Icebreaker - Pure Merino

A few weeks ago, Team Icebreaker Eastern Europe participated in the Corporate Half Marathon relay in Prague.  The Prague International Half-Marathon has been taking place every year since 1999 as a part of the  Prague International Marathon.

The route lead the team through the beautiful Prague city centre – most of the streets are built out of stone bricks (hated by all drivers and bikers, adored by tourists).

The course was 21.097km long and every participant is supposed to finish it within time limit of 3 hours.

Our runners used the opportunity to participate in the half-marathon as one of their team-building events. Jakub, Jiri, Pavel and Palo were the chosen ones to represent our Icebreaker team (well actually they were only ones avalaible in that time!).

The team placed 67^th of the 321 participating teams, with the overall time 1:47:13, of which they were all very proud (some say the magic merino clothing helped this wonderful result, others say it was the push of the Ramotaur, who made and appearance just in time for the grand finale).

Nobody was injured, everyone survived, and it was a great team event for our office! Viva Prague Marathon!

- Alena Adamcová, Icebreaker Customer Services Eastern Europe

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

What happens when four kiwis go to New York for the first time to run their first marathon? We’re about to find out when our own Alice Foote (New Zealand Marketing Manager), Anne Radcliffe (Payroll Administrator) Emma Stableford (Product Developer) and Rob Barlow (Australia Marketing Manager) head to the ING New York City Marathon, 7 November 2010.

Icebreaker will be at the ING New York City Expo for a third straight year, speaking with runners about the joys of natural, breathable, no-stink merino! Stop by and say hi, and get your autograph from Ramotaur, our own half-man, half ram mythological being!

Our fabulous Icebreaker NYC Marathon team members will each be running to raise money for two great charities. They’ve challenged their mates to pledge to support them and invite you too:

• The Catwalk Trust: Dedicated to raising funds to support the body of scientific opinion, which says a cure for Spinal Cord Injury will be found.
• Team Continuum: Cares for the immediate non-medical needs of cancer patients that are not reimbursed by any form of insurance.

We’re also hosting a special event in support of The CatWalk Trust NYC Marathon Team at Madam Geneva, 4 Bleeker St, on Friday, Nov 5^th from 6-8pm. See our Facebook page for more info!

HERE’S A WORD FROM OUR RUNNERS… STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES!

Comment from runner #1  – Bobbie Barlow (representing the Aussies)

As the sole Ocker from Icebreaker competing in this year’s NYC marathon I expect nothing but a win over those cockeyed kiwis. I spent a week at the AIS developing my Pre-Race programme: drink 53 cans of VB on the flight from Sydney to LA, charm 20 American sheilas……into buying merino, and drink a slab of Tooheys New every night. This is the fair dinkum Aussie recipe for success, so don’t be a tight-arse and put your money on the mighty green and gold. And don’t back those kiwis, they’re as mad as a cut snake.

Comment from runner #2 – Alice ‘time for a cuppa’ Foote (representing the Kiwi’s)

Thanks to Lisa T (Icebreaker USA President/Princess) I have maintained a dedicated & vigilant training program over the last 365 days. This combined with my additional motivator (I’ve been told I may be fired if AU wins) means you should have every confidence to back NYC runner 107. I plan to attack the race by breaking it into bite-sized chunks. Every kilometre represents one packet. 42 packets = 504 biscuits. Average speed 100 biscuits per hour. Judging by my committed build up & training I am confident I can have this nailed in under 5 hours. Please have full confidence to support NZ and help raise money for Catwalk and Team Continuum.

Sponsor acknowledgements – Icebreaker & Griffin’s.

Comment from runner #3 – Anne ‘the tortoise’ Radcliffe (representing Icebreaker Head Office and EU)

New York Marathon 2010 will most probably be the first, and last, marathon event I ever do. It will probably take a lifetime to recover from it – that and a double hip replacement I might need!  Why am I doing it?  Besides the New York shopping – primarily to give my children something to look back on with pride – that their mother could have the guts, motivation and share stupidity to do something really hard and really crazy and get a medal to show for it. I decided if I was going to take on a Marathon – it had to be the best; hence New York City 2010.  I am not there to win – the only prize I might be awarded is for the slowest Marathon time ever.  But hell, I am prepared to give it a go.  Please support our Icebreaker Athletes – Alice, Rob, Emma and Anne by donating funds for our very worthy causes.

Comment from runner #4 – Emma ‘Jamaican Maan’  Stableford (representing Nth America and Jamaica apparently)

I have been taking the matter of winning against Alice, Anne and Rob very seriously hence my yellow training undies. I’ve been training in the high temperatures of Jamaica for the summer which is how I got such a fantastic tan, tiny waist, flat chest, and huge, powerful arse. If you vote for me I will run in these nice yellow undies and win. Alice, Rob and Anne don’t have undies like this so they probably won’t win. Thanks for supporting our charities! It’s much appreciated.