Marathons

Sun. 21 Apr: They came, they ran, they conquered!

With five minutes left on the 21st of April 2013, I feel I’m just in the knick of time to debrief on what was an incredible day.  Team Inspired Adventures Virgin London Marathon 2013 were up bright and early at 7am prepped and ready to hop on an 8am bus to the start line, where there would be no escape!  The sun was shining, the sky was bluer than blue, and spirits were high.  ”We’ve come this far, may as well run the bloody thing,” Anita told us.  Some brilliant wisdom as the day began to unfold.

At 9:45am the starting horn sounded and the runners were away!  I was leading up the cheer squad, which was perched excitedly just before the 12-mile marker with flags, blow horns, and inflatable hands that were all the rage with the 36,000 runners.  All of our “kit” was, of course, emblazoned with the Australian flag.

Our runners zoomed past us one at time.  The first person we were able to catch a glimpse of was Udit, who was on fire in the first half.  After him came Carlo who was in such a zone, he ran right past us and told everyone over dinner that he didn’t even realize it was his wife and the cheer squad!

They were followed by Michael, who became the Inspired Adventures all-time greatest fundraiser, topping $50,000 while running in memory of his wife for Leukemia Foundation.  After Michael we saw Melissa and Martelle but somehow missed Anita and Lorraine.  They may have been hidden behind the giant fire hydrant, rhino costume, or gingerbread man!

The whole team regrouped this evening for a celebratory drink and dinner.  They recounted war stories before dozing off at the table around 8pm.  A classy bunch!  It was a day like no other and writing as someone who ran the London Marathon in 2012, this is an event that certainly tops the list of life experiences.

So, what are you waiting for?  Isn’t it time to sign up for team 2014?

Fri. 19 Apr: Getting ready to run!

Our 2013 London Marathon team have arrived and are resting up and preparing themselves for the big race on Sunday. Here’s a weather update from the organisers:

WEATHER UPDATE: Sunday’s looking dry most of the day. Starting cold at 2c and rising to approx 13c by afternoon. 3-8mph S-SW winds. #VLM2013

— VirginLondonMarathon (@LondonMarathon) April 19, 2013

Inspired Adventures and the 2013 Virgin London Marathon

This year, we are proud to have 12 runners in the Virgin London Marathon. They are representing Cure Cancer Australia Foundation,the Leukaemia Foundation and Variety, the Children’s Charity. Collectively our 12 runners have raised $165,000 for these great charities.

Team Fundraising pages:

• Leukaemia Foundation
• Variety, the Children’s Charity
• Cure Cancer Australia Foundation

The London Marathon starts at 9:30am on Sunday 21 April 2013 (London time). Inspired Adventures will be tweeting updates from around 6pm on Sunday evening (Sydney time). Join us online using the following Twitter handles/hashtags:

• @inspiredadvntrs
• @CureCancerAust
• @LeukaemiaAus
• @VarietyAU
• @LondonMarathon
• #VLM2013

Read more marathon stories, secure a place in the Virgin London Marathon 2014 or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

Inspired Adventures launches our first trip of 2014…

With 2013 just getting underway, Inspired Adventures are already focusing on what adventures 2014 will bring about. We are very excited to announce that we have teamed up with Amnesty International Australia to launch our first adventure for next year – the Virgin London Marathon.

We have managed to secure 10 highly sought after spots in this event. This is a unique opportunity to become part of the Amnesty International Australia London Marathon team.

Marathons – the best way to keep fit and stay fit!

If you want a good reason to stick to your fitness goals, we can think of none that surpass this opportunity to run the London Marathon in 2014. We have 20 incredible runners taking part in the New York Marathon on November 3 this year. The 20 spots for Amnesty International Australia were quickly snapped up and our runners are training hard. They will cross the finish line in Central Park knowing that they have helped Amnesty fight injustice and defend the human rights of men, women and children around the world.

To secure your place in London 2014, contact Nadia on 1300 905 188 or visit our London Marathon 2014 information page.

Running for human rights…

“I’m Sarah, and I’m raising money for HUMAN RIGHTS for Amnesty International to go run in the New York Marathon. YES it’s an insane challenge for me and I’m super excited to be one of 20 participants taking part and raising a crapload of money for Amnesty.” Sarah

“Amnesty is famous for its relentless pursuit of human rights. For decades I’ve followed them and joined many on-line actions. But now it’s time to up my commitment. I have enrolled in the 2013 New York City Marathon and have vowed to raise at least $9,000 to support their important work.

This is no small deal for me. The last big run I did was the Perth City-to-Surf in about 1985. That was 12 kilometres, this is 42. Back then I was 78 kilos, now I am 98. Today, if I run more than a few kilometres my knees suffer pain for days. I have a lot of training to-do. Not just running but cardio and strength.” John Dobbin

“The next 12 months will be a year of firsts for me, and one of those is to complete my first Marathon. Hang on, did I just say marathon!?!?!  Eeeeek!  No I’m not insane…. just insanely determined, focused, energised, and at this point, insanely excited!!

What better place to complete this epic challenge than… wait for it… NEW YORK CITY BABY!!! I’ll be travelling to the Big Apple in November 2013 to tackle the 42.2km course with 45,000 other participants from around the world…. while the marathon is a personal challenge, I’ve chosen to run for a cause; the cause being Amnesty International.  Amnesty is part of the global movement defending human rights and dignity.” Erin Phillips

Not ready to take on a marathon?

If vertical challenges are more your thing, perhaps the Amnesty International 2013 Kilimanjaro Challenge might take your fancy? Or you could try one of our new destinations – Bhutan, Sumatra or Sri Lanka…

Read more Marathon Trip Stories or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

It’s marathon season again and 4 November 2012 is a day that will go down in the history books – for sports enthusiasts as well as for our incredibly inspired runners who will take to the start line of this years’ ING New York City Marathon.

A REASON TO RUN

We are full of pride knowing that our runners are not just running for their own personal glory. Everyone on ‘Team Inspired’ is running for a cause bigger than themselves and one that is close to their heart. In addition to the gruelling training regimen, they have also raised funds for:

• World Vision Australia
• Australian Cancer Research Foundation
• Variety the Children’s Charity
• ChildFund Australia
• Australia’s CEO Challenge

Each step of this ‘26.2-mile block party’ is done in the name of charity and our runners will be spurred on to the finish line by the support of their family and friends as well as knowing that they are making a difference just by being a part of it.

THE HISTORY BEHIND THE WORLD’S GREATEST MARATHON

From its humble beginnings in 1970 when just 55 runners completed the course, the popularity of the New York Marathon has burgeoned with over 47,000 runners crossing the finish line last year (including our very own superstar, Nadia). Back in 1970, the race entry fee was $1 and 127 brave people put in their application.

Today the New York Marathon is the race that every runner aspires to be a part of. More than 100,000 applications are received each year as its popularity and prestige continues to grow.

‘TEAM INSPIRED’ REFLECTION AND INSIGHT

As the excitement builds, we would like to reflect on last year’s marathon and the experience of our runners. Nadia and Kyle from Inspired Adventures were both there – Nadia to run her first marathon and Kyle to cheer the team on. Here’s Kyle’s description of Team Inspired in 2011:

“It’s 5am and the hotel lobby is buzzing with excitement. There must be 200-300 hundred runners staying at our hotel and it’s impossible not to get caught up in the fanfare. The 50 runners from Team Inspired have raised over $500,000 for charity. They definitely stand out from the crowd not just because of their accents but also because of the pure joy on their faces. They’ve completed the fundraising, they’ve done the training, and they’ve flown halfway around the world to be here. It’s go time!

Eight hours later a group of us are standing at the 23-mile marker on 5th Avenue right at the point where the runners enter Central Park.  We’ve been here since 10am and arrived just in time to see the elite men and women hurtling towards victory.  In the last few hours another 20,000 or so runners come storming by and they all have something in common beyond the fact that they’re running a marathon: they’re doing it with a smile!  The entire mass just has a big cheesy grin plastered across their faces, and I can understand why.  Every single mile from Staten Island, where the Statue of Liberty looms in the distance, through Brooklyn and Queens, up into the Bronx and back through Manhattan, nearly one million people lined the streets to cheer on the incredible runners!

As Team Inspired made their way around that final bend we gave them everything we had – screaming, cheering, flag-waving, high-fives, and just about any other act of support we could think of save for hopping over the barricade and running alongside them.  Later that evening we had a big celebration at a rooftop bar in Midtown Manhattan. Everyone arrived wearing their medals, absolutely beaming with pride.  They had done it.  They had completed one of the world’s greatest marathons and raised an incredible amount of money to support individuals, communities, and causes that are truly changing the lives of people around the world.  Could it get any better?”

“No…. It cannot!” Nadia (2011 NY Marathon finished; 4:10)

 

STAY UP LATE ON 4 NOVEMBER & CHEER THEM ON

If you want to experience the hype of the marathon from the comfort of your lounge room, look no further than Twitter. Search for the following hashtags to get the latest updates: #INGNewYorkMarathon #Marathon #INGNYCM #NYCM. Things will start to heat up around 10pm Sydney time (6am in New York) so the later you stay up, the more exciting things will get.

HOW TO CHEER ON TEAM INSPIRED: Include our Twitter handle (@InspiredAdvntrs) and we will re-tweet your messages of support out to the twitterverse. Our charity partners who are represented in this years’ marathon are:

• World Vision Australia -> @WorldVisionAUS
• Australian Cancer Research Foundation  -> @Cancer_Research
• Variety the Children’s Charity -> @VarietyAU
• ChildFund Australia -> @ChildFundAU
• Australia’s CEO Challenge -> @CEOChallenge

You can include tags like #running #inspiration, #NewYork #NYCMarathon or just do a search on Twitter and see what is trending.

Feeling Inspired?

• Run the New York Marathon in 2013 for Amnesty International Australia. Only 5 places remaining!!! More info.
• More about the ING New York City Marathon
• See the 2012 Course Route Map
• Running a Marathon: Creating Indelible Change
• Marathon Memories: Learning from Fundraising
• Memoirs of a Marathon: Paris
• Marathons: Team London 2012

Read more Marathon Trip Stories or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

By Nadia Killeen, Inspired Adventures team member and two-time marathon runner

This time last year I agreed to run in the ING New York City Marathon for Kids Helpline. I had never yearned to run a marathon, and it certainly wasn’t on my bucket list. But since joining the team at Inspired Adventures I have witnessed how taking on a challenge, pushing your boundaries and just saying ‘yes’ initiates change in people, communities and the world.

For the most part, the individuals that took up the challenge of the New York, Paris or London marathons with Inspired Adventures did so for others. They wanted to make a difference to others, to fund change overseas, to support cancer research in Australia, or to feed those that are starving. What they may not have anticipated is how the challenge has affected them personally, creating an indelible change within.

The initial changes are small and physical. Perhaps you’ll notice the weight loss, a new penchant for buying sporting goods or a renewed energy. In my case, I noticed the hunger. Alas the flatter stomach for me was replaced with a ravenous appetite. My colleague and fellow charity marathon runner summed my experience up perfectly when he purchased for me a headband that says – “I run therefore I EAT!” and eat you can when you’re clocking up 70km a week in training!

Nadia at the finish line in Paris

Who ever thought I would have the time to train for a marathon and fundraise $10,000? Who does?

Kate Offer, working mother of three most definitely didn’t have any spare time up her sleeve, but nonetheless took on the challenge of the ING New York Marathon in 2011. Kate not only pledged to run 42 km – a long way for someone who could previously not even run to the bus stop – but also took on the challenge of raising $10,000 for World Vision’s SEE Solutions program.

Kate raised a whopping $18,568.70. Her journey across the finish line is documented in her blog of the adventure – The New Walker

I’ve enjoyed so much about this year; writing this blog, making new friends, seeing New York, fundraising for SEE Solutions and taking on and completing something I honestly NEVER thought I would do – I’m going to miss 2011 but I’m looking forward to the next adventure, whatever that reveals itself to be.

Time was never really an issue for this legend who partied across the finish line in a most respectable and admirable 06:44:53.

Since Inspired Adventures began its marathon program in 2009, over 100 passionate and dedicated fundraisers have raised over $1,000,000 for various charities across Australia.

The funds we raised have saved lives, changed lives and for us runners we too are changed. Not just thinner, fitter or hungrier, we are ultimately changed forever. Crossing the finish line is emotional. It’s the end of a long, long journey, but it’s also the start of a new one, with the knowledge you can achieve the unachievable, anything at all!

Feeling inspired? You too can participate in a world-class marathon. Take on the 2012 ING New York City Marathon in support of one of our incredible charities and join a team of like-minded people across the country making big change. Are you prepared for the change that may follow? You just have to say YES.

The ING New York City Marathon 2011

Read more Marathon Trip Stories or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

More stories from our past participants of the ING New York City Marathon…

What have you learned from the fundraising experience?

“I’ve learned that people are generally kind and happy to support a worthy cause.”

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“People are still willing to lend a hand – you just have to be willing to ask.”

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“Heaps! Key things are persistence, talk to lots of people and then talk to lots more, and let your passion for the cause and the challenge shine through in everything you do!”

People will surprise and astound you, they want to hear what you are passionate about and your passion will inspire them to contribute in so many ways.

Make it easy for people to know what you are up to and why and to contribute both financially and in other ways.

Share your passion, share your successes and the things that challenge you or don’t work, let people be apart of your experience and just keep sharing!”

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Our Charity Challenges change lives. What have you learned from fundraising?

Join Inspired Adventures in New York this November and support these charities:

• ChildFund Australia
• WorldVision

Check back soon! More marathon memories coming…or you can register your interest now! Contact Nadia on 1300 905 188 Or click here to email us.

Read Marathon Trip Stories or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.