Shankara Smith, co-organiser and scoreboard official, describes the race.

The 24 Hour Race: A counter's perspective by Bhasini and Arpita of the Sri Chinmoy AC

After a hard day's work in a specialist running shop on the busiest day of the week all you want to do is go home to bed. On a recent Saturday, however, that was not an option. It was the annual Sri Chinmoy 24 hour race at Tooting Bec track and I was counting the runners for the 2nd shift - midnight Saturday to midday Sunday.



After a brief stop at home to shower and put on all the warm clothes I possess, I headed to the racetrack. As I approached I could see the floodlights through the trees illuminating the unique scene on the track. By then, the runners had been going for nearly 10 hours. Some had dropped already, some looked like they were about to and the rest were resolutely plodding on. Relieving the weary day shift counters, I took my place beside my cheery night shift companions, all of whom had also finished a busy day at work. And so the counting began.

Concentration is essential. You can laugh, joke and sing with the other counters but just don't miss your runners. It also helps if you're not too mathematically challenged as calculating multiple lap splits at 4 am can get a little tricky. I made it my aim not to miss my runners even once even though at times they tried to fool me by changing clothes or putting on a hat. Their favourite trick was to come round in exactly double their normal lap split. For example, if they were doing steady 3.30 minute laps, they would occasionally throw in a 7 minute lap just to make me think I'd missed a lap. The excuses were normally something like "I had to change my shoes" or "I was getting something to eat". Once when I shouted "Where have you been?" I got the reply "None of your business!"

And so the night went on. In spite of our regular repetitions of "It's getting light now", "Don't you think it's lighter than it was before?" and "I think it's getting lighter", it remained dark for a very long time. When the dawn eventually came it was magnificent. Striking pink and orange. Suswara (chief lap counter) announced to the counting shed "You can't see it but there's a beautiful sunrise happening behind you" and then panicked as we ran out to watch it, leaving 30 or so runners unattended. (We were back at our posts within seconds - we're professionals after all).



When my fellow night shift counters started to be replaced so they could grab a few hours well-earned rest, I found I was too wired to follow them. Either the inspiration of watching all those runners pushing back the barriers was keeping me awake or it was the coffee, tea, chocolate, sandwiches and biscuits I'd been consuming all night. I was also much too attached to the runners I was counting to even dream of letting someone else take over. I'd been with them this far and I was going to stay with them until the bitter end.

My female runner reached the 100 mile mark and my male runner reached the 100 km mark at exactly the same time. It was a beautiful thing. But for me perhaps the most beautiful moment of the whole event was at 8 am on Sunday morning, when a Starbucks Grande Americano materialised on the table before me. Sahadeva, patron saint of coffee drinkers was responsible, and I offer him my everlasting gratitude.



Finally at midday the gun was fired to signify the end of the race and we all stood to applaud the runners heroic achievements, many of us with tears in our eyes. Physically and emotionally exhausted they thanked us for counting them and we praised their courage and determination. Happiness, gratitude and satisfaction were the prevailing emotions at the award ceremony.

The winner of the women's race turned 63 that day and when we gave her a cake she said, "This is the best birthday I've ever had."

There is a runner who we call "Smiler" because at previous 24 hour races he smiles throughout. And this race was no exception. After the event, looking through the many photos that had been taken, I couldn't find a single shot of him with anything other than a huge smile on his face.

When I left the track that Sunday I was smiling just like him. In the words of Sri Chinmoy, the founder of the event:

Runners are smilers, runners
Theirs are the victory banners
Happiness-flowers, oneness-towers
Runners are smilers, runners
A new world builders




Arpita's reflections on just being a helper:

As far as challenges go, running round a 400 metre track for 24 hours must rate amongst the toughest.   Unfortunately, this particular running experience is not for me, but I play my small part by helping out in any way I can.

Having worked the usual busy Saturday at Run and Become in Edinburgh, I flew down to Heathrow, endured the hot and stuffy London tube to arrive at Tooting Bec track around 9pm.   The race started at 12 noon.   It's such a sharp contrast between the hectic rush of the day and arriving at the track.



The patter of runners' feet as they run lap, after lap, after lap, after lap, after lap creates an oasis of calm.   Not what you would expect from such a gruelling race, and make no mistake, these runners are all pushing themselves well beyond the comfort zone.   However, the oneness between the runners and helpers all working towards the same goal: to create the perfect race for each runner, really gives this race its unique atmosphere.

Runners include the immortal Don Ritchie, the amazingly sprightly 71 year old Geoff Oliver and the ever cheerful poised Dan Coffey (73 years old) and Peter Zuidema, from the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, Holland.   The women include the again immortal Hilary Walker as well as Jill Green (63 years old) Susan Clements and Helga Backhaus from Berlin who chat away while they run effortlessly round the track.   It seems a pity to select some runners and not others because each runner has their own story and their own inspiration, but I do so only because some of these runners are familiar to me from previous years and others definitely deserve a mention.

My husband, Tarit Adrian Stott definitely deserves a big mention from me as I know the time and commitment, which he gives to his running but this year he wasn't at his fittest and had just come to see what he can do!   Famous last words from a competitive ultra runner!   He managed 100 miles, which in the circumstances was great.   He would probably say otherwise!

Behind the scenes the calm efficiency of Ongkar Tony Smith, the race organiser; the encouraging cheerfulness of the counting crew; the caring service of the refreshment crew all combine to make a flawless race.   No ultra would be complete without a timekeeper and a statistician and Don Turner as usual worked selflessly behind the scenes to provide his customary excellent services.   Also Ian Champion, the Race Referee, with tireless perfection ensured that as runners reached their 100 miles (a significant goal in any 24 hour race) they were recorded.  

This race is truly legendary and definitely leaves you inspired to train more for whatever your particular goal is, whether it's two miles or "beyond the marathon".

Thanks to Dan who has penned this excellent report on a memorable race.

Sri Chinmoy A.C. Self Transcendence 24 Hour Race 2003 (11&12 October)



Dan Coffey, ultrarunner & much valued friend of the Sri Chinmoy AC.

This was a continuation of the race last held in 2000, cancelled in 2001 due to 9/11; the following year postponed to allow the 100 mile track race to honour Don Ritchie's world mark of so many years ago - 25 I believe!

 Despite rumours, the Self Transcendence / Sri Chinmoy race is now back on the list so don't believe anything to the contrary!!

This race was first held at New River Stadium, North London for two years before being moved to Copthal Stadium where Don Ritchie ran an astonising 166 miles; then moved to Kingsmeadow Stadium, Kingston where the recording marshall's tent was blown away in very windy conditions; moved to Tooting Bec where it has been held ever since; it might be worth remembering that on the last occasion it rained for the first 23 hours of this event. What would this year bring? I was mulling over these thoughts as I sat lost in the one way raffic system at Streatham with just under an hour and a half to go and still wondering whether there was any truth in the magnificent write up in Runners World re the Hull 24 hour event in July that that was the only 24 hour race being promoted in the UK this year.

However I had total faith in Ongkar Tony Smith, Race Director, who had invited me; he surely would not have left me lost in a one way system if there was no race as erroneously reported! Finally I extricated myself from the system and promptly got lost again; now reslved that I would only stick to the track as I could only go two ways without mch chance of getting lost. I comforted myself with the knowledge that I had packed a silva compass in case I got in trouble on the track, at least I would be able to spot magnetic north and work it out from there! At last I arrived at the track and parked my trusty steed then prepared myself for the coming onslaught; was greeted by many very fit and young looking competitors including the President of the RRC Don Ritchie MBE. I asked him how he would go and he replied that he would be taking it easy as he was getteing on; I believed him, what a mistake!

 Also spoke to David Green about whether numbers were required front and back - he was not sure as this was his first atempt at this kind of race. Fortunately Ongkar had arranged a short but informative briefing about half an hour before the start which answered most of my questions as every race is different. After a week of windy weather I was certain that it would be a continuation of the same but Ongkar Tony Smith had promised good weather and he was a person who kept his word. There was no wind on the Saturday just bright sunshine and warm too; this could not last. It did not, as the night became cold, damp towards dawn, and the night seemed to go on for a very long time. The birds got up at dawn, sang their songs and prmptly went back to bed but finally a new day dawned, the Sun finaly got up, so did the wind and a chill breeze but we wereon the way home by then and nothing could stop us!

Noon arrived and it was all over yet again; if only I had had a few more hours what I could have achieved: at least another mile!

Thanks:

Firstly the lap counters, I had only two, to my knowledge, for the whole time and I had total confidence in them and remembered to thank them. This is the most arduous of tasks as one has to be always alert and polite to a runner who is tired and does not know whether they have been noticed or not. Then those good folk who work behind the scenes preparing hot food and having it available almost at the drop of a hat with a welcoming smile. The magnificent support staff who supplied me with endless cups of tea when I could not digest anything. PS I must remember to get the recipe for bean bake, it smelled so appetising and I was able to manage tw spoonfuls of an excellent meal (I did not waste any as Ken Shaw, Father of the 24 hours event who had turned up to lok after me was able to finish it up and still give very vocal support to all the other runners).

The handlers for the other runners who were always available to urge one on as you passed their "patch" - always the word of encouragement even though one did not know them and this went on for every hour of the race. If you have never done an ultra then this is where you will find true comradeship, friendship and real honesty. Lastly but not the least, mention must be made of the Race Director who updated the leader board every hour and organised the four hour turnround with the help of the race referee Ian Champion, RRC, who kept a very sensible eye on the event the whole time. Finaly the official timekeeper Don Turner, also RRC, who with his assistant made sure that the clock was always running and ensured all the intermediate distances including the most important 100 miles times for the fortunate ten runners rigtht up to the end, and then measured all the final bits of laps around the track for the last minute or so.

The Reader might be forgiven at this stage for wondering what the runners, walkers and shufflers were doing all this time so now I will finish with a resume of activities on the track. The RAce Before the first four hour change of direction it was apparent that Don Ritchie and eof Oliver were not out for an afternoon stroll, with Garth Peterson who believe3 was third in the earlier Hul event they were establishing their credenials. All comparatively young runners, Gath (RRC) 40, Don (Moray R) 59 and Geoff (100 Km Association) a mere 70! Several other runners were to feature in the final analysis including Brian King and Timothy Rayney who bided their time.

Just in case the reader thought that this was a Man's race I must draw your attention to Sandra Brown (Surrey Walkers Club) who walked the whole way and topped 100 miles yet again. She has now done well over 100 24 hour events so is just getting the hang of this event (a few weeks earlier achieved her best position ever in the classic Paris to Roubaix walk, finishing in 6th place!). Also Jane Janman (RRC) another Hull contender who quietly just gets on with it. There were so many individuals who achieved their own greatness whom I should mention but if I do

I will undoubtedly miss out someone who quietly achieved their own personal target and should have got a mention; suffice to say that to me it was an honour to be permitted to take part in such an epic adventure of courage and for some delving into the realms of the unknown. This is why it is called the (Self Transcendence Event). One thinks that it could be possible and then allows the body and mind to prove that it is really possible to achieve. There is a truly magnificent feeling afterwards of achievement.

Of course one hurts both during and after the event but this fades into insignificance on a personal result. Consider Don Ritchie who looked to be on course for somehting fantastiv yet had problems with his feet but still won the event with 117 miles plus. Consider Geoff Oliver who set a new world best for 100km for an over 70 year youngster with 11 hours 02 minutes 02 seconds and then went on to set a 12 hour world age best; I do not know what other records he broke on the way but it must be quite a few! He finally finished up 6th with a distance of nearly 106 miles.

Consider Tadeusz Syty cannot speak a word of English (from Poland) yet achieved an impossible 100 miles when it looked impossible; this was his third Sri Chinmoy race and his third 100 in this event! I will stop here as he was the last century maker in tenth place but this does not in any way belittle the achievements of all who competed and I apologise to all those not mentioned; you were carefully noted by one who now moves with the grace of an ancient sailing ship, becalmed, because I cannot go any faster.

Once again on behalf of all the competitors very grateful thanks to those magnificent folk who gave of their time and talents to enable us to participate in the sport that we love .......and this also includes the Physios, who were available to help when desperately needed.

DAN COFFEY

'What's going on?' said a bemused resident, out walking his dog on the afternoon of 9th October.

Have you ever wondered how participants prepare for a 24-hour race or cope with the challenge? Or maybe you're considering ultra racing yourself but are not sure where to start? Well read on. In this feature, Paula Bartimeus gets the inside story from the winners of the 2004 Self Transcendence 24-Hour Track Race.

On a blustery weekend 52 runners took on the challenge of our 24 hour race. Julien Cazorla impressed everyone by taking an early lead and holding it through the race to record 242K. Paula Bedford lead the women with 188K. In total, 7 athletes exceeded 200K and 31 completed more than 100 Miles. 

On a blustery weekend 52 runners took on the challenge of our 24 hour race. Julien Cazorla impressed everyone by taking an early lead and holding it through the race to record 242K. Paula Bedford lead the women with 188K. In total, 7 athletes exceeded 200K and 31 completed more than 100 Miles. 

This year our race incorporated the UK 24 Hour Championships. 42 Runners set started out on a sunny Saturday afternoon. 24 Hours later, 29 bold, courageous, fearless competitors triumphed having faced down hours and hours of heavy rain through the night; truly a race of two halves weather-wise. For the third time in the history of our race, a woman won the race; Sarah Funderburk of Mornington Chasers displayed utter focus, grit and brilliance to record 131 Miles. Brian Robb stuck his head down and didn't let the constant rain distract him to finish 1st Man, setting a new PB of 123 Miles. Per Audun Heskestad recorded a remarkable 108 Miles to win 1st Vet 60 at the age of 69. Who inspired us and the competitors alike the most? Unquestionably the remarkable Patricia Seabrook who ran 51 Miles putting 'ageing' into the corner at 84 years young. We pay tribute to the amazing courage and achievements of all the competitors. Results are posted here, you can find individual split times https://my.raceresult.com/307656/ 

53 Runners set themselves the challenge of running for 24 hours around the track at Battersea. 37 triumphed 24 hours later, setting PBs along the way; facing down fatigue, protesting muscles, stomach upsets and the overall challenge of perpetual motion from day to night to day again. Ben Wernick triumphed with 245K whilst Miki Meant set a new race record for WV50 with 217K. Heroics were witnessed not just from those who were still on the track at the end of the race but also those who pushed their limits, dug deep, achieved so much, even if that didn't include seeing through to 24 hours. We pay tribute to the amazing courage and achievements of all the competitors. Results are posted here, you can find individual split times: https://my.raceresult.com/259835/#0_A36B68 

At our new home of Millennium Stadium Track in Battersea Park, 45 runners pushed themselves to their limits and wowed us all. Pat Seabrook set a raft of Vet 80 records, including World Age Bests for 6, 12 and 24 hours, and British World Age Bests for 50K, 50 and 100 Miles. Hristo Tsvetkow broke two Bulgarian records during the race, setting a 12 hour record of 141.3K and a 100 Mile record of 14:41:26. Peter Abrahams' consistent pace through the race saw him claim first place with 143.5 Miles, whilst Jen Coleman was close on his heels with 141.9 Miles.

Full results with 100 Mile splits, etc. are availabe at https://my4.raceresult.com/134290/results?lang=en#0_A31262 along with Certificates

Since we first held this race in 1989 it has only been a rain wash-out twice, once in 1992 and today! Huge respect and Congratulations to all the competitors, espceially the 24 runners still on the track at 23:59:59.

Despite the challenging weather, Geoff Oliver amazed us all by recording 124K and setting 8 World Age Bests in the Vet 85 category. He already holds the record for Vet 80, his achievements are truly stupendous.

Michael Stocks and Paul Maskell defied the elements to exceed the British Athletics benchmark of 245K that will see them considered for GB team individual selection, recording 249K and 247K respectively. Whilst Sarah Morwood recorded 213K to be 1st Woman.

Full results and lap times can be viewed here: https://my6.raceresult.com/108305/

Congratulations to the 45 athletes who lined up for our 24 Hour Track race this weekend. 36 Hero Runners completed the race which saw the Norweigan Women's National Record fall; Therese Falk smashed her own record with 236.8K, 147 miles; and Norbert Mihalik record the 6th furthest distance for 24 hours in 2017 and 2nd best ever at our race with 259.4K, 161 Miles. In all, 24 runners completed over 100 Miles.

If you have ever wondered about the different experiences that the participants in our ultra races go through, you can get a very good idea from this article in the Guardian. The writer visited the Self Transcendence 24 hour race at Tooting Bec athletics track in London at several points during the race, interviewing many of the runners and organisers and observing the changes in their physical and inner states during the race. The article was later syndicated by The Week, a popular British news magazine.

This race had a particularly high standard, with 26 runners breaking 100 miles in the 24 hours - over half the field. James Stewart ran 160 miles, which is just under 3-hour marathon pace. We also had a new age-group over-65 world record, as the article describes:

Some people stand out, calm and composed. One of them is 68-year-old Ann Bath. She’s not very fast, she’s a little bent over, but she is unrelenting. While others occasionally stop for a massage, or to eat something, she presses serenely on, never stopping. In the end, she runs an incredible 116 miles, an age-group world record....

• Original article in the Guardian
• 24 hour race - race report
• Gallery pictures of this years race

It might have been the first weekend when we felt summer had abandoned us but the Weather Gods provided the perfect conditions for 45 hero runners looking to run round Tooting Bec track for 24 hours. With a mixture of excitement and trepidation competitors prepared for the noon start; the first hours saw some runners flying round the track with determination and bravado but the experienced held back, found their rhythm, waited for time and repetition to have their effect. As light faded the early leaders faltered, then succumbed, James Stewart and Neil MacNicol kept the same pace with quiet but steely determination. Michal Masnik pounced on the stumbling leaders and powered into the lead, he looked indomitable but to the experienced eye there was something slightly too forced, stretched. James and Stewart looked in control, complete efficiency of stride and focus. The early hours of the morning saw them steadily into a dominating position. The two looked truly indestructible and so they proved. As the horn sounded at 24 hours, James Stewart has run 160 miles, placing him 2nd on the Scottish All-Timers list for 24 hours, qualifying him for the GB individual team. Neil MacNicol completed just short of 152 Miles, placing him in the top 10 Scottish All-timers.

Meanwhile, in a contrast of style and approach, the ever smiling Ann Bath cheerfully set about smashing the Women's Vet 65 Age Best Record. She never seemed to stop, to walk, to look tired, just kept at it with her distinctive running stride and courageous determination. She ran 115 Miles and is now a World Record Holder.

In all, 26 runners broke the magic 100 Mile barrier, making this arguably our most brilliant Self Transcendence 24 hour race since it began in 1989.

Congratulations and thanks for all the wonderful competitors, heroes all!

https://vimeo.com/183372594

The 2016 edition of the Self-Transcendence 24 hour track championship saw 26 out of the 45 starters breaking the magic 100 mile barrier. It also witnessed:

• A new course record (James Stewart 160 miles)
• A new world record (women/over 65 - Ann Bath 115 miles) 

The event was organised by Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, who provided a team of counters and volunteers to serve the runners. This video gives a brief insight into the race and some of the runners and volunteers who helped to make it a very successful edition.

Further reading

• Final results and race report 2016
• UK Race gallery 2016

The highs and lows of a 24 hour race  "How ultra-endurance running around a track in Tooting Bec offered a fresh perspective on happiness, humanity and the power of cake" - Isaac Williams writes about his experience of running his first 24 hour race in the Guardian.

At the 25th Self Transcendence 24 Hour Track race, in perfect weather conditions an exciting race unfolded. Early front runners stumbled. The steady and strong kept pace. As dawn approached Ali Young and Beth Pascall moved to the top of the leader board. They looked indomitable. They were. Beth Pascall triumphed with 230K.

Race Report by Tarit Adrian Stott

Girl power strikes again as Beth Pascall and Ali Young beat all the men.

It is said lightning never strikes twice. Well it did at the weekend’s annual Self Transcendence 24 hour track race when for the second year in a row ladies filled the first two places beating all the men.

 Bristol and West athlete Beth Pascall put in a stunning display of sustained ultra running to record 142.9 miles (230.089 Km). In the process circling the Tooting track 575 times in the course of the 24 hours.

She was matched for the first 20hours by Chiltern Runner’s, Ali Young. Young finished 2^nd overall, with a distance of 217.640km (135.2 miles). Simon Smith in third place overall was the man who accumulated the furthest distance recording 211.35 km, 131.32 miles.

It is not unheard of for ladies to win an occasional ultra event outright.  At the Tooting event in 2014, Edinburgh’s Fionna Ross did so by accumulating a distance of 144 miles. Isobel Wykes and Noanie Heffron claimed second and third places ahead of all the men.

While not making a clean sweep again, Pascall and Young again ran remarkable races to claim the top two spots.

Damien Taylor had set a very ambitious early pace, however 24 hours on a track requires a lot of self-restraint and pace judgment in the early stages, if one wants to achieve a good distance. By six hours he was visibly struggling and had dropped out by 8 hours.

This left last years first placed man Michal Masnik, Irish runner Graham O’Loughlin and Hungary’s Gyula Sarosi to be the first 3 runners through 100km (62.2 miles) They maintained these positions at the 12 hour point.

O’Loughlin started to fade as the 14 hour mark approached and retired soon after. Masnik was first to reach the 100mile mark in 16.21.10.

All the while Young, Pascall and Irish runner Valerie Glavin, were quietly circling the track, and clocking the miles.

Young reached 100 miles just behind Masnik in 16.24.35 with Pascall not far behind in 16.35.40 and Val Glavin in 17.03.04.

The effort for Glavin was taking its toll and she was forced to retire soon after.

24 hour events are indeed a race of attrition, and who can balance a steady pace, while taking on sufficient snacks and drinks to sustain such a physical effort. Masnik was next to start feeling the strain, and was taking longer breaks at refueling stops. He withdrew around the 18hour mark leaving Young in the lead.

Pascall was always looking in control with a steady economical stride, and slowly she gained on Young.

For a two-hour spell, between 17 and 20 hour hours, there were only 1 to 3 laps between them. After 20 hours the strength and experience Pascall has learnt from events like the Lakeland 100 trail race (second in 2014) and completing the epic Spine Race  (268 miles in January along the Pennine way trail in a little under 4 days where she finished 5^th overall) were beginning to show, and as Young started to take longer walking breaks, Pascall maintained her economical running and gradually pulled ahead. Averaging just under 10km an hour in the last 4 hours and on more than one occasion proclaiming “I just want this to be over now!” She went through the 140mile mark, long held to be a world-class 24 hour benchmark for woman, her final distance 142.97 miles (230.088km) has only been bettered by an illustrious list of 6 British female ultra runners.

Speaking a couple of days after the race, Pascall commented, “ I didn’t really have a plan, other than to try and keep moving for 24 hours. The track is so different to a long trail. With a trail you can focus on the next checkpoint, having to navigate, the scenery etc. With the track you’re just going round and round so you think about the next feed or the next minor milestone.” When asked if she had had a structured feeding strategy she replied; ”Not really. In all my previous long races, I have had what I think are a good selection of useful items, like gels, cereal bars, snacks, plenty of water obviously and the odd coke and red bull even, but I tend to feed spontaneously as the race goes on, rather than to any totally rigid plan. I took things from the official race refreshment table too, but Mark, my partner who was helping me, really did a great job in making sure I kept having options ready too. I was really impressed with the whole organization, of the race and the enclosed track has a lovely atmosphere.”

As to what is next on her radar; “I am supposed to be running the Nottingham marathon next weekend. (She did, in a time of 3.28.28!) Longer term I have entered the Spine challenger 100mile in January as it is difficult with work commitments to commit to the full Spine race again“.

Whether she continues on the trails or wishes to have another challenge at 24 hours, will remain to be seen.

Tarit Adrian Stott

Timekeeper

We'd waitied 25 years for a woman to win this race, then 3 came along at once! A truely phenominal weekend saw the top three places go to women with Fionna Ross and Isobel Wykes recording distances to place them 5th and 6th respectively on the UKA Women's all time list.

This report shows splits for 100 Miles and 200K

This report shows distances recorded at 6 hourly intervals

This report shows a breakdown of 10K spilts for each competitor.

In September 2013 Geoff Oliver had just turned 80 years young, and took part in the Self Transcendence 24 Hour Track race at Tooting Bec in South London. Like all experienced athletes who have been running for many years, in Geoff’s case over 60, he prepared as best he could, and came with a goal and a plan. He duly broke, or set, completely new marks for all the recognized ultra distances from 30 miles up to 24 hours, with the exception of 100 miles, which he fell some 5 miles short of.

Well, as runners, we all know the feeling you get when you are so close to something, and for whatever reason it doesn’t quite work. It bugs you somewhat!  Sometimes you accept it and say to yourself, “I gave it my best shot, lets move on”.

In Geoff’s case, and at Geoff’s age, he freely admits you need a little bit of luck in staying injury free, and in good health to tackle life’s wee challenges, like the odd 24 hour race. In 2013 he had had a few issues in the lead up to the race, but 2014 seemed to have been going well for him. Whether last years race was still bugging him, I am not sure, but he was back for another crack.

In the early hours of the 2014 race, held over the weekend of September 21^st 22^nd, he set off steadily, as you usually do in a 24hour event.   For those unfamiliar with a 24hour race, the idea is to cover a fixed loop that has been accurately measured, in this case a 400 metre track, and see how many laps you can complete in the 24 hours. Whereas, most running events are the classic set distance like 800m or a marathon, and completed in a certain variable time, in this case the time is set, and the distance is the variable result.  It is as much an inner mental and spiritual challenge as it is physical.  To do well you have to be fit, but also able to tap into all those intangible but also very real qualities, like determination, hope, being in the moment and just dealing with things as they happen minute by minute, or hour by hour.  It is much like any event really, just that it goes on longer, and you usually have more to deal with!

Geoff has learned over a lifetime of running, to handle all these things quite well. Those of us who have known him and run with him in events or observed him, know he is an amazingly quiet, humble unassuming man.

Unlike many folk at a 24hour race, he doesn’t come with a support crew or helper or a car boot full of supplies. He turns up usually having taken the train to the race, with one wee kit bag that has a few spare clothes for the cooler nighttime running.  During the race, he is happy to help himself to the refreshments on offer at the trackside feed station.  Geoff has discovered though that the key to amassing a good distance in a 24 hour race, is to run evenly and just stay on the track, walking or running, with just short pit stops for calls of nature, or to change gear. 

About 6 hours into the race this year, Geoff has just been running steadily. He seems to be locked into his own rhythm and easing into the race without any real idea yet how he is doing.  My key role at the event is looking after all the race stats and timekeeping,

“How am I doing? “ he asks as he passes me standing at trackside.

 “You are doing well” I say, “Slightly up on last year”. 

“Oh really” he replies, “I felt I was going slower”.

Geoff has in fact already surpassed the world best performances for an 80 year old, at the 30mile and 50km points, as he continues to circle the track hour after hour. These are records he already holds, from last years’ event. Over the next 18 hours he will set another 5 world bests and one UK best.

With 4 hours to go and 20 hours of running behind him, Geoff is keen to know if it is possible for him to reach the 100mile mark in the 24 hours, if he maintains the pace he is going. I do some quick calculations after consulting his lap sheets. (Every lap, of every runner is being meticulously recorded).

I inform him, that it is possible, but as we are well aware of his age, just tell him to keep it steady, and no need to push it harder, and at any rate he is on course to set a new record for the 24 hour distance for an 80 year old.

 With an hour to go, it could still go either way, but Geoff, now finally looking a tad tired, is still doggedly circling the track. The determination on his face seeming to proclaim that “age is no barrier”.

With 10 minutes to go, Shyamala, my daughter who has been monitoring the progress of the runners towards the 100mile point, informs me, that it looks like he will not quite make the 100 miles before the 24 hour hooter goes to signal the end of the race, but it will be agonizingly close.  Her brain is obviously working better than mine, (I have had no sleep, she managed to grab a couple of hours!).

Shyamala has worked out he will probably be less than a lap short of the 100 mile mark, so why don’t we let him keep going so he has at least recorded a 100mile time.

 A quick chat with Shankara, the race director, and also a quick word with Geoff, and we have a plan!   At the 24hour hooter everyone stops and drops the little marker they have been carrying the last few minutes so the final part lap can be recorded. Geoff will continue running to reach the 100mile point.

The hooter duly sounds and shattered runners come to a standstill, all relieved they can now finally stop.

For Geoff, he has literally another 200 metres to reach the 100mile mark, which he does in 24 hours 01minute and 18 seconds.  It doesn’t matter that it is outside the 24 hours. We will still put the time forward for ratification, as we believe it is the first time an 80 year old has run 100 miles in a continuous effort. (It has certainly been achieved in a multi day race.)

To say he is unsteady on his feet at the end, is a bit of an understatement, but help is on hand, in the  shape of his grandson and his wife , who have been here for the last 2-3 hours of the race looking out for him.  The medical crew too, all too aware of what Geoff has been trying to achieve are monitoring from a distance, but seemed happy he is in good hands.

At the post race prize giving, after race winner Fionna Ross, Geoff  probably receives the loudest cheers and applause of anybody, and asks to say a few words.  He then says a few choice words of encouragement to the “younger runners“ and   heaps praise on Shankara and her organizing crew. Then it is time to head off to catch his train home to Leicestershire. I feel sure we will see him again in 2015 though, health and fitness permitting. That minute and a half will bug him!

Here are Geoff’s respective times and distances for 2013 and 2014.  All 2014 performances are (subject to ratification) world over 80 best performances, except the 100km* which is  “only” a British record.

                              2014                                    2013

30 Miles             5:19:37                                  5:32:31

50KM                  5:29:19                                 5:43:07

40 miles             7:51:26                                  7:55:45

6hours               52.800 km                             52.265 km

50 miles             10:17:14                               10:20:32

12 hours             91.413km                               9.732KM

100km*              13:21:24                                13:55:09

24 hours            160.745 km                         152.295 km

100miles            24.01.17                               not reached

 The 25th running of The Self Transcendence 24 Hour race was held at Tooting Bec track on 20th /21st September 2014.  Fionna Ross from Edinburgh’s Harmeny Athletic Club, who in her first attempt at a 24 hour event at Tooting in 2013 had impressed everyone with a distance of 216.214 km (134.1 miles) and finishing in second place overall, a new event record, was back to defend her title.

 This year she went one better and beat all the men to win the race out right. In the process setting a new Scottish women’s record for 24 hours.

The whole goal of a 24 hour race is to see how much distance you can cover in a 24 hour time span. In this event it involved circling the 400metre track, with each lap of every runner being meticulously recorded.  

Ross (34) managed to run 582 laps to record 233.018kilometres, or 144 miles 1391 yards, beating the existing Scottish record set by Sharon Law (Garscube Harriers) by over 4 miles.  (Law had set this mark 226.107km (140m 872 yards) at the World 24 championships in Holland in 2013.)   Along the way Ross also eclipsed Law’s 200km record by over 18 minutes as well recording 20 hours 28 min 41 sec. 

It is not unique for women to win longer ultra races outright.  Debbie Martin-Consani won the 144 mile Grand Union Canal Race outright in 2012 and British ultra legends Hilary Walker and Eleanor Robinson managed it several times in 24 and 48 hour races.  Helene Diamentides, paired with Martin Stone, famously won the inaugural Dragon’s Back ultra in 1992.

This year though, in an incredible display of “girl power”, women filled the first three places in the race, with Ross’s fellow GB ultra international Issy Wykes (Truro AC, Cornwall) pushing her hard in the last few hours to record 230.100 km (142 miles 1757yds) and fellow Scot, Noanie Heffron (Kilbarchan) with 213.011 km (132miles 631yds) in third.

In the early hours of the race Ross, using the experience gained in last years race, started steadily.  Heffron settled into a steady pace too and Wykes, cautious in her first 24 hour event, even more so.  Ross reached the 50km mark (31.1miles) in 4 hours 50 minutes with fellow Scot Noanie Heffron in 5 hours 02 min and Wykes some 20 minutes behind in 5 hours 20 minutes.

By 50miles (7:46:20 to 8:17:00) Ross had increased her lead over Heffron and Wykes, and was steadily passing all the men who had possibly started a little enthusiastically!

When 100km was reached in 9:43:34 Ross was lying in second place overall behind race leader, Ireland’s Brian Ankers (9.35). Heffron (10:23) and Wykes (10;27) were also closing in.

Just before the half way mark at 12hours, with Ankers taking a short “time out” Ross became outright leader. The 12 hour leader board showed Ross with 122.4km (76.06mls) Ankers, 120.4 km (74.8mls), with Wykes in third 114.8km (71.33ml) just a lap ahead of Heffron 114.4km (71.08 mls).

Competent 24 hour runners often talk of the long hours, usually mainly in darkness, between 12 hours and reaching the 100mile point. It is a long haul, when your body is often by habit trying to convince you, you should be asleep. You are getting totally fed up with drinking the same drinks, your digestive system is pretty much in hibernation, and you don’t feel like eating anything, but you know you have to keep nibbling and sipping away, or a big crash is awaiting you a few hours down the road.

Ross, and the other runners were no doubt having similar feelings, but relentlessly she, Wykes and Heffron were circling the track, edging closer to that 100mile mark.  Ross slipped past the 100mile mark first in 16 hours 11 minutes 32 seconds.   She is slightly slower than her 100mile split of last year (15h.58min) but this is all part of her plan to eventually achieve a better overall 24hour distance.  Izzy Wykes, although 30 minutes behind, at the 100miles in 16h 45m 05 sec, is looking strong though and moving well; the experience gained in placing first lady in her first “long” ultra this summer, the Grand Union Canal Race, now standing her in good stead. Noanie Heffron reaches the 100 in 17;37;35 and is now comfortably in third place after trading places with Slovakian Michel Masnik, the leading man for an hour or so.

All 24 hour runners know that if one wants to achieve not just a good distance, but a great distance, the 100mile mark is just a stepping stone, and now the foundations have been laid, one just has to summon up that hidden will to keep up that steady, relentless, effort for a few more hours.  All the time, you are just dealing with all manner of thoughts and feelings that are trying to pierce your concentration, and convince you to ease back or take a wee break.  Taking a wee break is the last thing on these three ladies minds, they have all come into the race with their own personal goals, and slowly, lap by lap, they are edging closer to them.

 Slowly the first signs of dawn appear, with chinks of light appearing in the sky beyond the glow of the track lights. There is a distinct autumnal chill in the air, at this early hour. With dawn, as always, comes hope, or in the runners case, the knowledge that the race end is in sight and achievable, albeit a few hours away still.

 As the day gets brighter some runners, who have left the track for wee breaks start reappearing. For our leading 3 runners, there is no let up.  Ross is checking how close she is to 200km, (124.5 miles) and when I tell her she is getting close, and, but for some unforseen imminent disaster, is sure to break Sharon Laws existing Scottish 200km mark, she looks as if she doesn’t quite believe me at first, but reassured, seems to renew her focus.

The 200km mark is duly reached in 20 hours 28 minutes and 40 seconds, 18minutes inside the old mark. That time was also set in a 24 hour race where Law went on to set the existing Scottish 24 hour record.  Ross now has to refocus and set her sights on another 16 miles ahead to achieve that.  She now has something else to occupy her thoughts though, for slowly, Wykes has been gaining ground and is just over 20 minutes behind. 20 minutes seems a good enough cushion, but any thoughts from Ross of “just cruising” through the last 3 hours, have also to be dealt with, and readjusted.

Wykes has her own goal in mind, and has come into the race with the aim of surpassing the GB 24 hour qualifying standard of 210km. She reaches 200km in 20:53:08 and seems quite   emotional to realize she has 3 hours to cover 10km. I calmly tell her it is a 24 hour race and just to try and concentrate on 3 hours more running, as it now obvious to those watching, that Ross and Wykes, along with Heffron, are all feeding off each other, and if they can indeed keep their momentum going are all destined to not only reach their pre race goals but surpass them considerably.  All three of them still look remarkably focused although the first glimpses of fatigue are now showing.

With 2 hours to go Ross is just short of 133 miles (214 km 535 laps) 5 laps short of her 2013 distance, and a new PB beckons.  Wykes, is 9 laps behind with 130.75 miles (210.4 km) and has achieved her goal of reaching the GB team standard. Heffron, now certainly feeling the effects of 20 hours on a track at 196km, is closing in on 200km.  With the understanding that a 24 hour race is all about distance over time, they all know, that they can push their mileage up some way, in those last 2 hours.

In the penultimate hour, when many of the competitors are now reduced to a walk or a shuffle

Wykes covers 24 laps, just under 10km, to reach 136.7 miles. Ross, determined not to let her advantage get any smaller, manages 25 laps, to total 139.1 miles and looks like victory is secure. Both of them now certain to go beyond the 140 mile barrier, a distance only achieved by 9 British women. Heffron has gone through 200km (22:27:30) and is also closing down on 210km.

 With the clock showing 23 hours and 15 minutes, Ross starts lap no 565. It is on this lap that she will surpass her good friend, Sharon Law’s current Scottish 24 hour record of 226.1km.She would probably like to stop and celebrate, but that will have to wait, as the nature of a 24 hour event, is that the new record is now ever evolving with each lap Ross covers.  Wykes, like many of the other runners, seems galvanized that there is now under an hour to go and looks the stronger of the two. Indeed she is actually lapping the track faster than anyone.

Heffron, achieves her goal of 210 km with 20 minutes remaining, but getting the drift of what this “24 hour stuff” is all about, is showing a steely determination to run right to the hooter at noon.

When the hooter goes at the end of a 24 hour event, there is a sense of total relief that you can now actually switch off, and stop pushing yourself.  For hour after hour, all the runners in their own way have had to summon up something almost beyond physical capacity, as they strive to achieve their respective goals. It is no different on this occasion.

A very tired Ross, who was running her second 24 hour event, and earlier this summer won the 95 mile West Highland Way race, commented afterwards, “That was the hardest race I have run yet, I knew Izzy was closing on me, slowly in the last few hours, so I couldn’t afford to let up at all, but it probably helped both of us to achieve the final distances we did. I had hoped going into the race that if all went well I could get close to Sharon’s record, but you never know how these races will evolve. I am absolutely shattered, but very, very happy. I am so happy for Izzy, she ran such a strong race. I also realized just how important a good support crew is. Karen (GB 24 hour international Karen Hathaway) was just outstanding and I was so grateful for all her experience”

Wykes (36) was running her first 24 hour event after wining the 145 mile Grand Union Canal race from Birmingham to London earlier this year. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet, I am absolutely thrilled. My goal was to try and achieve the GB team qualifying distance for the World 24 hr champs next year 210 km (131 miles), but just didn’t expect I could run over 140 miles.”

Noanie Heffron, who was actually nursing a minor calf issue throughout, said “ I ran the Glenmore trail 24 hour last year, at Aviemore, and really enjoyed that. (She covered 203 km). I wanted to see what I could do on an accurately certified course, and am thrilled to reach the GB team Standard. Whether it will get me in the team, I don’t know, there are several other girls with the standard too.”

For our three exceptional ladies, who have all achieved something beyond their original expectations, it will be a day or two before the true reality of what they have done, sinks in.

Ross and Wykes distances are indeed exceptional. As well as putting Ross as no 1 in the Scottish all time rankings, it puts her 5th all time on the GB 24 hour lists, and Wykes into 6th place. In perspective, only 4 of GB’s outstanding ultra runners of recent years, Emily Gelder, Hilary Walker, Eleanor Robinson and Lizzy Hawker have run further in 24 hours. Good company to be in indeed. Heffron too, is now in the GB all time top 20.

What is also exceptional too, is these three ladies, are all so very down to earth. Absolutely set on bringing the best out of themselves and each other, but always just totally enjoying there running.

Race report copyright Adrian Tarit Stott and Run and Become.

The 2013 England Athletics ultra distance champs were incorporated into the Self Transcendence 24 hour race. Find out who won and how it went...

Read about Marco Consani's and Fionna Cameron's fantastic achievements in their first attempt at a 24 Hour race.

Here you can see the 10Mile splits for each runner throughout the race.

Here you can see the 10K splits for each runner throughout the race.

This was a truly amazing race; we witnessed our 20 years standing Women's course Record fall to Fionna Cameron who recorded 134 Miles in her first 24 hour race, Marco Consani, also running his first 24 hour, recorded a stunning 154 Miles - the second best result we've had in our 24 years. To top this off the amazing Geoff Oliver broke World Age Group Vet 80 records for 30M, 50K, 40M, 50M, 6Hrs, 12Hrs and 24 Hrs. In all 21 runners broke the 100Mile barrier.
 

Sri Chinmoy, the inspiration behind the Self Transcendence Races has a saying that “age is not a barrier”. 76 year old Geoff Oliver proved that in exemplary fashion at this years Self Transcendence 24 Hour Race by setting world age best performances (track) for 100miles and for his overall distance for the 24 hours in the over 75 age group. Oliver from Hinckley in Leicestershire is a familiar and very popular figure at running events throughout the country and is a member of the 100km Association club. He set off at noon on Saturday 17th October 2009 along with 45 other runners to circle the 400 metre Tooting Bec track in south London, with the simple aim of seeing how far he could run in the next 24 hours. With a dedicated team of helpers recording every single lap each runner completed. Oliver had done his homework and arrived at the race with a list of the existing British and world age group records he had targeted, and in his wonderfully humble manor asked the race officials to “keep an eye on his progress as the hours passed by.” His years of running experience have obviously taught him how to pace ultras well, especially in the early stages, and his steady running for hour after hour gradually ticked off the records.

THE STORY OF GEOFF OLIVER'S RACE 30 miles in 4hours 58min 25seconds. 50km in 5 hours 11 min 37 seconds 40 miles in 7 hours 57 min 25 seconds 50 miles in 9 hours 16 min 38secs 12 hour distance 99.359 kilometres (61 miles 1298 yards) 100miles in 20 hours 43mins 49secs WORLD BEST PERFORMANCE over 75 years track 24 hour distance 111 miles 285 yards (178.898km)

The previous best marks were set by the American Ray Piva in San Diego in 2003 were 100 miles in 21.30.25. 24 hours 109 miles 667 miles 176.030 km. All Oliver's times and distances from 50 miles upwards are believed to be British age group records also. (All records are of course subject to ratification. ) Leaving aside the setting of age group world records, 44 other runners had all come to take up their own 24 hour challenge.

For those unfamiliar with how a 24 hour race works, unlike a specified distance like a marathon or 100 km where the set distance is run in a set time. In a 24 hour race the time is fixed, and the distance is variable according to the runner's performance. Each lap of the course, in this case a 400 metre track, is recorded onto an individual lap-sheet so that each runners distance can be calculated exactly. At the end of the 24 hours the total number of completed laps, with the additional measurement of any part lap run in the last few minutes of the race, is added together to give each competitors finishing distance. Physically, it is comparable to other "point to point challenges" like an LDWA 100 miler or longer road or trail race like the 95 mile West Highland Way. It does however need a different mental approach to deal with the fact you are covering the same flat loop a few hundred times!!!

The staging of the Commonwealth Ultra Distance and Mountain running championships at Keswick a month earlier, meant most of Britain's top ranked 24 hour runners had just completed an event. This didn't stop our regular visitor and good friend Ken Fancett from entering, but it also meant that this year's race was wide open and had attracted several competent and promising ultra-runners who had fared well at other shorter events but were taking part in their first 24 hour event. These included Scots runners Paul Hart from Dumfries and Aileen Scott from Glasgow's Clydesdale harriers. Hart has gained a lot of experience in recent years being a regular member of the Scottish 100km team (He had recently run at the Keswick commonwealth championships at the shorter distance) and also showing his potential at longer events with a 5th place in this year's 95 mile West Highland Way trail race. Scott too had run well at thisyears West highland Way in June and followed that up with a solid 3rd place at the shorter (53 mile) "Devil of the Highlands" event in August. From Ireland, John O'Regan, with several very competent performances at shorter ultras behind him, was also keen to see how he would fare in a 24 hour. There was also the usual contingent of experienced ultra runners from The Scandinavian countries and Holland to give a European flavour to proceedings.

Live updates of the race were posted on the internet for the first time and in slightly edited format are printed here to give an idea of how the race unfolded in the course of 24 hours:

24 hour updates tootingbec track

11am Saturday Preparations underway for this weekend's race... The weather forecast has a high of 13 degrees C and a low of 4 degrees with a bit of wind at the start that drops through the night. No sign of rain yet... The lap counters are gathering and descending from all the Home Countries and they'll all be huddled together in a little blue tent at the trackside making sure everyone lap is counted.

1.5 Hours 13.30 One and a half hours into the race and all the runners after the first nervous hour are starting to settle into their own rhythm. It is early days yet but at the hour mark, Lee Chamberlain Paul Fernandez and Stefan Liskowski have completed 31 laps,just over 12km with Scotland's Aileen Scott leading lady with just over 11km. The conditions, cool with broken cloud, are perfect at the moment. After

2 hours 3 runners have completed 61 laps, just over 15 mile, 24 km, Paul Fernandez, Paul Hart and Matt Mahoney have a small lead over Stefan Liskowski, Lee Chamberlain and Rob Wood. Leading lady is Aileen Scott who has covered 13.5 miles, 21.5 km 54 laps. She has a clear lead - 5 laps ahead of Rachel McCuaig and Liz Neville who are both on 49 laps, 12.1 miles 19.6 km. Oldest competitor 76 years young Geoff Oliver has completed 50 laps, 20 km.

4 hours The runners have the excitement of changing direction, and in the lead is Paul Fernandez of Abingdon Amblers who has completed 48.4 km,(30 miles)from Matt Mahoney,47.6 km, (29.5 miles) and Paul Hart and Richard Quennell 46.8 km,(29 miles). Aileen Scott is still first lady having covered the marathon distance in 4 hours.

6 Hours. The floodlights are on and in the evenings dusk, the runners are settling into steady running for the evening. The temperature is dropping so a number of the runners are putting on more clothing to keep warm. The leader Paul Fernandez has increased his lead to 7 laps having covered 179 laps 44.49 miles. Richard Quennell has taken over in second place with 172 lap 42.75 miles. Paul Hart and Matt Mahoney are both on 170 laps 42.25 miles.In fifth and sixth places are Tom Meldrum and Reima Hartikainen respectively. Aileen Scott, the leading lady, has covered 153 laps 38.03 miles with Liz Neville in second with 144 laps 35.79 miles and in third is Elisabeth Karlsson with 140 laps 34.8 miles. At the six hour distance Geoff Oliver has covered 35.08 miles exactly which we believe is a British MV75 6 hour track best performance. Hilary Walker, IAU General Secretary, Guest Contributor to the Live Update!

7 hours into the race and there is a change of atmosphere as night falls. Paul Fernandez continues to lap at a steady pace and went through 50 miles in 6:47 and at the 7 hour mark had achieved 51.5 miles, 82.8 km. In second place is now Paul Hart, 49.4 miles, (50 miles in 7:07). Third is Richard Quennell with 48.7 miles. Aileen Scott continues to lead the ladies having completed 176 laps, 43.75 miles in 13th place overall. She is 3.5 miles ahead of Swedish runner Elizabeth Karlsson. Already we have had several drop-outs with Lindsey Stewart and Lee Chamberlain retiring from the race. Mention of the hour is the great soup provided by the cooking crew that has everyone talking.

9 hours: For those unfamiliar with how a 24 hour race works unlike a specified distance like a marathon or 100 km, where the set distance is done in a set time in a 24 hour race the time is fixed and the distance is variable according to the runners performance.Each lap of the course in this case a 400 metre track is recorded onto an individual lap-sheet so that each runners distance can be calculated exactly There are runners representing 5 European countries Germany Norway Sweden Holland Ireland and Australia plus the Home Countries of England Scotland and Wales. Paul Fernandez has reached 100km in 8:33:10 and his total for the 9 hours was 104.8 km 65.1 miles. Second place is still Paul Hart at 99.6 km - one lap short of the 100 km. Aileen Scott reached 50 miles in 8:14 and at the 9 hours was 54.1 miles 87.2 km

Update 12 hours - We're over the half way stage in our 2009 race, and things are really getting exciting here!! Saturday evening has rolled seamlessly into Sunday morning. Geoff Oliver at 76 years young has just completed 99.369 km, which we believe to be an over 75 world best track performance. He then went on to achieve 100k in the time of 12hrs 6 45, only 11 seconds slower than his performance last year. Geoff continues to astound the ultra community by refusing to let age get in the way of inspiration. At the moment, Paul Fernandez is leading with 81 miles after 12 hrs. but Paul Hart has closed the gap to within 2 miles. First lady is still Aileen Scott at 70 miles after 12 hrs, but Elizabeth Carlson is still not out of the picture at 66 miles.In the counting shed, the second shift has just begun, so there is a new influx of bodies taking notes of each runners laps and times. 14 hours into the race. 2 am: While most of Europe is fast asleep there are 40 runners circling the Tooting Bec track, there is a strange aura of calm and silence at this time of the morning. The background buzz of suburban London, prevalent for most of the race, has died away. The temperature has dropped and is very cold for the helpers but the runners on the move seem happy enough. The big story at 14 hours is that Paul Hart has closed to within one lap of Paul Fernandez - 369 to 368 laps. Richard Quennell is 3 laps further back with 365 laps. All three are over the 90 mile mark. Scotland's Aileen Scott still leads the women's race on 79 miles - over three miles ahead of Sweden's Elizabeth Karlsson. Five runners have now retired from the race, the latest being Ian Beattie who doggedly struggled on to a 100 km despite having severe stomach problems

Update - 17 Hours"It is very, very cold outside" says RD Shankara Smith. "Every runner out there, running walking, or staggering, is a hero as far as I'm concerned." In the last hour or so, 3 runners have broken through the 100 mile barrier. Incredibly, only a minute separated the first two after 15.5 hours of running. But it was the Scotsman, Paul Hart of Dumfries RC, who reached the 100 miles first in 15:34:19 closely followed by Richard Quennell Rugby AC, 15:35:18. Early race leader Paul Fernandez, is still hanging in there - reaching the 100 miles 5 minutes down in 15:39:15. It is the first time all three have broken 100 miles. While every runner seems to have put on extra layers of thermal tops and tights and also a huge variety of different hats there is one exception, and that is Richard Quennell who is still wearing the same yellow tee shirt and black shorts that he started the race in. He is moving well and looking good, proving the long held wisdom that there is definitely no "off the shelf " way to run a 24 hour, you obviously take advice from the wise ones who have been there before, but you also find out with experience what works for you! The runners have now changed direction again for the penultimate time. Now is the time in a 24 hour race when not only the obvious fatigue of having run for 60, 70 or a hundred miles is taking its toll, but sleep deprivation will is also being felt. The runners inbuilt body clocks are subliminally telling them "I should be asleep" and the runners have to fight that natural urge. Everyone is looking forward to the break of dawn.

18 Hours We are at the three quarter point now, and the runners are now in the intensely cold period before the dawn. Thankfully, it has stayed dry! In the last hour, we have a new leader - Richard Quenell has taken the lead from Paul Hart, and currently has a total of 113 miles at the 18 hour stage. Paul Fernandez still holding on to third place. Irishman John O'Regan became the fourth runner to break through the 100 mile barrier - he has been followed by Ken Fancett, Neil Bryant and Per-Audun Heskestad. Aileen Scott is leading lady at 93.95 miles.

19 hours Its getting light - slowly the sky is lightening. There is a heavy dew on the infield. An influx of new counters has breathed new life into the race. The breakfast crew has been working for an hour already, and the porridge is going down a treat. Richard Quennell has increased his lead. Paul Hart is running well again after nursing a troublesome groin for about an hour. Aileen is still leading the ladies race.

20 hours Last turnaround, the runners are buzzing, the newly risen sun is glowing on the autumn leaves around the track, everyone's awake, breakfast has been served and there's less than four hours to go now. Richard Quennel has reached 200km, 124.5 miles in 19:53:17 and 10 runners have already surpassed 100 miles.

Update-23 Hours With just under an hour to go the track is really alive as the runners stretch themselves to their limits to reach their goals. 24 runners have crossed the 100 mile mark and there are still more to come. Richard Quennell remains in the lead having reached 140 miles. Paul Hart moved faster in the last hour and has completed 136 miles and John O'Regan reached just under 132 miles. Aileen Scot remains the first lady on 113 miles just in front of Elizabeth Karlssson. Rachel McCuaig has just reached 100 miles in third place.

24 hours - Quick update on race finish. Richard Quennell has finished first with approx 146miles, followed by Paul Harte on approx 140. First lady: Aileen Scott is probably just short of the 190km distance . In all 25 runners have broken the 100 mile barrier, a record for the event. Our track internet broke down which meant we couldn't post final results as quickly as we'd like, but full results and final post race report should appear this evening.

Post race overview The race was won by Richard Quennell of Rugby and Northampton A.C. with a distance of 145 miles 1942 yards (234.813 km) from Scot Paul Hart (Dumfries Running club) 140 miles 1862 yards((226.830km) with Norwegian Per Audun Heskestad third with 137 miles 1892 yards (221.978km) First lady was Aileen Scott from Glasgow's Clydesdale Harriers with 117 miles 617 yards (188.859km) almost 5 miles ahead of Sweden's Elizabeth Karlson 112 miles 1642yards (181.749 km) and third Emily Gelder of Dulwich Runners 105 miles 1304 yards ( 170 .175 km) A total of 25 runners broke the 100 mile barrier many of them for the first time. Quennell in his first 24 hour event probably doesn't realise he has fallen only a few hundred metres short of the GB standard for consideration for 24 hour selection of 235 km but his performance is incredibly impressive all the same .Hart, without a dedicated support crew, has also shown that his consistent form over shorter road and trail ultras the last two years has provided a good background for more to come over the longer events in the future. (see separate articles on how they prepared for and approached a 24 hour race )

Race details and full results at Sri Chinmoy Races Online.

Midday on a sunny Saturday morning in September. 45 runners converge at Tooting Bec Track to challenge impossibility and run hundreds of loops of the track...

Read how Helen James (winner of the women's field) embraced the challenge of running for 24 hours and how she dealt with the ups and downs...

Here you can see the 10 Mile splits for each runner throughout the race.

Here you can see the 10K splits for all runners throughout the race.

On another great weekend at Tooting Bec track, 22  runners broke the 100 Mile barrier and Ann Bath set a new World Age Best for 24 hours in the Women's Vet 60 category. Kevin Doyle won the race with 135 Miles, whilst Helen James recorded the furthest distance in the women's field with 121 Miles.

Here you'll find details on race splits for 50 Miles, 100K and 100 Miles.

Here you can see the 10K splits for each runner through the race.

In this year's 24 hour race we saw late entrant Peter Van Winjngaarden from The Netherlands pass all expectations to clock up an impressive 141 Miles, not bad for his first 24 hour race! Ann Bath also inspired everyone by coming within a whisker of the UK Age Best for Women Vet 60, which seeing as her main sport is cycling and this was her first 24 hour race was pretty impressive!

My 24-Hour Self-Transcendence Race Experiences – Success, Failure and Progress

Part 1: First Time Round - October 2009

I knew roughly what to expect coming into the 24-hour race, but still for me it was going into unknown territory. The farthest I had run to date was in August when I completed the Sri Chinmoy 47 mile race in New York in just under than 8 hours. I struggled with that in the later stages. However, my mindset approaching the day of the 24-hour race was very positive and I had this inner feeling that everything was going to be all right. I had learned some invaluable lessons from the Barry 40 mile track race in March and in the Sri Chinmoy 47 mile race in August. Over a 12-month period I had addressed some significant biomechanical issues and had strengthened key leg muscles with a programme of resistance training in the gym and worked on my core stability. I guess I had done everything I could do and I was ready to step up to the mark. The way I was feeling days before and on the race day was one of surrender, gratitude, determination and absence of fear and doubt. With God’s grace I knew I could reach my target of 100 miles.

Prior to the race I got invaluable advice from Abichal who as always is a great source of practical advice and inspiration. I had a simple race strategy – on every hour to walk for 5 or 10 minutes. I broke the race up into quarters so I would be able to monitor my progress and attempt to achieve 25 miles every quarter. I knew this was achievable. I said to myself constantly, “I can do this”.

Although it is a long race, emotions and experiences become a blur as you are always constantly moving and trying to move forward. I won’t give an hour by hour account of the race as that will only bore you, and to be honest I can’t really remember much. At the start I just felt I didn’t want to be anywhere else other than doing this race, right there, right now. Being on that start line felt so right and I just knew I was going to have a wonderful journey.

Inevitably there were a few challenges during the race, but like Sri Chinmoy said,

“What is a challenge,
If not a friend
In disguise
To strengthen us?”

The recurring challenge I did have were a few stomach problems, but that did not last, and it was more of an inconvenience, and once I knew what the problem was, I was able to resolve it with a hot pot of rice pudding and honey. Ambrosia never tasted so good, along with a weak, sweet cup of tea! I’ve learnt that sometimes the simplest things are the best. The energy drinks and bars have their place, but sometimes they just don’t do the job for me.

By the half way point I had reached 60 miles, and I was feeling really strong and the walk and drink, and just relax and have fun every hour seemed to be working very well. A few of the runners had told me that if you reach 60 miles by midnight you should get your 100 miles. I was aware that I was running further than I had ever run before, and I was rather surprised that I was not experiencing any energy issues, tiredness or even muscular tightness. Throughout the race I was always trying to stay focused and relaxed. When some tightness did arise in my feet, I was aware of what they were, and simply loosened the laces and applied more lubricant on the toes to prevent any blisters. Through the early hours I was inwardly chanting my own personal mantras that work for me and that helped me to remain focused. By the early hours of the morning I was still feeling strong and in a good consciousness. I just felt so joyful and so grateful having the opportunity to be doing this race. I thought at some point I would get bored and need some stimulation by listening to some music, but I didn’t need it. Inwardly it seemed that I had my own inner music playing. That kept me ticking over. I think I reached 100 miles by around 09.15am, so I had achieved my goal of 100 miles. 

However, as Sri Chinmoy wrote,

“You can always do more. Today's goal is only the starting point for tomorrow's new dawn. At every moment we are transcending our previous achievements.........our goal should be our own progress, and progress itself is the most illumining experience."

My focus was now to try to reach 111 miles. I had about 2 and half hours to do 11 miles and I was slowing down considerably; I was doing between 3 and 4 miles per hour, so I worked it out that I had to step it up and get moving to reach my new goal, and really experience self transcendence.

With about 10 minutes to go to the end of the race I completed 111 miles. I did it I thought. But there was still time to run further. Encouraged by the lap counters to squeeze in another mile I summoned up enough energy and willed my legs to open up and finished very strongly to finally complete 112.10 miles.

At the end of the film Babe when the sheep pig wins the competition and the crowd rapturously applauds, the farmer looks down on Babe and just says, “That will do pig, that will do”, and smiles. You know that all the pig wanted to do was please his master, well that was how I felt at the end of the 24 hour race. A job well done and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I vowed that I would run the Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence 24 Hour Track Race next year.

Part 2: Second Time Round – September 2010

Self-transcendence
Means
Self-expansion
​In every way.

The determination in your heroic effort will permeate your mind and heart even after your success or failure is long forgotten.

Sri Chinmoy

Second time round competing in a 24-hour race you would think it would be easier. However, every race is different and because of random factors and personal circumstances it brings its own challenges – some out of your control whilst others where you can choose to do something about it. And sometimes you just make the wrong decisions and fail but that’s all part of the experience. As Sri Chinmoy poignantly wrote,

“What is failure?
Failures are the
Pillars of success”

I came into my second Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence 24 Hour Track race with more experience, feeling stronger, lighter and more confident. On the downside though I was carrying a few niggles, recovering from shin splints, and feeling tired after spending 5 months on the road running through America as part of an international team relay called the World Harmony Run (read about my experiences in next month’s edition), and legs feeling tired from the previous three weeks after completing a marathon and two days later running a PB in the Sri Chinmoy 47 mile race in New York.

The lead up to the race hadn’t been ideal. Running as part of a relay team in America I hadn’t been able to get any long runs under my belt and my running was feeling a bit one dimensional. I hadn’t the luxury to do specific 24 hour race training in the form of tempo runs and speed work or gym work to get me to a performance that I would have envisaged. From the previous year as I had unexpectedly done so well I might have set an unrealistic target of 200km for this year. I planned to try to run 6 miles per hour for the first half and attempt to run 5 miles per hour for the next 12 hours. In my mind I thought this was achievable. I planned to have a five-minute walk break every two hours. It all sounds so simple on paper!

Under the circumstances what was achievable and what was actually achieved were two different things. During a race, events happen that in order to continue the whole distance it is best to surrender to what occurs and change your tack or mindset. Right from the beginning I had this feeling that it was going to be much tougher than last year. My running a few weeks leading up to the race lacked fluidity and certain muscles were not properly functioning. Things felt out of synch. From the first hour in the race my right glute muscle tightened up and this affected my running form. To counteract this I consciously tried to relax and keep my running as easy and smooth as possible. I maintained a fairly good pace for the first four hours and then I started to annoyingly suffer from blisters. My complacency missed the crucial detail of wearing the twin-layered socks that worked so well for me the previous year. I had instead opted for the long compression socks to assist my shin splints, but they were totally unsatisfactory at keeping my feet blister free. So for the next few hours I had to regularly stop to burst the newly formed blisters, treat them and tape them up and readjust the plasters on the old blisters. They didn’t hurt, but I was just annoyed with myself that I hadn’t paid enough attention to my feet; basic schoolboy error of ultra running. Whether blisters hurt or not you do unconsciously tend to change your running form slightly and that makes your running less efficient – you’re expending unnecessary energy.

By the half way stage I was behind my schedule by 10 miles. I knew I would not be able to make up those miles and the way I was feeling it was going to be a struggle to last the 24 hours. The legs felt tired, not just from the previous 12 hours but I was feeling that all the World Harmony Run running and the two races 3 weeks previous were starting to catch up with me now. I was not firing on all cylinders to put it mildly, and fears and doubts started to enter my mind.

In the early hours of the morning I was really struggling. I was going through a bad patch. There was a fleeting thought that crossed my mind for a second that I should give up. However, the next thought was Sri Chinmoy’s words repeating over and over again inside me, “Never, never give up!” and,

“There is only one perfect road
And that road is ahead of you,
always ahead of you.”

Although I knew I wouldn’t achieve what I wished to achieve, the most important thing was not to give up, keep persevering and summon my determination to keep moving forward.

Looking on the positive, other aspects of the race had gone better than last year. By taking my own food and knowing what foods worked for me I avoided the stomach problems of the previous year. That was a bonus not going to the toilet so often, however on the down side I drunk too much liquid during the night and had to constantly stop to urinate – it was like every 20 minutes for the two hours. That did disrupt my flow (not my pee flow!) and I just couldn’t get into any rhythm. I was finding it so much hard work, and was feeling the race was an ever increasing battle. At one point I remember I felt pretty miserable, low, cold, tired and was really not enjoying it, but I knew I had to remain as cheerful as possible and feel gratitude for being given the opportunity to have these invaluable experiences in this race. Surrendering to these experiences was the best way for me to cope. There was a good reason why I was having these challenging experiences. Slowly running through the night I looked forward to the approaching dawn.

There are aspects of the race that help you to continue and not give up. One important aspect of this type of race that sometimes gets overlooked is the pervading consciousness of oneness you feel. You truly feel oneness with your fellow runners and a sense of progression and dynamism. There are hilarious and amusing moments in the race that lighten each individual’s pain and struggle. There are also the lap counters and helpers that you build up a rapport with who are there to help you achieve the best you can do.

As the race wore on I was walking more than running, but by one step at a time I was glad to get to the100 mile mark. That was a satisfying achievement for me and eventually at the end of the 24 hours I had completed just over 104 miles.  It was a huge effort to get there, but ultimately it was about the progress I had made and my own inner journey.

At the end of a 24-hour race you sense that everyone feels that something really special has happened and each runner has inwardly and outwardly made so much progress. The smiles on the faces and the sense of relief of everyone tell their own stories.

"At every moment
We must value not only
Our successes and
Achievements
But also the efforts
We make”.

Sri Chinmoy

Reima Hartikanen from Sweden covered the furthest distance to win the race with 129Miles, while Monique Hollinshead recorded 104 Miles to carry away the women's trophy. A special mention goes to Geoff Oliver, who at the age of 77 recorded 103 Miles to come 10th overall.

“The determination in your heroic effort will permeate your mind and
heart even after your success or failure is long forgotten.”

Sri Chinmoy

Race Photos will be posted in our ULTRA Races Gallery

[csv border=1 padding=5]Rank,NO,KMs,Surname,First Name,AGE,CLUB,MILES.YDS
1,74,208.344,Hartikanen,Reima,47,Team UltraSweden,129m 807y
2,67,204.362,Fernandez,Paul,36,Abingdon Amblers,126m 1732y
3,56,197.559,Bissell,Mark,23,Eden Runners, 122m 1333y
4,66,197.554,Feighan,Mike,44,Exeter Harriers,122m 1327y
5,83,188.953,Martin,Karl,40,Stainland Lions,117m 830y
6,92,183.839,Pinner,Hugh,34,u/a,114m 408y
7,84,173.839,McCuaig,Ian,49,Newark AC,108m 032y
8,77,167.848,Hollinshead,Monique F,F42,South Chesh.Harr.,104m 408y
9,61,167.488,Collinson,Mark,42,Sri Chinmoy AC,104m 127y
10,90,166.958,Oliver,Geoffrey,MV 77,100KM Association,103m 1307y
11,60,165.602,Colhoun,Graeme,27,u/a,102m 1584y
12,87,165.361,Morrison,Smiler Sid,MV 68,100KM Association,102m 1320y
13,63,165.207,Darmody,Penny F,FV 50,East Hull H,102m 1152y
14,76,162.634,Hobbs,Stephen,43,Ripley RC,101m 98y
15,73,161.813,Hart,Vicky F,F 31,Dumfries RC,100m 960y
16,64,161.6,Ellis,Michael,46,u/a,100m 727y
17,95,161.02,Willett,Raymond,MV 58,Riverside St. Neots,100m 53y!!
18,55,150.582,Battle,Steven,47,Worksop H,93m 998y
19,59,149.296,Chamberlain,Lee,31,100KM Association,92m 1352y
20,79,148.807,Jones,Colin,45,Barking RR,92m 817y
21,96,145.319,Prieto-Lloret,Jesus,35,u/a,90m 522y
22,62,145.2,Cook,Andy,26,u/a,90m 392y
23,82,139.816,Liddle,Helen,39,u/a,86m 1544y
24,94,135.328,Seabrook,Patricia F,FV 70,Finch Coasters,84m 156y
25,81,134.692,Kosla,Kaya F,F 21,u/a,83m 1220y
26,65,131.6,Emmott,Brian,MV 60,Blackburn H,81m 1359y
27,68,131.246,Gasparikova,Shramaniya F, F 29,Sri Chinmoy AC,81m 972y
28,70,130.401,Green,Dave,MV 66,u/a,81m 48y
28,75,129.531Hinder,Andrew,28,u/a,80m 856y
30,57,126.511,Black,Samuel,MV 65,100KM Association, 78m 1074y
31,91,125.331,Philpott,Marcus,47,u/a,77m 1543y
32,86,121.76,McCurdy,Ray,MV 56,100 Marathon Club,75m 1158y
33,78,119.059,John,Gilbert,MV 59,Les Croupiers,73m 1724y
34,80,116.8,King,Paul,MV59,Belgrave Harriers,72m 1014y
35,88,116.4,Mower,Jeremy,45,Gloucester,72m 1014y
36,85,110.8,McCulloch,Rodney,25,u/a,68m 1492y
37,93,98.4,Riley,Jane F,F 44,Holme Pierrepont,61m 251y
38,71,87.6,Harding,Charles,22,Army,54m 760y
39,72,74.4,Hart,Paul,41,Dumfries RC,46m 404y
40,58,69.2,Campbell,Stephen,42,Horsham Blue Star,42m 1758y[/csv]

A total of 25 runners broke the 100 mile barrier many of them for the first time.

Here you can see the 10K splits for eahc runner through the race

Sri Chinmoy, the inspiration behind the Self Transcendence Races has a saying that “age is not a barrier”. 76 year old Geoff Oliver proved that in exemplary fashion at the weekend by setting world age best performances (track) for 100miles and for his overall distance for the 24 hours in the over 75 age group.

The preparation:
When John O’Regan first mentioned about the 24 hour race, a couple things came to mind – firstly, who in their right mind would consider it fun to run for 24 hours, and secondly, who in their right mind …….!

And so my interest in the 2009 Self-Transcendence 24 Hour Track Race was piqued. The most John had run before in this type of event was 100k (Celtic Plate 2008, Galway) so it was going to be a challenge, a very big challenge; but having experienced his approached previous challenges I knew that his commitment to training, his competitive spirit and the application of a fair degree of stubbornness, that he would succeed.

The preparation for the race involved figuring out the answer to two major questions: (At this stage the physical and mental ability were taken as a given).

(1) How far could we expect John to run over the duration &
(2) What level and mix of fuel would be required sustain the required effort over the 24 hours.

The preparation involved consultation with and detailed testing by Dr Nick Mahony, Bernard Donne and the team in Trinity College’s Sports Science Department, who confirmed how ready the body was to take on the task and how far it could be pushed. He also relied heavily on the experience of athletes like Eoin Keith and endurance record holding cyclist Paul O’Donoghue to help with diet plan and just as importantly, the mental preparation.

And so a plan emerged: John was going to run 210km and was going to need 60gr of Carbohydrates each hour. Now we had a plan, all John had to do was execute it.

The Race:
The venue was the Tooting Bec track in south London, the time was 12 noon and the weather was just perfect for running. The first thing that struck me as the 46 brave souls lined-up at the start line, was the remarkable mix of ages, shapes and sizes. I was expecting a field of young, undernourished-looking men, but what presented was an eclectic mix of international competitors ranging in ages from 29 to 76, 11 of whom were women. There was quite a relaxed atmosphere at the start with many of the competitors having a number of 24 hour races under their belts. Not so for John, who was a little apprehensive on the start line, a bundle of pent-up nervous energy waiting to explode. 

But both Steven Seaton (Runners World) and I were there to support him and to do whatever is took to deliver the plan.

12:00 to 20:00
His instructions were clear – do not run any more than 10km in the first hour, stick to the fuelling plan, and certainly don’t try to keep up with anyone. Before the race we never assessed what delivering 210km would mean in terms of positioning, but it was largely irrelevant, this event was about going the distance and learning from the experience. John settled in nicely to the race and limiting his pace to a heart rate max, delivered the first four hours with a few km ahead of plan. The fluid intake seemed right, the fuelling plan was working and we were really happy with the steady start to the race. 

John hit the marathon distance in 4:05 and was feeling good.

My initial concerns about having lots of time to fill during the 24 hours failed to materialise as we soon got into a rhythm of preparing food, tracking pace, monitoring distance, supporting toilet breaks and satisfying John’s every whim. The hours started flying by. The next four hours delivered another 40k and a quick change into his Skins leggings. The 2 minutes it took to change the gear was the first John time got off his feet in the 8 hours. We were still slightly ahead of the plan, and started getting more confident that it could be delivered. This steady progress meant John finished the 8 hour mark in 7th place.

20:00 to 04:00
The middle phase of the plan was to deliver 73 km, which anticipated a slight slowing in pace. Just after a toilet break at 20:00 John walked his first lap. The walking lap is a great opportunity to eat some solids (energy bar, bagels or pancakes) and a chance to really assess how he was doing in terms of HR, effort and any potential injuries that were starting to emerge. At 10pm John noticed a bit of a ‘twinge’ at the end of his shin. At this point I was a little worried that it was early and a potential problems began to emerge. At 1am John decided that a change of shoes might help to address the pain in his shin and counteract any affect of his feet swelling after 13 hours running. He had run 318 laps of the track, had gone to the toilet 5 times, sat down twice to change gear but had only walked one of the laps. If we could keep the shin at bay, the plan was beginning to look good.

In the last part of this phase of the race, a few cracks started to emerge. The level of fluid being consumed was now requiring a toilet break every hour, he couldn’t tolerate eating the bagels or the raisins and the pace was falling a little but behind, eating away the gains we had banked. This stage in the night brought a drop in temperature to 0 degrees, so the dew that covered our gear quickly turned to ice. At 3am John donned his hat and gloves to counteract the affects of the cold and walked his second lap of the race. Things were now starting to get interesting as the leader board showed John O’Regan in fourth position. Was it too early to hope for a finish position like that? Or were the experienced runners going to eat him up in the last eight hours when John faded towards the end? We did not know, but we hoped he could hold on.

05:00 to 11:00
The last third of the race was always going to be the difficult one to judge, just because the plan said John was to do 57k, did not mean that he could physically do it. And two problems still existed – His shin was starting to really hurt and the carbohydrate intake was well below the required level – caused by having to do without the bagels and the raisins. That’s when Percy Pig came to the rescue! Well not completely, but he certainly helped. For those of you who don’t know Percy Pig – he is a wonderful sweet from M&S that delivers a wonderful 6g of carb per pig – they were reserved for a flavoursome treat in the plan, but were offered and consumed with a frequency that would have a school full of children hyperactive!

Things started to get really interesting when the 6am leader board was posted which show John now in third place. Up to this point it was not about the other runners at all, we monitored and measured their pace and observed their routines purely out of passing interest. But now we had a race on our hands. How far ahead was the guy in front? And more importantly how far behind was the next guy and could John be caught? 

John passed the 100mile mark after 16hours 50mins and cheered-up by the rising sun and third place on the board delivered a really strong

7 hours between 5am and 11am. In that time, he delivered an 8.4 km an hour average when the plan required 7.3km. Not only were we looking at a possible 3rd place finish, but 215 km was a near definite and 220km a distinct possibility. The fuelling plan now consisted of a lot of flattened coke which provided the necessary fluid and sugar boost. 

Percy Pig also played his part.

The Final hour:
The sun now shone brightly, the temperature rose to a very pleasant level and 531 laps were completed in the 23 hours. We had a problem, PerAuden Heskestad from Sweeden was running a consistent 2:25 minute lap and despite a 2km lead it was very possible for him to catch John. 

The inevitable happened with about 40 minutes to go, PerAuden made up gap and passed by. It was out with the calculators again to check two things – could we get John to 220km and was Neil Bryant going to be able to make up the deficit. I was now very worried, John was fading fast, the pain in his shin was getting unbearable and Neil was moving fairly steadily.

The last 20 minutes was a battle to keep him going, running was not possible due to the pain, and the reality was that he was moving faster when he walked. It was a very strange sight to see almost everyone still in the race pick it up for the last 30 minutes. 

Athletes, literally dead on their feet, found the motivation from somewhere, to raise their heads and eek the last few meters out of the

24 hours. So focused were we on keeping John moving that I miscounted the last few laps and we very happy to finish with 219km and a fourth position. Despite the difficulties over the last hour, John still managed to deliver 7.6 km, the last 3laps of which Steve and I walked with him. It was an amazing and emotional feeling to be on the track as the final siren sounded and 26 competitors stopped dead on their feet. At that point, it had nothing to do with the race positions or the distance travelled but the immense sense of personal achievement that each one of them felt, as they stood transfixed on the track, smiling in the sun.

The Result:
And so the race was over, the stretch target exceeded and an incredible maiden 24 hour race now firmly recorded in John’s CV. The icing on the cake was the fourth place finish, I believe that John secretly hoped for a top 10 finish, but was still more interested in getting the distance. It was a wonderful sight to see all the competitors now relaxed and smiling in the sun waiting to hear the official results. The winner, Richard Quennell covered 234.8 in the 24 hours, John was a mere 14.8km behind him. As I pointed out to John, if he was able to cover a mere 600m more per hour he would have covered the same distance – easy really!

Of the 35 athletes who completed the race, 25 of them ran over 100 miles. The last surprise of the day was the announcement of John’s fourth position and official distance. Steve thought he heard a distance of 220km being called, but that could not have been, I had tracked all the way and was positive that we had only made 219 and a lap or so, the holy grail of 220km was not achieved! A quick check with the referee confirmed a final distance 220km and 21m – had I known it was achieved; I might have been able to claim a near perfect result, but I was just as surprised and delighted as John. All of which goes to show that 24 hours is a long time to be doing anything!

http://www.ultrarunningireland.com/live/news/

Forty runners set off in near perfect conditions at 12 noon on the Saturday to circle the 400metre track at the superb south London venue of Tooting Bec athletics track. Unlike a standard marathon or a 100km race where a fixed distance is covered in a certain time, in a 24 hour race the time is fixed and the distance covered, as laps are meticulously recorded, determines the end result. Men’s pre race favourites were Chris Finill(Harrow) and Jim Rogers(East Hull) and it was these two who showed at the front after the race settled down.

10 Mile Splits for each runner though the race

10K Splits for each runner throughout the race.

Great Britain Ultra distance internationals Chris Finill and Vicky Skelton both ran superb races to smash their respective personal bests and go to the top of the G.B. 24 hour rankings for 2008.

Not to be outdone, experienced Irish Adventure racer and ultra runner Eion Keith broke three Irish national records when finishing second at the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 24 hour track race held sat/sun 18th and 19th of October.

Full details on our 2007 24 hour track race at Tooting Bec.

 

Please check out the results and reports of our 2007 race through the links below. If you have any questions please contact the race director, Shankara Smith, at Run and Become (0207 222 1314).

 

Race Reports from 2007:

Full results of the Self-Transcendence 24 Hour Race 2007.
Shankara's race report.

Jane's experience!

‘We’ve got the makings of a great race this year, but you never know what will happen on the day.’ I’d said to my fellow organisers. With a record number of entries, a good dozen or so Europeans with impressive past performances, quite a few proven regulars and a number of first timers with a lot of potential, I knew this year could be special and so it proved. ..

Here you can see the 10 Mile splits for each runner

Here you can see the 10K plits for each runner

John Pares kept up a constant six miles an hour to become our Winner with 143 miles, the energy in his stride never seeming to diminish. Our Scandinavian contingent produced great performances with a Women’s National Record for Torill Fonn’s 127 miles, and taking 6 of the top 10 places.

10 Mile Split times for each runner

10K Splits for each runner

Chris Finill put in a fine performance to record the furthest distance and win the race with 137 Miles.

Another great event at Tooting Bec Track

The 2004 Self Transcendence 24 Hour Race took place on 9/10th October at Tooting Bec, South West London. Organised by the Sri Chinmoy AC, 30 runners took part in the event, which involved participants running around a 400 metre outdoor track from noon on Saturday the 9th, culminating at noon the following day. Twenty-five runners completed the race.

Ken Fancett, 55, of Beckenham RC finished in first place after clocking up 214.775 km. This was Ken's second 24 hour race, having achieved approx 183.464 km at Doncaster in 2001.
 

 

 

In second place was Eoin Keith, 35, of IMRA with 198.525 km, followed in third place by Peter Zuidema, 37, of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team with 195.345 km.

 

Jill Green, 63, of London Vidarians was the highest-placed woman finishing with 169.28 km under her belt. Jill celebrated her 63^rd birthday in the early hours of Sunday morning, while running the second half of the 24 hour stint.

 

Race organiser Ongkar Smith said,"The race went smoothly and all the runners appeared to remain in good spirits throughout."  

 

The full list of results can be viewed below.      

 

		Full Results of the 2004 24 Hour Race
		Race Reports by: Ongkar (Race Director) Shankara (Scoreboard Official)
		Runner's reports and comments
		Dan's report on the 2003 Race
		The Counter's Tale (by Bhashini and Arpita)

Phil Adams recorded the furthest distance to win the race with 125 Miles.