In the summer of 1981, the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team organised a series of 31 consecutive daily races to honour Sri Chinmoy's 50th birthday. Beginning on 27 July 1981, the Sri Chinmoy Grand Prix included races from 100m to 5 mile events. The 31 events' total mileage added up to 50 miles.
Points were given in a descending sequence to the first seven winners in each individual race, with participants picking up points for each placing in a race. First place man was local runner Fernando Castelli and in the women, Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team's Nilima Silver.
Races were held at Jamaica High School Track and Flushing Meadows.
Sri Chinmoy's Participation
Sri Chinmoy took part in several of the races and recorded some of his fastest times in the West.
He also took part in timing the race.
During the Grand Prix Series, Sri Chinmoy set some of his fastest times in the West, such as running:
- 2:47 in the 800 metres on 29 July.
- 6:23 for one mile on 2 August 1981.
See: Sri Chinmoy - middle distance times
On 27 August, the annual 47-mile race was changed to a one-off distance of 50 miles, though this was not part of the Sri Chinmoy Grand Prix series.
Sri Chinmoy Grand Prix Series at Sri Chinmoy Races
Related pages
Photos by Bhashwar Hart