Dipali Cunningham Inducted into AUTRA Hall of Fame

About the author:

Tejvan organises short-distance running and cycling races for the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team in his home city of Oxford. He is also a very good cyclist, having won the National hill climb championships in 2013 and finished 3rd in the National 100 Mile Time Trials in 2014.

Dipali Cunningham was inaugurated into the newly renamed Australian Ultra and Trail Runners Association (AUTRA) Hall of Fame in May 2024. She joins 17 other distinguished Australian ultra runners and is the 5th female to receive this honor.

Dipali Cunningham after a 10 Day Race — Dipali Cunningham after 1000 Mile Race

Dipali Cunningham has a distinguished ultra-distance running career. During her long career, she has clocked over 30,000km. She won the Self-Transcendence 6-Day Race every year between 1998-2015. Other notable achievements include:

2001 - set 6 Day Road World Best of 821.862km. (510 miles)
1997 1000 Mile Race-First Place (Australian record) - 13 days+20:18:40
1998 women's world best on the road for six days with 504 miles.
2001 women's world record on the road for six days with 510 miles.
2004 women's age group 45-49 world best for six days with 479 miles.
2009 women's world best on the road for six days with 513 miles
Dipali currently (Aug 2024) holds open Australian records for the 500-mile, 1000-mile and 6-day.

After the award ceremony during the AURA AGM, Dipali gave full credit to Sri Chinmoy for her running achievements., She said she didn’t run for records “but for Self-Transcendence and with a child-like heart, just as Guru taught”.

“Go beyond, farther beyond!
Do not limit yourself
By comparing yourself with others
Or even with your own self.”

– Sri Chinmoy

According to the AURA Hall of Fame website,

“Australia can be proud of its ultra running heritage and very accomplished ultrarunners. AURA has been recognizing these runners by inducting them into the AURA Hall of Fame, a practice initiated in 2004.”

Video of Award Ceremony

Further reading

AUTRA article by Annabel Hepworth
AUTRA Hall of Fame website
Dipali Cunningham at Sri Chinmoy Races

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About the author:

The 27th annual Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence Race 3100 Mile Race began on 30 August and will run for 52 days until it finishes on 20 October. This year fourteen runners took to the start line to take part in the ultimate test of ultra-distance running.

The race was founded by Sri Chinmoy, a keen runner himself, who felt there was a strong connection between both physical and spiritual self-transcendence. As the runners testify, this is a race which brings to the fore all their inner reserves and determination; it can be life-transforming experience for both the runners and helpers.

In this year's race, the runners include Asprihanal Aalto from Finland, a nine-time winner of the race and current course record holder in a time of 40 days+09:06:21. Also returning to the race is Andrea Marcato, who has won the past four editions of the race. Another three-time winner is Vasu Duzhiy from Russia. Other returning 3100 Mile runners include Stutisheel Lebedev (Ukraine), Grahak Cunningham (Australia), Ananda-Lahari Zuscin (Slovakia), Wei-Ming Lo (Taiwan), Pushkar Mullaer (Switzerland), Nina Huang-Lan Yang (Taiwan). There are also three runners attempting the race for the first time. Budjargal Byambaa (Mongolia), Annabel Hepworth (Australia), and Radu Budan (Moldova).

As well as the eight runners, there is a crew of dedicated volunteers who put on the race, including counters, medics, cooks and the organising crew.

3100 Mile home page - with Web Cam and race director's videos.

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The 26th Sri Chinmoy Ten Day Race April 17-27 2024
The 25th Sri Chinmoy Six Day Race April 21-27 2024

Both races utillized the loop course at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the second year of the former course measured at 0.747979 mile/1.203577km,. The course is mostly flat and very similar tomany of our previous running courses that had acquired several multiday race performances over the last 24 years, minus the two and a half years during the Covid pandemic.

The recovery of the Sri Chinmoy 10 Day Race, which started in 1996 , was a joy for the running world that discovered long distance events the last several years, both in the US, and in Europe as well.

The Ten Day garnered 18 men and 6 women taking quick use of the course and a semi-quiet park as the noon-time start on April 17.

The quickest runners would most likely run the course with their best days ahead of them. Multi-time winner Budjagal Byambaa from Mongolia led the fastest fellows along, but the fastest lady Annabel Hepworth was set to lead many runners .

The typical Spring weather patterns began as rain arrived about two or three hours into the event. Still, the runners continued on their assault for miles and kms. Just before the sun disappeared, the rain disappeared but the runners continued to test the course and their own forward movement. Budjargal lead throughout the first night, and by the first 24 total arrived, he reached 112.9 miles/ 181.7kms. Chia-Hung Wei from Tiawan came through with 109.9 miles/ 176.86kms. No surprise, as third overall was Annabel Hepworth, the Australian with 99.4 miles/ 159.97kms. Another surprise was Benjamin Torok from Hungary, who reached 94.9 miles / 152.74kms-moving well in his first ever 10 Day.

The runners always seem to develop a true concern for their own runner-friends, both new and formerly previously. We were so fortunate to have numerous helpers who worked the lap counting, making tasty food, and a solid group of men and women medical providers. Checking foot and ankle problems, and just getting through a long or overnight running test.

By the time of three complete days had passed, the 10 day runners kept their movement as steady and regular as possible. In a day later, 9 more runners would join the frey, so there was more solid efforts to fill the course.

The end of Day 4 showed Budjargal still in the front, and Andrea Marcato was solid in second place. Radu Budan from Moldova was solid in fourth place, and Annabel Hepworth was at 305.9 miles/ 492.298 km.

As the Six Day Race began for the 25th time, the leader Ashprihanal Aalto from Finland assumed the position as head of the group, reaching 108.45 miles/ 174.54km in the first day. Abhejali Bernadova from Check Republic led the ladies with 78 miles/ 123.98 km.

The Ten Day Race had more intense efforts that showed great movements from the top 10 or 11 runners. The air was pleasant, the rain stayed away, but runners did not stop. Budjargal threw down 84.5 miles on Day Five, and moved over 70 miles ahead of second for the men. Annabel Hepworth continued her powerful movement and placed fourth overall , and nearly 80 miles ahead of second lady Gesiane Nascimento of Brazil. Alex Ramsey from the US, and Benjamin Torok from Hungary was really putting up a real test to move into fifth or sixth place for the men. By the eighth and nine day efforts they were only a few miles apart. Each of the two men were really enjoying the test of finding more miles and more joy in becoming great distance runners.

The total of runners who reached 1000km+ became seven, as six men and the top lady showed us all they are in a great place. Budjargal made it to his best ever, reaching 817.5 miles/ 1315.6 km. He passed his previous best of 810 miles in 2018. Second place came to Andrea Marcato, the Italian who reached 743.4 miles/ 1196.3km. Third place reached the Taiwanese hero Chia-Hung Wei. It was another personal best for him as he reached 709 miles/ 1141 km. He surprised himself!

Fourth place overall was our top lady - Annibel Hepworth, 685.1 miles/ 1102.5 km. She reached a PB, a national W50.

Fifth place was Radu Budan, setting a PB with 646.2 miles/ 1039.9 km.

Fifth place for the men, sixth overall was Alex Ramsey. Another personal best of 623.8 miles/ 1003.9km. And finally, the Sixth mail and seventh member of the 1000km group was Benjamin Torok, who reached 623.0 miles/ 1002.6km.

There were also several other PB’s in the Ten Day. One of the most remarkable was the fourth place for the women- Tamara Babich

From Katachstan, who at age 73 reached 483.7 miles/ 776.7 km.

The Six Day Race also had excellent performances. Ashprihanal Aalto won overall with 436.1 miles/ 701km. Abhejali Bernardova reached 344.8 miles/ 554.8km. And last but not least- 86 year old Don Winkley from Texas, USA-m completed 148 miles/ 238.1 km, after five days (his plane was delayed a day by heavy storms in the South west.)

As always, thanks to all the runners for testing themselves in any way possible, and all the helpers keeping our multiday races continuing on the lists in the US as well as in Europe. Good Luck to all

Sahishnu

Photographs from