Hello Friends,

Well CHALLENGE 7X7 is officially underway. Check out my fund raising pages:

SIDS and Kids QLD: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/mark_barrett_challenge_SK

Garvan Institute: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/mark_barrett_challenge_gi

We kicked things off last Sunday with the 50km run which involved x2 25km loops from Kurrawa down to Palm Beach and back. Familiar faces out on the course make these days even more special so it was great to have so many out there. Therese, Sam, Kristy, Jo, Adam, Ben and Jerome all did 25km and a special thank you to Ben who ran the 50km with me.

A 50km run is hard work at the best of times but I had to go into this one with very limited preparation so I really didn't know what to expect. Even at the 12km mark I was experiencing a fair bit of pain which I hoped was just due to the cold. As the temperature warmed things seemed to get a little easier. Otherwise the first 25km was great, it was a beautiful day, plenty of people enjoying the beach and particularly memorable were a group of yoga girls being photographed at the southern end of Miami Beach!

At around 35km the hills at Burleigh Heads really took their toll on me and I knew I was going to have to work hard to get home. From this point on all I remember seeing was the road in front of me. By the time I got back to North Burleigh with 6km to go I was feeling tradgic. I remember running up Hedges Ave feeling that I had to explain to on-lookers that I actually WASN'T trying to imitate a wounded orangutan, this was me just trying to get to the finish line.

Finally I spotted Kristy nursing a six pack of Corona, signifying that I had hit the finish line. Challenge 1 was complete and it was time to celebrate.

Thanks very much to the Gold Coast 100 organisers and volunteers, including the Miami crew of Marina, Allan and Amanda.

Thanks to Therese and all my friends (mentioned above) who got out there and had a crack on the day.
Thanks to everyone that helped us celebrate afterwards.

So after tomorrow's 160km Brisbane to Noosa ride it's ON ON to Challenge 2, the Gold Coast Marathon on 5th of July.

Oh and if you are looking for a little inspiration check out this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vrjp2P0GlE

Hello Friends,

CHALLENGE 7X7 starts this weekend with a 50km run starting at Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach at around 6am. This represents the beginning of a journey in which I will attempt to complete 7 (or 8) big events in 7 months (see schedule below). This is going to involve a significant amount of discomfort on my part but it is all in the name of raising money for some much needed work in our community. Perhaps I have bitten off more than I can chew but there's only one way to find out!

However, more than just raising money, I would like to use this opportunity to inspire people. Inspire people to get out there, be active, challenge themselves and achieve their dreams. I would also like to use the opportunity to bring people together, so after most of the events we will be having a bbq or some other celebration and would love to see you there at any or all of them.

The organisations I will be raising money for are Sids and Kids QLD and Garvan Institute , you can check out their websites and I have a brief spiel about them below. Over the next couple of days I will be setting up web pages where people can sponsor me by making a donation to either of these organisations. In the space of 7 months I am hoping we can raise some really solid amounts for them.

Check out my fund raising pages:

SIDS and Kids QLD: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/mark_barrett_challenge_SK

Garvan Institute: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/mark_barrett_challenge_gi

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Please help! If anyone is interested in helping out or becoming involved, I could use some assistance in the following areas:

• Equipment and Sports Nutrition - Any cycling or running clothes I can get would be greatly appreciated. I expect that I will be doing a number of media type events over the next 7 months so there is a bit of an advertising opportunity here. Any sports nutrition products (gels, bars, drink powders) would be also appreciated. I will be happy to give any sponsors a plug at every opportunity I get. So for any of you that are involved with or sponsored by these types of companies please forward this email on to them.
• Assistance - Anyone that wishes to become involved in organising CHALLENGE 7x7 is welcome. Having done this sort of thing a few times in the past, I can assure you that it is an awesome feeling that comes from reaching fundraising targets and helping people in need. So if you would like to be a part of this just let me know. It won't take up much of your time, with just a few of us doing little bits and pieces I think we can do something really special here. Who knows where that might lead in the future.
• Event Entry Fees - any of you that know any organisers of the events below please forward them this email with a good word Any discounts we can get on entry fees would also be greatly appreciated.
  

More on the organisations we will be raising funds and awareness for:

Sids and Kids QLD - SIDS and Kids is dedicated to saving babies' lives through the elimination of sudden and unexpected infant deaths, and supporting bereaved families. They deliver on their vision through world class education, research, evidenced based intervention and advocacy. SIDS and Kids has been funding research nationally since 1988. In this period millions of dollars has been devoted to researching the possible causes of unexplained infant death, SIDS and the methodology of prevention of SIDS. Projects have covered the broad scope of epidemiology, immunology, microbiology, neuroscience, sociology, histology, physiology and pathology. SIDS and Kids supports a wide range of research into mortality in infants (two years and under) who die suddenly and unexpectedly from stillbirth, neonatal death, sudden infant death and SIDS.

Garvan Institute - As far as I am concerned a cure for Parkinson's Disease can't come soon enough! Garvan is internationally recognised as a leader in gene-based medical research and is committed to delivering new insights into major diseases and novel ways to prevent and treat these disorders. Garvan's research topics fall under some broad groupings including: Cancer, Diabetes and Obesity, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, Osteoporosis, Arthritis and Asthma, Immune System Disorders and Pituitary Disorders. Check out this recent media release from Garvan: HARNESSING THE BRAIN'S OWN ABILITY FOR REPAIR

So this is the schedule beginning this weekend:

June 7	50km run (Gold Coast 100) http://www.goldcoast100.com/GC100/home.html On June 14 I will also tackle the Brisbane to Noosa (160km) bike ride. Just to get things kicked off in style.
July 5	Gold Coast Marathon 42.195km run http://www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au/
August 23	Brisbane Marathon 42.195km run http://www.intraining.com.au/default.asp?contentID=733
September 20	Sydney Marathon 42.195km run http://www.sydneyrunningfestival.com.au/
October 4	Calypso Bay Half Ironman 1.9km swim, 90km ride, 21.1km run http://www.usmevents.com.au/gchim/index.html
November 7&8	300km ride incorporating Rainbow Ride , a 160km ride from Byron Bay to Currumbin. On the Saturday we will ride from Southport Surf Club (Main Beach) down to Byron Bay. Then on the Sunday we will ride the 160km Rainbow Ride, stop at Currumbin for a few photos and a bite to eat, then continue on for another 40km and finish back at Southport Surf Club.
December 13	Kurrawa to Duranbah (and back) 50km run http://www.goldcoast100.com/K2D/home.html

What does Challenge 7x7 mean to me?

It's not until you take on something like Challenge 7x7 that you fully realise all the positives it brings to your life. For me there is just layer upon layer of magic that comes out of this whole process.
The feeling of helping organisations like SIDS and Kids and the Garvan Institute raise funds to enable them to do the good work they do is just bloody fantastic. I am particularly keen on supporting research into medical problems and right now I think I would just about take on any challenge if it meant finding a cure for Parkinson's disease.
An added bonus in this type of project is that putting myself in a situation where I have to push beyond my limits creates levels of excitement and satisfaction that are difficult to describe. The excitement surrounding the whole lead up to these big events makes me feel like a kid on holidays. As each each event approaches I develop a permanent smile, increasing waves of goose bumps and a feeling full of life. I am never going to win one of these things, for me it is more about being a part of it and having a crack at doing the best I can on the day. Then when it is over I get to enjoy and amazing feeling of satisfaction and pride which continues long after.
If you go down and watch on marathon day you will notice the atmosphere is fantastic. Thousands of people all felling pretty good about themselves. It's great just being amongst it.
Then we come to my bigger vision for these projects which is to inspire people to get out there, participate and get active. Just about every time I enter a marathon or some other event it usually prompts others in my life to enter also. I figure if I can inspire a few people to get out there and be active, and in turn they can inspire a few more, eventually we are going to wind up with a healthier and happier world.
Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic, according to the World Health Organisation. The burden of obesity related illness on health care systems worldwide is spiraling out of control. Obesity is associated with a rise in many health problems from respiratory and musculoskeletal problems, to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Not to mention the massive rise in Type 2 diabetes which up until the past few decades was only ever seen in the elderly and is now seen in obese children.
It's no secret that this obesity crisis is simply a function of society's radical and rapid change in lifestyle and nutritional habits. So the solution is equally simple; get out there, exercise more and eat a sensible diet. By doing so, studies also show that you greatly reduce the risk of developing depression. See, a healthier and happier world.
So for anyone who knows they should be getting out and active more, I challenge you to take on a challenge of your own. You will be doing yourself a big favor.

Challenge 7x7 Program

June 7 DONE!	50km run (Gold Coast 100) http://www.goldcoast100.com/GC100/home.html Read My Story
June 14 DONE!	I will also tackle the Brisbane to Noosa (160km) bike ride. Just to get things kicked off in style.
July 5 DONE!	Gold Coast Marathon 42.195km run http://www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au/ Read My Story
July 18 DONE!	Kokoda Challenge 96km bush foot-race. Read My Story
August 23 DONE!	Brisbane Marathon 42.195km run Read My Story http://www.intraining.com.au/default.asp?contentID=733
September 12 DONE!	First Sun Marathon - Byron Bay 42.2km run including long stretches of beach, Byron Lighthouse, and a couple of trips over Broken Head.
October 4 NEXT!	Calypso Bay Half Ironman 1.9km swim, 90km ride, 21.1km run http://www.usmevents.com.au/gchim/index.html
November 7&8	300km ride incorporating Rainbow Ride , a 160km ride from Byron Bay to Currumbin. On the Saturday we will ride from Southport Surf Club (Main Beach) down to Byron Bay. Then on the Sunday we will ride the 160km Rainbow Ride, stop at Currumbin for a few photos and a bite to eat, then continue on for another 40km and finish back at Southport Surf Club.
December 13	Kurrawa to Duranbah (and back) 50km run http://www.goldcoast100.com/K2D/home.html