Race Program & Runner Profiles 2004

World-wide, the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team organises over 500 races each year which include the popular series of races in London's Battersea Park. The team also organised the 3,100 mile in New York
this summer and has recently completed the 1,300 mile and 700 mile races. In addition many 24 hour races are organised annually in the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia.

We have a fine field of runners and a brief detail of each of the runners is given below. We wish all newcomers as well as the experienced 24 hour runners all the best and hope that you all achieve your personal goals.

After the race there will be a meal, followed by the Awards Ceremony at 1pm. Trophies will be awarded to the first seven finishers, the first three men over 50, the first two men over 60, and the first seven ladies. All other runners will receive a memento and all runners will receive a certificate.

On behalf of the organising committee, we wish all the runners the best of luck and we extend our gratitude to the officials who have so readily offered to help this weekend. May everyone have a very enjoyable event.

Ongkar Tony Smith
Race Director




Don RITCHIE MBE

A book could be written about Don's ultra exploits let alone a few
lines in a programme. The foremost global authority on ultra running,
the ‘venerable' Andy Milroy, accorded Don the honour of ‘Ultra Runner
of the Century' ahead of no less an athlete than Yiannis Kouros. His
pioneering exploits at all the shorter ultra distances from 30 miles to
100 miles from 1978 onwards are the stuff of legend. Setting and
bettering a host of world records in the late 70's and throughout the
80's at 30 miles, 50K, 40 miles, 100Km and 100 miles. The 100 mile
record stood for 25 years. The 100Km mark of 6.10.20 (5.59 per mile
average) still stands after 25 years, despite many stated record
attempts in recent years. Don will be the first to admit his 24 hour
best of 166 miles 1203 yds (1991) was probably short of his true
capacity by 10 miles or so! That essential element of luck in being
extremely fit, in the right race, with perfect conditions never
happened, as it did in some of his other races. Don is admired the
world over, not just for his running achievements, but also for being a
good friend and quiet mentor to so many people.

Hilary WALKER

Likewise with Don Ritchie, another book could be written about Hilary's
exploits. Basically she started running to help with her stamina for
mountaineering and before long was the World Record Holder for both 24
Hours and 48 Hours racing. A truly remarkable talent whose best 24 Hour
distance was 146+ miles. Has been a great competitor at Tooting over
the years and we welcome her back.

Tarit Adrian STOTT

A member of the Great Britain 24 Hour Team, who in 2000 completed his
P.B. of 230Km in the European Championships in Uden. Recently (in 2003)
he achieved 132+ miles at Hull. A previous winner here at Tooting, he
is this weekend planning to stay on his feet and see what happens. I
seem to remember he said the same in the year when he won the race!
Somehow he finds the time to put in numerous hours of training each
week whilst managing a busy running store in Edinburgh.

Helga BACKHAUS

Here is some lady! Let's start by saying she has run 43 marathons and
127 ultras. She currently holds the O/40 World Record for 24 Hours of
229.389km. which she attained in Austria in 1996. Her German records
are too much to mention, but among them are O/45 48 Hours road and
track, and O/50 6 day track (at Erkrath in August this year). She holds
the course records for the Doncaster, Cologne, Reichenbach and Hamburg
24 Hours. In the IAU 24 Hours European Cup she won it in 1990,1992,
1993, 1995, 1996 and 1998, was 2nd in 1991 and 1994, and was 3rd in
1997, 1999 and 2000. She took a break in 2002 and 2003 but now she is
back. Her aim in this race is to break the German Track Age Group
Record of just over 100 miles.

Geoff OLIVER

One of Britain's most experienced ultra competitors. Holds several UK
O/60 records including 24 Hours in 138+ miles. Geoff says these days
‘he is just grateful to run. To be able to race is bliss tinged with
masochism'!

James (Jimmy) SHAW

Has run several 24 Hour and other ultras over the last 20 years with a
best of over 130 miles. Renowned for his sprint finish in 24 Hour
races!


Peter ZUIDEMA

Has completed seven 24 Hours with a best in Cologne in 2001 of 207.8km.
He did the Self Transcendence 6 day race in New York this year and
recorded 312 miles.

Dan COFFEY

Along with Don Ritchie, Dan is possibly the most experienced competitor
in today's event. Was running ultras before many of today's younger
helpers were born. Always has a smile on his face. Too many short
ultras to mention, but very successful in multi-day races ~ 48 Hours; 6
days; 1000 miles~ for which he holds several UK and world age group
records. This year he has established a new British and European Record
O/70 with 265 miles in the Erkrath 6 day race in Germany, and a new
British record O/70 with 138 miles in the Brno 48 Hour race.

Andrew RIVETT

He has completed four 24 Hour races with a best distance of 120 miles
at Doncaster in 1999.

Ken FANCETT

Ken comes from a hiking background from where he progressed to non
competitive walking challenges. This is his second 24 Hour race having
achieved 114 miles at Doncaster in 2001. So far this year he has
completed 28 running challenge events including 5 of 40 miles or more.

Smiler Sid MORRISON

The name prefix says it all. Sid is constantly smiling and looks like a
very youthful 62 year old. 14 London - Brighton finishes, assuming he
finished last week. 6 x 100Km. and to date 13 24 Hour races. His aim is
to complete 20 London - Brightons before he reaches 70 and hopes he
will still be running like his old friends Dan Coffey and Geoff Oliver.
He also aims to complete a multi-day race before he is 70. He's going
to be busy over the next 8 years!

Bob JONES

Bob has completed seven 24 hours, seven London-Brightons, 3 South Down
Way, one Comrades, one Grand Union Canal (145 miles) and one West
Highland Way, not to mention 172 marathons! He has recently completed
in the Sussex Stride 50 miles across the downs. His aim is to improve
on last year's total of 88 miles.

Paul SHIELDS

Today will be his 5th 24 Hour race. His P.B. was at Doncaster in 2000
with 110+ miles. His other achievements include 148 miles in 48 Hours
on a treadmill, and he has completed 5 Marathon des Sables.

Bryan KING

He was third in last year's race with 109+ miles. This will be his
fifth 24 Hour. He has also done 2 London-Brightons and 5 Dartmoor
Discovery.

Timothy RAINEY

Today will be his 30th ultra which includes six 24 Hour races to date
with a best of 108.7 miles. His aim this weekend is to run even splits
and he says that if he can do that, without necessarily running a P.B.,
he will be happy.

David GREEN

Last year at Tooting was David's first 24 Hour race, when he completed
104 miles and raised £3000 for a specialised cancer research unit in
London. This year he is raising money for the Punderfield Hospital at
Wakefield where his daughter is receiving specialised treatment. His
goal is to go past 100 miles again.

Manfred EDINGER

Manfred seems to have run marathons all over the world and in this, his
fourth 24 Hour race, hopes to reach 170Km. Last year at Tooting he
achieved 165+ Kms.

Susan CLEMENTS

This will be Susan's 11th 24 Hour race. In 2002 she achieved 102+ miles
at the Sri Chinmoy 24 Hour race in Auckland. She has twice run the
Grand Union Canal Run with a best of 41 hrs. 39mins. for the 145 miles.

Tom SCRIVEN

Another of today's youngsters who, he says, started running in his
fifties to lose weight. He did his first ultra in 1997 (South Downs
80). Has run 48 marathons and seven 24 Hour races with a best of 102
miles at Doncaster in 2000. He wants to improve on last year's 83 miles
and he is wondering if another Ton is left in the ‘ould' legs.

Jane JANMAN

This will be Jan's fifth 24Hour race. In last year's race she was
second lady and ninth overall with 101+ miles.

Jill GREEN

Jill is a walker who has completed the Paris to Colmar (200+ miles)
three times. She has become a Centurion in six different places, namely
England, Holland, Australia, USA, New Zealand and Malaysia. In all she
has completed 54 races in excess of 100 miles. In 2000 she finished the
Grand Union Canal (145 miles) in 39 hrs. 38mins. If you hear the
strains of ‘Happy Birthday' immediately after midnight it will be for
Jill ~ it will be her 63rd birthday. She will be the only one who will
start at one age and finish at another and all in 24 hours!

Peter ROBERTS

This will be Peter's fourth 24 hour race having completed 97 miles here
at Tooting in 1999. He has also completed three 100Km races.

Pam STOREY

A familiar figure to all on the ultra scene, Pam seems to be competing
or spectating at most events. Has run several 24 hour events with a
best of 96 miles 1380 yds at Hull in 2002. Hopes to break the magic 100
mile barrier. She was first lady O/50 at the Hull 24 hours in July this
year with 88+ miles.

Gilbert JOHN

Veteran of numerous short ultras from Two Bridges up to the 100Km
distance. Two previous 24 hours with a P.B. at Doncaster in 2000 where
Gil covered 95+ miles and is hoping for a P.B. and the magic 100 mile
mark today. This year he has already completed the Barry 40, Sutton
Park 50K, Dartmoor Discovery, Faversham 6 hours and the Two Bridges.

Ray HOYLE

This will be Ray's sixth 24 hour race here at Tooting Bec. He has a
P.B. of 94 miles. Ray has also completed nearly 200 marathons, 10 South
Down Ways and the Comrades Marathon.

Ray McCurdy

Ray seems to be a full time runner judging by his resume. Having run
148 marathons in the last seven years, including 12 in 12 days in
2001/2. He has also competed in 25 ultras ranging from the 35 miles Two
Bridges Race in Scotland to 24 hour events. His best 24 hour is 80
miles at Tooting in 2000. His goal is to reach 100 miles in a 24 hour
event. He also wants to run from Land's End to John O'Groats, West
Highland Way, Spartathlon and others.

Dave HOLLOWAY

Dave is new comer to 24 hour racing having taken the plunge in July
when he ran the Hull 24 hour and attained 78.5 miles. He says he hopes
to improve on this and continue to learn more about the event.

Graham BAKER

Graham's first attempt at 24 hours and says that he wants to see if he
is any good at it. Well he has some good ultra experience having done
London-Brighton, Two Bridges, Grand Union Canal and was the O/50 winner
in the Dartmoor Discovery. Last year he completed the 50 mile Sussex
Stride on a Saturday and a 20 mile race on Sunday, both over the South
Downs.

Martin ILOTT

Martin's first attempt at 24 hours but he has run from Land's End to
John O'Groats in 20 days and in May this year he managed 83 miles in
the Grand Union Canal race. He has done 5 London-Brightons ~ assuming
he finished last weekend.

Neil KAPOOR

Neil's first 24 hour, but he was 5th place in the Marathon of Britain
(175 miles - 6 day race). He was also on the world record team for the
24 hour treadmill run.

Eoin KEITH

Although this will be Eoin's first 24 hour, he comes with quite a
pedigree. He is an experienced Adventure racer and has taken part in
many multi-day, multi-sport events, including the 5 day non stop
Adrenaline Rush. He represented Ireland in the Anglo-Celtic plate in
2000 at the Sri Chinmoy 100Km in Edinburgh. Last year he won the
Wicklow 50Km trail race in a record time of 3hrs. 21mins.

Martin LONGHURST

This is Martin's first 24 hour race and although he describes himself
as a ‘novice', he is not new to ultras. He did the London-Brighton in
2002 in 8hrs. 8mins. and this year he completed the LDWA 100 miles
(with a 13,500ft. climb) in 26hrs. 24mins.

Anke MOLKENTHIN

Although this is Anke's first 24 hour race she has done many ultras
including completing the Marathon des Sables 10 times and winning it in
1996.

Maxine WARD

Maxine is today moving up to 24 hour racing having completed the
Marathon des Sables, Marathon of Britain (175 miles) and being first
place in 2003 in the 100Km Ghurkha run.

Ian WILSON

Ian was second in the 30 mile Downland Challenge this year. He has done
many mountain marathons, so lets hope Tooting Bec is not too flat for
him. In this his first 24 hour race he aims to be still competing at
the end of 24 hours.

Andrew FARQUHARSON

This is Andy's 8th 24 hour race, with a P.B. of 111+ miles at Brechin
in 1995. This year he did a P.B. in the Glenrothes 50K in a time of
3hrs. 16mins. 20sec. A very capable runner at all distances.





Sri Chinmoy, aged 73 and resident in New York, has been actively involved in sport throughout his lifetime. Through his running and weightlifting, Sri Chinmoy expresses the concept of expanding one's limits without giving up. This process, which he terms
‘self-transcendence', encourages people to realise more fully their unlimited potential. Sri Chinmoy feels running is an appropriate
metaphor for a deeper inner striving towards ultimate perfection.

In keeping with his philosophy of self transcendence, Sri Chinmoy has embarked on numerous creative endeavours and sporting activities. He is the author of over 1400 books of poetry, plays, essays, stories and lectures given at many universities around the world. He has played over 600 musical concerts for peace in many countries in the past 20 years. Just last October he gave a concert at the Royal Albert Hall
(his sixth appearance at this venue). He has composed over 18,000 devotional songs, both in Bengali and English, over the last years, as well as honouring heads of state and celebrities with his unique compositions. In a recent art project, Sri Chinmoy completed over 12,000,000 drawings and sketches of birds ~ symbols of freedom and
luminosity.

Sri Chinmoy regularly practises rigorous exercise programmes, including strength training, weightlifting, and fitness drills. His weightlifting achievements in the one-arm lift, calf raise, and novelty lifts of people and objects have made age group records and garnered world record status. A few years ago he astounded the world by lifting two
650 pound dumbbells ~ one in each arm ~ simultaneously: a remarkable, unprecedented feat for anyone of any age. He also bench-pressed two dumbbells totalling 1000 pounds. More recently he lifted over 2200 pounds on the standing calf raise lift, lifted 1400 pounds on the seated calf-raise machine, and lifted 1000 pounds on a seated dumbbell apparatus. He has lifted overhead over 7000 people from various walks of life in the last several years in his ‘Lifting Up the World with a Oneness-Heart' program, which seeks to honour men and women from all walks of life who have inspired the world with their capacities and
achievements. He says age is in the mind, but not in the heart, when explaining his amazing achievements.

The Sri Chinmoy Athletic Club was founded in U.K. in 1980 and soon began offering running races for the public. Today the Marathon Team worldwide offers hundreds of races at all distances, including the world's longest certified race ~ the 3100 Mile Race. Sri Chinmoy has set a high standard for all his running races and activities to help
participants achieve their greatest potential.

Sri Chinmoy tells his students: ‘Try to be a runner, and try all the time to surpass and go beyond all that is bothering you and standing in your way. Be a real runner so that ignorance, limitations and imperfections will drop far behind you in the race.' He also says
 â€˜Whatever I am doing in the field of sports or athletics-we have many, many places where we hold our long distance running races- it is all for inspiration- anything that our organisation does, it is with the one-pointed view that everybody should be inspired. Similarly, as we are trying to inspire others, even so they have every right to inspire
us.'