by Mollie Millington | Jun 15, 2022 | health, product review
The availability of at-home health tests has made it much easier for me to check in with my body. While I am grateful for the NHS, it isn’t designed to provide tests for every ache and pain I experience. The US system (which is by no means better) is about profit and therefore allows for blood work and other diagnostic tests much more easily.
Writing this blog has allowed me to try at home testing with Fitness Genes DNA analysis and have a food intolerance test. The explosion of Covid has also made home testing much more common place, with both rapid rests and popping a blood sample in the post. I had Covid antibody test in 2020 to be confident I had not contracted Covid yet. After two years of weight gain and poor sleep, both of which we blamed on getting a puppy, I felt it was time to look into a menopause diagnosis after having my period four times in two months. Period cycles can also be affected by stress, which has also been omnipresent since the pandemic started so it hard to determine what was going on with my body. (I have always had trouble regulating my body temperature too.) I recently learned that brain fog is another symptom of menopause.
When I heard about Forth, I knew it was exactly what I was looking for. They offer different types of home tests in the following categories:
- Wellness
- Nutrition
- Hormone tests
- Mental health
- Sports tests
I went for the women’s hormone check which includes a written report and a private call with the endocrinologist that leads Forth’s research program. It took a few days to find a time when Dr. Nicky was available, as she had a few deadlines to meet. We talked for nearly an hour, both to review my personal report and to discuss all things hormones. I highly recommend taking advantage of this aspect of Forth’s kits. You would pay on average about £300 for an initial consultation with an endocrinologist (that is before you even have blood work done) where with the £129 fee for the advanced perimenopause test included a 1-2-1- call with Dr. Nicky. And Dr. Nicky wants to hear from her Forth patients more.
Dr. Nicky used her 30 years of experience in the field to help design the report you receive with the advanced perimenopausal test. The report includes graphics to show average test results and where you fall on them, plus written descriptions of how to interpret the results. Dr. Nicky is so passionate about Forth’s services, she reviews every report before it is sent to ensure that the automated suggestions also take into account the lifestyle factors submitted by the patient.
On our call, I briefly explained to Dr. Nicky the symptoms that caused my interest in the test (I also submitted these when registering my kit). She agreed that the patterns I was seeing could be do to stress (thanks Covid), in which case the brain elicits a certain response, or the ovaries are not working properly. My low progesterone score indicates my ovaries were not working. If my FSH and LH were low, it would indicate that my brain is signalling to my pituitary gland to switch off. However, my FSH is high which indicates my brain is switched on. Therefore my ovaries are slacking. Dr. Nicky concluded that I am perimenopausal.
Menopause is defined by absence of periods for a year, which then lead to the start of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It typically starts when a women is between 45-55 years of age. Nowadays, HRT is often started before this clinical definition. Dr. Nicky feels there is no need for women to suffer when treatment is available. HRT can help ease uncomfortable symptoms often associated with menopause. It is important to discuss risk factors and medical history with your GP when choosing the best type of HRT (transdermal vs tablets). I have a blood clotting disorder which prevented me from taking hormonal birth control. Therefore, I need to ensure my GP and I research what the best option is for me (probably transdermal). There is an increased risk of breast cancer when taking HRT, which studies have shown can be decreased by exercised two and a half hours per week.
Dr. Nicky said that lifestyle factors have affect your score with the Forth test and can help manage your symptoms too. Exercise, nutrition, and sleep quality are very important in all aspects of your health and wellbeing. She is advocating as a member of the British Menopause Society to help educate the public and GPs more on menopause, symptoms, and treatment options. I actually have a call with my doctor today to discuss the Forth report and see if I can start HRT soon. In July, I will have more time to regular exercise too, including weight training. These should help boost my metabolism to help with weight loss. I hope exercise will also help me fall asleep faster and improve my sleep quality. To be thorough, I also made an appointment with my GP to enquire about HRT. The doctor was not convinced at first based on my presenting symptoms and age bracket. However, after sending my Forth report, I have a referral for bloodwork to be done.
The Forth at home test for perimenopause has been eye opening for me. It has been the catalyst to have blood work done by the NHS. I hope by sharing my story, we can remove some of the stigma around menopause and learn more about the journey together.
Thanks to Forth Life for the complimentary test kit. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Feb 1, 2022 | affiliate, fashion, gift guide, outdoors, product review
Can you believe it is already February? Your Christmas decorations may be packed away by now but it is time to do a bit of shopping again. While I understand that some people may think Valentine’s Day is a marketing ploy to sell flowers, wine and chocolates, I love a day that gives me an excuse show people that I love them. There is nothing like choosing the perfect item that makes your bestie smile! The list below includes gifts for people who love the outdoors, whether that is while running, hiking, camping, swimming, or relaxing. I chose items that are under £40 to keep it affordable too. These Valentine’s Day ideas are for men, women, friends, and family. Some of these I have tried myself (*gifted PR product) and others I like the looks of. If you have any other Valentine’s Day gift ideas, please leave a comment below.
For those who run commute: Nuasan Active Body Wipes* are my workplace essential. I can freshen up my face if my mask gets too hot or do a quick wipe down after a run (£13.26).
For the chocoholic: 80Noir Ultra dark chocolate was designed for your recovery and wellbeing. With a UK-based female-founder, this small business is one you should support (spices start at £2.00, chocolate at £5.50).
For al fresco lovers: The Hydro Flask Wine Bottle* has been on my wish list for a while. Perfect to avoid glass on the trial and to keep your wine at the perfect temperature (£35.00). The wine tumbler* can be used on the go, at work, and around the campfire too (£24.00). (Wine sadly not included)
For dog walkers and campers: SealSkinz has an amazing waterproof LED beanie* that is perfect for early morning dog walks and year-round camping. No more searching in the tent for a head torch. The built-in light has 240 hours of battery life and visibility of up to 500m (£35.00).
For those who live far away: Monty & Ridge letterbox gifts are the perfect care package for the adventurer in your life. With over a dozen themed-boxes to choose from, you can’t go wrong (from £17.95).
For those who lift: Grass-fed and additive free, the Organic Protein Company’s Strawberry, Elderberry, and Beetroot bag* is a fun pink whey protein powder to try this Valentine’s Day. It tastes good too! (£24.00).
For the impossible to buy for: Sport Pursuit offers short-term deals on all the outdoor kit you didn’t know you needed. Clothes, trainers, SUP boards, sleeping bags, protein bars, and more from the brands you know and love. They don’t offer gift vouchers but have a look for the perfect gift anyways.
For those looking for health and happiness: My book, 52 Weekend Challenges, is available on Kindle or as a printed paperback. Each week there is a small goal to achieve to help you step outside your comfort zone to find something you love. Available on your local Amazon site (£15.85).
For those who can’t sleep/need to relax: R3ST 500mg CBD spray* from R3 CBD is something I have been using since the 2020 Running Show South. I spray it under my tongue after I brush my teeth to help me relax a bit before bed. CBD also helps some athletes with recovery (£24.99).
For those who work for the NHS: Donate to Duty To Care in their name. Duty to Care provides free wellbeing services to anyone with a NHS email address. From counselling, to yoga, to physiotherapy, to personal training with me, I am so grateful that Duty to Care is helping those who need it most.
For those who are environmentally conscious: dewerstone Chunky Knitted Beanie hat will keep you up on the bobble hat trend while doing good for the planet. dewerstone takes part in 1% for the Planet where 1% of their annual revenue goes directly to non-profit environmental action groups. Plus their products are Climate Neutral Certified and for every product they manufacture, they plant a tree (£19.95).
For those who want to run faster: Superfeet carbon insoles make the idea of using carbon technology to improve your performance without a hefty price tag (£40).
For those who always have cold feet: Rab Cirrus Hut Slippers look like small sleeping bag shoes, don’t they? Filled with recycled PrimaLoft Luxe synthetic insulation that comes from post-consumer waste, this material retains twice the loft of down when wet, breathes, has no allergens and retains warmth when wet. Available through specialist outdoor retailer, Trekitt (£36).
For those who cold water swim: Zone3 Neoprene Heat-Tec Warmth Swim Socks have a titanium lining on top of being 3.5mm thick. There are no more excuses to avoid open water swimming in the winter (£39.00).
For those with a ponytail: MAAREE Secret Pocket scrunchie two-pack in red and pink have clever little zip pocket to stash your locker key (£12).
For those who don’t wear sunglasses: On Cloud Lightweight unisex cap with laser-cut ventilation is lightweight, breathable, and comes in several different colors (£32).
For those who like to pack light: Paramo neck warmer is multi-functional and comes in a variety of colours. It will keep you warm or cool due to the Parameta G (R) fabric, depending on what you need, because it is fast drying and moisture wicking (£20.00).
For those who love pink: Designed By Sport Pink Amnesia leggings will make you smile each time you put them on. Featuring both thigh and waistband pockets, these high-waisted leggings are also squat proof (£39.99).
For those who love fun socks: Thought’s Heck Athlete socks are made from bamboo and come in a little gift bag. Patterns range from runners, to bicycles, to pugs, to robots, to polar bears. There is something for everyone (£7.99).
For those who need more support when train: Crossfly Men’s Performance Underwear can help men by offering additional support where they need it. The unique design of 3D breathable, fast-drying panels and a 7″ inseam plus anti-microbial fabric means you will be returning your cotton pants for good (£24.99).
For those who like to have their phone handy: Ultimate Performance Ridgeway phone holder arm band is a low-tech and comfortable solution for carrying a phone while on the move (£15.99).
I had a few other ideas I wanted to list, but they cost more than £40. Let me know if you would be interested in more gift guides here on the blog. There are already a few, which you can find here. Hope this list gave you a few more Valentine’s day gift ideas.
*Thanks to the brands for sending complimentary samples. All opinions are honest and my own. This post contains affiliate links which doesn’t cost you anything additional. I receive a small fee for each purchase to help cover the costs of running this website.
by Mollie Millington | Sep 8, 2021 | clothes, fashion, product review
Full disclosure: In this post, I will be talking about stress incontinence when running, peeing my pants, my private parts, periods, and more. If that is TMI (or we are related), you might want to give it a miss. However, if you want to learn about ways to live with stress incontinence, please read on!
There may be various reasons what you want to try out absorbent underwear for periods and incontinence. Personally, I suffer from stress incontinence when I run (even more so when my hay fever is acting up) even though I have never given birth. It is extremely frustrating and embarrassing. When it first started happening a few years ago with only a few drops, I would wear Runderwear due to how quickly it dries. But the last two years, things how gotten out of control. I am currently waiting for a gynecological referral and am using a Perifit to strengthen my pelvic floor in the meantime. Over the last two years, I have gained 15+ pounds and have read that weigh gain can cause incontinence. Hopefully, the solution will be straightforward enough that I can resolve this soon.
Another reason might be to lesson your ecological impact on the planet. Pads, tampons, and liners normally have plastic and will end up in a landfill. A preference towards reusable options is more sustainable. Although the initial investment might seem like a lot, wearing absorbent underwear can save you money in the long run.
Before you invest in these fancy pants, there are a few things to consider. First is absorbency and related gusset thickness. You will have an idea of how heavy or light your flow is, as well as how much you leak when incontinence hits. I tried to highlight what the brands report below, but I still find it hard to quantify in comparison to my pads and tampons. I usually just go by how the pad/tampon looks and base my judgement around that. None of the products below feel too bulky (do you remember the pads you wore in high school? My Always were at least a centimetre thick!) but you can tell a bit when wearing the very absorbent ones. Most of the absorbent pants I find are black, which makes it hard to tell how ‘full’ they are. Predominantly, I use the pants below for stress incontinence when running as I have reusable pads but now that my underwear drawer is full of absorbent pants, why save them just for my runs?
Second, look at the design of the pants. Do you want a thong, high brief, bikini cut, or boy short? Luckily, there are several different style and gusset shape combinations to choose from across all brands. I have realized that I don’t like to run in pants where the gusset goes up the back to the waistband. While this is good for overnight protection, it just makes my bum hot when I wear a bum bag on a run. It might help you with bladder leaks depending on your situation though.
The last factor to consider when you order period/incontinence pants is how to wash them. Do they need to be hand washed? Gentle cycle? Line dry? This might influence which brand you want to invest in. All the brands above say not to use fabric softener but vary in temperatures and how to dry. If you take good care of these pants, they should last you a while. After a run, I tend to rinse my pants with cold water and a little bit of hand soap if I am not washing them right away (for example, if I ran to work and then showered). If I am on my period, I still rinse after use and wait until the water is clear before stopping. We tend to wash our clothes at 30-40 degrees C anyways and always line dry (dryers are a rarity in the UK and oh how I miss having one). Using a lingerie bag can help protect your delicates too but I usually forget.
One thing I want to say before highlighting products individually below is that every pair of pants still leaked through to my leggings and shorts. My gut feeling is that it is due to the force of the urine stream (when coughing rather than just running) ‘splashing’ out of the underwear or the pants not being able to absorb the liquid fast enough. Think about the consistency of blood versus urine, for example. My flow tends to be thick which will take longer to absorb than urine. If you are worried about this, black leggings seem to hide the leaks best, but unfortunately, they do not cover the odor.
Ready to learn more about my experience? Please remember that preference for products is very individual so please do some additional research to ensure you find the right fit. Most companies will not allow underwear to be returned once opened.
Speax was the first brand that I had heard of whose design was specifically for leaks. It is the sister brand of Thinx, which is a period underwear. I ordered two pairs in February 2020 for $35 and $39 (sent to my mom’s when we were visiting home). The current website says these panties can hold up to 8 teaspoons of liquid (thongs only 3 teaspoons and one teaspoon is 5 ml) and have anti-odour technology. There are four layers in the gusset to ensure they are moisture eliminating and absorbent too. They now also come in a variety of colours and patterns but mine are just black. Individual pants vary in price from £20-30 here in the UK, but there are custom and saver sets that get bring the price down. I consider Speax to be my trusted friend for long runs because I have been using them for so long.
BP3 Underwear I have ordered twice, in May 2020 and May 2022. Each pair cost me £18 which is why they were initially appealing. BP3’s USP is their scallop edging that makes VPL’s a thing of the past. They consider themselves leak-proof pants that can be used for both periods and leaks (I tend to use these for stress incontinence only). They have several styles available and each one has a different absorbency rating. The Sarah Sporty, for example, is classified as light absorbency and is able to hold up to 10 ml, or two tampons, of liquid. With my last order, BP3 kindly included a small lingerie bag to protect my pants in the washing machine. The styles I have (one is even blue!) are lower cut that Speax and the gusset feels thinner. I am still happy with the protection BP3 offers from leaks when on runs up to 1-2 hours.
Iceni Silver* is a brand I discovered on Twitter. It was created by British friends who have sporty daughters that needed a solution to being active females. Their pants are very affordable (£22-£29), very comfortable and made in Great Britian. These are actually period pants but can be used for incontinence as well. Iceni is the only brand I have seen that offers a short-style with a longer inseam than a boy short. The silver lining (come on, I had to!) is Iceni’s USP. SILVADUR (TM) is the anti-microbial fabric layer that minimized microbes and thus the smell that comes from sweat. Iceni pants can hold up to 40 ml of liquid and the cotton layer absorbs moisture 20x faster. I found the Hipster to be super comfortable to run in and very absorbent as well.
Primark has recently launched a cost effective period underwear. My pants were only £6. These have a very thin absorbent layer that continues up the back of the pants to the waist. These were only available in a blush color. The fabric is synthetic which made it very hot when I was running so I only tried them once and said never again on a run. This marathon training cycle has been during the summer and I have been overheating on runs regularly and don’t need any more help feeling hot. There isn’t a lot of absorbency based on how thick the pants feel (Primark says the light to medium flow pants can hold three tampons worth (18 ml) and medium to heavy flow can hold four tampons (24 ml) worth). Because the fabric isn’t breathable enough for me when I run, I now wear them at the end of my period when there is light spotting as I am not sure how much I trust the thin gusset.
Pelvi, an Australian brand, makes period pants, kegel trainers, and moon cups. These were a bargain at TK Maxx for £8 (but also not in my size) and an impulse purchase because I had never heard of this brand. I love the detail of lace on the top as most of my period pants are just black and hard to tell apart, especially before I have had caffeine in the morning. Because I bought one size up, these really remind me of granny panties because they are so darn big. The absorbent gusset wraps from the waistline in the front all the way to the waistline the in back. Pelvi claims their period pants that can also be used for light bladder leaks and sweat. With three absorbent layers, Pelvi offers protection for up to twelve hours. I just wore mine on a 65 minute run. They felt a little warm but I has capris on in 22 degree C heat. I thought the gusset would protect a leak in the front, but sadly not. The lace trim on the waistband was unnoticeable, which was a relief. I worried it would chafe. Due to these pants being a size too big for me, I will probably save for overnights when i am on my period.
If you have any other underwear brands you would recommend for stress incontinence, please let a comment and let me know. Stay tuned because I want to make a short video soon to demonstrate how much water each of the above can absorb without leaking through the material because I really do think it is the urine steam force that causes my leggings to get wet. When I have it on YouTube, I will share the link here, so check back soon.
*Thanks to Iceni for gifting me their pants to trial. All views are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Sep 1, 2021 | fitness, product review, technology
With degrees in science, I am all about the data. My first session with new personal training clients always involved body measurements and baseline fitness assessments. We check in every eight weeks to ensure the program is delivering what the client wants. I also have a handheld device that can measure percent body fat. BMI is not something that I promote to my clients as a way to measure overall health. It is based purely on a calculation that does not take into account how a person is built and how strong they are. I am huge fan of my Sunnto watch which links to Strava, where I log all of my runs, rides, and swims (do you follow me?) to look at how my performance changes over time. You may also recall this previous post where I spoke about a new tool called Supersapiens that helps monitor your blood glucose levels. Every day, there seems to be a new piece of technology to help people learn more about their body and how they can optimize training and nutrition for their goals.
My Vital Metrics is a new London lab that offers clients the options of the following services: DEXA Scan, a 3D body map, body composition scan, resting metabolic rate, and VO2 Max testing. The owner, Owen, is a personal trainer who opened My Vital Metrics to help clients adjust their training focus based on scientific assessments with aesthetic visualizations. The data gathered during your session will help you know your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) which influences how many calories you need to consume to gain or loose weight. The 3D body map takes away the human error element when measuring with a tape measure (measuring can be tricky over Zoom especially if your client does not have a tape measure). VO2 Max measures your cardiovascular performance and efficiency while you are going at your maximum on a treadmill or stationary bike.
I was very lucky that Owen invited me to My Vital Metrics to try out his scans and discuss how he can help my coaching clients. He was very easy to talk to and welcomed me into his lab. After chatting for 10 minutes about life in London as ex-pats, I found myself in a sports bra and Runderwear awaiting 360 degree photographs and body scans. Given how I have been feeling about my weight over the last two years, I was a bit nervous about this. Working with a nutritionist in the past, I have many before and after photos in the same outfit but this 3D scan leaves no place to hide. Owen pointed out that when I come back for a new set of 3D measurements, my data will show me precisely how much my measurements have changed (both in measurements and also cross-sections). He offers packages and memberships for regular visits, which is extremely appealing if you have specific goals you are working towards. I feel having an appointment in the diary can be very motivating and will offer greater insight on whether my training and nutrition plan is working for me.
DEXA is the gold standard for body composition analysis, measuring how much body fat and/or muscle you have. For this, I simply had to lay very still as the machine passed over my body a few times. One of the reasons I wanted to get the DEXA scan was to see if visceral fat (the kind of fat that wraps around your internal organs) is the cause of my increasingly annoying incontinence issue. The results below show no visceral fat. I am not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, it is good news because visceral fat is something that raises the risk for major health complications. On the other, I am very frustrated that I still don’t know why my incontinence has been getting worse over the last year. On a side note, the DEXA revealed just how much stronger my right arm and leg are than my left by measuring the amount of muscle (data not shown).
After Owen collected all of the data from my scans, he offered a written action plan on how I can loose weight over 16 weeks, which was our agreed upon goal. Based on my BMR (which was a little high because I had a Red Bull just before my appointment, oops!), I need to aim for 1500 calories for a daily calorie deficit of 494 calories. He set target ideal body fat percentage and an aim to increase my lean body mass. Now I just need to quit my daily cookie diet to see the results. To keep this goal an achievable balance with marathon training, I have decided to wait until after the marathon to worry too much about my diet. Looking at my Strava stats, I spend about seven to eight hours per week on training so that should give me time to meal plan and cook (and hopefully sleep).
Although the scans also identify bone density, this is not a medical diagnostic service. Owen has been able to highlight anomalies for clients to follow up with their GP, which I think is fantastic. Knowledge is power and with the NHS overwhelmed with Covid-caused backlog, these assessments will help you reach health and fitness goals with the possibility that if something major is amiss, it might get picked up. Owen is quite keen to align with personal trainers, nutritionists, and other health practitioners who would find this client data useful. If you think it would be a valuable asset to add to your services, I highly recommend getting in touch with Owen. He has offered my followers who can come to his office in Central London a 20% discount code. It will be a fantastic way to learn about your bone health, muscle mass, and body composition. Send an email to mollie@ptmollie.com to receive the code and let me know what you find out.
Thanks to My Vital Metrics for the complimentary service. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | May 7, 2021 | clothes, product review, sponsored post
When I saw that my blood sugar could be monitored in real time using the Supersapiens app and an Abbott blood glucose sensor, I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread (Facebook advert algorithms work!). As a scientist, anything that provides data on my performance helps me understand what is going well and what isn’t. As a person with a very sensitive stomach, I am cautious about what I use as fuel during training. At some of my World Marathon Major races, I stopped five times to use the bathroom. This makes it very hard to PB if you are constantly wondering if you will have an accident and where the location of the next toilet is. The technology the Supersapiens app is offering, along with the Abbott Libre sensor, will hopefully help me nail down how often I need to fuel (maybe not every 5k?) and what works best for a stable blood glucose.
Many diabetics use a biosensor to monitoring their glucose levels through interstitial fluid rather than the traditional finger prick to obtain blood. The Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 sensor tracks glucose every five minutes via an app or monitor. There is no limitation on the range of readings and you can program an alarm to indicate if the glucose reading it too high or too low. In contrast, the Libre sensor tracks in real time via Blue Tooth range of 50-200mg/dL. For this reason, the Libre sensor is not suitable for diabetics.
I have only worn the biosensor a few days so far, but already have a few tips on how to make the most out of your sensor. In all the photos on the Supersapiens website (and this blog post), the sensor is applied to the outside of the arm. Three days after applying my first sensor, I knocked it off by bumping into the door frame. May I suggest mounting the sensor on the inside or underneath your arm? One of the other ambassadors purchased an armband holder* to keep the sensor in place. Rotate where you put the sensor so the skin can heal. I have read that a few diabetics will put their sensor on their thigh or chest but I have not seen this an an approved spot to wear the Libre sensor. Before application, clean area (use hand sanitizer or ethanol to remove oil from the skin) and shave the area if it is hairy to ensure a good seal with the sticky pad. The sensor will stay on for a shower and for up to 30 minutes when swimming in shallow water. You can buy a single use performance patch for races to ensure it does not come off. My friend who is diabetic says she uses athletic tape to adhere the sensor sometimes but can’t guarantee how long it will stay on for.
Over the first week, I had to get used to maintaining connectivity via Bluetooth. Sometimes the sensor disconnected and I had to initially reconnect with NFC to sync to my phone before the Bluetooth kicked in. I am not a very techy person, so if you have any tips on the connectivity, please leave a comment below. While I was sleeping, the app and sensor disconnected but this may be to my phone going into power saving mode. The biosensor will hold data for a maximum of eight hours. Luckily, Maple never lets me sleep in late so I was able to see my glucose is fairly stable while I sleep.
The more information you can add to your glucose graph, the better, as that is how you can start to understand how your body creates and uses glucose. I love how you can enter ‘events’ to the graph to log when you eat, sleep, fast, stressed and/or exercise. I would suggest entering events after they occur as the time options are not in real time. I just kept a small list of things to log throughout the day and sat down at night to record them. Many of the members of the Ambassador Facebook group have commented on how combining foods will affect the glucose reaction. For example, eating pasta alone causes a spike but if you add vegetables and beans, the glycogen is released more slowly.
Supersapiens has a large knowledge area to its website, where you can read more about glucose monitoring. They also have a Strava club, Facebook group and Zoom calls every week to talk to their experts (although Zoom might be for ambassadors only). To learn more about glucose monitoring, as well as some tricks and hacks for the continuous glucose monitors, check out Type One Talks on YouTube. I find his info very useful. He even reviewed the Libre sensor.
Are you interested in trying these sensors out? Apply to become a Supersapiens Ambassador via this link. You would be in the company of Nick Butter, the first person to run a marathon in every country in the world, is currently circumnavigating Great Britain by running 200 marathons in 100 days. Fuelling will be a large part of making this challenge a success. Another name you may have heard of is Eliud Kipchoge, who is also using the Supersapiens app and Libre sensors to maximize his performance. I am excited to say he and I will both be at Tokyo Marathon in October, but I don’t think I will be able to catch him.
I will be wearing my remaining sensors in an inconspicuous place for the next six weeks in the hopes that they last the entire two weeks. I haven’t decided yet whether I will be investing in the biosensor and app in the long term yet. Now that I just started working with a run coach, it is the perfect time to focus on the fuelling aspect too and use the data alongside her sessions. I would love to hear if you think glucose monitoring is the way forward and if you have any questions about how it works. Leave a comment below and I will do my best to answer them in my follow up post.
This post was sponsored by Myprotein. They also gave me the clothes in the photos above. The pink outfit is from their Adapt range, red and black from their Power Ultra 2.0 range, and casual wear from their Raw Training line. Supersapiens sent me complimentary sensors as part of their ambassador program. All opinions are honest and my own.
*Affiliate link, which costs the buyer nothing additional and helps pay for this site
by Mollie Millington | Apr 5, 2021 | product review, water sports
Even though I miss the four proper seasons I grew up with, the lack of snow in London means you can still play outside in the winter. Whether it is running, cycling, swimming, or paddleboarding, if you can brave the wet and cold, you can get outside. The pandemic put a wrench in things this winter, but lockdown regulations are finally lifting. Open water swimming is allowed, we can meet in groups of six for a run or cycle, and we can go a little bit farther from home now (but not too far).
Winter water sports are a bit more complicated because you want to stay warm (and dry) as much as possible. This means you need to pack a few extra bits to make it more enjoyable. Here are a few things I have found to be very useful to help me stay warm (and happy). Let me know in the comment below if you would add anything.
During
Lifestraw GO water bottle* (freshwater only) – Even though it it cold and you might not be sweating, you need to stay hydrated. The Lifestraw filters will remove up to 99% of the nasties in the water. You don’t need to carry extra water with you. It is only able to work with fresh water though, not salt.
Swimming booties and gloves (optional) – My feet and hands always get cold. Walking into the water to mount my board and small splashes will keep getting my feet wet, so I recommend wearing neoprene boots or socks. I used my open water swimming socks, however these are not durable enough for rough terrain. Your hands might also get wet, so neoprene gloves might be important. If you wear gloves, make sure you have a grip texture on them so keep your hands on the paddle.
Neoprene clothes – What you wear on the board will depend on the weather, if you tend to feel hot or cold, if you think you will fall in the water, how long will you be paddling for, etc. I like the Mountain Warehouse women’s full wetsuit*. The knees are reinforced and there is a small pocket for key. The pattern is a contour design with different thickness fabrics on different parts of the body.
Some people prefer to wear neoprene trousers instead and a warm top with a breathable waterproof jacket. It might be trial and error the first few times you go out in colder weather. If you don’t wear a wetsuit, go for layers to help regulate your body temperatures.
Waterproof bag – The Aquapac Debbie waterproof bag* is perfect for a wallet, keys, and anything else you want to keep dry. You can wear it around your waist or as a crossbody bag. I fell in the water wearing it once and can assure you that everything stayed dry. You just need to ensure you close it properly. It is also great at keeping items sand-free.
Warm hat (optional) – Much like the clothes you are wearing, a warm hat might help you stay warm or make you overheat.
After
Changing robe – I am so lucky that James surprised me a Red Paddle changing robe for my birthday in February. For those not in the know, it is a large fleece lined jacket that you can change under. Not only will it keep you warm on land, but it will also give a warm and discreet place to change out of wet clothes.
Towel – You never know when/if you will fall in, so keep a towel on hand. At least you can dry off your feet or board with it.
Dry clothes to change in – Again, you never know what will happen, to you or someone you have met on the water. Keep a dry set of clothes handy. Hyperthermia is no joke.
Reusable coffee cup and flask of hot drink (optional) – Something to warm you up right away might be a big comfort when you get back to shore.
Hot water bottle (optional) – This might not be necessary if you don’t feel the cold much or if the sun is shining. Depending on how long your journey is to get home or if you have a car, you might find the water bottle too heavy to carry around.
This list might not have missed a few things depending on where you live. I encourage you to do more research and ask your local SUP club. Go Paddling is a wonderful resource for those in UK. Learn new skills by taking a paddling course through Paddles Up Training. Don’t let the weather keep you stuck at home. Preparation is key. Aim to keep warm and dry as best as you can.
Share your winter SUP essentials in the comments below!
Items marked with a * were graciously given me to review. All opinions are honest and my own.
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