by Mollie Millington | May 11, 2017 | fashion, product review
Spring is here and it is time to #getraceready. Get The Label is an online boutique that offers a variety of clothes for men, women, and children. They also have a strong fitness collection that includes tops, bottoms, trainers, and sports bras. All the top brands are there too- Adidas, Nike, Under Amour, Reebok, Asics and more, but at a fraction of the price. Seriously- a lot of the fitness stuff is about 40% off RRP (inlcuding trainers!). Get The Label generously let me pick out a few pieces which I thought would be great in this transitional spring weather (chilly mornings and cool evenings) as training season ramps up again for summer races.
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| My new outfit |
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| Cold Gear leggings |
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| After my spill. So sad. |
The bottoms are Under Armour Cold Gear leggings which are lined with a warm material but also wicks away moisture. The leg panels are water repellent, which is helpful in misty weather. The waistband is high and elastic, which makes it very flattering on my body (and stays in place when I run).
These became an instant favorite during the last weeks of my marathon training. I tend to have trouble managing my body temperature during workouts but these always kept it just right. Can you believe I tripped and fell during an Adidas Runners morning session and ripped them? Absolutely gutted and I am going to try to mend them. If I can’t, I will be ordering a new pair soon.
As I mentioned before, I am trying to replace my old sports bras that are sad and ragged. The description of the Reebok WorkOut Ready bra sold me- ultimate support and moisture wicking (are you seeing a theme here?). I have worn it for both spin classes and run sessions and been happy with the suport it gives my chest.
Finally, the Nike Air Drape Hoody looked so bright and cosy, I had to have it. I love wearing something around my neck to keep warm when there is a breeze, and the cowl neck hoody allows me to bundle up or cool off a bit. There are a few design details, such as the pointed cuff, printed hood and zippered pockets, that add to the unique design. The material is 96% cotton and soft. I wear this top on the way to morning sessions but also when I am home on the couch at the weekends.
I am really happy with the quality of items I was sent from Get The Label. As I mentioned, I will be reordering the Under Amour leggings (only £29.99) if I can’t find a way to patch the stretchy fabric. I will be checking back every month to see what new products they have added to their shop.
Get The Label generously sent me these items to review. As always, all opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | May 3, 2017 | fashion, product review
Towards the end of last year, the lovely ladies behind La Redoute UK contacted me to try out some of the kit in their sportswear shop, as well as offer my advice to their customers about how to stay fit and healthy. You can check out their 2017 fitness guide here, which includes a few interviews with other fitness blogging friends too.
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| Dip in the pool at Champney’s |
I hadn’t heard of this site before they got in touch. The selection of sportswear is huge and includes many big brands, such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Rebook, and R Essential. Every time I have a browse, I see their selection has a lot of classic pieces that will always be in style, as well as a few items that are brighter and bolder. There is so much selection that I had trouble picking out which clothing items to try.
In the end, I went with a one-piece Arena swimsuit with pink fish on it for my trip to Cape Town. Unfortunately, I only wore it under a wet suit on my cage dive because the water there is too cold for beach swimming. I hadn’t heard of Arena before but the product is meant to be chlorine resistant. I tried it out at my Champneys Spa break in early Febraury. It fits well but I knew to go order a few sizes up with my apple body shape.
Next I got a new sports bra to replace some of my Shock Absorbers that look a bit dingy. Have you heard you are supposed to replace your sports bras every 6 months? I struggle to find bras that are supportive enough for me, so I tend to stick to one brand and style. On the La Redoute site, The Z Sport Virtuosity bra claimed level 5 support and the color was bright so I though I would give it a try. I have worn it spinning and it did the job pretty well. It also supported my ‘kids’ well on a few Sunday long runs so I was able to discard my saddest looking Shock Absorber.
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Way outside my comfort zone here with a ‘topless’ photo. At least my bra matched the Overground decor.
Photo by Chloe Knott |
Finally, I gravitated towards the print of grey Puma capris, which fit really well and have a supportive waistband. To complete the outfit, I also ordered the grey branded Puma shirt to match. The bottom of the shirt flares out a bit, which would cover my bum. The shirt is made of cotton (I tend to prefer technical fabrics) but it is still really comfortable and fits me well.
The clothes are high quality and the prices on La Redoute are really reasonable for the brands and selection they offer. They have street wear as well so it might be you new go-to site for one stop online shopping. The collections are constantly being updated (which is why I cannot link to all of the kit I tried), so set it to your favorites and have a look around every once in a while.
Big thanks to La Redoute for the complimentary clothes and including me in their fitness guide. All opinions and body image concerns are my own.
by thinkmarsh | May 3, 2017 | fashion, product review
Towards the end of last year, the lovely ladies behind La Redoute UK contacted me to try out some of the kit in their sportswear shop, as well as offer my advice to their customers about how to stay fit and healthy. You can check out their 2017 fitness guide here, which includes a few interviews with other fitness blogging friends too.
|
| Dip in the pool at Champney’s |
I hadn’t heard of this site before they got in touch. The selection of sportswear is huge and includes many big brands, such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Rebook, and R Essential. Every time I have a browse, I see their selection has a lot of classic pieces that will always be in style, as well as a few items that are brighter and bolder. There is so much selection that I had trouble picking out which clothing items to try.
In the end, I went with a one-piece Arena swimsuit with pink fish on it for my trip to Cape Town. Unfortunately, I only wore it under a wet suit on my cage dive because the water there is too cold for beach swimming. I hadn’t heard of Arena before but the product is meant to be chlorine resistant. I tried it out at my Champneys Spa break in early Febraury. It fits well but I knew to go order a few sizes up with my apple body shape.
Next I got a new sports bra to replace some of my Shock Absorbers that look a bit dingy. Have you heard you are supposed to replace your sports bras every 6 months? I struggle to find bras that are supportive enough for me, so I tend to stick to one brand and style. On the La Redoute site, The Z Sport Virtuosity bra claimed level 5 support and the color was bright so I though I would give it a try. I have worn it spinning and it did the job pretty well. It also supported my ‘kids’ well on a few Sunday long runs so I was able to discard my saddest looking Shock Absorber.
|
Way outside my comfort zone here with a ‘topless’ photo. At least my bra matched the Overground decor.
Photo by Chloe Knott |
Finally, I gravitated towards the print of grey Puma capris, which fit really well and have a supportive waistband. To complete the outfit, I also ordered the grey branded Puma shirt to match. The bottom of the shirt flares out a bit, which would cover my bum. The shirt is made of cotton (I tend to prefer technical fabrics) but it is still really comfortable and fits me well.
The clothes are high quality and the prices on La Redoute are really reasonable for the brands and selection they offer. They have street wear as well so it might be you new go-to site for one stop online shopping. The collections are constantly being updated (which is why I cannot link to all of the kit I tried), so set it to your favorites and have a look around every once in a while.
Big thanks to La Redoute for the complimentary clothes and including me in their fitness guide. All opinions and body image concerns are my own.
by Mollie Millington | Apr 13, 2017 | clothes, fashion, product review
Yesterday on my way home from work, the Evening Standard had an article about how offices should offer showers and lockers to running and cycling commuters.
I am all about reducing stink and have been run commuting for a few months in prep for the London Marathon. I have learned the hard way that millions of microscopic bacteria are the reason why your gym clothes smell after a sweaty workout. If you wash your clothes with the wrong cycle, temperature or detergent, you will compromise the fabric, reducing its quality. Poor maintenance of the fabrics means less wicking, longer dry time and the perfect conditions for bacterial growth. If I am running a race in hot temps, I stink a lot more at the finish line if I dump water on my head than if I don’t.
Nobody wants to be ‘that guy or gal’ who has an office strung up with sweaty gym kit with a smell that permeates the canteen. Here are a few things to think about to keep the smell of victory to a minimum in the office.
Tip 1: Choose the right material
When you are buying new workout gear, avoid cotton like the plague and instead look for:
Merino wool is a natural solution to avoiding post-workout odours. Made from the wool the Merino breed of sheep, this kind of wool doesn’t itch, helps you thermoregulate and doesn’t smell due to a natural oil secreted by the sheep called lanolin. Icebreaker, Smartwool, and ashmei are all brands that work with merino wool.
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| ashmei offices in Tring |
You can also look for the Polygiene logo. It is a silver-ion treatment of the fabric before final manufacturing occurs that prevents bacterial growth. It is permanently integrated into the fabric and will not wash out. Companies such as lululemon, Ron Hill, Adidas, Poc, DaKine and Polartech are just a few examples of partner brands that use this treatment on their products.
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| Polygiene socks make stretching out in the dining room more bearable. |
Tip 2: Wash it with the right stuff
This seems like the natural thing to do but sometimes the detergent we use or the water temperature settings don’t actually kill the bacteria. Don’t use fabric softeners on your tech fabrics as this could leave a residue that will effectively take away the wicking properties. A few products you could try are:
Revive by Odo Sport is designed to keep synthetic sports kit clean, oudor-free, and functioning properly. It shields the fabric from acquiring dirt between washes and adds a fast-drying agent to help kit to dry more quickly (which will keep stink down too).
Nik Wax Basewash® effectively cleans, deodorises, inhibits the build up of body odours, accelerates drying and improves cooling efficiency of synthetic base layers. If you have wool baselayers (we’ll talk about material choice in a minute), use NikWax Wool Wash™ instead.
Mr Black’s Sport Wash is all natural and biodegradable, yet able to squash the bacteria that cause your technical kit to smell a bit funky. Their philosophy is to prolong the life of your clothes as you have invested in them (and we all know how much good kit can cost).
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| Run commute warrior! |
A final option if you want to wash your clothes is to send clothes out during the day to be laundered. Indoor cycling studio and fitness gym H2 offers this as a service with a 48 hour turn-around time, which means the sweaty clothes never make it to your office to cause any offence.
Tip 3: Use Pay As You Gym (PAYG) to shower
Perhaps your training schedule only requires you to run or cycle in once or twice a week. If your office doesn’t offer shower or lockeroom facilities, look on the PAYG website to locate an inexpensive gym facility near work where you can freshen up and change before your first meeting. Long term it might not be cost-effective, but it could also help you smell fresh for the rest of the day.
Tip 4: Run home instead
Sounds simple enough, but make exercise a priority and run home from work instead of going to the pub. That way sweaty clothes can air out in the comfort in your living room instead of your work cubicle. Of course, it is challenging to keep the motivation up over the course of a day but think about how you will feel as the endorphins start flowing after a few minutes of sweating.
If you have any other ideas on how to keep your office from smelling like a locker room, please comment below. I know Londoners can be pretty creative with this sort of thing.
Portions of this post originally appeared on the H2 Life Blog.
by thinkmarsh | Apr 13, 2017 | clothes, fashion, product review
Yesterday on my way home from work, the Evening Standard had an article about how offices should offer showers and lockers to running and cycling commuters.
I am all about reducing stink and have been run commuting for a few months in prep for the London Marathon. I have learned the hard way that millions of microscopic bacteria are the reason why your gym clothes smell after a sweaty workout. If you wash your clothes with the wrong cycle, temperature or detergent, you will compromise the fabric, reducing its quality. Poor maintenance of the fabrics means less wicking, longer dry time and the perfect conditions for bacterial growth. If I am running a race in hot temps, I stink a lot more at the finish line if I dump water on my head than if I don’t.
Nobody wants to be ‘that guy or gal’ who has an office strung up with sweaty gym kit with a smell that permeates the canteen. Here are a few things to think about to keep the smell of victory to a minimum in the office.
Tip 1: Choose the right material
When you are buying new workout gear, avoid cotton like the plague and instead look for:
Merino wool is a natural solution to avoiding post-workout odours. Made from the wool the Merino breed of sheep, this kind of wool doesn’t itch, helps you thermoregulate and doesn’t smell due to a natural oil secreted by the sheep called lanolin. Icebreaker, Smartwool, and ashmei are all brands that work with merino wool.
|
| ashmei offices in Tring |
You can also look for the Polygiene logo. It is a silver-ion treatment of the fabric before final manufacturing occurs that prevents bacterial growth. It is permanently integrated into the fabric and will not wash out. Companies such as lululemon, Ron Hill, Adidas, Poc, DaKine and Polartech are just a few examples of partner brands that use this treatment on their products.
|
| Polygiene socks make stretching out in the dining room more bearable. |
Tip 2: Wash it with the right stuff
This seems like the natural thing to do but sometimes the detergent we use or the water temperature settings don’t actually kill the bacteria. Don’t use fabric softeners on your tech fabrics as this could leave a residue that will effectively take away the wicking properties. A few products you could try are:
Revive by Odo Sport is designed to keep synthetic sports kit clean, oudor-free, and functioning properly. It shields the fabric from acquiring dirt between washes and adds a fast-drying agent to help kit to dry more quickly (which will keep stink down too).
Nik Wax Basewash® effectively cleans, deodorises, inhibits the build up of body odours, accelerates drying and improves cooling efficiency of synthetic base layers. If you have wool baselayers (we’ll talk about material choice in a minute), use NikWax Wool Wash™ instead.
Mr Black’s Sport Wash is all natural and biodegradable, yet able to squash the bacteria that cause your technical kit to smell a bit funky. Their philosophy is to prolong the life of your clothes as you have invested in them (and we all know how much good kit can cost).
|
| Run commute warrior! |
A final option if you want to wash your clothes is to send clothes out during the day to be laundered. Indoor cycling studio and fitness gym H2 offers this as a service with a 48 hour turn-around time, which means the sweaty clothes never make it to your office to cause any offence.
Tip 3: Use Pay As You Gym (PAYG) to shower
Perhaps your training schedule only requires you to run or cycle in once or twice a week. If your office doesn’t offer shower or lockeroom facilities, look on the PAYG website to locate an inexpensive gym facility near work where you can freshen up and change before your first meeting. Long term it might not be cost-effective, but it could also help you smell fresh for the rest of the day.
Tip 4: Run home instead
Sounds simple enough, but make exercise a priority and run home from work instead of going to the pub. That way sweaty clothes can air out in the comfort in your living room instead of your work cubicle. Of course, it is challenging to keep the motivation up over the course of a day but think about how you will feel as the endorphins start flowing after a few minutes of sweating.
If you have any other ideas on how to keep your office from smelling like a locker room, please comment below. I know Londoners can be pretty creative with this sort of thing.
Portions of this post originally appeared on the H2 Life Blog.
by thinkmarsh | Nov 10, 2016 | fashion, product review, running
It always amazes me how Londoners will go for fashion over function when it comes to shoe choice. I know I am neither trendy or cool, especially in an urban sense. But where I grew up, when there was 2 feet of snow , you would wear warm tall boots. The first winter we were in London, it snowed a few wet centimetres. As we had just came from Michigan and still had our gortex winter boots. We met friends for coffee and they were in Nike trainers with frozen feet. We may not have looked cool, but our feet were warm and dry.
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| Brand new OOFOS. I need a pedicure STAT! |
After races, people often change out of their running shoes (cuz those are only for running in) and throw on flip flops. I can’t wear most flip flops because the design often lacks arch support and cushioning. With my history of plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis, it causes me a lot of pain to wear flat shoes for long periods of time. Usually I will leave my trainers on after a race or bring another pair with me to change into.
This summer, I was fortunate enough to have a pair of OOFOS Recovery flip flops (OOriginal in Fuschia, of course) to product test after my races. I wore them after the Dublin Half, between laps at Spitfire Scramble, after the Berlin Marathon, and while I was awake on the bus during the FitbitFifty. The OOFoam technology is a little cushy, yet supportive. The shoe design also has an arch built in. Usually my narrow feet don’t feet in sandals were the straps are not adjustable (the straps would be above my feet making it hard to walk), but my feet fit in oofos just fine. The shoes are light, making it a no-brainer to take them travelling. The color selection means they can compliment many outfit choices too and there are a range of designs too. I felt great the day after the races where I tested them out, while during the relays I was able to keep going. You can even throw them in the washing machine to spruce them up.
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Easy to wash, but because mine are a ligher color,
there were still a few areas of wear. |
Fast forward to colder weather……
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Muddy dog walks are now bareable due to warm
dry feet |
In the summer, I wear trainers while I wear gortex shoes from September to May in London. It rains a lot here and I hate having wet feet. Walking Oldland in the park through long grass, there is still a chance my jeans and socks will get wet. I have some budget wellies from decathlon but they are really heavy and my socks always fall down (do you ever have this problem?). I also had to invest in insoles for the wellies as there was no support in there at all.
At a recent press event, I was introduced to Bogs Footwear. They specialise in waterproof shoes, from wellies to walking shoes. Most recently, they launched a leather range but this is only available in the USA so far (good thing I am going home for Thanksgiving in two weeks). I have been using the Crandall Tall wellies on my dog walks and while out watching Guy Faulkes fireworks. My feet have stayed toasty warm. There is a soft lining and handy holes on the sides to pull the boots on with. The heel has plastic higher up which allows you to take shoes off using other foot without ruining the Neo-Tech waterproof insulation. The design is sleek enough that I would wear them out to a country pub but I don’t think I would wear them on a night out, unless it was a bonfire or haunted hay ride.
Both shoes are fit for purpose and stylish enough to wear outside of race recovery and dog walks. I am so glad I can finally have shoes that are comfortable and look good too rather than having to pick function over fashion.
What is your shoe of choice after a tough race or while on a wet walk through the woods? Do you go for fashion over function?
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| Bring on London wintery weather! |
OOFOS and Bogs Footwear were kind enough to gift me these shoes to try out. All opinions are honest and my own.
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