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Run for Remi! 16km for 16 weeks premature

  • We did it!

      4 December 2022
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    We did it!! 16km for 16 weeks prem!

    Thank you so much to everyone who came and ran, who came for snacks at the end, who supported us and donated to the cause. Special thanks to mum Lorna for taking care of Remi so that I could get some sleep before the run and during the run itself. Also thanks to Han for planning the route after the last minute change of location and for bringing the BBQ. Thanks to Ro for organising the singlets after we were let down by the screen printers 48 hours before the event, and for pushing me to train over the last 16 weeks.

    Thanks to those of you who intended on running with us but kept away to protect Remi from potential germs.

    The original reason for the run was to keep us motivated to get outside and get some exercise during the tough NICU days and it definitely did that for us both. As a bonus, we have raised nearly $2500 for The Little Miracles Trust who looked after us in so many ways over the last few months.

    We also just wanted to raise some awareness for prematurity and for NICU. It’s a hell of a journey. These little ones fight so hard for their lives but they are incredible and resilient and strong and it’s been a privilege to watch Rem and the other babies around her grow.

    Thank you to our friends who have run in other parts of the country and world. We have had Annie in Hanmer, Em on the west coast, Elizabeth in South Africa, Katy in Japan, John and Clare and Kiri in Nelson, Joe in Christchurch, Kathrine in the UK and many others.

    And lastly thanks to Remi for inspiring all of us with her strength and determination 💜

    The Givealittle will be up for a few more days for anyone who wishes to donate🙏🏼

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  • Tomorrows the big day!

      2 December 2022
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    It’s finally arrived and frankly I’m daunted by it! We’ve had Remi with us for the last 10 days and sleep has been limited, as well as time for training!

    She came home with us on Tuesday after 109 days in NICU and we couldn’t be happier :)

    See you runners tomorrow, 845am for a 9am start at the end of Polestar Lane.

    Here is the route:

    https://nz.mapometer.com/running/route_5415250.html

    If you’re coming for snacks after, please bring a chair or something to sit on, a mask, and some snacks.

    If you’ve been sick recently or near someone who’s been sick, please sleep away, Remi is still very vulnerable and we can’t afford to catch anything.

    See you all tomorrow!

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  • Change of plan - new location

      26 November 2022
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    One week to go until our big run! Remi is currently tracking towards coming home sooner than we had anticipated.

    As a result we are changing out run plans to a 16km loop starting and finishing in Whitby. We will run through Whitby down to the Pāuatahanui inlet, around the Inlet and back up finishing at home.

    If anyone wants to join us for part of the run, it’s 5km from Motukaraka point or 11km from the Dolly Varden car park to the finish.

    It’s not quite as exciting or hilly as the original run, but makes it possible for me between Remi’s feeds. And it is still a very beautiful run. And we haven’t slept for some time now. So it will be challenging!

    At the end of the run we will have some snacks at our place (on the driveway and only if the weather is good) everyone is welcome. Unless you have recently been sick or been around someone who has been sick… in which case we respectfully ask you to steer well clear.

    If it is more convenient for anyone to run or walk elsewhere, go for it, and let me know how it goes. The idea is that anyone can run/walk anywhere or do 16 of anything to represent Remi’s journey between birth and now. Send me some photos/videos of your efforts!

    If you are keen to run/walk with us, meet at the end of Polestar Lane near the entrance to the Bradey Grave site at about 8.45am on Saturday 3rd December to start running at 9am.

    If you are out and about that morning and see a bunch of runners, some in purple, give us a wave or a beep!

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  • World Prematurity Day

      17 November 2022
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    Today is World Prematurity Day.

    We’re Day 96 in NICU today, and it’s been a hell of a journey. It’s easily the hardest few months of my life. Remi is beautiful though, she’s the most amazing little human I’ve ever met.

    It has definitely been made easier by the care of the incredible staff at Wellington NICU, the Little Miracles Trust, and in the last few days by Ronald McDonald House.

    Running has been so helpful in getting through this so far.

    We’re fundraising for Little Miracles to give something back to reciprocate the care we’ve received and contribute as best as we can to make the journey easier for other families that face such challenging times.

    Running for me has also been hugely important in repairing the relationship with my body as something positive I can do Remi.

    Any support for our fundraiser is so appreciated 💜

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  • 4 weeks to go!

      9 November 2022
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    Remi turned 12 weeks on Saturday, so we ran 12km as part of our training. We returned to our old stomping ground - Running from the Brooklyn wind turbine through Te Kopahou to Pariwhero (red rocks) and finishing at Owhiro Bay. It was a stunner of a day! Unfortunately the gravel and I had a bit of a disagreement about 8km in… my knee will need a few days to recover but I’m hoping it won’t set me back too much.

    Remi has had some massive improvements in the last few days, on day 87 of her little life she came off CPAP! That means no more mask/snorkel/hat. She still has little tubes in her nose but we can see her whole face! It’s much more comfortable for her and sets a bunch of other positive things in motion, including having a go at breastfeeding in the coming days which is very exciting.

    We’ve got some new runners from Whitby joining us for the run which is really lovely! We only moved there about 4 months ago, it’s really nice to have support from the local community 💜

    We’re just finalising the plan now and will post an update shortly with more on the route and logistics.

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  • Happy Halloween

      2 November 2022
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    We had fun dressing Remi up on Monday for her first Halloween. She’s doing really well at the moment, we’re hoping she’ll be home by Christmas 🎄

    I managed 5 training runs last week totalling about 36km which I was really pleased with. Feeling on track for the big run at the moment, just gotta keep up the training for another 4 weeks.

    I’m conscious it’ll be harder to run so much when Remi does come home and so I am trying to really appreciate every run I can fit in.

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  • Kathrine Switzers Run for Remi

      18 October 2022
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    The runs for Remi have begun! We got this message from our friend Kathrine:

    Hey there my wonderful 261 fearless friends! Today I had a banner day because I ran 10 miles – – 16 Kim’s in the Great South Run in Portsmouth , England It was the first time in over two years that I had run that far and as you may recall I still have shingles. I’ve had them now for 14 months and believe me I am getting very tired of this illness so today I had to push myself through because the longest run I have done in the last 2 years has been 10k. So since 16 KM is exactly what I wanted to run for Remy I dedicated my race to her and put her name on my bib, figuring if she could fight through so could I! Naturally before the race there were lots of photographs with media but it’s mostly happen in the situation I never get a photograph of myself in my gear!f So I have photographed my shirt with a bit of a dedication to Remi and I will bring the bib back with me in November so Ash and Ro you can give it to her ha ha I think if she pinned the bib on it would completely enwrap her! But it will be a good souvenir for when she grows up! And! I am so pleased because I actually ran this distance in one hour 51 minutes. I can tell you that 40 years ago I could run this distance in 62 minutes but those days are gone forever and I am grateful for anything I can do I am especially grateful if I can help REMI in any way ! Lots of love to all of you! Xoxo Kathrine

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  • 7 weeks to go!

      14 October 2022
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    Running is hard. Leaving Remi to run is hard. The beginning of the run as ever is always the hardest bit and at the moment it’s something I’m really struggling with. Ro has been brilliant at planning runs for us and making sure we’re out there doing it. Once I’m out there, I never regret it. We get to the top (we almost always run hills these days), there’s usually epic ocean views, my lungs are open, blood pumping, and I feel alive and it makes it all worth it. There’s added incentive to keep running on the way back as any time walking is time away from Rem.

    Ro and I don’t see each other much these days and so it’s really special when we do get to share our runs. And I do have a clearer head after and am able to give myself more fully to Remi when I am with her. But it’s so hard knowing that we are both away from her to be able to run together.

    Thank you to everyone who has donated, it is definitely pushing us, photo from a 9km run we did together last weekend.

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  • $1000!!!

      3 October 2022
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    Holy moly team! We’ve rolled over the thousand bucks mark! Wow!

    This is definitely working to keep us accountable and getting out and about even when we’re tired or the weather is bad… 8 and a bit weeks to go until the big run!

    Notable runs last week were Pariwhero with a friend on a lovely sunny day, and Matairangi on my birthday with Ro 🥰

    Remi is still smashing all her goals like a little champ. She went onto CPAP this week which is another step towards her freedom!

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  • Thanks so far

      23 September 2022
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    Thanks so much everyone who’s donated so far. This event is definitely keeping me accountable and motivated to train - I ran in the rain and the dark yesterday! I’m just enjoying running again at the moment, not worrying about distance or time, just running what I feel. The only trails I know are hills so I’ve been running lots of those! Aiming for 3-4 runs a week for now along with some strength and stability work at home.

    Remi has had a good week, she reached a kilo which is a great milestone. She also had her first bath which was adorable and she loved it.

    I put the date wrong on the page, turns out I meant Saturday 3rd December (previously I had said 2nd).

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