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1981 - An Amazing Outcome, a Historical Result

By Nirbhasa Magee author bio »
26 September

About the author:

Nirbhasa is from Ireland. He is an enthusiastic multi-day runner, having completed four times the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race - the longest race in the world.

Reminisces from Sahishnu Sczesiul....

The Second Annual Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Race was held on the same cinder track in Greenwich, Connecticut, from September 26–27, 1981. This race became the focus of the SCMT for nearly a whole year, even with our schedule packed with shorter races, half-marathons, full marathons and triathlons as well as a 70-mile event later in November on a road course. The field had grown from six to then 40 very good to excellent ultra-runners of all sizes and shapes. Bob Van Deusen, 33, from Portland, OR, held the US national record of 145 miles, and was primed to accent his first visit to the east coast with a win. George Gardiner from Hope Valley, RI, 39, was a fast runner and reigning US 100 mile record holder (13:22:09) looking to reach new plateaus. Cahit Yeter and Sue Medaglia, both from the Bronx, both at age 46, were primed to do well after good training, although Sue had only been able to run for two weeks prior to the event due to an injury in August.

The 40 runners were off from the start-line after a brief moment of meditation from Sri Chinmoy. The atmosphere was cordial in the beginning as the big field passed the counting area, with a pack of five fast runners continually lapping the rest of the field. The pack was left behind by George Gardiner, as he led everyone through 50km- 3:46:08; and 50 miles- 6:07:08- the latter a single-age US best. He even had the fastest time through 100 km - 8:09:39.

Ron Bomberger from Mannheim, PA was closest pursuer at the time, and looked very smooth three laps back. Jim Roser, 50, of Beaver Falls, PA stayed close to Ron, but was a mile and a half behind his friend as early places changed and shifted as heat and humidity grew a little in the afternoon. Bob Van Deusen tried to stay with the four or five easterners, but they were too fast for his pace, and any attempts to follow Gardiner in front seemed ill advised. Ron Berby from Ann Arbor,Michigan had stayed outside the five but kept his distance. Cahit Yeter, however, was in that pack and allowed the other runners to set the pace, his smooth style wasting little precious energy as the setting sun was covered with a few clouds. 

When Yeter had reached the 100-mile mark (13:49:24- best US 45-49 of the year) he had assumed the lead, with only Ron Bomberger, Jim Roser, Ron Berby and a slowing George Gardiner in formation behind him.  One of three women in the race, Sue Medaglia, was moving quite well and had begun following the faster male runners as the evening set in. She would get to 100 miles in an age leading 18:41:42 with no signs of distress. She was passing men and climbing up the scoreboard from fourteenth to eighth to fifth. 

Cahit Yeter was rolling during the dark, small hours of the night, focused on taking a new record for 200 km. The old record belonged to Bob Van Deusen (19:40:59). Cahit reached the mark in 18:10:56. He set his sights on new goals. 150 miles seemed possible, with 5 hours 49 minutes left.  He passed Al Howie’s North American record of 149 miles 706 yards with over an hour remaining. He held on for the whole 24-Hour duration, reaching 155 miles 1182 yards as the horn sounded, ending the event, With his wife and daughters looking on, Cahit basked in the lights of a North American 24 Hour record, national record, course and event record, and he moved into sixth place all time in the world for 24 hours.

Ron Bomberger held on for second place with a fine effort of 138 miles 1509 yards, a personal best and single –age national record. Ron Berby was able to hold off any challengers for third place with 133 miles 1093 yards, a huge personal best. 

Sue Medaglia laid claim to a new women’s world track record with 126 miles 763 yards. She eclipsed the mark set by Sue Ellen Trapp of 123 miles 593 yards. Sue also became the first woman in history to pass the 200 km barrier, reaching the mark in 23:41:08. 

As the race came to an end and the dust settled, 24 runners had passed 100 miles, the most ever in a 24-hour event. Numerous records were set, and the experiment of a race for a full day on a cinder and dirt track proved to be as surprising, challenging, difficult, silly, painful, breath-taking and wonderful, all in one full day of running. 


Comments from Runners

Below are some words from competitors who had their eyes and ears open to the whole experience. 

Bob Marshall - (in an article he wrote on the race, published in Ultrarunning magazine November 1981).

“There is always something special about Sri Chinmoy and his group. Through ultra-marathoning I have found what I consider to be an unparalleled inner contentment, yet I can only wonder in awe at the peace and love radiating from each of the Sri Chinmoy followers. At the far corner of the track two young women sang beautiful lyric songs about running and living. On nearly every lap I was greeted and cheered by name. When it was dark, the track was lighted with dozens of candles in white bags, which cast a mystical glow around the far turns.“

“The combination of the 24 Hour event and Sri’s race support group produced an unforgettable event, and fitting surroundings for the world class performances which resulted.”

“At the award ceremony I felt as we were all winners; it was tremendous! We sat in a circle and shared the moment- perhaps the first time that 24 runners bested 100 miles in a 24-hour race. World and national records were set by masters and junior performers. Sri Chinmoy composed a song that the group sang to us. Van Deusen and Yeter shook hands; Cahit had broken Bob’s American record for 200 km, as well as his national 24-hour record. Sri Chinmoy presented the awards. I had my brief moment, barely able to stand and accept Sri’s hand. Suddenly it was over- the greatest 24-hour race ever held on American soil. I’ll be back”

Ron Berby wrote an article for The Michigan Runner  a running newspaper that circulated throughout the state and the region.

 “ Sue Medaglia and I mumbled at each other where previously we waxed wit and frivolity. Survivors must consider survival. The chants of some of the support people began to mention self-pity and doubt. They sure knew where I was. At least someone knew. A couple girls held up a huge drawing of a smile. I needed a boost and got it by mugging an equally bright grin as I went by- still crazy after all those hours. 7:30am and 130 miles came nearly together. Suddenly, time changed. For 23 and one-half hours we had been trying to kill it. Now we couldn’t get enough of it. Runners ran faster. Walkers trudged. Limpers limped faster.

With 10 minutes left, Steve Vargo, a 5’7” stump of muscle from Erie, PA pulled up to me. He announced ’You and I are going to go fast.’ “We are? I exclaimed”. He answered by accelerating. He was right. We went fast………it took great concentration on form for me to go with Vargo. We ran the last mile in under 6 minutes!

Moments before I was going to sag, I heard a distant whistle and dropped the sandbag with my race number penned on it- and thankfully stumbled to a stop.  I found myself part of one of the clumps of humanity scattered around the favored quarter mile. There was a moment of profuse handshaking, hugging, laughing and crying. Vargo’s hug was like that of a shaved gorilla. I walked toward the official’s tent with arms raised and fists clenched. I heard someone screaming, “Wasn’t that something?!!! Wasn’t that something?!!! It turned out to be me.”


The 24-hour event was catching on, not only around the US but worldwide, as athletes chose to test themselves a various distances and in set-time events, like the one-day and even 48-hour affairs. On the extreme end of the sport existed the revival of the six-day races from the late 19th century, as well as point-to-point races from cities, or across states, or even across countries, as history would later reveal. Our humble 24-hour races began serving the running community by offering inspiration to the athletes, as well as building standards for race administration and implementation, especially in the care of the athletes during the races. Sri Chinmoy begged us to treat the athletes with the utmost respect and with a sincere concern for their endeavors. To this day, the ounce of care has been essential in the formation of good feelings among athletes in sport. 

In the Media

World and North American Records set in Second Annual Sri Chinmoy 24 Hour Run

By Rupantar LaRusso author bio »
25 September

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.

"Around the Country." Runner's World. December 1981.

"Two of America's finest masters runners set new 24-hour track records at the Sri Chinmoy Run on September 26-27 in Greenwich, Conn. Sue Medaglia became the first woman to break 200-K, reaching that mark in 23:41:08 en route to a world record total of 126 miles, 749 yards. Meanwhile, the overall winner, Cahit Yeter, like Sue a 46-year old resident of the Bronx, N.Y., set a new North American record of 155 miles, 1182 yards. The previous record belonged to Canadian Al Howie (149 miles, 706 yards). Yeter, a naturalized citizen born in Turkey, also set a new U.S. 200-K record of 18:10:56, bettering the previous best of 19:40:59 of Bob Van Deusen who also owned the accepted American 24-hour record of 145 miles, 408 yards."

flyer 24 hour.jpgMarshall, Bob. "Medaglia Passes 200 Km for 24 Hour World Record." Ultrarunning. November 1981.

(Greenwich, CT, September 26-27, 1981)

"There is a special quality abut a 24 hour race; a completeness in the full circle of time; an obligation to ration energy per hour rather than per mile. For a journeyman hundred miler, both the 24 hour and the 100 mile races seem to be, at the outset, nearly identical. But really they are two different tests. Milestones are measured in hours completed or hours remaining. The end is not reached cleanly or concisely at a finish line. The final relief approaches not in numbers of laps, but in minutes. There seems to be an interminable time lapse in the last few seconds. The last lap sprint of the hundred miler becomes, in the 24 hour, a sprint, a sag, maybe a half lap to go, another sprint, a half lap or so, can I keep it going? - finally, the end and the drop of the marker. We are deposited around the track like rag dolls scattered in a child's room. The earth has rotated once since we started.

There is also something very special about Sri Chinmoy and his group. Through ultramarathoning I have found what I consider to be an unparalleled inner contentment, yet I can only wonder in awe at the peace and love radiating from each of the Sri Chinmoy followers. At a far corner of the track two young women sang beautiful lyric songs about running and living. On nearly every lap, I was greeted and cheered by name. When it was dark, the track was lighted with dozens of candles in white bags which cast a mystical glow around the far turns. The group provided food: delicious homemade soup, fruits and bread, ERG, coke, water and coffee. A welcome respite for some of us was the first aid tent where one could receive an expert massage, blister treatment, or just a rest and a kind word.

yeter.jpg Cahit Yeter en route to his record breaking run. Photo: Bhashwar

The combination of the 24 hour event and Sri's race support group produced an unforgettable event, and fitting surroundings for the world class performances which resulted. Cahit Yeter and Su Medaglia provided classic examples of how to run an ultra - smooth, steady, knowing one's limits and staying just inside them. On my last laps, when I was locked in a friendly but desperate struggle to stay one lap ahead of Bob Sweetgall (the Delaware Madman of the Six-Day Race), I was unable to run with Yeter. It boggles my mind to think that he had run 50 miles further than I, a whole ultra further, yet I couldn't stay with him. Awesome!

There were some early front-runners who set a terrific pace George Gardiner hit 50 miles in just over 6 hours, and 24-hour veteran Bob Van Deusen ran well in the early going. But as the day wore on they faded, and by 100 miles, Yeter had a lead of over an hour on the rest of the field. Ron Berby, Ron Bomberger, Jim Sheridan and Ysau Shimizu turned in tremendous performances as well. I particularly remember Kim Cavanaugh's very gutsy race. She never quit, and kept moving for the whole 24 hours.

A most vivid impression of mine is that ultramarathoners, particularly those who run 100 miles and beyond, are the most unlikely of group of athletes in the world. The gaunt, sleek, smooth-striding look of the 10 km runner or marathoner is not to be applied to the group I ran with here. Physical appearances ranged from weightlifters to the plump middle-aged to the skinny. Running styles were even more bizarre - charging, flatfooted, shuffling, knock-kneed, pigeon-toed, race walking, upright and hunched. The one common denominator is the mental toughness, the strength and desire to drive one's body through a twenty-four hour endurance test.

ckg corbitt at 24 hour race_0.jpg Sri Chinmoy (l) with ultra legend Ted Corbitt at the awards ceremony of the Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Run. Photo: Shraddha Howard

At the award ceremony I felt as though we were all winners; it was tremendous!! We sat in a circle of friendship and shared the moment - perhaps the first time that 24 runners bested 100 miles in a 24 hour race. World and national records were set by masters and junior performers. Sri Composed a song which the group sand to us. Van Deusen and Yeter shook hands; Cahit had broken his American record for 200 km, lowering it from 19:40 to 18:10:56, as well as his national 24 hour record. Race director Tarak Kauff announced the awards and Sri Chinmoy presented them. I had my brief moment, barely able to stand and accept Sri's hand. Suddenly it was over - the greatest 24 hour race ever held on American soil. I'll be back."

medaglia.jpg

Sue Medaglia, in her first 24 hour race, sets new world 24 hour track record and becomes the first women to break the 200K barrier in 24 hours. Photo: Bhashwar

Ultrarunning adds:

Sue Medaglia and Cahit Yeter, both 46, both from the Bronx and both running in their first 24 hour event each took home two records in winning the Sri Chinmoy race. Yeter, a well-known veteran ultramarathoner who ran two excellent 100 mile times this summer, took over the U.S. lead in the 24 hour and 200 km events, taking both marks away from Bob Van Deusen. Medaglia captured the same two records, held by March Schwam and Sue Ellen Trapp, respectively, but her performance was good for two world records. By running 126 miles, 749 yards (203.462 km), she became the first woman to surpass the 200 km mark in one day.

At age 46, Sue hopes that she can inspire other older women, who might feel that such an age is too advanced for competitive running. Though she has run many, many ultras, including a win at the 1980 Old Dominion 100 Miler, she wasn't aiming for a record in this race. An injury hampered her summer training, and she began specific training for the 24 hour only in September, putting in one stretch of six 20 mile days. During the race itself, she cruised easily through the first 100 miles without walking, but then, like most other 24 hour runners, experienced a loss of energy. She took a walking break, but then continued on, hitting the 200 km mark in 23:41:08. Future plans? Sue will continue to run ultras, but breaking 3 hours in the marathon is a major goal.

results 24 hour.jpg

 

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