by thinkmarsh | May 1, 2017 | race review, running, WMM
I am very happy to share with you my thoughts on the Virgin Money London Marathon (VMLM) my first Abbott World Marathon Major of 2017. It has been a challenging four months of prep for one race, but it was worth it. Thank you to everyone who reached out to me with best wishes in the week leading up to the race and then congratulations after. It meant a lot to feel the love.
Race entry and fees: Hugely popular with runners worldwide, VMLM has a 1 in 19 chance of winning the ballot. Most people opt for charity places or if you are fast enough, a’good for age’ entry. I ran with Plantlife who asked me to raise £1000 this year (it might change for 2018) after paying £50 registration fee. I probably ended up spending £200 of my own money across the several fundraising events I organized.
Course and bogs: I was in the red start in corral 8 and bumped into Haydy walking to the same start zone so we chatted a bit along the way. It was very organized and sign posted for bag drop in large trucks and starting pens in the main road. Before checking my bag, I popped a handul of EnergyBits and pulled out a Bounce ball for a last minute snack. The port-a-loos were arranged in little U shapes along the edge of the park, which made cueing much more organised. Charlie and Tom came over to say hi and to alert us to the shortest loo queue on the world. Score! I ended up leaving my corral after the start of the race to use the loo last minute anyways and was really glad I did.
 |
| Queues for the loos |
I wore my new
Kalenji bum bag from Decathlon which fit four MyProtein energels, my phone, and a 500ml water bottle with
Tailwind. There was plenty of water stations along the course at every mile from mile 3 to mile 25. Lucazade, one of the major sponsors, provided sports drink at miles 5, 10, 15, 19 and 23, as well as gels at two points along the way. Port-a-loos were stationed at several points along the way. I stopped at mile 8 for a quick pee (unlike Berlin when I stopped several times in a variety of locations).
Location: The race starts in South East London in Greenwich and ends on The Mall by Buckingham Palace. The 26+ miles winds it was through many of the streets north and south of the Thames.
 |
| Course map at the expo |
Atmosphere: This day has to be the one day of the year that everyone in London is happy. People are friendly, chatting with strangers along the side of the road and on the Tube. The majority of the course is well-stocked with people cheering for friends and strangers alike. Many spectators carry homemade signs and others hand out jelly babies to the runners. It is truly an amazing day to be in London, whether you are running or cheering. I am so grategul to have had James at Mile 20, my Team Naturally Run girls at Mile 22, and Advent Running at mile 24. It made all the different to get to the finish line.
 |
| Crossing Tower Bridge. Nearly 1/2 way! |
Goody bags and bling: The medal is substantial with good weight. I might have missed a chance from Princes Harry and William giving me my medal, but I didn’t think they would still be around by that point. My goody bag contained an apple, sweet and salty snacks, a few flyers about Virgin companies, plus a few drinks (water, coconut water, and a guava Lucazade). The finisher shirt that came in the goody bag was a bit odd because it has an ice cream cone on it saying ‘I licked it’. I really don’t get the reference.
 |
| New PB of 4:30:07 |
 |
Snack attack! Oldland was more interested
in the snack than my presence. |
Things to know if you want to take part next time: I would say not to bother carrying water with you as there are stations nearly every mile. But see how you do on your training runs to see if this is appropriate for you. I noticed with this training cycle, I became really hungry on long runs and craved real food. Next time, instead of gels, I would carry Clif bars or Bounce balls over the spare two gels. Sabine suggested I have James hold a snack for me, and I am so glad I listened to her! I would also encourage my supporters to carry a balloon or inflatable something so they stand out in the crowd. I tried to convince James of this this year but he didn’t believe me. He does agree with me now that it is best to leave the dog at home at home because of the packed crowds and all the sugary candy on the ground.
Feeling like you are up for the challenge? The Virgin Money London Marathon ballot opens 1 May 2017 and closes on 5 May 2017. Magazines are posted in the autumn to let you know if you have won an entry. Let me know if you are lucky!
by Mollie Millington | May 1, 2017 | race review, running, WMM
I am very happy to share with you my thoughts on the Virgin Money London Marathon (VMLM) my first Abbott World Marathon Major of 2017. It has been a challenging four months of prep for one race, but it was worth it. Thank you to everyone who reached out to me with best wishes in the week leading up to the race and then congratulations after. It meant a lot to feel the love.
Race entry and fees: Hugely popular with runners worldwide, VMLM has a 1 in 19 chance of winning the ballot. Most people opt for charity places or if you are fast enough, a’good for age’ entry. I ran with Plantlife who asked me to raise £1000 this year (it might change for 2018) after paying £50 registration fee. I probably ended up spending £200 of my own money across the several fundraising events I organized.
Course and bogs: I was in the red start in corral 8 and bumped into Haydy walking to the same start zone so we chatted a bit along the way. It was very organized and sign posted for bag drop in large trucks and starting pens in the main road. Before checking my bag, I popped a handul of EnergyBits and pulled out a Bounce ball for a last minute snack. The port-a-loos were arranged in little U shapes along the edge of the park, which made cueing much more organised. Charlie and Tom came over to say hi and to alert us to the shortest loo queue on the world. Score! I ended up leaving my corral after the start of the race to use the loo last minute anyways and was really glad I did.
|
| Queues for the loos |
I wore my new
Kalenji bum bag from Decathlon which fit four MyProtein energels, my phone, and a 500ml water bottle with
Tailwind. There was plenty of water stations along the course at every mile from mile 3 to mile 25. Lucazade, one of the major sponsors, provided sports drink at miles 5, 10, 15, 19 and 23, as well as gels at two points along the way. Port-a-loos were stationed at several points along the way. I stopped at mile 8 for a quick pee (unlike Berlin when I stopped several times in a variety of locations).
Location: The race starts in South East London in Greenwich and ends on The Mall by Buckingham Palace. The 26+ miles winds it was through many of the streets north and south of the Thames.
|
| Course map at the expo |
Atmosphere: This day has to be the one day of the year that everyone in London is happy. People are friendly, chatting with strangers along the side of the road and on the Tube. The majority of the course is well-stocked with people cheering for friends and strangers alike. Many spectators carry homemade signs and others hand out jelly babies to the runners. It is truly an amazing day to be in London, whether you are running or cheering. I am so grategul to have had James at Mile 20, my Team Naturally Run girls at Mile 22, and Advent Running at mile 24. It made all the different to get to the finish line.
|
| Crossing Tower Bridge. Nearly 1/2 way! |
Goody bags and bling: The medal is substantial with good weight. I might have missed a chance from Princes Harry and William giving me my medal, but I didn’t think they would still be around by that point. My goody bag contained an apple, sweet and salty snacks, a few flyers about Virgin companies, plus a few drinks (water, coconut water, and a guava Lucazade). The finisher shirt that came in the goody bag was a bit odd because it has an ice cream cone on it saying ‘I licked it’. I really don’t get the reference.
|
| New PB of 4:30:07 |
|
Snack attack! Oldland was more interested
in the snack than my presence. |
Things to know if you want to take part next time: I would say not to bother carrying water with you as there are stations nearly every mile. But see how you do on your training runs to see if this is appropriate for you. I noticed with this training cycle, I became really hungry on long runs and craved real food. Next time, instead of gels, I would carry Clif bars or Bounce balls over the spare two gels. Sabine suggested I have James hold a snack for me, and I am so glad I listened to her! I would also encourage my supporters to carry a balloon or inflatable something so they stand out in the crowd. I tried to convince James of this this year but he didn’t believe me. He does agree with me now that it is best to leave the dog at home at home because of the packed crowds and all the sugary candy on the ground.
Feeling like you are up for the challenge? The Virgin Money London Marathon ballot opens 1 May 2017 and closes on 5 May 2017. Magazines are posted in the autumn to let you know if you have won an entry. Let me know if you are lucky!
by thinkmarsh | Nov 3, 2016 | race review, running, travel, WMM
Berlin Marathon was my 4th marathon but my 2nd big one. It was so much fun so travel to Germany with
Sabine, of My Life My Challenges, and meet up with the
Advent Running/
Adidas Runners London crew. I love visiting new places and running through them is even more fun. Sabine and I had big plans to do lots of touristy stuff around town, but because of all the fun marathon events, we only made it to the Berlin Zoo.
If you ever get a chance to run with Adidas Runners, I highly recomend it. The Berlin group was so welcoming during the shake out run and pasta party at their base. Adidas also hosted a marathon base for us to get ready, drop off our bags, and then eat afterwards. Because of this luxury, I cannot comment too much on the logistics in the runner village at the race.
 |
| AR Berlin race base |
 |
| Runner getting his official bracelet |
Race entry: I didn’t even know it was hard to get a spot as I was awarded an entry on my first try (I always have said I was good at games that don’t involve knowledge or skill). For 2017, you can enter Berlin Marathon through a ballot of 40,000 runners. I am not sure if there is good-for-age entries available. In 2017, there will also be a 3-person relay option available, which would be a good way to take part if the 26.2 miles intimidates you.
You pick up your race packet at the expo and are tagged with a ribbon bracelet. You must where this all weekend to get into certain events and the race village too. The packet pick up was a well-oiled machine with several stages- ID check, ribbon bracelet, packet pick up with your bib printed right then and there. Sabine and I went over to the expo area after and spent hours there! Shopping, run analysis, sports massage, and sausages in the sun.
 |
| Sunshine and sausages! |
 |
| Long loo lines |
Course and bogs: The course takes you all over Berlin and it known for being fast and flat (hence all the world record-breaking times). We didn’t see as many tourist sites along the route as I thought we would (based on what was highlighted on the course map), but there were bands along the way for entertainment.
As I mentioned above, I was lucky enough to be invited to hang out with Adidas Runners Berlin, so I was able to use their bag drop and loos. Lines for the loos were so long at the start line, I didn’t even bother. Only once the race started (we were in the last wave) did I jump the barrier to go for a quick wee. Each water station had a few loos but there was always a queue so I never stopped. Instead a took a wee in the bush, in a parking lot and in a cafe. I have never had so many pee breaks in a race before (nor peed outside so much!). My PB would have been more impressive if I didn’t have to make so many stops.
 |
| Bag drop |
The bag drop area looked very well organized but I cannot comment on if it worked well for bag pick up.
A few charities and run clubs had cheer stations which were a nice boost along the way. I was really looking forward to seeing the Adidas Runners cheer squad, but they had decreased in size by the time I got there.
Location: The streets of Berlin, Germany
Atmosphere: This race is pretty serious. There aren’t any official pacers beyond 4:15 which means most people are aiming to be quick. There was some people cheering from the sidelines and not much fancy dress/costumes on the runners. People were there to run!
Goody bags and bling: The goody bag included water, an apple, pretzels, croissant, apricots. and Red bull (one of the sponsors). You could also pick up an Erdinger alcohol-free beer at the bag collection area. The bling has a German flag ribbon is was silver medal this year and a good weight to it 🙂
 |
| Celebratory gelato |
Things to know if you want to take part next time: Not a great race for those who run 5+ hour marathons as anything slower than 4:15 is in the last pen and there aren’t any pacers. The event area shuts down too if you are at the ‘slow’ end.
It isn’t often that I run such a big race so I forgot to take in bottlenecks when setting my pace. The water stations really slowed me down as they were crowded and there was a carpet of cups lining the road. I would suggest training for a little faster pace to make up for these areas.
Also, the finish line is further than it looks. I thought the Erdinger arches were the finish, but they weren’t. Then I though Brandenburg Gate was the finish, but it was actually a bit beyond that. So keep running until they make you stop!
Finally, the newspaper on Monday prints a special section listing all the race finishers and their times. We waited until late in the day to pick up a copy which meant we had to make several stops before we were able to find a copy.
Overall, I had an awesome weekend. Thanks to PlusHotels Berlin for being so accommodating to all the guests who were taking part in the marathon too.
Did you run Berlin this year? If so, leave a comment below and let me know what you thought of the race village, bag check, loo lines, and free non-alcohol beer.
by Mollie Millington | Nov 3, 2016 | race review, running, travel, WMM
Berlin Marathon was my 4th marathon but my 2nd big one. It was so much fun so travel to Germany with
Sabine, of My Life My Challenges, and meet up with the
Advent Running/
Adidas Runners London crew. I love visiting new places and running through them is even more fun. Sabine and I had big plans to do lots of touristy stuff around town, but because of all the fun marathon events, we only made it to the Berlin Zoo.
If you ever get a chance to run with Adidas Runners, I highly recomend it. The Berlin group was so welcoming during the shake out run and pasta party at their base. Adidas also hosted a marathon base for us to get ready, drop off our bags, and then eat afterwards. Because of this luxury, I cannot comment too much on the logistics in the runner village at the race.
|
| AR Berlin race base |
|
| Runner getting his official bracelet |
Race entry: I didn’t even know it was hard to get a spot as I was awarded an entry on my first try (I always have said I was good at games that don’t involve knowledge or skill). For 2017, you can enter Berlin Marathon through a ballot of 40,000 runners. I am not sure if there is good-for-age entries available. In 2017, there will also be a 3-person relay option available, which would be a good way to take part if the 26.2 miles intimidates you.
You pick up your race packet at the expo and are tagged with a ribbon bracelet. You must where this all weekend to get into certain events and the race village too. The packet pick up was a well-oiled machine with several stages- ID check, ribbon bracelet, packet pick up with your bib printed right then and there. Sabine and I went over to the expo area after and spent hours there! Shopping, run analysis, sports massage, and sausages in the sun.
|
| Sunshine and sausages! |
|
| Long loo lines |
Course and bogs: The course takes you all over Berlin and it known for being fast and flat (hence all the world record-breaking times). We didn’t see as many tourist sites along the route as I thought we would (based on what was highlighted on the course map), but there were bands along the way for entertainment.
As I mentioned above, I was lucky enough to be invited to hang out with Adidas Runners Berlin, so I was able to use their bag drop and loos. Lines for the loos were so long at the start line, I didn’t even bother. Only once the race started (we were in the last wave) did I jump the barrier to go for a quick wee. Each water station had a few loos but there was always a queue so I never stopped. Instead a took a wee in the bush, in a parking lot and in a cafe. I have never had so many pee breaks in a race before (nor peed outside so much!). My PB would have been more impressive if I didn’t have to make so many stops.
|
| Bag drop |
The bag drop area looked very well organized but I cannot comment on if it worked well for bag pick up.
A few charities and run clubs had cheer stations which were a nice boost along the way. I was really looking forward to seeing the Adidas Runners cheer squad, but they had decreased in size by the time I got there.
Location: The streets of Berlin, Germany
Atmosphere: This race is pretty serious. There aren’t any official pacers beyond 4:15 which means most people are aiming to be quick. There was some people cheering from the sidelines and not much fancy dress/costumes on the runners. People were there to run!
Goody bags and bling: The goody bag included water, an apple, pretzels, croissant, apricots. and Red bull (one of the sponsors). You could also pick up an Erdinger alcohol-free beer at the bag collection area. The bling has a German flag ribbon is was silver medal this year and a good weight to it 🙂
|
| Celebratory gelato |
Things to know if you want to take part next time: Not a great race for those who run 5+ hour marathons as anything slower than 4:15 is in the last pen and there aren’t any pacers. The event area shuts down too if you are at the ‘slow’ end.
It isn’t often that I run such a big race so I forgot to take in bottlenecks when setting my pace. The water stations really slowed me down as they were crowded and there was a carpet of cups lining the road. I would suggest training for a little faster pace to make up for these areas.
Also, the finish line is further than it looks. I thought the Erdinger arches were the finish, but they weren’t. Then I though Brandenburg Gate was the finish, but it was actually a bit beyond that. So keep running until they make you stop!
Finally, the newspaper on Monday prints a special section listing all the race finishers and their times. We waited until late in the day to pick up a copy which meant we had to make several stops before we were able to find a copy.
Overall, I had an awesome weekend. Thanks to PlusHotels Berlin for being so accommodating to all the guests who were taking part in the marathon too.
Did you run Berlin this year? If so, leave a comment below and let me know what you thought of the race village, bag check, loo lines, and free non-alcohol beer.
by Mollie Millington | Aug 13, 2016 | cycling, product review, race review, Ride London
|
| Kit courtesy of Altura. Review soon! |
This year was my third attempt at Prudential Ride London. I have been very lucky enough to have won the ballot entry for three years in a row. You can read my review of the inaugural event here. 2014 was the year of the hurricane, in which the entire course was cut short to 86 miles. I was so waterlogged, I didn’t write up a review. Last year, we moved house so training got pushed aside. We ended up volunteering at the start line, which was a lot of fun even it was early in the morning. Luckily I was able to defer to this year and I am so glad I did. Read on!
Registration process & fees: The event is ballot entry, with plenty of charities offering space in return for fundraising. I have been lucky enough to win a place every year I entered. I am not sure if that is because I am a woman, or just lucky. As I had deferred, my money was not refunded from last year and I had to pay again this year. While not ideal, I completely understand it must cost a fortune to close down to many roads and having staff for 100+ miles.
Note: Registration is now open for 2017. I am not sure when the ballot will close (either a date or limited number of entries). Registration for 2017 is £58.
 |
| Standstill at Mile 38 |
Location: The course has remained the same since the first event. The start line is in Queen Elizabeth Park in Stratford, from there the course goes out to Surrey, and it ends on the Mall just before Buckingham Palace. This year you could have your bike brought back to Copper Box Arena for £5 after your race. It was a bit hard to find the truck at the end of the race, but it was really convenient for us otherwise as a way to get our bikes back home after a long day.
Course & bogs: It is still amazing to ride through London streets without traffic or red lights. You go passed many iconic sights before heading out to the country with the first food hub at Hampton Court. The big hills to worry about are Leith Hill and Box Hill, with a few other ups and downs. Be sure to train for these inclines! Declines are still a hazard, so please ride responsibly. Remember, other riders around you might be less experienced.
Numerous portaloos at start area and also at every hub. I barely had to wait and there was always loo roll. Good work organisers!
Fuel was provided by Clif Bar and hydration by ORS tablets. There was also rice cakes, bananas, Haribos, malt loaf, etc at the food hubs. Drinks hubs had a limited selection of food.
THIS YEAR I RODE THE ENTIRE COURSE! I have been working towards this for 4 years and felt such relief as I crossed the finish line. True, it wasn’t my fault in 2014 that I didn’t ride 100 miles, but now I can proudly say I have. Would I have been able to without my 1 hour rest? I would like to think so, as I limited my rest stops otherwise.
Atmosphere: Even though it was an un-Godly hour on a Sunday morning, everyone was excited for the event. Along the way, there was friendly chatter between friends and strangers. When I was held up for an hour at Mile 38 after a bad crash, folks were still talking to one another and although they were frustrated, they always got out of the way for police and ambulance without any negative words about the victim.
 |
| Drinks Hub at top of Box Hill |
Bling/goody bags: Another big shiny medal with the course on it. Goody bag included the usual flyers and a few snacks.
Tips if you decide to take part next time: Read the guidance provided on how to cycle safely and share the road. I recommend checking out my blog posts tagged ‘Ride London’ for training and kit tips. You need to take the training seriously to make it around the course. It took me 8 hours (one of which was waiting for crash to clear) and I feel like I spent a lot of time in the saddle. Don’t forget to add in strength training to complement your cycling. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the ride!
Will I take part again? I am going to skip the ballot for 2017 and let someone else give it a try. I really enjoyed the training aspect and will continue to keep it up after the Berlin Marathon in September. Using cycling as cross training has really benefited my running too.
Thanks to Altura and Zyro for the cycling kit and Merlin Cycles for the new wheels. Honest reviews on these products up soon.
 |
| I did it! |
by thinkmarsh | Aug 13, 2016 | cycling, product review, race review, Ride London
|
| Kit courtesy of Altura. Review soon! |
This year was my third attempt at Prudential Ride London. I have been very lucky enough to have won the ballot entry for three years in a row. You can read my review of the inaugural event here. 2014 was the year of the hurricane, in which the entire course was cut short to 86 miles. I was so waterlogged, I didn’t write up a review. Last year, we moved house so training got pushed aside. We ended up volunteering at the start line, which was a lot of fun even it was early in the morning. Luckily I was able to defer to this year and I am so glad I did. Read on!
Registration process & fees: The event is ballot entry, with plenty of charities offering space in return for fundraising. I have been lucky enough to win a place every year I entered. I am not sure if that is because I am a woman, or just lucky. As I had deferred, my money was not refunded from last year and I had to pay again this year. While not ideal, I completely understand it must cost a fortune to close down to many roads and having staff for 100+ miles.
Note: Registration is now open for 2017. I am not sure when the ballot will close (either a date or limited number of entries). Registration for 2017 is £58.
|
| Standstill at Mile 38 |
Location: The course has remained the same since the first event. The start line is in Queen Elizabeth Park in Stratford, from there the course goes out to Surrey, and it ends on the Mall just before Buckingham Palace. This year you could have your bike brought back to Copper Box Arena for £5 after your race. It was a bit hard to find the truck at the end of the race, but it was really convenient for us otherwise as a way to get our bikes back home after a long day.
Course & bogs: It is still amazing to ride through London streets without traffic or red lights. You go passed many iconic sights before heading out to the country with the first food hub at Hampton Court. The big hills to worry about are Leith Hill and Box Hill, with a few other ups and downs. Be sure to train for these inclines! Declines are still a hazard, so please ride responsibly. Remember, other riders around you might be less experienced.
Numerous portaloos at start area and also at every hub. I barely had to wait and there was always loo roll. Good work organisers!
Fuel was provided by Clif Bar and hydration by ORS tablets. There was also rice cakes, bananas, Haribos, malt loaf, etc at the food hubs. Drinks hubs had a limited selection of food.
THIS YEAR I RODE THE ENTIRE COURSE! I have been working towards this for 4 years and felt such relief as I crossed the finish line. True, it wasn’t my fault in 2014 that I didn’t ride 100 miles, but now I can proudly say I have. Would I have been able to without my 1 hour rest? I would like to think so, as I limited my rest stops otherwise.
Atmosphere: Even though it was an un-Godly hour on a Sunday morning, everyone was excited for the event. Along the way, there was friendly chatter between friends and strangers. When I was held up for an hour at Mile 38 after a bad crash, folks were still talking to one another and although they were frustrated, they always got out of the way for police and ambulance without any negative words about the victim.
|
| Drinks Hub at top of Box Hill |
Bling/goody bags: Another big shiny medal with the course on it. Goody bag included the usual flyers and a few snacks.
Tips if you decide to take part next time: Read the guidance provided on how to cycle safely and share the road. I recommend checking out my blog posts tagged ‘Ride London’ for training and kit tips. You need to take the training seriously to make it around the course. It took me 8 hours (one of which was waiting for crash to clear) and I feel like I spent a lot of time in the saddle. Don’t forget to add in strength training to complement your cycling. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the ride!
Will I take part again? I am going to skip the ballot for 2017 and let someone else give it a try. I really enjoyed the training aspect and will continue to keep it up after the Berlin Marathon in September. Using cycling as cross training has really benefited my running too.
Thanks to Altura and Zyro for the cycling kit and Merlin Cycles for the new wheels. Honest reviews on these products up soon.
|
| I did it! |
I am very happy to share with you my thoughts on the Virgin Money London Marathon (VMLM) my first Abbott World Marathon Major of 2017. It has been a challenging four months of prep for one race, but it was worth it. Thank you to everyone who reached out to me with best wishes in the week leading up to the race and then congratulations after. It meant a lot to feel the love.
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