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

Show your support – From July 22 – 25 The Sandringham Sabres will be playing to raise awareness for the Cancer Council Call to Arms.  To find out more click here!

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.

How does a country of Australia’s wealth and aptitude allow over 100,000 people to go homeless every night?

How is it that more than 12,000 children are without a roof over their head, no mattress under their body and no doona to tuck them in?

On June 17, 2010 – 116 fellow CEO’s spent the evening discussing ways to tackle this issue, and then spent the night sleeping out on the steps of Etihad Stadium here in Melbourne – with over 650 CEO’s doing the same elsewhere around Australia.  With ideas & initiatives put to bed around midnight, it was time to bunker down, with nothing but some cardboard and a sleeping bag between us and the concrete concourse.

The most unanticipated part of this project, for me was the insight into the fear that must grip every homeless person as they struggle to mix sleep with a conscious awareness of being so exposed to your surroundings, the elements, and the dangers of being attacked or worse.

No one should ever have to face that fear.  That is why at Villa & Hut we have committed to working with St. Vinnie’s this year to help support, volunteer and raise funds and awareness for all those who need shelter.

What I took away from this experience is that it can happen to anyone of us -  it could be your sister, a coworker or a neighbour – so take the time and donate or volunteer.

Regards, Warmth & Shelter

Franz