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.Sri Chinmoy Global Marathon—August 2020
“Life needs courage,
Courage invincible.
Heart needs oneness,
Oneness universal.”
Sri Chinmoy My Christmas-New Year-Vacation-Aspiration-Prayers, Part 23, #52
With the advent of the global pandemic, our lives have changed in many ways. This is also true of running clubs. However, when adversity shows its face, you can be sure that opportunities for personal progress will multiply! Thus, the global pandemic gave rise to Virtual Racing, whereby a runner can sign up for a race and compete in his or her own country, abiding by the local social distancing guidelines and the rules of the race, including course measurement and timing. Such an event is the Sri Chinmoy Global Marathon.
Inspired and guided by Devashishu in Great Britain, Prachar in Australia and, later, Bishwas in the U.S., we embarked on a new adventure in the form of this race, which became the 19th edition of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon at Rockland Lake, in a different form.
The almost 250 entrants, literally from all over the world, competed for positions in our standard prize categories. Winners will receive a ‘virtual certificate’, emailed to them. The choice of running courses was varied: across streams, around schools, on highways, though forests, on pathways in national parks, on local Sri Chinmoy Peace Mile courses and local 2-mile race courses. Some ran on the Rockland Lake Marathon course. Some ran on the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race course in Jamaica, Queens. Some ran alone. Some ran with friends, some ran in a more organized event, observing their local government guidelines.
When you look at the photos of these intrepid runners, with their many different nationalities and their varied courses, there is one constant: the sheer joy of accepting a challenge and doing one’s very best, in a cheerful consciousness. “Run and Become, Become and Run,” as Sri Chinmoy has written.
If you would like to add your photo to the Race Photos, or add additonal photos, please contact me at [email protected].
Here is the link to the Results Page.
Again, congratulations to all the runners and gratitude to the inspirers and helpers!
“Obstacles there are.
Again, eagerness and enthusiasm
Also are there To overcome all obstacles—
Present and future.”
- Sri Chinmoy Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, Part 11, #10,663
Thank you,
Rupantar Race Director The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team
August 27, 2020
