Heat is a challenge in the first 24hours of record attempt

MEDIA RELEASE FROM NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST

For immediate use

Friday, December 19, 2013

For ‘Sleepless in Auckland’ world ultra-distance record attempt Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd December

Heat is a challenge in the first 24hours of record attempt

Members of Kim Allan’s support crew said yesterday’s weather created a special challenge during the world record attempt.  Kim’s bid to beat the women’s record for distance without sleep began at 6am on Thursday morning and 12 hours later she’d completed 168km.

“We expect her to be over the 3000 km point by 6am tomorrow,” said Mark Gray, a member of the support crew who is recording the times and monitoring Kim’s physical condition during the attempt.

Kim is aiming to reach her target of 500kms, the equivalent of 12 consecutive marathons, sometime on Sunday 22nd.

“The heat has been a challenge,” said Mark.  “She has a cap for her head soaked in ice, and we’ve been changing that every couple of laps.  We’ve also been making sure she has plenty of fluids.” 

Claire Donachie, Kim’s friend who was thrown from a horse last year and now uses a wheelchair, is due to join support crew tomorrow.  Claire is one of the people who motivated Kim to make the NZ Spinal Trust the beneficiary charity of the record attempt.

Kim was once a professional jockey and suffered a severe leg break which indirectly lead to her taking up ultra-distance running as part of her own rehabilitation.

Kim is inviting people to join her in the Domain over the next few days.  And for those who can’t be there, people are encouraged to ‘Run with Kim’ along their own street, or on a treadmill at their local gym, or while taking their dog through the park and direct people to Kim’s Facebook and fundraising pages. 

People 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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