What a whirlwind this #fitbitfifty journey has been. The Coach magazine article was out a few weeks ago and the next issue of Cyclist will delve deeper into the experience. It was truly an unforgettable experience and I will try do it justice below. Grab a cuppa as it will be a long post.
Ready to go!
I applied for Fitbitfifty in the summer when I saw an advert on Facebook. It seemed like a once in a lifetime opportunity and I never thought I would be even considered. I know so many more athletes in London alone who were better qualified than myself. Then I was shortlisted and had a phone interview. Then I was made a reserve in case someone became injured in the six week lead up to the event. Days before the Berlin Marathon, I got a call that one of the athletes was injured and Fitbit requested me to be their replacement.
I was buzzing all weekend in Berlin and petrified too that I would be the weak link on my team. My worries were that I don’t cycle with clips, I was just coming back after a month of marathon training with limited cycling incorporated into it, and I don’t consider myself to be a fast runner. But there was no way I was going to pass up an opportunity like this.
After returning home from Germany, I only had a few days to unpack and repack. Participants were given a long list of what to bring with them and I quickly realised I was missing a few key items for cold weather cycling. The good folks at Altura kindly sent me ax express care package that contained my night ride kit (long sleeve jersey, sleeveless baselayer, a waterproof jacket that I slept in). All my running kit fit into my Workplay Bags Goddess II and my cycle kit went into my Adidas bag. My fuel (MyProtein energels,Energy Bits, and various granola bars) went into my ruck sack.
A photo posted by Mollie, the Happiness PT (@ptmollie) on
All athletes, Andy Cook and his team, reps from FitBit and Dennis Publishing met at the hotel Thursday night and shared a meal together. After dinner, the teams decided we would work together for the duration of the challenge, rather than competing against each other. Riding four-up seemed easier than two-up. We matched our pairs into fast, medium, and slow (guess which one I was on?). These groups were perfectly matched, both in terms of ability and personality which made the entire challenge remarkedly calm (no drama, no breakdowns).
Breakfast was served at 4.30am on Friday morning and we headed over to Buckingham Palace by 5.30am. A bunch of people from Dennis Publishing and FitBit met us on the Green Park side for a few photos and for official start. We aimed for 10 min miles but everyone was so excited, it was a bit faster than that. The route was 12 km, winding through London streets to the Olympic Park Velodrome. There, the tour buses awaited our arrival. The group of four gentlemen would start off on their bikes while the rest of us would be transported in the bus to the first transition zone.
All my stuff in my bunk
Life on the bus was cramped. There was lots of kit and tons of food. The loo was smelly and for liquids only. The bunk beds were comfy and dark, but a bit small for the taller guys on the team. We started off being modest when changing kit but by the end, it just didn’t matter anymore. We were tired, sweaty, and short on time when it came to transitions.
The majority of the #fitbitfifty was on the bike and for me, it was hard. I don’t cycle with cleats, instead I used my Salomon trail shoes with toe baskets. However, after this experience, I vow to learn how to use my clip-ins. In the past, I have fallen off one to many times and was worried about doing it again during this challenge, especially while riding in a group. I just fantasized about a giant crash in the middle of nowhere.
My view of Ozzie’s Angels
Even though I found the rides challenging, I am so happy I still have the Forza Stratos RC23 wheels that Merlin Cycles let me review during this year’s Ride London. My cycling is so much more effortless with these wheels even though my bike is entry level. My teammates had super fancy bikes, but my BTwin got me to through it.
During the first ride regment for my team of four (‘Ozzie’s Angels’- Ozzie, Natalie, Elise, and myself), we only tried changing leaders a few times. Elise had never drafted before and Natalie had just learned. Elise also wasn’t that confident riding in traffic, so Ozzie was kind enough to let us ladies draft him the entire segment. On the flats, we were able to stay together at a good pace but hill climbs seperated us out as Elise and I were able to climb but Ozzie and Natalie loved a fast decent.
After we made it to the Scottish border, Ozzie switched with Jer so our trio of ladies came ‘Jer’s Gems’. We kept the same order and strategy, and experienced similar disconnect of pace on the hills. I was loosing my ability to climb by the last 2 cycle segments. Exhaustion was setting in even though I tried to sleep as much as I could on the bus.
My group did a lot of run-bike segments. It was hard, but it was also to match us with short flat cycle segments. I was usually bringing up the rear of our group. I didn’t mind as I have a fair bit of experience cycling on open roads and I can’t hear very well on the bike so there wasn’t any point in me being close to the other riders for a chat.
Meal by FitHQ
Fuelling on this adventure was tough. I knew I needed to eat but my body clock was off from lack of a routine. We had meals from Fit HQ (which I ate most of) and sport drink powder from SIS. There were also crisps, candy bars, ginger biscuits, and full-fat Coke. Every stop we made, we ended up doing a bit more shopping as people experienced different cravings throughout the weekend. I enjoyed chocolate milk after my segments, along with toast, Nutella and bananas. I was never starving and often times forces myself to eat something. It was tough to figure out what to eat and how much that would allow you to fall right asleep and be ready to workout only a few hours later.
Here is a breakdown of each of my segments (hopefully the formatting isn’t too weird). You can also check out my Strava page for the routes we took and other nifty stats. My Fitbit Surge did a great job picking up GPS quickly no matter where we were and gave me the actual and average speeds which was really helpful on the bike segments. I also kept an eye on my heart rate but did the best I could with each effort regardless. It is only when my heart rate gets up to 160+ that I feel like I am going to die.
Discipline Time Day Distance Elasped Time Elevation Average Speed 1. Run 6am Friday 7.4 miles 1:24:41 103 feet 10:21 min/mile 2. Bike 10am Friday 34.5 miles 2:22:14 817 feet 14.9 miles/hour 3. Run 8pm Friday 6.6 miles 1:06:32 42 feet 10:04 min/mile 4. Bike 9:20pm Friday 26 miles 1:43:24 270 feet 15.5 miles/hour 5. Bike 5:15am Saturday 23.9 miles 2:08:08 1623 feet 11.7 miles/hour 6. Run 11am Saturday 5.9 miles 59:35 86 feet 9:57 min/mile 7. Bike 12:30pm Saturday 29.7 miles 2:19:56 1560 feet 13.6 miles/hour 8. Bike 9:50pm Saturday 27.1 miles 2:07:25 809 feet 13.5 miles/hour 9. Run 2:05am Sunday 6.0 miles 1:20:44 0 feet 12:48 min/mile 10. Ride 3:30am Sunday 28.8 miles 2:03:22 37 feet 14.8 miles/hour 11. Ride 9:40am Sunday 31.9 miles 2:27:43 937 feet 14.2 miles/hour 12. Run 4:30pm Sunday 7.3 miles 1:18:27 150 feet 9:46 min/mile
Waiting for the fast boys to join us for the last run.
I really hope that our team of 12 can continue on with other events over the next year. We are a diverse group that demonstrates the average/part-time athlete is not something to mess with. We train hard but play hard too and have kept in touch since the epic weekend (God bless Whatsapp).
If you have any suggestions on events or races we should attend in the UK, please leave a comment below.
Big thanks to Coach Magazine and Fitbit for this unforgettable opportunity. All opinions are honest and my own.
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.
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.
During my childhood, I was lucky enough to spend many winter weekends skiing at a small private club in Upstate New York. As I grew up, I was lucky enough to be able to explore the slopes in New England, the Rocky Mountains, and most recently, the Swiss Alps. My husband and I even got engaged on the way home from a ski trip to British Columbia. It has been a few years since we have been to Verbier, but I am always looking for the next opportuntity to follow the snow.
Red Mountain, BC
No matter where in the world I am going to ski, I will always have to pack up kit as the mountains are unfortunately not on my doorstep. Having the right kit will make your time on the slopes much more enjoyable. Here are my suggestions on what to have to survive the elements:
1. Merino base layers and socks– Merino wool helps keep regulate body temperatures by wicking moisture away from your body and doesn’t smell even when you sweat. Cotton will keep wet fabric near your skin and that will get cold quick. The Techwool 190 Zip allows for some ventilation if you heat up riding down the hill but get chilly on the chair lift on the way up.
2. Waterproof trousers– I love these pink Slide 500 Women’s ski trousers that are fitted, stretchy and waterproof. My ski jacket is bright blue and would lovely pairs with them. Believe me, no one likes a wet bum from sitting on the chair lift when it is dumping powder.
3. Sunscreen– The snow can reflect the sun and the cold wind can make your cheeks turn red too. Keep your skin fresh by applying sunscreen before you head out in the morning. (Although having a ‘ski google tan’ when you arrive back at the office is priceless).
First trip to Verbier
4. Helmet– It is important to play it safe these days. When selecting a helmet, be sure to get one that observes the CSN EN 1077 European Standard. Also, find one that has enough ventilation holes for you if you tend to overheat when you exercise. As you know, I have a thing for pink and really like this Uvex Gamma WL Titanium helmet.
5. An action camera– Document all the slopes you shred by mounting a camera to your helmet or board. The Garmin VIRB X is an affordable alternative to a GoPro, and it is currently on sale at Decathlon.co.uk.
6. Gloves– This is another piece of kit that you want to be waterproof. Consider it an investment into your long-term happiness out on the slopes all day. It also needs to be breathable so your hands don’t sweat. You may need to treat your gloves each year with Nikwax, or something similar to keep the waterproof quality. Kids will spend a lot of time falling down and making snowballs, so these Chill Heat Jr Ski Gloves, would be a perfect fit.
7. FriendsРAfter getting first tracks, my favorite part of the day is apr̬sski. Relaxing with friends in sunshine, surrounded by gorgeous views, is not a bad way to end the day.
The Chalet gang
These are just a few suggestions from my personal experience out in winter conditions around the world. What can I say? I like to be warm and dry. What essentials would you suggest to someone going to ski or snowboard for the first time? Let me know today during a Twitter chat at 6pm to talk about what it takes to get #totheslopes.
One of the things I love about travelling is exploring new place and cultures. When on a trip, it can be hard to stay active though. Sure, you may walk a bit around the city, but I usually find myself indulging in the local cuisine and enjoying a drink or three with lunch and dinner. Part of the Active Travel series here on ptmollie.com is to share with you some ideas for ways to keep up your exercise regime.
Back in April, I was lucky enough to spend a few days in Egypt with my girlfriends. The city isn’t really designed for walking much (it is very hot and there is too much traffic), but here are three things I would suggest you try out next time you find yourself in Cairo.
Run with Egyptian Runners– This particular trip, I was hoping to run the Cairo Half Marathon with the Egyptian Runners. Unfortunately, they changed the date after I bought my plane tickets. From their Facebook profile, the group looks like a lot of fun, inspiring citizens to be active and have fun with weekly runs on Friday mornings. I did ask a person who lived in Cairo for 10 years if I could run along the river, but she said no one does that. It was 30 degrees C while we were there, and I never saw someone outside running during my visit.
View of the bow
Felucca boat ride– You don’t need any sailing or knot-tying skills to enjoy a lovely hour on the Nile River. These are the traditional wooden boat used in protected waters. It runs purely by wind, making it a leisurely activity. My friends and I enjoyed sunshine and light breeze while we sailed a bit down the river from our hotel. The boats can hold 10 people, making it very affordable for big groups.
Erin relaxing in the comfy robe
Visit a spa– My friend and I had a free morning while we waited for my friends to arrive. We decided to treat ourselves to a morning at the Kempinski Hotel Spa. I had my first hot stone massage, which was amazing. It was already warm in Cairo and I didn’t realise how much I would be sweating by the end. It will be perfect way to treat myself during London’s cold winter. Erin got a body wrap and enjoyed that too. We had use of the jacuzzi, sauna and lounge before and after our appointments but didn’t have too long as we were due to meet back at the hotel. The exchange rate was excellent during our trip, which helped soften the blow of this once in a lifetime experience, as I have never been to a fancy spa like this before.
There are also tons of gyms in Cairo, but the ones I wanted to visited seemed to be on the other side of town. You can visitcairogyms.com to find something that suits your interest. I emailed them for suggestions and they were very helpful. Their site has event listings too if you are looking for something specific to do during your visit.
If you have other ideas on how to stay active in Cairo, let me know in the comments below. My Istanbul active travel tips will be up soon!
Please be sure to use common sense when travelling and do not place yourself in a situation where you do not feel safe.
School holidays are rapidly approaching. If you are headed to London, here are some ideas on how to stay active during your trip.
Up at the O2– Thanks to Simply Health, my husband and I were recently invited to climb the O2 Arena in Greenwich. It isn’t for the faint-hearted, although there are many safety precautions put into place. The ascent is 28 degree climb, while the decent is even steeper- 30 degrees! You are given trainers with good grip and are locked on to a wire, so you can’t fall off or knock too many people over.
Ready to climb on s sunny day
Photos before the climb starts
Capturing the view
My descent
James and I went on a sunny day down to Greenwich. The entire experience takes about 90 minutes as there is a safety briefing, each visitor is then given proper shoes and climbing gear, and then there is a 10 min break once you reach the top of the O2. James and I climbed the O2 three years ago but it was a cloudy day, thus making the view unimpressive at the time. We had gorgeous weather this visit around, but a new hotel and flat tower now block the views across the river to Canary Wharf.
I walked about 22,819 steps that day with climbing the O2 after parkrun (see next point) in the morning, burned 2,673 calories, and had 118 active minutes according to my Fitbit Flex. Even though I have been running and riding a bit more lately, I still felt an increased heart rate during the climb (stairs always get me, so this is no surprise). As you are strapped onto a safety cable, the whole group has to stay together because no one can pass each other. There is no pressure to rush as people are enjoying the view with every step. Unfortunately, it isn’t something I can afford to do every day, but between Up at O2 and parkrun I walked many more steps that day than I usually do (I aim for 10,000. 14,000 if I want Bounts points).
parkrun-Admittedly, I only started going to parkrun when we moved to Forest Gate as there weren’t any locations close to our previous two flats. I am happy to say I even have turned James into a regular attendee (I think he has been more times than me). It is a free timed run on a Saturday morning, not a race as everyone is a finisher. You can find a one here on a global map if you are not based in London as there are several international locations. If you are visiting London, it is a good way to meet the locals and discover a new park while sweating a bit too.
Oliver, one of the kids at my parktun
#Stancerun = socks + run
East London art run with Stance– True, this evening itself was a one off, but you can reach out to Alternative London to arrange another street art running tour. Stance socks launched their European Street Art (#Stancerun) tour last week. We were treated to a four mile run around East London (follow me of Strava and you should be able to see the route). We stopped often to learn about the art work and the artists behind them. It was amazing to me that the art ranged from Banksy in Tower Hamlets to miniatures on pieces of gum by Ben Wilson, to huge black & white murals by Phlegm, to bronze statues atop light poles by Jonesy. Big thanks to Gary, our tour guide, for spontaneously adding in a woman artist (can’t remember her name) to our route (wooden blocks on a lamp post) after I inquired about the lack of women street artists mentioned so far on the tour.
Wee bit of gum that is also art
After, we were able to watch a live street artist make a mural on Stance boxes and we were then able to take a box (aka a piece of the art) home. I have box #33. Stance socks are super comfy and range in design and functionality (I am going to find a pair of Olympic USA socks if it kills me!). They also have high-vis reflectors to keep you safe when running in low light conditions near cars.
Street artist making art for us to share
There are lots more active things in London to try if you visiting. I will post a part III in a few months. What attractions in London do you visit to keep active when travelling?
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