November 11, 2011
1500- 150 miles done!!!! arrived at VA Medical Center!!
November 11, 2011
0900 - 137 miles into run!
November 10, 2011
2115- Approaching mile marker 175 on I-!0, 112 miles into run.
1420-At Florence and Peart in Casa Grande, 93 miles into run, and going strong!
0615- At Picacho Peak, 63 miles into run.
November 9, 2011
2000- At Sunset Road in Tucson, 31 miles into run.
1745- Running up Frontage Road off I-19, run 15 miles so far.
1445- Started run at Holiday Inn Express in Green Valley
July 31 2011.
Dear friends,
Having recovered from my Bighorn 100 miler, on June 17th, and 18th, I have fifteen weeks to train for my Arizona 150 fundraiser. I am tremendously relieved to be healthy, and ready for the final push to my goal of running 150 miles in fourty hours, from Nov 9 to11.
I am overwhelmed by the generosity of all my friends, and the people I have met along my journey. I am amazed, and very grateful for all the people in the skydiving community who have donated, and spread the word to others.
I would of coarse like to send a huge thanks to all who are serving.
blue skies,
Mark Kirkby.
Arizona Airspeed
1375 E Palo Verde,
Casa Grande,
AZ 85122,
USA.
+1 520 705 7132
April 17 2011-
Dear friends,
as skydivers we rub shoulders with some of the finest individuals in the special operations community. This year I plan to direct my passion for running at raising funds for the Special Operations warrior foundation. I have set the goal of running from Green Valley Az, to Phoenix Az, a distance of 150 miles. My plan is to arrive in Phoenix at 11 am on Veterans day November 11TH, 2011. I will be running non stop to the best of my ability, and will take whatever encouragement and pledges you are able to provide.
Thanks,
Blue skies,
Mark Kirkby.
Age: 42
Born in: Kendal, England on May 9, 1968
Jumps: 21 000+
Container: Javelin Odyssey
Reserve: PD optimum 99
Main: PD Velocity 90
AAD: Vigil 2
Jump Suit: Airtime Designs, Tony suit - Pit Special
Helmet: Cookie Composites G3 Helmet
Altimeter: L&B Pro-track and Viso
Home Drop Zone: Skydive Arizona, and Cark in England
Reserve rides: Around thirty, I had about twenty in my first 3,000 jumps
Where and when did you start jumping? I made my first jump with the British light infantry display team, Thruxton DZ in the UK in 1985, then all the others were at Cark where I truly started jumping, my first jump was a static line round parachute jump from 2000 ft.
What made you try skydiving? I was taken to a demo when I was about six years old and I decided then that I would be a jumper.
Joined Airspeed: I was the tail for the original Airspeed four way team that was formed in December of 1993.
Hobbies: I like to train for and run Ultra Marathons, racing gives me an opportunity to train and perform as an individual.
What was your path to Airspeed? My US career began in California with a team called Juggernaut in 1992 a variant of the Gumbys, then I joined the 1993 Airmoves team, and then the Airspeed team was formed in 1994.
Countries visited for skydiving: England, Belgium, Brazil, France, USA, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Russia, Italy, Spain, UAE, Taiwan, Turkey, Canada, Switzerland.
World Records: 4 way 1994 - 29 points, 4 way 1999 - 39 points, 300 way 2002, 16 way 2002 -19 points, World record average 26.0 2007.
Most memorable medal: The overall medal for the 2000 US Nationals when we swept all events, this win showed what versatility the Airspeed project had built over the years, also the high skill of the Airspeed alumni, that the teams at that time could use for all the events.
What made you start competing? I love it when the meet brings out the best in you.
Highest average in competition: 27.4
Plans for the future: fundraising for SOWF, win another World championship, Run a 100 with three of my brothers.
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation mission is devoted to providing a college education to every child who has lost a parent while serving in Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations during an operational or training mission. The forces covered by the Foundation are some 50,000 military special operations and support personnel stationed in units throughout the United States and overseas bases.
The Warrior Foundation is currently committed to providing scholarship grants, not loans, to more than 760 children. These children survive over 600 Special Operations personnel who gave their lives in patriotic service to their country, including those who died fighting our nation's war against terrorism as part of "Operation Enduring Freedom" in Afghanistan and the Philippines as well as "Operation Iraqi Freedom." To date, 143 children of fallen special operations warriors have graduated from college.
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation also provides immediate financial assistance to special operations personnel severely wounded in the global war on terror. Once notified of a special operations soldier, airman, sailor or Marine hospitalized with a severe injury, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation immediately sends funds to the service member (or his/her designated recipient) so the family and loved ones can immediately travel to be bedside.
To date, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation has provided over $700,000 to wounded special operations personnel.