Ultrarunning adventures

Record of Sarama’s Multiday Road Races1

1985    Nov 29- Dec 4    58yrs    5 Day Race   
202 miles in 5 days = 40+ miles/day

1986    Mar 16-20    59 yrs    
200 Mile Race    200 miles in 4 days = 50 miles/day

1987    Nov 7-12    60 yrs    5 Day Race    
235 miles in 5 days = 47 miles/day

1988    May 20-June 7    61 yrs    
700 Mile Race    303 miles in 155:53:45 (6+days)  = 44.8 miles/day

1989    Sept 18-Oct 6    62 yrs    
Ultra Trio (700; 1,000; 1,300 races – Sarama did the 700)           
700 Mile Race:  623 miles in 14 days   = 44.5 mi/day for 14 days     
310 miles in first 6 days = 51+ miles/day;                       
This was Sarama’s best race - it was a US Women’s Record or age 60-64, and the longest distance ever covered by a woman of her age group at that time. Sarama was 3rd woman and 5th overall, including men.    

Hurricane Gloria and the 24 hour race

I was running in our 24-Hour Race in 1985 when Hurricane Gloria hit, just after the race began. In the first half hour, the hurricane demolished the counters’ station. It looked as if a bomb had struck, but no one was hurt. Rupantar was hit by a sheet of plywood flying from the roof, but was miraculously uninjured.  It was warm, the rain felt good and we could tell that Guru was looking after us, but soon Parks Department trucks came down the road with bullhorns bellowing, “This race is cancelled! This race is cancelled!„ We were all enjoying the race, so we just smiled and kept right on going. Not only had Yiannis Kouros come all the way from Greece to break a 100-year-old 24-hour record, but one couple had also come all the way from Hawaii just to run our race! We had no intention of stopping unless Guru said so!

The rain and wind ended at about 3 P.M. and the sun came out. It was so pleasant and warm that everything dried by itself, and I didn’t even have to change my clothes or running shoes. When night came the lights were not turned on in the park as we had expected they would be. The official who had given orders to stop the race was angry that we had gone over her head to the Commissioner, who had allowed us to continue when Guru said he would accept responsibility for anything that might happen.

No problem! Disciples parked their cars in strategic spots along the route and shined their headlights to light our way. There was also a full moon shining in a cloudless sky. Some disciples arranged lovely luminarias (paper-bag-and-candle “lanterns„) along the path. The race was a memorable and unforgettably beautiful experience for everyone—and Yiannis did break the world record!

• 1. (Courtesy: Sahishnu, Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team)