Hadani Woodruff: Kiwi runner on raising awareness for Speed Freaks NZ

One Kiwi is running in circles to raise money for charity. 

Hadani Woodruff is running ten marathons in ten days – all while dressed as a chicken. 

She’s raising awareness for Speed Freaks NZ, an organisation that supports recovery from addiction and mental distress. 

You can find more information or support her cause here. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, it's tough enough doing one marathon, but to do
ten marathons in ten days around Hagley Park is what
Haddani Woodroffe is going to do, and she joined us
this as next weekend, of course. But oh my goodness,
how did you come up with this so, Dani?

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Oh, well, yeah, it's a pretty crazy idea. I think.
First of all, I just wanted to raise some money
for the Speed Treaks charity. And because the speed Treaks
used running, walking and connection as to use for people
with problems with recovery, addiction and mental distress, I thought, well,
I think it'd be fitting to do a running event,

(00:41):
and then I thought, let's make it a bit crazier.
I'll just dress up as a chicken and maybe that
might get some attention.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
Well, I think it will. What is your preparation for
doing I mean one marathon, as I mentioned, but ten
consecutive marathons.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, it's quite a lot, I think I have. I've
been doing a lot of training. I have done a
number of quite long distance races, and in this case
this will be different because I'll have to run a
marathon and then I need to get up the next

(01:16):
day and do the same thing again. So yeah, I
train about six days a week and I've even been
training in the chicken suit, so yeah, yes, it's gonna
be fun. Taken me a while to get the costume right.
It's not like a full body suit with heavy sort

(01:37):
of feathers and that sort of thing. I've made it
so that my legs have like red tights, and I've
got a short sleeve are we shorts that I've got
sort of with fabric around them, so it looks like
a chick running. And I've got a cap and it
has like the chickens comb on the top. Yeah, so
i can get around in it. And I got a

(02:00):
backup one and I can wash on a one day
while I'm running, and then the next day I can
wash the other one.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
Oh that's the hygiene taken care of. Well, yeah, I
mean you are a chick. You will be a chick
running more and more ways than one. I think it's
just fantastic.

Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (02:14):
How old are you now and when did you start running?

Speaker 2 (02:17):
I am forty eight and I only started running about
five years ago. I struggled with my mental health. I
found it had to move past certain things and get
a hold of what's going on in my life? And
then I discovered this running thing. And I didn't like exercise.
I hated the gym. I really didn't want to get

(02:38):
into anything like that, but I forced myself to give
this a go because I'd heard that it was actually
good for you, and then I heard it was really
good for your mental health. So I started running and
then yeah, I couldn't believe it. I just felt so
much better, way more stable, better confidence. And as soon

(02:59):
as I've improving with my moods and mental health, I'm like,
I've got to go around telling everyone and yeah, spreading
the word really.

Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yeah, Oh that's fantastic, really really cool. And it's one
thing to think it, it's another thing to do it.
And the mental toughness that you need to get through
it is another thing again.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
But that's right.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
So which part of Hagley You're doing it? All around
the Big Park or North Hagley or Hospital Corner or
the Polo grounds? Which part?

Speaker 2 (03:26):
So yeah, I'll be doing north and south in a
figure eight pattern.

Speaker 1 (03:31):
When will you start? Did you say? What?

Speaker 2 (03:33):
Day? Saturday, the twelfth of April at eight am every
morning from the Multicultural Center in South Hagney Park, right.

Speaker 1 (03:41):
So that's the old Nipple headquarters, isn't it.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
Yes?

Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah, okay, well we know where you'll be on those days.
How do we push people towards the fundraising the give
a Little page?

Speaker 2 (03:52):
Well, you can just like Google give a Little and
then type in Haddani which is my name, or the
speed Reeks and you can find it there. You can
text run the word run to four seven four to
one and that'll do a donation of three dollars, or
you can go to the Speed Treeks website. We've got
some more options on there too. But you can come

(04:16):
along eight am in the morning and just if you're
into running or you want to have a walk in
the park, just come along and say today, I'd love
to see some people and keep me keny amused and
entertained because it's going to be pretty boring.

Speaker 1 (04:30):
And I think possibly the last two could be the
most difficult. So look whatever I mean, that's a really
nice idea of getting people down there and just being
part of your journey and it is an amazing feat.
So all we can say is all of your best.
Have you got some messages lined up?

Speaker 2 (04:47):
No, not yet, but I've got the message come.

Speaker 1 (04:50):
So look, I'm sure there'll be some volunteers down there
to do that for you as well. You're an inspiration.
It's fantastic, Hadani Woodroff. We wish you all the very best.
We'll be in touch. Thank you, Run well, you little chick.
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Speaker 2 (05:10):
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