Runner to reach legend status

Oxfam Trailwalker team ‘Buff Wait, There’s More’. Supplied photo.

This weekend will mark the fifth year of taking on 100 kilometres for one man who is apart of the Oxfam trailwalker.

But Zebedee Stone, says he isn't just trying to get his ‘Oxfam Trailwalker Legend' status, he's trying to run the fastest 100 kilometres Oxfam Trailwalker New Zealand has ever seen.

'We thought a really good goal would be to try and break 12 hours. We thought that would be a significant challenge, but hopefully doable for a bunch of runners,” says Zebedee, leader of team ‘Buff Wait There's More'.

Knowing that the fastest ever 100km Oxfam Trailwalker New Zealand time sits at 11 hours and 13 minutes – set on the Taupo trail by team ‘Plucky Sods' in 2011 – meant their 12 hour goal was revised.

'11 hours 13 minutes – that's become our stretch target, to try and beat that one.”

Oxfam Trailwalker is the charity's biggest annual fundraising event, where teams of four walk or run 50 or 100 kilometres to raise money to help fight poverty in the Pacific and around the world.

So far, more than 170 teams have raised over $398,000 towards Oxfam's work to eliminate poverty and injustice in the Pacific and around the world.

Zebedee is no stranger to Oxfam Trailwalker – he preceded Amanda Wright as Oxfam's Fundraising Event Manager from 2012 to late-2016 and was the man behind the event's move from Taupo to Whakatane.

'Getting a chance to come back and participate is really cool and something that I'm really privileged to be a part of. This is really a very special event and cause.

'The connection to the community in Whakatane is really strong. It's a really cool spot of the country that not many of us get to explore, so I'm looking forward to spending some good hours out there.”

Stone will hit his 500th kilometre for Oxfam this weekend, but it will be the first 100 kilometres that he has run.

'That's the bit we're most nervous about - knowing whether or not we've done enough training. But you've just got to back what you've done and see how it goes after that.”

'It's about the cause. I feel really strongly about what Oxfam do and I believe in their work so that's always a really good motivating factor as well - to know we're running for something bigger.”

Time, and conditions on the day, will tell if Zebedee and his team can smash their goal. But for now, it's a restful, easy week for them. Well – trail runners-style easy.

'We are having a last little outing as a team but it won't be for too long - might be a couple of hours' run rather than six or seven.”

Fundraising Event Manager, Amanda Wright, is looking forward to seeing teams challenge themselves this weekend.

'A massive thank you to all participants, support crew, volunteers and community groups. What an incredible thing it is to have so many people united by the same cause. Thank you for showing your support for our event, and for our Pacific neighbours and the most vulnerable people in the world.

'We want to wish all the walkers and runners out there the best of luck in reaching their goals. Know that every step you're taking is not only towards the finish line, but towards a better world. We'll see you out there.”

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.