About the author:

Medur is our go-to person for many of the essential tasks involved in putting on our races: race setup, our lap counting system and our website. An enthusiastic runner himself, he has participated in many editions of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run in Canada and the US.

Indiana Invaders defend "triple crown" at Club Championships

07-04-2004

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Invaders successfully defended their "triple crown" win in the men's, women's and combined scoring at the USATF National Club Track & Field Championships July 2-3 in Bloomington, Indiana.

The Invaders posted 334 men's and women's combined points to the Greater Boston Track Club's 165, prevailing over 37 teams. Overall, 27 performances during the championships exceeded Olympic Trials qualifying standards, with three performances bettering the Olympic Trials "A" qualifying standard. The USA Club Championship record book saw eight meet records fall, with six of these performances turned in by the Indiana Invaders.

In men's competition, the Invaders won their second club team title on the strength of 10 wins - four relays and six individual titles. Greater Boston was runner-up, followed by the Kansas City Smoke.

In Invaders women's team won their third club title ('01, '03, '04), taking nine individual crowns and three relays. First Step Track Club of Jacksonville, Fla., was second, followed by Greater Boston.

Defending Olympic Trials heptathlon champion DeDee Nathan and former USATF intern Alex Sprague, representing the Indiana Invaders, earned Most Valuable Athlete honors, by scoring the most individual points at the Club Championships with 42.50 and 37.50 points, respectively.

Olympic Trials Qualifiers Hope Sanders and Zack Riley of the Invaders claimed Top Female & Male Performer honors. Sanders defended her national title in the club championships 800m with a record time of 2:05.11, while Riley landed an Olympic Trials qualifying throw of 69.88 meters for a new record in the hammer throw.

For full USATF Club National Track & Field Championship Results, visit: http://www.usatf.org/events/2004/USATFClubTFChampionships/schedule.asp

2004 Top 15 Teams in Overall Scoring:

1) Indiana Invaders 334

2) Greater Boston TC 165

3) First Step TC 138

4) Kansas City Smoke 81

5) Central Illinois TC 59

6) Lemans TC 53

7) Roland International 41

8) Lords of the Rings 40

9) ConnQuest 34

10) Mid Atlantic Elite 33

11) Nike Farm Team 30

11) Ashland Elite 30

13) Syracuse Chargers 18

14) Reebok Boston 16

15) Greater Milwaukee TC 15

Top 10 Men's Teams:

1) Indiana Invaders 167

2) Greater Boston TC 93

3) Kansas City Smoke 81

4) Club Northwest 54

5) First Step Track Club 45

6) ConnQuest 34

7) Central Park TC 23

8) Mid Atlantic Elite 22

9) Ashland Elite 20

9) Roland Intl 20

Top 10 Women's Teams:

1) Indiana Invaders 167

2) First Step TC 93

3) Greater Boston TC 72

4) Lemans Track Club 50

5) Central Illinois TC 36

6) Lords of the Rings 34

7) Roland International 21

8) Farm Team 16

9) Mid Atlantic Elite 11

10) Bruin Track Club 10

Cross-posted from us.srichinmoyraces.org

Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team articles - more articles

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.

In the 27th edition of the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence Race, Tswi Wen-Ya attained a new women's world record for the 3100 Mile Race, in a time of 45 days +12:28:44. The diminutive runner from Taiwan, overcame tiredness, heavy rain and numerous physical challenges to set this remarkable new record which involved running an average of 68 miles for 45 days straight. After a short victory celebration, she continued to set a new world record for 5,000km in a time of 45 days +14:56:42.

The race saw fourteen runners take to the start line, and each runner had their own unique experience of self-transcendence. The first place finisher was Andrea Marcato from Italy. it was his fourth consecutive 1st place in the 3100 Mile Race and comes after an amazing year which included two ten day races and other ultra-distance events. His time of 43 days+13:33:23 was not a personal record, but he joins the Finnish men's world record holder Ashprihanal Aalto for being the only runner with four consecutive first places.

Another notable achievement was 2nd place, Lo Wei-Ming (Taiwan) who covered 17 of the last 19 days in 71+ miles, including 14 days over 72.4 and 74.3 miles, with two days wrangling 79.4 miles. He averaged 68.343 miles/ 109.986 km per day. He then completed the 13 extra laps needed to reach 5000km in a sparkling time of 45 days+ 11:16:51. These top personal results are National records and Asian records.

The race was inspired by Sri Chinmoy who saw distance running as a unique challenge to bring to the fore all the inner and outer resources of the competitor. Sri Chinmoy taught the real goal was not the outer accomplishment, but the inner progress which can come from transcending our previous capacities, and remaining cheerful whatever happens during the race.

“We compete not for the sake of defeating others, but in order to bring forward our own capacity. Our best capacity comes forward only when there are other people around us. They inspire us to bring forward our utmost capacity, and we inspire them to bring forward their utmost capacity”

– Sri Chinmoy

The race inspired many people who both took part, but also who came to help or cheer on the runners. This video gives an insight into the thoughts, feelings and experiences of the runners

3100 Mile Race Feature on US National Public Radio

3100 Mile Race Featured on NPR

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About the author:

On 30 August 2023, the 27th annual Sri Chinmoy 3100 Mile Self-Transcendence Race began in Jamaica, New York, US. This year, there are fourteen runners are on the start list and it is set to be a great race.

The start list includes the winner of the 2022 Race (Andrea Mercato, Italy) and last year's first woman (Susan Marshall, New Zealand). There are also four new runners - Tsai Wen-Ya, Mahasatya Janczak, Adrian Papuc and Jason Lester who will be entering the 3100 Mile Race for the first time. Despite being experienced ultra-distance runners, there is nothing that can fully prepare you for this unique ultra-marathon event.

In order to meet their goal of 3100 miles (4989km) in 52 days, they must log an average of 59.6 miles (95.9 km) per day. The runners begin at 6 a.m. and run for extended periods throughout the day. If they want to, they can continue as late as 12 midnight when the course closes for the night. After completing the race, runners have the option of continuing on to complete 5000km.

For many years, the race was held in the middle of the New York summer, with scorching temperatures adding to the challenge. Last year, the runners had cooler temperatures but also had to contend with the tail end of a hurricane and frequent heavy, persistent rain. This year the runners will be hoping for more favourable weather conditions, but whatever the conditions, the runners will be ready to seek their own personal self-transcendence and seek to overcome the many obstacles.

Sri Chinmoy the founder of the race saw distance running, and this race in particular, as a valuable opportunity for the runner to seek a life-transforming physical and spiritual self-transcendence.