On Sunday, I returned from 11 days in the USA which included 3 races, an aerial dance class, and a mermaid swim session. My brain and body are still confused as to what time it is but I am trying to think ahead to my next challenge. Currently, the only races I have booked in are 18 November for A Day at the Movies for a shark medal (think Jaws and remember I am a fish nerd) and London Winter Run 10k. To be honest, I am looking forward to a break from marathon training. I have completed three World Marathon Major (WMM) marathons in the last 13 months (Berlin, London and Chicago). It is all consuming, from scheduled runs to cross training, arranging travel and carb loading, even if you are injured like I was over the summer.
A full review of Chicago marathon (my 3rd WMM) will be up soon, but I can tell you my body just wasn’t strong enough per usual. To help correct my weaknesses (and hopefully increase my speed) I am working with Function360, who provided me with a gait analysis at the end of the summer. Their team is confident that they can get my lazy bum in gear and optimise my running form. I will also be returning to Julia B Fit’s online gym for overall strength and conditioning and working with Shannon S Nutrition to get my portion sizes under control (something that went a bit crazy in the USA). This is a big focus now because my next big challenge is in March and I want you to join me.
The trip is 2-11 March 2018, with an optional safari through 14 March 2018.
The route has a >90% success rate and Eco Africa Climbing tests blood oxygen twice a day to monitor your body’s response to the altitude.
Cost is $2469 (~£1800) which covers 10 days (7 days trekking + 3 night hotel, 1 night before climb and 2 nights after climb), including 3 meals a day and tent accommodation on the mountain.
Free gift worth £30 from me to the first 10 people who pay in full and give my name as a referral.
Surprise at the summit for those who register by 1 December 2017.
Facebook group to get to know one another before we meet in person.
3 months of fitness guidance from me, worth £450
Exclusive shopping event with discount at Ellis Brigham to help you kit up for the trip. Date for London shopping event TBD.
Please note, I am not liable for any cancellations or issues with the trip. All transactions with Eco Africa Climbing are between you and the company. I highly recommend investing in travel insurance to protect your trip and health on this adventure. Disclaimer: For each person who registers as a referral by me, I receive a small discount on my trip.
Learning new things is one of my passions. Very rarely am I not enrolled in a course. After university it was scuba diving. Then I took chemistry classes part-time to apply for vet school. I also did a nursing nutrition course when working at a hospital followed by a master degree in Zoo and Aquarium Management. Since 2009 I have gained over a dozen health and fitness qualifications while maintaining my first aid certification. I even did marketing and Instagram courses to learn how I can promote my business.
Over the last two years, my day job has been so full on that my in-person personal training and continued professional development want have had to take a back seat for a while. My no-longer-new neighbourhood doesn’t have the demand for personal trainers like my old one did. My work over the last year was a bit unpredictable as to when I would leave at the end of the day, but now things have calmed down a bit. Plus I don’t have any specific marathons booked in (just working on my pace to get a BQ).
What am I going to do with all my free time? Never one to sit around and twiddle my thumbs, I have just signed up for Future Fit Training‘s Advanced Nutrition and Weight Management diploma (don’t tell my husband) which is certified by the Association for Nutrition. It is an online program that covers the following modules:
Behavior Change Coaching
Childhood Nutrition and Obesity Prevention
Nutrition and Weight Management
Nutrition for Sport and Exercise
Pre and Postnatal Nutrition
My aim is to finish in one year. Hopefully my coursework with Institute for Integrative Nutrition will give me a solid foundation of knowledge. I have started with Nutrition and Weight Management, the longest module, which will have me doing a six week case study after I complete the lectures. The course starts every Monday, so you can join at any time of year and make it work around your schedule.
When I complete the course, I will:
Become a specialist qualified Nutrition Adviser
Gain an in-depth understanding of nutrition and weight management
Have knowledge and insight into the role psychology plays when trying to change a client’s behaviour or habits
The skills and confidence to run your own weight management clinic, or offer individual consultations
An in-depth understanding of sports nutrition and the ability to provide appropriate nutrition advice to those with sport or exercise related goals
Specialised knowledge of how the principles of nutrition relate to women who are pregnant or breast-feeding
Also, with the new qualification, I will be able to take on more remote and digital coaching clients, as well as keep myself fit(ter). Eating is the biggest thing that influences your body shape. Sure, exercise is important, but it is much easier not to consume extra calories that to burn it off later. I will be updating you about my studies over the next year so keep checking back to see how I am doing. If you are interested in receiving nutritional advice, please fill out this form and I will get in touch.
Thanks to Future Fit Training for allowing me to enroll in their course. All opinions and experiences are honest and my own.
Learning new things is one of my passions. Very rarely am I not enrolled in a course. After university it was scuba diving. Then I took chemistry classes part-time to apply for vet school. I also did a nursing nutrition course when working at a hospital followed by a master degree in Zoo and Aquarium Management. Since 2009 I have gained over a dozen health and fitness qualifications while maintaining my first aid certification. I even did marketing and Instagram courses to learn how I can promote my business.
Over the last two years, my day job has been so full on that my in-person personal training and continued professional development want have had to take a back seat for a while. My no-longer-new neighbourhood doesn’t have the demand for personal trainers like my old one did. My work over the last year was a bit unpredictable as to when I would leave at the end of the day, but now things have calmed down a bit. Plus I don’t have any specific marathons booked in (just working on my pace to get a BQ).
What am I going to do with all my free time? Never one to sit around and twiddle my thumbs, I have just signed up for Future Fit Training‘s Advanced Nutrition and Weight Management diploma (don’t tell my husband) which is certified by the Association for Nutrition. It is an online program that covers the following modules:
Behavior Change Coaching
Childhood Nutrition and Obesity Prevention
Nutrition and Weight Management
Nutrition for Sport and Exercise
Pre and Postnatal Nutrition
My aim is to finish in one year. Hopefully my coursework with Institute for Integrative Nutrition will give me a solid foundation of knowledge. I have started with Nutrition and Weight Management, the longest module, which will have me doing a six week case study after I complete the lectures. The course starts every Monday, so you can join at any time of year and make it work around your schedule.
When I complete the course, I will:
Become a specialist qualified Nutrition Adviser
Gain an in-depth understanding of nutrition and weight management
Have knowledge and insight into the role psychology plays when trying to change a client’s behaviour or habits
The skills and confidence to run your own weight management clinic, or offer individual consultations
An in-depth understanding of sports nutrition and the ability to provide appropriate nutrition advice to those with sport or exercise related goals
Specialised knowledge of how the principles of nutrition relate to women who are pregnant or breast-feeding
Also, with the new qualification, I will be able to take on more remote and digital coaching clients, as well as keep myself fit(ter). Eating is the biggest thing that influences your body shape. Sure, exercise is important, but it is much easier not to consume extra calories that to burn it off later. I will be updating you about my studies over the next year so keep checking back to see how I am doing. If you are interested in receiving nutritional advice, please fill out this form and I will get in touch.
Thanks to Future Fit Training for allowing me to enroll in their course. All opinions and experiences are honest and my own.
I learned a few things from last year’s Spitfire Scramble. Even though I made a list of things to pack, I still forgot a few things, like baby wipes. I did remember a hot water bottle and think that was more essential because if I smelled, I was camping alone. Here are the Things that got me through Spitfire Scramble 2016.
2016 UK Fitness Bloggers team
Pearl Izumi kit is lush
Pearl Izumi*-Their Transfer Dry running kit is amazing! I have the Pursuit Singlet and 4.5 in short. Both dried out so quick after my first lap I left them on and wore for lap #2. I even wore the shorts to Fierce Grace Yoga once and they never stuck to me or need to be adjusted. They are now my go-to shorts in the summer. The only change I would make is to add a zipper or Velcro seal three small pocket on the back waistband as I am always afraid my gel or keys will fall out. The top is a flattering cut (as is my preference for a loose cut).
Runderwear– They quick dry too so you don’t have to worry about swamp ass. ‘nough said. Here is my original review. Knuckle Lights*- Team member, Corey from Learning Patience, was able to hook up the team with these. She had used them last year and raved about them. I used mine at high power and could see everything even though it was pitch black out. I also had Night Runner 270′s* on my feet, Million Mile lights on my waist and a head torch. It was awesome to be so lit up because I got of lot of comments during my 2 night laps, which gave me the boost I needed. One person said I was lit up like a Christmas tree, while a marshall said I made their night by being so bright. The rechargable batteries didn’t last me too laps though while on high power. Next year, I will go with medium strenght.
A video posted by Mollie, the Happiness PT (@ptmollie) on
Primal pantry bars*– Sabine, from My Life My Challenges, was able to share some sample Primal Pantry bars. My flapjacks ended up sticking to the parchment paper when I took them out of the oven, so I was grateful for an alternative snack. We had 4 flavours but I stuck to the ones I knew and saved the rest for run commuting. VITHIT water*– These were sent to me just days before the race. I chose to have them as a treat after my daytime laps as a way to rehydrate without having to worry about my body’s response. (Runners are really superstitious about trying new things, if you haven’t pick up on that yet). I tried Apple & Elderflower and Coconut & Pineapple. Both were really nice treat after a hot 5.9 mile run. I still have 2 other flavours in my fridge and hope summer lasts a bit longer so I can enjoy them properly. Primus Lite gas stove*- I harnessed it’s true potential this year and had a hot water bottle while I slept, made Sabine a pot of noodles, and someone a cup of tea. I was so relieved it didn’t rust when we left it outside in a plastic storage container in the garden that became super damp when we had heavy rain. The insulation on the cup went a bit mouldy but I was able to wash that off under the tap. I was super impressed it wasn’t damaged further. Quality stuff right there! elete Holistic Hydrate*- These were a lifesaver as it was very hot and sunny on Saturday afternoon. All I did was pour 1/2 capful into my 750ml water bottle and added water. It didn’t taste that much different (but just a little bit, maybe just psychosomatic as I knew there were added salts in there?). The bottles are small enough (like an eye drop bottle) that you can travel with it or keep in your gym bag for hot days or super-sweaty workouts.
Stretch and massage in between laps
Massages- I had enough cash on me to invest in 3 massages this year. Corey’s massage therapist said to get massages throughout the race. Our team was the first in line to sign up for our anticipated slots. God bless the Flying Physios as they worked for nearly 35 hours straight to keep all us runners going. I don’t know if it was mentally or physically a relief but I will do the same again next year. Familiar faces- It is wonderful to be building up my friends in the London running community. We had several other blogger friends at the race (Lisa, Lucy, and Frankie), my friend Clare and her gang of East End Road Runners, two ladies from Advent Running, and my local park run leaders. Spitfire is so friendly and relaxed you really can’t beat it. I am already looking forward to next year. My goal is to bring my own food rather than rely on the food stands. During my laps, I had lots of time to strategize our rota for next year. Returning to such a fun race year-after-year helps me check in with the community aspect of running and reminds me how fun it truly can be. All items with a * were given to me with compliments in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are honest and my own.
I learned a few things from last year’s Spitfire Scramble. Even though I made a list of things to pack, I still forgot a few things, like baby wipes. I did remember a hot water bottle and think that was more essential because if I smelled, I was camping alone. Here are the Things that got me through Spitfire Scramble 2016.
2016 UK Fitness Bloggers team
Pearl Izumi kit is lush
Pearl Izumi*-Their Transfer Dry running kit is amazing! I have the Pursuit Singlet and 4.5 in short. Both dried out so quick after my first lap I left them on and wore for lap #2. I even wore the shorts to Fierce Grace Yoga once and they never stuck to me or need to be adjusted. They are now my go-to shorts in the summer. The only change I would make is to add a zipper or Velcro seal three small pocket on the back waistband as I am always afraid my gel or keys will fall out. The top is a flattering cut (as is my preference for a loose cut).
Runderwear– They quick dry too so you don’t have to worry about swamp ass. ‘nough said. Here is my original review. Knuckle Lights*- Team member, Corey from Learning Patience, was able to hook up the team with these. She had used them last year and raved about them. I used mine at high power and could see everything even though it was pitch black out. I also had Night Runner 270′s* on my feet, Million Mile lights on my waist and a head torch. It was awesome to be so lit up because I got of lot of comments during my 2 night laps, which gave me the boost I needed. One person said I was lit up like a Christmas tree, while a marshall said I made their night by being so bright. The rechargable batteries didn’t last me too laps though while on high power. Next year, I will go with medium strenght.
A video posted by Mollie, the Happiness PT (@ptmollie) on
Primal pantry bars*– Sabine, from My Life My Challenges, was able to share some sample Primal Pantry bars. My flapjacks ended up sticking to the parchment paper when I took them out of the oven, so I was grateful for an alternative snack. We had 4 flavours but I stuck to the ones I knew and saved the rest for run commuting. VITHIT water*– These were sent to me just days before the race. I chose to have them as a treat after my daytime laps as a way to rehydrate without having to worry about my body’s response. (Runners are really superstitious about trying new things, if you haven’t pick up on that yet). I tried Apple & Elderflower and Coconut & Pineapple. Both were really nice treat after a hot 5.9 mile run. I still have 2 other flavours in my fridge and hope summer lasts a bit longer so I can enjoy them properly. Primus Lite gas stove*- I harnessed it’s true potential this year and had a hot water bottle while I slept, made Sabine a pot of noodles, and someone a cup of tea. I was so relieved it didn’t rust when we left it outside in a plastic storage container in the garden that became super damp when we had heavy rain. The insulation on the cup went a bit mouldy but I was able to wash that off under the tap. I was super impressed it wasn’t damaged further. Quality stuff right there! elete Holistic Hydrate*- These were a lifesaver as it was very hot and sunny on Saturday afternoon. All I did was pour 1/2 capful into my 750ml water bottle and added water. It didn’t taste that much different (but just a little bit, maybe just psychosomatic as I knew there were added salts in there?). The bottles are small enough (like an eye drop bottle) that you can travel with it or keep in your gym bag for hot days or super-sweaty workouts.
Stretch and massage in between laps
Massages- I had enough cash on me to invest in 3 massages this year. Corey’s massage therapist said to get massages throughout the race. Our team was the first in line to sign up for our anticipated slots. God bless the Flying Physios as they worked for nearly 35 hours straight to keep all us runners going. I don’t know if it was mentally or physically a relief but I will do the same again next year. Familiar faces- It is wonderful to be building up my friends in the London running community. We had several other blogger friends at the race (Lisa, Lucy, and Frankie), my friend Clare and her gang of East End Road Runners, two ladies from Advent Running, and my local park run leaders. Spitfire is so friendly and relaxed you really can’t beat it. I am already looking forward to next year. My goal is to bring my own food rather than rely on the food stands. During my laps, I had lots of time to strategize our rota for next year. Returning to such a fun race year-after-year helps me check in with the community aspect of running and reminds me how fun it truly can be. All items with a * were given to me with compliments in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are honest and my own.
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