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.
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A woman won overall in the 700 mile race out of a field of 20 men and women. Suprabha Schecter, a petite blond boutique owner from Washington, DC, finished the 700 miles in 12 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes. She established an American women's record for this distance, which is the longest any American woman has run in a certified race. The 1,300 mile division was added to this race last year. Its stringent cut off of 18 days requires over a 72 miles a day pace and is meant for the most elite level of multiday runner. For the second year, no one reached the goal. Top finisher was German adventurer Stefan Schlett with 1,172 miles. On the way he established German national records for all distances from 6 days up. Canadian journeyman runner Trishul Cherns finished second, with 1,051 miles. Diplomats from Greece and New Zealand visited the race site, presenting Kouros and Ms. Barwick with trophies and greetings from their countries' government officials. When the race ended, Kouros and Barwick, along with the other runners traversed the one mile course one last time as honored riders in a large decorated float, while a band played songs written especially for the race and various runners. |
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Of the 39 entered in the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team race, from 12 countries, thirteen entered the record books, most with multiple marks. Many were 700 mile women, who have been entering the ultra distance ranks rapidly over the past few years. Sulochana Kallai, a Hungarian refugee who is now a Saks 5th Avenue skin care specialist, set women's 50 and over world records at 700 miles (12 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes) and 1,000 km (11 days 13 hours). Canadians Antana Locs and Barbara McLeod split their country's records. Ms. McLeod, at age 50, took all the open records from 48 hours (165 miles) through 6 days (393 miles) and Ms.Locs claimed the 700 (10 days) and 1,000 km (11 days 7 hours) splits... Richard Brown of England broke the British 6 day road record with 518 miles. Irishman Tom McGrath, a Manhattan pub owner, was seeking to raise $200,000 for UNICEF through pledges by finishing the 1,000 miles. He succeeded, running 1,000 miles in 16 days 22 hours and entered the record books with the 19th place world ranking. |
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