Icebreaker - Pure Merino

Grieg Rightford and Willy Tokona our crazy New Zealand sponsored athletes are off to run 5 marathons in 5 cities, in 5 days! Why you may ask? These guys are training for the Marathon of the Sands (234 kms across the Sahara Desert) and are aiming to raise $50,000 for the Malaghan Research Institute.

Greig and Willy love running in our light weight tee’s and shorts as it keeps their temperature regulated, is breathable and it doesn’t stink! (You would hope so after 5 marathons in a row!). They will also be wearing Icebreaker in the toughest footrace on earth in the Sahara desert in 50degree heat!  So New Zealand fans, get to your nearest marathon city (dates below) and support them as they run! We know we will be.

Dunedin, 28th Jan, 8:30am at Logan Park COMPLETED – YAY GUYS!
Christchurch, 29th Jan, 8:30am at Hagley Park.
Auckland, 30th Jan, 8:30am at The Viaduct then heading off to Victoria Park for a loop, then back into the city and then along the waterfront and the bays until they reach Dalton St for the turn around.
Rotorua, 31st Jan, 6:00am at Redwood Forest.
Wellington, 1st Feb, 8:30am Around the Bays to Seatoun starting at Foxglove Ba.

Find out more about Grieg and Willy’s adventure here on their Facebook page.

This is the first time in my short 33 years that I’ve ever raised any substantial amount of money or awareness for any particular cause (save for the one time I participated in ‘MoVember’ which, while I did raise some money and awareness for prostate cancer, doesn’t exactly count… I mean who doesn’t want to grow a mustache!?).  However, this time is different.  I’ve already raised a small fortune ($3,855 to be exact), and I’m putting my heart and soul behind this one, because I truly believe in it… So what is Climate Ride did you say?

During the 2^nd week of September, myself and 100 other people (whom I don’t at all know), will be riding our bikes form Eureka, CA to San Francisco.  We will be averaging 70 miles per day, through the winding hinterland of northern California’s coastal region, following Hwy 1 much of the way.  And we will be riding to raise awareness about climate change, and to inspire and empower our fellow citizens to work towards a new energy future.  The funds we raise will go directly to leading edge sustainability, climate, clean energy, and bicycle-related projects and organizations.  Our ultimate goal is to raise the profile of renewable energy and the green economy among participants, donors, sponsors, and the general public.

We have enjoyed the support of many great donors and volunteers who have given cash, time, encouragement and in-kind contributions.  And Icebreaker is now a supporter!  After writing to Icebreaker about my endeavor, they generously contributed both cash and in-kind support ( comfy Icebreaker bike gear!).  And as a commitment to the cause, I will be matching their in-kind retail contribution value to my fundraising page.  Taken together, this now makes Icebreaker one of my biggest contributors!  Thanks Icebreaker!

If you would like to help me raise awareness for our environment and help find a way to a new energy future, please click on this link.  Any and all help is sincerely appreciated.

- John Grossman – Bicycle Avenger and friend of Icebreaker

A couple of weekends ago, a few of us from the US office and our Woodburn outlet took part in our first Spartan Race. For those of you unfamiliar with Spartan, they’re a series of races that range from a 3+mile Sprint with obstacles, to a 48-hour Death Race that only 10% of participants finish. We opted for the Sprint.

As our team drove the winding roads to Washougal, WA, we were all looking forward to the race, but there was a certain amount of dread mixed in with our anticipation. Our fear was based on the Spartan’s waiver, which very clearly lays out the fact that you may die. In fact, that’s the URL of the Death Race – www.youmaydie.com! I usually just skim the standard run waiver, but then most waivers don’t mention the fact that you could suffer “animal bites or scratches.” I read every last line of that Spartan waiver. A few times. Many of us are experienced runners and have participated in mud runs before, but this was no normal mud run. We knew next to nothing about the course, but based on the videos we watched, we expected ourselves to be challenged both physically and mentally.

And those expectations were correct! The race started off with a rousing speech from a Spartan, and then, to the strains of The Dropkick Murphy’s “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” we were off! Now I’m not going to ruin the Spartan for those of you crazy enough to try one, so I’ll skip the detailed description of each obstacle. Let’s just say you will get a chance to lift and carry heavy objects, climb walls and ropes, run through the woods, and get so muddy that even after multiple showers, days later, you’re still a little dirty. You will crawl under hundreds of yards of barbed wire, sometimes uphill (probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever done).  And you will do lots and lots of burpees.  If you like burpees, which are the official penalty exercise of the Spartan (30 for each failed obstacle, 200, yes that’s right, 200, for dropping out of the uphill barbed wire crawl), then you will love this race!

Immediately after the race, shaking and covered in mud and blood from my damaged knees and elbows, I could only think of rest and relaxation. But now, a few days removed from the race, I’m already planning for next years’ race. I think I may even do a few burpees this evening.

Matt Hazel, US Marketing Coordinator