Icebreaker - Pure Merino

Sometimes people just do the most amazing things. On February 4th 2012, Justin Wallace began running the Yukon Arctic Ultra, pulling a 50lb sled across the frozen Yukon river and over the wooded hills that surround it as well. 100 miles (160km) and in a time of 21 hours and 41 minutes later he was the first competitor to arrive in Braeburn, getting there before the finish line had even been set up and establishing a new course record!

“The race started out too warm for my 200 weight GT top from Icebreaker, but as temperatures dropped to below -30ºC during the night, the base layer really shone. With only a light jacket over top and a well covered head, I ran through the darkness warm and dry. My physical comfort allowed me to enjoy the race, marvelling at how the snow crystals in the trees twinkled in the moonlight and watching the faint northern lights dance in green waves overhead.”

Here’s an excerpt from the February 5 Yukon Arctic Ultra News:
“Justin Wallace from Whitehorse sets new record and wins 100 mile race. We knew yesterday morning that Justin would be fast. I do admit that I did not expect it. Simply because I did not know him. Friends of his were not as surprised. I am told he trained very hard and used any excuse to go to places pulling his sled rather than taking a car. Not just once he showed up with an iced up face mask at friend’s places after a long run. And it paid off. Justin reached the finish line in Braeburn at 08:13 this morning, 21 hours and 41 minutes after race start and won the 100 miles. And not only did he win. He also broke the existing record by more than 2 hours!”

It was only a week ago that the Icebreaker Montreal TouchLab hosted an evening for the Esprit de Corps charity relay run from Montreal, Canada to-New York City, U.S.A. It was also on Friday June 3, that Icebreaker joined the starting line Expo activities in the Old Port of Montreal – the starting line of the 60+ hour journey. Over the weekend I kept followed the teams route south, continually stunned at how quickly they seemed to progress. My own own experience of running last year though has taught me that time passes altogether differently out there on the road!

Icebreaker has generously supported the 2011 Montreal-NYC runners by outfitting the teams with our new GT Run line, once again putting light-weight, breathable, non-stinky merino to the test of endurance, running legs and 60 hours couped up in two RVs. We even enticed Halifax based Icebreaker ambassador, Mark Campbell, to come down and talk about his own running adventures at our TouchLab event (more on that in our next Blog post).

Although Icebreaker may be a new concept for some, like ex- Montreal Canadians player and Montreal-NY 2011 team member, Georges Laraque, it has been amazing to see some of my team mates from last year – as well as newly introduced runners – embrace Icebreaker merino so enthusiastically.

We congratulate the runners on their achievement, commitment and effort, and hope that their journey was filled with positive insight.  We look forward to hearing their stories and their feedback about the Icebreaker GT Run range.

- Andrew Hlavacek, Manager – Icebreaker Montreal TouchLab