by Mollie Millington | Sep 8, 2021 | clothes, fashion, product review
Full disclosure: In this post, I will be talking about stress incontinence when running, peeing my pants, my private parts, periods, and more. If that is TMI (or we are related), you might want to give it a miss. However, if you want to learn about ways to live with stress incontinence, please read on!
There may be various reasons what you want to try out absorbent underwear for periods and incontinence. Personally, I suffer from stress incontinence when I run (even more so when my hay fever is acting up) even though I have never given birth. It is extremely frustrating and embarrassing. When it first started happening a few years ago with only a few drops, I would wear Runderwear due to how quickly it dries. But the last two years, things how gotten out of control. I am currently waiting for a gynecological referral and am using a Perifit to strengthen my pelvic floor in the meantime. Over the last two years, I have gained 15+ pounds and have read that weigh gain can cause incontinence. Hopefully, the solution will be straightforward enough that I can resolve this soon.
Another reason might be to lesson your ecological impact on the planet. Pads, tampons, and liners normally have plastic and will end up in a landfill. A preference towards reusable options is more sustainable. Although the initial investment might seem like a lot, wearing absorbent underwear can save you money in the long run.
Before you invest in these fancy pants, there are a few things to consider. First is absorbency and related gusset thickness. You will have an idea of how heavy or light your flow is, as well as how much you leak when incontinence hits. I tried to highlight what the brands report below, but I still find it hard to quantify in comparison to my pads and tampons. I usually just go by how the pad/tampon looks and base my judgement around that. None of the products below feel too bulky (do you remember the pads you wore in high school? My Always were at least a centimetre thick!) but you can tell a bit when wearing the very absorbent ones. Most of the absorbent pants I find are black, which makes it hard to tell how ‘full’ they are. Predominantly, I use the pants below for stress incontinence when running as I have reusable pads but now that my underwear drawer is full of absorbent pants, why save them just for my runs?
Second, look at the design of the pants. Do you want a thong, high brief, bikini cut, or boy short? Luckily, there are several different style and gusset shape combinations to choose from across all brands. I have realized that I don’t like to run in pants where the gusset goes up the back to the waistband. While this is good for overnight protection, it just makes my bum hot when I wear a bum bag on a run. It might help you with bladder leaks depending on your situation though.
The last factor to consider when you order period/incontinence pants is how to wash them. Do they need to be hand washed? Gentle cycle? Line dry? This might influence which brand you want to invest in. All the brands above say not to use fabric softener but vary in temperatures and how to dry. If you take good care of these pants, they should last you a while. After a run, I tend to rinse my pants with cold water and a little bit of hand soap if I am not washing them right away (for example, if I ran to work and then showered). If I am on my period, I still rinse after use and wait until the water is clear before stopping. We tend to wash our clothes at 30-40 degrees C anyways and always line dry (dryers are a rarity in the UK and oh how I miss having one). Using a lingerie bag can help protect your delicates too but I usually forget.
One thing I want to say before highlighting products individually below is that every pair of pants still leaked through to my leggings and shorts. My gut feeling is that it is due to the force of the urine stream (when coughing rather than just running) ‘splashing’ out of the underwear or the pants not being able to absorb the liquid fast enough. Think about the consistency of blood versus urine, for example. My flow tends to be thick which will take longer to absorb than urine. If you are worried about this, black leggings seem to hide the leaks best, but unfortunately, they do not cover the odor.
Ready to learn more about my experience? Please remember that preference for products is very individual so please do some additional research to ensure you find the right fit. Most companies will not allow underwear to be returned once opened.
Speax was the first brand that I had heard of whose design was specifically for leaks. It is the sister brand of Thinx, which is a period underwear. I ordered two pairs in February 2020 for $35 and $39 (sent to my mom’s when we were visiting home). The current website says these panties can hold up to 8 teaspoons of liquid (thongs only 3 teaspoons and one teaspoon is 5 ml) and have anti-odour technology. There are four layers in the gusset to ensure they are moisture eliminating and absorbent too. They now also come in a variety of colours and patterns but mine are just black. Individual pants vary in price from £20-30 here in the UK, but there are custom and saver sets that get bring the price down. I consider Speax to be my trusted friend for long runs because I have been using them for so long.
BP3 Underwear I have ordered twice, in May 2020 and May 2022. Each pair cost me £18 which is why they were initially appealing. BP3’s USP is their scallop edging that makes VPL’s a thing of the past. They consider themselves leak-proof pants that can be used for both periods and leaks (I tend to use these for stress incontinence only). They have several styles available and each one has a different absorbency rating. The Sarah Sporty, for example, is classified as light absorbency and is able to hold up to 10 ml, or two tampons, of liquid. With my last order, BP3 kindly included a small lingerie bag to protect my pants in the washing machine. The styles I have (one is even blue!) are lower cut that Speax and the gusset feels thinner. I am still happy with the protection BP3 offers from leaks when on runs up to 1-2 hours.
Iceni Silver* is a brand I discovered on Twitter. It was created by British friends who have sporty daughters that needed a solution to being active females. Their pants are very affordable (£22-£29), very comfortable and made in Great Britian. These are actually period pants but can be used for incontinence as well. Iceni is the only brand I have seen that offers a short-style with a longer inseam than a boy short. The silver lining (come on, I had to!) is Iceni’s USP. SILVADUR (TM) is the anti-microbial fabric layer that minimized microbes and thus the smell that comes from sweat. Iceni pants can hold up to 40 ml of liquid and the cotton layer absorbs moisture 20x faster. I found the Hipster to be super comfortable to run in and very absorbent as well.
Primark has recently launched a cost effective period underwear. My pants were only £6. These have a very thin absorbent layer that continues up the back of the pants to the waist. These were only available in a blush color. The fabric is synthetic which made it very hot when I was running so I only tried them once and said never again on a run. This marathon training cycle has been during the summer and I have been overheating on runs regularly and don’t need any more help feeling hot. There isn’t a lot of absorbency based on how thick the pants feel (Primark says the light to medium flow pants can hold three tampons worth (18 ml) and medium to heavy flow can hold four tampons (24 ml) worth). Because the fabric isn’t breathable enough for me when I run, I now wear them at the end of my period when there is light spotting as I am not sure how much I trust the thin gusset.
Pelvi, an Australian brand, makes period pants, kegel trainers, and moon cups. These were a bargain at TK Maxx for £8 (but also not in my size) and an impulse purchase because I had never heard of this brand. I love the detail of lace on the top as most of my period pants are just black and hard to tell apart, especially before I have had caffeine in the morning. Because I bought one size up, these really remind me of granny panties because they are so darn big. The absorbent gusset wraps from the waistline in the front all the way to the waistline the in back. Pelvi claims their period pants that can also be used for light bladder leaks and sweat. With three absorbent layers, Pelvi offers protection for up to twelve hours. I just wore mine on a 65 minute run. They felt a little warm but I has capris on in 22 degree C heat. I thought the gusset would protect a leak in the front, but sadly not. The lace trim on the waistband was unnoticeable, which was a relief. I worried it would chafe. Due to these pants being a size too big for me, I will probably save for overnights when i am on my period.
If you have any other underwear brands you would recommend for stress incontinence, please let a comment and let me know. Stay tuned because I want to make a short video soon to demonstrate how much water each of the above can absorb without leaking through the material because I really do think it is the urine steam force that causes my leggings to get wet. When I have it on YouTube, I will share the link here, so check back soon.
*Thanks to Iceni for gifting me their pants to trial. All views are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | May 13, 2021 | clothes, running
Salomon is a brand that I grew up with on the slopes. Since I moved to London, I started working with them to explore the roads and trails. They are super supportive of the running community, working with Love Trails Festival and putting on their own events at Box Hill. My winter shoes are Salomon GTX trail shoes, which keep my feet dry. I ran across the Wadi Rum desert in a Salomon 6L rucksack*. This week, I received the S/Lab Fore-Tex Shakedry* to review and it looks like Saturday will have appropriate weather to do so (full review coming soon).
Last week, Salomon contacted me about their Her Way campaign. Women do so much at home, work, training, and more, making them pretty inspirational wouldn’t you say? Salomon agree and are championing female awesome-ness with a new short film ‘Her Way’ produced by women and featuring three incredible ladies who are doing it their way and proving female stereotypes don’t exist (one is a nurse who has a daughter with Down Syndrome. I follow her on Instagram.). They are also giving away an amazing weekend in the Cotswolds for you and a female friend.
Salomon encourages you to nominate an inspiring woman from your day to day life, a mum, sister, bestie, girlfriend, and if you’re picked, both you and she will be invited to spend a fabulous weekend (23rd -25th of June) in the Cotswolds. Entries close 31 May, so if you want to win an exclusive invitation to Salomon’s Women’s Getaway and a full head to toe Salomon outfit for you and your friend, submit your nomination today. Ten runners up will win a Salomon WMN box including some sustainable Salomon goodies. All it takes is a few minutes of your time for the chance to play outdoors with one of your favourite people.
I am going to nominate my friend Becs, who became a mom last year during the pandemic. She is handling it like a champ even though she hasn’t been able to have family and friends help out her and her husband out. She is always up for an adventure, an incredible ultra runner, and someone I am lucky to call a friend. Fingers crossed she can leave the baby with her husband for the weekend if we win.
There a few pieces from the Salomon women’s collection that I would love to get my hands on:
Outline shell jacket in Olive. Springtime can be a bit rainy, especially if I am camping. s specifically created for women and provides protection from the elements thanks to a 2.5 layer membrane, with robust 3 layer panels on exposed areas to give added protection. Super light and easy to compress and stow, Salomon’s MotionFit technology delivers freedom of movement whether you’re trail running or hiking with a backpack. I tend to keep a raincoat handy just in case I need one, and layering is a good way to keep warm and dry.
On my feet, the Salomon Sense 4 are made for the trails. Not only do I love the colors, but these shoes are comfy and responsive thanks to Salomon’s OptivibeTM cushioning incorporated into a design aimed to absorb vibrations and decrease muscle fatigue without weighing you down. A full rubber Contagrip® outsole gives confident grip on any terrain and Profeel film protects your feet from sharp objects. They also have a neutral support which I need for my Achilles issues.
Who are your favourite people to explore the outdoors with? What makes them special in your eyes? Leave a comment below and let me know.
*Indicates I was gifted the product for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
by Mollie Millington | May 7, 2021 | clothes, product review, sponsored post
When I saw that my blood sugar could be monitored in real time using the Supersapiens app and an Abbott blood glucose sensor, I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread (Facebook advert algorithms work!). As a scientist, anything that provides data on my performance helps me understand what is going well and what isn’t. As a person with a very sensitive stomach, I am cautious about what I use as fuel during training. At some of my World Marathon Major races, I stopped five times to use the bathroom. This makes it very hard to PB if you are constantly wondering if you will have an accident and where the location of the next toilet is. The technology the Supersapiens app is offering, along with the Abbott Libre sensor, will hopefully help me nail down how often I need to fuel (maybe not every 5k?) and what works best for a stable blood glucose.
Many diabetics use a biosensor to monitoring their glucose levels through interstitial fluid rather than the traditional finger prick to obtain blood. The Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor tracks glucose every five minutes via an app or monitor. There is no limitation on the range of readings and you can program an alarm to indicate if the glucose reading it too high or too low. In contrast, the Libre sensor tracks in real time via Blue Tooth range of 50-200mg/dL. For this reason, the Libre sensor is not suitable for diabetics.
I have only worn the biosensor a few days so far, but already have a few tips on how to make the most out of your sensor. In all the photos on the Supersapiens website (and this blog post), the sensor is applied to the outside of the arm. Three days after applying my first sensor, I knocked it off by bumping into the door frame. May I suggest mounting the sensor on the inside or underneath your arm? One of the other ambassadors purchased an armband holder* to keep the sensor in place. Rotate where you put the sensor so the skin can heal. I have read that a few diabetics will put their sensor on their thigh or chest but I have not seen this an an approved spot to wear the Libre sensor. Before application, clean area (use hand sanitizer or ethanol to remove oil from the skin) and shave the area if it is hairy to ensure a good seal with the sticky pad. The sensor will stay on for a shower and for up to 30 minutes when swimming in shallow water. You can buy a single use performance patch for races to ensure it does not come off. My friend who is diabetic says she uses athletic tape to adhere the sensor sometimes but can’t guarantee how long it will stay on for.
Over the first week, I had to get used to maintaining connectivity via Bluetooth. Sometimes the sensor disconnected and I had to initially reconnect with NFC to sync to my phone before the Bluetooth kicked in. I am not a very techy person, so if you have any tips on the connectivity, please leave a comment below. While I was sleeping, the app and sensor disconnected but this may be to my phone going into power saving mode. The biosensor will hold data for a maximum of eight hours. Luckily, Maple never lets me sleep in late so I was able to see my glucose is fairly stable while I sleep.
The more information you can add to your glucose graph, the better, as that is how you can start to understand how your body creates and uses glucose. I love how you can enter ‘events’ to the graph to log when you eat, sleep, fast, stressed and/or exercise. I would suggest entering events after they occur as the time options are not in real time. I just kept a small list of things to log throughout the day and sat down at night to record them. Many of the members of the Ambassador Facebook group have commented on how combining foods will affect the glucose reaction. For example, eating pasta alone causes a spike but if you add vegetables and beans, the glycogen is released more slowly.
Supersapiens has a large knowledge area to its website, where you can read more about glucose monitoring. They also have a Strava club, Facebook group and Zoom calls every week to talk to their experts (although Zoom might be for ambassadors only). To learn more about glucose monitoring, as well as some tricks and hacks for the continuous glucose monitors, check out Type One Talks on YouTube. I find his info very useful. He even reviewed the Libre sensor.
Are you interested in trying these sensors out? Apply to become a Supersapiens Ambassador via this link. You would be in the company of Nick Butter, the first person to run a marathon in every country in the world, is currently circumnavigating Great Britain by running 200 marathons in 100 days. Fuelling will be a large part of making this challenge a success. Another name you may have heard of is Eliud Kipchoge, who is also using the Supersapiens app and Libre sensors to maximize his performance. I am excited to say he and I will both be at Tokyo Marathon in October, but I don’t think I will be able to catch him.
I will be wearing my remaining sensors in an inconspicuous place for the next six weeks in the hopes that they last the entire two weeks. I haven’t decided yet whether I will be investing in the biosensor and app in the long term yet. Now that I just started working with a run coach, it is the perfect time to focus on the fuelling aspect too and use the data alongside her sessions. I would love to hear if you think glucose monitoring is the way forward and if you have any questions about how it works. Leave a comment below and I will do my best to answer them in my follow up post.
This post was sponsored by Myprotein. They also gave me the clothes in the photos above. The pink outfit is from their Adapt range, red and black from their Power Ultra 2.0 range, and casual wear from their Raw Training line. Supersapiens sent me complimentary sensors as part of their ambassador program. All opinions are honest and my own.
*Affiliate link, which costs the buyer nothing additional and helps pay for this site
by Mollie Millington | Jan 13, 2021 | clothes, product review
Am I the only one out there with an several drawers full of activewear? One drawer is all short sleeve tops (and is currently bursting open), another is half full of leggings and shorts (the rest is jeans) and then long sleeve tops are in my closet. I am not sure how I came up with this system but it seems to work for me. While I don’t think I need any more workout clothes, I do love technical kit that performs well. I tend to overheat easily meaning that my clothes need to keep me cool. I am also always cold, so the fabric needs to wick away moisture. We also try to wear our clothes at least twice to reduce the environmental impact of so much laundry which means it the material is anti-stink, that is an added bonus!
MyProtein got in touch a little while back about their new Power Ultra range. This line is designed to be moisture wicking and quick drying with light, soft fabrics that are also squat proof. I asked to try the Women’s Power Ultra Sports Bra in Midnight/Jade. Because I have a large chest and primarily do high impact sports, I am always wary of trying out different bras than the ones I know work for me. But I also always envy all the pretty sports bras with loads of fancy woven straps. The Power Ultra Sports Bra was promising. The straps are wide and therefore supportive. As soon as I unwrapped the bra, I took it out for a 5K and pleasantly surprised at how supportive it was. The bra also has removable pads should you want to be more modest in chilly temps or want to fill out your figure. The bra didn’t seem to be as supportive after a wash (line dry) but I adjusted the straps and that seemed to help. The straps can also be worn as a racerback, which makes it much more versatile.
For the Power Ultra Leggings, I thought I would mix it up with a different colour than black. The Galaxy/Lime is a great colour but not so great for muddy running. The fabric is smooth and very flattering. There is a high waist with a large pocket in the back of the waist band. The sides of the leggings also have the cutout detail to help regulate body temperature. I have really enjoyed running in mine but have stuck to the pavement to avoid getting them too dirty.
I have also worn these around the house and underneath rain pants on dog walks. They are super stretchy and comfortable. I can also confirm that they are squat proof.
This is the first time I have tried clothing from MyProtein and I am impressed with these two items. To be honest, I didn’t realize they had such a large clothing range. I hope they continue to develop their line to be put through its paces, not just worn for school drop offs and coffee runs. It needs to be able to perform. Eventually, I will be ready to get the leggings a bit muddy but for now I am enjoying them looking brand new (I put rain pants on right after we took this photo).
What kind of features do you look for in your activewear? Will you wear cotton or do you stick with technical fabrics? Let me know in the comments below.
Items were kindly gifted to me by MyProtein. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Dec 18, 2019 | clothes, gift guide, product review, Uncategorized
Even though I am 40, I still enjoy a funny logo t-shirt or sweatshirt. A few have recently tickled my fancy, so I thought I would post them here. I only have one of them (marked as a * and it was gifted to me), but would love to see the others in my wardrobe soon.
Be happy*– While this isn’t a technical piece, it encompasses several things about me- being outdoors and happiness. You will know which strangers you should be friends with based on whether they smile after seeing this shirt. Plus, the brand plants 10 trees with every purchase (hence the brand name TenTree). Their outdoor/travel range of responsibly made clothing ticks the sustainable and super comfortable boxes. I received two weeks ago and wore it for three days straight as it was so soft. There was a small wooden ornament on the tag that lets me track the trees that are planted. Pretty cool!
All I want for Christmas– Ain’t this the truth! Whether you go CrossFit, parkrun or ultras, who doesn’t want to improve their performance. Comes in men’s and women’s, red or blue. You can’t loose with this one. Set aside some time to nosy around the rest of their site for some other fantastic gift ideas.
Kinda wanna go for a run– Every year, Sarah Marie Design Studio creates so many clothing designs I want, it is lucky there isn’t a store in the UK. Shipping overseas includes extra taxes and such so I only treat myself once in a while (such as when my mom comes to visit). SMDS- if you ever want to open a store in London, I am your girl to help you launch it!
I just want snacks– Story of my life here on a sweatshirt. On a recent trip to Shoreditch, I discovered Limpet Store in the Women Who Give a Sh*t (WHGAS) pop up in the Boxpark. I couldn’t stop smiling as walked down each aisle at the uniquely curated selection. Limpet Store had many things I loved, but this was my favorite. Comes in white, black or grey. I insist you visit the Limpet Store online and if you can, the WHGAS pop up in London asap. So much good stuff in both!
MOVE– I am not even sure you can get this sweatshirt anymore but I saw it when I recently popped into their Shoreditch studio. It makes me a little nostalgic because FRAME was one of the first studios I worked at in London back in 2012. Shoreditch was the only studio back then and looked fairly different when you first walked in. Fast forward to 2020, and the team are planning on opening studios in Bristol and Brighton after already having over a half dozen in London. This logo captures their energetic branding but would also hopefully inspire people who read it to be more active.
Self-love recipe- H&M surprised me with this pretty pastel pink number at an affordable price. I cropped it quite a bit so you can read what it says on the back. Remember this list over the holidays and take a time out if you need it.
Love the miles/Love the rest days- We Are Daybreak is a friendly running community in London who offer free workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as weekend trail running adventures. They just started selling technical tees, cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts just in time for the holidays. Their usual motto is “love the miles” (as shown in photo), I want a sweatshirt for the finish line, which is why I prefer “love the rest days” (photo coming soon, but take the format above and change text). Their official shop is nearly ready to launch but in the meantime, join their group on Facebook to order your shirt today (search DB LOVE THE MILES, will be posted after Christmas).
What is your favorite sweatshirt in your closet? Is because of a happy memory, how it feels, or because you love what it says?
by Mollie Millington | Jul 11, 2018 | clothes, product review
I know what you are thinking. #woolinsummer? Am I crazy? I assure you, I am not. In previous blog posts, I have waxed lyrical about the benefits of merino wool. I wear merino socks all year round and merino base layers in the winter. When we went to New Zealand a few years ago, we visited the Ice Breaker outlet four times and stocked up on cycling gear, socks, running tops, and base layers.
Icebreaker recently contacted me about their Cool-lite(TM) range. It helps make their clothes more comfortable and breathable in hot and humid temps (exactly what we have been experiencing in London). Aside from the other benefits of merino (no smell build up and moisture wicking), Cool-lite(TM) also is made from sustainably-sourced eucalyptus. Nearly 100% of the solvent used to make up one of the components of Cool-lite(TM) is recycled too. Sounds good to me!
This long heatwave has given me ample opportunity to put Cool-lite(TM) to the test. I wore the Cool-Lite(TM) Sphere Short Sleeve Low Crewe Cook Reflected shirt (130g for those that know their base layers) a few days when we had some time scheduled outdoors with dog walks and meeting friends in the park. The short sleeves, rather than a vest, were nice as it prevented my shoulders from burning. My husband didn’t report any smell issues by the third day of wear. Although I was warm in the direct sunlight, it wasn’t unbearably hot in my t-shirt. The sizing of the shirt seems a little big. I usually wear a medium in shirts (large if it is a womens cut). The shirt I am wearing is a medium and felt a bit roomy. On the other hand, maybe all of my calorie counting is paying off! If you decide to order one, you might want to double check the sizing guide first.
Based on this trial run, my Icebreaker shirt is already packing in my duffle bag for Love Trails Festival this weekend. It will be perfect for wearing around camp in between runs. It will dry fast on my clothes line and shouldn’t smell too bad by the time I get back to London. I am also bringing:
- Camping clothes lines to dry out wet gear
- Swim suit for run/swim
- Sunscreen
- Bagels and peanut butter for easy portable snack
- Luchodillitos for energy on a run
- Headlamp to pitch tent in the dark
- Mermaid bunting to hang on the outside of my tent to make it easier to find
- Kindle for reading and writing
- Spiky ball for massaging
- Sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Quick drying towel for swimming and 3 min showers
- Flip flops for camp
- Antihistamines and nasal spray
- Solar charger power pack
- Cash and card for food and drink vendors (fingers crossed they stock Diet Coke)
I have never been to Love Trails (or any kind of festival, really) and would appreciate any and all advice you have about what to pack and what to leave at home. I am hoping my packing list for a 24 hour relay race will be a good starting point. The tricky thing will be carrying everything on the Tube to get on the coach to the festival site in Wales. Hopefully my 90L duffel bag from Kilimanjaro can hold everything, including my tent and sleeping bag. We shall soon see.
Thanks to Icebreaker for gifting me this shirt for review. All opinions are honest and my own.
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