by Mollie Millington | Mar 16, 2022 | cycling, outdoors, running, travel, water sports
Have you heard a rumor that California weather is perfect year-round? I certainly had so when I touched down in San Diego in late February of this year, I was expecting sunshine and warm temps. There were big plans to play outside and on the water while working on my tan. Unfortunately, the rumor is not true and winter comes to California making the air temperature cold when it is cloudy and rain showers inevitable. Don’t get me wrong, it was still warmer and sunnier than London at this time of year. Luckily, I never leave home without a raincoat and Gortex shoes so I was ready for this surprise (sunscreen and sunglasses were also on hand at all times, just in case). In the end, it was a mix of weather and a mix of outdoor activities while I was in San Diego for ten days. Most of the time was dominated by a work conference but I snuck a few fun activities in and around the jam-packed schedule.
Wildlife watching
My number one priority while on the West Coast was to go on a whale watch (closely followed by running a California race to tick the state off my list). While spending way too much time on Instagram during Covid, I discovered Dolphin Drone Dom who runs Gone Whale Watching in San Diego. Being the marine biology nerd that I am, I have a whale species bucket list (currently, North Atlantic right whale is still top of the list). On this trip, I wanted to see gray whales, a sperm whale, and if possible, a blue whale. Ironically, my uncle had sent me a sperm whale lapel pin as a surprise and it turned out to be a lucky totem. Tally for the day: eight hours on the boat, one Diet Coke, one sperm whale, five gray whales, two humpbacks and hundreds of dolphins. While it was very chilly (even before we left the dock), the sun was out for a fantastic day at sea. The seas were fairly swelly farther out but we were able to stay closer to San Diego due to the gray whale migration patterns.
If boats aren’t your thing, La Jolla is about a 20 minute drive north of downtown San Diego. At this time of year, the resident sea lions and seals have pups. Because of this, the beaches are closed to allow the animals some peace and quiet. Unfortunately, people still climb over barriers and approach these animals for a selfie. It is very important to stay at least 50 feet from marine mammals, so please enjoy them from afar and bring binoculars. Babies can be crushed if animals are scared into the water. In addition, sea lions and seals can spend up to half of their time on land so it is perfectly normal for them to dry out while on land.
For the kids who like to get their hands dirty, we tried tide pooling in La Jolla too but weren’t able to see many critters. I am sure there are better places (perhaps with a smaller tide or in a more protected area). Be sure to check the tide times before heading out to ensure you are safe. If you know a better tidepool spot near San Diego, please leave a comment below and let me know.
Cycling
San Diego has many cycling lanes built into their roads, but I didn’t see too many people using them (electric scooters were everywhere but most people ride then on the pavement (sidewalk)). There was a designated cycling and walking path near my hotel that ran along the Metro line towards Mission Bay. San Diego was a much smaller city than I thought it would be. Everything was within a 10-20 minute drive. With the infrastructure already there, I hope that more people will start cycling in the city as it is much more ecofriendly and helps you stay fit too. My friend, Haley, and I rented bikes at Stay Classy Bike Rentals. If we had planned a bit more ahead, they would have dropped the bikes off at our hotel and collected them too. In stead, we drove to their shop where Haley picked up her fancy road bike. I opted for a commuter bike because I can never reach the brakes on road bikes. We road about 10 minutes from the bike shop before we reached the promenade along the bay. Haley was happy to take it easy on me, so we kept a casual pace weaving amongst the tourists, stopping whenever we saw something cool.
While in San Diego, I also attended my first spin class since March 2020. Up until the pandemic, I was an indoor cycling instructor and taught weekly classes at my local gym. When the gyms closed up during lockdown, not all were able to open again, including my local one. I discovered Cyclebar Hillcrest while buying some groceries for my long stay. It was a short drive from my hotel and the studio offers a $10 introductory class. The class reminded me why I love indoor cycling so much. The music. The energy. The people. The lovely personalized welcome note on my bike. This was exactly what I needed to get me out of my fitness slump. Unfortunately, I unceremoniously fell off my bike at the end of class to stretch, which left me with a huge bruise on my arm. This became a big talking point as the week went on and the bruise further developed its colors. I am refusing to believe this is an omen of some sort and am actively looking for studio positions back in London.
Running
Not only were there lots of parks and paths in San Diego and along the coast, but I found there were lots of races to sign up for too. Initially, I was going to sign up for the T9 Mermaid Series Half because of the mermaid theme (omg the medal was gorgeous!), but it clashed with my daylong whale watch. The Mermaid Series is about inspire women from all backgrounds (men are allowed to join the races too) to experience joy as they cross the finish line. Accomplishing the goal of completing a race will hopefully inspire participants to pursue new goals in fitness and in other areas of their life. If I ever get back to California, I am going to check their race schedule before booking flights.
If you want a race series that is more about trails and PBs, I recommend Endurance Race Series (ERS). They are now sponsored by Salomon (congrats guys!), and have events that offer a range of terrain, distances, and locations in Colorado and San Diego. They kindly offered me a spot in their Coast to Crest 5K trail race #gifted on the day I was due to fly home to the UK. Unfortunately, it rained heavily two days before the race, so the event was postponed by a week to let the trails dry out and avoid long term damage. ERS gave me the option to go virtual, so I did. Originally, I was going to run around Fiesta Island but was worried that my little rental car would get stuck in the mud. Instead, I drove to the Mission Bay area and wound my way through some parking lots and along the shore to hit my 3.1 miles. Having looked at the social media posts about the postponed event, it looked like a perfect day for a run (check back next week for a race report).
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list for stay active while in San Diego and California. Surfing, kayaking, fishing, sailing, scuba diving, and even hot air ballooning are within two hours drive. There is roller skating, skate boarding, beach volleyball, golfing, rock climbing and more. I even managed walking over 4.5 miles at the San Diego Zoo. If spectating is more your jam, there are many amateur and professional sports teams located in San Diego.
Clearly, I need to visit San Diego again and explore the outdoors a bit more with a few other activities (and hopefully run another race with ERS). What’s your favorite way to spend time outside in San Diego?
by Mollie Millington | Mar 13, 2022 | exercise, quickie
Remember to go for QUALITY over quantity. If you are unclear what the exercise is I am describing, please look for a video or arrange for an in-person tutorial with me. Please consult your doctor before engaging on any fitness regime. Don’t forget to breathe! Please email me if you want tips on how to make the quickies easier or more challenging (mollie@ptmollie.com).
Warm up- Put your favorite song to dance to one and boogie on down for 2-3 minutes. Suggestions: I Will Survive, Love Shack, Waiting All Night, Spice Up Your Life, etc
1 min- Calf raises
30 sec each side- Curtsey lunge with leg abduction
1 min- Tricep dips
1 min- Plank jacks
1 min- Back hyperextensions
1 min- Spiderman crunch
1 min- Reverse fly with exercise band, light weights or bottles of water
1 min- Hop forward on both feet as far as you can each time. Swing those arms for extra momentum
1 min- Around the world lunges
1 min- Burpees with a press up at the bottom
1 min- Squat to shoulder press with rotation. Use weights if you have them.
1 min- Squat thrusts
1 min- Incline press up on steps
1 min- Skipping rope
by Mollie Millington | Mar 6, 2022 | exercise, quickie
Remember to go for QUALITY over quantity. If you are unclear what the exercise is I am describing, please look for a video or arrange for an in-person tutorial with me. Please consult your doctor before engaging on any fitness regime. Don’t forget to breathe! Please email me if you want tips on how to make the quickies easier or more challenging (mollie@ptmollie.com).
Warm up- 1 min jog; 1 min skipping (with or without rope); 1 min jog
1 min- Wall sit
1 min- Steam engine- bring knee up to touch opposite elbow while hands are on head
1 min- Prisoner squats
30 sec each direction- Small arm circles (about the size of a quarter or 50p coin)
30 sec each side- Leg abductions. Hinge forward at the waist to make more challenging
1 min- Crunches- up over 3 counts, down for 1
1 min- Bicycle ab exercise
30 sec each side- Clams
1 min- Lateral raise holding water bottle or tins of soup
1 min- High knee jumps
30 sec- Mountain climbers
1 min- Crunches- up over 1 count, down for 3
1 min- Jumping jacks/Star jumps
by Mollie Millington | Feb 27, 2022 | exercise, quickie
Remember to go for QUALITY over quantity. If you are unclear what the exercise is I am describing, please look for a video or arrange for an in-person tutorial with me. Please consult your doctor before engaging on any fitness regime. Don’t forget to breathe! Please email me if you want tips on how to make the quickies easier or more challenging (mollie@ptmollie.com).
Some of the exercises today require stairs or a step. Please be safe and don’t rush if these movements are new to you.
Warm up- 1 min walking up and down stairs; 1 min ‘box jumps’ on lowest step; 1 min (away from stairs) squat then jump and turn in the air 180 degrees. Repeat
1 min- Crab walk as far as you can
1 min- Bear crawl back again. Can you go even further?
1 min- Plank with feet on the lowest step
1 min- Hop-hop squat
30 sec each direction- Low squat walking sideways. Don’t release from the position for the entire minute!
1 min- Mountain climbers
1 min- Tricep dips on the stairs
1 min- Up stairs 2 at a time but go slow and steady if you are new to stair workouts or uncoordinated
1 min- Boat pose
1 min- Hip raises with 1 foot in the air (alternate at 30 sec)
30 sec each side- Side plank
1 min- Stationary reverse lunges (or kick it up by making them plyo!)
1 min- Push/press up on toes, slowly lower down over a count of 5
by Mollie Millington | Feb 25, 2022 | sponsored post, travel
Whenever I tell people I am from New York, the response is generally either “I love New York!” or “I have always wanted to go there.” The conversation then turns a bit awkward when I say I have never lived in NYC but am from a city that is a six-hour drive away. I am lucky though that many of my friends from high school have lived in the city, which has allowed me to visit over a dozen times. With each visit, I get to explore a different borough because my friends live all over the place. From Brooklyn, to Bronx, to Queens, to Manhattan, I have been quite blessed. Running the New York Marathon in 2018 meant I was able to tick Staten Island (where the race start line was) of the list too (although my time there was fleeting).
No matter what time of year, I have always enjoyed my time in New York. In case you haven’t been before, I wanted to share some ideas on how to see it all and even get some steps in. Go New York’s Explorer pass gives you about 75 options with how to spend your time in the city. Start off your visit with the one day hop-on hop-off bus tour. I love doing these bus tours when I am in a new city (even though sometimes I doze off). My suggestions is to stay on for an entire loop to get a lay of the land and see what looks interesting. On the next lap, hop off at the spots that looked most interesting and explore.
The Guggenheim Museum is one of the 75 attractions and tours included in the Explorer pass. The first time I visited there, I saw an installation that has microphones listening to ice melt. Mind blown! The building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is beautiful inside and out. The collection is contemporary art with early modern and impressionist too. It is a great option if it is cold or rainy weather and you want to spend some time indoors. It is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and I prefer to call it the Gugg.
If you enjoy art, the Museum of Modern Art (aka MOMA) is another great option on the Explorer pass and is nearby in midtown Manhattan. Here you can see the originals of many famous pieces of art by Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Roy Litchenstein, Henri Matisse, Frida Kahlo, and many more names you may recognize. The texture of original paintings will never cease to amaze me (Jackson Pollack’s Full Fathom Five included paint tube caps, cigarette butts, buttons, and nails). If it is allowed, see if you can get up close and have a good look.
Nothing beats the New York skyline (sorry London, but you are too flat!). If you like to see things from up high and the sun is shining, you have a few options to take in incredible views of the city. Traditionally, the Top of the Rock Observatory (70th floor) and the Empire State Building (86th floor or 102rd floor) are where most people go. There is a newer place now too at Edge at Hudson Yards (100th floor). The Edge features a glass floor viewing platform to see directly below you. For an extra fee, you can enjoy a glass of champagne while up there too. If you are like an extreme challenge, check out the City Climb at the Edge, which is the world’s highest open air ascent in the world. You admission fee includes a video of your climb and photos at the top. How many people can say they have done this?
If you like to stay active while on holiday (you know I do!), the Explorer pass also covers several walking tours and bicycle rental options. If you are interested in history, the Secrets of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island walking tour takes four hours and includes ferry rides to both attractions. If you prefer to stay on dry land, you can rent a bike and explore Central Park for the day (pack a picnic). The bike rental includes a helmet, map, lock and basket mounted on your bike to hold your gear. Alternatively, you can rent bikes in Harlem or near the Brooklyn Bridge. Or, if you prefer to refuel frequently throughout the day, the Food on Foot Tours have a lot of choices for locations and cuisines throughout New York City.
I will always encourage people to visit New York City. It is so large, it makes it easy to keep up with your steps while exploring a new area. Just remember that the United States is as big as Europe, and each city has its own culture. You will see that even within New York City, each borough and neighbourhoods has its own personality to it.
What is a favorite place you have found when visiting The Big Apple? How many steps did you hit in a single day as you explored?
This post is sponsored by Go New York.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 22, 2022 | ski
Warren Miller. IYKYK. For those that don’t, Warren Miller was a ski bum who made movies about skiing and the slope-side lifestyle starting in the 1961 with Many Moods of Skiing. His next film didn’t come out for another 10 years (Any Snow, Any Mountain) and then the 1980s saw annual releases. The 1980s are when my memories of Warren Miller begin. My dad volunteered on ski patrol on a small mountain in Upstate NY so we could ski all winter for free. He took us to see Warren Miller films when the tour would come to town. Beyond the Edge (1986) was our favorite and we even had our own copy on VHS. I can’t remember what other Warren Miller films we saw, but Warren always had a place in my fondest memories. When I was at university, I continued to see the new releases when I could in Boston (definitely Fifty in 1999 and maybe Cold Fusion (2001) too. Many of my uni friends were skiers too and New England snow wasn’t too far away that a bus trip would help me fulfil my powder day dreams.*
My love of Warren Miller even went so far that my snowboarding ex-boyfriend and I rented out a movie theatre and hosted a Higher Ground (2005) screening in my hometown after a few years without any sign of Warren. While my ex and I only made a (very) small profit, I am proud to say that our city was added back on the official Warren Miller tour the following year.
In January, my husband and I were lucky enough to ski at Cooper Mountain in Colorado with my uncle. This trip was the first time we were on the slopes in over two years and it didn’t disappoint. If anything, it made me miss skiing even more. That is why I was thrilled to see Warren Miller’s latest film, Winter Starts Now, playing in London last week. Thanks to Adventure+, who are one of the UK sponsors and who also gifted me the tickets, I was able to feel alive again as I watched the cast of incredible athletes explore many of America’s finest resorts (both big and small). Usually the Warren Miller crew travels around the world to find the best snow, but I assume Covid put a damper on their plans. I also loved how this year’s film addresses the lack of diversity in snow sports by highlighting the work of the National Brotherhood of Skiers. Winter Starts Now also includes a segment on adaptive athletes who climb up and then ski down Denali as amputees.
If you have never seen a Warren Miller film before, I encourage you to watch the trailer here and then book your tickets to view one of the upcoming UK tour dates.
I can’t believe I am the only Warren Miller fan out there. Do you have any memories of Warren Miller films? Or are they something you have discovered recently? Leave me a message below and let me know how Warren Miller has influenced your love of the winter ski season.
*Full disclosure- I don’t know how to ski in powder. Western NY slopes are typically icy. I also had the same set of skis from 2001-2021. The ski design technology changed a wee bit during those 20 years, I think.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 20, 2022 | exercise, quickie
Remember to go for QUALITY over quantity. If you are unclear what the exercise is I am describing, please look for a video or arrange for an in-person tutorial with me. Please consult your doctor before engaging on any fitness regime. Don’t forget to breathe! Please email me if you want tips on how to make the quickies easier or more challenging (mollie@ptmollie.com).
Warm up- 1 min of shuttle runs 20m apart. Start slow and gradually get faster. 1 min of squats then jump up and turn 180 degrees (to face the other direction)
1 min- Push/Press ups with touching 1 shoulder in between reps
1 min- Plyometric (jumping lunges). Jump as high as you can!
1 min- Hammer curl
1 min- Upright row
1 min- Burpees
1 min- Run in place with high knees
1 min- Star jumps/Jumping jacks
1 min- Stay in a low squat and punch forward alternating left and right
1 min- Crunches
1 min- Plank
30 sec each direction- Small arm circles. Hold a light weight or bottle of water if it is too easy
1 min- Inchworm
1 min- Supermans
by Mollie Millington | Feb 13, 2022 | exercise, quickie
Remember to go for QUALITY over quantity. If you are unclear what the exercise is I am describing, please look for a video or arrange for an in-person tutorial with me. Please consult your doctor before engaging on any fitness regime. Don’t forget to breathe! Please email me if you want tips on how to make the quickies easier or more challenging (mollie@ptmollie.com).
Warm up- Inchworm to push/press up position and hold for 10 seconds. Inchworm back to standing. Repeat 5x. 1 min Mountain climbers
1 min- Hammer curls holding water bottle or light weights
1 min- Tricep kickbacks- kick back, hold for 2, then come down
1 min- Low squat with a pulse
1 min- Downward dog into a push/press up. Repeat
1 min- Hop-hop with feet together then a deep squat
1 min each leg- Arabesques
1 min- Lateral raise
1 min- Star jumps
1 min- Around the world lunges
30 sec- Running in place with high knees
1 min- Frontal raise
by Mollie Millington | Feb 9, 2022 | race review, running
Royal Parks Half ballot results came out earlier this week. Did you get a place? I did! This year’s race is reducing the carbon footprint by asking runners to supply their own water and offering to plant a tree instead of receiving a free t-shirt at the finish line. I thought I would share a previous post about the 2014 event in case you are curious about the race. My Mill Hill Sports Centre co-worker, Anna, took part in the event that year and loved it. Here is her race review:
In the start pen
Having not run more than 10km in over a year, I made my way to the starting line a little pessimistic. What was I doing? I was in no way ready for a half marathon.
With the help of my Dad, back home in South Africa, I signed in to enter the ballot for the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon in early April. I was so upset about missing the beautiful Two Oceans Half Marathon back home in Cape Town that my Dad, a fanatical runner, made a deal with me. He would pay the entrance fees, as long as I got myself from the start line to the finish line, preferably in the same day. At the time I was so excited, now, standing amongst all the thousands of keen London fitness fanatics just before the starting gun was about to go off,…not so much. My ambitious plans of regular endurance training in preparation for the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon had slowly slipped away as the weather grew dimmer and the days shorter, leaving me at the start line with little more than 5 training runs under my belt.
The tube ride into Hyde Park was relatively easy and stress-free; it took me a little under an hour from Mil Hill East tube Station, where I am currently doing my gap year. At every stop more and more runners would hop onto the tube. We were a sea of bright blue t-shirts, brand new Nike shoes and top of the range sportswatches all humming with excitement, the adrenaline starting to kick in. By the end of the line you could hardly move between the mosh of bouncing athletes and bulky tog bags.
As we all hoped off the tube at Hyde Park Corner and made our way to the festival area, you could feel the energy. The Festival area was packed with food stalls, private tents, toilets, stages and thousands of people jumping from one leg to another in desperate attempts to do a last minute warm up. Our time had come.
It being my first Royal Parks Fountain Half Marathon, I was seeded in the Yellow group, second to last. The first group started at promptly 9am, something one would never experience in South Africa where “on time” means 20 minutes after the advertised time. The Green, Blue, Yellow and Maroon groups followed at 5 minutes intervals. The moment I set off to join the infectious rhythm created by thousands of determined footstep the nervous ball in my stomach dissolved. I turned the first corner towards Wellington Arch and forgot all about how little training I had done. I couldn’t help but be memorized by London’s beauty. It was such a breath-taking morning. I couldn’t think of any better way to experience the magnificence of this country’s capital city.
From running past the guards at Buckingham Palace to checking my watch against Big Ben at the Houses of Parliament, to exploring London’s beautiful Green and St James’s Parks and enjoying Embankments exquisite riverbank. I hardly had time to feel tired. Before I knew it I was on my way back passing under Admiralty Arch and then Marble Arch.
Then came Hyde Park…
I had been warned that this last stretch was always a lot longer than anticipated. Having saved up some final energy I started the long zig-zag in-between the beautiful lawns in high spirits. The hundreds of spectators and Sunday picnickers scattered throughout the park, ensured that you were never alone. The camaraderie between fellow runners also made the race that much more enjoyable.
With 2 miles to go I took a look down at my watch. Where had the time gone. I didn’t feel tired at all.
Look kids- Big Ben!
With the finish line in sight I began to pick up the pace. With every step being cheered on by the fantastic crowd, I crossed the line in 1:52:45. I couldn’t believe my eyes, despite my lack of training I had managed to beat my personal best. I wore my medal and cheesy smile with pride. What an incredible experience, one that I would remember as an unforgettable highlight from my year abroad in England. London with its beautiful old buildings, amazing gardens and infectious friendly atmosphere had inspired me to achieve something I thought was quite impossible on a gap year characterized by little to no physical activity. I am proud to call London home for the year.
Are yon inspired? Places are still available through charity partners. Learn more here. Have a peak at the 2021 route and let me know what your favorite landmarks are along the route.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 6, 2022 | exercise, quickie
Thank you for having a look at my 100th quickie workout. I am very excited to have so many accessible (and free) routines that you can do just about anywhere with minimal equipment. No more excuses for not squeezing in a workout! If you have more than 15 minutes for exercising, you can repeat one quickie or mix and match. Show your commitment to your health by ticking off each quickie workout you have completed on this PTMollie worksheet. As you can see from the list, there are plenty more free workouts to come!
Remember to go for QUALITY over quantity. If you are unclear what the exercise is I am describing, please look for a video or arrange for an in-person tutorial with me. Please consult your doctor before engaging on any fitness regime. Don’t forget to breathe! Please email me if you want tips on how to make the quickies easier or more challenging (mollie@ptmollie.com).
Warm up- 10 jumping jacks/star jumps, 10 squats, 10 steam engines (fingertips on forehead, bring opposite elbow to opposite raised knee). Repeat 5 times through
1 min- Tricep dips on sturdy chair or step
1 min- Hip raises
1 min- Push/Press ups
1 min- Walking lunges
1 min- Plank with feet stepping out, out then in, in
1 min each leg- 1-legged squats (30 sec each leg)
1 min- Burpees
1 min- Overhead press with cans of soup, bottles of water, or light weights
1 min- Wall sit
1 min- Mountain climbers
1 min each direction- Crab walk- keep a low squat and bring left foot to the right to shuffle along. Don’t release until the minute is up
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