Day 7 Kepler Challenge – full report
Finally, almost 3 days after completing the ultimate leg of this year’s 7in7 Challenge I have found the time, space and energy to write up a more detailed report about a memorable day….. It dawned clear and hot, just like the previous six in the unseasonal heat wave that characterised (and almost killed) this year’s [...]
3 days to go!
There’s no denying it – I am getting very nervous and very excited. The point of no return is about to be reached and in 3 days’ time the first of my 7 epic runs will be history. Am I prepared? Yes, I think so… although I could have done with a bit more rest [...]
5 days to go
I’ve spent the last two days in the 7in7-mobile driving the 1,100 kms from Auckland to Geraldine. Tomorrow morning I’ll be doing the final few hundred kms to hit Wanaka and get myself properly prepared for the epic week that kicks off Sunday. Amazingly, there are still people signing up to run in 7in7 – [...]
7 days to go
Phew! A crazy few days trying to pull together all the final loose ends and get everything packed. But I’m now just about all set to go… in less than 12 hours I’ll be hitting the motorway and pointing south - destination Wanaka. It will be a huge relief to finally be on the way, knowing [...]
10 Days To Go
The training is done but my ‘to do’ list never seems to grow any shorter. With 10 days until kick-off things are frantic at 7in7 HQ, but at least I now have Sally to assist. Yesterday she sent out all the Icebreaker 7in7 running shirts and event tee-shirts – a massive job, but worth it [...]
Another fundraising milestone
With just a few weeks to go our fundraising is starting to gather some real momentum. With more than 100 people now actively involved as support runners and co-fundraisers it has become a major team effort. The goal for the 2010 Challenge is to get to $150,000 and right now we are sitting at a [...]
Will he or won’t he?
Here’s a nice little story about a real good bloke from Darwin, Australia. Tim Hardiman ran the Kepler Challenge last year and recorded a pretty impressive sub-8hr time – over two hours quicker than my own effort! While in Te Anau he got wind of what was going on with the 7in7 Challenge and liked [...]
What a week!
Weds 6th October: I flew from Auckland to Wanaka, taking an hour and a half out at Christchurch to meet up with 7in7 runner Duncan Woods, Natasha Utting from Campbell Live and a cameraman. If you haven’t already read Duncan’s story you should. Then watch Campbell Live on October 20th to be further inspired by [...]
We went down fighting!
It was never going to be easy – an individual entry up against an entire university department – but we sure gave it one hell of a good crack. Yesterday I spent 17 hours at the keyboard, almost without a break, trying everything I could think of to bring in enough votes to take out [...]
Winner takes all
By now, most people reading this blog will know that I’m in a desperate battle to win the most votes in the Pure Futures competition to find “inspirational kiwis”. At stake is a $10,000 prize. If I can win this I will donate the lot – all $10,000 – to the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation. [...]
That’s my boy!
The 7in7 Challenge has just recruited some young blood. My 12 year old son Beinn is more at home on his skateboard than in a pair of running shoes, but nevertheless he has committed to join me for the final 10 kms of my 360 km odyssey – the ‘home straight’ at the Kepler Challenge. Beinn [...]
Thanks Mitre 10!
The advertising slogan is “you’ll come out better off at Mitre 10″. Well, in the case of Mitre 10, Wanaka this is no idle boast. For this morning I received an email from store manager Mark Watson saying that he and all his staff wanted to get behind the 7in7 Challenge in any way they [...]
A double boost
Two things have me smiling this morning: 1. We have just broken through the $10,000 fundraising barrier. With 36 support runners now set up with their own fundraising pages things are starting to tick along nicely. Just $140,000 to go to reach target! 2. The sun is shining, the rain has stopped and I have [...]
Ordinary people, extraordinary commitment
The energy that some people are putting into their fundraising is quite extraordinary. While eveybody’s efforts are hugely appreciated, today I wanted to highlight the contribution of 3 amazing women. First up, Emma Thompson – Emma is a long-time supporter of the 7in7 and despite the fact that she’s not running in the event (well, not [...]
Fundraising update
Our fundraising is starting to gather a little momentum. We now have 28 support runners set up with their own fundraising pages and between them these wonderful people are aiming to raise no less than $34,300. Click here to see the full list of runners who are on their way to becoming 7in7 fundraising heroes. With 4 [...]
Filling up fast
Interest in joining the 7in7 Challenge has been pouring in from all over the country. We even have entrants from Australia, Singapore, USA and France! So far more than 50 people have expressed interest although not all have yet totally committed. So if you are thinking about joining us as we run for the lives [...]
Sarah’s story
Sarah Obbeek is a 29-year old New Zealander currently working as a paramedic in Australia. She has never run more than a few kilometres in her life – but she is participating in Day 1 of this year’s 7in7 Challenge and aims to raise $1,000 for the cause. I’ve yet to meet Sarah but found [...]
Every journey begins with a single step
There’s a long, long way to go before we reach our $150,000 target for this year’s Challenge, but the fundraising has to start somewhere! We now have seven fundraising pages set up – mine and those of six support runners – and hey, we’ve raised $60! The latest to commit to the cause are Jo Wilson [...]
We’re up and running
I can’t tell you how good it feels to be moving into the next phase of the 2010 Challenge. After all the early frustrations we are now moving into the fun bit – sharing the vision, inspiring people to get involved and getting stuck into some serious training. The last week has been AMAZING with [...]
Your vote counts!
Steinlager Pure are running a novel campaign to find kiwis planning inspiring futures. I have made an entry – on the basis of the 7in7 Challenge – and require lots of votes in order to be in with a chance of scoring a big fat donation for the Leukaemia & Blood Foundation. Could you PLEASE click here to register [...]
It’s been a while!
Where did the last 3 months go? I’m still looking back and savouring the many great highlights of the 7in7 Challenge, and reliving many as we start to edit together many hours of footage to make the definitive film. Once completed this will be taken on a nationwide tour so I am looking forward to [...]
10……
The count down has commenced….. 10 days to go…. a good time to reflect on the hundreds of people who have helped make my rather crazy dream a reality. I can’t possibly single out everyone, but today I want to recognise the contribution of Grant Watson, co-owner of the Park Lodge, National Park. Grant was [...]
