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Journal
Meet Lucas de Jong
Seven Sharp reporter Lucas de Jong came down to Norsewood in mid 2024 to tell our story – and now he’s hooked on our merino Multi Sport Socks! With a big marathon ahead of him, he explains what prompted him to make the switch and why he’s fallen in love with Norsewear.
Tell us about your upcoming marathon — what has inspired it?
I’ve always had it as a bit of a bucket list item to complete. I’ve done a few half marathons before and always thought that maybe one day I’ll tick off the big 42 km distance but I’ve never committed to it. So seven months ago I organised a bunch of mates and said let’s do it. The Hawke’s Bay marathon in May is the big deadline. We chose that one because it’s super flat! At the moment my half marathon times are around 1:56 so according to the experts online I should double that and add 20 minutes for a full time – although the real goal is completion!
How is training going so far?
I’m actually loving the training. This job takes me all over the country and I’m getting to see all sorts of places that I would normally pass in the car. In the past two weeks I’ve run in Christchurch, Wellington, Maraetai and a high-country station behind Kaikōura. There’s something about seeing things from a pair of shoes that makes you appreciate the world in a special way. I’ve also realised that the home tracks in Auckland are incredibly hilly so anything that gets me on the flat is like I’ve kicked into an extra gear! There have definitely been some lows too. One run in particular I couldn’t figure out why I was so lacking in energy, then I realised I hadn’t eaten much in the past couple of days! Now I’m passing the 21 km mark I realise how important nutrition is!
Lucas pictured on his visit to Norsewood with Sharon Doreen. (Source: Seven Sharp)
How much did you know about Norsewear before Seven Sharp took you down to the factory?
If you’d have asked me this question a while ago I would’ve said very little but I actually think my knowledge was better than I give it credit for. The brand is incredibly iconic in this country. Grandad had a pair of Farm Flecks, and just seeing them again brought back all sorts of memories! Now, of course, I’m an expert, which is an amazing part of this job. I can deep dive into all sorts of industries and learn about the finer details that make them tick.
What were the most surprising or fascinating aspects of the visit?
The staff! There’s something to be said about people who stick with a job like that for so many years. There was a genuine pride in the socks they were making. Locals in the café had them on! And everyone I talked to spoke about how they donate socks to sports teams in the area. It’s just a great case of community over profit, which is classic Seven Sharp content.
Which Norsewear socks are you using for your training?
I’m rolling with the Norsewear Multi Sport Short socks. Tim, the Norsewear owner, gave me a pair when I was filming the story as I was hobbling around the factory. The night before I’d gone for a 10 km run along Napier’s waterfront and was suffering from a serious case of 'wrong shoe' and battling a blister. He handed me a pair and it’s all I’ve worn since. To this day, six months and hundreds of kilometres later, I have had only one tiny blister. If that doesn’t tell you something, I don’t know what will.
What have you noticed about using them for running?
I’ve noticed that I don’t notice them. Isn’t that bizarre? I always think with running your mind focuses on what’s not working and I can solidly say the Norsewear socks work. I haven’t had to take shoes off to readjust them, I’m blister free and my toes aren’t getting too hot, like I thought they would with wool on them. Now I just need to figure out how to keep the chafing down and the sweat out of my eyes.
How do your feet feel after a decent run?
Feet… great! Legs, hips, back, and shoulders… well, let's just say there's a lot of training to go. But largely things are going well.
Which socks do you think you might wear on marathon day and why?
I’ve gotten this far with the Multi Sport socks! I’d hate to mix it up on marathon day. A huge part of success is finding a routine and sticking to it. And I can solidly say if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it!
How important is New Zealand made to you and why?
I do like to support New Zealand made but I think I actually put more value on quality. I would happily pay three times the cost for an item like a sock if it means it’ll last three times as long. I put those socks through their paces. We’re talking at least 40 km of hard running a week and they look as good as new. If I’m also ticking the New Zealand made box, well that’s great.
You can watch Lucas’s Norsewear story by clicking here: