100 days on the run – raising more than a sweat for CanTeen

MOST people can’t even imagine running a marathon, but for the next three months it will be a daily event for 68 year old Vlastislav Skvaril.

Vlastik, from the North West Tasmanian town of Burnie, will run from 5768 kilometres from Australia’s most westerly point, Shark Bay in Western Australia to the most easterly point, Byron Bay in NSW.

The journey will take 100 days, at an average of 57 kilometres every day and Vlastik estimates he will take more than 11 million steps and wear out at least six pairs of high quality Asics Nimbus sports shoes.

Vlastik and his wife Jo are making the journey across Australia to raise $50,000 for CanTeen, which supports young people living with cancer

A $9000 Community Assistance grant from Forestry Tasmania and Southern Cross Television will cover most of their expenses and Vlastik and Jo will pay the remainder so all the money raised will go directly to the charity.

Vlastik will start his run on July 20 and he and Jo aim to complete the journey in Byron Bay on October 27. Along the way the intrepid duo will visit hundreds of townships and talk to community and school groups. The couple will also celebrate their 47th wedding anniversary and Vlastik’s 69th birthday during the run.

Vlastik has been a keen bushwalker for many years but it wasn’t until he was 57 that he caught the running bug. He runs 10-15 kilometres every day, and more when in training for an event.

“When I run I feel free, but at the same time in control,” he said.

“It is very relaxing and clears your mind. You can sort problems very quickly.”

Vlastik is no stranger to running in extreme conditions and this not his first long distance journey. Two years ago he ran from South East Cape in Tasmania to the tip of Cape York – a distance of 5506, in 92 days. This run raised $25,000 for Camp Quality.

His first ever ultra marathon was 246 kilometres from Athens to Sparta in 2000 and he holds 10 Australian ultra marathon age records. In April 2002 came second in the Simpson Desert Race during which he crossed 1160 sand dunes over a distance of 380 kilometres in temperatures of up to 51 degrees.

ENDS

18th July 2008

Vlastik will be leaving on the Spirit of Tasmania on Saturday the 5th of July (tomorrow) at 8pm to head to WA to start his run. He will be at the Spirit of Tasmania in Devonport from 6.30 pm onwards.

Information:

Claire Bennett
Corporate Relations and Tourism
Ph: (03) 6233 8249