Meeting an Ultramarathon Runner and World Record Holder
During my most recent 7-mile race, I was hoping to take home a medal. Instead, I received something greater.
Hanging around the race finish line waiting for results, I made eye contact with a fellow runner who I remembered seeing during the race. We smiled and she asked if we knew each other.
We didn’t. But I’m so glad we do now.
As our small talk about the race quickly evolved to deeper conversations about the more mindful aspects of endurance running, I learned that I was in the presence of Dipali Cunningham, a legendary, world record-holding athlete who went beyond simply running the standard 100-mile ultramarathon.
Me & Dipali at Sri Chinmoy Races, New York.
In fact, Dipali has:
Won the Self-Transcendence 6 Day Race every year between 1998-2015.
Set the 6-Day Road World Best of 821.862km in 2001
Set 3 world records for miles completed during a 6 Day Race: 1998 504 miles, 2001 510 miles, 2009 (best over 50 years old) 513 miles
Holds two 1st Place Australian records for the 1000-Mile Race
3rd Place in the world for 700 miles (women)
4th Place in the world for 1,000 miles (women)
Holds 33 Australian National records for races ranging from 24 hours to 1,000 miles
Through her friendly, easy manner and gentle smile, she shared her stories of endurance and transcendence.
Of making unconventional choices, like cutting up sneakers or tossing away layers, because her body was telling her that’s what it needed at the time.
Of pain and challenge and training and teamwork.
Of wanting to quit but knowing that she had what it takes to keep moving forward.
As we close out #womenshistorymonth, I want to honor Dipali and women leaders everywhere, who regularly demonstrate their determination; who have created new definitions of what is possible to achieve; and who have shared their hard-earned wisdom with me.
Read more about her incredible achievements here: https://us.srichinmoyraces.org/dipali-cunningham-champions-champion-1991-2015