London Marathon- here I come!

London Marathon- here I come!

I am so excited to announce that I have joined Plantlife’s London Marathon team for 2017.  This will be my 5th marathon and 2nd World Major race.  I cannot wait to run the streets of the city I now call home and take part in a race I have watched so many times from the sidelines.

Proper training will start in January so for now I will continue on strength training (you can start for free!), Friday mornings with Adidas Runners London, and developing my fundraising strategy. I have pledged to raise £1000 for Plantlife by 20 April 2017 and would love your support.  There are a few ways to get involved:

1.  Make a donation on my Just Giving page.  Easy-peasy.

2.  Buy a limited edition 2017 wall calendar*  PRICE REDUCED (21 x 28 cm) for £8 plus £2 shipping to UK addresses only or a desk calendar for £6 plus £2 shipping to UK addresses only.

Sizes

2.  Order wildflower seed packets*  PRICE REDUCED (£1.50 plus 50p for postage) or boxes (SOLD OUT) which make the perfect stocking stuffer.

Big thanks to Wildflower Favours for supporting me on this aspect of my fundraiser.

Seed packets

3.  Buy a £5 raffle ticket. Only 100 tickets will be sold and the aim is to have 10 awesome prizes.  Top prizes include Fitbit Aria Wifi Smart scale, massage from The Green Well, kit from the Physical Company, Brodie SkinCare moisturizer, Hale Naturals PPB, one month free membership to Crossfit Dawn and more!

Check back on 9th December for a full list of prizes.  Drawing to take place 20th December so prizes can be posted in time for Christmas.  Prizes will only be posted to UK addresses.

4.  Attend the Winchelsea Christmas Fare in Forest Gate on Sunday 4th December, where I will be selling the calendars, seeds, Krispy Kreme donuts, raffle tickets, and other goodies.  Stop by The Wanstead Tap, 352 Winchelsea Road Forest Gate, London E7 0AQ  between 12pm and 8pm and say hello.

5.  Attend a health workshop with yoga, running, and goal setting tips in Central London in January and March 2017, co-hosted by my friend, Emma Heald.  Register your interest here.

View your cart here


A little more about Plantlife:

Plantlife is the organisation that is speaking up for our wild flowers, plants and fungi. From the open spaces of our nature reserves to the corridors of government, we’re here to raise their profile, to celebrate their beauty, and to protect their future.

HRH The Prince of Wales is our patron.

Wild flowers and plants play a fundamental role for wildlife, and their colour and character light up our landscapes. But without our help, this priceless natural heritage is in danger of being lost. Join us in enjoying the very best that nature has to offer.

Britain’s countryside.
Save it with flowers.

*All proceeds to go to Plantlife.

London Marathon- here I come!

London Marathon- here I come!

I am so excited to announce that I have joined Plantlife’s London Marathon team for 2017.  This will be my 5th marathon and 2nd World Major race.  I cannot wait to run the streets of the city I now call home and take part in a race I have watched so many times from the sidelines.

Proper training will start in January so for now I will continue on strength training (you can start for free!), Friday mornings with Adidas Runners London, and developing my fundraising strategy. I have pledged to raise £1000 for Plantlife by 20 April 2017 and would love your support.  There are a few ways to get involved:

1.  Make a donation on my Just Giving page.  Easy-peasy.

2.  Buy a limited edition 2017 wall calendar*  PRICE REDUCED (21 x 28 cm) for £8 plus £2 shipping to UK addresses only or a desk calendar for £6 plus £2 shipping to UK addresses only.

Sizes

2.  Order wildflower seed packets*  PRICE REDUCED (£1.50 plus 50p for postage) or boxes (SOLD OUT) which make the perfect stocking stuffer.

Big thanks to Wildflower Favours for supporting me on this aspect of my fundraiser.

Seed packets

3.  Buy a £5 raffle ticket. Only 100 tickets will be sold and the aim is to have 10 awesome prizes.  Top prizes include Fitbit Aria Wifi Smart scale, massage from The Green Well, kit from the Physical Company, Brodie SkinCare moisturizer, Hale Naturals PPB, one month free membership to Crossfit Dawn and more!

Check back on 9th December for a full list of prizes.  Drawing to take place 20th December so prizes can be posted in time for Christmas.  Prizes will only be posted to UK addresses.

4.  Attend the Winchelsea Christmas Fare in Forest Gate on Sunday 4th December, where I will be selling the calendars, seeds, Krispy Kreme donuts, raffle tickets, and other goodies.  Stop by The Wanstead Tap, 352 Winchelsea Road Forest Gate, London E7 0AQ  between 12pm and 8pm and say hello.

5.  Attend a health workshop with yoga, running, and goal setting tips in Central London in January and March 2017, co-hosted by my friend, Emma Heald.  Register your interest here.

View your cart here


A little more about Plantlife:

Plantlife is the organisation that is speaking up for our wild flowers, plants and fungi. From the open spaces of our nature reserves to the corridors of government, we’re here to raise their profile, to celebrate their beauty, and to protect their future.

HRH The Prince of Wales is our patron.

Wild flowers and plants play a fundamental role for wildlife, and their colour and character light up our landscapes. But without our help, this priceless natural heritage is in danger of being lost. Join us in enjoying the very best that nature has to offer.

Britain’s countryside.
Save it with flowers.

*All proceeds to go to Plantlife.

Winter is coming. Send help.

Winter is coming. Send help.

Let’s get right to it.  The days are shorter.  It actually is cold now.  And wet.  I assume you feel like I do this time of year and just wanted to stay under the duvet all day with the electric blanket on.  Here are six tips on how to stay out of hibernation.

Stay warm with merino wool baselayer and socksI discovered merino wool years ago and have never looked back.  Depending on how ‘heavy’ it is, it will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  It also has the unique ability to not smell because it absorbs moisture so well, meaning there isn’t an opportunity for bacteria to start growing on your skin.  I particularly like the socks for the winter because cotton holds on to the moisture (either from damp weather or sweat) which makes me cold.

Drink plenty of fluid– If you don’t carry a water bottle around with you, now is the time to get on board.  Hydro Flask is a vauum-insulated stainless steel bottle that keeps drinks warm or cold (they gave me one filled with ice and it lasted through the night!) so it is a perfect vessel no mater what time of year (or beverage choice). You should still be drinking plenty of water in the colder months, even though you are not sweating as much. Carrying a bottle is super-convenient and will help you measure how much you drink each day.

Note the beer flagon/growler size

See sunlight- I am still using my Lumie alarm clock which helps me wake up a bit more naturally when it is still dark outside.  I also have a Seasonal Affect Disorder lamp at work which helps the entire team during the dark months.  Another way to see more sunlight would be simply to head outside for a walk on your break or eat lunch outside on the sunny days.

Stay active with home workouts with JuliaIf you are anything like me, once I get home and sit down, I find it hard to get out the door again for a pint of milk, let alone the gym.  That is the brilliance behind Julia’s online gym.  I don’t need to rush about for a class schedule or to meet a personal trainer. Julia is my coach and available anytime I need her.  Join now for free and give it a try.  The workouts last 20-60 minutes making them very easy to slot into your day.  You can even do them at work as some don’t require equipment.  Julia is currently offering her Bronze level membership for FREE so you really have nothing to loose.

A photo posted by Mollie, the Happiness PT (@ptmollie) on

Cooking with colourful vegetables this time of year.  Have you tried ‘crack vegetables yet? Sure, fruits in the summer are great, but now is the time of year to dig in (see what I did there) to the root veg selection at your local grocer. Select as many different colours as possible, and heck, pick one you have never eaten before and live on the edge a bit.

Pick up an old hobby– You probably don’t feel like going out quite as much as you did the summertime.  You will need a new way to fill up your time  did you love to read as a child.? Or take ballroom dance lessons at uni?  Or did your grandmother teach you how to knit when you visited her during summer holidays?  Keeping the mind active and doing things you enjoy is just as important as being physically active.  You will meet new people as you take up your favourite pastime, rediscover a lost passion, and maybe even get a confidence boost if you find you still have a talent for it.  How cool would that be?

These are just a few tips and perhaps you may have heard them before.  Dd you act on them? Did you take control and make positive changes to feel better and stay fit?  One of my favourite quotes is ‘if you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always got.’  Remember your goal is health and happiness, so take the first step today.  And of course, let me know how it goes.

Hydro Flask kindly gave me their bottle to try out.  All opinons are honest and my own.  This post also contains affiliate links.  These are at no additional cost to you, but help maintain the cost of running the blog and supporting my activewear purchases.

Winter is coming. Send help.

Winter is coming. Send help.

Let’s get right to it.  The days are shorter.  It actually is cold now.  And wet.  I assume you feel like I do this time of year and just wanted to stay under the duvet all day with the electric blanket on.  Here are six tips on how to stay out of hibernation.

Stay warm with merino wool baselayer and socksI discovered merino wool years ago and have never looked back.  Depending on how ‘heavy’ it is, it will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  It also has the unique ability to not smell because it absorbs moisture so well, meaning there isn’t an opportunity for bacteria to start growing on your skin.  I particularly like the socks for the winter because cotton holds on to the moisture (either from damp weather or sweat) which makes me cold.

Drink plenty of fluid– If you don’t carry a water bottle around with you, now is the time to get on board.  Hydro Flask is a vauum-insulated stainless steel bottle that keeps drinks warm or cold (they gave me one filled with ice and it lasted through the night!) so it is a perfect vessel no mater what time of year (or beverage choice). You should still be drinking plenty of water in the colder months, even though you are not sweating as much. Carrying a bottle is super-convenient and will help you measure how much you drink each day.

Note the beer flagon/growler size

See sunlight- I am still using my Lumie alarm clock which helps me wake up a bit more naturally when it is still dark outside.  I also have a Seasonal Affect Disorder lamp at work which helps the entire team during the dark months.  Another way to see more sunlight would be simply to head outside for a walk on your break or eat lunch outside on the sunny days.

Stay active with home workouts with JuliaIf you are anything like me, once I get home and sit down, I find it hard to get out the door again for a pint of milk, let alone the gym.  That is the brilliance behind Julia’s online gym.  I don’t need to rush about for a class schedule or to meet a personal trainer. Julia is my coach and available anytime I need her.  Join now for free and give it a try.  The workouts last 20-60 minutes making them very easy to slot into your day.  You can even do them at work as some don’t require equipment.  Julia is currently offering her Bronze level membership for FREE so you really have nothing to loose.

A photo posted by Mollie, the Happiness PT (@ptmollie) on

Cooking with colourful vegetables this time of year.  Have you tried ‘crack vegetables yet? Sure, fruits in the summer are great, but now is the time of year to dig in (see what I did there) to the root veg selection at your local grocer. Select as many different colours as possible, and heck, pick one you have never eaten before and live on the edge a bit.

Pick up an old hobby– You probably don’t feel like going out quite as much as you did the summertime.  You will need a new way to fill up your time  did you love to read as a child.? Or take ballroom dance lessons at uni?  Or did your grandmother teach you how to knit when you visited her during summer holidays?  Keeping the mind active and doing things you enjoy is just as important as being physically active.  You will meet new people as you take up your favourite pastime, rediscover a lost passion, and maybe even get a confidence boost if you find you still have a talent for it.  How cool would that be?

These are just a few tips and perhaps you may have heard them before.  Dd you act on them? Did you take control and make positive changes to feel better and stay fit?  One of my favourite quotes is ‘if you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always got.’  Remember your goal is health and happiness, so take the first step today.  And of course, let me know how it goes.

Hydro Flask kindly gave me their bottle to try out.  All opinons are honest and my own.  This post also contains affiliate links.  These are at no additional cost to you, but help maintain the cost of running the blog and supporting my activewear purchases.

Shoes for every season with function AND fashion

Shoes for every season with function AND fashion

It always amazes me how Londoners will go for fashion over function when it comes to shoe choice.  I know I am neither trendy or cool, especially in an urban sense.  But where I grew up, when there was 2 feet of snow , you would wear warm tall boots.  The first winter we were in London, it snowed a few wet centimetres. As we had just came from Michigan and still had our gortex winter boots. We met friends for coffee and they were in Nike trainers with frozen feet. We may not have looked cool, but our feet were warm and dry.

Brand new OOFOS. I need a pedicure STAT!

After races, people often change out of their running shoes (cuz those are only for running in) and throw on flip flops.  I can’t wear most flip flops because the design often lacks arch support and cushioning. With my history of plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis, it causes me a lot of pain to wear flat shoes for long periods of time.  Usually I will leave my trainers on after a race or bring another pair with me to change into.

This summer, I was fortunate enough to have a pair of OOFOS Recovery flip flops (OOriginal in Fuschia, of course) to product test after my races.  I wore them after the Dublin Half, between laps at Spitfire Scramble, after the Berlin Marathon, and while I was awake on the bus during the FitbitFifty.  The OOFoam technology is a little cushy, yet supportive.  The shoe design also has an arch built in.  Usually my narrow feet don’t feet in sandals were the straps are not adjustable (the straps would be above my feet making it hard to walk), but my feet fit in oofos just fine.  The shoes are light, making it a no-brainer to take them travelling.  The color selection means they can compliment many outfit choices too and there are a range of designs too.  I felt great the day after the races where I tested them out, while during the relays I was able to keep going.  You can even throw them in the washing machine to spruce them up.

Easy to wash, but because mine are a ligher color,
there were still a few areas of wear.

Fast forward to colder weather……

Muddy dog walks are now bareable due to warm
dry feet

In the summer, I wear trainers while I wear gortex shoes from September to May in London. It rains a lot here and I hate having wet feet.  Walking Oldland in the park through long grass, there is still a chance my jeans and socks will get wet. I have some budget wellies from decathlon but they are really heavy and my socks always fall down (do you ever have this problem?). I also had to invest in insoles for the wellies as there was no support in there at all.

At a recent press event, I was introduced to Bogs Footwear.  They specialise in waterproof shoes, from wellies to walking shoes.  Most recently, they launched a leather range but this is only available in the USA so far (good thing I am going home for Thanksgiving in two weeks).  I have been using the Crandall Tall wellies on my dog walks and while out watching Guy Faulkes fireworks.  My feet have stayed toasty warm.  There is a soft lining and handy holes on the sides to pull the boots on with.  The heel has plastic higher up which allows you to take shoes off using other foot without ruining the Neo-Tech waterproof insulation.  The design is sleek enough that I would wear them out to a country pub but I don’t think I would wear them on a night out, unless it was a bonfire or haunted hay ride.

Both shoes are fit for purpose and stylish enough to wear outside of race recovery and dog walks.  I am so glad I can finally have shoes that are comfortable and look good too rather than having to pick function over fashion.

What is your shoe of choice after a tough race or while on a wet walk through the woods?  Do you go for fashion over function?

Bring on London wintery weather!


OOFOS and Bogs Footwear were kind enough to gift me these shoes to try out. All opinions are honest and my own.