Greg Kolodziejzyk is a successful entrepreneur who informally retired from the business world when he was in his mid-30s – to focus on improving his health and meeting new challenges. He started by signing up to compete in a triathlon. After losing 50 pounds racing and training, he went on to complete 12 Ironman distance triathlons, with a 4th place finish in his division at Ironman Arizona in 2006 earning him a coveted slot to compete at the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii.
It had been a childhood dream of Greg's to make the pages of the Guinness Book of World Records – to be the best in the world at something. His newfound fitness became the foundation for his next challenge. Greg set out on a quest to earn his first world record - to travel farther than any human has ever traveled under his own power in one day and claim the 24-hour human-powered vehicle distance record. At the start of the project, Greg didn't own a single tool. By the end of it, he had designed and fabricated one of the fastest bicycles in the world – the Critical Power human powered vehicle (HPV) – a carbon fiber bullet bike weighing in at 50 pounds, with a cruising speed of 50 kph (31 mph) and a top speed of 100 kph (62 mph).
Critical Power
After a failed attempt at the world record in Alabama in 2005, Greg went on to pedal his Critical Power 1041 km (647 miles) in 24 hours around a race track in Eureka, Ca in the summer of 2006. He had earned him his first world record, a coveted position on Page 112 of the 2009 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, and the cover of Popular Science magazine!
After conquering land by human power, Greg set his sights on the water. After an unsuccessful attempt at the human-powered boat 24 hour distance record in the summer of 2007, Greg broke endurance-kayaker Carter Johnson's 242 km (150.34 miles) record on Whitefish lake in September of 2008, pedaling his ultra-efficient trimaran boat a total of 245.16 km (152.33 miles) in 24 hours. He was now the proud owner of two world records.
As part of his on-going efforts to show the world the amazing potential of human power, Greg is now focused on crossing the Pacific ocean from Canada to Hawaii in a special pedal-powered boat called "WiTHiN". The attempt is scheduled to begin in June 2010. After building and testing a prototype human-powered ocean boat, Greg and his team are now busy constructing a new expedition boat. If successful, this journey will earn Greg a “world-first” – as the first person to travel this route under his own power.
Critical Power Two
Greg's pursuit of the limits of human power inspires a refreshing 'do more with less' philosophy. It also opens up opportunities for a larger discussion he feels is desperately needed, confronting the serious issues we face with skyrocketing childhood obesity rates.
As part of the Pedal The Ocean project, Greg would like to give away 3000 bikes to 300 kids, but he needs your help. Sponsor a mile for $50 and for every mile that Greg pedals WiTHiN across the Pacific ocean, Kimberlee’s Bikes for Kids charity will donate one bicycle to a deserving child who can't afford one. If Greg makes it to Hawaii he will have travelled 3000 miles. With the help of your generosity, that could mean 3000 bikes for 3000 kids!
Greg is a successful and inspiring public speaker. His spirit is contagious. His message is vital. Greg’s motivational speech entitled “Bold!” is an entertaining look at the kind of attitude it takes to realize a dream, based upon the immortal words of German Poet Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe:
“What you can do, or dream you can do, begin it, for Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
Greg lives in Southern Alberta with his business partner, training partner, best friend and wife Helen, and their two teenaged kids Cody and Krista. He is currently training for and competing in ultra-marathons, and hopes to complete a one hundred mile ultra-marathon before summer 2009 is over.
Sponsor a mile for $50 and every mile that Greg pedals WiTHiN across the Pacific ocean, Kimberlee’s Bikes for Kids charity will donate one bicycle to a deserving child who can't afford one.
If Greg makes it to Hawaii he will have travelled 3000 miles and with your help, that will mean 3000 bikes for 3000 kids!
When you click a Donate Now button you will be taken to the Kimberlee's Bikes for Kids Paypal page where you can securely complete your transaction. You can use PayPal or any major credit card.