by Mollie Millington | Jul 4, 2019 | sport
Spending four years in Boston, MA for university, I rapidly became a Red Sox fan. My campus and the dance clubs we went to were within walking distance of Fenway Park. My junior and senior year, I could hear fans cheering from my dorm room when my windows were open. I was lucky enough to attend a view games when I lived in Boston, and then in Detroit and Toronto.
I would rather play any sport than watch it, but attending a baseball game is an American pastime. There is a social aspect too, of course, and lots of eating. These are the points I enjoy more than waiting for some action on the field. As a kid, I played softball for many years and then played again in grad school. Unlike rugby, cricket, or tennis, I know the rules and understand the strategy. Therefore, I can shout things that make sense and are relevant such as “two out- run on anything!”
This year was the first time baseball teams from the US came to play in London. The MLB London Series took place last weekend at the London Stadium in Stratford. As soon as I heard the teams were the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, I knew I had to be there. The Red Sox and Yankees have one of the oldest rivalries in baseball. Living in New England and having many friends from there too, there is often a divide in the group as to which team they support.
Getting tickets for a Red Sox/Yankees game in the US is nearly impossible so I wasn’t sure I would have success here in London. I had four people trying to tickets for me and luckily I did!
James came to the game with me (wearing his Detroit Tigers gear). I had scoped out the stadium and gift shop the day before. Unfortunately, I wasn’t keen on the section of womens’ clothes available. I ended up with a magnet and koozie. At the game, I enjoyed Pimm’s then Jack Daniels and two feet of nachos.
There was an area to try your baseball skills out called Playball Park. You could hit balls in the batting cages or try virtual reality batting. There were also speed cams to see how fast you could pitch and a pit to make a diving catch. For people who have never played baseball, it was such a great way to let them experience the game.
The day didn’t end on a happy note because the Red Sox ended up loosing to the Yankees. Both of the London Series games were higher scoring than a usual game. Hopefully, it made the game more exciting for new baseball fans. The London Series is back in 2020 with the Cubs and Cardinals. James is just going to have to wait a bit longer for the Tigers to come for a visit.
by thinkmarsh | Oct 30, 2017 | sport
A big part of the blog is letting my readers know about different sports, new fitness trends, and encouraging you to be more active in your daily life. Last month, I was thrilled when Decathlon invited me to be a part of the newly established Decathlon Blogger Community (DBC). There are 25 of us so far who will be testing out some of the kit offered at Decathlon while we try new sports.
|
| Some of the DBC gang |
I have been familar with Decathlon since arriving in the UK. I was lucky when I first arrived in London because there was a Decathlon near me. Any time I tried a new sport (like ballet, open water swimming, cycling) I knew I could purchase quality kit at affordable prices from the store. In fact, my road bike is a BTwin. They offer equipment and supplies for over 70 sports, all under one roof. That was back in 2011 when there was only one Decathlon store in London. There are now 28 stores throughout the UK and the plan is for there to be a total of 300 by 2027. Perhaps after that world domination? Decathlon can currently be found on four different continents.
 |
| Finding out what more about the circuits |
As a way to meet the other bloggers, we met up at the Decathlon London office for some fun and games. We started off with a circuit set outside in the car park. Charlotte, Bethan, and Stephen were on my team and we dominated! The stations were chest press, battle ropes, walking lunges, and slam balls. I am pretty sure it helped that we had four people on our team rather than three as your earned points for each completed rep.
 |
| Teams at the ready. Turns out most of us don’t know much about European sports teams and stats. |
There was also a pub quiz which was so difficult because I don’t know too much about professional sports. I would rather play any that sit around and watch it, which seemed to be a general consensus. My husband would have dominated at this quiz. Luckily, Stephen knew a fair bit and Charlotte is up to date with her footballer wife gossip. It was close, but I am happy to say Team Yellow won.
 |
| Team selfie! |
We will be learning more about the program in the coming months. With over 20 Decathlon brands to choose from, I don’t think we will run out of activities to try. If you would like me to highlight a specific sport or want to learn about a Decathlon product, leave a comment below and I will see what I can do.
 |
| We are the champions. |
Thank you to Decathlon for believing in what what this blog is all about and my mission to get more people active by discovering new fun ways to move more.
 |
| Capturing all the action. Bethan was committed to the cause in her weighted vest |
by Mollie Millington | Oct 30, 2017 | sport
A big part of the blog is letting my readers know about different sports, new fitness trends, and encouraging you to be more active in your daily life. Last month, I was thrilled when Decathlon invited me to be a part of the newly established Decathlon Blogger Community (DBC). There are 25 of us so far who will be testing out some of the kit offered at Decathlon while we try new sports.
|
| Some of the DBC gang |
I have been familar with Decathlon since arriving in the UK. I was lucky when I first arrived in London because there was a Decathlon near me. Any time I tried a new sport (like ballet, open water swimming, cycling) I knew I could purchase quality kit at affordable prices from the store. In fact, my road bike is a BTwin. They offer equipment and supplies for over 70 sports, all under one roof. That was back in 2011 when there was only one Decathlon store in London. There are now 28 stores throughout the UK and the plan is for there to be a total of 300 by 2027. Perhaps after that world domination? Decathlon can currently be found on four different continents.
|
| Finding out what more about the circuits |
As a way to meet the other bloggers, we met up at the Decathlon London office for some fun and games. We started off with a circuit set outside in the car park. Charlotte, Bethan, and Stephen were on my team and we dominated! The stations were chest press, battle ropes, walking lunges, and slam balls. I am pretty sure it helped that we had four people on our team rather than three as your earned points for each completed rep.
|
| Teams at the ready. Turns out most of us don’t know much about European sports teams and stats. |
There was also a pub quiz which was so difficult because I don’t know too much about professional sports. I would rather play any that sit around and watch it, which seemed to be a general consensus. My husband would have dominated at this quiz. Luckily, Stephen knew a fair bit and Charlotte is up to date with her footballer wife gossip. It was close, but I am happy to say Team Yellow won.
|
| Team selfie! |
We will be learning more about the program in the coming months. With over 20 Decathlon brands to choose from, I don’t think we will run out of activities to try. If you would like me to highlight a specific sport or want to learn about a Decathlon product, leave a comment below and I will see what I can do.
|
| We are the champions. |
Thank you to Decathlon for believing in what what this blog is all about and my mission to get more people active by discovering new fun ways to move more.
|
| Capturing all the action. Bethan was committed to the cause in her weighted vest |
by Mollie Millington | Apr 3, 2017 | fitness, product review, sport
|
| Pink Ladies! |
Last week, I headed back to Surrey Quays, which is the neighbourhood we lived in when we first moved to London. It is always nice to go back and see how the area has changed. I am so happy when I go back to the area, probably because of the fond memories of our gorgeous flat and exploring London with fresh enthusiam.
When we lived there, the Decathlon in Surrey Quays was the only one store in the UK. Most of my personal training/fitness kit and cycling accessories came from there, as it was easy to access and really affordable (it took me 2 years to stop converting pounds to dollars). In the USA, most stores carry a variety of items while I find in the UK you have to go to a specialist store to find each thing you need. Decathlon has everything from running kit to ski gear to protein powder to free weights to warm fleece for the winter and wellies for dog walks in the spring to good old bike inner tubes. But it wasn’t until the scavenger hunt that I learned just how much variety they offer.
 |
| Bloggers are big on selfies |
Decathlon kindly invited nine bloggers down for a fun scavenger hunt through the store. There were three teams of three and I was on the Pink Ladies with Beki and Eileen. Each team started in different parts of the store and had a dozen or so questions to answer about the products on the shelves. We also had a bonus question about the Decathlon brands and what sporting discipline they represented. I had no idea that Decathlon had over 20 of their own brands for everything from camping to swimming to rock climbing to equestrian to court sports. They also carry big brands, such as Nike, Adidas, Salomon, Karrimor, etc. but in my experience, I have found that the Decathlon quality is just as good depending on what I need and how much I am willing to spend on it.
 |
| I bet you can’t see us. (Decathlon made us wear these jackets around the store) |
 |
| No one told us we were going to have to do math as part of one of the tasks. |
Decathlon even has their own brand of fitness technology products, Geonaute. If you are looking to invest in a heart rate monitor, GPS watch, action camera accessories, or ear buds, have a look at their selection. With Decathlon, they really aim to remove the finacial barrier of getting stuck in to a new sport or physical activity. Often times, I see people discouraged from trying something new because they don’t have the proper equipment or don’t want to invest too much in case they don’t like it. After walking around the store, I can tell you there are many products that can help increase your heart rate without decreasing your bank account by too much.
 |
| Trying to find the right strawberry-flavored protein and one of the answers to our questions. |
 |
| I just wanted to eat all the protein. Apparently, Eileen did too. |
After exploring nearly every bit of the store looking for clues, I am thrilled to say that our team won and were given awesome medals for our efforts while we enjoyed some great canapes and wine with the other bloggers. Each attendee was also given a brightly colored 20L rucksack, a fitness ball, a running bumbag, and soft microfiber towel. I was actually eyeing the 1 bottle carrier belt bumbag for the London Marathon and have pleased with it so far.
 |
| First place team celebrating our win over social media. |
 |
| ‘In-tents’ bloggers after the challenge was over. |
The scavenger hunt would be a lot of fun for families or schools to learn more about different types of ways to be active and there is a great potential for it to be even more interactive with the products available. I found a few new pieces of kit I would like to try (stand up paddleboard, horseback riding boots, and a Subea face mask with a snorket built in). As this was the first time the scavenger hunt was put on, Decathlon is taking our feedback and will tweak the experience a bit more (I suggested adding a time limit).
I would highly recommend keeping your eyes out for similar interactive events at your local Decathlon store. You can always stop by and have a wander around though to see what inspires you to get more active and/or explore the outdoors.
Thanks to Decathlon for providing us with a fun evening and great sporty items. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Aug 11, 2016 | Olympics, sport
Back in 2012, Kim Gaucher (nee: Smith) was kind enough to spend a few minutes with me for an impromptu interview, which you can read here. Gaucher is back at the Rio Olympics as Team Canada Basketball captain. Before the games got underway, she was able to email with me for a quick interview.
How did you cope after 2012 Olympics ended as it had been a goal for so long?
It was the best two weeks ever!!! There have been a lot of experiences over my basketball career that I have built up in my head, then when you get there/achieve something, it never quite lives up to the buildup. Well London and it’s Olympics surpassed every wild fantasy and was better than could have been expected. Nothing to cope with, just an amazing life experience that I will always have with me.
Looks like you have been on the court a lot in the last 4 years. When did you decide to aim for Rio?
After the games, my career was sort of at a crossroads. In the couple of months following the games I told myself I was done with basketball and it was time to move on. However our team and myself sort of exceeded expectations. I took one of the many opportunities presented to me and played that following year in Southern France. Turns out I could still play, I’ve always enjoyed playing and I love representing Canada. So I guess once I got a ball back in my hand after a month off I knew I was ready for another Olympic cycle. People never realise how much work it takes to get to a point like this, but once you get to a level like this you realise just how much fun it is!
Have you prepared any differently in terms of training or mental prep for Rio vs London, now that you have experienced the Olympics once?
I’m very lucky in that I really love my job. Not just saying that cause we are down here in Rio. When I go a day without some type of basketball it just doesn’t feel right. I’m competitive, I love to work out, I love being part of team – I am very lucky.
When you get a little older, now being in my 30’s the workouts are structured a bit differently. Physically it can be a bit tougher, day after day month after month, but with age also comes wisdom and maturity. My coaches rely on my decision making and leadership now more than ever. I’ll take whatever role they give me as long as I get to compete.
Has being married changed your ability to train or play at all? Are you worried about the Zika virus?
I was with Ben for along time before we even got married, maybe 7-8 years. He knew what he was in for. It has never been easy, and long distance never works well, but we’ve always managed to make it work. I think if anything it’s easier now having the same last name so he isn’t seen as a groupie or distraction.
Yes Zika is something all the athletes are worried about. As an adult my two biggest goals in life were to become an Olympian and a mother. Maybe not at the same time, but still both. In the lead-up to Rio, all of us athletes are so focused on the present that we sometimes forget about the future. There are so many different messages out there it’s hard to know what information to trust.
It has changed our plans. At one point we were hoping of conceiving just before or right after Rio, however it just does not seem smart or prudent to do at this point. I’ve resigned with my club team in France for next season as a result and will take things as they come after that.
What tips are you giving your teammates who haven’t been to the Olympics before?
As we say in Canada “ Just give’er”!! Having failed to make 2 Olympics before London, some of our younger player don’t realise how difficult it is to get here. Take it all in, it’s an unbelievable experience to have so early in life, but once that ball goes up its the same game just a bigger stage!
Have you learned any Portuguese for this trip? Are you concerned about Brazil being ready for such a big event?
I’ve been to Brazil now on 5 different occasions for basketball. An amazing country with amazing people and they LOVE and really appreciate womens’ sports here. We want to put on a good show. But having said that, it’s kind of like going to another couples house for game night. You love the couple, but they are having a terrible fight just before you arrive. It’s a bit awkward. You know they’ll get through it, but they need to figure some things out before you arrive.
But these are the Olympics. They are what most athletes dream about competing in. I’ve dedicated most of my adult life to getting here and not much right now is going to stop me. If I have to wear long sleeves, not drink the water, go through a couple protests and not go swimming to compete for Canada- Well then that’s what Ive got to do!
Not sure if you met Bolt in 2012, but any other athletes you hope to see? Do you have tickets to any events?
Would have loved to meet Bolt in London but missed my chance. However when I am back in Utah training I always run into elite distance runners who are out there training. I’ve watched Mo Farah train and Canada’s Mohammed Ahmed get ready for the 10000m. Inspiring!!
I love watching the track and field along with the swimmers. And with the games in Rio, volleyball will be the hot ticket with everyone watching, so will I. I just love getting know the athletes, particularly the Canadian ones. Many of us seem to have similar backgrounds and face many of the same struggles with sport in our country.
With the games only being 2 weeks long and basketball playing games every other day, it’s tough to get out and explore. The organisers leave room for athletes to attend any event on a first come first serve basis. But unlike some of the other events where the competition has come and gone in one day, we will hopefully be playing for the entire two weeks, deep in medal contention!
What is your nutrition strategy leading up to Rio and during the games?
Whew where to begin. It’s amazing how much science there is out there. It also does not help playing in France when you’re attempting to be fit for an Olympics.
Basically I never limit myself on fruits and vegetables. I have a couple fruit smoothies a day and never have a problem getting those in. I’ve tried to not go the supplement route. More yougurt and chocolate milk seem to get the job done.
No red meat, and have tried to eat more fish than poultry lately. I’ve always eaten very clean and I think that’s why I’ve been able to stay at this level for such a long time.
Thanks so much to Gaucher for putting aside some time for me. Tune in to watch Team Canada vs Team USA on Friday 12 August.
by thinkmarsh | Aug 11, 2016 | Olympics, sport
Back in 2012, Kim Gaucher (nee: Smith) was kind enough to spend a few minutes with me for an impromptu interview, which you can read here. Gaucher is back at the Rio Olympics as Team Canada Basketball captain. Before the games got underway, she was able to email with me for a quick interview.
How did you cope after 2012 Olympics ended as it had been a goal for so long?
It was the best two weeks ever!!! There have been a lot of experiences over my basketball career that I have built up in my head, then when you get there/achieve something, it never quite lives up to the buildup. Well London and it’s Olympics surpassed every wild fantasy and was better than could have been expected. Nothing to cope with, just an amazing life experience that I will always have with me.
Looks like you have been on the court a lot in the last 4 years. When did you decide to aim for Rio?
After the games, my career was sort of at a crossroads. In the couple of months following the games I told myself I was done with basketball and it was time to move on. However our team and myself sort of exceeded expectations. I took one of the many opportunities presented to me and played that following year in Southern France. Turns out I could still play, I’ve always enjoyed playing and I love representing Canada. So I guess once I got a ball back in my hand after a month off I knew I was ready for another Olympic cycle. People never realise how much work it takes to get to a point like this, but once you get to a level like this you realise just how much fun it is!
Have you prepared any differently in terms of training or mental prep for Rio vs London, now that you have experienced the Olympics once?
I’m very lucky in that I really love my job. Not just saying that cause we are down here in Rio. When I go a day without some type of basketball it just doesn’t feel right. I’m competitive, I love to work out, I love being part of team – I am very lucky.
When you get a little older, now being in my 30’s the workouts are structured a bit differently. Physically it can be a bit tougher, day after day month after month, but with age also comes wisdom and maturity. My coaches rely on my decision making and leadership now more than ever. I’ll take whatever role they give me as long as I get to compete.
Has being married changed your ability to train or play at all? Are you worried about the Zika virus?
I was with Ben for along time before we even got married, maybe 7-8 years. He knew what he was in for. It has never been easy, and long distance never works well, but we’ve always managed to make it work. I think if anything it’s easier now having the same last name so he isn’t seen as a groupie or distraction.
Yes Zika is something all the athletes are worried about. As an adult my two biggest goals in life were to become an Olympian and a mother. Maybe not at the same time, but still both. In the lead-up to Rio, all of us athletes are so focused on the present that we sometimes forget about the future. There are so many different messages out there it’s hard to know what information to trust.
It has changed our plans. At one point we were hoping of conceiving just before or right after Rio, however it just does not seem smart or prudent to do at this point. I’ve resigned with my club team in France for next season as a result and will take things as they come after that.
What tips are you giving your teammates who haven’t been to the Olympics before?
As we say in Canada “ Just give’er”!! Having failed to make 2 Olympics before London, some of our younger player don’t realise how difficult it is to get here. Take it all in, it’s an unbelievable experience to have so early in life, but once that ball goes up its the same game just a bigger stage!
Have you learned any Portuguese for this trip? Are you concerned about Brazil being ready for such a big event?
I’ve been to Brazil now on 5 different occasions for basketball. An amazing country with amazing people and they LOVE and really appreciate womens’ sports here. We want to put on a good show. But having said that, it’s kind of like going to another couples house for game night. You love the couple, but they are having a terrible fight just before you arrive. It’s a bit awkward. You know they’ll get through it, but they need to figure some things out before you arrive.
But these are the Olympics. They are what most athletes dream about competing in. I’ve dedicated most of my adult life to getting here and not much right now is going to stop me. If I have to wear long sleeves, not drink the water, go through a couple protests and not go swimming to compete for Canada- Well then that’s what Ive got to do!
Not sure if you met Bolt in 2012, but any other athletes you hope to see? Do you have tickets to any events?
Would have loved to meet Bolt in London but missed my chance. However when I am back in Utah training I always run into elite distance runners who are out there training. I’ve watched Mo Farah train and Canada’s Mohammed Ahmed get ready for the 10000m. Inspiring!!
I love watching the track and field along with the swimmers. And with the games in Rio, volleyball will be the hot ticket with everyone watching, so will I. I just love getting know the athletes, particularly the Canadian ones. Many of us seem to have similar backgrounds and face many of the same struggles with sport in our country.
With the games only being 2 weeks long and basketball playing games every other day, it’s tough to get out and explore. The organisers leave room for athletes to attend any event on a first come first serve basis. But unlike some of the other events where the competition has come and gone in one day, we will hopefully be playing for the entire two weeks, deep in medal contention!
What is your nutrition strategy leading up to Rio and during the games?
Whew where to begin. It’s amazing how much science there is out there. It also does not help playing in France when you’re attempting to be fit for an Olympics.
Basically I never limit myself on fruits and vegetables. I have a couple fruit smoothies a day and never have a problem getting those in. I’ve tried to not go the supplement route. More yougurt and chocolate milk seem to get the job done.
No red meat, and have tried to eat more fish than poultry lately. I’ve always eaten very clean and I think that’s why I’ve been able to stay at this level for such a long time.
Thanks so much to Gaucher for putting aside some time for me. Tune in to watch Team Canada vs Team USA on Friday 12 August.
Recent Comments