The marvel that is Mike ran a total of 295.4 kilometres – that’s more than the distance from Sydney to Canberra. And he burnt over 22,000 calories which is equivalent to eating 40 Big Mac’s over the week. Now that’s a lot of calories!

There was plenty of support for Mike along the way with USANA Associates turning out to cheer him on along the way – showing their support, boosting motivation and even running alongside Mike to show their support to provide some well-needed encouragement around the world.



Mike in the Falkland Islands

The beginning…

The halfway mark – London bound!

Making the flight from Los Angeles to London by the skin of his teeth (just six minutes to be precise!), Mike settled back for a well-deserved rest during the 10-hour flight. Soon after landing, he was back in action and successfully completed his fourth marathon!

Mike in London, England

 
After a delayed flight, customs, traffic and taxi troubles, Mike finally made it to Casablanca in Morocco, North Africa for his fifth marathon. Completed in six hours and 54 minutes – what an incredible athlete!


Mike running past the Great Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco

 
Mike was inundated with positive support on social media including daily posts on Facebook and Twitter from USANA Associates and fans worldwide.

Fan posts on the 777 Project Facebook page

 

Next stop – Hong Kong!

Mike rested and recharged for marathon number six during the 22 hour long flight from Casablanca to Hong Kong. With the 777 Project finish line firmly in his sights, Mike was met by some enthusiastic USANA Associates who warmly welcomed him in the early hours of the morning.

USANA Associates in Hong Kong cheering Mike on!



Mike officially finishing the Hong Kong marathon



Coming home!

Then, the moment that everyone had been waiting for finally arrived – it was Sunday the 24th of February 2013 when Mike’s Air New Zealand flight NZ38 arrived in Auckland, New Zealand. Mike was met by his wife Wendy Allsop and his friend, support runner and fellow USANA Ambassador, Lisa Tamati.

Wendy Allsop with USANA Ambassador Lisa Tamati

It was the end of the 777 Project and Mike was on home soil; he had the support of his family, friends and local supporters as well as well-wishers worldwide.

USANA was there to support him in the last 5km of the 777 Project! A sea of blue and grey USANA Associates gathered at the Vodafone Hub ready to join Mike and Lisa in the final 5km of the 777 Project. The atmosphere was electric and it was truly a once in a lifetime experience for those who were lucky enough to join Mike in completing his 777 Project adventure.



USANA Associates waiting to start the last 5km with Mike


Mike successfully completed his ambitious 777 Project and we couldn’t be more proud of his achievement – and neither can the kids of KidsCan who will benefit from his incredible feat!

Mike at the finish line

  

Mike with his wife Wendy



The USANA True Health Foundation

The USANA True Health Foundation has officially donated a total of $10,000 NZ to Mike’s chosen charity, KidsCan. A $2000 cheque from the USANA True Health Foundation was presented to Mike at Celebration in Auckland to kick-start his journey. And, for each marathon Mike completed, Mike collected another $1000. Shortly after Mike crossed the finish line completing his incredible worldwide journey and The 777 Project, Mike accepted the final $1000 cheque. The donations will be specifically directed toward the KidsCan Shoes for Kids and Food for Kids programs.

The post 777 Project: Completed! appeared first on Usana Health Sciences Organization.

For most of us, running (or walking) a half marathon could just be the pinnacle of our sporting careers. But running a full-on marathon and a hike up Mount Everest is just a practice run for über-fit athlete and USANA Ambassador, Mike Allsop.

Starting from the Falkland Islands on February 16, Mike heads to Santiago in Chile, he’ll then travel to Los Angeles, United States. Crossing continents to London, England Mike will head east towards Casablanca, Morocco and then onto Hong Kong, China. Finally, Mike will return to his hometown of Auckland, New Zealand for the final leg of his epic adventure – 295.365 kilometres in fact!

Doing it for charity

And, father of three, Mike, is doing it all to raise funds for disadvantaged children in New Zealand. His chosen charity is KidsCan, an organisation dedicated to supporting disadvantaged Kiwi kids. Mike is no stranger to difficulty himself, having grown up in a low-income, single-parent family. He’s hoping that by pushing himself to the limits, he will inspire children from all backgrounds to follow their dreams.

USANA Ambassador Mike Allsop who is about to start the 777 Project in just under two weeks received a $2000 cheque from the USANA True Health Foundation, for the charity KidsCan at Celebration in Auckland! We will also be donating $1000 NZ for every one of the 7 marathons completed, and an additional $1000 on the completion of the 777 Project – that’s $10,000 in total!

And, once he has recovered from his immense trial, he plans to author a book about his experiences with the proceeds again going towards charity. Mike will also be speaking at High schools and Colleges, talking to teenagers about goal setting and achieving their own dreams.

‘Since taking USANA products, I have been quite astounded with the results,’ said Mike. ‘When I changed to USANA I felt so good and so different.’

Mike credits USANA with giving him more energy to endure his training. ‘Without a shadow of a doubt USANA has enabled me to train hard and recover faster,’ he said. ‘USANA is my foundation block which I trust and know I can depend upon.’

Like Mike!

Mike will be followed on his epic journey via GPS so you can follow him too – at least on Facebook! Give him a special cheer and send a note of support to Mike when he’s near your home turf. Let’s unite as a family to support this incredible Ambassador!

To follow Mike’s journey, visit his 777 Project Facebook page.

The post Mike Allsop’s 777 Project – and why we’re focusing on the kids! appeared first on Usana Health Sciences Organization.

Celebration 2013 is nearly upon us and this means another opportunity to meet some of our amazing USANA Ambassadors!

This year we have the man behind The 777 Project – Mike Allsop! For those of you lucky enough to have snapped up a ticket to Celebration, you will get the chance to meet him and find out exactly what The 777 Project is all about, from the man himself!

The 777 Project is Mike’s boldest challenge yet – he aims to run seven marathons on seven continents in just seven days and all of this is for the KidsCan charity. Mike will be embarking on this challenge on the 16th of February so be sure to check USANAtoday and the USANA Australia New Zealand Facebook page for regular updates on where he is up to on his journey.

Mike’s training buddy and mentor – Lisa Tamati – will also be attending Celebration. Lisa is our newest Ambassador. Lisa is an ultra marathon runner who has so far traversed almost every major desert in the world and has run more than 60,000 kilometres on foot!

Lisa is truly an inspiring woman and has achieved many great feats in her life. This is your chance to meet her and find out about her exciting life story.

Both Mike and Lisa will be making their appearance on Saturday 26th of January in Auckland so don’t miss your chance to grab a photo with them and an autograph or two!

If you want to know a little bit more about Lisa, click here to read her profile and click here to read Mike’s.

See you all at Celebration!

The post Elite athletes and their inspiring stories at Celebration 2013 appeared first on Usana Health Sciences Organization.

In 2007, Mike conquered Mt. Everest, the highest and most challenging mountain for mountaineers in the world. And now, Mike is ready for his next challenge – The 777 Project! This amazing athlete will run seven marathons in seven continents in seven days!

Suffering from a stress fracture in his lower spine in mid-2012 hasn’t stopped him from his vigorous training and preparation for The 777 Project. Mike is determined to see this challenge through and USANA is proud to support him the whole way!

Seven-seven-seven

Here is a little re-cap about what the 777 Project is all about.

The 777 Project is a New Zealand first and as Mike progresses on his lengthy journey, we will be able to track his progress via a GPS tracking device – what a neat idea! We can’t wait to celebrate his successes at each leg of the project! The venture will take him to places as diverse as the Falkland Islands, Chile, Los Angeles, London, Casablanca, Hong Kong and back to home soil in Auckland! This will truly be an incredible adventure and we are excited to be a part of it.

Helping children

Mike plans to use The 777 Project to inspire disadvantaged children and to raise money for the children’s charity KidsCan. KidsCan was established in 2005 to support disadvantaged kids’ physical and nutritional needs (an issue very close to our hearts at USANA) in New Zealand. The aim is to help children become more engaged in their education so they have a better chance of reaching their potential in life. As a young boy from a low-income, single parent home, Mike’s dream of becoming a commercial pilot seemed impossible when he was a child. But he has achieved this and a whole lot more. Now, Mike wants to maximise kids’ opportunities to help them fulfil their dreams, too!

USANA’s products are great for Mike and they’re a great choice for you too!

‘I would like to thank USANA for their ongoing support. The USANA supplements have helped me heal; train stronger and I know I am taking the best nutritionals in the world.’

You can follow Mike on his journey via The 777 Project website – www.777project.co.nz

The post Mike Allsop is ready for The 777 Project! appeared first on Usana Health Sciences Organization.