The Sri Chinmoy 24 Hour Race incorporating the Australian Ultra Runners Association 24 Hour Championships was held at the University of Queensland Athletics Track, St Lucia, Brisbane, commencing at 9am on Saturday June 19th and finishing at 9am on Sunday June 20th. The event also included a twelve hour and a six hour race.

The verdant grounds of the University, set on the banks of the Brisbane River, coupled with the perfectly mild Brisbane winter weather provided the perfect setting for the event. It was marvellous to see 42 competitors toeing the start line across the three races; a significant increase from previous years. Athletes and helpers alike journeyed from across the nation and even from around the world to take part.

The event was magnificent. Its grandeur and scope are exceedingly difficult to capture in a few paragraphs for an ultra event is perhaps something best experienced rather than described. It is difficult to grasp the enormity of the distances covered and the magnitude of the heroic determination; these are often conveyed more convincingly through the starkly poignant trackside realities; the blisters, cramps, nausea, exhaustion, the elation, joy and jubilation, and above all the intrepid determination that carries each runner through the long hours of the night towards a remarkable goal.

Philosophical reflection aside, this year’s race was particularly notable as, for the first time in the long history of the event, it was won outright by a female athlete with Bernadette Benson covering an amazing 200.8844 km. Her courage and steely resolve during the last hour crowned her magnificent performance as all involved urged her on towards the magical 200km mark. Colin Solomon was the first placed male athlete with a distance of 190.9355 km. Even in the closing stages of the race his form was relaxed and elegant; a wonderful sight to behold. We salute them both.

The first placed male in the twelve hour race was Michael ‘Milov’ Lovric who, with characteristic humility, determination and joyfulness, covered an amazing 129.0118 km. First placed female was Elizabeth Swain who covered 83.0319km. In the six hour race Susannah Harvey-Jamieson covered 65.3522km to claim first female and first overall, whilst Lee Walmsley was the first placed male covering a distance of 57.5162km. Also particularly notable were the efforts of Marie Boyd and Michelle Thompson. Marie covered 146.5399km in the 24 hour race, unofficially smashing the Australian 60-69 female record which had previously stood at 109.567km. Michelle completed 53.5604 km walking the 6 hour event, unofficially breaking the Australian residents female open walking record which had previously stood at 51.423km. Well done Marie and Michelle!

Individual heroics aside, the event was characterised by a wonderful feeling of oneness and self-transcendence. The efforts of each and every individual were applauded and appreciated in a unifying proclamation of the tremendous spirit of the ultra running community. All through the long hours of the day and night the feeling both on the track and in the lap counting tent was tremendously inspiring. The suffering of the athletes was at times clear to see, yet amidst their trials and tribulations they were still able to muster a smile for the lap counters and gentle words of encouragement for their fellow competitors. This spirit was a great victory for our shared love of running and was wonderfully personified by Sharon Scholz who, after withdrawing after only 8km, immediately joined the lap counting crew. It was only at 3am, as we both struggled to stay awake during the graveyard shift, that I discovered her early exit was attributed to a slow recovery from an incredible 24 hour personal best of 224 km only five weeks earlier. Such humility!

Often it seems that time somehow distorts during these events, stepping outside our typically structured day to day existence and into a world where, be it as helper or runner, the only focus is to simply ‘keep going’. One must surrender to the inescapable reality of the clock, for it is not until the final hour, or perhaps the final minutes, that any notion of imminent respite can finally be embraced. It is a great journey of self-discovery which unfailingly awakens dormant capacities hidden deep inside us.

We salute and congratulate each athlete who participated in the event. You are true hero-warriors of the running world. May we all draw upon your examples of dedication and perseverance to become not only better runners, but also better human beings. We also offer our most heartfelt thanks to all the helpers and supporters, many of whom were kind enough to lend a hand in the lap counting tent. I think it is fair to say that the event was a great success for all involved. Long live ultra running!