Adidas 1 Hour City Run

On April 11, 2019 By Girl Running CrazyIn General, ReviewsLeave a comment

It’s fair to assume that most people wouldn’t be enthralled at the idea of running round and round in a one mile circle. But there’s a certain charm about doing it in the City centre of London, on closed roads, with music being pumped into the streets, random people lining up to high-five your sweaty hand and large timer ticking down the seconds as you race against the clock…even if it is dull and grey while the rest of the country apparantly basks in sunshine.

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Sunday was the Adidas 1 hour city run, part of a series of City Run events that take place across the capital but, rather than running a set distance, this race challenges you to run as far as you can in an hour. One Hour. No Limits.

I was going to sign up to this a while ago but, in all honesty, the £40 price tag put me off for such a short race…however, my incessant Instagram competition entering habit finally came up trumps and, not only did I win a place, but I was also treated to a pair of the brand new Ultraboost 19 by Runners Need! Not a bad win considering these are one of my trainers of choice and I was tempted to enter the race anyway!

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I’d already met some of the winners at a Runners Need event the week before so I recognised some of the gang when I arrived at the event village near St Pauls Cathedral but, if in doubt, we were all wearing the same kicks so they was easy to spot!

We were introduced to 400m hurdler Lina Nielson, who took us through a warm up before heading to the start line. There was a little bit of hanging around but we were soon off on the first lap.

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The course starts at Mansion House going up to Bank, then past the Guildhall and St Mary-le-Bow church and there are chip mats every 0.1 miles to track your distance. It was a bit twisty, but not overcrowded, and there were a great group of spectators just after the 0.2 mile mat who went wild if you gave them a sweaty high-five, it was worth taking the bend wide just for that!

There are large digital clocks on the course so you can see how much time you have left and, when the hour is up, a hooter sounds and you make your way back to the event villiage, which isn’t very far no matter where you finish.

Start line selfie with the Ultraboost crew

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There’s something mentally challenging about knowing that it doesn’t matter how fast you run, or how much effort you put in, you won’t actually finish any quicker…which is unfortunate because that’s usually how I sweet talk myself to keep moving forwards…

So, what’s good about it?

However fast your friends may be, they will never be able to finish the race before you!
The T-Shirts are pretty good quality and a good length (I hate short t-shirts!)
The medal is chunky if you’re into the bling thing
FREE race day photos – you don’t have to bankrupt yourself if you find a gooden’ (I didnt but ‘ere you go anyway)

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Grenade Carb Killa protein bars are given at the end, none of this apple nonsense
There is no ‘front’ or ‘back’ so you’re never out on your own no matter where you are in the field
There are four start waves if early Sunday mornings aren’t your thing
The course wasn’t over crowded (at least not in my 11:30 wave)
There are chip mats every 0.1 miles to give you an accurate finish distance (although I did weep internally when I missed my final one by 5 seconds)
There are plenty of clocks (four I believe) round the loop so you know how long you have left
They went plastic free on the water – paper cups on the course and cans at the finish (now if only they could get rid of the unnecessary plastic wrapping on the t-shirts…)
I ran past Ted Baker so many times I now know what top I want to buy next 🙂

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What’s not so good about it?

As well organised as it is, I don’t believe in a £40 price tag for anything shorter than a half marathon
The twisty course plays havoc with your GPS
You can’t wear your club vest…
There wasn’t any coconut water left for my wave which I was really disappointed about
I imagine there is a potential risk of dizziness if you’re super fast…but I wouldn’t know so that’s somewhat unconfirmed

It’s a simple idea, it’s a little bit different, it’s well organised, it’s smack bang in the middle of London and they put on a pretty good show. Is it £40 good? Probs not but there are worse things to spend £40 on.

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Runners Connect: An online running coach

On April 4, 2018 By Girl Running CrazyIn General, Reviews2 Comments

When I joined the Clapham Chasers five years ago, I quickly developed a network of friends who love running, and talking about running, as much as I do, and who know the science bit behind making you a faster and more efficient runner. They also like a drink (or seven) so it worked out rather well really.

I’ve been lucky to have people around me who have been incredibly supportive through the highs and the lows, by putting training plans together for me and pacing me to PB’s. However, I can’t help but feel like a burden and, more often than not, I feel like I let them down when I miss my goals (which happens A LOT).

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Recently, I’ve been introduced to Runners Connect who offer runners bespoke online coaching programmes within a community of people who simply love to run. Based on the principle that runners tend to do their best when supported by others, they created a community that connects people with other runners across the globe, to motivate and inspire, however you may be feeling.

How does it work?

Founded in 2011, Runners Connect have a team of expert coaches that help you to train smarter, stay healthy and run faster based on your current running ability and your goals.

There are three options you can choose to get you started:

Just a schedule
- This is the basic package that gives you a customised training schedule without the coaching support, or community access
Team coaching
- The next level up, this offers a custom training plan, plus access to a supportive community and team of coaches to get feedback, answer questions, and help you adjust your schedule
1 on 1 coaching
- This is the premium and most comprehensive package that allows you to work exclusively with one of the coaches. Your coach will write your training plan in 3-4 week blocks which is adjusted based on your feedback

Once you’ve chosen your package, you’re asked to give as much information as possible about your running history, experience, current level of fitness and your goals. The more you can tell them, the better your experience will be. I’ve already learned it’s best to be honest about your current training if you want to get the most out of it, they really don’t judge you at all!

Basically, don’t claim to be like this…

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…if you’re currently running more like this….like me

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Your training plan is built around your preferences, lifestyle, and other commitments. So, if you prefer your long run on a Friday, and you always do weight training on a Monday, your coach will build this into your plan. This is my favourite aspect because my life doesn’t always work to a schedule and I really need that flexibility without feeling like I’m having to compromise.

When you log into your account you’re taken to your dashboard where you’re given your training plan for the week and can upload your activity either manually, or by linking to Strava. You also have the option to add comments if you were feeling good/tired/strong etc which gives the coaches some added insight into how your training is going.

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There’s clear guidance on the pace you should be targeting depending on what type of run is scheduled for the day such as ‘easy’ or general’, and why you should be running at that pace. You also get regular contact from your coach and they soon get in touch if you haven’t been logging your runs to make sure everything is OK (so, no hiding…)

Depending on your membership, you also get access to a ‘newsfeed’ which allows you to see what your fellow runners are up to and what they’re thinking & feeling so you can share your experiences and support each other.

It’s worth having a good look round the site too as there are lots of blog articles and podcasts to listen to on all things running!

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If you’ve found yourself in a bit of a training rut, or are unsure as to how to get fitter or faster or achieve your goals, I can recommend giving this a try. I always find that a good motivational technique for me is to tell other people what my goals are, that way I’m more accountable, and Runners Connect is a great way to do this within a supportive environment.

No matter what your current fitness level is or what you want to achieve, they have the right people to help you get there. I’ve been impressed!

I was invited to try Runners Connect as a guest, as always, all views are my own.

Review: Sole Footbeds

On February 5, 2018 By Girl Running CrazyIn General, Reviews3 Comments

I’ve never worn insoles in my running shoes before, I’ve always been a bit wary of anything that interferes with the running shoes I know and love, but when I was given the opportunity to try out some Sole Footbeds (they’re a Canadian company, I think that’s what they call insoles…) I was intrigued to find out more.

Sole are a peformance footwear specialist and claim they can help minimise your risk of injury. Given I’ve had a fair few injuries over the last 12 months, I thought they would definitely be worth trying out.

The footbeds I tried are the Active Medium, which is part of their signature range, and they’re quite unique in that they’re heat moulded to your feet to give a bespoke fit. After trimming them to fit your trainers (which may not be needed as they come in standard shoe sizes), you pop them in the oven for a couple of minutes and then immediately position them in your trainers and put them on your feet. It’s dead cosy!

In the oven!

The science bit:

The mouldable base layer is orthopaedic and adapts to your foot to give a customised fit. This means the foodbeds can:

Reduce plantar fascia strain
Encourage good alignment of the feet and lower legs
Improve balance and provide natural, shock-absorbing heel support (ideal for someone who literally falls over their own feet, ahem)
Gently lift your arch into its optimal position

These ones are perfect for active types because they have the added benefit of Polygiene odor control technology (no smelly feet), Softec shock-absorbing cushioning (a bouncy feel) and a moisture-wicking topsheet (dry tootsies).

My thoughts:

So far I’ve been impressed with these insoles, my feet have quite high arches so I’ve really noticed the additional support and they’re really comfy. There was a brief moment of panic when I realised I had the oven on wayyyyy too high (watch that cause it’s inadvisable to set your house on fire), but after successfully heating and installing them into my trainers they really do fit like a glove. It’s a bit soon to tell if they will offer added protection against injury but I really them, they gave my trainers a new lease of life, and will be getting another pair when they wear out.

I was kindly given a pair of Sole Footbeds to try out, all views are my own

Reading Half Training Day

On January 9, 2018September 18, 2019 By Girl Running CrazyIn General, ReviewsLeave a comment

Saturday morning was COLD, the kind of cold that made me ignore the offensively early weekend alarm and roll over. But it was also the morning of the Reading Half Training Day so I HAD to get up. Unfortunately my unscheduled alarm-ignoring meant I didn’t have time for porridge and had to make do with breakfast in the car…

We started the morning off with an overview of the day ahead and the race itself, which will be on the 18th March. The Reading Half has been going since 1983 and has since evolved to a rather prestigious race that attracts a wide field of athletes with a pretty magnificent finish in the Madejski Stadium. I haven’t run this one before so I’m really excited to be part of it this year, especially now I know about the secret wine and beer hydration’ station at 8.5 miles (unofficial, obvs). Hey, I ran a marathon drunk so a swig or two of wine will do me no harm whatsoever!

Selfie with the Townsend Twins

Then came the fun bit, a 30 minute strength and cardio workout with the Townsend Twins, who are the official warm up partners for the Reading Half. After loosening up, we were put through our paces with several rounds of exercises including squat jumps, lunges, ski jumps, dead lifts, planks, V sit-ups (yes, ouch), glute bridges, cycle sit-ups and back extensions. It actually got pretty sweaty…and we hadn’t even been for a run yet.

Glute Bridges

After re-hydrating, we then had a session with Ali, one of the official Reading Half pacers, who took us through all the key elements of pacing your perfect race. He had lots of top tips to remember on the day:

Plan ahead and be prepared, especially on race day. You don’t want to turn up late and not know where the toilets are (for the record, it’s unacceptable to pee in the bushes…)
Don’t panic at the start off the race and let adrenaline take over, you’ll only bonk before you finish. Easier said than done that one!
Don’t weave in and out of people, it just wastes energy. I’m definitely guilty of this and it makes a real difference when I have the self control not to do it.
Break the race down into bite-size chunks, instead of thinking of it as one long 13.1 mile run, think of it in sections
- Miles 1-3 – get yourself settled into the race
- Miles 3-11 – keep checking in on yourself to see how you’re feeling and adjust your pace and/or goal accordingly
- Miles 11-13.1 – take it home and bask in the glory

If you’re interested, Reading will be offering pacers at 5 minute intervals from 1:20 all the way up to 2:30 so make sure you latch on to one of them and let them do all the hard work for you (OK, almost all of the hard work, I mean, they don’t offer piggybacks).

Cold, cold cold!

Then it was time to run! After a warm up in the very chilly but sunny air, we were off on a 3 mile loop that took us through the start of the race course in Green Park, and round to the Madejski Stadium where we would be finishing on the track. Unfortunately it was match day, so we couldn’t go in, but we could loiter suspiciously and peak through the gates imagining ourselves crossing the finish line to the roar of the crowds in the stadium!

Blue skies at the Madejski Stadium

Back at base, it was onto the serious business of warm up exercises and post-run stretching. You know, all the things we know we should do but tend to skimp on, or is that just me?? There were a few key things I took from this session:

Before you run:

Loosen tight hamstrings with The Slump Test (a new one on me!):
- Sit on the edge of a table with your legs hanging off and hands behind your back
- Slump your back so you fall slightly forwards with your head down
- With a flexed foot, kick your leg vigorously upwards
- Keep going until they feel looser!

Looks a little odd but it works!

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Another one for the hammys – Heel Kicks. A good way to do this is to stand arms length from a wall and kick vigourously towards the bum with your knees in line
Activate the glutes, yes, every time. Donkey kicks are great for this

After you run:

Make sure you stretch the calves, hamstrings and quads!

We finished with a Q&A and more info on the day itself. In addition to the unofficial beer stop, there will be water stations supplied in pouches every 3 miles. I LOVE the pouches because they are much easier to carry and are less of an injury risk if you accidentally step on one.

Green Park’s Foudry Brook

I thought the Reading Half Training Day was brilliant for both new and experienced runners and I definitely learnt a thing or two about warming up properly!

The Reading Half Marathon is on 18th March and there are still spaces available here if you would like to come and join us. There’s also a January competition to win some running goodies, including some wireless headphones, a foam roller, a Ron Hill LED light High 5 recovery pack, so make sure you enter!

Note: I will be taking part in the Reading Half as a race ambassador, all views are my own.

WeTRAIN: A New Fitness Concept in London

On September 6, 2016September 18, 2019 By Girl Running CrazyIn General, ReviewsLeave a comment

It was hot, muggy and humid at a sweaty Brixton warehouse, in a stifling 31 degree London, when WeTRAIN hosted their WePLAY Launch Party. I wasn’t entirely sure what was in-store, but I was promised an evening of HIIT, Barre and Yoga so I was prepared for a tough workout!

WeTRAIN is a new fitness concept to launch in Clapham and Brixton that brings you a range of classes, from Insanity and HIIT, to Sunrise Vinyasa Flow, Rocket Yoga and even ballet inspired Barre, in small groups of 8. They call it ‘The Shared Personal Training Co’.

The idea is that you mix socialising with your workout to give you a personal training experience, without the extravagant cost or commitment of a series of sessions. You’re free to go to any session you fancy, when you fancy, and just pay as you go. Just make sure you book first as I have a feeling this is about to take off!

When we arrived we were greeted with Strawberry Serotonin Smoothies and Energy Chickpea Blondies courtesy of The Thinking Kitchen which was just the kickstart we needed (and both tasted AMAZING, I need that blondie recipe!)

I started off with a Power Yoga session and quickly realised my stiff limbs have been missing their weekly downward dogs and pigeons! We went through a series of postures and stretches, with hip openers and strength poses, before a very welcome savasana.

This was followed by a Barre class. What’s Barre? Well, I didn’t know either, but it’s a mix of ballet, pilates and yoga, all set to a hip hop soundtrack, I loved it! The class was made even better by the instructor, Hillary Cannon, who has a refreshing approach to teaching where twerking midway through Fiddy’s Candy Shop is not only acceptable, but actively encouraged…

It challenges you by working each muscle to the point of exhaustion, in a full body workout, to build tone, core stability and strength. Think push ups, planks, tricep dips, plies, clam shells, and everything else that hurts like hell.

There were actually quite a few exercises I was ordered to do by my physio last time I was injured with my lazy arse (true story), so I really think it’s the perfect session for a runner. Don’t expect not to wake up the next day in a world of pain though, as Hilary says ‘pulses hurt like a mother f**ker!’

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As the classes were small, it was easy to follow what was going on and the instructors could make sure we were doing the moves correctly, always helpful when muscles start to tire and form drops (and, err, what’s a plie again?!)

After the oh-so sweaty workouts, we re-hydrated with (ahem) prosecco and re-fueled with salad tubs from Gym Bites whilst WeTRAIN CEO, Adrian Mooney, explained to us a little more about how WeTRAIN works.

Finally, GB triple jumper Julien Allwood talked to us about how WeTRAIN donate a percentage of their fees to the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, a charity that empowers disadvantaged young people, so you can be sure your workout is doing more more than just keeping you fit!

I genuinely think WeTRAIN is a great concept and a welcome addition to the London fitness scene, there are even plans to expand their offering into other areas of London next year.

For people who are looking for a bit of flexibility, and some bang-on-trend classes, without the monthly spend commitments, this is definitely for you. I’ve already done another Yoga and Barre class and I’m booked into Fit for Function (with the lovely Elle from Keep it simpELLE) and, yep, more Barre!

Classes are just £12 a session and with only 8 people (max) per class, you can be sure you’re getting a much more personal experience than in a gym.

I was invited to the WeTRAIN launch party to try out some of the sessions on offer. All views are my own.

Review: Best’s Bootcamp

On May 1, 2016May 1, 2016 By Girl Running CrazyIn General, ReviewsLeave a comment

I always have good intentions of giving my tired limbs a whole week off exercise after running a marathon, but I’m shamelessly addicted to sweat drenched workouts so, when I was invited to be one of the very first people to try out London’s hottest new bootcamp since Barry’s on Thursday, I really couldn’t say no!

When I turned up to Best’s Bootcamp’s brand new swanky studio in Charing Cross, it was clear this was going to be a tough workout, the trainer’s were all ripped and the studio, complete with DJ, looked serious…perhaps not the gentle return to exercise my body had in mind!

The dimmed room is lined with 22 treadmills facing floor length mirrors, with each having a workout station behind it so you can switch between running, and strength based exercises throughout the class. I was given a treadmill (a treadmill complete with a personal fan no less) to start on, so my legs would just have to deal with what ever was coming their way!

Named ‘Tread Army’, we were given the choice of starting on 8, 10 or 12 kph which steadily increased by increments of 2 throughout the 7 minute warmup, before I knew it I was up to 14 and hoping I wouldn’t fly off!

We then switched to the floor station where we were now the ‘WorkerBs’ for 7 minutes of squats, lunges and jumps on a soft box which, handily, you can flip over for a choice of 2 heights, I took the lower option, don’t judge me!

The studio has a unique Trainer Cam on the wall so, wherever you are in the room, you can always see what you’re supposed to be doing and focus on form rather than straining your neck to see what’s going on. I though this was a great addition because, with just 60 seconds or so per exercise, you don’t want to waste any time.

Already exhausted, I was back in the Tread Army again, increasing both speed and incline for some lung busting hill work and speed intervals, the legs were coping well. Back on the floor we performed various kettlebell moves to work on the arms, back and glutes, I’m not used to kettlebells so this was hard!

The final sweat session on the treadmill involved more speedwork and hills, but also involved some downhill running (who knew treadmills could go downhill?!) This felt really odd to me and I couldn’t quite get used to it so I went back to zero (I kept the speed the same though, I promise!). We then moved on to the last section of floor work to attack the abs, and attack we did with a mix of weighted sit ups and planks.

Aaaandd finally the 50 minute workout was over, the very first Best’s Bootcamp class complete – ouch! On leaving the studio we were treated to a post workout shake from the Blend Bar. I chose the Berry Blast which was a mix of strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, almond milk and vanilla whey, perfect recovery, it was delicious!

The face says it all!

I thought Best’s Bootcamp was a pretty fantastic workout, intense, tough, sweaty and a good mix of cardio, strength training and HIIT. To make the most of it, I would recommend having a good base level of fitness beforehand or you might struggle, but otherwise it’s a workout that delivers on everything you could want from a bootcamp, with some pretty top notch equipment, in a stylish studio, and changing rooms stocked with Kiehls, hair dryers and GHDs. And how did I feel the next day? Errr, it hurt, but that’s the only way I would have it!

Best’s Bootcamp is just a 2 minute walk from both Charing Cross and Embankment station and opens on 9th May, with individual classes priced at £20. I highly recommended you check it out, I have a feeling it’s going to be very popular very soon! #BeYourBest

Many thanks to Marcel Grabowski Photography for all the great photos and Best’s and Action PR for having me. I was invited as a guest to try out Best’s Bootcamp. As always, all opinions are my own.

F45 Training. I’ll be Batman

On November 25, 2015August 7, 2017 By Girl Running CrazyIn ReviewsLeave a comment

So, I’m on a little running ban. No running, no Strava, not even a peek. Most people might take the opportunity to put their feet up for a while but I’ve never been good at keeping still, so I’ve been looking for some new challenges to keep me out of trouble this week.

This morning I went to an F45 class at a new studio in London Bridge. I had no idea what F45 was, but apparently it’s the latest fitness craze in Australia which launched in the UK a couple of months ago. The celebs love it (obvs) and a quick google search told me the guys look like this…so I thought it was worth getting up at 6am for.

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They describe F45 as ‘the most innovative, challenging and systemised team training workout in the world’, what that means is you get a high intensity workout combing strength and conditioning, as well as cardio. There are 10 different styles of programmes which they mix up so each workout is unique.

Turning up at the studio, I was greeted by a friendly lady who checked me in and set me up with a heart rate monitor. When you become a member you get your own, but as a guest I was to be Batman for the morning (seriously, I was Batman, best morning ever). The monitors link to screens in the studio so you can see what everyone’s heart rate is and %max, I thought this was great as you can see exactly how hard you’re working and whether you’re slacking compared to everyone else!

The classes are quite small, there were 7 in mine, and with 2 instructors on the floor they can give everyone individual attention and even remember your name (sadly, they didn’t call me Batman to my face), it made a refreshing change to the usual packed classes you can get.

There were 9 stations in total, you spend 2 minutes at each station doing 45 minutes work and 15 seconds rest before having a 2 minute break and doing the circuit again. We started with a quick demo of each station and a warm up then got started.

I started on the rowing machine, which I was happy about because I’m an expert at those, then moved on to reverse burpees with plyometric jumps, errr, what was that again? Luckily each exercise is demonstrated on the screen in front so you don’t look stupid in case you forget, didn’t make me any better at it though!

Next was hills on the bike, followed by some kind forward leaning squat which made 45 seconds feel a lot longer, the 15 second break was very welcome…

Next up was weighted lunges with shoulder bags, floor ladders with kettle bells at the end and then wheelbarrows, the ultimate team exercise that makes you feel like you’re back at school sports day. I was always rubbish at school sports day, today was no different!

Finally we had some bunny hops over benches (high benches, more like hare hops…) and weighted sit ups. Then we got a full 2 minute break before going round again, yayyyy!

The screens round the studio show a countdown clock so you know how long you’ve got left of work or rest and you can keep an eye on your heart rate. By the end I was pretty exhausted and my Batman heart rate percentage indicated I was still alive and worked hard.

I was genuinely impressed with everything, the workout, the studio and the team were all fantastic and, whilst I’m sure some of the other classes are much busier, I enjoyed being in a small team. The instructors took the time to help you, and modify the exercises for your needs, which was really helpful for my runner limbs that don’t always do what I tell them to.

This morning I was at an Athletica class, which is slightly more cardio focused, but you can also go to a Romans class with more weights based exercises, or a Hollywood class which I’m sure is full of surprises!

Currently there’s a studio at London Bridge but I believe there will be another opening in Clapham soon which is perfect for me! You can get a 7 day free trial on their website so it’s definitely worth a go, I’ll be heading back for a Romans class when I’ve recovered, I just hope I can be Batman again.

Barry’s Bootcamp – London East

On October 16, 2015October 16, 2015 By Girl Running CrazyIn ReviewsLeave a comment

I’d heard of Barry’s Bootcamp, they call it ‘The Best Workout in the World’. I’d heard it was popular with the A Listers over in Hollywood and New York. I’d also heard it was pretty tough. But hey, I ran 37 miles round the Lake District, I ran down a fell mountain in high winds and rain, I’ve pulled myself out of the darkest places just to cross a finish line – I’m tougher than anything Barry and his Bootcamp could throw at me. Aren’t I?! I thought it was time to give it a try.

On Tuesday I headed over to the London East studio with a couple of girls from work, we I was really looking forward to it! I have to admit, I didn’t really know what would be involved but, checking out the website beforehand, I was a little concerned that the first question on the FAQ’s was ‘Will I die?’ but, really, how hard can a 60 minute workout be?!

When we got there (an hour early, we were a little keen!) so had plenty of time to have a look around and check out the selection of post-workout protein drinks available from the Fuel Bar.

There’s only one room, it’s not a gym, it’s just one room where the bootcamp takes place with a row of 20 treadmills and 20 floor stations. When you book your place (which you have to do pretty fast!) you choose to start on the treadmill, or on the floor, we chose the treadmill.

It looks swanky. The lights are low with floor to ceiling mirrors on each wall, the trainers are all ripped and the other fitness fanatics all look like they know what they’re doing. Still, I know how to work a treadmill and I remembered to pack my favourite lycra so I didn’t feel too intimidated! Our trainer was Sandy, Sandy is is responsible for bringing Barry’s to London, so he must be good…

You’re assigned a workstation at reception so there’s no fighting over your spot. I hopped on treadmill 2 and waited for instructions. We started with a warm up and were given 3 different choices for beginners, intermediates and advanced. It’s running on a treadmill, clearly I’m an intermediate verging on advanced, right?!

Barry’s treadmills are set at miles per hour rather than the usual kilometer per hour and we were given the choice to start on 6, 7, or 8. 7 mph is 8.30mm (not that I could do that kind of maths at the time but I started on that pace anyway!). Over the course of the next 8-9 minutes Sandy had me working up to 9 mph (errr, 6.40mm) on an incline. I wasn’t sure I was intermediate anymore. Warm up over then…

We then moved onto our floor spot – Tuesday is ‘leg and butt’ day so we were in for 8-9 minutes of weighted lunges and squats. This wouldn’t be so bad but the lightest weights they had left were 7.5kg, and I needed 2 of them! Jess managed to get some 6kg ones, I didn’t like her anymore.

We were then straight back on the treadmill for another round of fast paced running, with the incline going up to 10% my pace dropped to somewhere inbetween the beginner and intermediate pace. It was 8 minutes of solid hard work and I only made it up to 8.5 mph this time. Back on the floor we did some weighted side lunges and box jumps before jumping back on the treadmill for round 3 (where I managed 9.3 mph without falling off!)

By the end we had done 3 sets on the treadmill and 3 sets of leg and bum floor work. Honestly? I was knackered. When we headed back upstairs our pre-ordered protein shakes were waiting for us, I went for Cool Runnings, a blend of pineapple juice, coconut milk and vanilla whey, it tasted pretty damn good.

So, it turns out Barry’s Bootcamp is actually a bloody tough workout, the runs are pretty fast paced and the floor work is brutal. As with everything, you get out what you put in, but I think you would struggle without a good level of fitness beforehand. When I woke up on Wednesday I was quite pleased not to ache as much as I thought I would but, after a morning sat at my desk I quickly changed my mind…my legs were suffering post-Barry’s depression. However, I loved it and I want to go back!

Whilst it’s pretty swanky, unsurprisingly, it also has a pretty swanky price tag. For a one off class it’s £20. There are savings to be made by buying packs of 10 if you have a spare £170, you can even buy a pack of 50 for £700 but, either way, it’s quite pricey. Throw in a fiver for a post workout protein shake and you’ve easily spent £25 before walking out the door.

Is it worth it? I’m definitely going to give it another go, maybe on abs day…

I went to Barry’s Bootcamp as a paying customer. All views are my own.

Re-Fueling On-The-Go

On October 5, 2015October 5, 2015 By Girl Running CrazyIn Reviews4 Comments

When I come back from a run, I’m often tired, sweaty and a little achy. All I really want is a hot shower and and a little sit down with a cup of tea – the last thing I feel like doing is eating a meal. One thing I really struggle with is trying to eat after a run, especially if it’s a particularly long or tough session. Ironically, I seem to eat much more on days I don’t run than those I do! However, I’m fully aware that the quickest way to help my body recover from whatever torture I put it through, is to refuel with healthy food within 30 minutes. Easier said than done though…

My latest trick is to whiz up a handful of spinach, a frozen banana and scoop of whey protein with some milk, it tastes like a creamy milkshake but with loads of good stuff! I find that, because it’s a drink rather than solid food, it goes down a lot easier and will tide me over until my appetite makes an appearance.

Whilst I often prefer to make something fresh from scratch, my life can be pretty hectic and it isn’t always practical. If it’s race day, or my run finishes away from home, a couple of hours can fly by before I even think about food. Really not ideal.

Recently, a new dairy-based protein drink, Upbeat, came on my radar and, after checking out the labels (a bottle of sugar is not my idea of recovery), I thought it could be the answer to some of my post-run problems. It’s whey protein based (from milk), so helps with muscle repair, and comes in 3 fruity flavours and chocolate orange (definitely worth a try!). Low fat, around half the sugar of other well known smoothie brands (you know the ones I mean), and less than 150 calories, it’s easy to grab a bottle on the run (or post run as it were…)

Yesterday I ran the Bournemouth Half Marathon and, as I pushed myself much harder than I would on a training run, I ended up feeling a bit sick at the end. It’s not new to me, my body concentrates its efforts in pumping blood to my muscles rather than my stomach and I just don’t feel hungry, I’m not one of those people who can delve straight into the goody bag for snacks no matter how good they are! I thought it would be a great opportunity to give Upbeat a try for a post-race protein boost.

The Science Bit – 250ml (Chocolate Orange Flavour):

150 Cals
2.6g Fat
20g Protein
9.2g Sugar (compared to 25g for the same size bottle of a well known fruit smoothie)

Yesterday I tried the Choc Orange one, which was a bit like a decadent milkshake, but I’ve also tried the Strawberry, and Raspberry & Blueberry flavours which taste a bit more like a fruity yoghurt drink. Personally, I think they’re a convenient, simple way of re-fueling post run when you don’t have the time (or appetite!) for something more complicated, and they taste pretty great too! I’ll definitely be keeping a couple in my fridge for my next race.

I know some people have an issue with protein supplements but, personally, I find it an easy way to give my body what it needs after a tough session. Running causes micro tears in muscle fibres which need repairing and, if you’re anything like me, you need that to happen quite quickly if you want to be back on the run within 24 hours. Protein isn’t just for body builders, us runners need it too!

You can find Upbeat in the chilled sections of larger supermarkets and Holland & Barrett. Upbeat kindly gave me some vouchers and merchandise to try out their products but all views are my own.

Review: FLEXISEQ Sport

On July 3, 2015July 3, 2015 By Girl Running CrazyIn ReviewsLeave a comment

During marathon training I tend ache a lot, funny that hey! I push myself through run after run with aching, stiff legs and weary limbs because it just has to be done – you can’t run a marathon without putting in the work right? I find that the more miles I run, the more I tend to get sore knees as well as achey muscles and I get really stiff when I sit at my desk for most of the day. Of course it eases off if I don’t run…but I like to run!

Recently, I was kindly sent a sample of FLEXISEQ Sport gel to try out – a product that claims to help with joint pain and stiffness. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical, but intrigued, it’s a product that’s endorsed by Saracens Rugby Club and they must have knee problems all the time so I was keen to give it a go. If this product actually helped relieve my stiff knees it could be just the thing I need, especially as I’m training for my first Ultramarathon in August!

What is it?

FLEXISEQ Sport is a gel that lubricates cartilage and damaged surfaces in the joints to help with pain and stiffness – they even say it’s proven to be as effective as a prescription painkiller, I think that’s quite a claim! Most importantly, in my opinion, it’s drug free.

Generally I’m not a fan of painkillers or painkilling gels – if something in your body is giving you pain there’s usually a reason for it and painkillers just mask the problem – you could make it worse. This kind of product appeals much more to me so I was looking forward to trying it.

The science bit

When you apply the gel to the joint, microscopic spheres (Sequessome vesicles they’re called) are absorbed into the skin and into the joint to replenish the depleted layer of lubricants that are usually found on healthy cartilage. I guess it’s like a 2nd layer of lubrication for the joint.

How do you use it?

The benefits are cumulative so they recommend you apply the gel twice a day – it doesn’t have a strong odor and isn’t sticky so fairly easy to apply, be warned though, it feels very cold when you put it on in the morning!

I used it on my knees, but you can use it anywhere you have stiff joints, you simply spread the gel over the soft tissue area in a circle around the knee cap, leave it to dry and you’re good to go.

Does it work?

I’ve been using the gel for 2/3 weeks now (although I haven’t remembered to use it every single day) and I have to say, I haven’t had the usual stiffness in my knees I often get from running despite running a 15 miler at the weekend. It’s been quite nice not to have to make excuses for taking the lift down the stairs at work! That said, my mileage hasn’t been as high as it has in previous months so I can’t give it the full seal of approval for heavy training, but I will most definitely continue to use it for the next few months. If you have trouble with stiff joints I would definitely recommend trying it!

Many thanks to FLEXISEQ Sport for giving me a chance to try their new product! All views are my own.