Video #330: Sri Chinmoy “News Report” – with a Smile

This playful “News Report” takes you through some remarkable moments with the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team (SCMT) – celebrating extraordinary endurance, global heart, and good-humoured community spirit.


Triathlon in Canberra: Not Your Average Swim

At 5:30 AM, athletes in Canberra, Australia, dove into the Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon, a 150 km off-road extravaganza. Picture this: three full triathlons back-to-back, swimming in three different lakes, biking up and down ten peaks, and running all over the city. Solo competitors and teams competed, all sharing one goal – pushing their boundaries, then doing it again. The “Stuffed Puffs” won top honors, while the “Diggers” came in second – and yes, they joked that Australia’s dangerous wildlife couldn’t catch them.

Sri Chinmoy News Report - Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon in Canberra, Australia


Vasanti Niemz and the Iconic Manhattan Swim

Meanwhile, Vasanti Niemz of Germany took on the legendary 20 Bridges Challenge – a 48.5 km swim around Manhattan Island. She navigated three tidal rivers – the East, Harlem, and Hudson – in conditions that most would call “completely crazy.” Despite it all, she completed the swim in 9 hours 34 minutes. She cheerfully suggested that 27 bridges would be more meaningful than 20, and even pressed New York’s mayor to build a few more.

Sri Chinmoy News Report - Vasanti Niemz 48.5 km swim around Manhattan Island - 9 hours 34 minutes


Shamita Runs Across Europe, London Goes 24-Hour

On the running side, Shamita Achenbach-König, a musician from Vienna, ran 2,000 km from Vienna to Oslo, crossing several countries for friendship and harmony. Back in the UK, SCMT’s 24-hour race in London brought runners together for a full weekend – laps, laughter, and the shared joy of endurance.

Sri Chinmoy News Report - Shamita runs across Europe 2000 km, Vienna - Oslo

And in other cities – Munich, Salzburg, San Diego – 6-hour races added to the global mix. In San Diego, the race got a surprise visitor: a large rattlesnake allegedly finished (at 5.2 mi) and helped itself to 80% of the race snacks. (Yes, that part’s playful.)

Sri Chinmoy News Report - Sri Chinmoy 6-Hour Race - Amstelveen, Netherlands


Why This Report Connects with Everyone

This “News Report” works because it makes extraordinary feats feel familiar. By pairing real SCMT achievements with playful commentary, it invites a wide audience — not just ultrarunners – to marvel at what people can do when they combine heart, discipline, and a little humour.

Whether you’re inspired by long-distance triathlons, open-water swims, or cross-continental runs, this video shows that the Sri Chinmoy community is about more than athleticism. It’s about connection, self-transcendence, and uplifting one another – values that resonate far beyond any finish line.


Learn More About These Incredible Stories

If you’re curious to explore more about the events mentioned:

Featured News

  • News #61: Vasanti Niemz Completes 20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan – Read more
  • News #66: The 18th Annual Self-Transcendence 4/21 km Race – Erdenet, Mongolia, September 13, 2025 – Read more
  • News #67: The 12th Annual Sri Chinmoy Peace-Mile 6-Hour Race – Munich, Germany, September 13, 2025 – Read more
  • News #71: Self-Transcendence 24-Hour Track Race – London, United Kingdom – Read more
  • News #73: Sri Chinmoy 6-Hour Race – Amstelveen, Netherlands – Read more
  • News #92: Inspiring Sri Chinmoy 6-Hour Race in San Diego 2025 – Read more
  • News #93: Sri Chinmoy Triple-Triathlon in Canberra – A Day of Endurance, Teamwork and Inspiration – Read more

Featured Videos

  • Video #314: Shamita Achenbach-König’s Solo Run – Vienna to Oslo – A cross-continental journey for harmony – Watch video
  • Video #316: Swimming 20 Bridges Around Manhattan for Peace – Vasanti Sets Record – An aquatic odyssey around New York City – Watch video

More Information

To explore upcoming Sri Chinmoy races: www.srichinmoyraces.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy: www.srichinmoy.org.

 

Video #196: Meditation and Ultras: Part 2

Continuing this series of talks on Meditation and Ultras, Karteek Clarke will outline five practical techniques that can really help with managing the pressures of time and distance that we all encounter on these events. These are simple techniques that anyone can add into their training regardless of experience with meditation.

For more information about sports events, visit the official website: www.srichinmoyraces.org
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org

Week 54: I Love Singing

Songs:

– The Outer Long Distance
– The Inner Long Distance
– The Outer Light
– The Inner Light

Enjoy singing along with the audio recordings. These songs are composed by Sri Chinmoy and performed by his disciple Purnakama. Please click  links below to listen to or download the audio and song scores:

 

Lyrics:

1. The Outer Long Distance

The outer long distance
Frightens us.
– Sri Chinmoy, ‘A God-Devotion-Teardrop’ songbook


2. The Inner Long Distance

The inner long distance
Beckons us
To reach the ultimate Goal.
– Sri Chinmoy, ‘A God-Devotion-Teardrop’ songbook


3. The Outer Light

The outer light
Dazzles us.
– Sri Chinmoy, ‘A God-Devotion-Teardrop’ songbook


4. The Inner Light

The inner light
Immediately embraces us.
– Sri Chinmoy, ‘A God-Devotion-Teardrop’ songbook

 

For more of Sri Chinmoy’s published songs, visit the official website: www.srichinmoysongs.com
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.

© 2021 Sri Chinmoy Centre

Video #194: The Remarkable Abhejali Bernardova

An interview with the remarkable Abhejali Bernardova recorded on 18th March 2021.

Abhejali is a Record Holder, Champion Athlete and the 10th Woman in history to complete the Oceans Seven Abhejali Bernardová, an athlete from the Czech Republic, has competed at the highest level in Ultra Running and Long Distance Swimming both with resounding success. In her early twenties she started competing in ultra races and in the year 2000 she beame the Czech Champion for the 100km and the 24 Hour Race. She also competed in the Self-Transcendence 6-Day Race in New York, achieving second place.

In the following years she took up long-distance swimming. She first conquered the English Channel, then completed the Triple Crown, the English channel Catalina Channel and Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, and then went on to do what only three other women before her have ever done. She conquered the Oceans Seven.

In this interview Abhejali shares her personal experience of facing one daunting challenge after the next; what drives her to continue and what it takes to achieve something that so few women in history have ever achieved.

Being a positive, highly motivated, mentally focused athlete, Abhejali has learnt several techniques that challenge her own limitations. Whether they come from the mind or the body she continues to strive ahead, pushing her boundaries with a ‘never give up’ spirit. Sharing her different experiences with both training and racing and how she coped with the ups and downs, this interview offers real inspiration to anyone who is taking on a challenge.

For more information about sports events, visit the official website: www.srichinmoyraces.org
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org