Oxford Self-Transcendence Summer Races 2024

The final race of the season wrapped up a good summer's racing. At 7.00pm we had a junior one mile race, won by

Daniel Egerton ,Abingdon (5.52) and first girl Hester Pinnell, Oxford City (6.54). It was great to see some new young runners too. Matthew Lock, Witney, was leading man with a very good time of 10.28. First woman was Anna Scrivens, Witney (12.34) Well done to all prize winners and those who competed this year. See you in 2025!

Another fine evening saw 102 runners take to the start line. It was also the 37th Anniversary of the Sri Chinmoy Peace Mile.

The fastest man was once again Matthew Lock (Witney) in an excellent time of 16.20. Fastest women was Lucy Brandon (Abbey Running). But, she was pushed close by Sarah Roesink (Abbey) and Eileen Naughton (Didcot)

If Grand Prix points are the same, final position will be decided by

• 1. Most races done
• 2. If equal races, best head to head performance
• 3. Higher placing in 3 mile race takes precedent over 2 mile race
• 4. Fastest time for 3 mile.

 

 

Another nice evening saw a good turnout in the second series in our race. Matthew Lock (Witney) was the first man and Lucy Brandon (Abbey) first woman.

The next race is another 3 mile in two weeks time.

We had a good turnout of over 100 runners. It was an auspicious day with the 6th May marking the anniversary of Roger Bannister's first sub-four minute mile on the Iffley Track back in 1954. Earlier in the day, there had been a mass mile event in Oxford, and an invitational race at the Iffley Track where three runners managed to replicate the sub-four minute goal. We were not quite in that record breaking territory, but it was a good race, despite a sodden outfield after a winter's long rain.

Video

https://youtu.be/egl-FoTz_34

Links

Photo Gallery from 2 mile Race

- Video to come.

- I will update results later in day with runners sorted by category.

For many years, scientists debated whether a sub-four-minute mile was humanly possible. For decades, the goal remained elusive but on the 6th May 1954, Roger Bannister broke the magic milestone with a time of 3:59:4 on Iffley Track, Oxford. It was one of the most iconic sporting records and achievements. Interestingly after Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile, quite a few other runners started to break the invisible barrier. Australian John Landy lowered the mark to 3 mins 58.0sec just six weeks after Bannister. The current record is held by Hicham El Guerrouj in a time of 3:43.13.

Self-Transcendence

Often things can seem impossible to the mind, but when a pioneer breaks a record or achieves something entirely new, it gives us the confidence to follow in their footsteps.

"If we believe in our own
Self-transcendence-task
Then there can be
No unreachable goal."

- Sri Chinmoy

Sri Chinmoy often referred to his philosophy of self-transcendence - the belief and faith that we can try and go beyond self-imposed limits and achieve something new.

70th Anniversary - 6th May 2024

Earlier in the day, there had been public races in Oxford to mark the occasion; including a replica one mile race on the Iffley track. Three runners went under 4 minutes.

Our first two-mile race of the season was on the 6th of May 2024, which happened to be the 70th anniversary of this iconic record.

Video of 2 Mile Race, plus Short Archive footage of Roger Bannister

https://youtu.be/egl-FoTz_34

Sri Chinmoy on the Four-Minute Mile

"One mile in under four minutes was a dream, and Roger Bannister manifested the dream. Now, how many people have run a mile in under four minutes? Someone has run in 3:44. When Roger Bannister ran in just under four minutes, the whole world adored him. Now someone has run two miles in under eight minutes. It is unimaginable! Like that we can do many things."

Excerpt from "My Prophecy"

Related

• Results from the race
• Quote from "No Unreachable Goal" by Sri Chinmoy