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Self-Transcendence 10 and 6 Day Race 2004 race reportCunningham and Jakelaitis Reign AgainOn Wednesday, April 28, twenty-three runners started off on a journey of 240 hours- the Ninth Annual Self-Transcendence Ten Day Race had begun along the confines of Flushing Meadow Corona Park and the famous Meadow Lake with its lilting willows, magnolias and waterfowl, topped with sailboats, peddlecraft, and a constant breeze from the northwest. The winter had been long and hard, and with the runners bundled up, another multiday in New York had begun.Its companion event-the Six Day- would start four days later. Event record holder Rimas Jakelaitis,48, was rejoining the fray after a hopeful training season without mishaps, but his knee had a tendon problem that required future surgery. Nonetheless he ticked off 121 miles in the first 24 hours, only a few miles behind his record pace of 2001, when he reached 901 miles in ten days. Trishul Cherns,47, the bionic Canadian multiday specialist, and Martin Vladovic, a young lion from Slovakia, gave chase. Rimas continued his uneven gait, a time-tested shuffle that brought him another 88 miles on Day 2, and a 64 mile lead, clear of the pack. Lenka Svecova led the ladies with 82 and 150 mile totals for one and two days. She looked in complete command and healthy from a good winter of training in the Czech Republic. Dorothea Vogeli from Switzerland tried to keep within sight of Lenka, should the younger Czech falter. Day three was good to Rimas, as he managed 91 miles and a total of 300. The rains were not too heavy, and the temperatures remained cool and pleasant. Ric Marini from South Africa moved into a second place tie with Trishul after four days, but both were 89 miles behind Rimas as spring showers peppered the area. The showers subsided before the start of the Six Day, as 30 more runners joined the one-mile loop course and their weary brethren of round-the- clock running. The running village burst with energy as 52 runners were now on the tarmac. The previous six ‘shorter’ events have had their share of drama and triumph. David Luljak,who had set a men’s event best of 541 miles during the constant rains of 1998, was back, along with Dipali Cunningham, women’s champ and undefeated at six days. Cunningham holds the women’s world road best of 510 miles, set in 2001. She was fit and in a new age group(45-49), hoping to continue her string of championship performances. Ashprihanal Aalto, the lithe Finn who had won the previous two six day events he had entered, toed the line for the men with 22 other hopefuls, many dipping into the unknown waters of multiday running. Cunningham blasted 106 miles the first day, three ahead of Aalto, and was never threatened for the overall lead. Meanwhile, Rimas maintained his huge lead with 70 miles on Day 5 at the halfway point, but his chances at catching his own awesome performance of 2001 were flying away. His knee was beginning to bother him as a relentless shuffle was replaced by a wrenching amble in the park. He managed a somewhat meager(for him) 44 miles on Day 6. His total for six days of 484 miles was still excellent, just not his best. The 600 miles he ran in 2001 are indeed a standard that few have ever reached, many only dreamed about. Rimas was nearly 90 miles ahead of his closest competitor, and sensing a need to conserve energy and his fragile knee, he slowed his pace and took some longer breaks. By the end of 8 days, Lenka Svecova had climbed into second overall in the Ten Day, and was 66 miles behind Rimas. In the Six Day event, Dipali was 53 miles ahead of the men and only three miles behind her world best effort of 2001, but began to feel a head cold and fatigue as her fourth day ended. On Day 9, Martin Vladovic moved into second place in the Ten day for the men, his determination steely as he ran throughout the night. A convoy of runners continued on throughout the final night, as Vladovic grabbed second place overall in the Ten Day, ahead of Svecova, towards a fine total of 78 miles on the last day, the best single day anyone had since early in the race. Rimas finished the ten day ordeal with a smile on his face, his fourth victory in the event secure, his total of 653 miles still a highly respectable total. Lenka finished with 631 miles for the ladies, radiant and ready for perhaps another challenge at 1300 miles in the fall. In all, six people topped the 600 mile barrier. In the Six Day, Dipali remained undefeated with a final total of 479 miles. This performance gives her another age-group best in a fine career of over 14 years of multidays. Ashprihanal Aalto held on for 433 miles for the men, his third men’s winner trophy in hand, and a solid base of training for the 3100 mile race in the summer, his specialty. Brian Collings,51, from South Africa, took second for the men with 405 miles. Sigrid Eichner,63, from Berlin, was second for the ladies with 345 miles. A debt of gratitude is owed to all the volunteers in this years’ event, as well as to the runners from 17 different countries, who shared the road for many an hour, and found life in the park a pretty good thing. And of course immense thanks to Sri Chinmoy and his Marathon Team, who have sponsored 87 multidays in the past 19 years, and have given joy to the talented and the humble as well. Good luck to all ultrarunners, and may the wind always be at your back. Self-Transcendence Ten Day Race Men
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