48hrs and Jeffs "Acheivable" target has been reached!!!!!!

I cant believe it.... the start has come and you have already blown away the achievable target of $500.00 ....... in 48 hours the generosity of supporting a cause has seen us meet and exceed all expectations I had for Starlight, truly remarkable ...... for the growing "Foundation Crew" while I know its all about the charity, but I wont let you down, even if I have to crawl over that line I will make it over the line, with the same persistent determination of years gone past!!!!

And all for the Starlight Foundation, I'm trying to get along and visit one of the hospitals in the coming weeks that has the Starlight room to see all the great work that's being done, watch this space for some of the stories ill find out.

I just got in from running 14km, and yes my physio guy told me to do 7km so I do 14km its about pushing the limits and knowing your own body and capabilities I seriously need to get the miles clicking over rapidly.

Today also comes as a timely reminder that we must embrace and live every day that we are given, a dear friend was in a car accident and lost her husband while on route to see her son returning from national service abroad, there is no reason why these tragedies happen to good, decent and hard working families - my heart, thoughts and prayers go out to her and the family.

With this thought I will continue to live every day to the fullest, think bigger and chase my dreams, and appreciate all those around me even more.

Jeff

42km Fundraising for the Starlight Foundation........

Hi Everyone,

Im thrilled to announce that with the help of a good friend, I have decided to support the Starlight Foundation, on my quest to run a full marathon on October 25th, in Washington DC

This personal chellenge is what I once considered impossible, and would not have even tried or attempted, So I do hope that out of the Target I have set $4,200 we can get at least get to $500 for this charity, the full $4,200 is in what I consider the impossible range.

However, as Dane Rauschenberg has said "Many things in life I cannot do, trying is not one of them!" so lets try, just as I will be on 25th October 2009.

Since 1988, Starlight has brightened the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children, and their families. Living with illness or injury can cause enormous strain in the lives of children and their families. Starlight delivers innovative programs designed to make children happy and lift their spirits when they need it most. Starlight brings fun and laughter to children no matter what their illness or where they live, some examples of how the donations can help.

$50 will help to keep Captain Starlight in your local children’s hospital for one hour bringing fun, laughter and support to 29 children.

$100 will mean the Starlight Express Room can open for an extra 2 hours providing positive distraction for 58 children.

$200 will provide the family of a seriously ill child a desperately needed break from the pressures of serious illness by offering them a Starlight Escape together for a day at the zoo, a sporting event or show.

$500 will allow the Starlight Express Van to be out on the road for a day visiting the pediatric wards in local hospitals.

$6,000 will fund a Starlight Wish, the “once in a lifetime” dream for a child living with serious illness of disability.

I do hope that you are able to donate to this worthy cause, I have set up a donation web site, which you can donate directly to the charity via gofundraise:

http://www.gofundraise.com.au/washingtonmarathonjeff

No matter what the size, your support is greatly appreciated, and your emails, phone calls, while I prepare and run this incredible challenge.

Lets hope I can make the finish line, I will definently be trying.

Keeping on running, if it is to be, its up to me.

Cheers
Jeff

First Ever Full Marathon 25th October 2009

I have just secured an entry to the sold out Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC, this the first ever full marathon 42km I will take on or 26.2 miles, this is going to be an awesome event, seeing many of the sights along the way, including passing the pentagon, capital hill and many historic monuments and landmarks known world over.....

I have now realised I have a heck of a lot of work to do in around two months, Ive got that last 6/7 kilos of weight to slice off my body, lots of strength to build and endurance to condition my body, and run around 30km per week for the next month, for what I consider will be one of the defining moments in my life.

I think i will be able to get to 30km, but the rest is going to be pure pain, luck and dogged determination and persistence.

So this weekend See's the opportunity to take on yet another half marathon, but at this stage I have decided to give my body a rest after taking on a number of weeks on the rampage to my quest to rack up just as many kilometers on the run as I normally rack up with Qantas Airlines in a year, nah that really is impossible :) even though I've been a little lite of recent times.

This week the hard work begins, eating better, training harder and working on that path to meet this goal I have set myself.

If anyone wants to join me in Washington ill head out on the 22nd Oct. and return the following week email me for the details!

When will the body crash?

Cheers

Jeff

Race 5: Sandy Point Half Marathon, Melbourne Australia

This week seen me take on a challenge that was going to be one of the hardest I have taken on for some time, possibly since the first one at Gold Coast.

On Friday Steve said I was "Hard Work today" but than said but he "loves the challenge - bring it on" hmmmm I think he was right!.

I must have been bloody hard work on Friday, if what I dished up to myself today was anything to go by, I wore myself out too.... quiet possibly having to dig deep just to finish and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Today I learnt that the mind is a powerful thing and that having it in the right "shape" gets you the best results, its not just about one minute or one event, it needs to be consistent and we must not allow one self to become complacent - and it's simple I just need to look at the last week, see what, who and when made me not perform at my best and adjust! everything is within your control.

My time this week has come in not fantastic as to be expected, certainly wasn't breaking any PB's today but the conditions were not the greatest on the course between beach side suburbs of Sandringham and Brighton, the wind was something to be dealt with, the water stations were ill prepared only getting water at the 5km point and 10 km point all others prior were just not ready for the runners and ran out of water and packed up after the 10km point, and I don't think the Kilometer markers were in the right spots, certainly not one ill be lining up to do again due to the conditions and event management.

I found that I was surviving on a couple of key quotes today, and especially at the 15 kilometer mark when I stopped for about 10 seconds:

1. Many Things in life I cannot do, trying is not one of them

2. Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, just never give up!

3. If it is to be its up to me!

So for making the finish this week, the finish line donation goes to Beyond Blue again, www.beyondblue .org.au

Cheers
Jeff

Lets give the Marathon Challenge a purpose!!!!!!!

Hi well ill keep this one short, for many months my life has seen a shift in the way I live and things I value most in life.

Most of all I have seen that there are many people in life that are much less fortunate, and there is a lot I can do as an individual, a lot people can do as a group and community to bridge this gap.

While one of my Key passions in life is travelling, exploring new places and trying new things, I like to combine this with running and helping a worthy cause out.

In the comming months as this adventure speeds up, I hope to look at raiseing a few bucks for charity - im going to select causes that have touched my life and people I know of and whos work will continue to benefit many in need.

I hope that I can come up with some creative ways, in which we can all have some great experiences and most of all fun!

Watch this space for the details as I get myself moving to get this up and running!

Cheers
Jeff

Race 4: Sydney City to Surf.... only 14klms...... Australia

The Sun Herald City to Surf is one of the biggest fun runs in the world, and almost guaranteed to be the most Chaotic! a bunch of really fun people to stand around waiting for the start.

This year being my first, I left my run a little late to register so I was in the back of the pack or aka the party crew :)

I lined up next to Dorthy the dinosaur, and Disney's tiger - wait behind me is Wonder Woman and passing bye are two gorilla's - where have I landed, the two blokes across stepped right off a building site and there candid humor had me in stitches while we waited poking fun of everyone and anything nothing off limits - too much for print!

Off went groups one through a billion finally as we started to move the announcement that the first finisher had crossed the line in about 40 Min's, we are yet to start.

Down Williams street up through kings cross, once through the route really was spectacular, but in hind site don't try and set any records from back of the pack, running the gauntlet is not an easy task.

One spot you can see the harbour bridge and opera house, the crowds are amazing, and heck don't even try your iPod, the pitter patter of 70,000 feet sounds like a heard of elephants on a stampede in Africa, no truly a great experience.

Even better when you head down to Bondi Beach, pick up your medal and take a stroll along the beach.

I found it funny when the guy at the noodle bar i stopped at in Bondi Junction asked me if I won since I was wearing a medal hahahah I can only wish....... still dont know if he was taking the you know what out of me :-)

Another woman stopped and chatted for a bit, I think running really can open the conversation and bring people from all walks of life to connect who other wise wouldn't have.

In any case the rampage continues on Jeff's running adventure.

I think i did this one in about 70 Min's so that's at least $100 bucks for another charity, the official results come out Wednesday so I'll hold of till than on nominating who gets it this time round!

Cheers
Jeff

Keeping on running.......

Race 3: Noosa Half Marathon Australia

Noosa was a re-bound race from San Francisco, but all the same less than 3 days after arriving back home, I was on a plane again travelling north to Queensland, Late Friday night ..... a rushed one, last minuite hotel bookings, flights rental cars...... BUT I got there.

I paused on the way thinking what the heck am I doing, than I realised I was chasing the 1hr 30min time I seek.......

For this challenge I decided to support a worthy cause, read more about this in the Blog on Giving the marathon challenge a purpose......

So for every 5 mins i knocked off the time, $100 went to a charity, so now im not letting myself down but some one else.

All said and done, I got up at the early morning all primed for a nice fun 21 kilometer jog, and gave it a good crack to 1hr 30m but ended up with a 1hr 38m 55s I say I was still tired from the week before.

This town was a great spot, relaxing chilled and nice people, the race had less than a 1000 participants so a good field, the weird things about this was it was 2 laps of exactly the same course, so I got to the end and had to do it all over again - talk about messing with ya mind!

I was pretty tired at the end!

The weekend really was an opportunity to relax in Noosa - BUT I did manage to knock a good 7min 34sec off my San Francisco time less than a week ago, than I realised, this week I have travelled almost 28,962 kilometers to make this happen, lost two nights sleep in Transit, and bounced back with enthusiam and passion to Noosa!

Overall $200 went to Beyond Blue - the national depression initiative which is doing some great work, if you have time check out the POD cast by Jeff Kenett and Nathan Thompson as they speak of personal experience and the importance of raising the awareness of depression for youth and people from all walks of life.. we can all do something to support, educate or help people against this debilitating illness.

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=59.1173

I say bring on the next half marathon challenge!

Jeff