A Common Error

6 May, 2012

I spent the morning in bed, plotting long distance scenic routes on mapmyrun. By the time I’d settled on one it had just tipped over to the afternoon and I felt suitably shamed into getting up and assembling the running gear and oyster card.

An hour later I was spinning round in circles at Clapham Junction station, wondering what had happened to platforms 5&6 – the ones that would deposit me on the banks of the Thames in the Mortlake region.

Whole swathes of the London hinterland had been isolated by weekend rail works and my morning’s plans had been wasted. I faced a departure board stacking up with choice destinations but shied away from adventure and jumped on the one heading back towards Wimbledon.

I was looking to squeeze 10 miles out of today’s run which was entirely possible with a chunk of Wimbledon common tagged onto a full loop of Richmond Park. I struggle with Wimbledon Common though. I think it has a fluctuating magnetic field. I get horribly, panicky lost in it. Regularly.

Today was no exception.

I was aiming for a short trog in Wimbledon Common, taking me direct to Robin Hood Gate where I could commence the full loop of RP. I started well, with my mental map and compass telling me to skirt the edge of the common and then head left directly into Richmond Park.

20120506-221453.jpgI found a hitherto unexplored region of Wimbledon Common. That should have been warning enough but it was a beautiful board-walked nature reserve with bluebells so I continued with my skirt and head left instructions.

When I popped out into suburbia, I was in the middle of unknown territory. Fairly posh but still unknown territory.

I started crossing roads, huge fast roads without proper crossings. I felt a bit tense and got into a battle with a 4×4 who clipped my heel.

I wasn’t hurt but I took an emotional beating. I found myself on the A3, a depressing dual carriageway carving a line between the two parks. I had to run along it for 2 miles before I reached the pedestrian crossing.

I finally made it into Richmond Park but I was sagging. I made it as far as Kingston gate before my body quit on me.

I was now at the furthest point from my planned pick up point back at Wimbledon Common and I was broken. The final 6k were sloooow and I may have weeped a bit.

I wasn’t the only one.

Lynn was driving the getaway car, and should technically have been waiting for me at the Windmill Caff, cursing because I was still limping my way across the wrong park but she’d been stuck in the traffic jam from hell, crawling along the Broadway at a pace of around 10 metres per hour. That made her marginally slower than me and I actually beat her to the cafe and was able to hide the remains of an apple shortbread slice before she arrived.

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Nuun Electrolyte Tab Review

6 May, 2012

20120506-103147.jpgI was sent an array of pretty capsules the other day, each containing 12 flavoured Nuun tabs.

These are handy tabs that enable you to prepare your own electrolyte replacement sports drink by dropping the tab in your usual water bottle. They don’t include loads of sugars like most sport drinks so are designed to keep you safely hydrated rather than refuelled ad only pack 6 calories per tab.

That’s perfect for me.

I’ve said many times when I’ve reviewed sports drinks before, that I’m not interested high calorie juices that negate all the effort I’ve just put in to burn calories. I want to end my exercise session with a calorie deficit but I do need fluids or I shrivel up in a heap after 3k. For long distance runs, say beyond 10miles, I find I start to feel quite ill if I drink only water so the low calorie electrolyte replacement drinks are perfect for me.

If you’re aiming for performance rather than weightloss, you will need to consider your re-fuelling needs as well but that’s what gels and jelly babies are for.

I’ve tried 5 flavours now and apart from the disgusting bubble-gummy grape flavour, they are all pretty tasty. My favourites are strawberry lemonade and strangely the caffeine infused lemon tea which I thought sounded vile. They have a good flavour (not too strong or sweet) and despite containing artificial sweeteners, I couldn’t detect an after taste.

The Nuun tabs have a slight fizz and so after bobbing along for any length of time with a half full water bottle there can be a bit of a pressure build up. I found myself gently sprayed with lemon tea on yesterday’s run. The fizz makes for quite a refreshing drink though.

Good Points
Minimal calorie intake – 6 only
Good choice of flavours
Portable so you can top up during a run
Quenches your thirst
Good value – 50p per drink
Eco and cupboard friendly – reuse the same water bottle

Bad Points
Grape flavour – yuk
Pressure build up when running

Here’s a wiggle link to the sample pack I tested: nuun active hydration pack

Thanks to nuun for sending me the samples to review.

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Weather Girls

29 April, 2012

The Weather Girls appeared out of nowhere to kick off my playlist and of course the rain soon followed.

I’m rather grateful for this months drought declaration. I bought a runner’s raincoat at the end of March, which would in isolation, have been sufficient to bring on a heat wave. Fortunately the hosepipe ban gave the rain gods a larger scale irony to play with and the resultant monsoon has provided me with ample opportunity to test out the OMM Kamleika Smock.

20120429-120440.jpgI was in Richmond Park, enjoying first the drizzle and then the downpour with the other hardcore – which turned out to be mostly deer, ducks and a few rather aggressive geese.

I had a marvelous time of it actually. It may have been wet, cold and muddy but I was geared up well. In the worst of the deluge I pulled up the peaked hood, zipped myself up to the chin and ran on with a spring in my step and breathless lyrics on the tip of my tongue. The cyclists caught out in the same downpour looked as miserable as sin, which added to my sense of well being within my own micro-climate.

I was trying out a number of new items on the run, there was the Kamleika smock, the Workplay waist pack from last week, some nuun electrolyte tabs and a new pair of running shoes.

The smock despite being horrendously expensive was all I hoped it would be – cool, waterproof and lightweight. The waist pack was as comfortable as last week but got additional action as I kept squeezing the waterproof smock into the expandable pouch as the rain came and went. I ruined the pristine Asics in the squelchy conditions but running through muddy puddles has got to be one of the top bonuses of being a runner.

I have to say, I rather like the rain.

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The Good Samaritan – London Marathon Tragedy

24 April, 2012

While I was still intending to run the 2012 London Marathon, I started a post entitled “Why I’m running for the Samaritans”.

As you know I chose not to run and so my expose has remained in draft format. I will give you a sneak preview of the opening paragraph and leave the rest for the time I do manage to go the distance:

I wouldn’t exactly call running a life saver but it has definitely been a sanity saver. It’s given me a sense of community, of achievement and of worth.

If I want to look for life savers there have been a few in my life and to those I am forever grateful.

It doesn’t take a genius to realise that one of my life savers was going to be The Samaritans.

While I was out on the streets last Sunday, supporting OGB on his first marathon attempt, I kept one eye open for the Samaritan runners who did make it as far as the start line to raise money for a charity dear to my heart.

Claire Squires would have run past me twice that day.

I was incredibly saddened to find out today that she died within the final mile of the 2012 London Marathon.

On her Just Giving site Claire say’s:

if everyone I know could donate £5.00 that would be a great help and change lives

Imagine the impact if everyone she doesn’t know could spare £5 for a runner who gave her all?

As I write this she’s managed to raise £536,762.10

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Fleetfoot II – Runner’s Bumbag for Women

23 April, 2012

I don’t often go for women specific products, all too often it seems like an excuse to use up a load bright pink paint or fabric with no noticeable design enhancements.

Despite offering a vivid pink Fleetfoot II model I was fortunate enough that Workplay offered me the rather more stylish black option to review.

I’ve tried a good number of running packs over the past few years, from fully equipped adventure packs to the simplest of minimal bumbags. My trammel carrying needs vary depending on the terrain and distance I intend to cover. For most runs up to about 10m I need to carry my iPhone, keys, possibly some emergency money and a bottle of water. During this month, which is probably on track to be the wettest April since the last drought was declared, I almost always have to take my waterproof jacket as well.

For longer runs my water carrying requirements increase and I usually want to include some form of sustenance such as jelly beans or on really long runs – a peanut butter sarnie.

The Fleetfoot II fits the bill for my short to mid-distance runs and would also be my option for long distance race events such as half and full marathons where you hydration needs are supported by regular water stations.

I went out this weekend with my iPhone, cash, keys and waterproof jacket stashed in the waistbelt. It was perfectly comfortable with no bouncing or twisting. If you check out the video below you will get a really great introduction to the product and see quite how much the Fleetfoot II can be expected to hold. I was a little surprised to see the presenter squeezing her lipstick into the pocket – who on earth runs with lipstick?!

This is great little running pack. The shape is shape is designed to accommodate the curvature of a woman’s hips. I find that the standard bumbags tend to ride up to my waist which is too high for comfort and then start spinning around because it’s too loose. The Fleetfoot II sat on my hips and remained there. I was also presently surprised to find that the strap was generously sized, it fit me very comfortably and I’m certainly on the large size of female runners. It adjusts to standard and skinny sizes too.

Despite being a relatively small and lightweight pack the Fleetfoot II has a number of different features, there are two pockets within the zipped area and a soft pouch for keeping keys and coins safe and jangle free. An extendable mesh for stashing waterproofs and another expandable area for holding a water bottle.

I tried the bottle holder and although it keeps the bottle secure I didn’t really enjoy the feel of the bottle held close into the small of my back and so preferred to keep the bottle in my hand and leave the waistpack a little lighter around my waist.

I’ve spent the last two weekends running around Richmond Park with family accompaniment on mountain bikes. I’ve tried out two different waistpacks and there’s one clear winner.

Last weekend I was trying out a new waistpack from NorthFace. It was a simple design, a tiny pocket and a rather large water bottle. I tried it out at home and while empty it felt remarkably comfy but the moment I started running in the park the now full water bottle started bouncing up and down and drove me nuts. I couldn’t cope with the bottle around my waist and it was too big to hold in my hand, fortunately Lynn was on the bike and could carry it for me, otherwise I’d have thrown it away and had to run without the water.

This weekend I was wearing the Fleetfoot II and by comparison it was a complete joy. I felt freer than usual as I had my iPhone in the waist belt rather than an armband and the bag stayed put for the whole circuit.

If I could only have one running pack in my life, I would choose the Fleetfoot II – I’d make sure it was black though.

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Fear and Gloaming in Mitcham

14 April, 2012

20120414-225744.jpg

photo by Dubmill - click photo for flickr page

I’ve articulated my fear of running on Mitcham Common on a number of occasions (try here and here). You’d think I’d know better than to attempt a twilight run with zombie accompaniment but it seems not.

Spring is a crap time for accountants and I feel like I’ve been strapped to a ledger for the past 14 days. I haven’t run or exercised for 7 days solid so I was keen to get out and bounce around the common despite the disappearing sun and the heavy clouds.

I was deep into the common when the first Zombie attack was announced. The mangled pilot, killed in the crash that landed us in Abel township some days ago was “re-animating”. Nice.
Fresh zombies are fast runners apparently and this one was chasing me.

That common carries enough horror without the addition of the undead. I’m not sure if my heart can cope with the excitement.

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A Zombies, Run! Bore

2 April, 2012

20120402-085728.jpgI’m afraid I have become a tragic Zombies, Run! bore. When I enthusiastically recount tales of my successful zombie evasion runs there are audible yawns from the direction of Lynn.

We were in the park with friends yesterday, enjoying the unexpected good weather and an array of delightful picnic snacks. I took the opportunity, between frisbee sessions to take on new missions as I completed laps of Brockwell Park.

I’d run back to the picnic crew, full of breathless excitement just to be told to pipe down a bit as I was embarrassing.

I’ll try not to make every post from here on in about Zombies but yesterday’s was particularly good. I saved a young child from a Zombie attack and brought her back to the safety of the township.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out my review of the Zombies, Run! app and then I will try and contain my excitement.

Oh, and did I mention I’d got the t-shirt?

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Zombies, Run! The iPhone app

29 March, 2012

20120329-130933.jpgI’m Runner 5 and I’ve just been dropped into a zombie filled wasteland. It’s 11pm and I am, to put it politely, shitting myself.

I’m the sort of girl who curls into a ball at the mere suggestion of being chased. I may even scream a little.

So, I was a little surprised that I had been tempted to part with £5.49 in order to try out the latest GPS running app – Zombie, Run! Which seems to be a cross between Runkeeper and Resident Evil.

I was on a hill and to be honest I was quite tempted to walk, but the voice over had just kicked in to inform me that zombies had been spotted. It turned out to be the previous Runner 5. Unlike me she was a pretty good runner, only she’d been got by the undead and now she was trying to get me.

Steep hills are not the best place to try and outrun professional running zombies, not unless you turn round and sprint downhill. I will turn round next time. As it is she got me, just yards from the summit, there was a flurry of fast beeping and heavy deathly breathing. I dropped half the items I’d collected enroute, presumably as a distraction and then just continued running until the next chase kicked in.

Given that you don’t have to do anything on screen during a mission, the game play is remarkably engaging. You select a mission, slide to run and then you do just run and listen. The story unfolds and the commentary seems to fit perfectly between gaps in your playlist.

As you run along you hear that you’ve picked up items. My first was a snazzy pair of Y-fronts. You don’t actually have to bend and pick them up, and neither do you have to “run to the tower” or “head east out of the forest”. This is make believe, no need for screaming like a girl when the Zombies swarm but you do need to pick up the pace if you want to escape them.

The first mission lasted about 30 mins and I managed to make it to a place of safety with a few items left intact. Back home I was able to “play” with the app, dragging my items onto areas of the compound – increasing their rating as I did. Not really sure what the point of that is at the moment, I believe it opens up new missions but all that will unfold as I play it a bit more.

It’s an expensive app but it’s pretty accomplished and looks to have an active development crew. The accelerometer mode is already available to try out which means Zombie, Run! will work on a treadmill without the need for GPS engagement.

20120329-131023.jpgThe app keeps a record of your missions so you can review your typical running stats as well as reviewing the number of times the Zombies got you! You can’t as yet review the GPS route, so there is no mapping functionality and I don’t think they’ve built in any social interaction so you can link up with other terrified runners or upload the GPS data to web logs.

This review by Doug is the best I’ve found so far.

iTunes link to : Zombies, Run! – Six to Start

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In Search of Convenience

March 24, 2012
In Search of Convenience

While runners were flocking to Hastings to take part in probably the worlds hilliest half marathon course, I was using my well honed flat pancake radar to scout out one of the few level routes in the vicinity. We settled upon the Rye Harbour Nature reserve, only a few miles away from our lovely Hotel [...]

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The Scosche myTrek Running Gadget Review

March 16, 2012
The Scosche myTrek Running Gadget Review

Scosche myTrek is a wireless pulse monitor that works in combination with the myTrek app on your iPhone or Android smartphone. The full package enables you to set training plans and receive verbal motivation based on target heart rate zones, record your route using the phone’s in-built GPS and then seamlessly publish your efforts on [...]

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