Icebreaker - Pure Merino

British Columbia, here come the sheep!

Our first TouchLab in Western Canada is open now in the Kitsilano neighborhood at 2089 West 4th Avenue, near the corner of Arbutus. Our grand opening party is on Tuesday, 22 March.

Last week we were fortunate to be on a local TV show called “Shaw Urban Rush,” which highlights events, fashion and trends in the greater Vancouver area. We brought up our Run General Manager Deb Boswell and also had some Icebreaker models and even Ramotaur to help out.

Deb talked about the store, run, bike and lifestyle lines, Baacode and much more. Check it out:

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

We at Icebreaker Montreal would like to salute our assistant manager, Andrew Hlavacek, for recently taking part in an amazing journey.

A little more than three weeks ago, eight runners departed Montreal and ran around the clock in 10km stretches to their goal, New York’s Empire State Building 610km away. Despite a knee injury sustained during a 97km preparatory relay run, Andrew nevertheless managed to run his portions to help the team reach their destination in 58 hours – a new record for this event organized by Esprit de corps (EdC), a Montreal group of trainers who organize various team-building challenges for corporate groups.

By no means was this a macho endeavour to break records. The annual run raises money for EdC’s charity, Fondation esprit de corps, to give kids from underprivileged backgrounds chances to experience outdoor challenges in a positive environment. This year saw one of the smallest teams and runners, Stéphane Dumont, Sébastien Saint-Hilaire, Stéphane Lessard, Stéphane Martel and Andrew, were joined by EdC founder Gilles Barbot, trainer Kevin Pillu and foundation organizer, Thibaut Jegou, to help them reach their destination. Past teams averaged around 65km per person. This year each runner needed to run 84km in order to realize the objective – all the while taking turns navigating and driving the team’s mobile HQ – a rented RV!

It is the amazing functionality of our clothing which enabled us to take part in this incredible adventure. Over the past year, EdC’s crew has come to swear by Icebreaker and they have made it a staple on their clients’ equipment lists. Montreal Touch Lab team members have also participated in information sessions for groups training with EdC for a variety of challenges and our relationship continues to evolve.

Such an intense challenge afforded yet another opportunity to put Icebreaker to the test. Andrew took his system to new limits by using only one warm and one cool weather top, with two others used as ‘driers’ between runs. Prior to departure, two team-members also cast aside their scepticism and geared up with a couple of pieces each. Andrew reports that it was amazing observe the revolution in their attitudes to using athletic clothing made of natural fibres.

Merino magic aside, truly inspiring is the idea that eight people from different backgrounds can accept an intensely stressful, mentally and physically-draining routine with surprising ease and harmony. The isolation and intimacy of running in all conditions and at all times of day, brings one into communion with not only oneself, but one’s environment, team-mates and others encountered in passing. This process perfectly exemplifies our own vision and shows how such undertakings can alter how we regard ourselves and our relationship to nature and to each other.

For the runners who lived the journey to New York City, this adventure will surely permeate their workaday lives as they continue to share their experiences and the hard-earned insights gained through each foot-fall along the way.

Watch the Montreal-New York 2010 video here:  http://vimeo.com/16536747 (in French).

- Icebreaker Montreal