Six-day race champion Petra Kasperova featured in new book

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.

Petra Kasperova from the Czech Republic, the winner of our Sri Chinmoy Six Day Race which took place this year in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York, was recently featured in a new inspirational book called Superhuman, by Rowan Hooper. The book looks at people who have achieved notable features of self-transcendence, and tries to answer what motivates them to reach for these goals. Petra finished this year's race with a total of 370 miles, at only her second attempt at running a multi-day event.

During the 6 day race, the runners can be out on the course for many hours at a time, and have to deal with numerous physical issues. Petra credits meditation with giving her the inner strength to overcome these obstacles.

I am certain I would never do so well in running if it wasn't for meditation and spiritual techniques that I have learned and applied during training and racing. The techniques can change from race to race and even during a race. I like to repeat mantras, qualities and prayers - that seems to help keeping my mind calm and focused. I try not to think at all, just to be focused. Repeating qualities like gratitude seem to keep my mind clear and make me more aware of what is going on inside of me and also outside of me.

Running is an integral part of Petra's life - she works in the specialist running shop Run and Become in London, where she advises runners on all manner of running issues. She often trains by running to work and back.

"I find that running has made me stronger, not just physically but on many different levels. It is always when we go outside our comfort zones, outside what we think is possible, when we transcend ourselves in any field of life (not just running), that's the time where we need to dig deep, and when we do, we get glimpses of who we truly are and who we really want to be – for a happy self and a happy world."

The winners of the 2018 Sri Chinmoy 6 and 10 Day Races: (l-r) Asprihanal Aalto, John Geesler, Ilvaka Nemcova and Petra

Petra's Victory in the Six-Day Race 2018 at Run and Become
Six-Day Race at Sri Chinmoy Races
Superhuman by Rowan Hooper at Amazon

Photos: Utpal Marshall. Perfection Journey

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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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About the author:

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