Running NZ

Hi everyone, Sorry I havent written, I have been trying to chill a bit and go see everyone that I have been so lucky to have supporting me along the way,

I got back to Wanaka ( home) on saturday and I have been enjoying catching up and talking to everyone , havent had a chance to play golf yet which is one thing I really want to do but still got tomorrow, One last day as I are off to Australia . I will fly to Christchurch tomorrow night and then to Brisbane on thursday morning. Really looking forward to seeing my Aussie family which has some of my best mates in it.

Since I have been in Wanaka I have caught up with my dad and Lyn who are stoked to have me home but with me comes lots of gear so today when I finally got my shit sorted and they got their house clean and back again they looked a bit happier. Sorry about that.

We had a bbq on sunday evening which was great, weather held almost long enough but was great to have everyone over ,Wayne and Jan from Aspiring Photography and Design who had made our website also came , so great to catch up again after 2 months, they did so much work helping my idea look like something right from the start . I cant thank them enough and their staff for believing in me when I had nothing at all to show.

Rick came up also and we did some final work with the footage, he then cruised up Mt Aspiring valley to chill in the hills, today returning shinky but looking refreshed which was great to see. We then had a interview with the ODT newspaper which should be out on Saturday this week. Great to have him in it with me as he has been behind the lens and driving wheel and without him I would still have been running and pushing the van along I reckon.

I have been packing as well for my trip to aussie to work , thinking way to far ahead as well and packing for going to Japan for a bit of winter too , of course no ticket or idea of when I will go but in my world that is enough to pack for.  I know I will be there soon. Miss it to much not too.

I hear you asking if i have been for a run, well no not at all, I was a dickhead and packed all my shoes up in the boxes in Tauranga so when I got home I had a pair of jandles only, but they arrived yesterday so all good now, I kinda want to go for a little run but not to stressed about it, Just need to move really, the body is so use to running now that I find t hard to sit for a long time , anything over 5 mins to be honest, wont be breaking any records but will keep moving, gotta keep this fitness so I can get straight into something else, I are thinking hard of it now,

Thats about it for the last week, meeting people, thanking them, enjoying the smiles from everyone, also finding out just how many people didnt really think I would make it and lets be honest I didnt either, but to see and hear how happy they were when I did made me feel real special and my smile is just getting bigger( if that is possible). Thanks to everyone again for your continued support, Sorry I didnt get any photos but will go out finding some interesting places and do some things and write more soon,

Hi everyone, First of all I would like to say  HUGE THANKYOU to everyone who has written in and wished us congrats. You wouldn’t believe how happy I are at the moment.

I have been super busy with interviews which has been fun, So lucky to get this much attention and keep being able to get the awareness out there for the Stroke Foundation.

The next morning we had a live chat with the Rock radio station down at their studio which was great fun, then several newspapers and radio interviews around the country, just ones I had talked to before but it was so great that they came back and had been following us all the way along, Thankyou all so much for your continued support because with out it wouldn’t have worked this well.

Then I got to chill a bit yesterday evening which was when I started to feel lonely, why you might say well I have had so much fun and enjoyed meeting so many people along the way , then hangin with Rick for 10 weeks cruising around our beautiful NZ on a road trip was super fun . We saw and experienced so many things and times together and then to be sitting in a  nice hotel in Auckland by myself was a little lonely.

SO in true me form I started thinking of what I could do next, Yeah I do it every time just as I get home from my last trip I find myself standing in front of the Flight Centre looking at flights away again. So today was no different but now I had a bit more meaning to why I was thinking of going somewhere this time.

Next time I think I will get more sports activity’s involved and mix it up a bit. You know in stead of just running or biking why not do them all. Maybe a trip to other country doing something or helping some one would be fun I reckon. Of course getting as many people to be apart of it would be the only way to do it as the energy and awesome feelings and help you get is something that everyone should experience. I will never lose that good feeling and hope I can give back what I got out of this trip up NZ.

Then today I went to see Thonia who had crossed the line with me on the final day. Thonia had her rehab today and had invited me and rick dog to come see and meet everyone there. It was great, to see what she is having to do just to be able to get back doing the smallest of things and the determination she was putting into the moves and exercises was awesome. You can see why it takes so long and a great rehab team of nurses and family are so important to help make this happen, Can’t thankyou enough Thonia for being apart of our run in so many ways. Love to you and your amazing family, Will miss you all but we will meet again for sure.

I then dropped in to New Balance to say a huge thankyou to Dean, jacqui and the team in Auckland who had helped with the finish and getting the kayaks for me to paddle over the harbour. Bryce and Paul were awesome and got me over there in super time and safley and I had such a great time doing it. Thanks boys.

Oh we were lucky and got on Close up last night for the second time, if you didnt see it the link is

http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/can-pie-eating-plumber-run-country-video-4508354?ref=facebook

Then this morning we made the breakfast show, Just a short interview but it was fun.

I went to get some fruit tonight at the supermarket and I had the strangest thing happen, 3 people came up and talked to me as if I was some famous person, I quickly said hi I’m just jup and please dont get to excited but super thankyou for taking the time to come say hi. We when had a chat about our run and it was great to see there faces and smiles that come  out from our chat. With all your help we have made a story and this mission has been great to alot of different people. I are so happy that I tryed to do this run. Thankyou so much

Tonight I went t have dinner at Matt Chisholms hut  with him,Amber , Nick and Nicola and some friends, Great feed cheers Jed and Amber and just nice to chill and talk about things that happened along the run, There was so many different things that happened in making this run happen and even just get off the ground, so many people involved in one way or another which was super special in so many ways. To have Nick in Auckland was great, to see him and his bro Matt chillin here was something they thought might not happen for a ong time but thanks to Mum and Gary in Christchurch it came true, BIg thanks to you both for making this happen.

I then said my good byes and we joked as we talked of what is next but in my mind I are already thinking of what to do and where we can go to do this in a different yet same happy smiling way as I think this is something I would like to do for a long time to come. When you try tohelp others you are also helping yourself at the same time. To much fun not to do. WIll write again in a couple of days as not as much going on but still little happening. sweet dreams all. Love ya

Jup Brown Running NZ – Finish! from Rick Zwaan on Vimeo.

Jup Brown, a 38yr old plumber from Wanaka, has just run more than a marathon a day up the length of New Zealand over the past 67 days – all in the name of the Stroke Foundation.

This is the final update from Auckland where Jup has just finished his legendary run.

Check out runningnz.co.nz and show your support.

Text ‘Stroke’ to 5339 for an instant $3 donation to the Stroke Foundation.

Oh what a day – Huge fun and everything I wanted/dreamed of. We had a great night at the Clipper Court Motel in Orewa and we had a group to meet at 8.30. A great day with the sun out for a start anyway. 10 people had come out to run the 37kms down to Devonport with us, in there was family, bruce who had run NZ before himself and Ang who had had a stroke herself but is getting back to her best with a lot of hard work.

Lots of ups and downs and everyone as keen and happy as I was, they set a good pace and if I didn’t throw in my rest stops we would have been done real early.

Bev and her boys here giving amazing support along the road at heaps of different points. Love it so much.

We came over the hill and there it was the skytower and I got that feeling that I have had so much over the whole run. Happiness and a sense of achievement.

As we ran through town the Redbull girls stopped and I had to get a shot together, would have been rude otherwise wouldn’t it. Might have to keep running if this is going to happen. haha

As we headed down to Stanley Bay in Devonport right on time I started to think wow I am so close now and started getting real excited. My awesome group of runners including Kalani who is only 8 but ran 15kms with us and didn’t even break a sweat. He was giving his dad a hard time the whole way which was awesome. Thank you all so so much for making my last day so much fun, loved getting to know you all and running together.

Then came something different, I didn’t want to just run the harbour bridge and get there so I had organized with Jacqui from New Balance to get a couple of kayaks. Her man Bryce was with me and Paul came along just in case. Wind was up a bit and waves were a plenty which just added to the fun, I had a great time. We paddled for about 30 mins up and then surfed the waves down and into the Viaduct Basin. So so much fun, will be adding kayaking into my next adventure that’s for sure.

We had Matt from Close Up there doing a bit of filming which was fun and with Nick and Nicola there to welcome me into Auckland I couldn’t have been more happy. Dad and all the family had come just to make this day that much more amazing.

The team from New Balance were here and had helped get the finish all set up, can’t thank you enough for every little thing you helped with. Awesome sponsor to have and great gear to run in. I was so lucky. 2930kms and no blisters, that’s a good shoe.

As we headed off for the last 5km loop along the waterfront of Auckland with a great group of around 40 people I was starting to get a bit sad and happy at the same time. Lots of feelings building up inside and it is these feelings that have helped me get this far. Pure happiness!!!!

My bro Hoki here with his daughter Nikita running beside and mum Lyn behind trying her best to keep up.

We had been stopping traffic all day and even with the ugly toots that sometimes come I just smiled and waved and thought – hey this is our moment so sorry but you can wait a mo please.

Our smiles and positive feelings kept the rain from coming too hard and we had a great 5kms. Coming back over the overbridge I could now see the finish line which I had been thinking of for the last year. I was almost there and damn it was an unbelievable feeling that I will have forever. Still trying to get more people involved we got some students to join us which was great.

Me, Nick, Nicola and dad here which is everything I had dreamed of to have at the end, so you can imagine my feeling at this point.

Along the way I have met some amazing people, strong and with ‘that never give up’ mind power. Thonia & Toni have both had bad strokes but were there to walk with me for the last 300m. We crossed the line hand in hand and with smiles on our faces, the only way to do it I think.That was a moment that I hope we can all take home, we had all run NZ for the Stroke Foundation together. I have loved being the person who was lucky enough to be the runner for such an amazing adventure.

Trying not to cry as I can’t speak when I do, I had so many people to thank for all the amazing support we had had along the way. So many people from out of Auckland had come to cheer us in, family, sponsors, friends, tourists were all there.

Nick and Nicola here which was the most special thing, I have made a couple of life time friends in them. Thank you for all your support and love the whole time, I’ll get the next adventure sorted Nick so I can keep the blog going for ya bro.

Have a look at all these people, tell me that isn’t special. That is a smile that I will have a hard time beating. Thank you!!

We went down to the Lenin Bar where Adian the owner had welcomed us and donated $500 on the bar for everyone. Amazing support that I really can’t thank you enough for. Great place, food and staff were super friendly, go check them out next sunny arvo.

We had a great meal at Monsoon Poon, thank you for looking after our big group, great food.

Josh and his bro and dad here who had been amazing in helping us on the harbour with a boat so rick could film us and driving our van this week, you guys rock. Josh it has been a great trip and you made it something special, thank you.

I dedicated today to Euan’s dad, he had a Stroke yesterday. Euan sponsored us with our Guardian van. When I heard about your dad bro I was in shock, I just can’t believe how many people we have met along the way that have had strokes during our run time. It just shows you how important to get the word out about strokes. Awareness and knowing the signs could help save your family or friend’s life. All our love goes to your dad Euan. Thank you for joining us when you had this going on. Love to your family from Running NZ Jup and Rick. xx

I know that I will be on a high for a while and hope that I can live this feeling for ages. A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HAD ANYTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THIS RUN, EVEN IF YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT IT AND TALKED TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT.

WE DID SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE TOGETHER. YAHOO !!!!

Today’s Route – Zoom out to see where I ran…

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Hey Everyone, if you’re keen to come down and support Jup as he finishes his 2900km run today, check out the map bellow for his ‘victory lap’ route.

We’ll be at point A (viaduct harbour) at about 2pm. Then you can join him on a 5km loop before finishing at point B (Wynyard Quarter) at 3pm.

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