Luis Rios with Ted Corbitt
Posted on the Ultralist:
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:24:59 -0400
From: Mark Dorion
Subject: Wild, Exciting Races at New York 6/ 10 day! (Wed. evening update)
Standings at aprox. 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday (start of day 4 of 6 day, day 8 of 10 day)
10 day men:
1) Yuri Trostneyuk, 532 miles
2) Vasu Duzwa, 527
3) A.L. Zuzcin, 439
4) Teekshanum Dodonu, 424
5) Oleksandr Kharko, 416
10 day women:
1) Kaneenika Janakova, 503 miles
2) Sarah Barnett, 492
3) Nidhruvia Zimmerman, 438
4) Zuzca Daclova, 435
5) Ilvaka Nemcova, 426
6 Day women:
1) Dipali C. Cunningham, 252 miles
2) Jayaslini Olga Abramovskih, 200+
3) Daria Iashina, 195
4) Suparna Pathegwa, 165
5) Prati. Khisamoutdanova (age 67), 163
6 Day Men:
Galya Vladimir Balatskyy, 271 miles
2) William Sichel, 265
3) Asprihanal Pekka Aalto, 245
4) Jesper Olsen, 228
5) Upak. Tolstoypachenko, 220
AND you may ask, what of the Americans in the 80+ runner field with runners from 20 countries? Again, I can’t overemphasize that these are TOP international ultrarunners. We didn’t really have any current star US ultrarunners entered (we do have some who were top class 20-30 years ago, but are a tad older and slower now). Of those who started, Don Winkley and
Mike Arnstein got in their vans and left early. Tim Lawson dropped out for half a day with stomach problems but was coerced into rejoining the race. Fred Davis was seen packing his van today. Etc.
I WILL predict that some of our current top 100Km runners, who just shined so brightly at the World Champs in Italy, will eventually try multiday races and will represent the USA as well as they did in Italia. Plenty of the top foreign runners at this week’s races have run good 100Kms, 2:30-ish marathons, etc.
I will have longer and more exciting stories to share on Saturday evening, when the races are over. I see some of the races going neck-and-neck down to the wire, and a bunch of fast 8+ minute miles on the last day.
An example of the types of things that happen at an event like this– today runners found their bike path BLOCKED by a brand new Lexus car. The TV crew were filming an ad with scenic Meadow Lake in the background. Race director Rupantar P. LaRusso, ever the smooth-talking diplomat, ran out and confronted this crew and after explaining these multiday challenges to the film crew, Rupantar was given a one week use of a Lexus from the dealership here! Dr. LaRusso is also famous in local circles as the guy who goes into the same Dunkin’ Donuts night after night in the middle of the night and brings back two dozen donuts plus coffee and hot chocolate to the graveyard shirt workers. It is cold and sometimes very rushed/ stressful during the night, but we have a great core crew.
There have been several other film crew out, one from Finland filming Coach Aalto, another filming top Russian runners (including world class mountaineer and adventurer Daria Iashina). Jepser Olsen, he of the World Run, has had telephone interviews from his sponsors during the race.
It is MOST exciting to watch world class runners performing at their best, stalking each other like hawks (perhaps vultures is more apt!), but also getting to know new friends from around the world. I wish the USA were not so isolated geographically, and we could have more different nations’ particpants at our big ultras.
I myself have gotten caught up in the spirit of the race and the spirit of Sri Chinmoy’s philosophies on racing extreme ultras, and have run more the past 5 days than in any 5 day block since early December. I feel as though the ghosts of Guru Chinmoy, Ted Corbitt, and all the great 19th century multiday runners are watching us all– runners and workers alike.
If you have never volunteered and encouraged the runners in a tough ultra, I suggest you try it. It leaves a warm feeling in the heart. And if you ever considered a multiday, consider coming to historic Flushing Meadows.
You will be treated like royalty.
“Encouragement is the heart of a new journey.” -Sri Chinmoy
Best wishes to all ultrarunners,
Mark D (ready for another graveyard shift!)
I am bleary-eyed after working the graveyard shift (1>8 a.m.) in the officials’ booth (updating scoreboard, keeping track of wayward runners, announcing using mike, etc.). Then I work in the early morning helping with general chores like pouring water, doing errands to nearby shops for runners (“fine European chocolate” has been a popular request, as well as new pairs of shoes). Eye of the tiger!
Links
Race website: us.srichinmoyraces.org/
Utpal’s daily interviews: Perfection Journey.org
William Sichel’s blog updates: www.williamsichel.co.uk/blog/
