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.
"7-Day Race." Brochure. May 1991.
4th Annual Sri Chinmoy 7-Day Race, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY. May 6-13, 1991. The Sri Chinmoy 7-Day Race was inaugurated in 1988 as an expansion of the Sri Chinmoy 5-Day Race. There were 15 starters (in 1988). Marty Sprengelmeyer won with 527 miles, just ahead of the women's winner Suprabha Schecter, who had 521 miles. Suprabha's mileage in that race is the event record for women. Within the 1988 event Barbara McLeod, 51, of Ottawa set Canadian women's open age records for 6 days (393 miles) and 48 hours (165 miles). In 1989 there were 21 starters and Al Howie won with 511 miles. Suprabha won again for the women with 470 miles, somewhat off her previous year's form. Suprabha redeemed herself later in the year, setting a new women's world record at 1,000 miles. The 1990 race, with 21 starters, was won by Canadian Al Howie, who set a new event record with 530 miles. The women's division was again won by Suprabha, this time with 500 miles. Within this event, Dictino Mendez, 62, set the USA 60 and over 6 day record of 375 miles.
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"Eidel and Schecter Win 7-Day Race." (Press Release). May 13, 1991. Retrieved 2013-03-28. Archive copy at Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, Queens, New York.
New York City, 13 May - Charlie Eidel of Gardiner, NY won the 4th Annual Sri Chinmoy 7-Day Race with 550 miles, a new race record. Claiming the women's title, undefeated for the 4th time, was Suprabha Schecter of Washington, DC with a new women's race record of 523 miles. En route, a Canadian women's 6-day record was set by Antana Locs of Montreal with 437 miles - ten miles over the previous record. Antana's' final mileage, for second place in the woman's division, was 508 miles.
This was Eidel's fourth attempt to win he 7-Day Race. He moved up from a middle-of-the pack finish at its first running in 1988 to second place in both 1989 and 1990. This time, he told his three daughters, he was going to bring home the trophy! 'They gave up a lot,' he said, 'while I was out running badly enough, and are willing to work every day. But it was a lesson I wanted them to learn: if you want something badly enough, and are willing to work for it, you can obtain it. Never give up!'
The front pack of five men and two women all had numerous multi-day races and wins to their credit; the tough competition pushed mileage up rapidly. Eidel was in top form and went out fast. Schecter, women's world record holder for 1,000 miles, tied with Eidel through the first day (105 miles), then worked from a close striking position (second place overall) for days 2 through 5. Eidel pushed on steadily, never giving way, and the mileage told on Schecter. By day 6 Schecter was forced to drop her pace and Canadian ultra distance record holder Trishul Cherns made his move, claiming second place overall and a finishing score of 540 miles.
Antana Locs en route to a new Canadian women's 6-day record with 508 miles. Psychiatrist Andy Lovy keeps in character even near the end of his seven day race!
