By Ashok Parulekar

NEW YORK (TIP): Some new world records were set in the just finished 52 days long Sri Chinmoy self-transcendence 3100-mile race.

The 3100-mile race was started by the spiritual teacher, peace visionary and athlete Sri Chinmoy to discover the limits of their capacities and to try to go beyond them.  Sri Chinmoy himself was an impossibility challenger.  He transcended his capacity in many fields such as meditation, music, literature, poetry, art, sports and weight-lifting. (see www.srichinmoy.org).  All his activities had one objective and that is universal oneness and peace.

Sri Chinmoy started this race 21 years ago and it is held every summer in which runners circle a single city block in a half mile loop, 18 hours a day.  The race starts at 6 a.m. and continues till midnight. They are expected to run about 100 km a day to finish the race in allotted 52 days.  The runners continue sometimes through extreme temperature, rain and pain.  However, the runners experience deep inner peace and make a lot of inner and outer progress.  This is something like ‘Tapas’ in India for spiritual progress.

This longest certified foot race is promoted by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team. Recently the New York Times wrote an article about this race.  A few years ago, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the London Times too had articles.  This year only five runners out of ten were able to complete the race by finishing within 52 days.  Vasu Duzhly from Russia was 1^st to finish on 47^th day,  Kaneenika Janakova from Slovakia and Nirbhasa Magee from Ireland finished on 49^th day.  Harita Davis from New Zealand and Yolanda Holder from USA finished on 52^nd the last day.

Now the world’s longest race is over but it will inspire many around the world for self-transcendence or go beyond their capacity and find fulfilment.