Things scarier than Ironman: Swans, Parkrun PBs & Getting Weighed

So I might have entered an Ironman. Another one. 

I would tell my husband I did it accidentally but as there are about 20 steps to entering an Ironman online I don’t think he’ll believe me. It’s about as likely as accidentally getting a cat that hates bald men so your husband has to wear a hat indoors for 6 months to stop the stealth attacks … but that’s a story for another time …

However, my daughter totally believed me without a shred of suspicion when I told her we were going on holiday to Sweden. And she was quite surprised to learn that there was a race in the middle. 

My husband - who actually knows me - was not. It doesn’t mean he’s going to pass up the free holiday though. 

Ironman is a BIG adventure. This will be my 3rd but it doesn’t mean it’s less scary for that. After my sea swims or as I like to call them, the flail around in a briny liquidiser, the thought of another sea swim isn’t filling me with confidence. 

Therefore to make me feel better, I have compiled a list of things that are more scary than an Ironman:

• Swans - feathery beaky bastards. I’m fairly sure that is how I am going to die; being eaten by a swan. In fact I think it will likely be the specific mean swan that lives on the canal outside Leamington Spa. That swan REALLY hates me.

• When your boss says ‘can I have a quick word’. This NEVER ends well. 

• When your car starts making a weird new noise. An expensive sounding noise. 

• Those ghost videos on TikTok where you’re looking at something in the distance and some horrible apparition pops up at the front of the screen. Like my reflection in the phone screen first thing in the morning. 

• A brown enveloped letter from the tax man. It’s never a tax rebate is it?

• Parkrun PB attempt - horrific. Max heart rate … feeling sick. Horrible. There will be tears, bogies and feeling like my eyeballs are going to drop out. 

• Getting on the scales. Yuck. 

• MOT day for the car. It’s going to cost me but how much ..? Race entry cost or mortgage payment cost? Or WORSE … Ironman entry cost.

• Pets being ill. Is it cancer? Some horrible feline HIV? Oh no. Mr Pickles is just sulking because I moved the litter tray 1 inch to the left. So that’s an £80 vet bill. Thanks Mr Pickles. 

• A 3.8km sea swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a marathon. On the same day. Terrifying. A gigantic medal, free cola and pick n mix on the course? Absolutely. Sign me up. I mean it’s not like I’ll break some ribs or get horrific chafing is it? Oh. 

Bugger. See you in Sweden.

Coventry Way 40 Mile Run: Goopy Mud, The Predator & Gigantic Gnomes

This event is an excuse for me to run all day fuelled by pick n mix, chat to everybody I see, enjoy the Warwickshire countryside and get treated to a hot meal at the end. And all for the bargain price of about thirty quid. 

It's always at the start of April so it's off the cards if I'm racing a Spring marathon (although I may have used it as my final long run once or twice!) but it's generally a lovely pootle on some decent tracks and a paddle through the bogs. 

Despite entering the event 6 months previously, April had crept up on me. I had a moment of panic the week before thinking that my longest run leading up to it had been 12 miles. Then I remembered the 20 miles I'd run at a Big Bear event 2 months ago. 

Yep. Totally counts.

In line with my MASSIVE ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS I'd also ordered a brand new ASICS FujiTrail run pack for the event. My ancient pack had pretty much fallen apart and it didn’t fit right any more after multiple washes which were needed after having been dropped on the floors of portaloos, covered in mud and worse and generally abused. It had had a good innings but I was concerned that using it was practically germ warfare and that it was going to reach sentience faster than ChatGPT.

So I’d gone online and treated myself to an ASICS one. It had come with 2 soft flasks (I normally use a run bladder) and I liked the idea of being able to see how much fluid I was drinking and had left. Maybe I'd be a convert. Plus if the race went to hell, I could fill them with cider from one of the multiple pubs I'd be passing.

Just to cement home the idea that I was super-organised, I’d also ordered some new trail shoes. I loved my ASICS FuijiTrabuco SKY but I’d lost the insoles while using them for a swimrun event and I wasn’t sure how comfy they’d be for 40 miles without insoles. For 12 miles they were fine but 40 miles? Also they had holes in the sides. But that's just ventilation, right?

As it turned out, the new shoes didn’t turn up in time so I so dug out the old shoes. They were a bit muddy. Banged them together. Sorted. Mostly. Some of the mud fell off anyway. 

It had been raining pretty much non-stop for the last 2 weeks. It didn't bode well for a course which is 90% trails and about 10% underwater even in dry weather (Corley Moor, I'm looking at you.) As I drove towards the start, I passed a river which had flooded its banks. It looks like today was not going to be a day for dry feet. Luckily, my foot modelling days are behind me, Even the most niche market wouldn't want to see mine.

Despite all my good intentions and because the rule of the universe dictates that the closer you live to a race start, the later you'll arrive, I rocked up after all of the car park spaces had been taken and not long before the race start was due to close. Luckily, they're pretty chilled about start times and there was even time for a loo visit and a snack check. Yep, the snacks are all edible.

I've run this event probably 4 or 5 times and had managed to get lost every time. Once you get lost, you kind of glue that turning into your head. And then the next time you run the route, you're like “Yep. I definitely turn here.” So my 40 mile route turns into a 42 mile route complete with u-turns and strange little wiggles where I've corrected my route.

There was a new starting point this year. Rather than starting from the Queens Head, the race started from The Heart of England Social Club. I'd downloaded the new route to my watch last night and was confident I could navigate my way around the changes to the course.

I turned right out of the social club and down the road. Where I was promptly shouted at by the the marshal for going the wrong way. Oh. Whoops.

Testing how awake the marshals are. Cough. Yeah. They passed the test.

I did a complete u-turn and ran back up the hill.

Spring had definitely arrived in Warwickshire. There were primroses along the verges and violets on the banks and the daffodils were waving their yellow heads in the breeze. In a month or so there will be bluebells in all of the copses and then winter would definitely be gone.

But clearly the flowers thrived in an aquatic climate. It had been the wettest March in 40 years and you could tell. The trails were an absolute mudfest and the muddiest I've ever known the route to be. It was Glastonbury without the portaloos and hippies. Mississippi mud pie without the edibility. Peppa Pig would have been in heaven. 

The mud was also a constant reminder that the Poo Fairy hadn't visited today. This is never a good sign before a race. Or during a race. A 40 mile run without a change of clothes was not the place for a toilet disaster. I didn't even have a spare sock.

However, despite my concerns, I felt really good. I was in a good mood, a day of running lay ahead of me, my pockets were full of pick'n'mix. Life was good. I even ran most of the hills. Unheard of in an ultra. Some sections were just not runnable as the mud was so deep and slippery, but the rest … it was good! 

I was having a grand old day. The benefits of this race being so local was that I was seeing lots of friends from various clubs and events. Everyone I passed had a smile or a friendly greeting. It was lovely. The sun even threatened to come out from behind a cloud at one point. I wasn't sure this was a good idea. We were all so covered in mud, we'd be baked in place like the terracotta warriors. 

There was a lot of wildlife about and I heard a woodpecker in the woods. These always sound – to me -  a bit like the noise that Predator from the Predator films makes. I mean, I might be overthinking this but that's not something I really want to meet in the woods. Particularly not if there's no chopper coming to save me. Although I was wearing so much mud, I appeared to be absolutely nailing the mud scene in the film. 

And I swear - hand on heart - that I heard a bird whistling a happy hardcore tune. I'm partial to a bit of happy hardcore, particularly for speed sessions and for throwing me back down memory lane, driving my trusty gold Metro around the lanes of Dorset. Anyhow. Definitely a happy hardcore tune. I'm fairly sure I wasn't having auditory hallucinations and assumed that maybe this remote field had been the site of a rave at some point. Maybe it was a delusion brought on by too much pick'n'mix.

The aid stations were lovely and I cheerfully availed myself of the snacks. The tuna rolls were perfect for ultra running and I had 3 of these, a beef and mustard roll, a cookie, a custard crème, some wine gums and an orange slice. Perfect fare for a snackish runner. I had all of this over the 40 miles … not all at once despite the temptation to fill my pockets with goodies for the drive home. I'd filled my soft bottle with MX concentrate and was taking a salt tablet every so often. Life was good. And full of good things to eat.

I started an audiobook that I had seen recommended on TikTok which meant it could be any type of weird and wonderful. I turned on Gone to See the River Man and was swept up in a tale of sacrifice, child murder and gore. Not something I'd usually listen to but the tale was compelling and disgusting and beautifully written. The miles ticked by. 

Every now and then I'd see a friend. I saw Garry, ran with him for a bit and had a chat which was good. Saw the lovely and very accomplished Liz and ran with her for a bit. It was SO nice to have a catch up. Saw Spencer, Mark and Steve Turvey and Damian from my lovely running club, Northbrook AC. Had a chat with Sophie and Paul Albon of Big Bear Events and joined them for a section and at Brinklow I saw lots of the super people from Rugby Tri on their incredible cheer station! I had been looking forward to seeing them and this cheer station for MILES! It was a real motivator and so nice to see everyone! Had a quick chat to Martin, the incredibly funny author of 'Accidental Ironman: How Triathlon Ruined My Life'. Totally didn't recognise him with his hat on – sorry Martin! You'd clearly be an EXCELLENT spy. 

Stood up at the edge of someone's garden in one of the more remote sections of the course were two ENORMOUS garish garden gnomes. They were about the size of a 6 year old child and enough to give even the stoutest heart nightmares. Sod burglar alarms and guard dogs. Just get yourself down to the local garden centre and ask for two nightmare gnomes. 

 

There were lots of dogs on the trail today, taking advantage of the brief flashes of sunshine between the stormy clouds. I took advantage of as many strokes and pats as I could and was rewarded with a few muddy pawprints and doggy kisses. Perfect. 

I turned a corner and saw a white pile on the floor which looked rather like the piles of ash in Red Dwarf that Lister tastes before realising it's his former crewmates. I recognise this! It's flour left by the Hash House Harriers after one of their hare and hounds runs … and it reminded me. I really did need to get along to one of their beer runs soon! Love a good hash run! 

My husband also runs this event. He gets a 2 or 3 hour head start on me and I usually tend to overtake him in one of the fields just before the big aid station whereupon he smiles and tries desperately not to tell me to f**k off as I sail past him waving like a lunatic.This year I saw him at about 15 miles in, just past the aid station. He was clearly having a good run this year!

This run should have been tough and tiring and grotty and grumpy. The conditions underfoot were so clotted and muddy and flooded which slowed everything down, but today everything just worked. I had no niggle or blisters. The kit was great, the legs felt fantastic and everything was good. My prep had been poor but everything had come together to give me a lovely run. I didn't even need the marble rule today.

The parts that I usually find tough on this course; the never-ending canal section and the housing estates flew past. Everything just ticked past and the running felt easy and comfortable. Like it almost never does on ultras. Even with the ankle-deep mud and slipping around, I was having a lovely time. What horrors did the universe have hidden? Karma has to balance, right? Am I going to be involved in some dreadful weasel attack? I could see the headlines now “Plucky Ultra Runner Completes Race with Leg missing After Rabid Ferret Attack”. Or maybe I'd fall into the canal and be found 3 days later, bloated and floating along with my mouth full of pick'n'mix and my trainers looted by dog walkers.

But things carried on, mostly uneventfully. I got lost about 6 times, mostly on the old bits which I really should know by now but I turned around and got back on course. It was practically tradition by now that I get lost at least twice. Bonus miles. Didn't have to pay for these.

I saw someone I’d run the course with previously, just past the canal. Not only was he doing it again, he was doing it on crutches!! Wow! That's pretty impressive!!

I saw Spencer, Damien and Mark from Northbrook about 5 miles from the end of the course absolutely storming along with a great pace. It was great to see them and see how fresh they all looked. 

I had a run with Liz and the miles flew past. It's always lovely having a catch up when you haven't seen someone for a while and Liz had had some wonderful adventures and it was so nice hearing about them. The fields and trails flew away under our feet as we talked about pst adventures and adventures planned. We slowed a little coming up to the hill and you know that feeling when you're feeling good and just want to fly? Liz recognised it. You can go if you want, she said. So I did. I love the days when running just feels effortless and they're not to be wasted when they come along.

After Corley Moor, I always love the look of the Red Lion pub. There are usually people outside drinking nice cold pints and I'm at that point of the event where it would be nice to just sit down for a moment and enjoy a drink. But as it's 3 miles to go, I never stop. I just wish I could.

I ran on up the hill, down the familiar winding trails … and then I get the point where I can't quite remember which path to take. Luckily today there was someone to point out the hedge gap. It's a stile too … never a huge amount of fun with 39 miles in the legs (the course is a little bit long plus the bonus getting-lost miles). As soon as I see the signs for the caravan park, I know I'm practically back...

...although today I had The Fear. The Fear that as the course had been changed a bit this year and the end was different, it would be a bit longer. Not something you really want to worry about at mile 39 and change. 

I ran down the hill, passing a road closure for an accident – luckily everyone was fine! - and heading towards what I HOPED was the finish. There was a diversion off the usual course as I'd feared and I hopped into a field and around the field edge and popped out the other side onto a main road. 

Hang on. I recognise this road. Finally, the final half mile! I put on a bit of speed, passing the duck pond and turning left up a hill – which I had tried incorrectly to run DOWN first thing this morning – and in sight of the social club and the end. 

I presented myself to the table whereupon someone – after a bit of a chat – peered at the time on a digital alarm-style clock on the time and wrote my time and number down and presented me with a ticket for a drink and for a dinner which I promptly swapped for a cup of coffee and jacket potato with cheesy beans. And 2 slices of chocolate cake. Seemed a fair swap to me.

Scoffed the food in record time and went to chill out with my Northbrook buddies whereupon Spencer promptly talked me into running the Hilly Hundred which I had avoided for 7 years due to passing out and having my arse eaten by ants last time. (Hilly Hundred Race Report: Ant Arse )

After an ultra marathon, delirium had clearly set in as doing the Hilly Hundred sounded a lovely idea and I agreed and set off back to find my car which I had parked half a mile away to find I'd left the headlights on all day. 

Happy with 7hrs 41 and 1st lady. And the car started first time. 

Ride London 100 2022: Still Got Lost & Jumping on the Pain Train & New Friends

There’s something about cycling events and absolutely horrific alarm clock times. Today’s alarm time was 0230hrs alarm. Dreadful.

 

I hadn’t wanted to leave my bike in a car next to the road all night, so I had to try and manoeuvre my bike and kit into the back of my car without waking up any of the neighbours or offending them with my creative swearing as I trapped my fingers in various painful ways.

 

I’d booked the car park at the last minute, so I was driving towards it hoping it wasn’t blocked by the multiple Ride London road closures. I had no clue what I would do then. I didn’t think Londoners took well to ancient Skodas dumped in their leafy streets very kindly. It would probably result in a massive fine as well as the arm and leg I was having to pay for Congestion Charge and Emission charges.

 

Luckily, the car park was easy to find and no road closures blocked me and even better, it

turned out that it was only a mile from the start of the ride. Easy peasy, right?

 

I parked up and dashed up to the car park kiosk. I clearly looked like I was about to dampen the concrete car park floor as the kindly car park man let me use his loo. Bonus. This also meant I could avoid the portaloos at the start. AND there was toilet paper. Today was starting well.

 

Bike set up and ready to go, I joined a gang of cyclists just leaving the underground car park to find the start. Hooray! Our adventure was starting! We all set off in a confident group only to find ourselves in a dead-end street. Who’s navigating here?? Someone should have been navigating? We all just follow each other, right?

We got ourselves turned around and headed back in the opposite direction and found a flow of cyclists, all numbered up heading in the same direction. Cycling over Westminster bridge at 0530hrs was amazing. London was so still and quiet and there was hardly a car in sight! Not even an Uber on the pavement with the hazard lights flashing! Weird.

 

Not like London at all. No horns beeping, footsteps on the pavements, noise from the speakers of the tourist buses or taxi drivers swearing! Peaceful and calm in the morning light except for the tick-tick-tick of bike wheels.

 

Navigation after the bridge was simple. The start was in Parliament Square, so I just needed to aim for Big Ben. Even I couldn’t miss that, right?

And neither could the other thousands of cyclists who were all tightly packed into the most enormous start funnel I’d ever seen. I got into the queue. And stopped. And stopped. And stopped. The funnel was about a mile long! Who would have thought it took so long to get people over a start line?

 

Finally, we were under Blackfriars bridge and the start gantry was in sight. But it was still another half an hour before we actually reached it. And of course, despite the preparation that everyone had, there were still people weaving around all over the place trying to clip in or stopping because they’d lost their friend or had dropped a snack and couldn’t possibly leave without it.

 

I went off like a rocket the first 10 miles but it was SO exciting. Gangs of cyclists flying past so I’d hop on a quick train of bikes and we’d all go off in a rush for a mile or so then we’d get split up going around people and the group would dissolve, so I’d hop on the next train. Brilliant fun.

 

The central London part passed quickly with all of the fun and excitement, but I did notice that the grey roads and underpasses were surprisingly hilly! I didn’t realise quite how bumpy London is - particularly the A12!

 

But before long we were out in the countryside between the high hedges and sunny fields of Essex. This year’s ride London Essex was deemed quite flat - it certainly didn’t have the Leith Hill or Box Hill of Ride London Surrey but there weren’t very many flat parts – it was quite rolling. No real hills but no flat bits either.

 

I popped in at the ‘Welfare Station’ at mile 30 for a water bottle top up. Well I hoped it was a drinks station … a ‘Welfare’ could mean anything from counselling to bandages to a cuddle with a dog! Luckily it was the drinks I’d hoped for so grabbed some hydration tablets and water. Was told “Ooh first woman!’ by an excited attendant but I said “Nope! Just the first woman that’s stopped!”

 

I hopped back on the bike and got the next few miles under my tyres.

There were a lot of marshals who had a range of different states of excitement for their jobs. There were sections where they were all on their phones and sitting disinterestedly on walls to parts where the marshals were more excited than the cyclists and cheering and shouting support to each rider! The enthusiastic marshals were a delight! You HAD to smile when someone cheered for you like this!

 

I stopped for a snack just after mile 40. Despite the large numbers in the sportive, there were large sections when I was cycling on my own and on absolutely clear roads without another cyclist. And that was boring. I could have ridden around Warwickshire for the same experience. And without a 0230hrs start!

 

I finished my snack – and my sulk - and hopped back onto my bike, but when I went to push off, a gang of about 200 bikes came past. And past. And past.

 

Typical.

 

I waited and waited and waited for a space to pull out. It was like the A30 … but with more lycra.

 

Aid station at Mile 53, I parked the bike and went to refill my drinks bottle. It seemed a small aid station until I rounded the corner and there where tents and tents and gazebos of snack, bananas, gels and all sorts! Like a temporary cycling festival!

 

I grabbed some crisps and a banana and refilled the bottle and realised that my feet felt like ice. Despite the sunny start it was quite windy and the sky was cloudy. I took my shoes off and massaged my toes in an attempt to get some bloodflow back into them. Ouch! Cold feet are miserable.

 

I started chatting to a lady in the gazebo. This tiny little gazebo felt like the only spot in the entire aid station that was out of the wind. Her husband joined her and we talked bike for a bit. I mentioned I was on my own and was invited to join them.  I was delighted. I was bored of cycling on my own and some chat would make the miles go quicker. Thank you Caz and Stu. I rode with them for a bit and noticed their observations were really good. Always shoulder checked, checked before pulling in. So I asked them “Are you motorcyclists?” Turned out they both were. We chatted bike for a bit and talked about our favourite motorbiking routes. Wonderful! The miles flew past!

Caz had also recently returned from a cycling training camp in Spain which sounded tough but divine! Mountains and sunshine – bliss! Some inspiration for summer training! We had planned to stop at the 75 mile aid station but in the end we didn’t bother. It seemed so close to the finish so we scooted on past.

Stu led while Caz and I chatted for most of the ride. He was a very strong cyclist and the towing was much appreciated. I’d definitely had far too much fun at the start hopping on and off the quick trains and it hadn’t done me a lot of favours, leaving me with tired legs now! The houses were more crammed in together now and the roads and concrete were our scenery now, replacing the fields and hedges of Essex. And I knew we were back in London by the constant smell of weed.

 

We ticked over 100 miles and the finish line was nowhere in sight. Dammit. This had been sold to me as Ride London 100 … not 105 miles. Where’s my medal and snack?

 

Caz had been feeling super-strong at the end and went on ahead. Stu got a notification on his watch that she had crossed the line a little while before we reached it.

 

I hadn’t realised it but the finish for Ride London Essex this year was actually ON Tower Bridge. Wow! What an experience cycling across without worrying about the traffic and being surrounded by hundreds of enthusiastic cyclists!

 

101.9 miles and done!

Caz and I swapped phone numbers at the end with the plan to head out on the motorbikes. From one set of two wheels to another! I met up with my school friend Abi who had cycled one of the other London routes on a cargo bike! She lent a very stinky me her cardi, treated me to a ride along the Southbank and over Blackfriars bridge and a stop off at Gordon’s wine bar for a non-alcoholic wine.

 

The perfect end to a long day.

 

Lessons:

• Look like you’re going to piss your pants and the attendant will let you use the loo
• Cycling is more fun with friends
• Wine always helps 

100 Reasons NOT To Do parkrun With Small Children

I managed to talk my 13 year old, The Small, into a parkrun by reminding her she was on 9 parkruns … and if she did another one, she’d be on for her '10 parkruns achievement' and a t-shirt. 

This was enough encouragement. She decided that not only did she want her 10 t-shirt but she also wanted a PB. She had 36 minutes 36 seconds to beat and chose her favourite course at Sixfields and her current PB course to attempt this at. 

 

As a dutiful mother and motivator, I was told to find out what pace she had to run for a PB and be chief pacer. Her friend G was coming with us and she was a bit quicker than the Small but she was happy to run at Small’s pace. As G was under 11, she also had to stay close to me according to the parkrun rules. Ok no pressure. Pace set, cheering buddy coming, all the Small had to do was run it.

The girls did a short warmup and were good to go. The start was as usual a bit congested, but it all settled down by the time we reached the main path.

Then a third of a mile in the Small decided she didn’t like running and proclaimed, “Today is not the day.” 

Half a mile in she was asking to walk.

If things are tough Small does NOT want to do them. I get that. She hasn’t grasped the concept of Type 2 Fun yet. She will.

I told Small she was doing fine. She shouted that she wasn’t, and that she hated running. 

Great.

G was perfectly happy trotting along. She’s 3 years younger than Small but was quite happy to run.

I gave in and let Small walk for 10 steps over the bridge. I also enthusiastically told her she was over halfway done. A blatant lie.

At halfway she was huffing and crying. Great.

There were snot bubbles.

Told her to stop crying as it would make it harder to breathe. Tried to do it in a sympathetic voice.

Not sure I managed it.

At the 2-mile point. G said her toe hurt. She stopped to take her shoe off. I carried on dragging the Small and told G to catch us up as we were going at cry speed. Which is very slow.

G sorted her shoe and caught us up.

50m later her toe “Super hurt”. Shoe off again.

The Small crying about hating running. G crying that her toe hurt. We were well over halfway through the 3 mile run now but in small-girl-miles, we were into ultra-marathon territory.

Is there anything more dramatic than two small girls?

Marshals giving me stink eye as I was clearly THAT mother forcing kids to run when they didn’t want to. Yep. That’s me. Making them do exercise outside and prising their phones out of their poor cold little fingers. 

I gave them two options. The first was to cut straight to the finish but not get barcode scanned. Or carry on and finish properly and get barcode scanned.

Through snot and tears, they both decided that they wanted to finish the parkrun properly. Despite one whose toe was about to drop off and one who was clearly dying of TOO MUCH DRAMA.

We could see the finish line and Small was still asking to walk. Why not? We could drag this parkrun out all day if we went a bit slower.

G wanted to run a bit quicker. Understandable. If we started going slower, we’d be going backwards. As I could see the entire finish section, I told her she could if she wanted. She managed 20m and walked. 

Small still wanted to walk. I told her she could but wouldn’t get her PB.

She blew a final snot bubble and caught up G and they both staggered towards the finish line. G had a stitch but it took her mind off her toe.

They both managed a sprint finish. Small got her PB and G got a plaster.

I got a new resolution never to do parkrun with small children again.

FitStrap Review: An Expensive Lesson if you Don't Look After Your Straps!

*I was sent 2 x FitSTraps to try. They were sent to me for free and I don’t get paid for reviewing them but I was asked to pop a review on for them. It’s an unbiased review – I’m saying exactly what I think as usual …!*

If you regularly wear running watches, then you'll know that the first thing to break is the strap. And once they start to go, that’s it, no amount of tape or glue will hold them. Trust me … I've tried both and it's an expensive lesson if you lose the watch!

I was well aware that the strap on my trusty Garmin ForeRunner 945 was 3 years old and starting to look – and smell! - a bit funky, so when FitStrap offered to send me 2 straps for the Garmin for free in return for an  review, I jumped at the chance. (As usual my reviews are completely unbiased – I say what I think!)

So first things first:

How easy are the straps to fit?

They're virtually identical to the Garmin original straps and as such they're just as fiddly. FitStrap helpfully send 2 fitting tools per strap and maybe there's a trick to it, but trying to balance one tool which turning the other to release the old strap and fit the new is quite fiddly. I got there in the end, but there were free swearwords and looking on the floor for the tiniest screws in the world is part of the job. So … not easy, but this is how Garmin designed them but having TWO tools made the job a bit easier.

What are the strap colours like?

I really liked having the option of bright, vibrant colours! I'd previously had the choice between black or blue and it was nice to have a change and have something to match my mood! The colours are clear and bright and happy! Good motivation colours … and additional bonus is that they make the watch easy to find when you've left it charging in a dark place!  This time, I chose a bright postbox red and a plum purple colour… a bright colour for happy moods and a colour that hides the oil, river water and sweat!! Safe to say that pastel colours re not a good choice for me, thanks!

How do the straps feel?

They feel just like my original Garmin strap. Laid side by side I couldn’t tell the difference. The only minor difference I spotted was there is no indented triangle on the buckle. The straps have the same stripes and grooves and patterns as the originals. 

What's the length like?

Good length and plenty of settings to choose from, from child size to Andre-The-Giant size!

Band loops - included? 

Yes, 2 band loops included so you can use both or remove one as required. 

Delivery time? 

No long wait – the straps arrived in good time!

Other Things I Liked:

Both packs were clearly labelled with the watch models. Very handy so if I bought a few straps for different watches or models there would be no confusion and no swearing!

Don't do what I did and put one of the straps on backwards when you get distracted by the cat … you'll feel a right wally!! Top tip: make sure the rough side is facing up. And the band loops go on the buckle strap! I also managed to lose one of the screws by pinging it off of the table – those things are TINY! Top tip: feel is better than sight! Found it within 10 seconds … somehow!

It was also nice to have different straps to match my mood, what I’m wearing or even a special strap for a special event for instance the red strap matched my IronMan Barcelona kit! You could match the colours to the race kits which is nice if you have everything coordinated! 

I use both straps (on my Garmin Forerunner 935 and Forerunner 945) on a daily basis and in swim, bike rides and runs and they've both been comfy and reliable. I've found that sometimes straps can get a bit stinky but I've had no problems with these and they both seem robust which is very important to me, having dropped watches when the clasps have undone themselves. I also really like the 2 loops as standard on the straps as this provides and extra layer of security … these are expensive watches and you need to have reliable straps.

SUMMARY:

I'd definitely buy these again. They've already proven their worth and reliability and for the price they're an absolute bargain. Plus I'm a sucker for pretty coloured kit and I love being able to change the straps colours to match my mood! 

Take a look at them on the FitstrapsUK page: 

Click here for Garmin Straps

Click here for FitBit Straps

Or drop me a message for any questions as I'm currently using one of the straps as I type!

Cycle Touring: Top Tips & What To Pack!

I’ve done a few multi-day long bike trips from very well organised events like London Revolution to self-supported cycling from Birmingham to Portland or Kidderminster to Bangor and back. While I’ve enjoyed the organised trips a lot, the self-supported trips can be the most rewarding. You do have to carry a lot more kit for these and you have to be self-sufficient in the event of a problem.

 

It’s a lot to remember. But luckily, I am a lover of lists. And I thought I’d share one of my bike touring lists in case it’s helpful for you too.

 

Backpacks. Try not to carry a backpack but if you do take a light one. A bad back from carrying too much weight on a bike is miserable. Load up your bike rather than yourself if possible. I liked having a large bentos box on the top tube. Easy access to phone and navigation and to snacks, rather than having to root around in the other bags, it’s all right in front of me.

Sun Cream. Don’t underestimate 16 hours outdoors even on cloudy days.

Don't know about sunburn ... nearly drowned in the rain!

Get The Food In. When things seem really miserable … you’re probably hungry or thirsty. Try a bit of fuel before jacking it in!

Check Your Forecasts. Seems obvious but check weather forecasts before packing kit. It might mean you don’t have to carry a chunky baselayer or waterproof but can leave it at home!

Warm & Dry. Changing a damp base layer can make a world of difference! I didn’t have a clean spare so used my PJ top on the last leg of a 3-day trip … wonderful to be dry for a bit.

Ah ... the Welsh sunshine ...

Distances. Write aid station distances on your hand. It helps mentally if it’s a long distance. If it’s a self-supported trip, write the towns down. It breaks the distance up and makes it more manageable.

Bungee Cords were a game changer. Saved me tying things on with a phone lead as per first trip!

The views (and cake) make it all worth it!

Hydration Tablets or Hydration Concentrate. It’s surprising how much I sweat when I’m cycling, even when I’m going long and at a leisurely pace. Don’t underestimate how much salt you’ll lose. And if you run out of your preferred hydration mix, sugary coca cola is like rocket fuel!

Bike Lock. Take a bike lock even if you don’t plan on stopping. Handy for loo stops, lunch breaks, any time your bike is out of sight!

Was able to charge lights on the go thanks to the battery packs on this trip!

Battery Packs are fantastic. Can charge lights while you’re moving and Garmin etc. Also, a single plug with multiple USB sockets for when you can get to mains to charge everything up.

Charging Wires. Don’t forget your charging wires! Phone, headphone, navigation aid, light chargers … for obvious reasons!

Headphones. I don’t recommend cycling with headphones. I find I want to have an ear on the road noises and everything else around me to make informed decisions, particularly when as a cyclist I’m a vulnerable road user. That being said, when I’m having a particularly tough day out, one earphone in (on the verge side) and some bouncy music tends to make things a bit better when I’m struggling. It’s definitely a personal choice though. I also find headphones good for night times to block out noisy neighbours, whether that’s snoring, road noise or parties. 

Prior Preparation ... I also set everything thing out the evening before. Quite often on the morning of an event, I don’t want to have to think. Or I’m incapable of it so I do everything I can the night before. Tyres pumped up, hydration powder in bottles, snacks packed in Bentos box, even breakfast laid out. I do this on the evening on a bike tour too … lights & devices charging up while I’m eating, breakfast planned and bottles refilled, next day’s kit laid out ready. I’ll even write ‘plait hair’ on my list.

Toolkit. I also carry a basic toolkit that fits in a bottle cage on the bike with the usual kit and spare tubes and kit to change a tyre but also electrical tape and cable ties and rubber bands. It’s amazing how many times a rubber band has helped me out of a pinch!

Mini Lube. If you go to sportives or shows, they often give away samples of chamois cream. Ask if you’re ok to grab a few. The packs are sealed and single size – perfect for touring and it means you don’t have to take a giant tub for a short trip. If not, you can always put a dollop of cream in a sandwich bag, enough for the start of each day of your trip.

Plasters & Tape. I always take plasters and a little roll of micropore tape. Blisters and hotspots can make a trip miserable, but it’s an easy fix if you can get to them early and tape the spot before it turns into a bigger problem.

Brave the ford? Yeah ... of course!

Buffs are AMAZING. Quick under helmet hat if it’s chilly, neck warmer, band for keeping sweat out of your eyes … can even tie things on with them. Don’t underestimate the humble buff!

Toiletries. I always try and cut down on toiletries but find I need toothbrush, toothpaste, baby wipes (a few in a bag), deodorant, comb, hairbands, shower gel and a stash of loo roll as a minimum.

Sleeping Bag Liner. When I camp, I always take my liner as well as my sleeping bag. If it’s hot I can ditch the bag and sleep in liner or cold, sleep in the whole lot! For Spring, Autumn, Winter I also take a pair of Heat Holder socks – these are super fluffy and are amazing and cheap. I get mine for about a fiver off the local market!

Towel. I’ve got a couple of Tesselate towels which are very lightweight and quite small, but which are the perfect size for camping or touring when you’re short on space. They also dry out pretty quickly which is a bonus!

I thought this was top of the 2nd mountain ... when I checked map wasn't even on first mountain ...!

Evening Kit. I always take evening clothes which are warm but light. (I try to avoid taking a jacket as I can always use my cycling one in a pinch) But I’ve got a super comfy pair of yoga pants, vest top and a slimline fleecy ASICS hoody which cover most eventualities.

Light Footwear. Shoes take up a lot of space and can be quite heavy, so I tend to go with flip-flops when possible and ballet flats when not.

Gloves. I try to avoid gloves when possible, but there’s a time for them and cycle touring is one of those times. I’ve had some good blisters on the balls of my thumbs and hands from not wearing them when cycling long distances. 100 milers … fine. But put me on a bike for 3 days in a row and my hands sulk. And you don’t have the time to heals up if you're cycling day after day rubbing the same sore spots raw.

Didn't bother with gloves ... wished I had!

DryRobe or Similar. If camping and someone else is carrying your kit, not much beats my DryRobe for moving around in the evening. Warm, waterproof, cosy … bliss.

Dry Kit. If I’m staying in a hotel a lot of the above can be left at home, including shower gel, towels, heat holder socks etc. Plus, you can switch the radiators on to dry off damp kit. And put it back on warm - bliss! Even if you're not wearing wet kit again, dry kit is lighter than wet kit if you're carrying it!

Ibuprofen & Paracetamol. It’s amazing what relief a painkiller can bring on tired legs after a few days of cycle touring, fully loaded up! Also hay fever tablets, if you’re prone to it!

Sandwich Bags. Another thing I now do is pack kit into separate dry bags. I use ziplock sandwich bags. It’s awful having to put on wet kit or worse – wet PJs and electricals won’t be useful if they’re soaked. Also, snacks are better if they’re not sodden.

 

You can certainly pack lighter than this, but this is what works for me. You'll probably find a few things on my kist that you'll want to consider, but other things won't float your boat (or ride your bike?!) Hopefully this will give you some useful pointers. Happy miles!

p.s. And any tips back from you would be gratefully received! Every day is for learning!