by Mollie Millington | May 9, 2022 | race review, running, sponsored post, travel
If you are new around here, you might not know that one of my goals to run a race in every state and country that I visit. People always ask me why. While I am not looking to break any World Records, I do find that running races abroad helps me see the destination from a different viewpoint (both by pace and angle), as well as allowing me to meet people I will instantly have something in common with (running!). Some of the locations I would never have come across if I hadn’t signed up. The only downside is that racing while travelling can make planning holiday activities a bit more challenging. For example, you might not want to walk too much the day before a marathon. Nor will you want to stay up late dancing the night away the day after a race (or will you?). But if you adjust your goals, for both your holiday and race, it can be worked out.
This year, I have been fortunate enough to tick two new states off my list (more on those later), as well as a new country. Malta is one of the places in Europe that I hadn’t been too yet, although I know a few people from there. It is comprised of three small islands in the Mediterranean Sea, just south of Italy. There are many affordable flights to the island from London on Air Malta (I highly recomend flying business class. Great lounge and tremendous food on the flight) and other budget airlines. It never crossed my mind to look for a race there though until I heard a friend say that a new race was taking place on the island. The race offerings of Malta were very limited until La Valette Marathon was announced earlier this year. I reached out to Corsa’s marketing manager, who was happy to have me come along with a great group of runners from the 100 Marathon Club.
The La Valette Marathon event debuted on 22 April 2022. It offered many distances and race options (marathon, half marathon, relays, and walking) making it accessible to all. Malta has gorgeous views and nearly perfect weather, so I am surprised it is not already a poplar racing and/or training destination. Hopefully, this will change in the coming years.
Registration process & fees: You could register online up until four days before the event. Prices varied depending on the race from €49.95 and up. There was so much last minute interest from local government authorities and celebrities, the event kept registration until the day before. The fee included a jam-packed goody bag, Nike race t-shirt, free race photos, and a medal. If you wanted transport back to the start line, you had to pay €5 cash when you collected your bib and goody bag at the sports store in Sliema.
Location: The race started in Sliema and ended in Vittoriosa. As we lined up at the start line, the sun was rising over the ocean. Most of the half marathon was along the coast while the marathon continued south. The finish area was in the Three Cities, an important part of Malta’s history. I paid to take the bus back to the start, but it was only running every hour. Luckily there were two gelato shops at the finish line to visit while I waited.
Course & bogs: One of the big selling points for me on this race was proximity to the shoreline and accompanying scenery. I had incredible views for the majority of the race and ran past important buildings and landmarks in Malta. The roads were not closed, but instead coned off, so some bits were a bit hairy but there was over 120 people along the course to ensure you were safe and keep on route. The feedback I had from the runners who did the marathon was that it wasn’t super pretty (as it was inland) but got the job done.
The start lines had eight bogs which quickly ran out of loo roll. There were enough toilets for the amount of people though, with or without the toilet paper. Unfortunately, there weren’t any bathrooms along the way or at the finish line. As someone who routinely needs the bathroom on her runs, I suggested to the organizers that they add in a few more along the way for next year’s race. Instead, I stopped at the ferry terminal to use the bathroom along the way, which worked out perfectly.
Water stations were available every 5km with fruit every 15km, as well as sponges (for both the half and full marathons). It was a small bottle, but lasted me the whole 5K. I had decided to carry water with me anyways too because I knew it was going to be hot and I hadn’t trained for a half marathon distance properly. My finish time was a going to be a wild card. Plus, I wanted to be able to stop and take pictures as I please. There wasn’t much shade along the course and even though we started at 7:30am, the heat was intense early on.
Atmosphere: Being the first La Valette event, there were not many people cheering along the route. However, the start and finish lines were full of energy and good cheer. There were also a few bands and historical reenactments along the course. Neighbors were watching start line activities from their balconies and lots of people were meeting friends and family at the finish line.
Bling & goody bags: As I mentioned, a fantastic goody bag with drinks, snacks, discount codes to Garmin and Uncle Matt’s kitchen, as well as the performance t-shirt. Sadly, they were out of medals by the time I got to the finish line, but a envelope with instructions on how to get my medal were waiting for me. This clear communication was great as it reassured me I would get my medal (which will hopefully be arriving soon).
Tips if you decide to take part next time: The biggest tip I have is to train for heat and hills! To go along with this, practice carrying water with you as you train. Learn a bit about the history of Malta so you can appreciate the culture, architecture, and landmarks. Be sure to download Bolt app because Uber is not used on the island. Finally, I suggest adding on a day or two to explore all that Malta has to offer. I am preparing a blog post for Visit Malta on how to spend the weekend racing on the island. Will link here when it is live.
*Thanks to Corsa and Visit Malta for the complimentary race entry, flights, and hotel. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Apr 13, 2022 | running, sponsored post
I have been a runner for a long time. Not a fast runner. Not a great runner. But someone who loves being outdoors and meeting people who enjoy similar types of adventures. There are many running communities in London and I know I want to reach more people to encourage them to be active too in some capacity.
That is why I thrilled to announce that I am a member of the On Running ROC crew. There are about a dozen of us from all over the UK who will be sharing all the latest and greatest products as ON releases them. While I am not paid for this role, I will be receiving complimentary kit. To start off our LTR, I was allowed to choose several pieces of kit from certain ranges. I love that I was able to choose clothes that fit me and my personal style and preferences, rather than have kit I will never wear (my husband says I have too much running kit already).
For shoes, I chose the waterproof Cloudflyers in sea and glacier and Cloudultra in lavender and eclipse. When I went to the ON Running lab last summer, I found out that the Cloudflyers are a great fit for my feet, as well as the Cloudace. Normally, I am very nervous about investing in new running shoes. I have two makes/models that I know I can run in pain free. Due to Achilles tendinopathy in both feet, I need very cushioned and supportive shoes (I also need to do my physiotherapy and strength train, but it is easier to just buy shoes).
From working with ON over the last few years, I have observed that ON tends to choose natural colors for their kit than flashy neon or my favourite, pink. Of course, black is always an option too. I am loving sea. It is a very pale blue/green. I am only worried about spilling food on it! For kit, I went with the following (photo above link):
Long tights in sea
Performance T in mulberry and spice
Tank T in marine and black
Sprinter shorts in black
Climate shirt in sea
Unisex lightweight cap in blue
Mid socks in sea and rose brown
Performance Long T in mineral
Over the next year, I will be letting you know about ON sponsored running events (hopefully I will see you at a few), how I am getting on with the products above, and different initiatives ON is developing to make running more inclusive and sustainable. ON is also opening a new flagship store in a different country every month this year. I can’t wait for the London store (which will be located on Regents Street) to open at some point in the autumn.
One other thing, I have a limited number of 20% off ON Running discount codes to share with my readers. Simply email me (mollie@ptmollie.com) and I will send it on over to you.
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 | Dec 16, 2021 | ski, sponsored post, travel
During my childhood, I was lucky enough to spend many winter weekends skiing at a small private club in Upstate New York. As I grew up, I was lucky enough to be able to explore the slopes in New England, the Rocky Mountains, and most recently, the Swiss Alps. My husband and I even got engaged on the way home from a ski trip to British Columbia. It has been a few years since we have been to Verbier, but I am always looking for the next opportunity to follow the snow. Fingers crossed we get to to Copper Mountain in Colorado, USA in January as planned.
No matter where in the world I am going to ski, I will always have to pack my gear ahead of time as the mountains are unfortunately not on my doorstep. I have found that having the right equipment on hand makes my time on the slopes much more enjoyable.
Here are my suggestions on what to have to survive the elements:
1.
Merino base layers and socks– Merino wool helps keep regulate body temperatures by wicking moisture away from your body and doesn’t smell even when you sweat. Cotton will keep wet fabric near your skin and that will get cold quick.
The Ski Thermo Compression socks from CEP combine comfort and performance in a range of Nordic designs.
2. Waterproof trousers– I love these Salomon PROOF LIGHT trousers. These have high breathability with a standard fit, giving you plenty of room to manoeuvre on the slopes. Intermediate to high warmth with 20K/20K fabric and Primaloft Eco 40g insulation means you can stay out on the slopes all day without worrying about being wet or cold. Believe me, no one likes a wet bum from sitting on the chair lift when it is dumping powder.
3.
Sunscreen– The snow can reflect the sun and the cold wind can make your cheeks turn red too. Keep your skin fresh by
applying high-performance sunscreen from Pelotan before you head out in the morning. (Although having a ‘ski google tan’ when you arrive back at the office is priceless).
4. Helmet– It is important to play it safe these days. When selecting a helmet, be sure to get one that observes the CSN EN 1077 European Standard. Also, find one that has enough ventilation holes for you if you tend to overheat when you exercise. If you are travelling with your helmet, try to keep it on you to avoid it being damaged during transit.
5.
Sunglasses– If you are lucky and it is sunny when you are on holiday, you need to protect your eyes. dewerstone have very affordable
polarized sunglasses, such as the Bantham which is made of wood and acetate. What else is cool is that these are plant-based, certified as Climate Neutral, every pair sold plants one tree, and dewerstone gives 1% of their total sales to environmental non-profits.
6.
Gloves– This is another piece of kit that you want to be waterproof. Consider it an investment into your long-term happiness out on the slopes all day. It also needs to be breathable so your hands don’t sweat. I recently received a #gifted pair for
SealSkinz Waterproof All Weather Gloves for winter dog walks and paddleboarding. I don’t see why these gloves wouldn’t work on the slopes as well.
7.
Something cozy for by the fire– After getting first tracks, my favorite part of the day is
après ski. Relaxing with friends around a fire, surrounded by gorgeous views, is not a bad way to end the day. If I am in
The North Face ThermoBall Tent Mules from Ellis Brigham, I am even happier as my feet are toasty warm and not at risk of getting wet from melted snow on the floor.
These are just a few suggestions from my personal experience out in winter conditions around the world. What can I say? I like to be warm and dry. What essentials would you suggest to someone going to ski or snowboard for the first time? Let me know in the comments below.
by Mollie Millington | Aug 3, 2021 | relax, sponsored post, travel
How is it already August? I have no idea where 2021 has gone. Sadly, our upcoming trip to Wales was cancelled so now we are scrambling to plan another staycation. At this point, all I want to do is relax outside in the sunshine. James is opposed to international travel due to Covid while I would prefer to fly to Malta and sit on the beach. We have been going back and forth on what we should do and if we should even go somewhere for our four days off. Maple is booked in to the kennel, which means even if we stay home, we will still be able to relax.
Luckily, I have several things I can rely on if we do indeed decide to stay in East London. These range in price from free to a few hundred pounds. While I may find the following things relaxing, you might have something else you prefer. Be sure to leave a comment below and let me know what you suggest I should try.
Aromatherapy
Scentered is a fantastic eco-conscious company that uses your olfactory system to help adjust your health and wellbeing. With their products, you can sleep, de-stress, get happy, feel the love, and/or escape. As you can guess, I am looking to escape from my normal day-to-day work and life stress while on our mini-break. Scentered kindly sent me their ESCAPE travel set. It contained a beautiful candle and aromatherapy balm inside a lovely box. The set is small enough to pack in a suitcase or to use at home. It would also make a lovely gift for someone who also needs to get away from it all.
I have been using the balm on my wrists and neck on Fridays when I get home from work. Scentered’s balms come in two different sizes (regular and mini). The minis are perfect keep in your pocket or bag for a quick fix. The candle I have been saving as a back up for our trip because so many of our holiday plans have been cancelled this year. Good thing I did!
Both the balms and candles are refillable and Scentered packaging is recycling. If you love the planet and want to protect it, Scentered is a fabulous brand to support! They also have a range of gift sets that include face masks, dressing gowns, or weighted blankets. Not only do they create the balms and candles as a source of aromatherapy but you can also find the scents that fit your mood in body wash, shampoos and lotions. I encourage you to use Scentered products to transform the space you are in to take you away from the day-to-day stress.
Order takeaway from someplace different
At first, I was going to write “don’t cook” but you might find that fun and/or relaxing. If you are staying home for your holiday, why not go to a new restaurant or order takeaway from a place you haven’t tried yet? During lockdown, I tried to break up the monotony of cooking three meals a day while the pubs and restaurants were shut. We are not huge foodies and tend to cook all our meals even when things are “normal” (except take away once a week) but cooking was getting boring. To mix things up, I ordered a high tea from Cutter and Squidge. It included scones, cakes, brownies, and of course, tea! To compliment this, I also picked up fancy sandwiches from Marks and Spencer’s. As you can see, I even brought out a table cloth to give the meal a bit more ambiance.
Book with Urban
Once thing that I love but rarely indulge in is a relaxing massage. I tend to get sports massages quite a bit, which are not always pleasant. Urban is a way to have a massage therapist come to your home. Surprisingly, the price is not that much more that going to a clinic. It saves so much time and stress from not having to travel to and from your appointment. You can use my affiliate code RMOLLI1A to receive £30 off your treatment. Not only does Urban offer massages, but also physiotherapy, beauty and grooming, fitness, osteopathy, and hair services. You can plan an entire spa day at home using Urban. A manicure something I would do before an actual holiday anyways, so why not keep this part of the traveling ritual? With my skin allergies, I cannot paint my nails that often which means it is saved for special occasions. Urban offer a variety of massage and manicures so have a look and see what suits you best.
Cool off with a cocktail
We have had a few very hot weeks in London this summer which has left people scrambling to find a way to feel some relief. There are a few rooftop lidos in London, as well as outdoor pools. We happened to have a small kiddie pool for Maple (which she refuses to go into). With a cocktail in hand, I enjoy cooling my feet off when the weather gets to be too much. Of course, you could just make the same cocktails that you were meant to enjoy on your trip. Treat yourself to high quality spirits and new glasses. After all, you are saving lots of money by staying at home! Tickle your taste buds and be transported away.
Stay in a hotel
Get out of the house by staying somewhere else for the night. There is nothing like the clean sheets and uncluttered space of a hotel. Order room service, use all the free toiletries, and sleep until check out. Basically, just spend the entire day and night in bed. That sounds idyllic to me! If you feel adventurous, try booking a hotel you have never stayed in or in a part of town you haven’t been to in a while (if ever!).
Explore a new neighbourhood
Living in London, my husband and I tend to avoid travelling more than one hour to do something. Anything farther just seems like a big effort and now with Maple, we can’t leave her home alone for too long. Because of this time limit, we don’t go to neighbourhoods on the other side of town, or south of the river, very often (which is one of the reasons why I suggest booking a hotel somewhere you don’t often visit). We also don’t regularly visit London tourist attractions. When my family comes to visit, I am lucky enough to have a nudge to visit all the places I have been meaning to- Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Churchill War Rooms, Portobello Road, and Greenwich.
If you are interested in getting paid to visit these kind of places, there is a new app, called NaviSavi, that will reward you for visiting tourist attractions, restaurants, clubs, and more (just not shops). Use my affiliate code PTMOLLIE to register today and use your staycation time at home to explore. For each location you visit, you can upload up to four 10-30 second videos to showcase different aspects of the venue, such as the entrance, ambiance, food, and outdoor seating for which you will be paid $1 per video. The idea behind NaviSavi is to put truth into travel by allowing app users to show you exactly what a location looks like at the moment to let others decide if it is somewhere they want to go. NaviSavi also wants to support small businesses by allowing them to create a profile for free. Pretty cool, huh?
NaviSavi has a Scavenger Hunt feature that tells you what locations they need videos for. Upload videos for one of these and get paid $2 per video. This app is global so I recommend logging in wherever you are and trying to find those locations that pay a bit more while taking you outside your regular haunts. You might end up discovering a new favourite place! The scavenger hunt may not be completely relaxing but it will get you out somewhere new, which is one of the things that appeals to me when traveling. Without the usual time limit of work and other commitments, take advantage of your staycation to learn more about your city.
If you follow me on Instagram, you will soon see where we end up for our rescheduled staycation. I will hopefully be able to incorporate a few of the above tips to help make it a bit more enjoyable. It is frustrating not to be able to travel but I also accept it is for the greater good. If it helps keep Covid-19 from spreading, then it is absolute it worth it.
If you have a staycation planned, let me know what you did in the comments below. Did you Netflix and chill? Clean the house? Go to the cinema every day? I can’t wait to read all about it.
This post was sponsored by Scentered.
This post contains affiliate links from which I receive a small fee and does not cost the buyer anything additional.
by Mollie Millington | Jun 25, 2021 | health, sponsored post
The sun is finally starting to make an appearance here in London. And so is the pollen. With this, many of my neighbours and friends are experiencing itchy eyes as they picnic in the park. While my colleagues are finding the air conditioning and screen time are making their eyes dry. There are many other things that can affect eye health, such as smoking, what you eat, high blood pressure, stress, lack of sleep and old age. When the eye blinks (on average every 3 to 4 seconds), the result is tear film which helps wash away any debris, protects the surface of the eye, and nourishes the eye too.
Sometimes, dry eye can occur due to inflammation if the eyes don’t blink enough (for example, when working at a computer screen, you only blink about once every 20 seconds which is 5 times less frequent than normal), or if your eye isn’t producing the lubricants it is supposed to. Believe it or not, 20% of adults have dry eye. You could have it and might not even know it! If you have the following symptoms, you might be one of them:
- tired eyes*
- watery eyes
- gritty sore eyes*
- irritated eyes
- feeling like something is stuck in your eye*
- contact lenses are uncomfortable to wear
- blurry vision that can be corrected with blinking
Of course, there are a few ways of protecting your eyes but some things, such as avoiding computer screens, are not easy to do. Eating a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and staying hydrated are the easy options. Avoiding air conditioning, wearing sunglasses, and taking regular breaks from your computer are other actions that can help your eyes stay healthy. I always have my sunglasses on hand just in case the sun makes an appearance in London.
Sometimes, you may need to help your eyes if they get irritated, even if you can’t figure out what caused it. If you are experiencing blepharitis (*some symptoms above), you may need to take action. I will likely experience blepharitis at some point as people with eczema are more likely to suffer from it. Warming and gently massaging the eyelids will help the Meibomian Glands secrete lubrication. Blephaclean wipes and Blephasol Duo are both available from Théa to help if the massage isn’t enough on its own. One of the reasons I love Théa is because their products are preservative-free, perfume-free and paraben-free. This is really important for me because I am allergic to preservative-releasing chemicals. These chemicals are often in make up, lotions, shampoo, laundry detergent, hair dye, even soap! I hate trying new beauty products because I never know how my skin will react. Obviously, I would be even more cautious trying something with my eyes. I can’t just pick anything off the shelf or use something from the medicine cabinet. Having a stash of Blephaclean wipes in my bag means I don’t have to worry. Blephasol Duo can be used as an eye makeup remover too (it even comes with lint free pads).
After cleaning your eyes with Blephaclean, Thealoz Duo can be applied to lubricate and hydrate to offer long-lasting protection. Thealoz Duo is also suitable for those with dry eye and is preservative free too. It can’t hurt to have a bottle near your desk for those days when you are stuck looking at the screen all day to meet a deadline. These drops can also be worn by contact lens wearers.
I had no idea that eye health becomes more important as you age. Now that I have identified products that work for my eyes, I will definitely try to keep better care of them. If you have some issues with your eyes, check out the Théa symptom checker and see if they have something that can help you.
This post was sponsored by Théa and Your Eye Health. All opinions are honest and my own. Facts about eye health found in Théa Pharmaceuticals. 2019. “Keeping Your Eyes Comfortable”.
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