Welcome to Mark Colthart's Mission for Mercy II

Mark Colthart's Mission for Mercy II

The Event

Di - My Inspiration

Made it! 13.54.07

Lake Tarawera

PAGE CREATOR:	Mark Colthart
EVENT:	Tarawera UltraMarathon 2011
EVENT DATE:	19/03/2011

POST EVENT UPDATE:

I made it!!!!! Completed the 100K event in 13:54:07, 39th place overall.

See my blog on the right for more details.

Marathons are too easy...

In 2009, with the support of many very generous sponsors, I raised over $8,000 for Mercy Hospice running in the Auckland Marathon. The wonderful people at Mercy Hospice cared for my mother Di until she passed away in April 2009, and it was my small way of giving something back to them.

I completed the 2009 marathon in 4 hours 7 minutes, narrowly missing my goal time of 4 hours flat, but bettering my previous personal best time by 18 minutes. In October 2010 I ran in the Auckland Marathon again and finally beat that elusive 4 hour mark, coming in at 3 hours 53 minutes.

So now I've decided that marathons are too easy. I've committed to something which will take me far beyond my comfort zone - the 2011 Tawawera 100km Ultramarathon on the 19th of March. This is a truly inspiring trail race, beginning in the Redwood Forest in Rotorua and winding its way around the Blue Lake, Lakes Okareka, Okataina and Tarawera, to the home of NZ's next top model, Kawerau.

I'll be doing the race with the support of my wonderful family. It will be, by far, the hardest thing I have ever attempted. I have no idea whether it is even possible, but then, if you know for certain that you can do something, what's the point?

So, I'll do all the hard work, train for and complete this event, but I really need your help to make a difference to my charity.

Please could you sponsor me?

To make a donation please select the 'Make a donation' button below. It's simple, fast and totally secure. Your donation will go directly to Mercy Hospice Auckland, and will help them continue with the amazing work they do.

If you live in New Zealand your donation is tax deductible and a receipt will be issued.

Many many thanks for your support

My Online Sponsors To Date
DATE	NAME	AMOUNT	COMMENT
15/04/2011	John McKay	$100.00	Outstanding!
30/03/2011	Max, Charlie, and Lucie	$125.00	Run faster daddy!
30/03/2011	Graeme Colhoun	$40.00	Great race - Great run - Great cause. Huge congrats Mark!!
29/03/2011	Vivienne Crawshaw	$100.00	Well done, Mark
29/03/2011	Richard & Andrea	$50.00	Well Done Sparky
28/03/2011	Rex	$50.00	Well done Mark.Can you please stop now.
28/03/2011	John Heimsath	$50.00	fantastic effort
28/03/2011	Nigel Harrison	$50.00
28/03/2011	Paul Cogswell	$25.00
26/03/2011	Delwyn D.	$40.00	Congrats.Great run for Di.
24/03/2011	Plan 2 Survive Ltd	$50.00	Well done Mark.
24/03/2011	simon Lucas	$200.00
22/03/2011	LYNSEY GRANT	$500.00	YOU ARE NUMBER ONE SON IN LAW. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVMENT.
22/03/2011	Andrew Barker	$50.00	Well done, Mark
19/03/2011	Anna Garland	$50.00	Mark - I can't decide whether you're insane or amazing. Perhaps a little of both - go well.
17/03/2011	Randle	$100.00	Lots of luck on your crazy runathon. Hope the blisters stay away. Lots of love, the McDs.
17/03/2011	Fitzy	$100.00	You are a madman MC
17/03/2011	Tristram	$50.00	Good luck on the day mark! T
16/03/2011	Roz & Haydn	$500.00	A truly mad undertaking but inspired by the generosity of those that looked after Di so well. Good luck for the big day.
16/03/2011	Alex, Dan, Isabella and Ava Stoneham	$50.00	You are truly an inspiration. Di would be immensely proud.
16/03/2011	Alignworks Ltd	$100.00	All the best Mark!!!
16/03/2011	Fanny, Hog, Tim, Benji + Isabel	$50.00	Go Sparky! Di will be watching and so damn proud of you. Run like the wind.
16/03/2011	Bernie,Steve, Jack & Eva	$200.00	Mercy Hospice is all about dignty, something you have in spades
15/03/2011	Chris the conman	$100.00	Shit this a lot cheaper and more rewarding than hiring a barrister!
15/03/2011	Anne	$100.00	Good luck Mark.
15/03/2011	Steven White	$100.00	It seems like you made the decision to do this during one of those drunk runs home from the pub when one feels invincible...for a time anyway. Stay strong mate, and resist the temptation to stop along the way and eat the mushrooms, despite what they're saying to you.
15/03/2011	Mark and Carolyn	$50.00	Good luck and no stopping!
14/03/2011	Brian Keene	$130.00	Good Cause You'll be home in a canter
14/03/2011	INBODY	$50.00	good luck, although I am sure you dont need it. From the girls at INBODY
14/03/2011	Donnelle	$50.00	Mark you are amazing - best of luck for the day
14/03/2011	Simmonds Family	$200.00	Best wishes from us all Mark.
14/03/2011	Viv James	$50.00	Go for it Mark!! Every step at a time!!
14/03/2011	Wayne	$50.00	Good luck Sparkles
14/03/2011	Kristy	$50.00
13/03/2011	Aaron B	$100.00	Hey Mark, it's a good thing there are crazy people out there,just give it heaps and enjoy the journey..
13/03/2011	Jon Lockyer	$50.00	Good Luck for the run!
10/03/2011	Antony	$100.00	Mark, I am walking 100km for Oxfam in April - that seems daunting enough. All the best.
09/03/2011	Marguerite	$30.00	Thank goodness for crazy people.. great cause.. ENJOY the big day...
07/03/2011	Brett & Natasha	$50.00	Good luck mate
07/03/2011	Brett & Vicki	$50.00	You are bonkers.
04/03/2011	Ian & Tans	$50.00	"Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up. "; DK. Go fella!
03/03/2011	ERA/BUDGET TAXIS LTD	$50.00	Keep up the good work and all the best Mark.
03/03/2011	Mark Kelly	$100.00	Good luck Mark.
03/03/2011	Romans 6:23	$50.00	Best of luck. Just remember you were born to run.
02/03/2011	Simon	$30.00	All the best Mark
01/03/2011	Moose	$100.00	run Sparky run!
01/03/2011	James Foley	$50.00
28/02/2011	Margaret Langham	$20.00	Finally donated Mark - your amazing, go well!
28/02/2011	Bazyl Piotrowski	$50.00
27/02/2011	Penny	$50.00	Great idea. Go for it.
24/02/2011	Sam, Lesley & Lilian	$200.00	Lilian thinks walking's hard enough - she is well impressed!
24/02/2011	Kelly, Frances and India	$100.00	Whatever happen to that 24 Steinlager guzzling, cigarette puffing, meat and doughnut connoisseur I grew up with? Good on you brother.
24/02/2011	Melissa K	$40.00	Kia kaha!
23/02/2011	Bruce and Anne	$100.00	You're an inspiration Mark. Good luck!
22/02/2011	Brian Everett	$100.00	Keep up the good work. Great to see you up to the plate to go again.
21/02/2011	Christine & Paul Donaghy	$50.00	Go you good thing! Good luck Mark.
21/02/2011	Juno of sheinkin	$100.00	Good luck Mark !!
21/02/2011	Chris 'The Running Man' Pavey	$40.00	Truly Mad! Truly Inspiring! An experience of a lifetime! Enjoy every minute of it Mark!
21/02/2011	Cook Property Group	$200.00
21/02/2011	Mike Lucas	$100.00	All the very best Mark, hope all goes well
21/02/2011	mcmahons	$50.00	good luck - i think you'll need it!
21/02/2011	Amodeos	$100.00	You will never do it you donut eating freak
21/02/2011	Maddy	$100.00	Great effort and all the best Mark!
21/02/2011	The E-Ps	$50.00	Rather you than me my old friend! Good luck, and Di would be proud.
21/02/2011	Greg Allen	$50.00
21/02/2011	Alex McDonald	$100.00	Go Mark!
21/02/2011	James Wyndham	$100.00	good luck brother
20/02/2011	Susan and Mike	$50.00
18/02/2011	Jonathan	$50.00	Good luck!
18/02/2011	Anisa	$50.00	Good luck Mark!
18/02/2011	Naufahu Family	$100.00
16/02/2011	Richard Leikis	$50.00	That's a long way
15/02/2011	Sue Lidgard	$50.00	All the very best Mark.
14/02/2011	Maree	$50.00	All the best, Mark.
14/02/2011	David Spencer	$100.00	All the best Mark
13/02/2011	Jeanette	$50.00	Go for it!
11/02/2011	Deanne	$50.00	Bring on the men in white coats, he's finally lost it....good luck mark
11/02/2011	David J	$200.00	All the best
10/02/2011	Amy	$50.00	It's a ridiculous thing to do, good luck! Amy x
10/02/2011	Jen Egan	$30.00	Good luck Mark - can't wait to hear how you get on!
10/02/2011	mark carter	$100.00	that's a gutsy effort
10/02/2011	Carmel Byrne	$100.00	Well done on making such a great effort for such a good cause Mark
10/02/2011	CHEST	$20.00	Go Sparky, you are totally crazy!!!
10/02/2011	Advanced Building Solutions Ltd	$100.00	Good Luck
10/02/2011	Elaine and Rod	$50.00	good luck
07/02/2011	Pat McGrath	$50.00	Hard yacka all the best
04/02/2011	sarah & phil	$100.00	clearly mad but your heart is in the right place- good luck!
04/02/2011	Karen Evans	$50.00	Good onya
04/02/2011	Karen Evans	$50.00	Good onya
04/02/2011	Kirst and Harky	$100.00	Blimmin amazing Sparky! Go well xoxo
04/02/2011	The Sydney Grants	$100.00	Hey Mark - best of luck! Hope your toe nails regrow after the marathon ;)
03/02/2011	Sue Fricke	$100.00	Mark - You are attempting something amazing, and doing it for something wonderful. Inspirational!!!
03/02/2011	Chris van Vliet	$100.00	Good luck Mark!
01/02/2011	Lars	$50.00	Run Sparky Run
01/02/2011	Steve Shin	$50.00	Good luck Mark!
01/02/2011	Glenn Turner	$100.00	Good Luck Mark. Train hard
28/01/2011	Claire Allan	$100.00	Good luck!
28/01/2011	Brett Cran	$100.00	Mark, clearly your sanity and judgment need to be questioned, all the best for this! Train well and don't injure yourself.
28/01/2011	Dirk Lisk	$100.00	All the very best for the event
27/01/2011	Ian A	$100.00
27/01/2011	Jacquie	$40.00	Mark good luck with the ultra.
27/01/2011	Marc Ferreira	$30.00	Good luck!
26/01/2011	Bruce Pamatatau	$100.00	Go hard Brother!
26/01/2011	Tony Gore	$50.00
26/01/2011	Mike F Junior	$150.00	Keep up the good work.
26/01/2011	Sarah H	$40.00	Good luck Mark! I don't envy you those hills!
26/01/2011	Nigel Hannigan & Tony Barlow	$200.00
26/01/2011	MARC SPRING	$100.00
26/01/2011	Building Disputes Tribunal	$100.00	Good luck and best wishes
26/01/2011	Derek	$100.00
26/01/2011	Eugene	$100.00	Happy running, Mark !
26/01/2011	Ian	$200.00