by Mollie Millington | Sep 13, 2017 | eating, exercise, family, outdoors, relax, running, self care
Of course, different strokes for different folks but I had an awesome weekend and think you should too. Here are my tips. Let me know which ones you try and how it goes.
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| Burgess Park fishing late |
- Be a parkrun tourist- Due to my next tip, I needed to be in Elephant and Castle mid-Saturday morning. I started looking at different parkruns and found Burgess Park run would be closest to where I needed to be. After a quick shout on Facebook, I had a few friends meeting me there. The bonus was that a few other friends from track happened to be there and it was perfect running weather (sunny, cool, with a slight breeze). The course is flat and pretty with a fishing lake, open lawns, and wildflower gardens. They even had orange pieces at the finish. I was #224 and pleased with my sub-30 time. After saying goodbye to everyone, I put my Osprey rucksack on and ran another 5K towards my marathon training.
- Attend an instructional weight lifting session- I was lucky enough to be invited by Vlique to attend a Girls Who Lift session at One2One fitness studio near Elephant and Castle. Although I am a certified personal trainer, I don’t have any clients right now nor do I belong to a gym. It was great to have Anna review proper technique of cleans, squats, dead lifts, and pull ups. An added bonus was that Sabine from My Life My Challenges was there too. I hadn’t seen her in ages so it was great to catch up.
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| Working on my clean but I am fatigued from running 10K |
- Hit up an activewear sale- Lululemon leggings are my gold standard in terms of quality and fit. However, they are also a big investment. Sabine knew about a sample sale, which we spent a lot of time and money at.
- Have a delicious milkshake with a good friend- Maple syrup, Jack Daniel’s and vanilla ice cream. Need I say more?
- Go on a date with your partner- Sunday was our 7th wedding anniversary. We went to Luppolo in Wanstead as it is one of our favorites. We always order the same thing.
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| Goat’s cheese, red onions, olives pizza |
- Sleep in and then go for a run- Don’t set your alarm. When I woke up, I had a rough idea that I wanted to run another 10K. I added in a stop at Rinkoff Bakery for some crodoughs, I mean to add in a mile, too.
- Eat an outdoor brunch in Victoria Park- Yes, more eating. Are you seeing a theme yet? I met James and Oldland at a cafe for yummy food in the brisk air. The sun went behind the clouds but that didn’t matter as I ate a big plate of veg, egg, and halloumi while James had banana praline pancakes.
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| More eating! |
- Make your dog a cake- Not only was it our anniversary, it was also Oldand’s 3rd adoptiversary on Monday. I found a dog-friendly cake recipe online. After Oldland licked all the Greek yogurt icing off of the cake, he swallowed the cake in two bites.
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| Liking the plate |
- Watch Outlander- The 3rd series (“season” in America) started and I cannot wait to see how they adapted Voyager.
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| I was lucky to see Outlander on Thursday night as a sneak preview 🙂 |
If you have any suggestions on what I sure try this weekend, leave a comment below and let me know.
Thanks to Vlique for the complimentary experience. All opinions are honest and my own.
by thinkmarsh | Jul 14, 2017 | exercise, product review, water sports
This week was the last of my complimentary swim lessons with Swimming Nature. I am sad to see them end, not only because it was nice to have a refreshing dip on some the hottest days so far this year, but also the one-to-one tuition has been invaluable. Much like having a personal trainer, I could tailor the lessons to what I wanted to work on, taking more or less time on specific skills I wanted to perfect. Swimming efficiently comes down to good technique and that is what I needed to work on. Sure, I can get around a pool or open water lake but I knew I wasn’t conserving energy at all. In a triathlon, it is about finishing as fast as you can, right? More and more, it is looking like I need to go back to triathlons due to everlasting injury, so I am very happy that I have some drills to practice with and several pointers to consider with each stroke.
When I started my lessons, I wanted to improve my front crawl to make it more efficient. In our last lesson, I swam laps am giving me one point to work on – kicking more, longer glides, bringing my ear to my shoulder when I breath, having left hand enter water rather than left forearm. Feedback from my coach, Sam, after my lessons over the last four weeks:
- Kicking is improving
- Don’t rush
- Need to work on developing more stretch/reach on both sides
- Also remember to bring ear to shoulder when breathing
He also noticed my timing is different on my left and right sides, possibly due to where my left forearm enters the water. He videoed me lap during this last session to show me what I was doing differently on each side. This was really helpful for me.
Swimming Nature provides one to one tuition all over the United Kingdom, as well as group sessions. I found a location that was near work so I could swim before going home for the evening. Lessons are open to all ages and for any reason- triathlons, new challenge, need a low impact sport due to previous injury or health. Kids programs involve regular time trials and a medal at the end of term, which is pretty cool.
I asked Sam for some tips on how to make the most of your investment in 1-2-1 swim lessons:
- The more work you put in outside the lesson, the more you will benefit.
- Have patience. You will not perfect a new stroke in just a few lessons.
- Drills are mean to be done slow.
Unfortunately, I only managed one swim session a week outside of my lessons, but I wish I had done more. I really have no excuse because I live near the Olympic Park and the Aquatics Centre is pretty fab. The 50m pool nearly killed me though, it is so much farther than what I am used to! I am confident I will stick with my weekly swims though, using the drills Sam gave me, to keep up my aerobic base and continue to develop muscle memory. If I do end up switching back to triathlons, I will purchase a set of lessons to help me save energy for the bike and run.
Thanks again to Swimming Nature for the complimentary set of lesson and Sam for his patience. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Jul 14, 2017 | exercise, product review, water sports
This week was the last of my complimentary swim lessons with Swimming Nature. I am sad to see them end, not only because it was nice to have a refreshing dip on some the hottest days so far this year, but also the one-to-one tuition has been invaluable. Much like having a personal trainer, I could tailor the lessons to what I wanted to work on, taking more or less time on specific skills I wanted to perfect. Swimming efficiently comes down to good technique and that is what I needed to work on. Sure, I can get around a pool or open water lake but I knew I wasn’t conserving energy at all. In a triathlon, it is about finishing as fast as you can, right? More and more, it is looking like I need to go back to triathlons due to everlasting injury, so I am very happy that I have some drills to practice with and several pointers to consider with each stroke.
When I started my lessons, I wanted to improve my front crawl to make it more efficient. In our last lesson, I swam laps am giving me one point to work on – kicking more, longer glides, bringing my ear to my shoulder when I breath, having left hand enter water rather than left forearm. Feedback from my coach, Sam, after my lessons over the last four weeks:
- Kicking is improving
- Don’t rush
- Need to work on developing more stretch/reach on both sides
- Also remember to bring ear to shoulder when breathing
He also noticed my timing is different on my left and right sides, possibly due to where my left forearm enters the water. He videoed me lap during this last session to show me what I was doing differently on each side. This was really helpful for me.
Swimming Nature provides one to one tuition all over the United Kingdom, as well as group sessions. I found a location that was near work so I could swim before going home for the evening. Lessons are open to all ages and for any reason- triathlons, new challenge, need a low impact sport due to previous injury or health. Kids programs involve regular time trials and a medal at the end of term, which is pretty cool.
I asked Sam for some tips on how to make the most of your investment in 1-2-1 swim lessons:
- The more work you put in outside the lesson, the more you will benefit.
- Have patience. You will not perfect a new stroke in just a few lessons.
- Drills are mean to be done slow.
Unfortunately, I only managed one swim session a week outside of my lessons, but I wish I had done more. I really have no excuse because I live near the Olympic Park and the Aquatics Centre is pretty fab. The 50m pool nearly killed me though, it is so much farther than what I am used to! I am confident I will stick with my weekly swims though, using the drills Sam gave me, to keep up my aerobic base and continue to develop muscle memory. If I do end up switching back to triathlons, I will purchase a set of lessons to help me save energy for the bike and run.
Thanks again to Swimming Nature for the complimentary set of lesson and Sam for his patience. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | May 22, 2017 | cycling, exercise, outdoors, running, travel, water sports
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| Our bikes from iRide South Africa |
On my recent trip to South Africa, I wanted to take advantage of the good weather and be outdoors and active as much as possible. My running and cycling kit were the first things to go in my suitcase, followed by my swimsuit and sunscreen. I knew it was going to be warm and sunny, but I didn’t know the water was going to be so cold. My hotel was a lovely walk along the promenade to the V&A Waterfront and I saw many other outdoor activities going on- paragliding, sea kayaking, scuba diving, speed boats, sail boats and surfing. I also heard there was horseback riding in one of the nearby towns. Although Cape Town wasn’t expensive, doing all these extra curricular activities would had added up so I only chose a few. I need to go back to try the rest!
Cycling
Part of the fun of traveling for me is seeing new places by foot or wheels. My husband is more of a cyclist than I am but we were both keen to cycle while in Cape Town. Last year, he hired a bike through iRide South Africa so we did the same for this trip. The service was great as they dropped off and picked up the bikes at the flat where we were staying. You could also hire helmets and shoes which leaves more room for other things. One water bottle per bike was provided and we brought extras. This was important as it was 26 degrees Celsius and more while we were in Cape Town.
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| We made it. |
We are both comfortable cycling in a city (James more so than me because he cycle commutes every day) which was important as Cape Town doesn’t have many bike lanes. It took about 20 minutes to get into the fancier suburbs and passed everyone headed to work. South Africa for the most part has wide shoulders on their roads for passing traffic which many of the cyclists we saw used. We were headed south to Chapman’s Peak, which included an 850 m climb in bright sunshine with HUGE winds. I, of course, was nervous of needing the toilet along the way but made it through without incident. It was great to get back on the bike (it had been since Fitbit Fifty) but I did feel bad for my husband as I am a very slow cyclist. He is fantastic at climbing hills! Slow and steady is how I aim to do it. I get there in the end.
We had plenty of fuel and water with us because it was so hot in Cape Town. I used additional saline drops in my water bottles to ensure I was hydrated, plus nuun and Powerade. I had heat exhaustion once in Texas and it was not fun!
 |
| What a view! |
When we did make it to the top, the view was amazing. There were other cyclists there too and several cars pulled over. Everyone was taking photos and looking out over the water. We were told that over and down the peak there was a cafe, but I didn’t want to climb up the hill twice. We headed back down the way we came and stopped for a 2nd breakfast near the beach. It was really lovely to be outside, in the sunshine, and see the ocean just across the road. We made it back to the flat without any problems and relaxed the rest of the day. James climbed to the top of Chapman’s Peak again the next day and found a cafe on the other side of the hill. I was due to run 13 miles for my marathon training and did that instead.
Running
I found there were plenty of opportunities to run in Cape Town. Although many books and websites said not to go out by yourself in Cape Town, I felt safe running along the Sea Point Promenade, as well as running from my hotel to the promenade. There wasn’t much shade along the path but the ocean breeze helped keep me cool. You will definitely need sunscreen!
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| Adidas Runners Cape Town |
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| Representing London |
With marathon training in full swing, I ran most days but had to run very early in the morning or late in the evening because of the heat. I managed to join Adidas Runners Cape Town for a run along the Promenade and through Greenpoint Park were we crossed paths with Park Run which had a large amount of people taking park (FYI- parkrun starts at 8am in Cape Town!).
The other running I was able to due was a trail run in Stellenbosch. I was lucky enough to take part in a Dirtopia race on Valentine’s Day. A more detailed review will be up soon. It was hard to find a comprehensive race calendar, but I think this was due to it being such a hot time of the year. If you know of one for Cape Town or South Africa, please let me know!
Sea kayaking
I went out on two trips with Kaskazi Kayaks in Cape Town. The only other time I have been sea kayaking was a on-off in Seward, Alaska, USA when I lived there for a summer. For those that don’t know, kayaking is a sport where you sit in a small boat close to the surface of the water and use a double-sided paddle to propel yourself. Here are a few things I learned on my trip that you might find useful for your first sea kayaking trip.
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| All the gear ready for us |
Do you need to be fit to sea kayak? Not necessarily, but you do need to be willing to dig in and paddle against the current and waves. We were put into kayaks with others, so you can share the burden a bit. Double kayaks are more stable too. You will wear a life jacket during your trip but you may have to go a ways offshore to go around reefs or rocks under the water. If you are afraid of the water or are not a confident swimmer, this might be unnerving. Speak to your instructor before getting into your kayak to discuss your fears and what the trip will be like. I love being on the water but a few people in my group were either scared to be on the water or didn’t realize how much physical activity was involved.
If you want to see local wildlife, ask the company which time is the best to go out. I was told the early morning trips are when animals local to Cape Town are most active and picked the second trip of the day so I could sleep a bit. We saw a fur seal and some dolphins during my second trip, which was pretty neat!
 |
| Everyone is ready to go. Photo by Kaskazi Kayaks |
There were a few things I brought with me that were important for this kind of activity- sunscreen (my legs got very burned), bottle of water, sunglasses, hat, swimsuit bottoms (no matter what they say, you will get wet), and shoes for water sports (I wore my Keens sandals). A towel and change of clothes will not go amiss either. Basically, it is sunny in Cape Town and even brighter on the water. You don’t want to waste any days of your holiday with a sunburn, so protect your skin.
 |
| Just look at that view. Photo by Kaskazi Kayaks. |
I hope to one day return to Cape Town. What would you recommend we put on our activity list for the next time? We managed to squeeze in a short safari and cage diving, which I will post about soon. But I know there is so much more to do and see.
by thinkmarsh | May 22, 2017 | cycling, exercise, outdoors, running, travel, water sports
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| Our bikes from iRide South Africa |
On my recent trip to South Africa, I wanted to take advantage of the good weather and be outdoors and active as much as possible. My running and cycling kit were the first things to go in my suitcase, followed by my swimsuit and sunscreen. I knew it was going to be warm and sunny, but I didn’t know the water was going to be so cold. My hotel was a lovely walk along the promenade to the V&A Waterfront and I saw many other outdoor activities going on- paragliding, sea kayaking, scuba diving, speed boats, sail boats and surfing. I also heard there was horseback riding in one of the nearby towns. Although Cape Town wasn’t expensive, doing all these extra curricular activities would had added up so I only chose a few. I need to go back to try the rest!
Cycling
Part of the fun of traveling for me is seeing new places by foot or wheels. My husband is more of a cyclist than I am but we were both keen to cycle while in Cape Town. Last year, he hired a bike through iRide South Africa so we did the same for this trip. The service was great as they dropped off and picked up the bikes at the flat where we were staying. You could also hire helmets and shoes which leaves more room for other things. One water bottle per bike was provided and we brought extras. This was important as it was 26 degrees Celsius and more while we were in Cape Town.
|
| We made it. |
We are both comfortable cycling in a city (James more so than me because he cycle commutes every day) which was important as Cape Town doesn’t have many bike lanes. It took about 20 minutes to get into the fancier suburbs and passed everyone headed to work. South Africa for the most part has wide shoulders on their roads for passing traffic which many of the cyclists we saw used. We were headed south to Chapman’s Peak, which included an 850 m climb in bright sunshine with HUGE winds. I, of course, was nervous of needing the toilet along the way but made it through without incident. It was great to get back on the bike (it had been since Fitbit Fifty) but I did feel bad for my husband as I am a very slow cyclist. He is fantastic at climbing hills! Slow and steady is how I aim to do it. I get there in the end.
We had plenty of fuel and water with us because it was so hot in Cape Town. I used additional saline drops in my water bottles to ensure I was hydrated, plus nuun and Powerade. I had heat exhaustion once in Texas and it was not fun!
|
| What a view! |
When we did make it to the top, the view was amazing. There were other cyclists there too and several cars pulled over. Everyone was taking photos and looking out over the water. We were told that over and down the peak there was a cafe, but I didn’t want to climb up the hill twice. We headed back down the way we came and stopped for a 2nd breakfast near the beach. It was really lovely to be outside, in the sunshine, and see the ocean just across the road. We made it back to the flat without any problems and relaxed the rest of the day. James climbed to the top of Chapman’s Peak again the next day and found a cafe on the other side of the hill. I was due to run 13 miles for my marathon training and did that instead.
Running
I found there were plenty of opportunities to run in Cape Town. Although many books and websites said not to go out by yourself in Cape Town, I felt safe running along the Sea Point Promenade, as well as running from my hotel to the promenade. There wasn’t much shade along the path but the ocean breeze helped keep me cool. You will definitely need sunscreen!
|
| Adidas Runners Cape Town |
|
| Representing London |
With marathon training in full swing, I ran most days but had to run very early in the morning or late in the evening because of the heat. I managed to join Adidas Runners Cape Town for a run along the Promenade and through Greenpoint Park were we crossed paths with Park Run which had a large amount of people taking park (FYI- parkrun starts at 8am in Cape Town!).
The other running I was able to due was a trail run in Stellenbosch. I was lucky enough to take part in a Dirtopia race on Valentine’s Day. A more detailed review will be up soon. It was hard to find a comprehensive race calendar, but I think this was due to it being such a hot time of the year. If you know of one for Cape Town or South Africa, please let me know!
Sea kayaking
I went out on two trips with Kaskazi Kayaks in Cape Town. The only other time I have been sea kayaking was a on-off in Seward, Alaska, USA when I lived there for a summer. For those that don’t know, kayaking is a sport where you sit in a small boat close to the surface of the water and use a double-sided paddle to propel yourself. Here are a few things I learned on my trip that you might find useful for your first sea kayaking trip.
|
| All the gear ready for us |
Do you need to be fit to sea kayak? Not necessarily, but you do need to be willing to dig in and paddle against the current and waves. We were put into kayaks with others, so you can share the burden a bit. Double kayaks are more stable too. You will wear a life jacket during your trip but you may have to go a ways offshore to go around reefs or rocks under the water. If you are afraid of the water or are not a confident swimmer, this might be unnerving. Speak to your instructor before getting into your kayak to discuss your fears and what the trip will be like. I love being on the water but a few people in my group were either scared to be on the water or didn’t realize how much physical activity was involved.
If you want to see local wildlife, ask the company which time is the best to go out. I was told the early morning trips are when animals local to Cape Town are most active and picked the second trip of the day so I could sleep a bit. We saw a fur seal and some dolphins during my second trip, which was pretty neat!
|
| Everyone is ready to go. Photo by Kaskazi Kayaks |
There were a few things I brought with me that were important for this kind of activity- sunscreen (my legs got very burned), bottle of water, sunglasses, hat, swimsuit bottoms (no matter what they say, you will get wet), and shoes for water sports (I wore my Keens sandals). A towel and change of clothes will not go amiss either. Basically, it is sunny in Cape Town and even brighter on the water. You don’t want to waste any days of your holiday with a sunburn, so protect your skin.
|
| Just look at that view. Photo by Kaskazi Kayaks. |
I hope to one day return to Cape Town. What would you recommend we put on our activity list for the next time? We managed to squeeze in a short safari and cage diving, which I will post about soon. But I know there is so much more to do and see.
by thinkmarsh | May 8, 2017 | exercise, outdoors, product review
Did you know that May is National Walking Month? Set up by Living Streets, the UK charity for everday walking, the aim is to create a nation where everyone enjoys the simple act of walking. People often overlook walking as a form of exercise, but it is a great one. The impact to the joints is less than running and it can still raise the heartbeat. According to the NHS, walking has even been shown to reduce the risk for chronic illnesses if done at a moderate intensity. Walking can be done anytime, anywhere. It is free and just about anyone can do it.
We chose our flat as it is near a large park and I get in at least one walk a day by taking our dog for a romp. I leave my phone at home to unplug for a bit too and just enjoy being out in nature. But if you don’t have a dog or a nearby park, there are plenty of ways to get your steps in.
The easiest way to accumulate steps is to walk for part of your commute. Walk to the next bus or subway stop or get off one stop early. You could also make your tea break or lunch hour a time to leave the office and walk around the block a few times. When you get back to the office, rack up a few more steps by taking the stairs instead of lift.
In the evening, why not create a new family tradition of going on a walk with the family rather than relaxing in front of the TV? Your children will learn from your example and benefit from being unplugged for a while too.
The Cinnamon Trust is a great way to get involved with your local community and walk more. With this organization, you volunteer to walk elderly or disabled neighbor’s dogs (there are other pets available to care for too if dogs are not your thing). Not only will you get your steps in, but the doggies will be happy too. When we lived in Mill Hill, I walked a dog on Sundays that I was paired with through the Cinnamon Trust. Now, we have Oldland so he gets us outside at least twice a day, if not three.
On our dog walks over the weekend, I tried out the new Keen Terradora mid-walking boot. I had heard of Keen before (I have a pair of their sandals which are great for casual cycling and water sports) and knew the boots would be comfortable as soon as I put them on. The boots have a wide toe box (a signature design aspect of all Keen footwear) and a cushioned panel to support the Achilles. This cushioning really appeals to me, as my Achilles are very tender and I find some shoes irritate them more.
The Terradoras also have a heel lock linked to the laces which can give extra support if needed, depending on the activity you are going to take part in. I have a narrow foot and this ability to tighten the shoe to fit my foot is great. The tread is good for fields, city streets and icey conditions, but the footbed support isn’t designed for use with heavy rucksacks. The shoes are superlight, so for me it is a fair tradeoff as I don’t do any serious backpacking.
My style is a bit more ‘function over fashion’ or sporty, but I think the Terradoras would also work with a bootcut jean if you were travelling on a walking holiday and wanted to head to the pub. Or if you spent a day exploring the town rather than the mountains, you could wear these boots and still have comfy feet.
Being waterproof boots, I know Oldland and I can walk in the park no matter what the weather. On the weekend, we go as a family with my husband too. With our close friends starting to have children, we have found that walks to the playground with the kids are a nice way to spend the afternoon too. We also take walks with the in-laws when we visit them. Walking is a bit harder to do when we go back to America to visit my family. America is designed for driving, not walking!
When do you find time to go for a walk? Try to aim to get 10,000 steps a day or more this May in honor of National Walking Month. Just remember to carry water with you if you go out for a long walk, just in case you get thirsty (or lost!). If you need some inspiration, check out these sites:
John Harris’ Walking in England– links to free downloadable maps
The National Trails- explore the diverse landscapes of Britian (has info on horse riding trails and cycling paths too)
Walking For Health– search for a health walk scheme near you. Over 1,800 free short lead walks are offered a week.
London For Free– 12 free self-guided walks of London.
Free Tours By Foot- another bunch of free walking tours of London
The boots were given to me for a review. All opinons are honest and my own.
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