Icebreaker - Pure Merino

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

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.

Hey Icebreaker,

Once again this year I decided to put myself through a whole heap of pain for no apparent reason! Specifically on this occasion it was for the Peak to Peak Multisport race in Queenstown. The Peak to Peak starts at the Remarkables Ski field at the highest peak with a small run in ski boots quickly followed by a ski leg down the black run Homeward Bound.

After jumping the fence it’s on to the Mountain Bike for a blast down the access road, followed by a flat section along to Frankton Beach. Here is where the real race starts, a 9km kayak around into Queenstown bay, from this point you don the running shoes and run out of town towards Coronet Peak, at the base of the hill you jump on your bike and have the lovely ride to the top!

All in all it’s a solid day at the office!!

This year I travelled up to Central from Dunedin on Friday and then set about getting all of the gear needed ready for the next morning. I decided that I would wear a IcebreakerGT 200 long sleeve top the whole way from start to finish along with my other cycle gear.

With a dedicated support crew of Dad, my girlfriend Amy (Thanks for coming from Christchurch) and local lad Tom (I promised him Subway for helping me) we set off to Queenstown to the start of the race.

At 12:10pm on Saturday the chaos began. The ski wasn’t too bad although poor snow cover made some parts interesting! Then onto the Mountain bike all was good although in retrospect I should have chosen different tyres as parts of the road were greasy!

Into the kayak all things started well until I went to take a drink from my lifejacket, nothing happened… I came to the conclusion that there was a kink in the hose (later revealed that there was) so I was stuck drinking straight Leppin, which sat uncomfortably in my stomach!

Onto the run and I quickly downed a large portion of water from my Fuelbelt and then tried to get into a steady pace, my left leg had gone numb in the kayak, so I invented a new running style! Not sure how efficient it is though! The run didn’t really improve much, my legs felt heavy the whole time and my stomach was trying to get rid of some Leppin any way possible.

Onto the last ride and I started to push pretty hard, I had borrowed a bike with lighter wheels and lower gears than mine to make the uphill as easy as possible. Lucky I had! Through all the pain I managed to get to the top, and with Tom running the last few km’s beside me to make me go faster!!

Finally crossing the finish line I had been out there for 2hr54min, which in comparison isn’t heaps but it hurt!! I managed to be 1st junior male, and improved my time by 15minutes from last year, next year I have to jump up to the Open male section, but I will be better prepared than ever!

My clothing choices were perfect for the conditions, I never got to hot or cold, and even I was surprised I didn’t smell at the finish!! Here are a couple photos from the final hill climb, excuse the pain on my face!!

Thanks Icebreaker!!

- Blake Luff, Icebreaker Fan