by Mollie Millington | Feb 21, 2019 | race review, running, sponsored post, travel
I never thought I would complete a race that was longer than a marathon. (In face it wasn’t too long ago that I thought I would never run a marathon). Rather than do things half-ass, I decided my first ultra should be a multi-stage race abroad and be in the desert. For this who don’t know, any ultra marathon is anything over 26.2 miles (although some say over 30 miles). Since I completed the race in October 2018, the Wadi Rum Ultra has re-branded to be Ultra X Jordan as part of the Ultra X Co’s strategy to become the World Championship of Ultra running. This year they are hosting races in Sri Lanka, Mexico and Jordan. Next year, new locations (Bolivia and Azores) will be added.
There is no way my normal race review format can cover the complexity of this race. I am working on a vblog to show you the landscape and also have lots of kit to tell you about. To hold you over until then, here is a brief overview of the race.
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| What you will see along the route |
Entries and fees: In 2018, Ultra X Jordan registration fee was £895 for accommodation in Amman and during race, transport to/from race plus Petra and race entry, Jordan visa, a celebratory BBQ and beer on day of finish. In addition, there were three doctors on the team to administer medication and treat wounds (mostly foot blisters) and two osteopaths to offer daily treatments such as massages, assisted stretching and foot wound care. The 2019 registration fee is £995 for individuals or £890/pp for teams of three or more.
Course and bogs: The course was 250km through Jordan’s Wadi Rum valley. It varied from day to day (and slightly year to year) with multiple campsites along the way. We ran: 40km, 55km, 70km, 50km and then 37km over the five days. No toilets along the course but two of the three camps had toilets and showers. Nights one and two were at the first camp which offered canvas shelters, light bulbs (but no outlets to charge anything) and running water in the bathroom and showers. The next camp was affectionately called ‘Rock Camp’ because we slept on a giant boulder without electricity, water or toilets. There were blankets and cushions to sleep on but it was quite windy and therefore chilly. Camp three was a magical 1980’s oasis. Proper beds (two per canvas cabin), tables, chairs, a cash bar, and running water in toilets and showers. I have never been so happy to see a can of full fat Coke in my life.
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| Day 1 start line |
Location: The idea behind Ultra X races is to offer an amazing five day race experience so you only have to take one week off of work. Jordan’s desert valley did not disappointment. Many of the other runners added a few days to their itinerary to explore the country further. Temperature were 30 degrees plus during the day.
Atmosphere: Due to the location, there isn’t anyone to cheer for you along the course but the crew made up for this. It was ace seeing a friendly face every 10km. You also would occasionally get a 4×4 Toyota truck with tourists shout at you as they drove by.
Race bling and goody bag: Sadly, no medal this year but we did get a branded cotton t-shirt. I had lots of time to think along the way and will probably get a custom necklace off of Etsy that says “Grit”. Everyone was sad there was no medal and I sure Ultra X has taken that feedback on board. No goody bag either but we did get cold beers and dinner after the race.
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| Sunset stretch class after Day 1 |
Tips if you want to take part next time:
- Learn about the local culture and what to wear: It is a conservative Muslim country and you need to be aware of that. When we were in the desert, we were a bit isolated, which allowed the cultural rules to be relaxed but in Amman and Petra, we were Amman, we needed to be respectful.
- Learn about how the toilets work and carry your own toilet paper: I am still not exactly sure what the ‘bum gun’ was officially for but I do know not to flush the toilet paper. Be prepared and keep some toilet paper or tissues on your any time you leave the hotel.
- Make sure to strength train to combat the shifting sand effectively: It was extremely hard to train for running in shifting sand while living in London. The best thing to do is to strength train and make sure you have strong ankles and supportive shoes.
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| Photo by Ben Tufnell |
- Wear sweat-proof sunscreen: I was shocked to spend £13 for 77g of sunscreen at My Race Kit (It is special stuff that the sand won’t stick to). However, I didn’t get a sunburn, nor did I have to carry around a sunscreen bottle to re-apply so it was worth every scent.
- Book a few extra days if you can: It is a beautiful part of the world and there is lots to see (think Petra and the Red Sea). It will also get you time to acclimatize or recover.
- Come with a plan B: Not many of the participant’s races seemed to go to plan. There were injuries, food poisoning, muscle pulls, and blisters galore. Approach the race with the flexibility of a Plan B in case your situation changes so you won’t be too disappointed.
- Pack a variety of food. Nutella is a good chocolate substitute: I met Steven via a Whatsapp group as five of us were arriving one night early. The day before we set off for the desert, Steven and I were discussing our concern for the lack of chocolate in the desert (chocolate and high temps don’t mix). We soon discovered that Nutella is an excellent compromise.
- Don’t drink the water but don’t be wasteful either: If you are not a local, it is not advisable to drink the tap water in Jordan. During the race, you are provided with bottled water. There are a lot of resources that goes into bottling the water, transporting it to the race camps, and then disposing of the bottles that I encourage you to drink what you need in a eco-conscious and responsible way.
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| Photo by Ben Tufnell |
Thanks to Simplyhealth for sponsoring my 4×4 Challenge. This race was number three of four.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 7, 2019 | sponsored post, technology
I am not the best at life admin. Submitting paperwork, such as receipts for my taxes, invoicing for freelance work, and posting things on eBay, tend to get pushed to the side in favour of a workout or episode of Bridezillas. Actually, the paper gets put into a pile on the kitchen table until my husband forces me to deal with it.
My Simplyhealth UK Active Plan has four different levels of coverage, each with a maximum claim benefit. I have the premium level, which gives me £350 for muscle and joint care, £100 for podiatry treatments, and £350 for health assessments, in addition to other coverage. If I utilize just one benefit a month, the plan pays for itself and I can keep exercising without having to worry about being injured. Because I am so bad at filing paperwork, I was relieved to know that I can either claim with a paper form, which was included in my welcome pack, or submit a claim online. I spend most of my day sitting at a computer so I figured I would be able to handle method on a regular basis.
Booking an appointment
Before booking any appointments, I make sure to read through the T&C’s to ensure my claim will be valid. For example, physiotherapists have to be registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), as must podiatrists. Then I also considered how much my benefit was and if I thought I would need multiple treatments. For example, my feet aren’t too gnarly so I splurged with my medical pedicure before Wadi Rum. For my osteopath treatments, I went with my current clinic to allow for a continuity of care. For my eye doctor, I went to location that was close to home and affordable.
Filing the paperwork
For each appointment I have attended so far, I received a paper or electronic invoice. If I received paper, I scanned the document on my printer at work or took a photo. Then I logged into my Simplyhealth account and took the following steps:
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- On my Simplyhealth account home page, there is a section that says ‘make a claim’. Click on the button to make a claim online, but there is also an option to request a paper form via the post.
- On the next screen, you agree to a declaration that the info you are providing is true. It also reminds you that the receipt has to have the following information on it:
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- The full name of the person who received the treatment.
- The name, address and contact details of the practitioner or establishment who provided the treatment.
- The date and cost of the treatment.
- You specify who the claim is for from a dropdown menu (as you many have partners or children on your policy) and the date of the treatment.
- Then specify the type of treatment and cost.
- Upload the receipt (either photo or pdf).
- Then you confirm all of the details, including bank details.
There is also a screen where you can check your benefit balances, which make it very easy to see if you are using you plan to it’s full potential. My payments are always processed within a few days. I decided to have the money go into my savings account so I could pay for a race abroad at the end of the year (Valencia anyone?).
Thanks to Simplyhealth for sponsoring my 4×4 challenge. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Jan 31, 2019 | sponsored post
Earlier this month, the UK government shared guidelines to help the general public understand when influencers are being paid to mention a brand or specifc item. This is to help people recognize any advertisement or endorsement that the influencer was paid to share, mention, or attend. While I realize my reach is much smaller than the cast of Love Island or a single Kardashian, I wanted to explain the current relationship I have with brands and how I indicate this on blog posts and social media.
In no particular order:
Decathlon Bloggers Community: Occasionally, I receive complimentary items to review. This has been a big help in managing the expenses for my adventures in 2018. With each product I receive, I test it out in various conditions, photograph it, and write an honest review here on my blog. I may also share the photos on social media while testing them to let people know a full review is coming. I will use #gifted on social media to indicate items given in exchange for a honest review.
Simplyhealth: We have worked together in the past when I was given a complimentary race entry. Simplyhealth was kind enough to sponsor my 4×4 challenge by covering one flight and race registration in exchange for ten blog posts about the Active Plan over six months, social media shares and a few workout videos. I also have received one year premier level plan of their new active plan. The link I share to their active plan is to help Simplyhealth monitor how many people I am referring to their site. I do not receive any monetary compensation for sign ups. You can read about my experiences with the plan so far here, here and here. These posts will be tagged with #ad.
Function360 Physiotherapy: I receive two off-peak appointments a month in exchange for social media shares and blog posts documenting my treatment plan and progress. I also take pictures during each appointment and send them to Function360 to use as they see fit. To help monitor Function360’s ROI with me, I have a custom referral code that gives people 15% off their first apppointment (F360MM15). I do not receive any monetary compensation for each person I refer. I genuinely love the team at Function360 and would recommend them to anyone who will listen. For this, I will use #gifted.
Run Hungary: I was introduced to this new company by mutual friend who works at ON Running. They are offered me a complimentary trip for the Budapest half in April if I am able to refer a certain number of runners to the trip. I will be going on the trip no matter what, so please join me! (I will buy dinner for those who sign up as my referral as a thank you). I will tags these social media posts as #affiliate.
Run Bulgaria: I applied to be an ambassador for this company after seeing an advert on Facebook. It is so exciting to have been chosen! This summer I will attend their five day running camp on a gifted basis. I will be promoting the brand by tagging them on social media and wearing their branded t-shirt on some runs when it arrives to help build brand awareness. I also receive a monetary reward for each person who uses my referral code (AMB19MOL) which gives the user £75 off summer camp registration. I will tags these social media posts as #affiliate.
Photo by Will Patrick
Product reviews: I am often sent product samples to try out and then review on my website. As I am more pressed for time these days (and now there is all this #ad tagging confusion), I tend to choose kit I will genuinely use or am very curious about. I will always be honest with my feedback. If I have nothing nice to say, I will let the brand know and offer to return the item rather than write about it (this has only happened once). If I product isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, I will still post about it and suggest people who might be interested or other uses. I always declare at the bottom of the post of an idea was gifted. I will now include this info in social media shares too with #gifted or #ad.
Future Fit Training: Offered me a complimentary nutrition diploma program in exchange for blog posts and social media shares. I have been working on it for over a year and am determined to finish before 30 June 2019. I considered this to be #gifted.
MyCrewApp: This is a new free app which aims to connect runners in their local area. I receive a very small fee for each new sign up of their app using my referral link. They also offer incentives depending on how many people attend your runs and how many runs you host. Unfortunately, no one has attended my run club this year, but I am actively promoting my runs and the app in the hopes of helping new runners. It also ensures I am running more often too and meeting new people in London. Social media shares that include my sign up link will be labelled #affiliate.
Amazon affiliate link: I will sometimes include links to specific products available on Amazon in my blog posts. A disclaimer about these links is always included in the post letting readers know that if a purchase is made through the link, I receive a small fee which helps cover the costs of running this site. Amazon now has influencer stores and you can visit mine here. I will curate different themes throughout the year so keep checking back. As previously mentioned, these are #affiliate links.
I wrote a post sponsored by Sunnto to highlight their new Spartan watch.
Sponsored posts: Very rarely will I accept sponsored posts. However, if the content in inline with my brand and the message I am sharing, I will occasionally allow for them (they help pay my bills a lot better than exposure). I always declare these as sponsored and will tag as #ad if I am sharing links on social media.
As you can see, I end up having to do a lot of work for the items or experiences I am gifted. Let’s call it a labor of love as I acknowledge how blessed I am to be able to experience all of these things. I also pay for a lot of my own stuff but may tag the brand to help my readers identify kit and to let the brand know I am a fan. In these cases, I will not tag with #gifted or #ad. Maybe #iboughtit will start trending too?
If I am not being paid, I don’t think #ad is appropriate. To me #ad means I received money for something and #gifted meant I was given a product or service. IN addition, the recommendation is also to tag a post with #gifted, #ad, #affiliate if I am wearing/mentioning something that I was gifted within the last year. I will put these at the top of my hashtags but at the bottom of my blog posts. Feel free to scroll down before reading my articles to get the appropriate context.
Do you think #gifted is transparent enough? How do you think I have done so far in making my brand relationships clear? Leave a comment below and let me know.
Please note, none of the brands mentioned paid me to mention them in this post, but I have included links to their site. The only affiliate links included in this post are with Run Bulgaria, and Amazon.
by thinkmarsh | Jan 18, 2019 | health, sponsored post
I love having teeth but I hate going to the dentist. When I was younger, I had so many cavities filled I still have minor panic attacks when the hygienist finds a ‘sticky spot’. My SimplyHealth Active plan covers routine teeth cleaning, which was perfect as I was due for one in December. For those who haven’t been to the dental hygienist in a while or are curious about what happens during an appointment, read on to learn about my experience. I have also included a some information that I learned during my appointment. Enjoy!
How much does it cost to have your teeth cleaned?
Coming to London, I was a bit surprised to find out that I had to pay to visit a dental hygienist to have my teeth cleaned.
In the USA, teeth cleaning is part of your dental insurance plan (if you have it as not every employer will offer it as a benefit) and you may only need to pay a co-pay at your appointment (which is similar to an excess fee in the UK) depending on what insurance policy you have.
Again, it depends on what insurance policy you have, but usually the cost in less than $20 as the rest is covered by your insurance company.
Here in the UK, I have found that it costs about £50-60 in London for a 30 minute appointment.
In both countries, it is recommended to have your teeth cleaned twice a year.
Luckily,
my Simplyheath Active plan covers routine dental appointments and emergency procedures (after a qualifying period).
What does a hygienist do to your teeth?
I had an appointment booked in early December, which was between marathon madness and the holiday party season. I was warmly greeted by my hygienist, Cheryl, who quickly reviewed my records on her computer. She probably noticed that I am missing four teeth that were pulled to make room for the rest when I was younger (small jaw/big teeth problems). After I sat in the reclining chair, she gave me safety glasses and placed a disposable cloth across my chest. These are to help protect my eyes and clothes from water, spit, and any others types of splash.
Cheryl then placed a suction stick in at the back of my mouth under tongue so I didn’t have to swallow as often. This means I can leave my mouth open so she can work. She started on my bottom teeth, scraping off tartar and plaque.
Luckily, it didn’t hurt!
Since my last appointment, where I was told I had the start of gum disease (lovely, huh?), I have been adamant about flossing in the evenings and using an
interdental brush each time I brush.
Although I don’t have large noticeable gaps in my teeth, I do have a slight space at the bottom of my teeth, where food can get stuck or
my electric toothbrush can’t reach.
I am now one of the converted as I want to keep my teeth for as long as possible.
Methodically, Cheryl made her way around my lower jaw and then up to the top. There were a few times where I needed to swallow and that is fine.
Does it hurt when you visit the hygienist?
Cheryl also checked in with me to see if I was comfortable or in pain.
She told me at the start of the appointment to raise my hand if I needed her to stop.
I am happy to say that I did not.
Does snacking cause cavities?
After she has had a close look, Cheryl let me know I was the best patient of the day as my teeth were easy to clean.
She also asked if I snack throughout the day or just eat at mealtime.
I know that she knows the truth (my teeth don’t lie) so I sheepishly admitted I basically eat all day (7am, 10am, 1pm, 3pm, 6pm).
Her suggestion was to l try to only eat a few big meals and avoid fizzy drinks. This will help me protect the enamel on my teeth.
The fermentable dietary sugars from food stays in the mouth for about 30 minutes after eating.
It takes those 30 minutes for saliva to remove most the sugars from your mouth which protect the enamel.
Every time you put food to your lips you start the cycle again.
Therefore, leaving longer time between eating protects your teeth.
If you are continuously snacking, there isn’t any time for saliva to combat the sugars.
What is the difference between tartar and plaque?
Tartar is the mineralized form of plague. You will usually have it in hard to reach places, such as the inside surfaces of your lower front teeth and outer surfaces of upper molars. This is also because of where two of the three major salivary ducts openings are located. The minerals in saliva, calcium in particular, mix with the plague already on your teeth and mineralise them into tartar. Once these harden, they form tartar and very hard to remove without the special instruments your dental hygienist has available. There is strong evidence linking presence of tartar beneath the gum level with gum disease, which is why it is so important to remove.
I am very grateful that my Simplyhealth Active plan covered this appointment and then my next one in six month’s time. I would like to keep my natural teeth for as long as possible because if I have to loose them, there might be some expensive and painful procedures required.
Next week, I will give you a step by step on how to claim back an appointment fee via the
Simplyhealth website.
It was much easier that I thought it would be.
How often do you get your teeth cleaned? Do you floss regularly?
Thanks to dental student Premal Patel for his help on explaining the science behind oral hygiene. This post contains affiliate links which cost you, the buyer, nothing additional but helps maintain the costs associated with running this site.
by thinkmarsh | Dec 14, 2018 | fitness, sponsored post, travel
Even though my day job has been in central London for over two years, I am still getting to know the area. I love being near St. Pancras and King’s Cross because of the easy transport links (and proximity to Platform 9 3/4’s). There is a big push to redevelop many of the neighborhoods nearby too which means there are always new shops and offerings. I have featured London active travel posts before (links below) and will try to feature different neighborhoods in the months to come (let me know in the comment below if you want me to research a specific area).
Active travel: London
Active travel: London Part II
Active travel: London, Stay Cool
Near my work, a new area has recently opened called Coal Drops Yard (CDY). It is right off Granary Square and offers lots of different shops and cafes. With the new year about to begin, I wanted to highlight some ways you can stay happy and healthy in CDY and Granary Square.
Stay active:
Of course, I am going to plug my beginners run club. We meet every Wednesday at 7am near St Pancras Station and head over to run through Granary Square, along the towpath and back through CDY. Download the MyCrewApp here and register for my runs. We have one more left in 2018 on 19th December and start up again 2nd January. There is a bag drop and we run at a social pace so new runners can build endurance and confidence. Over 60 minutes, we run a 5K route, giving you plenty of time to travel to work, shower and be at your desk by 9am.
If running isn’t your thing, there are also bootcamps on Saturday morning at 10am run by Moe.
Be dressed for the part:
The Sports Edit has opened it second London store with a new shop in CYD on the upper level. There you can find a selection of their extensive online shop. Both men’s and women’s clothes and accessories are available, including Run Dem Crew Stance socks, S’well water bottles, and Yankees baseball hats (if you were lucky enough to get tickets to the Yankees Vs Red Sox game in the Olympic Park in June).
Indulge in self care:
beautystack app is having a pop-up in CDY just in time for Christmas. You can book in for a selection of treatments, including manicures, facials, and hair treatments through the app.
FACEGYM is a concept from the USA which gives all 40 of your facial muscles a workout in just 60 minutes utilizing sports massage and myofacial release. I have yet to try it but I am intrigued!
Eat well:
For this recommendation, I will admit I am a little biased. Kerb KX is open every Friday in Granary Square. There are about a dozen food vendors to choose from with a variety of cuisine. I want you to go to Cyprus Kitchen (who is owned by a friend of mine) for some delicious posh kebabs and pitas. You won’t be disappointed.
Try something new:
I am always encouraging my clients to step outside their comfort zone and try something new. STORE Store is a socially engaged association of artists, architects, and designers that offers workshops in different creative disciplines in CDY. If December wasn’t such a busy month for me I would have like to try a few, like papercasting and marbling. Visit their website to see what workshops they have planned for 2019.
Just chill:
There are a large set of steps leading down to the towpath where you can meditate, read a book, or catch up with a friend over coffee or ice cream. I’m the summer, these are covered in Astro-turf to look like grass. This time of year, they can be chilly to sit on so bring a warm jacket, picnic blanket or newspaper to sit on.
With time, I am sure that CDY will be offering even more exciting shops and events. If you are in the area, have a mosey on over to see what it is all about. Let me know which bits are your favourite in the comments below.
This post is in collaboration with The Sports Edit. All content is honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Dec 14, 2018 | fitness, sponsored post, travel
Even though my day job has been in central London for over two years, I am still getting to know the area. I love being near St. Pancras and King’s Cross because of the easy transport links (and proximity to Platform 9 3/4’s). There is a big push to redevelop many of the neighborhoods nearby too which means there are always new shops and offerings. I have featured London active travel posts before (links below) and will try to feature different neighborhoods in the months to come (let me know in the comment below if you want me to research a specific area).
Active travel: London
Active travel: London Part II
Active travel: London, Stay Cool
Near my work, a new area has recently opened called Coal Drops Yard (CDY). It is right off Granary Square and offers lots of different shops and cafes. With the new year about to begin, I wanted to highlight some ways you can stay happy and healthy in CDY and Granary Square.
Stay active:
Of course, I am going to plug my beginners run club. We meet every Wednesday at 7am near St Pancras Station and head over to run through Granary Square, along the towpath and back through CDY. Download the MyCrewApp here and register for my runs. We have one more left in 2018 on 19th December and start up again 2nd January. There is a bag drop and we run at a social pace so new runners can build endurance and confidence. Over 60 minutes, we run a 5K route, giving you plenty of time to travel to work, shower and be at your desk by 9am.
If running isn’t your thing, there are also bootcamps on Saturday morning at 10am run by Moe.
Be dressed for the part:
The Sports Edit has opened it second London store with a new shop in CYD on the upper level. There you can find a selection of their extensive online shop. Both men’s and women’s clothes and accessories are available, including Run Dem Crew Stance socks, S’well water bottles, and Yankees baseball hats (if you were lucky enough to get tickets to the Yankees Vs Red Sox game in the Olympic Park in June).
Indulge in self care:
beautystack app is having a pop-up in CDY just in time for Christmas. You can book in for a selection of treatments, including manicures, facials, and hair treatments through the app.
FACEGYM is a concept from the USA which gives all 40 of your facial muscles a workout in just 60 minutes utilizing sports massage and myofacial release. I have yet to try it but I am intrigued!
Eat well:
For this recommendation, I will admit I am a little biased. Kerb KX is open every Friday in Granary Square. There are about a dozen food vendors to choose from with a variety of cuisine. I want you to go to Cyprus Kitchen (who is owned by a friend of mine) for some delicious posh kebabs and pitas. You won’t be disappointed.
Try something new:
I am always encouraging my clients to step outside their comfort zone and try something new. STORE Store is a socially engaged association of artists, architects, and designers that offers workshops in different creative disciplines in CDY. If December wasn’t such a busy month for me I would have like to try a few, like papercasting and marbling. Visit their website to see what workshops they have planned for 2019.
Just chill:
There are a large set of steps leading down to the towpath where you can meditate, read a book, or catch up with a friend over coffee or ice cream. I’m the summer, these are covered in Astro-turf to look like grass. This time of year, they can be chilly to sit on so bring a warm jacket, picnic blanket or newspaper to sit on.
With time, I am sure that CDY will be offering even more exciting shops and events. If you are in the area, have a mosey on over to see what it is all about. Let me know which bits are your favourite in the comments below.
This post is in collaboration with The Sports Edit. All content is honest and my own.
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