MUT Council Member
Pirrung Sets Three U.S. Ultra-Distance Records at Sri Chimnoy Race
July 17, 2003
KÖLN, Germany - Many people treat themselves to an extra
slice of cake on their birthdays. Ultra-distance running star Roy
Pirrung (Sheboygan, Wis., USA) celebrated his 55th by
setting three new American age-group records this past weekend at the
Sri Chimnoy 48-/24-Hour Self-Transcendence Race, in Köln. His amazing
12-hour (77.75 mi/125,134 km), 24-hour (137.69 mi/221.605 km) and
100-mile (16:10:20) records blew the old ones away, but they were not
run without pain.
“I developed
shin splints, which you can’t do much for, and my ankle swelled up,
too,” said Pirrung. “I cut the tongue down in my shoe to alleviate
pressure and was able to run a while longer, but eventually the pain was
too much.” Pirrung and other athletes found the laid-brick, 1.5-km loop
course along the Rhein River a less-than-forgiving surface, and even
more challenging due to the raised bricks pushed up by tree root growth
beneath them. Many of the 100 or so runners tripped on leading edges,
especially at night. Pirrung was unable to run and had to pause for an
extended rest and ice treatment late Saturday night.
“After
I broke the records, I knew I could easily set the 48-hour record, too,
and probably win the race overall, but I just couldn’t run on it,” he
said. The rest and medical care for his ankle allowed Pirrung to resume
running Sunday morning and secure his results. The old USAT&F Men 55-59
records were: 12-hr, 74.78 mi/20,338 km; 24-hr, 127.5 mi/205,191 km; and
100-mi, 18:42:33.
Pirrung, who
turned 55 on July 7th, traveled to Germany for the July 11-13
race not only to compete but enjoy as well. “The ultra-distance crowd
really bonds on the course. It’s a long day, and still a race, sometimes
it can get highly competitive and you might get almost no sleep, but
we’re all out there all night long,” he said of the race which featured
runners from Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Scandinavian countries
and elsewhere. “Plus, the Sri Chimnoy races really give you a nice
feeling. The music is peaceful and everyone is so happy to be there.”
The race
site featured an all-night buffet with a wide range of food and drinks
for athletes, groves of tents for athletes, campers, and meditative
music along the course. While locals strolled an adjacent path all day
long, at midnight and beyond locals from the nearby Rhein on Fire
fireworks festival staggered and rode their bikes home and raucously
cheered the runners on – not the type of spectators Pirrung and others
planned for, but they helped keep everyone alert.
Pirrung also
writes on running and speaks at seminars, and is sponsored by Natural
Ovens Bakery, Wigwam, Kohler, and others. He started running 20 years
ago, overweight and inspired by a neighbor who ran everyday…to
McDonalds.
For
information, contact:
Steve
“Hammy” Handwerker
SLHCommunications, Inc.
Tel
847.236.0036 (USA)
Fax
847.236.9382
E-mail
SLHCommunications@msn.com
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Last updated:
09/14/05
Web Author: Lorraine Gersitz
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Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council