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Grind for Shelter 2010 – Media Summary

Sebastian — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:01:48 +0000

I guess that I should have known better. After all, I went through this at last year’s Grind for Shelter (the 2009 charity event at which I set a new record for the most ascents of the Grouse Grind in a single day). Soon after that event, I decided that I would do it again this year. I felt that I could do more.

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

In 2009, one of the challenges that I faced was the amount of media attention that my event garnered. It’s one thing to set out to accomplish an extraordinary physical challenge. It is quite another to do so while almost constantly being photographed, videod and interviewed. Your mind isn’t able to focus on the task at hand, rather you are constantly thinking of your “talking points”.

Being interviewed after Grind for Shelter

For the 2010 event media guru Crystal Reinitz, of Edelman Vancouver, once again volunteered her time to the event. It was her skill and knowledge that helped to draw media interest to the event in 2009, and I was confident that with her help again in 2010 the RLP Shelter Foundation would again benefit from a significant amount of public awareness.

So, the date was set for June 28th 2010. The goal was to reach the top of the Grouse Grind 14 times in a single day (it took me 17.5 hours) and to raise $15,000, as well as much awareness as possible for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

To tell you the truth, we had our doubts about how much interest there would be the second time around. Was it too soon after last year? Would there be a big news story on the day that would push our story to the background?

=> Grind4Shelter Media Coverage Summary <=

As it turned out, the media was interested in the story again. Very interested. Requests for interviews began as soon as the press release was sent out. City TV, Global TV and CTV all had news coverage of the event, as well as radio stations the Peak FM, CBC Radio and Virgin Radio. Just about every newspaper also sent reporters and photographers to cover the story including the Vancouver Sun, Vancouver Province, Metro News, the Georgia Straight and the North Shore News.

Being interviewed after Grind for Shelter

This year’s event was even more difficult than last. After all, I was attempting to do one extra Grind in the same amount of time. Finding the time and energy to attend to interviews was an added challenge. In order to achieve my physical goal, I knew that no time could be wasted…so interviews had to be fit in where a few seconds could be spared (at the top as I grabbed some food, on the gondola ride down, or at the base of the trail as I was about to begin another ascent).

I am truly grateful for all of the attention that we were able to generate for the event, and most importantly, the RLP Shelter Foundation. The RLP Shelter Foundation spends no money on advertising, which is why most of us have never heard of it. However, as Canada’s largest public source of funding for women’s shelters it plays a very important role in our society. I’m proud to say, that the Grind for Shelter events have generated more press for the foundation than any other event ever has.

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

Contact Sebastian, Vancouver Realtor or send me a quick email.

Grind for Shelter 2010 – Grouse Grind Ascent Record Broken For Charity

Sebastian — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:00:21 +0000

For the second time in as many years, I broke a Grouse Grind record. On June 28th, 2010 my goal was to climb the Grouse Grind 14 times. Starting at 6:30am and not stopping until 11:00pm I achieved my goal thereby setting another world record.

courtesy of Vancouver Sun

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

1. 6:40 41:06
2. 7:46 40:33
3. 8:43 42:38
4. 9:42 44:04
5. 10:43 47:27
6. 11:42 53:10
7. 13:01 50:49
8. 14:14 52:33
9. 15:36 51:34
10. 16:42 55:43
11. 18:00 59:45
12. 19:16 58:28
13. 20:59 57:14
14. 22:15 57:44

AVG: 50:55

There were some tweaks that I made from my experiences in the previous years. I trained more specifically for the event, I took nutrition more seriously and I had better organization prior to as well as during the event. These changes, along with determination, perseverance and incredible support allowed me to achieve my physical goal (and I’m really happy that I not only managed to reach 14 grinds in one day, but also that I kept them ALL under 1 hour).

courtesy Vancouver Sun

It wasn’t easy, by any means. There were countless times when I doubted myself, when my body began to fail me…and when I simply wanted to give up. Around the 5th Grind I began to have severe cramps. They reminded me of the beginnings of the debilitating cramps that I had had the year before, but due to better nutrition they didn’t get as bad (at one point in 2009, I was curled up in a ball unable to move).

courtesy Vancouver Sun

There was something that was worse than cramps. After the 10th Grind I was excreting blood. Lots of blood…but I kept going. I still had my wits about me, and I was so close to my goal that I wouldn’t let that deter me. There were so many people watching me…so many people willing me to succeed…that I really don’t believe I had any other choice other than to reach my goal.

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

There were also many memorable moments on the trail. Early in the day, there was a large crowd of young school children climbing the grind. A few of them recognized me from the news, and word quickly spread amongst them. Soon enough, at least 50 of them were cheering me on (although, I also overheard one of them telling his friend that I was never going to make it).

courtesy Vancouver Sun

The support from friends and family cannot be underestimated. I have so much to thank them for. The core of that group were Bess Durey, Crystal Reinitz, Bjoern Ossenbrink and my mother. Without the help and support of these four people, I could not have achieved what I set out to do. They were all instrumental in their own ways.

Post Grind for Shelter Celebration

On the day of the event, there was also a large group of Grouse Grinders that came to show their support. Many of them even climbed one or more Grinds with me during the day….keeping the repetitive task from becoming boring (and helping to ensure my safety as darkness came on). Amongst them, I would like to thank Jason Chong, Vicki Mann, Amy Tso, Oliver Bibby, Michael Frewin, Ryan Dietrich, Eric Wan and Matt Collinge. Thanks to all of you!

courtesy Vancouver Sun

While the physical achievement is certainly gratifying, it was not the primary goal. Setting a new Grouse Grind record was simply a tool to raise money and awareness for a great and meaningful cause; the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. This fantastic organization is the largest source of public funding for women’s shelters and violence prevention programs in Canada.

Aside from reaching the top of Grouse Mountain 14 times in one day, my goal was to try and raise $15,000 for them. So far, I have fallen short in my goal having raised $6,300 as of July 3rd, 2010. There is still time and opportunity to donate to the cause if you are able to.

Contact Sebastian, Vancouver Realtor or send me a quick email.

Announcing the Grouse Grind for Charity Event

Sebastian — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:01:43 +0000

It’s official. I’m doing it again!

Sebastian Albrecht on the Grouse Grind - 2009

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

I’ll be attempting to ascend the Grouse Grind a record 14x in a single day on June 23rd, 2010 (plus, raise $15,000 for charity). That’s 14x up a 2.9 km trail with 853 m elevation gain and an average grade of approximately 30%. If successful, I will have climbed 40.6 km and ascended 11.9 km in elevation in approximately 16 hours.

Those that know me know that I don’t need a reason to do something like this, other than the challenge. However, I happen to have a fantastic motivation. I am attempting the record in order to raise funds and awareness for the RLP Shelter Foundation (in support of women’s shelters and violence prevention programs).

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

I set the record in 2009 by climbing the Grouse Grind 13x in a single day. You can see some of the media coverage of last year’s event here. This year, it’s going to be bigger and better!

My goal is to raise $15,000 this year. I would very much appreciate your help and support. You can show your support by donating to the RLP Shelter Foundation.

I’ve dubbed this event Grind4Shelter and you’ll be able to easily follow my progress by going to Grind4Shelter.com , the Facebook Event page, or following me on twitter #Grind4Shelter.

=> Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation <=

For media inquiries please contact Crystal Reinitz ( crystal.reinitz@edelman.comor 604.340.4541).

Grouse Grind Ascent Record Media Summary

Sebastian — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:39:52 +0000

I have never, ever done anything like this. My only previous experience with the media was way back in highschool. Although, I’m pretty sure that my yearbook photos wouldn’t count as media experience (Those of you that I went to highschool with please cut out and destroy my Grade 12 yearbook photo. Thank you).

Media coverage of my Grouse Grind Ascent record attempt

The idea to challenge the single day Grouse Grind ascent record was born out of wanting to raise money and awareness for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. After matching the record of 12 last year, I didn’t think that I would EVER attempt that record again. I was happy with 12. After all, who in their right mind would want to do more?

Once the decision was made to support the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation I needed to find an event that would provide it with maximum exposure. Naturally, it didn’t take long for me to settle upon the idea of the Grouse Grind ascent record.

For a few months in the Spring of 2009, I promoted the event to my own clients, friends and colleagues. By early June I had raised roughly $1500 which was a very long way from my goal of $10,000. It was at this point that I was approached by Crystal Reinitz of Crystal Clear Communications to help bring attention to what I was trying to do.

Little did I know just how good Crystal was at what she does. In fact, I don’t think anyone expected as much media attention as I received on that day…and I welcomed every opportunity. I felt that since I had requested the attention, and the media had actually shown up and was interested, I couldn’t turn anyone down.

I was awoken at 5:15 AM by Canadian Press asking what time I’d be at the base of the mountain. From that moment until 11:30PM that night I was constantly under the media microscope (I can only imagine what it’d be like to live that way every day).

The original intention was to keep interviews restricted to the gondola ride down. I rapidly discovered that this was a challenge because it was the only time in my schedule that I had available to refuel. It’s surprisingly difficult to eat almond butter and talk into a microphone at the same time.

However, due to the amount of media requests…and my unwillingness to turn anyone down…I was soon doing interviews at the base of the mountain, at the top of the trail, and even on my phone as I hiked up the trail.

To some degree, I think that the distractions of dealing with the media helped me that day. I didn’t have time to think about what I was doing. I didn’t get much of a chance to dwell on the enormous task before me, the strain that my body was taking or the pain that I began to suffer from towards the end. However, that was also the drawback. When you are tackling a challenge like this you have to focus and concentrate.

I have put together a summary of all the media coverage of my Grouse Grind ascent record attempt here. There are a few video pieces that are still missing and that I hope to add soon. If you know of any others, please tell me so that I can attempt to find them and add them to the archive.

Read about the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

I am still not quite at my target of raising $10,000 for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. The current total stands at $7,500. I would appreciate any help that you could offer in getting me closer to my goal.

Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation

My primary motivation is raising awareness and donations for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. This amazing organization has raised over $7 Million dollars in donations since 1999 and helps over 30,000 people each and every year. Better still, every dollar raised goes to where it is needed as all administrative costs are paid for by Royal LePage.

Breaking the Grouse Grind Ascent Record for Charity

Sebastian — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:28:04 +0000

Yes. I actually did it.

On Monday, June 22nd 2009 I climbed the Grouse Grind 13 times in one day. I was feeling a bit apprehensive about the event as the day approached, but I ended up breaking the official Grouse Mountain record of 12.

06:36 AM -> 07:23 AM = 46:58
07:47 AM -> 08:30 AM = 43:08
08:46 AM -> 09:29 AM = 43:09
09:44 AM -> 10:30 AM = 45:56
10:58 AM -> 11:48 AM = 50:02
12:15 PM -> 13:09 PM = 54:15
13:30 PM -> 14:22 PM = 52:48
14:45 PM -> 15:41 PM = 56:04
16:17 PM -> 17:15 PM = 58:15
17:48 PM -> 18:45 PM = 56:55
19:03 PM -> 20:00 PM = 57:26
20:18 PM -> 21:23 PM = 64:39
21:51 PM -> 22:58 PM = 66:40

Avg = 53.5

Was it easy? Absolutely not. In all honesty, it was one of the hardest things that I have ever done in my life. It challenged me both physically and mentally.

I don’t think that I ever doubted whether I could push myself to do 13. I did doubt whether it was physically possible to do that many Grouse Grinds within the allotted time (the time during which the gondola would run which was approximately 7:30am – 11:00pm).

I contemplated many times whether or not it was worth continuing. Those nagging questions came to me most frequently on Grinds #6 and #7. At that point, I had done a significant amount of work already, I was suffering from some severe cramping, and I still had the hardest work a head of me.

However, in those dark moments. The times where I would question my motivations, and perhaps even my own sanity, I found reasons to continue. Primarily, that reason was the RLP Shelter Foundation. However, it was also all of the people that offered me an outpouring of support. I was receiving a barage of phone calls, text messages, emails and tweets (follow me on twitter here) from supporters…as well as people offering words of encouragement on the trail.

Once I reached the top, I would almost forget about the struggle that it had taken to get there. The human mind really does have a short memory for pain and suffering. I was focused on refueling and getting back down as quickly as possible after each ascent so that I could get started on the next one.

I found that dwelling on the pain, or the struggle to reach the top was pointless. To get me through the day I concentrated on the feeling of success that I felt with each ascent that I put under my belt. Every one brought me closer to my goal.

What really kept me going, what was really motivating me every step of the way was knowing that reaching my goal would benefit the RLP Shelter Foundation. Without that motivation in mind, I would likely have quit when things began to get challenging around ascent #7.

The feeling of reaching the top on that last ascent was exhilarating. I had given everything that I had. Every ounce of strength, every inch of willpower. I had pushed myself beyond every limit that I thought that I’d possessed…and I succeeded in my goal. What an incredible feeling.

Even better…it was all for an amazing charity.

Please Donate

On June 22nd, 2009 I broke the record for the most ascents of the Grouse Grind for charity. The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation is an incredible organization which is there to help women and children suffering from domestic abuse. Of every dollar donated, 100% goes directly to those in need (Royal LePage covers all administrative costs of the charity).

Donate to the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation