MEDIA RELEASE

15 November 2013

CanTeen sets marathon pace with quirky training

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CanTeen Golden Charity runner Peter Hoskyn with CanTeen Community Relations Manager and team cheerleader Ana Cunliffe

Completing a marathon takes more than just a few light training runs; it requires months of hard work, the right conditioning programme and plenty of… high wire training?

Negotiating obstacles metres off the ground was just part of a rigorous and slightly quirky training regime for 10 gutsy Golden Charity runners and six community team runners who participated in last week’s adidas Auckland Marathon on behalf of CanTeen.

The charity team, a diverse mix of experienced and novice runners, put in countless hours of training and fundraising for the event, raising nearly $25,000 for CanTeen.

As well as taking to the high wires with CanTeen supporters the High Wire Charitable Trust, the team of intrepid runners prepared for New Zealand’s premier marathon by powering through fire service cross-fit training and taking on cardio and strength sessions, thanks to partners the Auckland Fire Service Blue Watch and Les Mills.

CanTeen Golden Charity runner Peter Hoskyn, 38, says the training was just the ticket ahead of his first marathon.

“The sessions were great motivators along the way and really helped the whole group get into the right head space. The personal training gave people the proper exercises to prepare the body, the high wire training provided the mental challenge and the fire service training, well, that was just hard yakka!”

The training also built real camaraderie within the group, says Peter.

“Running a marathon is usually a personal challenge and it’s easy to slack off a bit if you don’t feel up to it, but spending time with the other runners gave the group a renewed sense of purpose. You hear everyone’s stories and their motivators – it really drives you to give it your all.”

“We’d see each other out on the course and give each other high fives as we ran past, knowing that we were all there for the same great cause.”

CanTeen National Marketing Manager Debbie Thomson says it was a heart-warming experience to see the commitment of the team in the lead up to the event.

“To have put so much of their time and energy into preparing for a marathon yet still have the drive to raise funds to help support young New Zealanders living with cancer is testament to the special group of people we had the pleasure of working with,” says Ms Thomson.

“Each of them set lofty goals, many taking on their first marathon, and they should all feel very proud of what they have achieved.”

Supporting the team around the course were dozens of CanTeen cheerleaders, providing refreshments and motivation along the way, while much needed rub downs were provided after the event courtesy of Why Be Stressed mobile massage.

To make sure they reached the finish line in style, international running and yoga apparel company lululemon athletica also came to the party, kitting out the CanTeen team in the latest running gear.

So with all that preparation, does Peter plan to do it all over again next year?

“I’m definitely considering doing it again – it’s amazing how quickly painful memories fade!”

CanTeen is already looking forward to next year’s event. If you are interested in being part of the CanTeen Golden Charity team in 2014, please contact marketing@canteen.org.nz

ENDS

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