Week 16: Special guest writer Gerry Martinez

With the 100 mile run behind us I am now focused on my preparations for this week’s Intertrust Cayman Marathon. There is still time to sign up. In fact you can register at the Marriott on Saturday December 3rd and while you’re there you come listen to me speak about my experience last weekend. One thing I learned from my run last weekend is that you are all capable of much more than you give yourself credit for. Many of the supporters last week set personal records for distance covered. Nicole Frolick showed up to run a couple of miles with us and left after covering 23 miles. Yes 23 miles and no she has not ever run a marathon. Must be the yoga. Alan (not sure of his last name) came out to join for a couple of miles early Saturday afternnoon and when I asked him what he was doing for next week’s race he told me he was thinking of doing the half marathon but wasn’t sure if he could do it as his training hadn’t gone all that well and 13.1 miles was a long way. Alan finally departed from our crew 15.2 miles later. Safe to say he now knows he can and I’m pretty certain the Cayman community is full of people like Nicole and Alan. I’m not saying sign up for the marathon and give it a go. I don’t want anyone to injure themselves but walking the half is something most of you are capable of. Especially with a 6 hour time limit.....

Race Details

Please come and join/support James along his route, we will be updating his facebook page www.facebook.com/acrazyidea, Twitter page @acrazyideaky and via blackberry updates. If you would like to track James during his 100 mile run and have blackberry messenger, please add the following PIN to your contacts and you will receive regular updates of James’s progress. PIN: 223cfbd1

• Start Time: 6.30 am Saturday November 26, 2011
• Start From: Camana Bay (Outside Books & Books in conjunction with the Cayman Island Diabetes Association 5K Fun Run)
• Map: see below
• End Time: Approximately 8.30am Sunday November 27, 2011
• End From: Camana Bay (Outside Books & Books)
• Status Update: 23:25 Nearing Rum Point... (heading off to join them, join BBM group for further status updates)

Click here to sponsor James!

We would like to give a huge thank you to all our sponsors especially our main sponsors Krys Global and KPMG and to Prestige Motors for donating the van for the weekend. Please come and support James along the way and cheer him on! Feel free to leave James a comment here also and show your support!

Please note that the first three miles are not covered on the below map and will be run in conjunction with the C.I.D.A fun run around Camana Bay, bringing the total miles ran to 100.

“The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art”

– Leonardo da Vinci

Week 15: Gotta love the unity of the Cayman Community

We are now in crunch time with our preparations for this year’s Intertrust Cayman Marathon. The big event is just over a week away and for most of you this week will be another taper week with a focus on remaining healthy until December 4th. However, this isn’t the case for me as I gear up for my 100 mile run around the island this Saturday. The run will kick off at 6:30am on Saturday from Camana Bay (outside Books & Books) as part of the Cayman Islands Diabetes Association 5k fun and the remaining 97 miles will take us through most of the island, including the Dyke roads and the Mastic Trail (weather permitting). Please feel free to join us at any point along the way. An extreme run a week before a race is exactly what you shouldn’t do as part of your race preparation. This is one of those cases where you should do as I say and not as I do. I can tell you now that my performance the following week in the Intertrust Cayman Marathon will definitely suffer from this endeavour. I just hope my body will forgive me in time to fulfil my ambitious plans....

James Murray is intending to run 100 miles round Grand Cayman on November 26th 2011 with the aim of raising at least $25,000 for the Cayman Islands Diabetes Association.

Secondly, and more importantly James would say, is to inspire the people of both Cayman and beyond to participate in their own Crazy Idea, either for personal gain or in order to raise money for a good cause.

Villas of the Galleon are offering 25% off of the price of staying with them if you are running in the Cayman Marathon.

Villas of the Galleon boasts luxurious Caribbean-style condominiums that are centrally located on the world famous Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. Villas is in an enviable location between The Ritz-Carlton and the Westin Casuarina Hotels, adjoining the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. This is the perfect place to stay if you are travelling from abroad from this or any other occasion.

James was on Z99's morning Buzz show today talking about how the training is going, our upcoming Pub Quiz on Thursday 17th Nov at the Triple Crown and how you can still get involved with A Crazy Idea!

Part 1

Part 2

James is responsible for “a crazy idea”. He is a Canadian Chartered Accountant and studied at the University of Toronto. He moved to Grand Cayman from his home in Toronto, Canada in October 2005. James is an employee of InterTrust (Cayman) Limited (formerly Close Brothers (Cayman) Limited) and when he finds time in between his training regime he enjoys hanging out with his extremely understanding girlfriend Lauren.

Gerry Martinez is the latest addition to the Crazy Idea team and he will be running along side James and Lisa for the 100 mile run. His story is a truly inspiring and you can read about it in the following article in the Compass: www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2011/09/02/Third-runner-joins-100-mile-challenge/. Click Read More to see some pictures in Gerry's gallery

Check out James' interview with Z99!

Part 1

Part 2