- Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team USA

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 Triathlon" (Press Release). October 13, 1980. Retrieved 2013-02-09. Archive copy at Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, Queens, New York.

"Lead positions shifted dramatically during each succeeding event in the second annual Sri Chinmoy Triathlon, held August 10, in Groton, CT. The arduous course consisted of a one mile swim, a 27 mile bicycle ride and a 10 mile run and few athletes were evenly trained in all events.

Winner Dave Fowler of Stamford, CT. was one of those who had gauged his capacities carefully and formulated a specific race plan. He participated almost unnoticed until the third event, the 10 mile run. Maintaining a steady 6:18 pace, he gradually moved up on the leaders until, at 8 miles, he passed leader Bill Black of New Canaan. Fowler pushed on for a time of 2:57:56 - the only competitor this year to break the three hour mark.

A number of surprises marked the sporting event, including the forced early withdrawal of last year's winners. 1979's first place winner Mark McIntyre dropped out during the swim, unable to withstand the unusually cold waters; women's winner Kiki Sweigart was kicked during the swimming start and forced to withdraw. A strong rip tide developed as the swimmers moved out into the bay and while the lead athletes missed the worst of it, many at the back of the pack were still struggling 45 minutes later. Boats pulled a number of swimmers out of the water at points several hundred yards behind the starting point.

Entrants were limited to 250 this year, due to course limitations. More than two thirds of the entrants finished the event..."

"Fowler Triumphs in Triathlon Test." The Running Tab, pp 16-17. 1980

The term 'triathlon' is a neologism coined to describe a sporting event involving three separate sports. Perhaps the archetypical triathlon is the 'Iron Man', in Hawaii, composed of a 2 1/2 mile swim, 112 mile bicycle ride, and a full marathon run at the end. Some consider the Iron Man arduous and perhaps a bit unreasonable. The Sri Chinmoy Triathlon in Groton on August 10 began with a one mile swim, proceeded through a 27 mile bicycle ride, and culminated in a 10 mile run...

This year's Triathlon was a success in large part due to the fanatical attention to detail paid by the followers of Sri Chinmoy.

"Tin Man Triathlon." Running Tab, October 1980.

Triathlunacy started with the Iron Man Triathlon in Hawaii, was popularized in Connecticut by the Sri Chinmoy Traithlon in Groton, and reached new levels of sophistication at the Tin Man Traithlon...