On Sunday, October 14, 2007, only three days after Sri Chinmoy’s passing, 130 ultra-distance runners gathered in beautiful Sunken Meadow State Park in Long Island, New York, for the 8th Annual Six Hour, 60th Birthday Race sponsored by the New York Ultra Runners Club. Rich Innamorato, who heads Broadway Ultra Society, another local ultra running club and offers his services to this 6 hour race, paid his respects to Sri Chinmoy on Saturday night.

I asked him if I could make an announcement about Sri Chinmoy’s passing and dedicate my race to Sri Chinmoy with a moment of silence. He gladly accepted and he introduced me at the starting line of the race on Sunday. He started with some kind words about the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team and the inspiration of Sri Chinmoy in the running world, especially his contributions to ultra running. He said, “But Sri Chinmoy represents more than just running events, he was a spiritual leader and great humanitarian.”

As I offered my short tribute to Sri Chinmoy and his life of service, not only to runners but to seekers in many walks of life, the tears started to come. I stopped myself, reminding everyone that Sri Chinmoy had a series of races called ‘Runners are Smilers’, and I would try to smile with them as we ran for the next six hours. A woman named Mary then came up unexpectedly after I spoke. She went on to say that Sri Chinmoy also inspired people to run track and field. He sponsored Masters Track and Field meets that she participated in, never having run on a track before. She was so thrilled that she broke the tape in a 200m race in her age category one year and offered the credit to Sri Chinmoy who inspired her to run in these meets.

During the race, if I looked too somber, occasionally a runner would see me and tell me to smile. A few runners said they were touched by my speech and offered sympathetic appreciation for Sri Chinmoy during and after the race as well. While I ran I tried to invoke gratitude and compassion along with the energy of light and peace which Sri Chinmoy inspired through his creative, athletic and spiritual contributions to humanity. I think runners can especially feel this and relate to his philosophy of self-transcendence as they themselves challenge their own fears and limitations, especially in a long run such as this.

After the race, many runners came to me to offer their condolences and goodwill. Mary, who spoke at the start, offered a bouquet of flowers in honor of Sri Chinmoy. Some of the runners had tears in their eyes even though they may not have know Sri Chinmoy that well or never really met him. His influence in inspiring runners, especially long distance runners, reached far and wide in the hearts of those who challenge themselves to run.

As we begin to adapt to the loss of the physical presence of such a great man and spiritual leader, we realize that his legacy shall live on long after physically leaving this earth. As we run and move forward in positive and dynamic ways, we are reminded of one of Sri Chinmoy’s many running poems and songs, ‘Run and Become’. The words are as follows:
“Run and become.
Become and run.
Run to succeed in the outer world.
Become to proceed in the inner world.”

Indeed, Sri Chinmoy has run speedily in his long and illustrious life of service to humanity. He has also become the most prolific God-lover and God-server, as he inspired thousands upon thousands of people to transcend themselves in all walks of life, whether it is through sports such as running, or the arts and even in their own faith.

In gratitude for encouraging my running for all these years,
Arpan DeAngelo

Bogár János won the 212km Ultrabalaton competition. The Hungarian runner crossed the finish line two minutes before the Greek World Champion Yiannis Kouros on the 212 km Ultrabalaton competition arranged by Szupermarathon Ltd. At the women’s race Bontovics Tímea won before Claudia Illetschko.

Bogár János, the winner of Spartathlon in 1991, was leading on the first 70kms when Yiannis overtake him at Keszthely, and ran 2-3 minutes before the Hungarian competitor at half distance. The night has weakened though the 24 hours world record holder & four times Spartathlon winner Yiannis and Bogár managed to get back the lead at Siófok. On the last 60 kms Yiannis got nearer several times to János, happened to be only one meter difference between them, but Bogár never let the lead out from his hands any more and had a finishing time of 18 hours 50 minutes, two minutes better than Yiannis’.

In the women’s competition Bontovics Tímea won hands down with more than one and a half hour.

Results:

http://www.ultrabalaton.hu

http://www.transrockies.com