The Pink Lads Challenge

Final Day of run into the SCG

2010-01-05T19:26:00.000-08:00

Jane McGrath Day - PINK DAY at the SCG

This morning we met the opposition leader Tony Abbott in Lane Cove as he joined us for the final 16km of the journey. We ran together as a team through Crows Nest, Nth Sydney over the Harbour Bridge and into the Opera House we stopped briefly for interviews with some media. The final few km's to the SCG was savoured by all the lads. Incredible as we reflected on the trip that was started a week ago in Melbourne.

Arriving at the SCG we were met by Glenn Mcgrath and the team from the foundation, after a small rest we made our way into the SCG for a final lap of the ground with a everyone dressed in pink we felt very much at home.

Thank you to all that have donated towards the foundation, every little bit helps fund Breast care nurses that help women dealing with Breast Cancer.

Aghhhhhhh finished - I can sleep longer than 40min now

Arrival into Cronulla

2010-01-03T14:06:00.000-08:00

Having run well over 1000km each runner doing over a marathon distance each day with limited to no sleep betwen 10km sessions it has been a test of endurance and commitment for all involved.

The runners were met by many locals along the road who enjoyed a cool morning run through the streets of south western sydney.
Last few bridges and hills Waranora Bridge and Alfords Point gave a welcome return to Sydney.

Met by our friends from the Miranda and Cronulla Fire Stations who provided an escort down the Kingsway into Cronulla.

It rained on the way in so it was a wet arrival.

The afternoon was spent fundraising and later hitting the pubs and clubs, and invited to John Veague's 50th party at the Brass Monkey where Richard Clapton was performing.

thanks for all the donations, keep them coming in we have had some great responses filling up our donation buckets along the way and also online donations.

donate online at www.gofundraise.com.au/pinklads

big thank you to out sponsors, family and friends for all your support and help over the last week.

7men in a van!!!!!

2010-01-02T11:09:00.000-08:00

yep - no showers, no clean clothes, no where to stretch out. these are the added aspects of the run allong with the 40+ km being done each day by each runner.

We have all maintained a good average pace of under 60min for 10km.

We have arrived into the Sydney Suburbs early this morning and have been met by the leader paper for a photo. The rest of the trip will take us into Cronulla for a welcome from family and friends.

update to schedule!!!!

2010-01-01T22:16:00.000-08:00

1/1 2am leave Wagga and run to Gundagai at 10am 1/1 a distance of 80 klms
1/1 10am leave Gundagai and run to Yass at 8pm a distance of 100klms
1/1 8pm leave Yass and run to Canberra at 2am
2/1 a distance of 60 klms
2/1 2am leave Canberra and run to Goulburn at 12md a distance of 100 klms
2/1 12md leave Goulburn and run to Mittagong at 8pm a distance of 80klms
2/1 8pm leave Mittagong and run to Campbelltown at 2am a distance of 60klms
3/1 2am leave Campbelltown and run to Cronulla at 10am a distance of 60klms

3/1 10am Remain in Cronulla and complete 10km loops in and around the cronulla forshore and repeat till 12noon mon 4/1

4/1
12 noon Leave Cronulla to Kurnel monument,
2pm Run to Taren point, around Botany Bay to Eastern Suburbs via Laperouse
6pm Run through Maroubra along the Eastern Beaches across to bondi around South Head into Darlinghurst to Fishmarkets over the Anzac Bridge to Victoria Road over Gladesville Bridge to Hunters Hill to Lane Cove finishing up at Lane Cove River Park as the turnaround point.

5/1 8 am leave Lane Cove joined by Mr Tony Abbot to Sydney Cricket Ground via Harbour Bridge.

YASS to Goulbourn

2010-01-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

After gundegai the lads kept a good pace to yass. Met by the local fire brigade and police at the truck stop. With over half way completed, the remaider of the trip is looking easy. As long as the weather stays cooler.
Some new nicknames coming out , backpack, Roy ,elk, Hollywood, Keyman, speilberg,Spruker, Deisel.

All fun and games but lots of people donating and hope to get more donations along the way!!!!!

more photos of the Challenge

2009-12-31T22:28:00.000-08:00

Glenrowan to Wagga

2009-12-30T21:44:00.001-08:00

Run through the night was almost a non starter as we stopped in Albury for refueling and some one left the key of the van on the support vehicle as it drove off not realising this has now been known as the Key Moment of the challenge.... we found the key and the journey continued - running through the night proved to be much cooler and enjoyable apart from the total lack of sleep.

All the lads are in good spirits and bodies are holding up to the punishment of the km's covered and lack of sleep and cramped quarters.

Into Wagga and meet by local TV, radio and paper, on to Barbeques Galore for a wonderful reception and great BBQ.

Now enjoying the final hours in 2009 doing laps of town

MCG to glenrowan

2009-12-29T15:18:00.000-08:00

MCG The start all the lads at the ground early preping the van and final adjustments with gear, Then into the ground via the underground tunnels - A great buzz in the ground as Watson is on 98 just before lunch. On the big screen Glenn in iterviewd and we make aour way as a team around the MCG in high spirits for the start. Glenn kicked off the first section of running and ran thru to Sydney rd. The running order was drawn with sticks, Mal is 2nd, Jeff is next, Harald, Trent then Lee. The first night now complete all now have had very little sleep and adjusting to the cramped living environment of the van.

Itinerary

2009-12-27T06:18:00.000-08:00

Pink Lads running itinerary
28/12 Leave 17 Crusade Place at 6pm and travel in vehicles to Melbourne to arrive in the morning of 29/12
29/12 at 12pm leave MCG run to Albury via the city of Melbourne on Sydney road until it reaches the Hume Hwy
30/12 Arrive 9pm in Albury a distance of 290klms
30/12 at 9pm leave Albury run to Wagga via junction at Sturt Hwy and
31/1 arrive in Wagga at 2pm a distance of 170klms
We then stay in Wagga completing 10klm loops of the town during New Years Eve and then leave Wagga at 2am 1/1 a distance of 120klms
1/1 2am leave Wagga and run to Gundagai at 10am 1/1 a distance of 80 klms
1/1 10am leave Gundagai and run to Yass at 8pm a distance of 100klms
1/1 8pm leave Yass and run to Canberra at 2am 3/1 a distance of 60 klms
3/1 2am leave Canberra and run to Goulburn at 12md a distance of 100 klms
3/1 12md leave Goulburn and run to Mittagong at 8pm a distance of 80klms
3/1 8pm leave Mittagong and run to Campbelltown at 2am 4/1 a distance of 60klms
4/1 2am leave Campbelltown and run to Cronulla at 8am a distance of 60klms
4/1 8am leave Cronulla and run to Kurnell monument and back to Cronulla Sharks at 10am a distance of 20 klms
4/1 10am Leave Sharks and run to Fairford rd(M5) at 4pm a distance of 60 klms
4/1 4pm Leave Fairford road (M5) and run via M7 and M4 Junt at 8pm a distance of 40 klms
4/1 8pm Leave M4 Junct and run to Linden in the Blue Mountains at 12am 5/1 a distance of 45 klms
5/1 12am Leave Linden and run back to M4 junct at 4am a distance of 45 klms
5/1 4am Leave M4 Junct and run M7 to end of M2 Juct at 9am a distance of 40 klms
5/1 9am Leave M2 Junct (Lane Cove) end run to Harbour Bridge at 10am a distance of 10 klms
5/1 10am Leave Harbour Bridge and run via city, Opera House, Botanical Gardens to SCG at 11am a distance of 10 klms and then we have to run around the outside for an hour or there abouts until we are called to run into the stadium at 12pm.

Pinklads Challenge Mel - Syd - Google Maps

2009-12-23T23:21:00.000-08:00

Pinklads Challenge Mel - Syd - Google Maps

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flyer

2009-12-14T19:52:00.000-08:00

Confirmed runners

2009-12-06T15:34:00.001-08:00

The confirmed runners are;
Glenn Stanley - Gorick – former Professional Triathlete, sportsman and McGrath Foundation Fundraiser
Mal Butterfield – Former National Surf Malibu board champion
Trent Elkin – Head Trainer for the Sharks Rugby League Team and accomplished endurance athlete
Harald Ulriksen – Well known charitable event participant “Walk A to B” and sportsman
Lee Moriceau - Cronulla Tri Club Run Captain and accomplished triathlete
Trent Wood – Former National Running Champion
Jeff Lay – Triathlete and Station Officer - Fireman.
Richard Fogerty – Accredited National Distance runner

Supporters of note;
Glenn McGrath AM – Former International Cricket Star and Chairman of the McGrath Foundation
The HON Scott Morrison Federal Liberal Member for Cook
Daniel Macpherson - Actor and Triathlete
Craig Alexander – World Ironman Triathlon Champion and Sports Performer of the 2009.
Brad Bevan – former Professional Triathlete
Bill Harrigan OAM NRL Referee
Tony Archer Professional NRL Referee

Launch - Thursday 3rd Dec

2009-12-01T15:55:00.000-08:00

The Pinklads run from Melbourne to Sydney Launch will be held at 5pm this Thursday 3/12/09 at Southside Runners Shop corner Croydon St and the Kingsway Cronulla.

This will be a chance to meet the pinklads, checkout the new store and chat about the task ahead .... running over 1000km .

more details on each runner will be posted soon along with photos and videos.

We are proud to be supporting the McGrath Foundation and the opportunity to raise awareness and raise funds to support women with Breast Cancer.

Donations can be made directly to BSB 802330 Account 10027581

Getting ready for the challenge

2009-11-26T19:08:00.000-08:00

Just met with Glenn and he is buzzing - getting things ready for the challenge next month.

The “Pink Lads” challenge
29/12/09 to 3/1/10

An extreme physical and mental test will occur in a continuous running team from the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) over the New Year period. The runners will be confined to live on a mini bus with no facilities except for a seat for a period of four days while they run from the MCG to the SCG to promote the awareness of Breast Cancer in Women on behalf of the McGrath Foundation. The runners are well known sportsmen from various sporting backgrounds and will have to use every single lesson they have learned during their sporting careers to survive the mental and physical test of sleep depravation, no comfortable facilities for eating, sleeping and showering, at the same time being able to continuously back up and run ten klms every seven hours over four days in varying climatic conditions. The challenge is a true test of “sporting ability, prowess and mental toughness” with the intention to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation nurses. An added factor is that the runners will be on the bus over the New Year celebratory period further testing their mental strengths away from their regular “comfort zones”. The only exception to leave the bus will be to run or for a nature stop! Should a runner decide to withdraw from the challenge he will then place added responsibilities on the other runners to cover the additional running klms. Big Brother on a bus, here we come!

The planned challenge is over 1000klms and commences at the tea break on the fourth day of the Boxing day test at the MCG which will start with a single group lap of the oval and then exit out onto the route towards Sydney via the Hume Highway, M5,M7,M2, Harbour Bridge and then Anzac Parade with the runners taking turns of ten klms each continuously until they reach the Sydney Cricket Ground on Day three, Jane McGrath Day, around lunch time to complete a single group lap to complete the run. The team will then assist with fund raising activities for the McGrath Foundation during the afternoon session of the test.

The running uniform will be a pink shirt embossed with the McGrath Foundation Logo and the words “Stop and Donate” as depicted in the photos below. Runners and support members will have pink donation buckets and bottles and will be collecting funds along the course.

The proposed, but yet to be confirmed runners are;
Glenn Stanley - Gorick – former Professional Triathlete, sportsman and McGrath Foundation Fundraiser
Tony Archer – NRL Professional Referee and sportsman
Mal Butterfield – former National Surf champion
Trent Elkin – Head Trainer for the Sharks Rugby League Team and accomplished athlete
Klinton Hoare - Head trainer for the NRL Referees and accomplished athlete
Harald Ulriksen – Well known charitable event participant “Walk A to B” and sportsman
Andrew Lloyd – Former Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist and Olympian and sportsman
Wayne Larden – Former Professional athlete and Event Director of the Blackmore’s running festival
Andrew Royan – retired Police Prosecutor and sportsman
Scott Wiliams – personal trainer
Lee Moricaeu – Cronulla Tri Club Run Captain
Trent Wood – Former National Running Champion
Jeff Lay – Triathlete and Fireman.

Supporters of note;
Glenn McGRATH AM – Former International Cricket Star and Chairman of the McGRath Foundation
Daniel Macpherson - Actor and Triathlete
Craig Alexander – World Ironman Triathlon Champion
Brad Bevan – former Professional Triathlete
A number of NRL Refs and players

Sponsors to date;

AVIS HURSTVILLE

GU Energy Gels

Southside Runners Shop

REECE Printing

The support vehicles consist of a 12 seat mini bus and vehicle which will have available space for the display of sponsors of the challenge.
At present sponsors are being sourced with GU Energy Gels and supplements on board.

We hope to have a daily radio broadcast will be conducted via 2GB who have previously been wonderful supporters of the McGrath Foundation and its charitable working parties.

An expression of interest has also come from a main stream TV program who has indicated the potential to place a camera on the run, filming the events as they progress within and outside of the bus.

All enquiries for the challenge via stan1@ozemail.com.au or Ph 0419 333 336.

Donations can be made directly to BSB 802330 Account 10027581