Another Inspirational Nutter!

Just when you think you have seen and heard all the stories about amazing people accomplsihing amazing things I just heard about this blind runner who completed the 2007 Everest Marathon and is now in a race to the South Pole.

Here is an excerpt from an article in the Belfast Times - I suppose being Irish explains at least some of it!

Mark Pollock (32), a member of Team South Pole Flag, is predicted to finish fourth this weekend in the historic 481-mile Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race.

The event is the first race to the South Pole for almost 100 years since the famous showdown between Robert Scott and Roald Amundsen in 1912.

Mr Pollock’s team mate Simon O’Donnell has described Mr Pollock’s progress in the race as “unbelievable and inspirational”.

The four teams taking part have faced temperatures of minus 40 degrees centigrade with wind chill as they traverse the largest ice cap in the world to the Geographic South Pole, pulling 70kg sleds behind them.

Mark went blind when he was 22 and studying at Trinity College, Dublin. He won a silver medal rowing for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth games, finished the 250km Gobi Desert ultramarathon and raced in the North Pole marathon. In 2007 he became the first blind person to complete the lowest and highest marathons in the world — the Dead Sea Ultra in Jordan, followed by the Tenzing-Hillary Everest marathon in Nepal.

Englishman Captain Scott reached the Pole on January 17 1912, only to find Norwegian rival Roald Amundsen had beaten him to it 35 days earlier.

Ninety-seven years later, history repeated itself, with Norwegian team Missing Link first to finish yesterday. Trailing 30 miles behind was British Team Qinetiq — including TV presenter Ben Fogle, and Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell.

Missing Link said they were “elated, emotional and extremely exhausted”. They covered 50km a day and snatched a few hours sleep every night.

Team Qinetiq is expected to finish second, followed by Team Danske Bank in third place, while Team Due South and Team South Pole Flag battle for fourth, arriving on Saturday or Sunday. Team Southern Lights, which is made up of the oldest adventurers, will reach the South Pole on skis.

Race updates are available on www.amundsenomega3southpolerace.com

Waiheke Wharf 2 Wharf "Fun Run"

Well after such an inspirational Kepler Challenge I made the fatal mistake of "taking some time out" over Christmas. That would have been fine if I took it easy but hmmm all those Christmas functions and all that geat food was too much temptaion for my weak mind and before I knew it I had put on a whopping 7KGs!

Thankfully over new years I got a couple of light jogs in so when I started training again in early January it wasn't too much of a shock to my system.

January the 17th was my next challenge - that being the Waiheke wharf to wharf fun run. Not a simple fun run as the website makes out! the first 10km are a killer with long steep hills and it was a sweltering hot day!

The Waiheke locals were out in force with so many drink stations in the second half of the race it felt like you hardly got time to put a cup down before there was another mad local in fancy dress thrusting one at you or pouring one over your head (including the maddest one of the lot - part time resident Peter Leitch aka the legendary mad butcher). 

There was a real festival atmosphere and although I felt incredibly unfit leading into it I was happy with my 2hrs 22mins almost running exact splits for the first and second halves of the run.

Spending the weekend over at Anna's family batch at Arran bay near Orapiu was a godsend. Not only is Arran Bay one of the most magical spots on the planet but to be able to spend mopre time on the island and enjoy what really has been up unitl the last 10years one of the most underated holiday destinations in the country (and only a 35min ferry ride from downtown Auckland). I will be needing to up my tempo with training now to work towards the Motatapu Icebreaker - full 42.2km off road trail marathon from Wanaka to Arrowtown going through some of the most spectacular scenery central Otago has to offer on March the 14th. to check out the website for this one click here.