Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 06:32:53 -0500
From: Busch Bonnie
Subject: Cornbelt 24 Hour Run - potential records for William Allen

Pending ratification, William Allen, 47, of Prince Frederick, MD may have established two new American Masters Track records for the 45-49 age division at the 2008 Cornbelt Running Club 24 Hour Race. Bill potentially ran two new records finishing the 100 mile in 15:17:19 and the 200,000 meter record in 20:29:04. The current records, 100 miles in 15:20:45 and 200,000 meters in 20:34:48 were set by Roy Pirrung at the 1996 Cornbelt Running Club 24 Hour Race.

The 26th edition of the Cornbelt Running Club 24 Hour race was held 3-4 May 2008. Participants experienced a 45 degree start with upto 30 mph wind gusts and a periodic rain. The rain would push on before noon leaving the skies dark and overcast. The wind would continue until nightfall which brought lower temperatures with frost and freeze warnings but finally much less wind.

William ran consistent miles with an incredible focus all day. Jamie Donaldson ran into issues late in the race and concluded her day probably 5-6 hours before the 24 hours was up. Her 100 mile split was 16:45.

Finish Race # First Name Last Name City State Age Sex Final Miles
1 15 William Allen Prince Frederick MD 47 M 140.97
2 33 Jamie Donaldson Littleton CO 33 F 113.40
3 16 Juli Aistars Lake Zurich IL 49 F 105.07
4 1 Bonnie Busch Bettendorf IA 50 F 102.04
5 11 Patrick McCartney Knightstown IN 36 M 101.53
6 3 Mike Fitzgerald St. Louis MO 39 M 100.27
7 26 Scott Hoag DeWitt IA 41 M 90.79
8 22 Jim Perry Enid OK 58 M 87.14
9 8 Ronald C. Grimes New Castle IN 61 M 81.07
10 21 Jim Bys Marion IA 52 M 74.20
11 27 Karen Riddle Wichita Falls TX 55 F 71.48
12 17 Allan Holtz Oakdale MN 58 M 70.72
13 28 Ken Hawkinson Macomb IL 51 M 67.73
14 9 Catherine Ward Lincoln NB 48 F 67.44
15 30 Frank(Jim) Ingalls Wichita Falls TX 63 M 66.43
16 25 Tom Kenneke Davenport IA 55 M 66.17
17 34 David Donaldson Littleton CO 33 M 65.16
18 48 Jeff Snicker Davenport IA 48 M 63.14
19 24 Joe Barron Des Moines IA 45 M 62.64
20 6 Richard Golden Enid OK 61 M 62.38
21 7 Donna Creditor Normal IL 47 F 62.38
22 12 Patricia Barron Rock Island IL 51 F 62.38
23 31 Bill Mess Davenport IA 58 M 62.38
24 37 Cindy Heisdorffer Davenport IA 50 F 62.38
25 2 Jen Agena Merriam KS 36 F 50.51
26 39 Kelli Hoag Bettendorf IA 36 F 50.01
27 45 Aziz Uras Chicago IL 47 M 50.01
28 4 David A. Hughes Kokomo IN 62 M 45.97
29 5 Andy Lovy Kirksville MO 73 M 45.21
30 19 Donna McMurray Seattle WA 49 F 44.20
31 46 Anquing (Jason) Liu Bettendorf IA 16 M 40.92
32 38 Gary Yamane Powder Springs GA 51 M 38.14
33 18 Sheila Barron Solon IA 42 F 36.62
34 41 Glenn Steed Channahon IL 41 M 33.84
35 20 Jim Simpson Huntington Beach CA 66 M 31.57
36 23 John Mahon Coal Valley IL 70 M 30.31
37 40 Ann Marie Hayes Davenport IA 41 F 29.30
38 44 Junko Uras Chicago IL 49 F 27.78
39 35 Sharon Price Tulsa OK 51 F 27.02
40 32 Steven Barr Normal IL 51 M 26.52
41 36 Eugene Barker Louisville KY 77 M 26.27
42 14 Eric Herdman Las Vegas NV 41 M 26.01
43 13 Stephanie Herdman Henderson NV 35 M 13.89
44 47 Tim Snicker Davenport IA 20 M 1.01

Bonnie Busch

All info is available from the race website at: Sri Chinmoy Races

10 DAY RACERS OFF AND RUNNING IN THE BIG APPLE

At high noon Wednesday, the 13th annual Self-Transendence 10 Day Race started on the shore of Meadow Lake, Queens.

Several international stars to watch include Germany’s Wolfgang Schwerk (#2 all-time at 24 hours, 171+ miles), Slovakia’s Terezia Kaneenika Janakova (has done 648 miles in 10 days, 422 mi in 6 days), and young Australian veteran racer Sarah Barnett (600+ mi in 10 days, won recent South Africa 6 day, etc.). Last year’s 10 day winner, Petr Spacil of Czech, will toe the line Sunday for the accompanying 6 day race.

The 6 day– the most historic of ultras, with races in New York City alone dating back to 1880– in Flushing Meadows this year features an all-star top 5, with Petr being joined by last year’s winner Pekka Asprihanal Aalto (FIN), Takaka of Japan, Geesler of the USA and world road record holder Dipali Cunningham (AUST-USA). Dipali is shooting for her 11th consecutive title at this race (some of these wins were OVERALL ones),which would give her one of the longest event consecutive win spans in history. I believe (please feel free to correct) Ann Trason won 10 straight Western States women’ s titles.

These are the most international multi-day races in the world. Try to imagine what it would be like if we got the top trail and mountain runners from France, Switzerland, England, Italy, Australia etc. to come compete in a US trail 50 or 100 mile (I am aware that Sunmart has attempted this– all power to them).

You can follow the New York Self-Trans races at: www.srichinmoyraces.org
also: www.multidays.com

The runners appreciate any and all virtual cheers. If it is raining, and one’s feet have swollen several shoe sizes above normal, and 2 a.m., even the most mentally tough athlete can find it tough going.

Best to all ultrarunners,

Mark D
El Paso, TX

There is a updated list of runners on the Sri Chinmoy Races website

Next months multiday races will bring the total of multiday events that the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team have hosted since its inception in 1977 to 99.

This race will have special significance to the runners as Race founder Sri Chinmoy and running legend Ted Corbitt, recently passed away.

The popular 6 day event attracts the biggest international field for a multiday race in the world and this year sees the return in the ladies event of last years winner, Australian Dipali Cunningham and second place finisher Kaneenika Janakova. Last year Kaneenika set a new national Slovakian record extending her own best to 422 miles.
I had the chance to speak to her and ask her a few questions about her training. Read the article here.

Also Madhupran Wolfgang Schwerk is returning to New York to try his hand at the 10 day race along with Achim Heukemes another multiday expert.
More than 70 runners have started arriving in Queens for the 10 day race which starts tomorrow.

Checkout the race website at Sri Chinmoy Races.org

When do you begin to think about your 6 day race in terms of starting training for it?

1. As a matter of fact I usually start thinking about my next race during a race. It is because while running for hours and days I need to keep my mind occupied with something progressive. So I start thinking about my next race in terms of improving my performance and training is one of the very important aspects of this.
I start training as such about 3 months before, adding long runs and building up my mileage.

What is your weekly/monthly training mileage?

2. My weekly mileage during the 3 main months of training is between 55 – 90 miles.
In my current training I have been doing two long runs in a week, preferably two days in a row. So for example one day I run 15 miles and the next day 18 – 20 miles. I had done this before my 2nd 700-mile race in 2002 and it had helped me considerably in my endurance. I improved my performance by 22 hours.

The self-transcendence races have a spiritual philosophy underlying them, what ideas have inspired you and what does aspiration mean to you in terms of running the races?

3. The ideas of faith, determination, will-power, gratitude and self-transcendence as such have inspired me most during running the multiday races. Of course they are all very closely connected and they have been of great help to me to move on in a fixed direction, not in terms of surpassing others, but in terms of surpassing my own previous achievements.
There is another aspect of multiday races that inspires me tremendously: oneness. Oneness among runners, oneness among helpers and all those that are in some way involved in the races. It is that great and fulfilling feeling of oneness which makes me enter the races and keeps me going on.
And what does aspiration mean to me? Aspiration is absolutely necessary not only for my races, but also for my everyday life. I believe that without aspiration I would have had never been involved in ultrarunning or running at all. It is like an inner flame or an inevitable force that keeps me moving along the road and ultimately it will bring me to my goal.

What have been the most important aspects of your training that have allowed you to continue to progress?
4. The most important aspect of my training is – surprisingly – running. Just the simple act of putting those running shoes on and getting out of the door every day with a goal in my mind, is extremely satisfying. Being out there just me and the road (sometimes a friend or two joining me for a run), feeling the breeze on my face, listening to the birds chirping in the trees, these are the things that really can make my day and that is why I just feel like going out there again and again. And it is exactly this feeling of joy that helps me make progress not only in my outer running but also in my every day life.
Of course there are the outer aspects of training, like getting the right gear, the perfectly fitting shoes, balanced nutrition and often neglected rest, that help each runner in their progress. These things are certainly very important part of runner’s life.

How busy is the Slovakian ultrarunning calendar?

5. There are only two ultra-distance events being organized in Slovakia: Self-transcendence 6-hour race – organized by Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team and 50 km race – organized by Slovak Ultra-distance Runners Association. So for any distance beyond that the runner has to travel abroad. There are some ultra-distance races held in Czech Republic and Germany, which I have taken part in, but for multiday races I have to travel much farther then that.

Are there any other up and coming Slovakian ultrarunners?

6. There are some very talented ultra-distance male runners in Slovakia (three of them : Pranab Vladovic, Ananda-Lahari Zuscin and Pranjal Milovnik have repeatedly competed in the world’s longest certified race 3100 mile race in New York), but the female field of ultra-distance runners is rather limited – just up to 50 – 100 km.

A new and updated list will appear shortly on the Sri Chinmoy Races site.

Race starts April 23rd - May 3rd

Some longtime ultrarunners have pointed out that a supporter of, and timer at, various Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team events, the legendary Rich Innamorato of New York City and the Broadway Ultra Society, has also inspired, organized and directed HUNDREDS of ultras. Both men are heroes of mine.

Today, April 13, there was a special 12 hour racewalk in Queens honoring Sri Chinmoy.

By coincidence, a 6 day race in tiny Douglas, Arizona (200 miles west of El Paso/ Las Cruces), started today with 15 runners. I can’t provide any details (maybe someone can), but do know that in 2008 the spirit of multi-day, go-as-you-please running is alive and well around the world, with eight (8) different 6 day races I count on tap during the year. In addition there are various other multi-day races, with the longest I find being the Self-Trans 3100 mile that starts June 15 on the shady-treed paths around Edison High School in Queens.

Best wishes to all ultrarunners around the globe,

Mark Dorion
El Paso, TX, USA

La Petite Trotte à Léon - A new event for 2008
The first “full” circuit of Mont Blanc : 27-31 August 2008

After the main race, the UTMB®(Tour du Mont-Blanc), then the CCC® (Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix), born 2 years ago, a new event is appearing on the paths of the Tour du Mont Blanc: the Petite Trotte to Léon.

La Petite Trotte à Léon : 3 countries – 220 km and 17,000 m of + altitude change
A raid without rankings opening to 50 inseparable teams of 3 people over 100 h maxi

La "Petite Trotte à Léon" is an event for “inseparable” teams of 3 people (of which at least 2 have completed the UTMB®) with the aim of covering the full circuit of Mont-Blanc. That means 220 km with approximately 17,000 metres of height gain. This “ultra-hike” takes place in complete autonomy from the UTMB and CCC events, with rest and refreshments provided in the different refuges passed through.

La Petite Trotte must be completed inside the maximum given time of 100 hours; from 8am on Wednesday 27th August until noon on Sunday 31st August. Participants in the event will not be ranked. In fact, finishing the circuit is already a challenge in itself and a ranking could cause safety problems. However each team member to complete the course will receive a certificate. The team of three is inseparable from the start to the end of the event.

The organisation is at pains to point out to potential competitors the difficulties and dangerous objectives of this new event. The Petite Trotte à Léon will take places on paths far more “committing” than those of the UTMB® : narrow paths, very steep slopes, possible stone falls, land slips and risks of getting lost. Often taking place at heights of over 2,500 metres, the course can be a long way from any refuge and in cases of poor weather, route finding can be difficult. Finally, there will no other assistance other than that usually supplied by the refuges, except for evacuations where necessary.

Race Control set up from the Start and through the entire event will continually follow the progress of the teams. Each team will be fitted out with a GPS/GSM radio beacon sending out a signal approximately every 15 minutes. This information will also be available on the Internet and will enable constant viewing of the teams on Google Earth.

A little walk which has nothing to do with a little walk…

The course will follow mapped paths, but will not be specifically sign posted.
A 100% mountain and country course (less than 5km of made-up roads).
A specific road book, with all the maps at a scale of 1:25,000 of the definitive course of the Petite Trotte will be given to each runner in June 2008.

The course actually planned is as follows: Chamonix - Bel Achat - Servoz – Prarion - Col de Voza - Col du Tricot – Miage - Refuge de Tré la Tête - Col du Bonhomme - Col des Fours - Col de la Seigne - Refuge Elisabetta - Col des Chavannes - Mont Fortin - Col du Berrio Blanc (2848m) - Col de la Youlaz - Col Chécrouit – Courmayeur - Refuge Bertone - Mont de la Saxe - Col Sapin - Entre Deux Seaux - Col Malatra (2930m = the highest point on the course) - Col des Ceingles (2817m) - Col de St Rhémy - Col du Gd St Bernard - Col des Chevaux - Col du Bastillon - Lacs de Fenêtre - Col de l’Arpalle - Col du névé de la Rousse - Combe de l’A – Bavon - Praz de Fort – Champex (chez Léon) - Fenètre d’Arpette - Col de la Forclaz - l’Arpille - Le Trétien – Emosson - Col de la Terrasse - La Loriaz - Col des Montets - Lac Blanc - Col de la Glière - La Charlanon - Chamonix

Equipment
A list of essential (but not exhaustive) kit items required per team and per person will be checked at the start. This includes items such as a bivouac tent, a rescue pack, a digital device vouching for the presence of the three runners at obligatory points and at least one mobile telephone with an international option…
The team of three will have to remain inseparable (therefore united!) from the Start to the Finish of the event.

This new event is a major first.
An unforgettable and authentic experience for the runners.
Without doubt, about suspense, about emotion and about great sporting exploits!

Contacts :

The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®

Les Trailers du Mont-Blanc – Catherine Poletti
102 clos des Praz Conduits 74400 Chamonix Mont-Blanc
Tel : 33 (0) 04 50 53 47 51
Email: catherine.poletti@autmb.com
Web: www.ultratrailmb.com

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Francesca Nalesso The North Face - Pr Europe
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