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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| New PB of 4:30:07 |
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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 | Apr 7, 2017 | running, yoga
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| Running to the finish |
In a perfect world, I would have wrote a post for ‘1 month until London Marathon‘ but the training plan I chose had me running two 20 mile peak weeks. It has been a long 15 weeks of training but I am feeling ready. Now that I am officially in taper mode, a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. My mileage is decreasing, leaving more time for food prep and Dance Moms reruns (my latest guilty pleasure). With less than 3 weeks until my second World Marathon Major, how will my training change in the lead up to the starting line?
Less mileage– This is good as Strava just told me it is time for new shoes. I might use my Salomons 3D this week for short runs. In the post, I recently received Wiiv custom insoles which used photographs of my feet to create the perfect fit. Is 3 weeks enough time to break in new shoes and/or insoles? I am not willing to risk it so I will wait to try these insoles out.
More stength training with Julia B Fit– Every. Time. I. Say. I will strength train. Then I don’t. There just isn’t enough time in the day to work and train in all the disciplines that balance the time on my feet. Julia’s workouts are great because you can mix and match different sessions based on your training goals and how much time you have. You can get started in her online gym for free, so click on the link above and have a mosey around.
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| Thank you John Lewis for my new yoga bag. So fancy! |
More yoga– John Lewis sent me a ‘yoga at home’ kit from their wellness campaign. Like strength training, yoga is something I know I need to do more of as a runner, especially one who has Achilles tendonitis and periformis issues. The bag is beautiful and I can totally see it as a beach bag or carry on. There was also a resistance band in the bundle, which will be handy with the strength training point above.
More sleep– Seriously. If you are part of a sleep research lab, can I please be a study subject? I need eight to nine hours normally but then with big miles on top, even more. Any advice on developing quality sleep patterns?
More blogging– Having reached my fundraising goal a few weeks ago, I can now concentrate on writing posts about my time in South Africa, new kit I have been testing out from Get the Label and La Redoute (check out their fitness guide with a mini-profile on me), and trying electro-acupuncture for my periformis pains.
Whole30 rules– After having to stop and use the bathroom four times on my 20 miler on Sunday and three times during Berlin Marathon, I need to get my GI system under control. I will loose a lot of time trying to find a bathroom during London Marathon but also it is no fun having to worry about having an accident for 4+ hours.
What do you do in the last two weeks leading up to a big race? Let me know in the comments below.
by thinkmarsh | Apr 7, 2017 | running, yoga
|
| Running to the finish |
In a perfect world, I would have wrote a post for ‘1 month until London Marathon‘ but the training plan I chose had me running two 20 mile peak weeks. It has been a long 15 weeks of training but I am feeling ready. Now that I am officially in taper mode, a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. My mileage is decreasing, leaving more time for food prep and Dance Moms reruns (my latest guilty pleasure). With less than 3 weeks until my second World Marathon Major, how will my training change in the lead up to the starting line?
Less mileage– This is good as Strava just told me it is time for new shoes. I might use my Salomons 3D this week for short runs. In the post, I recently received Wiiv custom insoles which used photographs of my feet to create the perfect fit. Is 3 weeks enough time to break in new shoes and/or insoles? I am not willing to risk it so I will wait to try these insoles out.
More stength training with Julia B Fit– Every. Time. I. Say. I will strength train. Then I don’t. There just isn’t enough time in the day to work and train in all the disciplines that balance the time on my feet. Julia’s workouts are great because you can mix and match different sessions based on your training goals and how much time you have. You can get started in her online gym for free, so click on the link above and have a mosey around.
|
| Thank you John Lewis for my new yoga bag. So fancy! |
More yoga– John Lewis sent me a ‘yoga at home’ kit from their wellness campaign. Like strength training, yoga is something I know I need to do more of as a runner, especially one who has Achilles tendonitis and periformis issues. The bag is beautiful and I can totally see it as a beach bag or carry on. There was also a resistance band in the bundle, which will be handy with the strength training point above.
More sleep– Seriously. If you are part of a sleep research lab, can I please be a study subject? I need eight to nine hours normally but then with big miles on top, even more. Any advice on developing quality sleep patterns?
More blogging– Having reached my fundraising goal a few weeks ago, I can now concentrate on writing posts about my time in South Africa, new kit I have been testing out from Get the Label and La Redoute (check out their fitness guide with a mini-profile on me), and trying electro-acupuncture for my periformis pains.
Whole30 rules– After having to stop and use the bathroom four times on my 20 miler on Sunday and three times during Berlin Marathon, I need to get my GI system under control. I will loose a lot of time trying to find a bathroom during London Marathon but also it is no fun having to worry about having an accident for 4+ hours.
What do you do in the last two weeks leading up to a big race? Let me know in the comments below.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 8, 2017 | exercise, running, travel
just a few days, I will be on a plane to South Africa. This is the first time I will be visiting the region and I am ticking things off my bucket list. During my two week stay, I plan on balancing fitness acitivites with time to relax, as well as sightseeing. I am a firm believer that vacations are a time when you can unplug, find time to do the things you enjoy, and stay comitted to your health goals.
Here is a rough itinerary of what I will be doing while I am enjoying the 26 degrees C and sunshine.
Days 1-3: Visit Stellanbosch for a friend’s wedding. This is the reason I am headed down to that part of the world. Of course, there will be indulgences with eating and drinking, but I will be burning calories on the dance floor too.
Day 4: 10K trail run at Warwick Winery and dinner with a friend from London who lives in Cape Town. I love me some bling and am trying to run in every state and country I visit. This race is a trail run with lots of hills. I will need to pack my trail shoes!
Day 5: Settle into Cape Town and visit the beach.
Day 6: CAGE DIVING! The team at Marine Dynamics have invited me out on their boat to see great white sharks in their natural habitat. I am a super-fish nerd and this has been on my bucket list for many many years. This group come highly recomended and I cannot wait to bring my faux pro action cam in the cage with me.
Day 7: I am debating about paragliding or sea kayaking. What do you recomend? The bride and groom are having a farewell BBQ in the evening too.
Day 8: Park Run in Cape Town and then my husband arrives.
Day 9-10: Hire road bikes and explore the area on 2 wheels. My husband will be designing our routes and I hope I can keep up.
Day 11-12: Penguin colonies and prison visit.
Day 13-14: Safari a few hours from Cape Town. We have two safaris a day (at sunrise and sunset) during our stay. We also get to meet some elephants up close and personal.
Day 15: Relax in Cape town and then head back home.
I am looking for fitness studios in Cape Town to visit or other active excursions. Please leave a comment below if you have a suggestion for me or send me a tweet.
by thinkmarsh | Feb 8, 2017 | exercise, running, travel
just a few days, I will be on a plane to South Africa. This is the first time I will be visiting the region and I am ticking things off my bucket list. During my two week stay, I plan on balancing fitness acitivites with time to relax, as well as sightseeing. I am a firm believer that vacations are a time when you can unplug, find time to do the things you enjoy, and stay comitted to your health goals.
Here is a rough itinerary of what I will be doing while I am enjoying the 26 degrees C and sunshine.
Days 1-3: Visit Stellanbosch for a friend’s wedding. This is the reason I am headed down to that part of the world. Of course, there will be indulgences with eating and drinking, but I will be burning calories on the dance floor too.
Day 4: 10K trail run at Warwick Winery and dinner with a friend from London who lives in Cape Town. I love me some bling and am trying to run in every state and country I visit. This race is a trail run with lots of hills. I will need to pack my trail shoes!
Day 5: Settle into Cape Town and visit the beach.
Day 6: CAGE DIVING! The team at Marine Dynamics have invited me out on their boat to see great white sharks in their natural habitat. I am a super-fish nerd and this has been on my bucket list for many many years. This group come highly recomended and I cannot wait to bring my faux pro action cam in the cage with me.
Day 7: I am debating about paragliding or sea kayaking. What do you recomend? The bride and groom are having a farewell BBQ in the evening too.
Day 8: Park Run in Cape Town and then my husband arrives.
Day 9-10: Hire road bikes and explore the area on 2 wheels. My husband will be designing our routes and I hope I can keep up.
Day 11-12: Penguin colonies and prison visit.
Day 13-14: Safari a few hours from Cape Town. We have two safaris a day (at sunrise and sunset) during our stay. We also get to meet some elephants up close and personal.
Day 15: Relax in Cape town and then head back home.
I am looking for fitness studios in Cape Town to visit or other active excursions. Please leave a comment below if you have a suggestion for me or send me a tweet.
by Mollie Millington | Jan 28, 2017 | clothes, product review, recovery, running
I cannot believe how chilly is has been the last two weeks in London! Don’t get me wrong, I love winter and have all the right kit to stay warm, but in the 6 years I have lived in London I don’t remember it ever being so cold for so long. While I was home in New York for Thanksgiving, I saw warm sports kit (merino wool, thermal, fleece lined) in all the shops, but I knew (or so I thought) that it would never be cold enough in London to wear it more than once or twice a year.
It was fortuitous that
SKINS Compression got in touch soon after and offered for me to test out their compression kit. I chose the A400 line because it features Adaptive Technology that helps regulate body temps. This seemed like a good compromise as London often has cool/windy weather, rather than hot or cold extremes. The leggings feature 360 degree reflectivity and have a pocket in the back of the waistband.
The A400 long sleeve top has similar features to the leggings, such as 360 degre reflectivity, moisture wicking, and dynamic gradiant compression. The other unique feature is silicone gripper on the hem of the top which keeps it in place as you run, bend, or stretch, meaning you don’t need to worry about flashing some skin but rather focus on your workout.
I have worn the A400’s on long runs, trail runs, parkrun, and a, eight mile run commute. I never felt too warm or too cold on my run, which was amazing to think how versitile . The compression is supposed to help with blood circulation and recovery. (
You can read more about compression technology here.) Obviously, the only downside to compression gear is how tight it is. You need to be confident in your body shape as SKINS leave nothing to the imagination. Every curve gets a form fitting hug.
The other tips I have for staying warm are wearing light-weight running gloves. This is something I always do to help my hands from developing more severe eczema. I have a pair of
sport E-Gloves that I really like to wearing when running. They don’t get sweaty or damp, even on long runs, meaning my hands don’t get cold. They also dry quickly so I can wear them a few hours later.
As you will see in my photos here and on Instagram, I am always wearing a snood in the winter. For some reason, as soon as I step outside in weather that is a bit cool, my nose runs. In the summer, I think I have allergies too which also cause excess mucus production. So I wear a snood in the winter to easily wipe my nose (don’t worry, I wash it regularly). It also helps warm you breathe when it is so cold outside, your nose hair freezes. You can bring the snood over your face and breathe in air that is warmed by your body temp first.
Finally, I wear a lightweight handband to cover my ears when it is really cold. It is also a bright High-Vis color to help me be seen. I would advise accessorizing with lights and reflective wear too if running in low light conditions. Yes, the clothes have 360 degree reflective bits but you want to ensure that all traffic and cyclists definitely see you coming.
I am so happy to say that SKINS is offering my readers a 20% discount using the promo code PTMOLLIE-SKINS20 on all full-priced items. Offer expires 31st January so head on over and pick up some kit today to beat the winter blues.
Thanks to SKINS for gifting me the A400 top and leggings. As always, all opinions are honest and my own.
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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