Icebreaker - Pure Merino

Hi, I’m Craig Manson, and I’ve been working at Icebreaker for almost 18 months as the Upper North Island (NZ) Account Manager.

Last year I completed my first marathon – the Auckland Marathon. My time was an agonizing 4:00:28. That’s correct – 28  seconds quicker and I would have broken the illustrious sub 4 hour mark. However I didn’t! So, about 6 months ago, I signed up for my second Auckland marathon… this time determined to go under the 4 hour mark. I started serious training after our magnificent Fall Winter 11 product launch. My training consisted of 4 runs per week – averaging 50km a week. This lasted for 4 weeks until I decided to up the anti to 80km a week. This was a major increase in kilometres, but I had to achieve my goal. Some of my mates thought I was on the verge of insanity!

As D-day approached, I seriously started to self doubt my targeted finish time. I’d been very busy with work and my training intensity wasn’t great. Two weeks before the marathon I decided to spoil myself, in the hope of increasing my speed and also a reward for doing a 35km run the week before, I bought myself a brand new Icebreaker Run wardrobe. I purchased an Ace Short Sleeve Tee in Field, a pair of Beast Anatomica boxers and a pair of Run Ultralite Micro Socks – the BEST run socks in the world!

D-day, the 31^st of October, 5:30am, preparation complete – it was just me and the course! Nerves running wild, I was going to run under 4 hours no matter what. The first 5kms were pretty difficult but I was feeling good. As I approached the 10km mark my speed increased and at the half way mark, my time was 1:43hrs. I knew the last 10 kms were going to be the hardest. I was very mindful of this and kept pushing on as hard as I could…well the last 10kms were pretty difficult and slow, however…… at the 40km mark I knew I was going to achieve my goal. With my goal almost  in the bag, I started to enjoy my time out there, although it was still really difficult. About 100m from the finish line, I acquired a special friend, Ramotaur!! I crossed the finish line in a time of 3:45:41! I was pretty stoked and as always my Icebreaker performed perfectly. No stink, only a very sore body!

If you’re ever looking for a running buddy up in Auckland, feel free to drop me a line. Next year’s marathon time…………… who knows?

- Craig Manson, Icebreaker NZ Upper North Account Manager

Why is Icebreaker the natural choice to Give Green? Because we offer a natural choice in a world of petroleum-based synthetics.

Each year, sheep in New Zealand’s Southern Alps grow thick merino wool, and each spring the coat is shorn. From this fibre, Icebreaker creates beautiful lightweight clothing that protects the body against extremes of temperature, breathes exceptionally well, resists odor and is designed to perform in the outdoors.

When you buy Icebreaker for friends and family, you’re giving a gift that is not just soft and luxurious but natural, sustainably produced and annually renewable.

Plus, your unique Baacode will let you trace the merino fibre from your Icebreaker garment back to its source. You can see the living conditions of the high country sheep that produced the wool, meet the farmers who are custodians of this astonishing landscape, and follow every step of the supply chain.

Be kind to nature and your loved ones this year: join Icebreaker and other environmentally responsible retailers to turn Cyber Monday into Green Gift Monday. Learn more here: http://blog.nature.org/green-gift-monday/

A 20-foot tall image of merino sheep is being hung, and the paint is still drying, but this Friday, November 19, is the soft opening of Icebreaker’s first TouchLab store in New York City located in SoHo!

Since it’s 8,815 miles from New Zealand to New York, please help us get the word out!

Give your New York friends our SoHo store Secret Password!
If your friends say “Baa Baa” at checkout between now and January 1, 2011, they’ll receive 10% off their purchases (not to be combined with other discounts). Please invite them to follow us at facebook.com/icebreakernz and twitter.com/icebreakernz.

Enter to Win
As a way to say thanks for your help, we’re giving away 50 pairs of delicious Icebreaker merino socks.  Just email cs@icebreaker.com a copy of your Facebook or Twitter post or email to your friends and you’ll be entered to win via random drawing on January 5.  Please put “Baa Baa” in the subject line of your email.  Please include your full name, mailing address, phone number and sock size (S, M, L).

Kiwis, Friends & Family Event Dec. 2
We’ll have a special event on Thursday, Dec. 2 for Icebreaker friends and family and all East Coast kiwis!  Watch the events page on facebook.com/icebreakernz for details!

Store Details
The Icebreaker TouchLab store in SoHo will showcase our complete line – from Outdoor, Running, Cycling, Travel, Kids, to Underwear and City collections, all made from handpicked merino wool born in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.

Address: 102 Wooster Street, between Spring and Prince Streets (Spring Street subway station)
Hours: 11-7 Monday-Saturday; 11-6 Sunday
Phone: +1 646.861.2523