Kim Allan “ready as I can be” for 500km world record attempt

MEDIA RELEASE FROM NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST

For immediate use

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Runners from anywhere in NZ wanted to support the ‘Sleepless in Auckland’ world ultra-distance record attempt starting at 6am on Thursday 19th December

Kim Allan “ready as I can be” for 500km world record attempt

On Thursday 19th December most Aucklanders will have “six more sleeps” until Christmas.  But not Kim Allan.  Between Thursday and Sunday Kim will have no sleep at all and, if all her hard work and training pay off, she’ll run 500 kilometres and exceed the women's World Record for distance run without sleep.

Kim starts her “Sleepless in Auckland” ultra-distance run in the Domain on Thursday morning at 6am.

“I'm as ready as I can be'” said the 47 year-old Tuakau mother of four.

She expects the 500km distance, over 332 times around the Sri Chimnoy circuit, starting and finishing at the Domain grandstand, will take about 85 hours.

As part of her preparation earlier this month, Kim ran as a support runner in the annual Australian “Coast toKoscusko” run, a distance of 240 kms. She was supporting fellow Kiwi ultra-distance runner Tracy Benjamin, who completed the race in 37 hours 11 minutes.

“I did a couple of three and four hour stints, and along with the two other support crew members, we joined Tracy for the hike up to Kosciuszko summit itself and back.  This took about five hours," said Kim.

Kim's run will raise funds for the New Zealand Spinal Trust, a registered charity which supports Kiwis with spinal cord impairments (from accident or illness) to get back on track and living life to the full.

The women's record is presently held by U.S Runner Pam Reed who ran 486 km in 2005 in just over 80 hours.

Runners invited
Kim is inviting runners to run with her during her 80-plus hours – in the Domain or wherever they are in NZ - and at the same time raise funds for the NZ Spinal Trust.

Runners can join Team ‘Run with Kim’ at: https://give.everydayhero.com/nz/team-sleepless-in-auckland

People can sign up, support or donate at: https://give.everydayhero.com/nz/sleepless-in-auckland-world-record-attempt-1

Follow Kim’s story on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ultrarunner.nz

ENDS

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