Icebreaker - Pure Merino

What a week we had. All 15 members of Team CatWalk made it safely round the NYC marathon and lived to tell the tale! To come all the way from New Zealand to participate in the world’s greatest marathon was an amazing experience and boy, does New York know how to host a party?! What an incredible atmostphere – the spectators, the bands, the food, the flags; just amazing.

Our sponsored Icebreaker gear was such an awesome treat too. To get logoed running tees (Rush Crewe for women and Ace Crewe for men) and a hoodie (GT260 Quantum Hood) really cemented the Team, we could spot each other in the hotel (even if not on the road with 47,000 other runners!) and they are so warm – essential in a New York winter! We were really proud to be showcasing fantastic NZ merino quality clothing on the international stage.

Of course New Yorkers know all about Icebreaker because of the phenomenal TouchLab store there. As we discovered on our second night in NYC, it’s also a great place for a party! We had a great night meeting other like minded runners and getting excited about the big event. The cute ‘Ram’ mascot was an added bonus to the evening!

Running a marathon for a worthy cause combines a trip to one of the greatest cities in the world with a ‘bucket list’ tick and a high feel good factor for the Team CatWalk members. Knowing a world class company like Icebreaker is also supporting us gives us that bit more energy to keep going when we are wondering what we signed ourselves up for. We will get spinal cord injured people out of wheelchairs and back on their feet, and Icebreaker will have helped. Everyone’s a winner (except possibly the odd toenail!)

www.catwalk.org.nz

Nicola Holmwood, Team Manager for Team CatWalk 2011

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.