Press release for 15.07.2001
World record attempt failed.
Participants from all over Germany – from Kiel over Berlin to Freiburg, as well as Austria, Switzerland, Hungary and the USA – followed the record attempt over 48 hours of Achim Heukemes (49) from Gräfenberg of the SC Roth 52. At the 8th edition of this event of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Teams a total of 37 runners were at the start on Friday at 1 p.m. under optimal weather conditions.
The dreams to break the world record for 48-Hour-Roadrun at the second attempt had to be buried by Heukemes. Despite of a good mental and muscular condition he was not able to hold the lap time of 10-11 minutes for the 1,5 km lap through the second night. The body refused the conversion of the food taken into new energy. Rainfalls lasting for hours from Friday night to Saturday night made it furthermore difficult on the track at the Niederländer bank in Cologne Niehl for him and the other 36 runners (7 of them women) of the international group.
Thereby he planned – supported by his own crew and over 100 helpers of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team – the operation "world record" in the smallest details. After the 50 year old Heukemes had to lose the world record at the same place to the Belgian Paul Becker, he was best prepared for this task after the world best over 6-Day-Race (1050,9 km). Exactly 410 km and 22 Meters were to crack. Nevertheless Heukemes is holding the German record with 389,539 km since 1999.
He started with a good speed and took the lead from the start with lap times of 7-8 Minutes under good weather conditions. He reached the 100 km mark with 9 hours and 22 Minutes. At this time he was already 6 km ahead of the second, Martin Sattler from Heidenheim (DUV). Meanwhile a light rain was already in the air and the lap times of Heukemes stabilized at 10-11 Minutes for the 1,5 km.
During the night then the rain increased. But Heukemes maintained the course and after 12 hours was with 118 km still 6 km ahead of the second Martin Sattler. With them other two runners had crossed the 100 km mark. Over the night the competitor field spread further apart as usual. After 18 hours Heukemes was already leading by 18 km ahead of Sattler, but he also took short breaks to eat or for a change of cloths or shoes. After half of the race he was still on world record course with 216 km and increased his gap from Samer up to 20 km. But could he keep the pace of 9 km per hour for the whole distance? The actual weather report was forecasting decreasing Rain for the second night, which would increase the chances. The second night brought than as so often the decision. Heukemes had to take breaks more often and the lap times increased. At the end he won undisputed with 364 km ahead of Sattler with 328 km.
Among the women Martina Hausmann from the LG Würzburg was leading after 18 hours with 136 km ahead of Nidhruvi Zimmermann of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team Vienna (129 km). In the following six hours the gap melted down to 3 km. An exciting fight was at hands. Up to 24 hours this didn't change. After 30 hours though, a change took place. From the third position Paula Mairer form the SCMT Vienna took the lead with 210 km in front of Zimmermann and Hausmann with respective 208 km. At the down of Sunday morning after 41 hours Hausmann (270 km) managed to go ahead of Zimmermann (261 km) and was only 1 km behind Mairer. At the end the Viennese managed to gain some distance and won the race of the women with 318 km followed by Hausmann with 315 km.
A real astounding performance has been achieved by Horst Feiler of the MTV Nienburg too. With his 79 years he completed already 126 km after 24 hours. One hour before the end of the race he breached the 200 km mark. At the end there were 207 km on the record.
During the second night another top performance was taking shape. After 41 hours and 244 km Gerhard Burster was well on the way to break the world record for the men's category M 65, which was 255,505 km at that time. And he should make it. With unbelievable continuity the 65 year old of the RSG Böblingen run towards his victory and the record. At the end he set a new limit with 283 km.
Also in the 24-Hour-Race, started on Saturday at 1 p.m., a special achievement loomed. Shortly before the start of the race the 37 year old Hungarian Edith Berces from Zalaegerszeg let the organizers know, that she would run a lot of laps. People were wondering what this would mean. After all she is the last world champion and European record holder over 100 km (7:20 hours). The first laps she run at a pace of 7-8 minutes and reached the marathon mark after 3 hours 30.
In the group of the 60 participants (16 women) of the 24-Hour-Race she was at this point the over all leader. After 12 hours she still was leading with 132 km and was on the way for a new world record. For this she would have to run 243 km. But she also had to pay for the tough speed and her trouble making digestion. At the end she won sovereign with 222 km ahead of Comelia Bullig of the ASV-LT Kemperdick with 183 km. On her first race beyond the 100 km she run therewith Hungarian record.
The oldest participant in this group was Hans Albers from the LLG Nordpark Köln with 63 years (final result 100km), the youngest one Olaf Querhammer of the SCMT Hamburg (24 years, 114 km).
For the event in the next year the organizer Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, organizing over 500 running events world wide, asks the runners to apply on time, so that the proper preparations for the known high standard service can be taken timely and properly.