1993 Sri Chinmoy 7-Day Race

The heat of the first day did not hamper the game plan of local favorite Trishul Cherns, the transplanted Canadian who is a fixture at nearly every ultra race in the area. Cherns, claiming the Seven was just a training run for the monster 2,700 to be held in the fall, will never back down if he's in good shape. He knocked off an easy 103 miles, keeping clear of Charlie's 90 and the surprising fitness of Baltimore's Bruce Holtman. Men's second place was secured by Bob Evinger after the first day, a position he never relinquished for the whole race. Suprabha and Barbara got out quickly for the ladies, but Dipali Cunningham was running the smoothest of all.

Day Two is when the race starts to separate the men from the boys. In this race, the women hung close to the top men. Trishul began to establish a solid lead with his sleep deprivation tactics. Charlie had decided not to give chase, but then his knees and feet started to betray him. Faced with five and a half more days of the same, he turned in the towel and bade a quiet goodbye. A lackluster winter of training can ground any high hopes of survival. Training can't easily be rememebered by the body and lungs- fitness can sometimes be an elusive ring on the multiday spiral.

Suprabha has been in the multiday wars for a long time. She has developed into one of the world's best at distances that scare the average runner. In this race she was faced with the challenge from the other women as well. Barbara McLeod, who has never done very well in warmer weather, showed great staying power and closed within ten miles of the lead. Dipali, the speedster from Austrailia, has been developing her skills at the longer races. Her experience and skill paid off, not to mention a very consistent training program of high mileage and fast paced runs. By four days, it was apparent that Dipali's footspeed would triumph over Suprabha's steely determination. It was not until a few hours past the six day split, however, that Dipali finally overtook the champion, who lay drenched with fatigue in her tent.

Back in the men's race, Cherns easily withstood any challenge from Bob Evinger. By Day Four the lead was nearly 30 miles and Trishul was almost impossible to catch. Meanwhile, the trailrunners Fishman and Baglione were finding life past 30 hours almost appealing, and Carl Stelman was having a great time, shin splints and all. Most of the runners were having a good time, sharing stories and making new friends with comrades and helpers alike. One of the favorite hangouts is the medical, where a good footbath and fresh taping is an evening ritual and a road junkies' luxury.

In the middle of the afternoon on Day Four, poor Bruce's life was shaken back to reality, as he learned of his mother's passing. Everyone's heart went out to Bruce, as he hurriedly packed and left. It was as if we had lost a family member,too. Such is the life at a multiday. Your surrogate family of runners and helpers often becomes so closeknit, that the real world often seems far away or just a dream. Doing a multiday is not just about running and totalling as many miles as your body can produce. It's more of a chance to become aware of your own quiet self as the hours and days pass. For 168 hours, you place yourself in a vulnerable position of accepting whatever comes, and allowing your own best feelings to arise from within. Seeing your name on the scoreboard every mile reinforces the notion that it really is a dream-"How could I have done so much ?/ so little?" -- "where have the seven days gone?" Whether one does well or poorly is not the bottom line. As Ed Fishman, the oldest rookie (69) we 've had in a while said during the race," It's all a game, so I'm trying to have fun and not be a party pooper." Once again a HURT man sets the record straight. (HURT- Hawaian Ultra Runners Team)

Back at the front, Trishul cruised to victory with 534, third highest total in race history. He definitely has the makeup and experience to challenge the 2700 miler. I think the shorter mileage requirements will help him limit injuries and conserve energy in a two month race. Trishul has now won a five , six and seven day race in his long ultra career. Bob Evinger, second overall with 515, set a PB by 75 miles at 6 days with 450, and showed a smooth style and cool demeanor throughout. Carl Stelman led the Sexagenarian charge in this race with his first multiday of 369. He could easily have had 70 more miles if it were not for painful shinsplints. Ed Fishman and Chanakhya Jakovic had solid efforts, as did Simahin Pierce and Dan Baglione. For the ladies, Dipali has risen to the ranks of the best women still doing multidays. Her 501 miles, though not a record, was seemingly done quite easily. She merits attention in any future ultra race she enters. Suprabha, although relegated to a rare second place, still deserves our appreciation. Remember, you can't win them all. She is now thinking of two months on the road.

Barbara McLeod set personal bests at 6 and 7 days, breaking many Canadian and North American age group marks, after several years of high level competition. Ruth Greher set a personal best by 80 miles and will probably be filling up the age group record books for years to come. It is not easy to stage multiday events, particularly in the middle of the Big Apple. But with runners like these nineteen warriors, the task is easier and very worthwhile. Good luck to anyone who runs an ultra. We'll see you in September!

• Sahishnu Szczesiul

Sri Chinmoy Seven Day Race Ward's Island Park, NY City one mile certified, flat loop ( with 24hr, 48hr, & 6 day splits)

1. Trishul Cherns,36,CAN 534 miles (103, 183, 468+1258yd) 2. Bob Evinger, 37, OR 515 ( 95,172, 450 ) 3. Dipali Cunningham,34 AUS 501 ( 94,162, 421+513yd) 4. Suprabha Beckjord,37,DC 490 (100, 169, 422 ) 5. Barbara McLeod,55,CAN 455 (95,158, 404+1156yd) 6. Ruth Greher,51,NY 436 436 (76, 133, 373 ) 7. Carl Stelman,62,NY 369 (72, 129, 323 +06yd) 8. Simahin Pierce,45,AUS 360 (86, 134, 304+1122yd) 9. Bob Wise,53, KS 353 (63,114, 301 ) 10. Ed Fishman,69, HI 351 (63,117, 314 ) 11. Chanakhya Jacovic, 39,NY 337 (65,110, 290 ) 12. Michael Purwins,35, GER 335 (63,122,290 ) 13. Nirjhari DeLong,42, NY 334 (71,126, 287) 14. Dan Baglione, 62, CA 302 (58,101, 257 ) 15. Pete Coffin,47, UT 252 (72, 115, 237 ) 16. Roy Jones,42, PA 210 (40,77, 177) 17. Bruce Holtman,MD 210 (86,150 ) 18. Charlie Eidel, 45, NY 124 (90,124 ) 19. Cynthia Jones,32,PA 112 (25,45,100 )

19 starters