The AfterMads...

Mads and Carsten hosted a great party for our more-than-generous community of friends, some of who are runners too! Fabulous (and plenty of) food, lovely libations and stupendous swag, not to mention the "can't-say-no-to-this-face" Isabel who convinced everyone to dig out their spare change made it a very successful evening. We now have more than 70 runners sponsored in the race which is fantastic and we're still hoping for many more...

If you happen to find yourself in Kathmandu on April 18th 2009 locally known as Baisakh 5, 2066 then come and run with us. Registration for our race is now open, visit www.magicsuitcase.ca to register.

The race route will take us through the "hills" starting in the beautiful village of Nargakot and finishing at the temple Chang Nayaran, just outside of Baktapur (about 14km). Both sites are well-known tourists attractions that can be googled!

THANK YOU

A big THANK YOU to everyone who came out to the race this past Sunday and stopped by our booth, purchased a book and sponsored a runner! Special Thanks of the day go out to Lloyd Schmidt, race director of the Waterloo Running Series. He was kind enough to let us set up an information booth at the Refrideeighter run this past Sunday. If you are a runner or thinking of becoming one, you should check out this: http://www.runwaterloo.com/

Race updates!
The medals are ready, 240 water bottles are on their way, the route in the Kathmandu Valley is now set and the banners and bibs are in production. Thanks for the beautiful swag for prizes for top runners so far to Runner’s Choice in Waterloo, Peggy and George Sarson of Run for the Toad, M & T Insta-Print, Eric Vanderkruk, Lloyd Schmidt… we are still in need of new running gear, socks, hats and some more water bottles or any new or unused backpacks and/or running bags.
Thanks to the generous donations of friends, family and schools. Sales of the book Running Shoes are going very well! You can join the number of schools who have already purchased this beautiful picture book story and are helping to buy shoes for the children of the Helambu region.

Many others are choosing to sponsor a runner in honour of a friend, relative, family or in memory of someone and have their names on a bib! You can do this as well. Please visit our website at http://www.magicsuitcase.ca/ for more information or email us at info@magicsuitcase.ca
More details to follow in the next few days as more donations begin to arrive!

Jude and Mads

Upcoming Event

This Sunday, February 15, 2009.
come to RIM Park at around 9am (very early in the morning for a Sunday, i know) and visit our little booth. We'll be selling a book called 'the running shoes' and tell everybody who wants to listen about our trip to Nepal and how we need everybody's financial support to buy running shoes for kids over there so they can run (in our race). We'll be setting up shop at 8:30am.
Oh, and I won't forget to mention why we are setting up shop there that day. There is a race going on called the Refridge-eighter or however the spelling is. And it's an 8k or 8mile race and starts at 10am. It's traditionally the coldest day of the year and I have a feeling we won't be disappointed.
So, come visit our booth. (we like coffee and cookies....)

See ya'll there.
Mads

Trial Trek

This is who we are ...

... and this is what we eat

Those pictures were taken 2 weekends ago when we all met up at Jude's cottage up north for a trekking trial. We wanted to go up there and hike for a few hours with our packed backpacks to get a feel for - well - how it will feel to hike with a big backpack. It was really really cold, but really really sunny. We had a fantastic hike around those hills up there, sightings of a porcupine have been reported and we found a tiger den. Ok, maybe it was just a fox. It sure smelled like tiger. 

And we played a game. Scheissekopf. Anyone want to explain the rules? Jude? The comments section needs a little try out here. 

Mads

Welcome to the Run4theHills!

A group of 10 runner's is going to Nepal in April to visit sacred lakes, holy sites and run a race just outside of Kathmandu. The race will be organized by us with the help of a local elite runner - a mount Everest Marathon winner! We hope to raise enough money to support local runners, promote exercising in general and buy running shoes for kids in the Hembalu Region. For more information and to find out what you can do to put your name on a race bib for that amazing event, please go to http://www.magicsuitcase.ca/index.cfm You can also find really cool children's books on that website.

I will try my very best to keep you updated on the latest news and stories before we leave - and then of course when we're there!
Mads