Powerade Never Give Up 2009

RacoonQueen

Dunno if there's been a thread on this already but this may interest many on here.

http://www.nevergiveup.ie/2009/

Though, I hope none of you win as I wanna do it.

earlyevening

I would totally love to give it a go. I stuck my name down a few weeks ago. I figure its totally up my street, although it would probably interest every regular poster here.
May the best man/woman win...

Odysseus

Cheers for that Mp I signed up myself might as well try get something free for once.

SUNGOD

im fairly sure it has to be your first marathon but i cant seem to find it on website

Krusty_Clown

Powerade wrote:

Persons who have completed a full Marathon running race prior to October 1st 2008 will be ineligible.

So, if Dublin City Marathon was your first, then you're OK (but will probably be ruled out anyway ).. T&Cs here.

christeb

I signed up, the opnly decent photo I have running is one with me marginally ahead ogf 2 60 year old chaps!
*pick me, pick me, pick me*

earlyevening

Never read those terms and conditions. That marathon rule puts me (and a lot of you?) out.

plodder

Looks like an interesting event. There's a number of different races, including

1. An ultra with 2300m ascent and desc.
2. A marathon with 1890m ascent and 1790m descent
3. A marathon with 470m ascent and 1000m descent.

I imagine it has to be the third one. The other two would be way beyond any novice's capability.

Stupid_Private

plodder wrote: »

Looks like an interesting event. There's a number of different races, including

1. An ultra with 2300m ascent and desc.
2. A marathon with 1890m ascent and 1790m descent
3. A marathon with 470m ascent and 1000m descent.

I imagine it has to be the third one. The other two would be way beyond any novice's capability.

Having taken part in a 15 mile race in France with a 400m plus ascent/descent and treated it as a training run (granted my legs felt like they were recovering from a marathon afterwards) I'd suggest that the the third option wouldn't be that much of a challenge to have a campaign based around it. The race I took part in wasn't at altitude though (600m to 1000m) .

plodder

Stupid_Private wrote: »

Having taken part in a 15 mile race in France with a 400m plus ascent/descent and treated it as a training run (granted my legs felt like they were recovering from a marathon afterwards) I'd suggest that the the third option wouldn't be that much of a challenge to have a campaign based around it. The race I took part in wasn't at altitude though (600m to 1000m) .

I agree, though it depends on the exact profile, as to how steep each section is. It could be a very pleasant jaunt through the mountains if the downhills aren't too steep.

But the second option would be mad for a first time marathoner in my opinion. Nearly 2000m ascent. That's roughly twice the height of any mountain in Ireland. :eek:

It depends on the type of people they are looking for though.

aburke

powerade wrote:

Persons who have completed a full Marathon running race prior to October 1st 2008 will be ineligible.

Oops. Entered already, butI should have read the small print!

shels4ever

aburke wrote: »

Oops. Entered already, butI should have read the small print!

snap my one marathon 10 years ago rules me out.

gaf1983

I didn't see that rule about previous marathon runners being ineligible either.

This is their latest update on their Facebook page:

Powerade
1,000 ADVENTURERS GOING FOR POWERADE ALPINE GOLD
Today at 10:44
Hi All

Thanks for becoming a fan of the Powerade Never Give Up Alpine Marathon Challenge!

With one week to go before entries close, close to 1,000 adventurers from across Ireland have already applied to be part of the three-strong Powerade team that will run in a Swiss Alpine Marathon.

We have so far got runners, footballers, couch potatoes, people who have overcome cancer, people who have been All Ireland scouting champions, amateur boxing champions, and people who admit to never having achieved anything of note. It is an electric mix.

Once entries close, a long list of 40 entrants from all over Ireland will then be judged by an expert panel. From this, a final shortlist of ten will be invited to undertake fitness and psychological tests to ensure they have a sufficient base level of fitness to start training. Entries will still be accepted up until Midnight on Monday December 8th at www.nevergiveup.ie.

The Powerade Team

RacoonQueen

Awww...thats not fair.

Just as well someone on here reads the terms and conditions on websites eh?

Krusty_Clown

mp1972 wrote: »

Just as well someone on here reads the terms and conditions on websites eh?

I do have a life outisde of running and this forum, honest!
I only checked after SUNGOD's comments! I registered for the competition a couple of weeks ago.

TheRoadRunner

Does anybody else think it is kind of stupid that you are ineligible if you have ran a marathon before ?

The last campaign followed a GAA team. Were they all football novices ? I very much doubt it

RacoonQueen

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Does anybody else think it is kind of stupid that you are ineligible if you have ran a marathon before ?

The last campaign followed a GAA team. Were they all football novices ? I very much doubt it

Bit unfair given some peoples marathons may have been 10, 20 years ago etc...

They may change that rule depending on what the application form says I guess.

911sc

If you can not enter the Powerade Challenge for whatever reason, and are really looking for a challenge, have a loot at the Mont-Blanc marathon.
Last year winner took 3h52 to complete the course!!

Alicano

Only read some of the t&c's but had a nasty feeling they were looking for beginners!.damn it!!
Cant they just take all 1000 of us!?
In all seriousness no amount of experience guarantees you finish your next marathon.each one has to be treated,respected and trained for like its your first..I've done an ultra and a triple marathon(3 in 3 consec days) this year and would still consider this marathon,a 10k,half or anything else a challenge.
Im sure they'l pick the right people though and best wishes to them.

plodder

911sc wrote: »

If you can not enter the Powerade Challenge for whatever reason, and are really looking for a challenge, have a loot at the Mont-Blanc marathon.
Last year winner took 3h52 to complete the course!!

:eek:

pgibbo

Put my name in the hat for the Powerade Challenge..... It would be a great first marathon. Fingers crossed for myself and the others on here that entered.

NeverGiveUp

Sorry to disappoint those who are experienced marathon runners but the Powerade ‘Never Give Up’ campaign has always been about helping ‘ordinary’ athletes to do extraordinary things. In 2007, Will Cullen was a 22 year old bank official at Ulster Bank who could not swim. Six months later he completed the Irish national Triathlon in less than three hours. In 2008 the Munterconnaught GAA team were not novices, but they were far from elite and while their challenge ultimately proved a step too far, they have shown the spirit we would all like to have by going after their championship again in 2009.

For the 2009 Alpine Marathon Challenge, there is no certainty that our team will make it to the start line in the Alps, never mind the finish, but if they have the right attitude, we can help them to achieve something special. Most in this forum will have found that spark before and if you end up running in the Alps next summer and see someone swigging from a Powerade bottle but struggling, you might give them a word of encouragement. Who knows you might make it into the TV ad anyway, albeit as a good samaritan.

The Powerade Team

www.nevergiveup.ie

shels4ever

Thats a very good point , best of luck to anyone who does make it. Its really a big deal going from never doing a marathon to a marathon in the Alps...

Stupid_Private

NeverGiveUp wrote: »

Sorry to disappoint those who are experienced marathon runners but the Powerade ‘Never Give Up’ campaign has always been about helping ‘ordinary’ athletes to do extraordinary things. In 2007, Will Cullen was a 22 year old bank official at Ulster Bank who could not swim. Six months later he completed the Irish national Triathlon in less than three hours. In 2008 the Munterconnaught GAA team were not novices, but they were far from elite and while their challenge ultimately proved a step too far, they have shown the spirit we would all like to have by going after their championship again in 2009.
www.nevergiveup.ie

I'll give you the Will Cullen one as an example alright - not the GAA team! Jogging a marathon does not turn someone from a novice to an elite athlete - far from it. If someone did the Dublin marathon in 2006, they are then excluded because they are elite? They're still very much a novice and I find it odd that they be discounted.

Personally I'd be more in favour of running a good flat course and trying to hit a fast time than the challenge of running up and down a mountain, but each to their own.

Odysseus

NeverGiveUp wrote: »

Sorry to disappoint those who are experienced marathon runners but the Powerade ‘Never Give Up’ campaign has always been about helping ‘ordinary’ athletes to do extraordinary things. In 2007, Will Cullen was a 22 year old bank official at Ulster Bank who could not swim. Six months later he completed the Irish national Triathlon in less than three hours. In 2008 the Munterconnaught GAA team were not novices, but they were far from elite and while their challenge ultimately proved a step too far, they have shown the spirit we would all like to have by going after their championship again in 2009.

For the 2009 Alpine Marathon Challenge, there is no certainty that our team will make it to the start line in the Alps, never mind the finish, but if they have the right attitude, we can help them to achieve something special. Most in this forum will have found that spark before and if you end up running in the Alps next summer and see someone swigging from a Powerade bottle but struggling, you might give them a word of encouragement. Who knows you might make it into the TV ad anyway, albeit as a good samaritan.

The Powerade Team

www.nevergiveup.ie

I have no problem with the way powerade are going with this, however, and I include myself in this; most of us who post here are ordinary athletes, I certain never consider myself as an elite athlete and my achievements to date will stand up to this scrutiny;) Whereas I have as an ordinary athlete had the good opportunity to experience some unusal races and I hope to be fortune enough to continue this. Others for whatever reason may never have the opportunity to experience something like that. Thats why I feel its a pity that the ordinary athletes of this forum can't apply. Its a bummer but that's life I suppose.

TheRoadRunner

NeverGiveUp wrote: »

Sorry to disappoint those who are experienced marathon runners but the Powerade ‘Never Give Up’ campaign has always been about helping ‘ordinary’ athletes to do extraordinary things.
www.nevergiveup.ie

Well you have got this one wrong in my opinion. Most if not all posters on this board are not elite. I would say we are all quite ordinary really, even if we have run a couple of marathons.

Don't know why this exclusion annoys me I didn't even put my name forward.

aburke

NeverGiveUp wrote: »

Sorry to disappoint those who are experienced marathon runners but the Powerade ‘Never Give Up’ campaign has always been about helping ‘ordinary’ athletes to do extraordinary things.

Yep, as others have said - you've got this wrong.
Most of people on this forum, and indeed the vast majority of runners, would compare favourably with the GAA team of last year.
We do our bit, but would love the chance for a bit of extra help, to see whether we could step up to the next level.
Ruling out someone who has run a marathon is like ruling out someone who has played a senior club match once [as a sub]!
I don't know who you have lined up as a mentor, but I'd love to get a bit of mentoring from the likes of Sonia, Catherina McKiernan.

That said, I've been lucky enough to get words of wisdom from some top athletes, a few in my own club, but not everyone does.

shels4ever

aburke wrote: »

Yep, as others have said - you've got this wrong.
Most of people on this forum, and indeed the vast majority of runners, would compare favourably with the GAA team of last year.
We do our bit, but would love the chance for a bit of extra help, to see whether we could step up to the next level.
Ruling out someone who has run a marathon is like ruling out someone who has played a senior club match once [as a sub]!
I don't know who you have lined up as a mentor, but I'd love to get a bit of mentoring from the likes of Sonia, Catherina McKiernan.

That said, I've been lucky enough to get words of wisdom from some top athletes, a few in my own club, but not everyone does.

Yep i ran one marathon 10 years ago, actually it wasnt me at all...it was a fitter , slimmer , faster me..

RacoonQueen

NeverGiveUp wrote: »

Sorry to disappoint those who are experienced marathon runners but the Powerade ‘Never Give Up’ campaign has always been about helping ‘ordinary’ athletes to do extraordinary things. In 2007, Will Cullen was a 22 year old bank official at Ulster Bank who could not swim. Six months later he completed the Irish national Triathlon in less than three hours. In 2008 the Munterconnaught GAA team were not novices, but they were far from elite and while their challenge ultimately proved a step too far, they have shown the spirit we would all like to have by going after their championship again in 2009.

For the 2009 Alpine Marathon Challenge, there is no certainty that our team will make it to the start line in the Alps, never mind the finish, but if they have the right attitude, we can help them to achieve something special. Most in this forum will have found that spark before and if you end up running in the Alps next summer and see someone swigging from a Powerade bottle but struggling, you might give them a word of encouragement. Who knows you might make it into the TV ad anyway, albeit as a good samaritan.

The Powerade Team

www.nevergiveup.ie

I've run two marathons but I wouldn't consider myself anything more than an 'ordinary' athlete. In fact, I think even calling myself an athlete would be pushing it a bit. We all have different stories...some may have competed many times for specific reasons, think, Jane Tomlinson...

Would have loved to win, but, no doubt, whoever does...will really enjoy their experience and will appreciate how lucky they are to win such a special prize.

Scuba G

Any update on the competition, the site said December 19th but nothing on the site. As a total novice and someone who wants to do a marathon or an event that pushes me, I would love the chance to do this, powerade seem to want people who have never done a marathon as they have already gone through the barrier of pushing themselves, for me Ive never experienced that and although 41km sounds scary, it also sounds something that will show your true colours.

shels4ever

I got a mail from them saying that in Jan they will narrow it down to 40 people I think and from there pick the 3.

liamo

From the email :

Currently we are working on reducing our long list of entrants down to a regional shortlist of 40 possible candidates. We will announce this regional shortlist on our website nevergiveup.ie before Christmas.

In early January, our expert panel of judges will select a national shortlist of eight candidates from the regional shortlist.

The final team of three challengers will be selected and announced by the end of January.

liamo

The text on the site has now changed slightly to

The long list of entrants will be whittled down to a regional shortlist of 40 possible candidates after Christmas.

liamo

Regional shortlist announced

Didn't make it.

TheRoadRunner

Did anyone make this list

pgibbo

I wish!!!!

shels4ever

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

Did anyone make this list

Didn't make it myself.

Krusty_Clown

Krusty_Clown, you are the weakest link...
Goodbye..

remwhite

I made the 40. Yay! Fingers crossed!

pgibbo

remwhite wrote: »

I made the 40. Yay! Fingers crossed!

Best of luck!

remwhite

pgibbo wrote: »

Best of luck!

Cheers, I'll need it. What with the 6 point something percent chance I have of being selected.

Apparently we will get a call in the next few days and then go for an interview some time the week of the 19th. All very "smoke and daggers" as Bertie would say.

pokermonkey

i made it too! Whoop Whoop!
i'd LOVE to make it. (as would everyone)
super challenge though. really tough, but it would be such an achievement to complete it.

Good luck to you Whitey - unfortunatly i'm in the same region as you so heres hoping they take 2 from that one!

NeverGiveUp

The three challengers choosen to take part in Powerade's 'Never Give Up' Alpine Marathon Challenge have been announced. Reg White from Dublin, Trevor Lee from Clare and Angeline Sloan from Down will be training over the next 5 months to compete in the 42k high altitude marathon in Davos, Switzerland on the 25th of July. You can follow their training and progress at www.nevergiveup.ie

We wish them the best of luck!

Krusty_Clown

I wonder is it the same RemWhite who posted above. If so, congrats and best of luck with the new challenge..

remwhite

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I wonder is it the same RemWhite who posted above. If so, congrats and best of luck with the new challenge..

The very same(only I'm not from Dublin, just living there). Thanks a lot for the good wishes. Complete amateur when it comes to running so it's a pretty daunting task. Really exciting too though.

Odysseus

Good stuff. You have a great opportunity there enjoy. Best of luck with it.

RacoonQueen

Congrats and best of luck. I'm dead jealous. You all look so young. :eek:

remwhite

mp1972 wrote: »

Congrats and best of luck. I'm dead jealous. You all look so young. :eek:

Well I'm supposed to be the "old man" of the group. :rolleyes::D

RacoonQueen

remwhite wrote: »

Well I'm supposed to be the "old man" of the group. :rolleyes::D

Ancient at 25 eh?!

NeverGiveUp

Hi all,

Trevor, Angeline and Reg are continuing with their trinaing for the Alpine Marathona Challenge on the 25th of July, you can follow their progress on the RUNBLOG

Today, we introduced a new feature to the site called the Paul O Connell training programme. Where you tell Paul your goal, and he send's you personalised training advise. You can sign up here.

The Powerade Never Give Up team.

--amadeus--

NeverGiveUp wrote: »

Hi all,

Today, we introduced a new feature to the site called the Paul O Connell training programme. Where you tell Paul your goal, and he send's you personalised training advise. You can sign up here.

The Powerade Never Give Up team.

Wow and I thought he'd be busy with the Lions tour

I know that PO'C is a legend and an insperation. But what does he know about running marathons? Apart from face recognition and a pre signed endorsment what value does he add - would it not have been better to get, ohhh I dunno, maybe a martahon runner to help them? I mean you wouldn't have Sonia O'Sullivan coaching a gaelic team now would you?