by Mollie Millington | Dec 2, 2019 | fitness, gift guide, outdoors, product review
This year, I have put together four gift guides to help you sort out what to give others and what to ask for yourself. Today’s list is for anyone who enjoys keeping fit and/or being outdoors. My other guides include self care and well-being, active and adventure travel and fun sweatshirts. Please keep in mind, any product with a * I was given to review and feel it is an excellent product to recommend. Others were suggested to me but sound like something I would find useful. Hopefully this gives you a little inspiration on what you might want to ask Santa for this year.
Chrome Industries merino cobra hoodie 2.0– You know I love merino. Put it in hoodie form and you have a winner. Run, walk, hike, ski anything is possible with this warm layer from Chrome Industries that will help regulate your body temperature and is resistant to becoming stinky. It is straight cut to allow for freedom of movement no matter what activity you are doing, along with a high collar and zipper back pocket.
KEEN Innate x Sherpa hiking boot– Tackle the outdoors in these limited edition hiking boots. With both brands sharing an affinity to take action, give back and create a better future for communities in a meaningful and immediate way, values are woven into the soul of this unique collaboration, with €15 being donated from the sale of every shoe to charity Room to Read®. Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. These boot have some pretty cool design features, such as a distinctive endless knot embossed into the upper and subtle signature Nepalese flag detail to the heel loop, which pays homage to the Sherpa climbers and unsung heroes of the Himalayas. Constructed in premium, environmentally preferred Better Leather from a Leather Working Group (LWG) tannery, a PFC free Durable Water Repellent system and featuring Eco Odor Control, the KEEN Innate x Sherpa Adventure Gear looks good, feels good and does good. A PU midsole provides lightweight durability whilst KEEN’s trusted S3 technology and stability shank deliver reliable suspension and support when negotiating varied terrains. A KEEN.DRY waterproof, breathable membrane gives all seasons protection, with an EVA footbed providing step in comfort and superb arch support. Ready to explore any destination, a KEEN.ALL-TERRAIN outsole offers rugged traction, with KEEN’s secure fit lace system with robust aluminium eyelets ensuring a precise and supportive feel. Think of all the hills and mountains you can explore in these!
On Cloud hoodie*– I got this hoodie in the spring and have been living in it ever since. The cut is boxy and therefore offers loads of room when I want to snuggle in front of a campfire or am cooling down after a long run. A cowl neck with asymmetrical zipper is a unique design choice which I use to keep me warm or to release some heat. There are also other design details, such as thumb holes, zippered pockets, rear vents, and a very unique color called beluga (the marine biologist in me loves this!). This hoodie is a must for rest days.
Zone 3 Aspire wetsuit– I wanted to get into open water swimming this winter but seem to have chickened out so far. A good wetsuit can make all the difference when you are swimming outside. The Aspire is one of the highest rated wetsuits of the last decade. With a new integrated one-piece shoulder and chest panel design, flexibility is increased as is distance per stroke. The Aspire features new aerodrome buoyancy panels on the legs and hips to allow for 30% more buoyancy than standard neoprene. It is designed for a fast, smooth and natural feel swim with different areas ranging from 4-5mm.
Canyon Pathlite fitness bike (I tried this bike but was not given one to keep)- Don’t let the name confuse you. Canyon calls their hybrid bikes a fitness range. In June, I was able to try this bike out in Richmond Park and and enjoyable the relaxes posturing and ease of riding on varied terrain. These bike have an adjustable air suspension, Shimano gears, comfortable hand grips and disc brakes. Cycling is one of the best cardio and endurance workouts you can get, and Canyon’s fitness bikes (there is a road bike version too) offer a great workout wherever you are, whether that’s on the road or off the beaten track. With Canyon, you can leave the ordinary behind and ride your workout.
Darn Tough socks* – See above (and many previous blog posts) about how I love merino wool. These socks have been added to my winter rotation, as I was given thicker hiking socks rather than something from their fitness range. James received a few pairs for cycling and he is enjoying them on his chilly morning commutes. The bonus is that this is an American company based in New England. They have 100’s of different styles and colors, all of which will keep you warm in winter and cool in the summer.
Mammut Broad Peak light jacket– What can I say? I want everyone to stay warm this Christmas! This jacket offers perfect insulation. The Broad Peak Light Jacket features an extremely soft, lightweight, wind- and water-repellent Pertex® Quantum material, which is complemented by a down and feather filling. This makes the jacket not only weather-resistant but also warm. It packs down small (into a side pocket) so you can store it away if you need to when on the mountain. It also means it won’t take up more room in your flat.
Ultimate Performance reflective gloves and hat- “Safety first” is one of my motto’s. It is incredibly frustrating when I see runners and cyclists out in the dark, dressed in black and with headphones on. Come on people! Ask for these matching reflective hat and gloves and stay safe while you train this winter. The back of the gloves are covered with an ultra-reflective and multi-colour print that reflects light, keeping you visible to others so you won’t be missed. The breathable fabric is abrasion resistant and doesn’t bobble, with high moisture diffusion and drying ability to keep you dry and comfortable during wear. The gloves even have touch pad index fingers, allowing you to keep your gloves on when using your phone and the silicon grip pattern on the palms and fingers provide a non-slip surface so that you can hold your devices with confidence.
SmellWell odor eliminator pouches– These i found on the Vibram website. Living in England, my shoes are often wet. Add some bacteria in there and you can smell my shoes a mile away! These pouches claim to remove the odor so I would love to see these in my stocking. Plus, the available patterns are a hoot.
SOS ear buds– These wireless ear buds are rechargeable and much more affordable that AirPods. Running without wires can be freeing so why not give these a try? They offer a super deep bass sound experience; single multi-function button to answer/end/reject a call, music play/pause/skip and last number redial; can support 3D Game Mode, low latency to 60ms; have a microphone. In addition, they are compatible with Bluetooth, are waterproof, and noise cancelling. Small and light-weight, you can keep these handy no matter where you are.
Smith Optics Ruckus sunglasses*- Smith Optics knows what they are doing when it comes to eye wear (hence the name). I have had a few pairs of Smiths and love what they offer. The Chroma Pop makes my view of the world more vibrant. Larger lenses provide excellent eye protection, not just from the sun, but from sand, wind, and dirt too. Each set comes with two set of lenses so you are prepared for the changing conditions. The raised brow design increases peripheral vision in the riding position, and top bar venting and two-position nose pads provide proper fit to help minimize fogging and maximize comfort. If having a clear view of what is in front of you while out exploring, ask Santa for a pair of these.
Two Bare Feet bamboo skateboard- Did you know that Two Bare Feet not only make SUP boards, but they also make skateboards and scooters? What not bring back your childhood memories of skating down the street by treating yourself to this bamboo longboard “The Deacon”? Forty inches long with clear spray on grip tape, you will certainly turn heads as you glide by. It comes with orange wheels but Two Bare Feet offers a range of colors if you dare to be different.
Those are just a few ideas from me. What is on your Christmas list this year? Were you naughty or nice?
by Mollie Millington | Oct 18, 2019 | product review, running
For a long time, I have been a fan of Osprey rucksacks for running and other outdoor pursuits. As a brand, they offer a female version of some bags, which can be really important when ensuring the correct fit. Recently, I had the opportunity to test out the Duro 15, a unisex hydration pack. My usual go to bag for run commuting is their Tempest 20 which has room for snacks, a change of clothes, my lunch, sunglass case, and a large wallet plus water pouches on the shoulder straps. I was curious to see if removing five liters and having a unisex design would be noticeable.
The bag was extremely comfortable as soon as I put it on. The mesh fabric used to line the area that will be against your skin never chafed or scratched. It is very soft and helps with breathability. The front chest strap is adjustable so you have find a level that fit your body shape. There is also a hip belt which helps support the bag if it is full, especially if you are running. Keeping the bag close to your body assists with balance and center of gravity. The hip straps also have zippered pockets which are super handy for snacks, your phone or a debit card- things you may need quick access to while you are out and about. There are also small zippered pockets that you can use to keep organized, which is very appealing to me.
As a hydration pack, this bag offers both a 2.5L bladder and two 500ml pouches. I think this gives it versatility and the options to take as much (or little water) as you need. Of course, the bladder will take up extra space leaving you less room to carry things like extra layers. For me, the missing 5L made the bag a little shorter than my Tempest 20 and therefore slightly more comfortable. The Tempest 20 does have an adjustable torso length to help with the fit but the though that the Duro 15 was too big for me never crossed my mind. I couldn’t fit both my changes of clothes and lunch in the Duro 15 but if I planned ahead for run commuting, it didn’t impact me. I would either leave a change of clothes at work or buy lunch in the canteen. Or if I was going on a long run and just needed to carry an extra layer and water, this bag is perfect.
Overall, I really enjoyed running in this bag. Even though I couldn’t cram all of my stuff in there, it was probably better for my body not to carry that much weight. Running with a rucksack (no matter what size aside from my 1.5L) always influences my posture and therefore running form. I like being prepared though, so tend to carry more than I need just in case it rains, I can’t find a shop, or I get injured. Of course, being restricted from carrying so much has benefits on my running performance. Looks like I should switch to the smaller pack to ensure my commute doesn’t turn into junk miles.
#
Do you ever run to work? What do you carry with you and how? Leave a comment and let me know.
Thanks to Osprey for the complimentary bag. All opinions are honest and my own.
Photos by Cake Vs Scales.
by Mollie Millington | Oct 7, 2019 | product review, water sports
Yes, you read that right. I have been paddleboarding in London this summer while training for
London Regatta. 2019 was meant to be the inaugural year where people could row, kayak or stand up paddleboard (SUP) down the Thames River from Putney to Greenwhich or Putney to Big Ben and back again. The river was to be shut to traffic, as well as the tide (by closing the Thames Barrier). Sadly, the weather wasn’t cooperating and the race had to be cancelled. You can imagine how many authorities and staff were involved to make it a successful and safe event. Of course, I was disappointed that it was cancelled but I could not fault the organizers for make a tough call. They had the safety of the participants in mind (both in terms of water quality and tide) which is the most important thing.
For the Regatta, SUP participants needed a board that was at least 11 feet long, a flotation devise and a waist leash (rather than an ankle). They also recommended a carbon paddle which would be lighter than a standard one. I was grateful to have Two Bare Feet support my efforts by gifting me a Entradia touring board starter pack in pink. Living in a flat in London, I don’t have room for a proper SUP board. An inflatable board suits me as it is much easy to store in our shed. The rucksack is 90L and fits everything inside. After a few times out, I realized the paddles can be strapped to the outside of the bag, making the inside a bit more roomy. It is fairly heavy to carry though. My husband and I estimated it to be 20-25 kgs (more than a checked bag). I took it on the Tube a few times and had to rest along the way rather than my normal rush. The weight is something to consider if you will be carrying it around town or travelling. with it. With practice, I think you would build up the strength to carry it more easily.
One way to make the rucksack lighter is to leave the pump and puncture kit at home. I used Wakeup Docklands near Royal Victoria DLR stop as the place where I trained. With my own board, I only had to pay a £5 launch fee. Or you can rent boards there for £20. They have both manual and electric pumps to inflate SUP boards which I took full advantage of. The dock they have access to is about a mile if you do the entire edge. There are other activities going on, such as sailing, swimming, and wake boarding, so you have to keep an eye on your surroundings. One of the instructors, Sarah, was extremely kind and offered lots of tips on how to improve my form and paddle stroke in order to increase my speed. The Regatta was meant to have a four hour cutoff which meant that I needed to keep a good pace going in order to finish. I was a little bit worried but now I have another year to train.
Inflating the board took a bit of practice. The pump has a handy inflate and deflate option which makes packing up much easier. One tip I have is to realize the board can take more air than you think. A few times, I didn’t realize it was a bit under-inflated until I was out on the water.
The bungee on the front of the board was handy for holding my dry bag down and clipping my water bottle too. I had started experimenting with having a small bucket connected to the bungee for the Regatta as I thought I would need to store a lot of supplies (dry clothes, food, etc). I am not sure if the 90L bag with pump would have fit comfortably under the bungee. This might be something to consider if you were starting in one place and ending in another.
I really enjoy spending time on the water and cannot wait to get out there again. Even though autumn has arrived, if the sun is out, I will be taking the board out. I just need to figure out how to keep my feet warm (maybe with dive booties?). Next summer, SUP’ing will probably be my sport of choice. I need to obtain a British Canoeing membership to take my board out on the London canals which would be a lot of fun and a change of scenery.
Have you ever tried SUP? Where is your favorite place to go? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Thanks to Two Bare Feet for gifting me the paddleboard. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Sep 18, 2019 | eating, nutrition, product review
It has been a few months since I signed up to work with Melissa, the Delicious Nutritionist #gifted. My initial goal was to stop eating crap while on-the-go and get back control of my eating. I had a few bad habits I needed to break, many of which involve craving sweets and being unable to control my response. Melissa was very supportive during our coaching calls and had lots of good ideas to help me overcome some of the challenges I faced. She suggested quick meals full of vegetables for my meal plan after hearing that my husband prefers not to eat meat at home. She also had new ideas for simple snacks that I could find anywhere if I failed to pack something appropriate ahead of time (such as homemade popcorn, dark chocolate, a banana, and cheese slices).
|
| Avocado and cucumber salad |
Avocado and cucumber salad
The same day as our coaching call Melissa would send me two weeks of meal plans with some new recipe ideas that my husband and I both enjoyed. The plans included a weekly meal plan for all meals and snacks as well as a shopping list. The amount of food required for both the shopping list and recipes were in American units which means you should have a scale and/or measuring cups available if you don’t live in the USA. I am used to this system though (obviously). When my husband and I did the first shop, we were amazed at how much fruit and vegetables were overflowing form our fridge. We tend to buy for a week at a time as our groceries are delivered. However, this wasn’t the best strategy for us with the fresh items as some of them went off before we could use them.
 |
| Shopping for tinned goods |
My biggest challenge in working with Melissa was sticking to the plan. She provided everything I needed but something blocked me from sticking to her plan. Some of it was scheduling as I was busy the week we started. I asked for meals that can made enough for leftovers (yes, that is a choice if you hate leftovers) and when I actually made them, that worked out great. But I don’t know why I found it so hard to stick to her plan. On our last call, I explained this to her and she said in retrospect she could have provided me with recipes rather than a plan. Her coaching is great like that as it is very flexible. We do refer to her recipes often. Two salad recipes she gave us are now firm favorites- spinach with roasted cherries, blueberries and goats cheese and a nectarine quinoa salad. I am not sure we will be able to make these in the winter months but we have even brought them to picnics and BBQs as a healthy alternative to coleslaw and potato salad.
 |
| Acai bowl with homemade granola |
The biggest takeaway I have from working with Melissa is that I had got lazy with my food. This in turn made my standby recipes a little boring. I wasn’t being creative in the kitchen anymore. The recipes Melissa provided allowed me to experiment with a few new food combinations and remember how good vegetables can taste if prepared the right way (ie not overcooked). She never scolded me for not sticking to her meal plans but rather helped talk me through why I was having trouble and brainstorm ways that we could modify the plan to make me be more successful at it, such as putting reminders in my phone to come off social media and meal prep instead. She also checked in via email as I wasn’t ready for weeks 3-4 when I should have been. I felt like I had a lot of support from her even though I wasn’t strictly following her advice.
 |
| Tinned options work for me |
If you are in a food rut or just want some new ideas on how to incorporate more fruit and vegetables into your diet, I would suggest getting in touch with Melissa to see what she can help you with. Feel free to mention my name for a 10% discount too and let me know how you get on.
 |
| Fresh salad, broccoli soup, and cheese slices fill me up! |
The Delicious Nutritionist provided me with complimentary services in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Aug 21, 2019 | cycling, product review, race review, running, water sports
In an effort to rekindle my running mojo, I signed up for the London Triathlon* rather last minute. To keep it a realistic goal after my running injury, I selected the shortest distance. The Super Sprint course is 400m swim, 10km bike, and 2.5km run. For a short moment, I considered bumping up to the sprint distance (750m, 20km bike, 5km run) to challenge my PR from 2012. But I decided to keep it safe/play it smart by sticking to the shortest distance to avoid re-injury.
My entry wave was at 3:10pm on Saturday afternoon. About 95% of the women in my group (I chose women-only vs mixed start) were first timers. The London Triathlon is a great race if you are tri-curious.
Entries and fees: The race doesn’t sell out (it is held over two days with lots of entries available) and entries are available close to the event. There are different fees depending on the distance you sign up for. It ranges from £40+. Remember that triathlons tend to be more expensive due to the amount of logistics required to set up swimming, cycling, and running courses. Personally, I think the London Tri is very reasonable considering the scale of the event (the race takes up half of the ExCel Centre).
Course and bogs: The course starts and ends at the ExCel Centre. The swim is in the Royal Docks and the longer bike course goes to Big Ben (the super sprint course is only 10km). All bike segments are on closed roads, which is great. The run is along the Royal Docks on paths of varying width. Different distances compete at the same time, so you will have different abilities on the course with you. I did shout to a few people who were walking three abreast to keep to the left as no one could get by.
This year, it was almost so warm we didn’t have to wear wet suits. I really like my Aptonia wet suit from Decathlon.* It fit me perfectly, which is hard for a woman as our body shapes are so diverse. The zipper is a bit tricky to zip up as it is designed to unzip bottom to shoulders, but I think that might make it faster to remove.
Location: Unfortunately, there isn’t anything glamorous about the ExCel Centre in East London. However, the location is super convenient for anyone in London and especially for me as I live about five miles from the start line. Inside the ExCel, there is a small amount of vendors if you need to pick up gels or a few pieces of run kit, including official merchandise.
Atmosphere: There are not many cheer points along the route. Many friends and family were cheering at the swim and at the finish line. The transition area is really big, so it is hard for your fans to see you as you switch disciplines. Otherwise, you are on your own out on the course
.
Race bling and goody bag: No goody bag but you receive a medal just after you cross the finish line. You also get to pick up the official race t-shirt (which I really like) and the Tenzing team was there to hand you a can as you walked out of the finish area.
Tips if you want to take part next time: If you are coming back from injury, triathlons are great as the cross-training allows 2/3 of the training to be low impact. That is one of the big reasons why I signed up. Also, make sure you try open water swimming at least five times before the race. This gives you a chance to get over the fear of not seeing the bottom, learn how your wet suit fills up, and get used to having to swim continuously. Finally, do some brick sessions (two disciplines back to back) to get your muscles used to working differently and to try out different outfit combinations. My kneesuit with sports bra underneath worked perfectly! You can also use bricks to think about water food and drinks you will need during the race.
Feeling inspired and want to give London Triathlon 2020 a “tri”? Register your interest now.
*Thanks to London Triathlon for the complimentary race entry and Decathlon for the wet suit. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Jul 25, 2019 | cycling, product review, running, water sports
|
| Waiting to scan my barcode at parkun |
On the morning of 13th July, I slotted in some time to dedicate to my triathlon training even though the Super Sprint should only take me an hour or so (the course is a 450m swim, 10K bike, and 2.5K run). My training plan was a brick session, which meant I had to complete two disciplines back to back. I took my bike out for an eight mile cycle before parkrun which was nice as the roads were fairly quiet. I also tried to only turn left so that I could keep my momentum going. Parkrun is always 5K, twice the distance I needed to run. Conveniently, my parkrun is two laps so I took the first lap what I thought was pretty fast (for me) to replicate what the London Triathlon will be like. After looking at my splits on Strava, it turns out the second lap was faster for me. My legs must have been feeling it from the bike ride. That is one of the great things about brick sessions is that you have an idea of how your body will feel switching disciplines. You can mentally and physically prepare yourself for the race, knowing that you will come out the other side.
 |
| Kneesuit for me is function over fashion |
In order to stick to my rule of “nothing new on race day,” I tried out a kneesuit from Simply Swim* as part of this session. This suit appealed to me because I could wear it under my wet suit and not waste time in transition changing my outfit. Padded shorts are not my thing, which is why I didn’t go for a traditional tri suit. Of course, I needed to wear a sports bra under the suit because it only had a shelf bra but this would be the case if I wore a regular swim suit too.
Usually, I prefer to wear clothes that cover the areas of my body that make me insecure (primarily my stomach). This kneesuit leaves nothing to the imagination in terms of my body shape but at least it is all black. The light blue on the top is a nice detail too. While I don’t think it is flattering on me (some swimsuits may have shaping material but the kneesuit did not), it did not cause any chafing or get pulled into an uncomfortable position. Not once did I have to adjust it while on the bike or run. That makes it a winner in my book and perfect for the tri.
Although I was self-conscious at first of this form-fitting suit, I quickly realized that I actually looked pretty bad-ass in it. I was training for a triathlon! The people around me didn’t know what distance I was doing. I just looked like I meant business in my knee-length-swimming-costume-turned-run-kit. As my mindset changed, I carried my head a little higher and slowly started to pass people, though the passing people bit was probably due to my legs recovering from my bike ride.
There are two downsides to the kneesuit. The first is that I don’t have anything to wipe my sweat or snot on (this is where a sleeve comes in handy). The other is that it is hard to stop for a pee in the suit as the entire top needs to be pulled down to use the bathroom. Luckily, this was never an issue during my training sessions in the kneesuit. With an aim of finishing the Super Sprint in 60 minutes or less, so I should be able to hold it. It would be something to consider if I up my distance next year. Many times during my marathons, I have to stop and use with bathroom. Some athletes, who take their racing much more serious than I do,will urinate on their bike or while running. I don’t think I can do that on purpose. If I start coughing while running, it might happen but be out of my control. We shall see what happens on race day.
The kneesuit worked great with my Aptonia triathlon wetsuit* when I finally tried them both in the open water. While I am a fairly confident swimmer in the pool, mentally everything changed for me in the open water when I couldn’t see the bottom. It took a few sessions in the open water to calm my nerves and figure out that I needed to pull my neck and sleeves a bit open to ensure water entered my wet suit. Again, no chaffing from either piece of kit during the swim, which was a relief. Having tried these together makes me more confident for the London Triathlon* on Saturday.
What do you wear for a triathlon? Do you change your outfit depending on the distance?
*Thanks to Simply Swim for gifting me the kneesuit, Decathlon for the wet suit, and Limelight Sports for the London Triathlon entry. All opinions are honest and my own.
Recent Comments