SRI CHINMOY TAKES OVER THE 48-HOUR

Kate Dzienis • December 17, 2019

By Kate Dzienis

If there’s a new 48-hour event you’re looking to enter, look no further than the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team’s inaugural 48 Hour Track Festival which will be held in early 2020 in Canberra.

Conducted on a certified 400-metre floodlit track at the Australian Institute of Sport, the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team have humbly taken over the event from race director Billy Pearce who founded the CBR 48 Hour and who has run it since 2016.

During discussions for the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team to run the event, it was decided that it would be a brilliant idea to add it to their repertoire of 24-hour and 6-hour races.

Race director Prachar Stegemann explained that in the end, it was decided to incorporate the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team’s existing 24-hour into the structure that Pearce had set up in Canberra for the 48-hour.

“It’s inaugural for us, in that sense – we’ve never put on a 48-hour before but we will following in Billy’s footsteps and hopefully continuing the great work he has done with it,” he said.

“I love track races of all distances, it’s a real community, you’re on top of each other the whole time – you certainly establish a camaraderie, a family feeling in a way that you can’t quite in any point to point event.

“A track race like the 48-hour is great in terms of providing services to athletes all the time in terms of equipment, nutrition, timing, crew support, and all of that, and it’s wonderful to also see slower runners mingling with the faster runner – you don’t get that with a point to point.

“Sure, some people will say it’s boring, going around and around in a circle but let’s face it – after 10kms or 40kms, who’s looking at the scenery? Ultra running is really an inner journey, it’s really about finding about your inner demons rather than looking at what’s around you.”

Stegemann said it was important to put the 48-Hour Track Festival to the highest standard because and like any other event, the costs are relatively high for a track event, especially when it was being held at world-class facilities like the AIS.

“No one puts on a track race to make money, but you also don’t want to be losing a large amount,” he said.

“In the end, if participants enjoyed the event then there are bigger chances they will come back and run it again. At the moment, we have actually seen an increase in numbers for our 24-hour event over the past three years.”

For those yet to do a 48-hour track race, it’s an attractive timed event due to the fact you don’t have to think about the course – there are no extreme variables to contend with, only the weather and time of day. You also don’t have to contend with holding out on nutrition or hydration as there are aid stations within arm’s reach all day and night.

The Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team worldwide is very closely associated with ultra running, putting on some of the world’s longest races like the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race in New York and six to 10 day races.

Stegemann explains Sri Chinmoy’s philosophy is self-transcendence through meditation and sports, and that there is a close connection with that notion of the mental and spiritual side of ultra running being a great forum and great journey of personal discovery and fulfilment.

The Sri Chinmoy 48 Hour Track Festival will be held from 20 to 22 March, 2020 at the Australian Institute of Sport in Bruce, Canberra, ACT and registrations are now open.

For more information call Prachar Stegemann on 0404 071 327, email canberra@srichinmoyraces.org or click on the banner below for more information.

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2026 AGM Notice (15 April 2026)

By Dave Martin • March 14, 2026

AUTRA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday 15 April 2026

AUTRA statement regarding Snowies Trail Run Festival

March 12, 2026

AUTRA has been in direct contact with the organisers of the Snowies Trail Run Festival, In2Adventure, regarding a recent situation involving an athlete and the event’s in‑person safety briefing requirements. In2Adventure has confirmed that the situation was discussed directly with the athlete at the time. From In2Adventure’s account, and for the purpose of clarifying the public record, AUTRA notes the following points: At no stage was the athlete prevented from breastfeeding at the event. The organiser states that the following options were offered to enable the athlete to participate while still meeting safety requirements: a quiet and private space where she could breastfeed while still being present at the briefing; the option to receive the required briefing at the 30 km start line after the start; and the option to change her registration to the 21 km event, where the briefing is conducted on the start line. At no stage prior to event registration on Saturday night did the athlete contact the organiser to advise of her situation or request alternative arrangements, which limited what could be put in place at the time. Face‑to‑face safety briefings have always been a requirement for In2Adventure events due to the remote and higher‑risk nature of the trails. AUTRA was aware that in‑person briefings were used and had not raised concerns about that general approach. The organiser has indicated that this requirement is driven by safety, duty‑of‑care and insurance obligations, and follows previous experience where remote or online briefings resulted in athletes starting events without critical safety information. The organiser maintains that the event was not conducted in a manner that was intended to be non‑inclusive, inflexible or discriminatory, and that decisions made on the day were based solely on safety requirements that apply equally to all participants. AUTRA’s aim in issuing this statement is solely to clarify the context and ensure that the public record reflects the information provided to us by the organiser.