1994 Sri Chinmoy Ultra Trio Race Summary

On a patch of asphalt directly opposite the teeming metrpolis that is the BIG APPLE, surrounded by green lawns, sailing ships and passing oil tankers; beneath the monstrous suspension bridge anchored in three different boroughs, with the occaisonal overhead truck bashing a pothole on route to the Bronx or some unknown destination, lies a stretch of land that has become home to the annual gathering of runners that indulge in one of the few amateur pursuits still left on earth. It is Ward's Island, New York, a former Potter's Field, that serves as the venue for the running adventure known as the Sri Chinmoy Ultimate Ultra.

The 10th edition of the 1000 mile race would start two days later, amid gray skies and humid conditions. Silvia Andonie from Mexico had returned with a crew of seven, hoping to finish the only race that has stymied her in 12 years of international compettition. Last year she came up short with 918 miles. In recent years she has become an accomplished triathlete, having completed three, four, five and ten times Ironman Triathlon events. Monika Achenbach-Konig came from Austria well trained and hungry to repeat her triumph from last years' 700 miler. She felt 1000 miles was well within her capacity. Silvia and Monika had run together in last year's Trio, albeit in different races. This year their head to head encounter was one of the most exciting stories of the race. Monika posted 93 the first day, with Silvia close by with 86 miles.Veterans Nirjhari DeLong and Karin Bolliger were also in the field, ready to extend their ultra capacities and have fun getting exhausted. As the women were preparing to start, I sadly learned that Dan Coffey was dropping out after only two days. His hands were beginning to bother him, his stomach was worse, and he sorely missed his dearly departed mom. That night he grabbed a plane back home. A few days later Dan called from England to inform us that he had fallen down early in the race and x-rays revealed two broken bones in his wrist. With a cast on his arm and some sparkle in his voice, he declared his entry for next year again.

As the men's field was assembled for their start a day later, the women leaders in the 1300 were already approaching 300 miles. Suprabha was leading Antana by a scant five miles, and Al Howie had dug into half of the women's one day headstart lead.Al complained of having difficulty sleeping, which seems almost unthinkable when one considers that he had run for 20 or more hours every day since he started.

Marty Sprengelmeyer of Iowa, one of America's best multiday runners had returned to do battle in the 1000. Marty had lost his job earlier in the summer, so with time on his hands and his wife away at work, he trained heavily and was ready to get back some self esteem. The men's field included Don Winkley from Corpus Christi,Tx, who had finished first male in our Seven Day Race this past May, and Miki Shiraki, a young Japanese runner living in Kansas, who had once done 130+ miles for 24 hours, but was in totally unknown territory in such a difficult race as the 1000 miler. Runners would have to average 68 a day to complete the distance within the 15 day cutoff. Multiday runner,Trans Am race director and ultrarunning journalist Jesse Dale Riley of Key West,Fl. was back to test himself in the multiday arena; his summer of bicycle riding and chaperoning a group of awesome athletes across the breadth of America was perhaps the right training for his own endurance adventure. Chanakhya Jakovic from England and Bozidar Stavric from Yugoslavia rounded out the field of kilo men. Marty bolted from the blocks and ran a smooth 111 mile first day, pulling the nervous Miki Shiraki along in his wake(108 miles). The rest of the 1000 field was strung out 20 miles behind.

By the time the 700 women were to start, Antana Locs and Suprabha Beckjord has established themselves deep into the rhythm of the race. Locs especially looked fitter now than at the start of the race, with stomach ailments and a lack of training as only distant memories.She ran three straight days of 70 miles and was looking smooth . Suprabha still clung to a one mile lead. She looked confident, running as well as this observer had ever seen her after six days. The weather seemed to be cooperating this year as well, with only a few days of light showers or an occaisonal downpour. Last year the elements were relentless with 13 days of rain. The 700 field included Dipali Cunningham, the Australian speedster who won the 1000 miler last year; Dhvaja Dorn, the promising young Canadian in her second multiday, and Indu Tamborini, well trained and ready to improve on her performance in the Seven Day earlier this year. Also joining the field was running neophyte Mariana Nagy, a 21 year old from Budapest who had won the first ultra she entered- in Basel, Switzerland, this year - 115 miles in 24 hours. Cunningham took it out hard the first day and was never threatened. She ran a comfortable 104 miles, 24 ahead of her nearest competitor. Finally, a week after the 1300 milers had started, the 700 mile men toed the line. Two young rookies, Aleksandar Arsic from Yugoslavia and Andreas Puntigam from Austria began their first multiday, along with two over 60 men: New Yorker Dictino Mendez and pedestrian Method Istvanik. Walker Bob Wise rounded out the field of 25.

As the race was now in full swing, I began to wonder what made these people tick. Here they were, many from foreign countries(12),running their guts out, for no monetary gain, probably causing strained relationships both at home and work, and they were still enjoying themselves after so many long days and sleepless nights. The sheer love of the sport or the 'doing' part of it was the supreme release. Even if they didn't make the cutoffs or the total distance, to be able to say you were in it, way back in '94, was the real treasure. However, everyone has their own reasons for doing a multiday. One must conquer the course, conquer sleep, and remain clear in mind and spirit in order to finish these things. A multiday can be an escape from reality or a whole new world of understanding.

By nine days, Al Howie was still eight miles ahead of record pace, but was facing a real crisis. His inability to sleep had caused him to have letdown days- periods where he could hardly move. His left knee, the same one injured in last year's race, began to cause him considerable pain and problems. Al, being a consummate competitor, would not yield to the signs, but something was definitely wrong."I feel like a wounded animal. I feel like I've let ya down." was his explanation. In reality, his whole left side was rather weak and smaller than his right. His muscles were shutting down because of the imbalance. Just past 900 miles, he laid in his tent, exhausted, for nearly 36 hours before giving up the race. Luckily for the race, Al stayed on to count laps and make himself useful. Another sign of a champion. Nicola was nearly 100 miles behind Al at this point, but did not catch him for another 48 hours.

Meanwhile in the women's 1000, Monika had forged a 30 mile lead just before the six day split, and seemed to be in control of the race. She had no significant injuries and was headed for a strong finish. Silvia, however, was using a great strategy. Every night when Monika went down for sleep, Silvia would get on the course and whittle away at Monika's lead. By 700 miles, Silvia had halved the lead and was looking terrific. Each evening she would receive several calls from family and media people in Mexico, who were closely following her progress. She pleaded with her handlers to let her run undisturbed. Marty was on cruise control by six days. The distance scared Miki enough so that to chase Marty was now impossible. Don Winkley briefly overtook Miki for second, but swollen shins and an unquenchable sweet tooth seemed to pull him back to earth. Jesse plodded on only sporadically after making the cutoff, taking long breaks to rest his weary legs.

At this point Antana assumed the 1300 mile lead for good. She was ahead of her own Canadian 1300 record by five miles, reached 1000 miles for the sixth time in six years and was on pace to take a couple hours off the standard. Suprabha had set personal bests for 700 and 1000 miles and had just enough cushion to make 1300 miles under the limit. Dipali cranked 70 miles on her seventh day in the 700 miler. She would cruise to victory in a few days- the first one to finish one of the races.

The race always takes on a slightly different feel at this point. Those who are in position to finish can plan their breaks and dream about life in a hot tub or a vacation somewhere-anywhere, away from the racesight. Rest assured, they will finish. Those on the bubble- needing maximim mileage out of a nearly dead pair of legs - can only plod on, hoping for the best. And finally, the rest of the field can only look for personal bests or long painful walks in the park until race end. The cutoffs at six days and 700 miles always sift the wheat from the chaff, but the survivors , the runners left to continue on have a little bit more resolve and determination. Their noble qualities always shine through. This race is like a big mirror of life. But the recurring vision is always the same: that things will be okay, if we try, participate, help others and observe everyone's progress as our own.

During the evening of the 17th day, Silvia and Monika were virtually tied at 900 miles, but Monika elected to sleep her normal amount. This time Silvia slipped ahead for good, running a very smooth race throughout and finishing in great spirits in 14 days 18 hours. Her crew were ecstatic, hugging everyone in sight. Monika made to the finish line six hours later, happy and relieved, but perhaps capable of going even further. Dhvaja finished second in the women's 700, almost two days behind Dipali, but grateful for the experience. Later that evening Marty finished his 1000 miles in 14 days 8 hours, with everyone present to salute his unique self reliant approach and smooth style. This was his third completion of the kilo or longer in our race since 1987. During the night, Aleksandar and Andreas limped in to finish the 700, relieved that their ordeal had ended but changed forever in their own self evaluation. Hours later, the final survivors made it to the finish, with rainclouds threatening. Antana concluded her finish of the race with a huge smile,the first three time finisher in the lucky 1300- Eighteen days eighteen hours, and still able to smile. Suprabha made it under the 19 day cutoff as well in her third completion of the 1300 mile distance, her fifth time over 1000 miles in the last six years. Indu reached 700 miles, still looking at the slippery tarmac, her teary eyes telling the story. Nicola struggled in with his survivor shuffle- eighteen days and an ironic DNF, but ecstatic nonetheless.

Although the field was smaller this year than in past years, the total number of finishers from all three races equalled the highest total ever-ten people. But the lasting impression was the peaceful and serene feeling that was created by a group of athletes put to the test in a difficult situation of time constraint, endless miles and constant motion: ever the survivors, always the inspirers. Deep thanks must go to Sri Chinmoy for constructing the mirror that is the multiday mosaic in New York. Ten years of surviving and shining like a gem.

• Sahishnu Szczesiul

SRI CHINMOY ULTIMATE ULTRA

New York,NY Sept. 12 -October 1, 1994

One mile loop, paved, certified

(with 24-hr,48-hr, 6-day, 7-day,

700 mile, 10 day and 1000-mile splits)

Women 1,300 miles (19 day cutoff)

1. Antana Locs,35 CAN 18+ 18:49:42

(88,158,435,505,9+19:07:13,

714, 14+06:15:25 )

2. Suprabha Beckjord,38,DC 18+ 22:34:05

(93,162,436,506,9+23:01:30

703, 14+08:56:57)

Izumi Yamamoto,52, JAP 940 miles

(72,124,350,409,13+01:23:45,

3 starters

Men 1,300 miles (18 day cutoff)

Nicola Sinisgalli,44, ARG 1106miles

(79,150,413,476,10+10:30:06,

665, 15+11:11:30)

Al Howie,49, CAN 928

(105,187,479,562,8+23:50:10,

758 )

3 starters

Women 1,000 miles ( 16 day cutoff)

1. Silvia Andonie,38 MEX 14+ 18:52:38

(86,157,408,474,10+09:38:46,

674 )

2. Monika Achenbach-Konig,29,AUT 15+ 02:57:47

(93,167,435,500,10+04:14:20,

690 )

Karin Bolliger,29 SUI 731 miles

(79,129,328,373, 15+01:17:02,

498 )

Nirjhari DeLong,44,NY 731 mi

(80,132,325,368, 15+04:06:20,

486 )

4 starters

Men 1,000 miles (15 day cutoff )

1. Marty Sprengelmeyer,48,US 14 +08:00:20

(111,181,439,496,9+22:52:47

704 )

Miki Shiraki,38,KS 800 miles

(108,191,402,451,12+19:40:18,

595 )

Don Winkley,56,TX 700 mi

(82,151,408,459, 14+22:19:43

548 )

Jesse Dale Riley,31,FL 630

(67,134,363,395, 490)

6 starters

Women 700 miles (13 day cutoff )

1. Dipali Cunningham, 36,AUS 10 +05:32:58

(104,173,421,491, 679 )

2. Dhvaja Dor n, 27, CAN 12+02:05:27

(80,132,340,392, 565 )

3. Indu Tamborini,44,SUI 12 +20:49:11

(78,135,350,400, 551 )

4 starters

Men 700 miles (12 day cutoff )

1. Aleksandar Arsic, 29, YUG 11+ 14:30:29

(79,141,357,419,594 )

2. Andreas Puntigam,23,AUT 11+ 18:08:27

(75,136,369,420,592 )

5 starters