It's going to hurt!

Running alone is not as much fun as running with a mate. Besides, it’s handy to have someone to carry some of the gear! So, on each run I will be joined by up to 3 other people. Some mates have already volunteered their services (see below), but there are additional places available for anyone who might fancy joining in the 7 in 7 Challenge. Click here to find out more about joining in the fun.

Wade Gillooly, age 35. Running Waikaremoana and Kepler

Lives in a swamp.

Sub 3-hour marathon runner and the only man I’ve ever known to run the Coast to Coast run twice in a day! Nice guy despite his appearance. SPONSOR WADE

Graeme Brown aka ‘old prick’. Running Tongariro N.Circuit  and Kepler

Lives in Kerikeri.

At 63 he still has more energy than the Energizer bunny. A companion of mine on many adventures. I just hope he can keep his flatulance under control! SPONSOR GRAEME

Greg Akehurst, age 44. Running Tongariro N.Circuit and Kepler

Lives in Auckland.

A keen adventurer and always up for a challenge, Greg’s passion for life makes him an ideal companion on something like this. Just don’t share a motel room with him – he has a very noisy pair of Size 15 lungs! SPONSOR GREG. 

Karen Walshe, age 41. Running Abel Tasman and Kepler

Lives in Blenheim.

More than just a token chick, she’s a real grunty chick! Karen makes her living in the great NZ outdoors and has been a fun companion on many great adventures over the years. SPONSOR KAREN

Guy Cory-Wright, age 167. Running Kepler

Lives in Auckland.

One of my oldest training partners and best buddies, Guy gives great hugs when the going gets tough – just the sort of new age man needed on a challenge like this! SPONSOR GUY

Alistair Cory-Wright, age 43. Running Milford and Kepler

Lives in Christchurch.

One of the scary runners on the team – a top mountain runner and orienteer, I just hope he doesn’t try to gallop away from me. SPONSOR ALISTAIR.

Pete Swanson, age 44. Running Milford and Kepler

Lives in Auckland.

Mountaineer, adventurer, national orienteering champ and all-round ox. Pete’s sense of humour (for that is what he calls it) is a sure antidote to any Challenge lows. SPONSOR PETE.

Rob Cooke, age 39 (40 soon!) Running Milford.

Lives in Auckland.

Rob will be joining to run the Milford fresh off the plane from completing the New York Marathon (where he hopes to go under 21 hours). He is currently working on conversion of a CamelBak to dispense mojitos and doughnuts. SPONSOR ROB

Kevin Bowler, age 44. Running Routeburn.

Lives in Auckland.

Take your hat off to this man. Before hearing about the 7in7 he had never run more than an hour or so at a time. But he heard, he was inspired, and now he’s training hard…. good on ya Kevin! SPONSOR KEVIN

Jeff Greenwood, age in human years unknown. Running Heaphy and Kepler.

Lives in Auckland.

Jeff runs, Jeff orienteers, Jeff tramps, Jeff leaps small rocks in a single bound.  Jeff is practicing lots of Wiggles and Hi Five songs to keep the troops entertained.  But will he remember to bring the buggy along? SPONSOR JEFF

John Gundesen, age 46.  Running Routeburn.

Lives in Auckland.

John specialises in sleep deprivation and carbo loading – two very useful skills for a 7in7 support runner. He is also very motivated by the Challenge having lost his younger brother Paul to leukaemia. SPONSOR JOHN  

Paul Rogers, age 44. Running Waikaremoana.

Lives in Auckland

Paul prides himself on being one of the last sportsmen to embrace lycra, preferring the trustie swandri and gumboots. This will be his first ever marthon distance run so lots of respect for shredding the comfort zone Paul! SPONSOR PAUL

Hazel Shuttleworth, age 47. Running Routeburn.

Lives in Auckland

Hazel was once a semi serious triathlete – but has seen the light and is now an off road, trail running, convert!  Also an avid tramper, she’s been inspired by the 7in7 challenge ever since she heard about it – most of her friends call her insane and she now loves responding with – “you think I’m insane?  Wait ‘till I tell you about this guy who…..” SPONSOR HAZEL 

Ash Scott, age 23. Running Waikaremoana.

Lives in Gisborne

The youngest of the team (young enough to be Graeme’s grandson), Ash describes himself as an ‘all day plodder’ rather than a race horse – which suits those of us with too many grey hairs just fine! He is into all outdoor pursuits and has a degree in recreation & outdoor education - so we know who to turn to if we need some leadership! SPONSOR ASH

Lisa Markwick, Age? (she’s a lady, I didn’t ask!) Running Tongariro N. Circuit

Lives in Auckland

Lisa is a veteran of many endurance events including Ironman France, Ironman Canada, Rotorua Marathon and Cape Brett Challenge (to name just a few). But as she said “it has often felt a bit purposeless in the bigger scheme of things”, so Lisa is along to help make a difference to the 10,000 New Zealanders living with leukaemia or other blood cancers. Thanks Lisa. SPONSOR LISA

Andrea Koorey, Age 41. Running Abel Tasman Coastal Track

Lives in Blenheim

One of the founder members of the Grunty Chick Club, Koo (as I have always known her) is a multisport/adventure racing legend (at least in her own back garden). She claims that running is not her strong suite but I’ll be loading her up like a pack horse come Day 3 of the Challenge. SPONSOR ANDREA

Thom Charles, age 29 forever. Running Abel Tasman Coastal Track.

Lives in Wellington

Like myself, Thom was born in the UK, but saw the light as a 2-year old and persuaded his parents to take up a new life in NZ so he could embark on a career as a trail running guru. He has completed numerous half marathons, did the Kepler Challenge in 2007 and has grand dillusions to run the Badwater Ultramarthon one day. The man is clearly daft enough in the head to be running the entire 7in7…. SPONSOR THOM