Sri Chinmoy Marathon - Race Reviews

Do yourself a favor take the day off and compete in this race. It is always held on a weekday so you'll likely have to. The course is scenic. Shaded. Aid stations every mile, fully stocked. You get a shirt, medal, meal and snacks upon finishing all for around $60, less if you get in early. It is well organised and a special event. It is also a Boston Qualifier so there is plenty of people pushing the pace if you can latch onto them.

The race features 9 loops around Rockland park. Every mile features flush toilets and fully stacked water stations. It includes salt, seaweed, Cytomax, fruit,etc., food and massages free to runners as well as a communal water hose for runners. Cheap entry fees and free parking. Great to meet and talk to runners from all over the world and the course is not hilly at all. Volunteers are very supportive and friendly. Worth doing every year! A great city since it is only at 35 minute bus ride to Manhattan!

My 13th marathon in 12 years, started marathons at age 50, (NYC, Phil, DC...) This year ran 3 marathons under 7 months and just completed Sri Chimnoy at Rockland. Very nice, special event for my running experience. The participants were from a variety of world locations and all very courteous, polite and inspiring for the experience of running. The hosts were especially nice and attentive to a somewhat holistic feeling about the completion. For me, somewhat special and different was running 9 laps with a mix of super fast and pleasure runners on the track continuously from laps 1 to 6 (2.7 mi per lap totaling 9 laps). Again, very cordial and courteous participants. But, socializing while running not typical probably due to language differences - not a lot of aimless gabbing and yakking it up was refreshing, imo. The track was ideal for my pleasure training, asphalt w/ some packed dirt on sidelines when needed. Scenery was very nice variety of lake and woods, some breezes and some August sun spots. The day was kind to runners this year (2018), not brutally hot, but definitely humid. For ~2.7 mi. laps you will always be running with others, no floating off or zoning out in a marathon of your own. I typically prefer the zoning out solo space. But, this event was so very nice in atmosphere and participants cordial politeness it was a rare nice shared event to experience. You can run fast if you are prepared. You can simply enjoy if open to this style of running ! Thanks for the experience Sri Chimnoy and fellow participants from all over the world. Kind Regards, Larry Running laps (9) is reminiscent of racing 2 miles on a 1/4 mile track,... back in the days when a 1/4 mile race was a challenge. Flat, nice mix of asphalt and some packed dirt if release needed. Plenty of opportunity for water, bathroom and special food treats along the way. Caution or reminder is that this race is in August even though good mix of shade and open sun exposure.

This is one of the best races I have ever done. There were aid stations every mile and they were well stocked. You had free parking at the start line, flush toilets along the route, a warm vegan meal at the finish line, aid stations stocked with Cytomax, water, bananas, m and ms, sea weed, watermelon, etc., Free massages as well as free showers (garden hose!). A very low cost race in a town that is only a 35 minute bus ride to Manhattan. The languages you hear on the race course are from all over the world and everyone is very friendly. I will do this race again!

This is a very well organized, low key, old school (manual time keepers), inexpensive, scenic race. The course is about as flat as you can get, there are multiple proper bathrooms on course, shower facilities for post-race cleanup, full vegetarian buffet post-race, well stocked aid stations (better than big city marathons), finish line photos (with free download), excellent medical attention on hand. Slightly quirky and charming, I have found other loop races to be somewhat boring at times, but this is a fantastic race. A quick note that it can be deceptively hot/ humid during the race given the time of year and one can easily dehydrate without realizing. Excellent race for a late BQ race if you can swing running a marathon on a weekday (when the race is typically held).

Since no one has reviewed this race in two years, here are my comments. I ran this race in August 2016. It is run in a beautiful state park 9 times around a 3 mile path circling the lake. It is flat and shady. The last lap is slightly shorter. It is hard to believe you are 30 miles from Times Square. The area is lovely. Not much fan support except at the start that you pass 9 miles. Volunteers are great with musicians. There are not many nice August races and this is one to consider.

This race is pretty much the same every year, and so is my review: This was my ninth time running this race. The course is a scenic, three-mile loop around Rockland Lake. Part of the experience here is that everyone involved is extremely enthusiastic and supportive of everyone else. Although it is hot, no one complains about the heat. Most of the runners were followers of Sri Chinmoy, and they came from all around the world to run this race. There were also several 50-State Marathoners and Marathon Maniacs who apparently came here to run a race in New York other than the NYC Marathon. I also saw many of my local ultra-running friends, who, like me, will show up at any long race that is available. Some traditional features of the race were missing again this year. No one was reading inspirational sayings. The sitar player had been replaced with a woman playing the banjo. I look forward to returning for the tenth time in 2015.

Back in May, I realized I was doing similar training to when I was preparing for a collegiate cross country season. However, I finished my 4 years of eligibility last year, so I decided that I needed to big a race to concentrate on. I've always been a lover of high mileage training, so I felt finding a Marathon in late August would be perfect. I had averaged about 90 miles a week for 5 months. The only marathon that I could find in this time frame was the Self-Transcendence Marathon. Luckily, the race was only 45 minutes from my house in North Jersey. The 7am start was just early enough to avoid any horrible summer heat. Luckily, the weather on race day wasn't too bad (temperatures in the low 70s, dew point upper 50s/lower 60s). The course, albeit a 3 mile loop, was gorgeous. Mostly shaded, a nice breeze coming off the water, and a plethora of supporters everywhere. I especially liked the random band and/or music players scattered about the course. The aid stations were extremely helpful as well, and well-positioned about every mile. I was worried that having to constantly lap runners would be an issue, but I had a pair of lead bikers that cleared a very nice path for me. The runners being passed were also extremely supportive, many cheering as I ran by. It was hard not to enjoy this marathon. For about 21 miles or so, I really was enjoying it. I faded a little in the last 8K, but I still finished in just over 2:31, falling just short of the race record and a very satisfying debut at this distance. After crossing the finish I had many options as far as post race refreshments went. I even got a very nice 30 minute post race massage. The awards ceremony took place later on, with an interesting format. Only age group awards for given (top 7 under 50, and top 3 50-59, 60-69, 70-79). There were photographers about, and I'm looking forward to the race and post-race photos. The race organizers even encouraged my girlfriend to get into the awards ceremony pictures when I received my trophy (a very nice one, might I add). Overall, this was an excellent first marathon. I will most likely be coming back next year if training goes well.

I love this run! Big weird fun. Tons of food and support. Love and inspiration abounds. Super flat, well supported, non-competitive. You can park, grab your number, pee, and be at the starting line in ten minutes. Get cheered on by guys with sitars and strange beautiful drums. These folks really are in it 'for the marathon of life.'

Small and inexpensive with a blazing fast course it is a shame this is not in November. Then again in November they'd get too many runners to be able to be the race they have. Aid stops total 3 but since you do 9 laps you see them every mile and they were well supplied at all times. Wish it had been 50 degrees not 70 and climbing, but a nice experience and one I will go back to.

I ran this marathon for the first time in 2012. The course is a ~3mi loop, flat, fast, and mostly shaded. Extremely helpful: there is a fully stocked aid station (water, cola, salt/seaweed, watermelon, chips, candy, etc) at every mile! Since it is a loop, some runners set up their own 'stations'. The scenery is nice enough - it does feel a bit long around the 7th loop, but at the same time, the familiarity of the scene makes it very manageable! Runners and spectators (most are Sri Chinmoy followers) are very friendly and supportive during the race. Parking is easy; note that there are multiple parking lots so some may be a bit of a walk to the starting line. This race was on a Friday, so the nearby showers (open-air at swimming pool facilities) were helpful for those who needed to go to work. No race-day registration, so sign up beforehand. Registration includes simple cotton tshirt and simple medal. In summary, this marathon is great in its simplicity, course convenience, and runner-friendliness.

This was my sixth time running this race. The course is a scenic, three-mile loop around Rockland Lake. Part of the experience here is that everyone involved is extremely enthusiastic and supportive of everyone else. Most of the runners were followers of Sri Chinmoy, and they came from all around the world to run this race. There were also several 50-State Marathoners and Marathon Maniacs who apparently came here to run a race in New York other than the NYC Marathon. I also saw many of my local ultra-running friends, who, like me, will show up at any long race that is available. Some traditional features of the race were missing this year. No one was reading inspirational sayings. There were no sitar or violin players. There were no groups of women singing. Despite this, I look forward to returning for the seventh time in 2012.

This race is exactly the same every year, and so is my review: This was my fifth time running this race. The course is a scenic, three-mile loop around Rockland Lake. Part of the experience here is that everyone involved is extremely enthusiastic and supportive of everyone else. Most of the runners were followers of Sri Chinmoy, and they came from all around the world to run this race. There were also several 50-State Marathoners and Marathon Maniacs who apparently came here to run a race in New York other than the NYC Marathon. I also saw many of my local ultra-running friends, who, like me, will show up at any long race that is available. I look forward to returning for the sixth time in 2010.

Old time running of marathons is what one should expect doing this marathon. I live half-an-hour from the lake, so this was the ideal long day training for my upcoming New York Marathon. All marathons needs are met. From 3 hours to the promised 7, we had food, bathrooms and support, all of which were exceptional. Music at different miles was soothing. Since it is 3 miles around a lake, this is a 9-lap race... so if one is a slow marathoner, there is always another runner nearby. Great enthusiasm by support of organization..

I ran this marathon for the first time on August 24, 2010. I saw it listed on the calendar and was surprised and intrigued that it was on a Tuesday. I figured it would be a nice way to cap off summer training. My plan was to use it as a training run, but I knew I would push myself to run the whole thing, which I did. The weather was perfect. After a brutal, hot, humid summer, the day was cool (mid to high 60's) and cloudy. Could not have asked for better August running weather. This marathon is small and there's no stress. I pulled into the parking lot at 6:30 a.m. (for a 7:00 a.m. start) picked up my number, changed, stored my bag, visited the restroom, and headed to the start. All very smooth and easy. Be aware: the run is really 9 loops of the lake, since the starting line is down the path a bit. There were three aid/water stations and some interesting spectator support around the lake. Drummers, singers, and a poet who was reading verses from Sri Chinmoy. ("When we are propelled by the power of inner faith we can do the impossible.") Be sure to Google Sri Chinmoy and do some reading about the organization before you run this race. All were wonderfully supportive and I was glad that I had some understanding going in. The course is flat and pretty. There were just enough interesting things along the way to make each loop go quickly. I was concerned that going around so many times would be boring. It wasn't. In fact, I found myself thinking in terms of laps rather than miles. The finish line seemed closer when I told myself "three laps to go!" rather than "nine more miles." I recommend this marathon for anyone looking for a fun, low-stress, end-of-the-summer run.

I ran Self-Transcendence to check off New York, as this was my 23rd state. (I am also a Marathon Maniac.) What a blast this race was - so different from my other marathons. The park was beautiful, with deer in the woods at the start, and the lake was full of swans, egrets and lily pads. The race had a very international feel, and the people were vigorous supporters of their various teammates. I stayed at the Super 8, and while it was not that posh, the staff were very welcoming and helpful, even from behind the bulletproof glass in the outer lobby! The best part of the night before was being clued into Tarantella's, a gem of an Italian restaurant. We arrived after 11 p.m., hungry, and were told the only sitdown place to eat in Nyack still open would be Tarentella's. I am not kidding when I say that it was hopping. This has to be the town that does not SLEEP; folks were coming in and out the entire hour we were there. The food was EXCELLENT and the young waiter was silly and personable.

I ran this race as a training run, and found it useful. Because of the relatively late start (7 a.m.) for a summer's day (which was warm but fairly low in terms of humidity), the final 10K sapped me, and I didn't run a PR. Nevertheless, the run was scenic, the course was flat, and the competitors were friendly. I would recommend it.

This was my fourth time running this race. The course is a scenic, three-mile loop around Rockland Lake. Part of the experience here is that everyone involved is extremely enthusiastic and supportive of everyone else. Most of the runners were followers of Sri Chinmoy, and they came from all around the world to run this race. There were also several 50-State Marathoners and Marathon Maniacs who apparently came here to run a race in New York other than the NYC Marathon. I also saw many of my local ultra-running friends, who like me, will show up at any long race that is available. I look forward to returning for the fifth time in 2009.

I set a PR today on a beautiful course around Rockland Lake. What can be better than a Tuesday-morning marathon?! There were swans on the lake, bright sunshine, and these really cool Eastern European and international runners to chat with on the course, and before and after the race. Those guys run some incredible distances, and I dabble in the ultra world. :) Today was tons of fun for me, and I set a PR. The three-mile loops are great!

This is my second Self-Transcendence - I did it last year also - and again I enjoyed the experience. The runners and all of the volunteers were so friendly. Yes, it features nine loops, but I personally do not find this boring, and it helps me break the marathon down. Again, thanks to the organizers for a well-planned race. I will be back next year for my third in a row.

This was my third time running this race. My only complaint is the finisher's medal that I am too embarrassed to show to anyone (same as in 2007). I especially enjoyed the meal that was served at the conclusion of the race. I look forward to returning for the fourth time in 2009.

The course is very pretty, shaded in large part, with great folks helping out in all aspects of the operation. The track is dead flat, which most folks like. I have never run a marathon with so many laps and found one problem. I needed to be able to tune out the fact that I was seeing signs proclaiming "mile 22" or "mile 24" when I was still working on mile 6 or 7, wondering if I would ever get there. It took some mental discipline to stay focused. I will be better prepared for that next year. This is the marathon world's best-kept secret. Count me in for 2009.

I'm a first-time runner who signed up at the last minute. I had run in a huge 10K before, with lots of concerts/entertainment going on for runners, and a small 1/2 marathon with nothing but aid stations (and no fans) along the way. So I wasn't sure what to expect. The course was beautiful. One thing I really liked, and absolutely recommend for slower, first-time marathoners is the circuit-style race. Mentally I was able to take it in 1.5-mile doses. Around mile 20 I was getting tired, but was able to suck it up and finish in 5 hours. It was a bit demoralizing when I got lapped by the leaders in my 2nd lap, but then I remembered that it's my first marathon, and the goal is to finish. When the first girl lapped me in the 3rd lap, I started to wonder what was going on, until I started lapping walkers during the 3rd lap as well. Along the way there was a guy yelling Sri Chimnoy sayings, a violist, a group of girls singing and playing drums, and lots of aid stations. I got a kick out of the guy reading the sayings - picture yourself around mile 20 and as you run by a motivational announcement, "The only thing holding you back is you." Pretty cool. Food was good after. Sodium pills are handed to each finisher. The medal is a bit cheesy - a sticker on a piece of plastic on a rainbow colored ribbon - but I suppose it will do. Seemed like there was a lot of first-time marathoners here. Also a lot of foreigners - Germans in particular. I too saw the guy wearing the shirt proclaiming that he was born in 1932. I lapped him once, and the poor guy sounded like he was born in 1932 too - grunting, huffing and puffing, but working hard to get to the finish line. I may be back for this next year. A bus to NYC from DC through Boltbus is cheap; it's the car rental and hotel that added up. Maybe if I could find a partner to run it with...

I am so glad that I chose this marathon as my very first marathon experience. I am now quite happy that I was not selected for the NYC Marathon. I was just in awe of the entire experience. Wonderful organization, and wonderful people all around from the volunteers to the organizers and participants. Everything was well marked, from the entry to the parking field, to the registration area, to the start. As long as you knew the lap you were on, the miles were very clearly identified. When I saw the baggage area with backpacks placed in plastic bags so as to keep them dry on the damp/wet grass, I knew these people had their act together. My only negative in regards to the course (4 stars instead of 5) was the last approximately 150 yards to the finish, which took us off the very nice asphalt paved pathway that we were on for 26-plus miles and onto thick, long, heavy, damp GRASS, which I feel cost me my goal of a sub-five-hour marathon.

For the third consecutive year, two friends and I headed up to Rockland State Park near Nyack, NY, for this small, rather unusual marathon. The race is produced by the followers of Sri Chinmoy, a self-proclaimed spiritual guru whose international practice involves a lot of meditation and striving to transcend the physical through feats of endurance. Uh, whatever, but this is a well run, interesting marathon. Those who really want to guarantee self-transcendence can run Chinmoy's 3,100-mile race in Queens; runners go around a city block for 51 days. Chinmoy died last year, and this was the first marathon held without him. We all were unsure about how much of the race we would run. I planned to run 15 to 17 miles as a training run. The weather was absolutely PR perfect at the start, cool with a low dew point. Though the sun would heat things up later, the course had plenty of shade. Parking at the start was easy, bib pick up was quick and painless, and the back of this year's t-shirt read "In life we must never give up! Acceptance and self-transcendence should always remain Our motto. - Sri Chinmoy" The marathon course consists of 8.75 laps on a flat asphalt bike path around a beautiful, 2.96-mile lake with reeds, ducks, and swans. The course is well marked, with fairly accurate mile markers, but you do have to keep track of your laps. This race is not certified, not a BQ course, and it's on a Friday morning, so it attracts a smaller number of runners than it deserves, given the course support and dedication of the race director, not to mention the course and its proximity to New York City. This year, there were fewer runners than I've seen in the previous two years - maybe 350 compared to 800 last year - probably because Chinmoy died. Death has a tendency to reduce one's popularity. However, because there is a fully stocked aid station every mile (water, sports drink, bananas, watermelon, bagels, sandwiches, pretzels, seaweed, and Coke), plenty of park bathrooms as well as porta-potties on the course, and the race is cheaper than most if you pre-register, it is a fantastic opportunity to run a supported training run and have some fun at the same time. As always, this race has a very international flavor to it, with many participants coming from Europe where Chinmoy's organization has a large following. I heard a lot of runners speaking German, but I also heard French, Italian, and some Indian languages being spoken. And again, there was a mix of body types and age groups, from the lean competitive runner types to heavier and older runners like Dr. Roy, whose bright yellow shirt proclaimed that he was born in 1932. I liked being able to see the lead runners so often on the lap course. Supporters not only ran the race, but quite a few cheered alongside the course, chanted, or played instruments, and they were out there next to the course for at least the entire 4.5 hours that I was there. The conch shell blowers and drummers were missing this year, but there was a great violinist, an accordion player, and a sitar player who gave an Austin Powers feel to the run. New this year was Poem Man, who stood behind a box in front of marked "take one," filled with one or two line poems and recited his poems for the runners. I grabbed one, number 44,530 according to the number in the upper corner, as I went by on one lap; it read "Aspiration/Has to be dynamic/And not lethargic." I thought of that SNL skit, Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey. I really intended not to run more than 17 miles here at a slow run pace. However, there's something about running laps in such a tranquil setting that is absolutely hypnotic, and in what seemed like no time at all I found myself at mile 20 and still feeling ok. And at that point it's too easy to say, only 6 left, just finish up, they have a really cool-looking medal this year, which is what happened to me. As I ran through the finish line, a sweet grandmotherly-looking lady handed me 4 little white pills (think grandma's saccharine tablets), which I swallowed without much thought (except one pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small...). I sure hope they really were salt pills, as the woman said when she handed them to me. The round part of the medal was a bit flimsy this year, but the ribbon was rainbow colored. The post-race food looked good too, though I didn't stay for the BBQ. My friend finished this marathon with a great 40-minute PR. I highly recommend this marathon to anyone looking for a low-key race, or a marathon to use as a training run.

I have to say I really enjoyed this marathon. I decided at the last moment to do it and everyone involved with the race made me feel very welcome. This was a very pretty course. I kind of liked the idea of the eight-plus laps because mentally it broke the marathon down, and to me it did not feel as long. The race began right on time, which I like. The only negative thing I had for my day was the girl lying face down just off the course, close to the start area, who was having a great sleep. It made me tired and jealous every time I passed her. I truly had a great experience and will be back next year.

Race started late due to the late arrival of the of Sri Chinmoy. I understood that he always started the race. It was going to be his 75th birthday the following week. Many laps around the lake, with each mile marked. Heavy rain for awhile that shorted out my cell phone and ended calls to my wife during the race. Laps allowed you to store a bag with cloths and food at the start/finish - nice. I liked the seaweed and tea that were served on the course, a nice change from sports drinks and gel. Good race for slow people like me. Great food at then end - I especially liked the German potato salad.

This one was unique. Close enough to New York City that several buses full of runners arrived from the city, yet it was like running in another country. The very nice run was secondary to the cultural experience. A fantastic course, consisting of 8 laps through alternately open and wooded park area, around a scenic lake. There was plenty of food and drinks, as the many volunteers always offered water, cola or "energy" at the twice-per-loop water stations. I passed on the many offers of seaweed, heeding the advice that while running a marathon is not the time to try a new culinary experience. I heard a lot of different languages among the runners, and, on the few occasions that the language I heard was English, it was heavily accented. The volunteers and runners were polite and cordial, though not necessarily friendly. The check-in was efficient. The medal was fine, the t-shirt interesting, though not of a material that will hold up for a long time. The post-race picnic looked nice, though I did not stay for it. The nearby Palisades Mall boasts a huge variety of restaurants and kept the family occupied during my run through the park. My only complaint is the accommodations - no fault of the race organizers. The room at the nearby Best Western was dark, dirty, smoky, noisy and tiny. But, at least it was expensive. Although hard to fathom, the Super 8 across the street looked worse. There are not a lot of August marathons in the northeastern United States, and this one is a gem. It is held on a Friday, so it does not take up a weekend, too. I had the experience of seeing Sri Chinmoy and am sorry to have heard of his passing only a few weeks later. I hope to run this race again, and I hope the Sri Chinmoy organization will keep the races going.

This was my second time running this race. Since I knew exactly what to expect, I have no complaints, except for the finisher's medal that I am too embarrassed to show to anyone. I especially enjoyed the meal that was finally served at the conclusion of the race. I look forward to returning in 2008.

The Self-Transcendence Marathon is run by the Sri Chinmoy and approved by the NYS parks. The race is run around Rockland Lake in Rockland State Park in Nyack, NY just north of the Tappen Zee Bridge off Route 9W. The commute is easy from NYC (maybe a 1-hour drive with no traffic since it is early morning). The race itself is 9 laps around the lake (asphalt road). One lap is about 2.96 miles. It is mainly flat with a slight incline that is not that noticeable. The park is beautiful and scenic with some animals visible. (I saw 2 deer off the path calmly grazing.) It can get boring to run around the same course multiple times but you are never alone. The race relies on the honor system. There are no timing chips and there seems to be no one recording how many laps you have accomplished, though the fast runners are guided by cyclists. For us slower runners it is more for personal honor and integrity to finish by the rules. Since the race is run on a Friday morning in late August, it can get very hot and humid as it was this year. The temperature reached about 80 when the sun came out, but it was quite humid. The atmosphere is very relaxed and calm. Along the course there a 3 water stations on every loop. The stations are packed with water, sports drink, watermelons, bread, Coke, M&Ms, seaweed and other foods. The volunteers were great, and along the course there were a few members of the Sri Chinmoy either chanting, playing instruments or singing, though the gentlemen banging the drum towards the end of the loop needed more practice. Food after the race was plentiful, but a little scarce for the slow runners at first; then more food suddenly arrived including a goody bag (juice, donut, cookie, nuts, etc.) for each runner and a full hot meal selection about 6 hours after the race started (pasta, vegetable, hot dogs, rice, etc.). The distribution of the hot food was separated between men and women; I assume that was a function of the Sri Chinmoy organization and one should respect there beliefs. Again the people are great and the race is unique. The only disappointments were the race shirt and medal They gave out an ordinary cotton t-shirt; they need to upgrade to a runner's shirt. The finisher's medal seemed generic - a sticker with the date and race name placed over a generic medal seems unfeeling to the runners. All in all, it is a nice marathon to try and if the weather cooperates you can have a great time. Peace to all.

The course is a flat as you could possibly hope. There is nothing resembling a hill and barely anything that is even an incline. I personally liked the multiple-loop course, but I understand how some might hesitate. It gave me a good chance to compare my condition at each point as the race progressed. As noted above, the rain was incredible. It was unrelenting. I did Hartford last year, which had terrible rain, and this was worse, without question. Add to that the fact that there were tornado sirens blaring, as well as consistent thunder and lightning, and it really had a negative affect on my race. Up to 20 miles I tried to keep a positive mental state, but it just never ended and I lost it for the last 6 miles. The water stations were plentiful, and it was impressive that they were manned as well as they were, given the rain. I would have preferred to have Gatorade rather than the "energy drink" that they provided. I was unfamiliar with it and hesitated using it as I had not trained with it. All in all, I would do this race again. But, I hope, with better weather conditions.

A race full of human warmth, with thousands of smiles. I felt a little bad for all the people I "lightly" elbowed (sorry guys!) because of all the lapping. But even though there's no chip timing, this race is definitely PB worthy. Should you run this one? Answer: read the comments from "A.S. from Montclair."

The STM is produced by Sri Chimnoy, a self-proclaimed spiritual guru whose practice includes lots of meditation and singing, and focuses on achieving self-transcendence through striving to reach higher goals. Or something like that. The Sri Chimnoy Marathon Team sponsors regular fun runs for his followers in places as far away as Australia. For those who really want to guarantee self-transcendence they hold a 3,100 mile race. Runners do 5,649 laps on a half-mile course in 51 days! The STM in Rockland Lake State Park was almost too easy to find. I was able to park very close to the registration area. Even though I hadn't pre-registered, the volunteers were accommodating, and I was able to get a bib number by 6:40 a.m. There were a well-organized baggage claim area, adequate bathroom facilities and porta-potties. About 800 runners lined up at the start and we set off to run 8 loops plus 2.7 miles around the 2.9 mile lake in Rockland Lake State Park. The course is very flat with a wide asphalt path. A dirt path runs along the asphalt one. There were three aid stations along the three-mile loop, all very well-stocked with water, sports drink, Coke, juice, and food like water melon, bread, gummies, and seaweed (I didn't ask). Volunteers were plentiful. Before I did this marathon, I had a hard time believing I could run a loop 9 times and not go insane. But it was wonderful. After the first loop, I knew what to expect on the course, and what to expect at every aid station. Most of the path followed the lake, where swans floated along, ducks swam, reeds waved in the mist - beautiful scenery. The course was well marked with mile/lap markers, which were at first a little tricky to figure out but I got the hang of it. I was impressed with the variety of people at this race. First, it had a very international flavor to it, since many Sri Chimnoy followers are in other countries. I heard runners speaking German, Russian, French, Czech, and some Indian languages. Second, there were many different running types. A fair number of the lean, fast marathoners, also quite a few older runners. One man who looked well into his 70s had run 908 marathons. Many heavier types. But everybody looked very focused and committed when they ran (and when you run a 3 mile loop for 26 miles, you see everybody). At mile 6 or 7, it began to pour! I'm talking heavy, drenching, all-out rain. An hour later the thunder and lightening started. I half-expected the race to be called off, but it never was. It probably rained hard 75% of the time I was on the course. But it didn't bother me. I started reading the quotes on the t-shirts of runners around me. Practically every other runner in the race was wearing a shirt with an inspirational quote by Sri Chimnoy. Most were along the lines of "the only perfect road is the one in front of you," or "self-transcendence is eagerness in action." Everyone was just so upbeat, it was actually hard not to be. Even when my running shoes were soaked, and squeaked with ever step. I found that knowing the course inside out gave a powerful psychological boost because I knew every landmark that told me I was close to the finish line. The guy playing the sitar on the course (when it rained, he wrapped it up and started chanting instead). The guys blowing on the conch shells and playing the drums. These girls who stood alongside the path and chanted. The volunteers at the finish line and the plentiful post-race food and drink were wonderful. It was a first marathon for the friend with whom I ran this, and he also had a great experience here. The STM is definitely on my list for next year. The course is not currently certified, but I was told that it should be certified in a month or two. So I expect that next year's event will be better attended with many BQ hopefuls.

My wife came along with me to this marathon. We were surprised by the relaxed atmosphere of the race and the support runners received from the organizers and sideline people. She is not a runner and placed her chair just off the running path and gave encouraging words as I passed, and handed me drinks to keep me hydrated. She was my support crew. The water stops were plentiful and restrooms were along the way if you needed them. The post-race party was unbelievable. Lots of different foods were served and available. I am registered and hopefully will be doing the 2006 marathon. I am hoping for a similar experience. I was very surprised when I took a trophy in my age group. And a big one at that. This is a marathon I certainly would tell people to take time to make the trip to do. Fortunately it was a clear-weather, friendly day. People are afraid of summer marathons because of the heat. It could have been a scorcher. Let's hope the weather is clear again this year.

This was my first marathon. This is a flat course, a 3-mile loop. I really like that there was plenty of water and food at about every mile. This is a marathon that I would do again.

This was my 105th marathon so when I say it was the 'most pleasant marathon I have ever run', perhaps one can appreciate that I speak from a substantial base of reference. Also, using 'pleasant' to describe any marathon is new to me. But, honestly, it's the only term that fits! I knew little about the Sri Chinmoy organization beyond being aware of the ultra ultra long runs they support and there really isn't much on the marathon website nor the Sri Chinmoy organization site which tells you, so here is just what I experienced: First, nearly everyone there was from outside the US, very congenial...and patient! The race was due to start at 7:00 AM but at 7:30 we were still at the starting line with no indication what we were waiting for. Now in any other race, this would have led to mayhem but the majority of the participants apparently knew that we were awaiting the arrival of Sri Chinmoy himself. Mostly, they meditated or spoke quietly among themselves and this set the tone for the entire event i.e. we are here to partake in an athletic endeavor, a harmonious experience with our friends on a beautiful day so, relax and go with the flow! Sri Chinmoy arrived at about 7:30 with absolutely no fanfare and proceeded to meditate, then spoke a dozen words, meditated once again and then, from somewhere, came a voice saying 'Let's go now'! This race is eight and two/thirds laps around a beautiful three mile lake with aid stations at every mile. They were bountifully stocked with everything one could want including fresh fruit and cold, sliced watermelon! Moreover, there were groups of lovely young ladies seated on the ground next to our course by the lake singing a cappella (chanting sort of) which was just hauntingly beautiful. Others were playing flutes or a form of drum. The sum of all this is that the event took on a far less competitive, less stressful atmosphere. Furthermore, we did the nine laps without chips or even anyone checking off our bib numbers as we progressed. This was certainly the honor system at work and is just another example of a mindset that encourages one to enjoy the experience, not burn yourself out! Bottom line, if you want to set a PR, you could probably do it on this flat course, but I doubt your inner runner would drive you to do it! Oh, BTW, I should add that I did win my age group, despite my relaxed effort and received an astonishing three foot tall trophy! It's a totally different experience, great for anyone who realizes there should be a time to smell the roses, even in a marathon. On top of that, it's run on a Thursday so you can be home to mow the lawn on Saturday!

My first marathon, so the loop was perfect - got to see my family every 3 miles. Not too many people around, and everything you needed, they had. They were the best.