.

 

Age Restrictions

Runners must be 18 or older to compete.

 

Results

Will be posted here on our race webpage by the following evening

 

EVENT CANCELLATION POLICY

We live in uncertain times.  If we are forced to cancel this event owing to circumstances beyond our control, including, but not limited to:

  • New or modified COVID-19 regulations/restrictions imposed by park officials or city or state governments;
  • Unsafe conditions in the park, including severe weather conditions;

the event will be converted to a virtual one.  Registered participants will still receive race shirts and finisher medals in the mail upon completion of the virtual race, and trophies will be mailed to winners as per the awards breakdown above.

 

Race Credit / Refund Policy

Please view our policy here before submitting a request for refund or credit.

 

Directions & Accommodation

Getting There

*** NEW STARTING IN 2023:  PARK IN FIELD #4 AT SOUTH END OF LAKE***

Rockland Lake State Park is about 45 min North of NYC, off the NY State Thruway (Rt I-87).  There is no public transportation to the park.

It is a big park, we recommend using Google maps to avoid getting lost inside the park.

Plan to arrive in the park no later than 6am if you still need to pick up your race packet, and no later than 6:15am if you received your packet in the mail.

Driving:  Use this map link to take you directly to Parking Field #4, or type “Parking Field #4, Rockland Lake State Park” into Google maps.  DO NOT type in "Rockland Lake State Park" alone (without "Parking Field #4"), you'll end up in the wrong part of the park at the north end of the lake, 1-1/2 miles away from the race!  Field #4 is the large parking lot at the south end of the lake, accessed via the south entrance to the park.

After passing the toll booth* and entering the parking lot, immediately turn left and park as close to the northwest corner of the lot as you can (near the exit to the parking lot), to minimize walking distance to the race.

Walking from Parking Field #4 to Race-Day Central (Restrooms, bag check, medical, food, finish line, etc.).  Allow 10 minutes.  Click this link for route.  Or, you can follow these simple walking directions:  From the parking lot, walk towards the lake.  Turn left when you reach the paved pathway next to the lake.  Follow for 1/2-mile.  Race-Day Central will be on the large open grassy area on your left.  

If you received your race packet in the mail, you do not need to stop in Race-Day Central unless you wish to check a bag.

Walking from Race-Day Central to Race Start:  Allow 6-7 minutes.   Click this link for route.  OR:  Continue north along the lake pathway, pass the park restroom building on your left, continue another quarter-mile, you will see large “START” flags on either side of the roadway.

*IMPORTANT: All vehicles must enter the parking lot BEFORE 8AM to avoid being charged the $10 NYS Parks imposed vehicle fee.

 

Nearby Hotels

Green Inn Motel on the Lake 845.268.6836 is the closest accomodation, a very basic budget motel a mere quarter-mile north of the park entrance.  

West Gate Inn Nyack 845.358.8100 is about 4 miles south of the park, approx $110 for a double.

5 miles north of the lake are two small B&Bs in Haverstraw:  Bricktown Inn 845.429.8447 consists of four rooms in a Victorian era home.  Casa Hudson 845.219.1698 is an upscale B&B in a circa-1800s home with views of the Hudson River.

There are a few other options in the Rockland Lake area, but please check the overall rating and read reviews carefully before booking!

Please note:  There is strictly no camping in the park

 

Click here for more hotels in the Nyack area.

Carpooling

Those who don't have a car and need a ride and those who do have a car and wouldn't mind an extra passenger to help pay the gas & tolls and to reduce per capita emissions, could consider signing up to 511RideShare's carpool service(link is external) which will match you with others who are going to the same place at the same time as you are. 

Kindly note, the carpool service is operated by 511RideShare under terms set by 511RideShare and the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team assumes no liability or responsibility in connection therewith.