Imagine running 26.2 miles. Now imagine doing this same thing for seven consecutive weeks on seven different continents including Antarctica. Sounds pretty insane, right?  Well that’s what the 30 global team members in the Hope Runs 777 Challenge will be doing in 2010 as they push themselves to their personal limits to raise money and awareness for the AIDS orphans in East Africa.  

I recently had a chance to interview Julianne Chai, one of the 777 team members, and ask her about her experience so far in this Guinness World Record breaking endeavor.  Here’s what she had to say:


PC: From everything I’ve read, Hope Runs 777 sounds like a remarkable challenge.  Can you tell us a little bit more about the organization?

JC: Hope Runs is a non-profit NGO working in Kenya and Tanzania, using athletics, education, and social entrepreneurship to empower AIDS orphans. What Hope Runs is really doing is helping children (who are survivors of desperate poverty, abuse, drug addiction, rape or the death of their parents) to equip orphaned and vulnerable children with the tools to escape cycles of poverty and conflict to become productive and empowered adults.

PC: That's awesome! So how did you hear about it?

JC: I found it on a fellow runner’s blog, she was promoting the challenge for other runners to either financially support or apply to be a runner.  When I read the blog post, I was really inspired. Btw, they are still recruiting for more runners! :-)

PC: So seven continents in seven weeks huh? Is there a continent you look forward to visiting the most?

JC: ANTARTICA!!! Seriously, when do you ever get an opportunity to run a marathon on THAT continent??

PC: Yeah, good point.  Which leads me to my next question, what possibly possessed you to do something as crazy as this?

JC: I’ve always wanted to run a marathon on all 7 continents but never thought I’d do it in 7 consecutive weeks. (Hello, #1 on bucket list!) On top of that, it’s for such a great cause. It’s not just about me running 7 marathons but I am also doing it to raise awareness for Hope Runs children in Kenya and Tanzania. And, I wanted a real good challenge. Raising $3000 would have been easy compared to something like this. But shoot, I might as well go all out and raise $45k!

               Julianne and her husband Duane at the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon

PC: $45,000 is a ton of money. How much of that goes to Hope Runs?

JC: All the Hope Runs 777 Challenge runners need to raise at least $26,000 and the additional $14,000 is for travel costs. But I’d also like to raise additional $5,000 more for the charity for a grand total of $45,000. Right now, I am only 3% there. So I need all the help I can get.

PC: How you plan on raising all the money?

JC: I am counting on lots of support from friends and family, my social media networks, such as Facebook and Twitter. I have done a few happy hour events to raise money but while these have been successful, it’s not bringing in the large amounts that I am hoping for. I am also planning on contacting some corporations around me for corporate sponsorships. A few other ideas are to have a local charity race, virtual runs and even car washes.  I am also hoping for some media exposure on the Internet and TV! And maybe some readers of Play City will be inspired to give!

                     Charity guest bartending in S.F. to raise money for Hope Runs

PC: So in addition to the fundraising component, how is the actual training coming along?

JC: The official training has not started yet; however, I have been doing my own training where I am running intensely and racing (shorter distances). I am also training for the Big Sur Marathon on April 26th and the Rock n Roll San Diego Marathon on May 30th.

              California International Marathon.  Julianne sets a PR by 10 minutes at 3:58!

PC: Wow, that’s a lot of running.  I read that you plan to run seven marathons this year.  What is the farthest you have ever run before?

26.2 miles! And maybe a few more yards after that…☺

PC: Okay, so you've done the marathon thing. Do you have a favorite?

JC: The San Francisco Marathon! It was my first marathon ever and has a very special place in my heart. Besides, it’s my hometown marathon so I guess I’m a little bias. This year, they asked me to pace the 4:45 finish group. My best time on the course is 4:09 so I won’t be breaking any personal records this year but still, very honored that I will be a pacer at my fifth SFM! Oh, I still have Chicago Marathon, Nike Women’s Marathon and California International Marathon for 2009.


PC: Seven marathons in seven weeks makes you a pretty big inspiration to the rest of us mortals. Let’s turn the tables.  Who is your biggest inspiration?

JC: I don’t have any particular inspirational figure… When I hear about my running buddies or friends breaking their personal records at a race, I am truly inspired.  Because these runners are real people who run. For theses runners to break their personal records, that means they really put their heart and soul into the training and during the race itself. That to me is really inspiring. I have friends who are currently running some crazy mileages to break their personal records at the upcoming Eugene Marathon and at San Diego!

                 Helping a friend PR by 11 minutes at the Race for Roses Half in Portland.

PC: Okay, last question.  I know I’m totally inspired by what you are doing and I’m sure others are too.  How can people/sponsors get involved to help you reach your fundraising goal?

JC: Mainly, monetary donations!! Every dollar counts and as I have mentioned earlier, I need to raise a lot of money. Of course, any ideas for fundraising or corporate sponsorships (and beyond) are more than welcome! And if anyone is interested in keeping up with my fundraising progress, they can visit my Hope Runs blog: http://www.bicoastalite.com and my giving site is http://www.giveforward.org/hoperuns

PC: Cool. Thanks for the interview and best of luck with everything.  We'll definitely be rooting for you and will try to catch up with you again as we get closer to 2010.

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From the Hope Runs Website:

"Hope Runs grew out of a marathon training program in a Kenyan orphanage. Since that time, school performance among the runners is up, disciplinary action is down, and no one is telling us that 'girls can’t run.' The kids have now competed in more than ten races from 5-42km in both Kenya and Tanzania, and they are still going strong."

If you would llke to get involved in Hope Runs you can visit their website at www.hoperuns.org