by Mollie Millington | May 25, 2017 | race review, running
|
| Forecast over London = rain! |
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) Town of London jog has been on my bucket list since we moved to London. I mean, who wouldn’t want to run in the old moat of the former Royal residency. This year, I was finally organized enough to register. Originally, I was supposed to run with work friends but I ended up being on a first aid course near home which mixed up arrival times. Luckily, I ran into friends from Advent Running, making the race much more enjoyable for me as it was pouring with rain. One km laps surrounded by brick really aren’t that fun.
Race entry: Register online for £20 (I think) plus there is an option to fundraise for BHF. You can register on the day too if you aren’t big on planning ahead.
 |
| Bogs to the left, baggage tent to the right. All in the moat! |
Course and bogs: As it says on the tin, you run around the Tower of London. I thought it would be literal but instead you do U-shaped laps. You can run as much or as little as you want with suggested distances of 5 or 10 km. The race isn’t timed and you can start whenever you want within a three hour window. I saw many groups of people running together- work teams, rugby clubs, and families all taking part. The course wasn’t crowded but it was busy due to some people walking. One water station as you turned around made it easy to rehydrate as needed.
There were a handful of port-a-loos near the bag drop off. Luckily I didn’t have to use them. Because of the variable start time, there wasn’t a huge line at any point from what I saw.
 |
| Advent Running unite! Photo courtesy of Mel McKay |
Atmosphere: Even though it was pouring with rain, people were having fun. Many were walking and several had signs on their back stating who they were running for. Some ‘fans’ were even cheering from the pavement above. I think for many people, it was their first race event and most seemed to have a personal connection to the charity.
 |
| Note the catapult |
Bling/goody bags: There wasn’t a goody bag but I did snag a free five minute massage. I was most excited out the race bling, which had potential to be epic, but instead it was pretty boring. Each participant received a free red technical t-shirt, but again, these were generic. I totally understand that BHF saves money by not customizing the freebies but I was still sad about the bling. I would forgo a t-shirt for a really cool medal.
 |
| I am still in the moat. 5K done! |
Tips if you decide to take part next time: 2018 will be the 40th year of this epic race.
If you are a seasoned runner, get a group of colleagues or neighbors together to take part. Travel light so you don’t need to check a bag unless you want to wait for a loooong time to collect it. If you have a lust for #racebling, don’t run this race for the bling as it is sadly a generic medal (but has a custom ribbon). BHF gives extra shout-outs to folks who raise more than £500, so if you are committed to the cause, go for it!
by thinkmarsh | May 25, 2017 | race review, running
|
| Forecast over London = rain! |
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) Town of London jog has been on my bucket list since we moved to London. I mean, who wouldn’t want to run in the old moat of the former Royal residency. This year, I was finally organized enough to register. Originally, I was supposed to run with work friends but I ended up being on a first aid course near home which mixed up arrival times. Luckily, I ran into friends from Advent Running, making the race much more enjoyable for me as it was pouring with rain. One km laps surrounded by brick really aren’t that fun.
Race entry: Register online for £20 (I think) plus there is an option to fundraise for BHF. You can register on the day too if you aren’t big on planning ahead.
|
| Bogs to the left, baggage tent to the right. All in the moat! |
Course and bogs: As it says on the tin, you run around the Tower of London. I thought it would be literal but instead you do U-shaped laps. You can run as much or as little as you want with suggested distances of 5 or 10 km. The race isn’t timed and you can start whenever you want within a three hour window. I saw many groups of people running together- work teams, rugby clubs, and families all taking part. The course wasn’t crowded but it was busy due to some people walking. One water station as you turned around made it easy to rehydrate as needed.
There were a handful of port-a-loos near the bag drop off. Luckily I didn’t have to use them. Because of the variable start time, there wasn’t a huge line at any point from what I saw.
|
| Advent Running unite! Photo courtesy of Mel McKay |
Atmosphere: Even though it was pouring with rain, people were having fun. Many were walking and several had signs on their back stating who they were running for. Some ‘fans’ were even cheering from the pavement above. I think for many people, it was their first race event and most seemed to have a personal connection to the charity.
|
| Note the catapult |
Bling/goody bags: There wasn’t a goody bag but I did snag a free five minute massage. I was most excited out the race bling, which had potential to be epic, but instead it was pretty boring. Each participant received a free red technical t-shirt, but again, these were generic. I totally understand that BHF saves money by not customizing the freebies but I was still sad about the bling. I would forgo a t-shirt for a really cool medal.
|
| I am still in the moat. 5K done! |
Tips if you decide to take part next time: 2018 will be the 40th year of this epic race.
If you are a seasoned runner, get a group of colleagues or neighbors together to take part. Travel light so you don’t need to check a bag unless you want to wait for a loooong time to collect it. If you have a lust for #racebling, don’t run this race for the bling as it is sadly a generic medal (but has a custom ribbon). BHF gives extra shout-outs to folks who raise more than £500, so if you are committed to the cause, go for it!
by thinkmarsh | May 22, 2017 | cycling, exercise, outdoors, running, travel, water sports
|
| Our bikes from iRide South Africa |
On my recent trip to South Africa, I wanted to take advantage of the good weather and be outdoors and active as much as possible. My running and cycling kit were the first things to go in my suitcase, followed by my swimsuit and sunscreen. I knew it was going to be warm and sunny, but I didn’t know the water was going to be so cold. My hotel was a lovely walk along the promenade to the V&A Waterfront and I saw many other outdoor activities going on- paragliding, sea kayaking, scuba diving, speed boats, sail boats and surfing. I also heard there was horseback riding in one of the nearby towns. Although Cape Town wasn’t expensive, doing all these extra curricular activities would had added up so I only chose a few. I need to go back to try the rest!
Cycling
Part of the fun of traveling for me is seeing new places by foot or wheels. My husband is more of a cyclist than I am but we were both keen to cycle while in Cape Town. Last year, he hired a bike through iRide South Africa so we did the same for this trip. The service was great as they dropped off and picked up the bikes at the flat where we were staying. You could also hire helmets and shoes which leaves more room for other things. One water bottle per bike was provided and we brought extras. This was important as it was 26 degrees Celsius and more while we were in Cape Town.
 |
| We made it. |
We are both comfortable cycling in a city (James more so than me because he cycle commutes every day) which was important as Cape Town doesn’t have many bike lanes. It took about 20 minutes to get into the fancier suburbs and passed everyone headed to work. South Africa for the most part has wide shoulders on their roads for passing traffic which many of the cyclists we saw used. We were headed south to Chapman’s Peak, which included an 850 m climb in bright sunshine with HUGE winds. I, of course, was nervous of needing the toilet along the way but made it through without incident. It was great to get back on the bike (it had been since Fitbit Fifty) but I did feel bad for my husband as I am a very slow cyclist. He is fantastic at climbing hills! Slow and steady is how I aim to do it. I get there in the end.
We had plenty of fuel and water with us because it was so hot in Cape Town. I used additional saline drops in my water bottles to ensure I was hydrated, plus nuun and Powerade. I had heat exhaustion once in Texas and it was not fun!
 |
| What a view! |
When we did make it to the top, the view was amazing. There were other cyclists there too and several cars pulled over. Everyone was taking photos and looking out over the water. We were told that over and down the peak there was a cafe, but I didn’t want to climb up the hill twice. We headed back down the way we came and stopped for a 2nd breakfast near the beach. It was really lovely to be outside, in the sunshine, and see the ocean just across the road. We made it back to the flat without any problems and relaxed the rest of the day. James climbed to the top of Chapman’s Peak again the next day and found a cafe on the other side of the hill. I was due to run 13 miles for my marathon training and did that instead.
Running
I found there were plenty of opportunities to run in Cape Town. Although many books and websites said not to go out by yourself in Cape Town, I felt safe running along the Sea Point Promenade, as well as running from my hotel to the promenade. There wasn’t much shade along the path but the ocean breeze helped keep me cool. You will definitely need sunscreen!
 |
| Adidas Runners Cape Town |
 |
| Representing London |
With marathon training in full swing, I ran most days but had to run very early in the morning or late in the evening because of the heat. I managed to join Adidas Runners Cape Town for a run along the Promenade and through Greenpoint Park were we crossed paths with Park Run which had a large amount of people taking park (FYI- parkrun starts at 8am in Cape Town!).
The other running I was able to due was a trail run in Stellenbosch. I was lucky enough to take part in a Dirtopia race on Valentine’s Day. A more detailed review will be up soon. It was hard to find a comprehensive race calendar, but I think this was due to it being such a hot time of the year. If you know of one for Cape Town or South Africa, please let me know!
Sea kayaking
I went out on two trips with Kaskazi Kayaks in Cape Town. The only other time I have been sea kayaking was a on-off in Seward, Alaska, USA when I lived there for a summer. For those that don’t know, kayaking is a sport where you sit in a small boat close to the surface of the water and use a double-sided paddle to propel yourself. Here are a few things I learned on my trip that you might find useful for your first sea kayaking trip.
 |
| All the gear ready for us |
Do you need to be fit to sea kayak? Not necessarily, but you do need to be willing to dig in and paddle against the current and waves. We were put into kayaks with others, so you can share the burden a bit. Double kayaks are more stable too. You will wear a life jacket during your trip but you may have to go a ways offshore to go around reefs or rocks under the water. If you are afraid of the water or are not a confident swimmer, this might be unnerving. Speak to your instructor before getting into your kayak to discuss your fears and what the trip will be like. I love being on the water but a few people in my group were either scared to be on the water or didn’t realize how much physical activity was involved.
If you want to see local wildlife, ask the company which time is the best to go out. I was told the early morning trips are when animals local to Cape Town are most active and picked the second trip of the day so I could sleep a bit. We saw a fur seal and some dolphins during my second trip, which was pretty neat!
 |
| Everyone is ready to go. Photo by Kaskazi Kayaks |
There were a few things I brought with me that were important for this kind of activity- sunscreen (my legs got very burned), bottle of water, sunglasses, hat, swimsuit bottoms (no matter what they say, you will get wet), and shoes for water sports (I wore my Keens sandals). A towel and change of clothes will not go amiss either. Basically, it is sunny in Cape Town and even brighter on the water. You don’t want to waste any days of your holiday with a sunburn, so protect your skin.
 |
| Just look at that view. Photo by Kaskazi Kayaks. |
I hope to one day return to Cape Town. What would you recommend we put on our activity list for the next time? We managed to squeeze in a short safari and cage diving, which I will post about soon. But I know there is so much more to do and see.
by Mollie Millington | May 22, 2017 | cycling, exercise, outdoors, running, travel, water sports
|
| Our bikes from iRide South Africa |
On my recent trip to South Africa, I wanted to take advantage of the good weather and be outdoors and active as much as possible. My running and cycling kit were the first things to go in my suitcase, followed by my swimsuit and sunscreen. I knew it was going to be warm and sunny, but I didn’t know the water was going to be so cold. My hotel was a lovely walk along the promenade to the V&A Waterfront and I saw many other outdoor activities going on- paragliding, sea kayaking, scuba diving, speed boats, sail boats and surfing. I also heard there was horseback riding in one of the nearby towns. Although Cape Town wasn’t expensive, doing all these extra curricular activities would had added up so I only chose a few. I need to go back to try the rest!
Cycling
Part of the fun of traveling for me is seeing new places by foot or wheels. My husband is more of a cyclist than I am but we were both keen to cycle while in Cape Town. Last year, he hired a bike through iRide South Africa so we did the same for this trip. The service was great as they dropped off and picked up the bikes at the flat where we were staying. You could also hire helmets and shoes which leaves more room for other things. One water bottle per bike was provided and we brought extras. This was important as it was 26 degrees Celsius and more while we were in Cape Town.
|
| We made it. |
We are both comfortable cycling in a city (James more so than me because he cycle commutes every day) which was important as Cape Town doesn’t have many bike lanes. It took about 20 minutes to get into the fancier suburbs and passed everyone headed to work. South Africa for the most part has wide shoulders on their roads for passing traffic which many of the cyclists we saw used. We were headed south to Chapman’s Peak, which included an 850 m climb in bright sunshine with HUGE winds. I, of course, was nervous of needing the toilet along the way but made it through without incident. It was great to get back on the bike (it had been since Fitbit Fifty) but I did feel bad for my husband as I am a very slow cyclist. He is fantastic at climbing hills! Slow and steady is how I aim to do it. I get there in the end.
We had plenty of fuel and water with us because it was so hot in Cape Town. I used additional saline drops in my water bottles to ensure I was hydrated, plus nuun and Powerade. I had heat exhaustion once in Texas and it was not fun!
|
| What a view! |
When we did make it to the top, the view was amazing. There were other cyclists there too and several cars pulled over. Everyone was taking photos and looking out over the water. We were told that over and down the peak there was a cafe, but I didn’t want to climb up the hill twice. We headed back down the way we came and stopped for a 2nd breakfast near the beach. It was really lovely to be outside, in the sunshine, and see the ocean just across the road. We made it back to the flat without any problems and relaxed the rest of the day. James climbed to the top of Chapman’s Peak again the next day and found a cafe on the other side of the hill. I was due to run 13 miles for my marathon training and did that instead.
Running
I found there were plenty of opportunities to run in Cape Town. Although many books and websites said not to go out by yourself in Cape Town, I felt safe running along the Sea Point Promenade, as well as running from my hotel to the promenade. There wasn’t much shade along the path but the ocean breeze helped keep me cool. You will definitely need sunscreen!
|
| Adidas Runners Cape Town |
|
| Representing London |
With marathon training in full swing, I ran most days but had to run very early in the morning or late in the evening because of the heat. I managed to join Adidas Runners Cape Town for a run along the Promenade and through Greenpoint Park were we crossed paths with Park Run which had a large amount of people taking park (FYI- parkrun starts at 8am in Cape Town!).
The other running I was able to due was a trail run in Stellenbosch. I was lucky enough to take part in a Dirtopia race on Valentine’s Day. A more detailed review will be up soon. It was hard to find a comprehensive race calendar, but I think this was due to it being such a hot time of the year. If you know of one for Cape Town or South Africa, please let me know!
Sea kayaking
I went out on two trips with Kaskazi Kayaks in Cape Town. The only other time I have been sea kayaking was a on-off in Seward, Alaska, USA when I lived there for a summer. For those that don’t know, kayaking is a sport where you sit in a small boat close to the surface of the water and use a double-sided paddle to propel yourself. Here are a few things I learned on my trip that you might find useful for your first sea kayaking trip.
|
| All the gear ready for us |
Do you need to be fit to sea kayak? Not necessarily, but you do need to be willing to dig in and paddle against the current and waves. We were put into kayaks with others, so you can share the burden a bit. Double kayaks are more stable too. You will wear a life jacket during your trip but you may have to go a ways offshore to go around reefs or rocks under the water. If you are afraid of the water or are not a confident swimmer, this might be unnerving. Speak to your instructor before getting into your kayak to discuss your fears and what the trip will be like. I love being on the water but a few people in my group were either scared to be on the water or didn’t realize how much physical activity was involved.
If you want to see local wildlife, ask the company which time is the best to go out. I was told the early morning trips are when animals local to Cape Town are most active and picked the second trip of the day so I could sleep a bit. We saw a fur seal and some dolphins during my second trip, which was pretty neat!
|
| Everyone is ready to go. Photo by Kaskazi Kayaks |
There were a few things I brought with me that were important for this kind of activity- sunscreen (my legs got very burned), bottle of water, sunglasses, hat, swimsuit bottoms (no matter what they say, you will get wet), and shoes for water sports (I wore my Keens sandals). A towel and change of clothes will not go amiss either. Basically, it is sunny in Cape Town and even brighter on the water. You don’t want to waste any days of your holiday with a sunburn, so protect your skin.
|
| Just look at that view. Photo by Kaskazi Kayaks. |
I hope to one day return to Cape Town. What would you recommend we put on our activity list for the next time? We managed to squeeze in a short safari and cage diving, which I will post about soon. But I know there is so much more to do and see.
by thinkmarsh | May 5, 2017 | exercise, running, SMART goals, strength, WMM
|
| At the London Marathon red start |
As you read on Monday, the London Marathon has come and gone. It has been my sole focus since mid-December, so to have it gone is a bit unsettling. I still have my long term goal of qualifying to run the Boston Marathon in 2019, but it seems so far away and I am not really happy with my London Marathon performance. Yes, I got a PB, but deep down I feel it is because I didn’t stop and use the bathroom as many times as I did in Berlin. I also didn’t stick with my goal of 9:30min/miles. Friends warned me not to start off the London Marathon too fast. I did though (the cheers are infectious!) and tried to rein myself in. Near the start of the race, my splits were estimating I would finish in 4:15:00. But my body just wasn’t strong enough. Hips and legs started to hurt at mile 16, which was 10 long miles from the finish line.
This has always been my problem during a marathon and I know how to solve it. Is it fear that keeps me from strength training? Lack of time? Self-sabotage? I have all the kit I need, the knowledge of the exercises, free access to a small gym, a membership to an online gym with tons of video resources yet there is a mental block.
After every marathon (or usually 2 weeks before), I swear I will lift for the next race. My butt shouldn’t be lazy. My heels should come up to my bum when I run not barely lift off the ground, right?
It comes down to how badly do I want it? How much am I willing to give to reach Boston, to finish a marathon feeling strong rather than limping around for the following week, to fit the expected aesthetics of a personal trainer (another one of my insecurities)?
To bring things into focus, I have set myself three SMART goals:
- Complete 2 strength sessions a week for the next eight weeks
- Three rounds of 10 kegals and clams six days a week
- Run Chicago Marathon in 4:15:00 (8 October 2017)
As a #fitnessrockstar in
Julia B Fit’s online gym (where a free basic membership is available), I am fortunate enough to have access to most of her videos. There are a dozen programs or you can mix and match videos as you see fit. Julia recommended a few specific workouts for me that fit in my two sessions/week goal, as well as getting my body into better running shape. She has introductory videos for all the programs to give you specific instructions on each move. This allows you to ‘hit the ground running’ when you watch the workout. As a personal trainer, I find her combinations of movements refreshing. The body is continually challenged, no matter which video you watch. A lot of the workout can be done without any equipment or simply
dumbbells and a
yoga mat.
 |
| Working out in my narrow flat |
Don’t worry, I will keep busy on the other five days of the week. I have a few spin classes that I am taking at the Velodrome and RUNch sessions mixed in too. In June, I am taking part in the
London 10 Mile race in Richmond Park (anyone up for brunch?) so I need to keep logging miles. Something else is planned for July too but I will share more about that soon.
After the eight weeks of strength training, it will be time for me to start marathon training properly again. I am considering hiring a run coach to give me a bit more structure to improve my speed. If you have ever worked with a running coach, please leave a comment below on any advice you have for selecting one. Or if you have any tips on getting over the post-marathon blues, I would love to hear about them.
This post contains affiliate links. They do not add any additional cost to the buyer but help pay for the maintenance of my website.
by Mollie Millington | May 5, 2017 | exercise, running, SMART goals, strength, WMM
|
| At the London Marathon red start |
As you read on Monday, the London Marathon has come and gone. It has been my sole focus since mid-December, so to have it gone is a bit unsettling. I still have my long term goal of qualifying to run the Boston Marathon in 2019, but it seems so far away and I am not really happy with my London Marathon performance. Yes, I got a PB, but deep down I feel it is because I didn’t stop and use the bathroom as many times as I did in Berlin. I also didn’t stick with my goal of 9:30min/miles. Friends warned me not to start off the London Marathon too fast. I did though (the cheers are infectious!) and tried to rein myself in. Near the start of the race, my splits were estimating I would finish in 4:15:00. But my body just wasn’t strong enough. Hips and legs started to hurt at mile 16, which was 10 long miles from the finish line.
This has always been my problem during a marathon and I know how to solve it. Is it fear that keeps me from strength training? Lack of time? Self-sabotage? I have all the kit I need, the knowledge of the exercises, free access to a small gym, a membership to an online gym with tons of video resources yet there is a mental block.
After every marathon (or usually 2 weeks before), I swear I will lift for the next race. My butt shouldn’t be lazy. My heels should come up to my bum when I run not barely lift off the ground, right?
It comes down to how badly do I want it? How much am I willing to give to reach Boston, to finish a marathon feeling strong rather than limping around for the following week, to fit the expected aesthetics of a personal trainer (another one of my insecurities)?
To bring things into focus, I have set myself three SMART goals:
- Complete 2 strength sessions a week for the next eight weeks
- Three rounds of 10 kegals and clams six days a week
- Run Chicago Marathon in 4:15:00 (8 October 2017)
As a #fitnessrockstar in
Julia B Fit’s online gym (where a free basic membership is available), I am fortunate enough to have access to most of her videos. There are a dozen programs or you can mix and match videos as you see fit. Julia recommended a few specific workouts for me that fit in my two sessions/week goal, as well as getting my body into better running shape. She has introductory videos for all the programs to give you specific instructions on each move. This allows you to ‘hit the ground running’ when you watch the workout. As a personal trainer, I find her combinations of movements refreshing. The body is continually challenged, no matter which video you watch. A lot of the workout can be done without any equipment or simply
dumbbells and a
yoga mat.
|
| Working out in my narrow flat |
Don’t worry, I will keep busy on the other five days of the week. I have a few spin classes that I am taking at the Velodrome and RUNch sessions mixed in too. In June, I am taking part in the
London 10 Mile race in Richmond Park (anyone up for brunch?) so I need to keep logging miles. Something else is planned for July too but I will share more about that soon.
After the eight weeks of strength training, it will be time for me to start marathon training properly again. I am considering hiring a run coach to give me a bit more structure to improve my speed. If you have ever worked with a running coach, please leave a comment below on any advice you have for selecting one. Or if you have any tips on getting over the post-marathon blues, I would love to hear about them.
This post contains affiliate links. They do not add any additional cost to the buyer but help pay for the maintenance of my website.
Recent Comments