Villa & Hut Blog

Today over 2,000 runners got up at the crack of dawn to to brave the chilly frost of the morning air to run their own personal best at the Villa & Hut Sandy Point 1/2 Marathon.    Whether it was their first time racing or seasoned veterans, they all put their best foot forward.   They each faced their own challenges and crossed the finish line.  It was such a great day on the bay (sunny and 16) with the Coast Monkies racing to challenge awareness about cleaning our coasts,  the shoe recycling collection for Kids Off the Kerb – (Saucony gave away 5 free pairs for shoes to those who donated).  Afterwards Peak Potential’s  amazing masseuses were kneading away the tired muscles and nothing better than a delicious cup of How’ya Bean coffee to pick you up after a challenging race.

The Villa & Hut Sandy Point 1/2 Marathon was a huge success thanks to Byron and the crew from Start to Finish who organised an amazing race!  It was awesome watching everyone out there having a great time.  Don’t forget for all participants there is a $10 kafe gift voucher (on the back of your race bib) that can be used at Villa & Hut kafe (conditions apply).

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Coast Monkies Rock

The Coast Monkies were out running and raising awareness about keeping our beaches clean.  Such a cool organisation that is able to incorporate exercise and protecting our coastline in one cool monkey costume.

Shoe Recycling for Kids Off the Kerb

Join Villa & Hut this Sunday, August 22 for the Villa & Hut Sandy Point 1/2 Marathon for one of the most scenic runs along Port Phillip Bay.

It will be a great day to run your personal best or be part of the fun as Chris Anstey (two time Olympian, former NBA player and three time NBL champion) and along with triple Olympic Softball Medalist, Natalie Titcume will start the half marathon, 10km run and 5km run/walk.  Don’t forget to visit our marquee for a delicious How’ya Bean coffee and a massage (provided by Peak Potential).  Also, after the event, recycle your race number by handing it in at one of the Villa & Hut’s kafes and you’ll receive $100 off* your next meal!

Remember, it’s not too late for your friends and family to enter!

Online registrations are open until 9am on Friday, 20 August and registration will also be available on the day at the event. Plus, there are still 80 2XU Technical Running Tees and a few hundred caps still up for grabs!

Some green tips and initiatives

• Don’t forget to donate your old running shoes at our shoe recycling drop-off on event day. Five lucky participants who do so will WIN a pair of Saucony running shoes valued at $180 each!
• Environmental auditor, Mat Morris from the Global Protection Agency will be assessing the event’s impact on the environment. After the event, we will then purchase carbon offsets.
• Onlineplants.com.au have provided a range of native saplings as spot prizes, so you just might win one to take home and plant!
• Try to carpool (check out www.thecarpool.com.au) or cycle to the event – there will be bicycle parking available.
• Please bring along a water bottle to fill at the drink stations.
• Don’t forget to check out the tree planting happening at the event site!

Other activities:

• Two time Olympian, former NBA player and three time NBL champion, Chris Anstey along with triple Olympic Softball Medallist, Natalie Titcume will start the half marathon, 10km run and 5km run/walk.
• Visit 2XU’s marquee and register for their database for your chance to WIN a $250 X:CARD!
• XOSIZE will be providing massage and 25% off Saucony runners. They will also have a raffle for your chance to WIN a pair of runners RRP $250, compression tights RRP $140 and a $100 voucher.
• Arena Fitness will guide you through a pre-event aerobics warm-up. Join them for a post-event stretch at the Stretching Zone.

Good luck and have fun! We look forward to seeing you on the start line this Sunday.

For more information on the Villa & Hut Sandy Point Half visit www.starttofinish.com.au

*Conditions apply. Check race number for details.

The Villa & Hut Sandy Point 1/2 Marathon is only 11 days away!  Don’t forget to register online at www.starttofinish.com.au

p.s. don’t forget to bring your old runners to be recycled

This Sunday July, 18 at Federation Square, Villa & Hut will be at the The Age Run Melbourne Event serving our delicious How’ya Bean Coffee and getting the word out about the Villa & Hut Sandy Point 1/2 on August 22.   There will be over 17,000 attendees putting on their best lyrca and running for a great cause.  It’s going to be a great day out at so come and join us.

We’ll also be there collecting used running shoes for  Kids Off the Kerb – which is an amazing local organisation that provides at risk youth in Melbourne an opportunity for employment in environmental and recycling projects to gain life skills and at the same time seeking to divert old shoes from ending up in landfill.

A truly inspirational challenge!

This morning at 8:00 am Franz Madlener (Founder and CEO of Villa & Hut) set out on one of the most challenging marathon race courses in the world for a very important reason very close to his heart – to raise money for the Pediatric Intensive Unit at the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital.  The everyday heroes at the PIC Unit saved the life of Mina Marshall who was born with a hole in her heart.  It is because of the incredible doctors and nurses who took care of little Mina that she is a healthy amazing baby girl.   The site will be available until May 22 to donate to everyday heroes.

The Great Ocean Road Marathon may be listed as one of the top 100 most scenic marathons in the world – but the hills make it one of the most challenging.  Franz Madlener, #45 set out to tackle this 45 k run to raise $4,500 in under 4.5 hours for the PIC Unit at the RCH and he did it!

Running is good for the heart in so many ways.

Franz Madlener (Founder & CEO of Villa & Hut) will be running the Great Ocean Road Run (Melbourne) on May 16, 2010 for a cause very dear to his heart.  He will be running 45k in under 4.5 hours to help raise $4500 for the PIC Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne – who helped save the life of a beautiful little baby girl Mina Marshall.

“Little Mina Marshall was born with holes in her heart and at just three days of age, suffered a cariovascular collapse that shut down her vital organs.  Mina then spent 6 weeks fighting for her life in the Royal Children’s Hospital.  The doctors and nursing staff at the Children’s hospital were and still are an amazing support to her and her family, and we will be forever grateful to them for saving precious Mina.  If the unthinkable should happened and a child you love needs medical attention, you would want them to be taken care of in this great organisation.

Please follow the link on HERE and donate what you can to this important charity.

With love and thanks,

Megan and James Marshall