Fat Girl Fit

Be fearlessly unapologetically you

Category: Fitness, Hiking

Hiking The Wainwright Fells

I’ve said before to surround yourself with like minded individuals. I’ve been injured recently and to keep my knee mobile I have been walking a lot and so when a friend and I discussed doing more of that and the subject of walking the Wainwrights came up we both said yes without needing to think about it.

We soon got to planning how and when we would start and I am writing this as we have had our first trip to the Lake District and ticked off 11!

What Are The Wainwrights?

Alfred Wainwright MBE was a fell walker and published author of a volume of books relating to the Lakeland Fells.

There are 214 fells in the Lake District that are named after Alfred Wainwright. There are lots of websites with information a plenty about how to go about these, lists to tick each fell off, distances, elevation and much more!

When people aim to complete the Wainwrights they may refer to it as hill bagging and the objective is to climb/tick off as many as you can.

What Is A Crag/Fell/Pike/Pass/Knott?

There are various names to the climbs but the majority fall into the following:

  • Crag – a steep rugged rock or cliff
  • Fell – a mountain or a very big hill
  • Pike – a peak
  • Pass – a gap in a mountain or ridge
  • Knott – hill
  • Rigg – ridge

Reference Material

Excited for a new challenge I got on Amazon straight away to find some books and ordered one to tick off the fells as we complete them. I will be honest I thought it was a pocket sized book and it is A4, quite large and I got one for each of us – we joked that they were similar to a colouring book.

When wandering around Keswick we actually found these in a local shop, which are much more convenient.

I also ordered the Lake District map set from Ordnance Survey.

How To Tick Off The Wainwrights

We found a great website by The Walking Englishman who had information on how you complete the Wainwrights in the fewest number of walks (that number is 36 walks by the way). The journey to the Lake District for us is around 5/6 hours in the car each way so not something we can easily do every weekend and so there was an appeal to finding out how we could complete as many as possible per walk.

This website has the fells listed, grouped into the 36 walks with further information per walk that includes distance, elevation and how many fells are ticked off per walk.

It also provides GPX files per walk and references the Ordnance Survey maps that I had already purchased. My friend also has the Ordnance Survey app on her phone.

How We Started

We agreed that a long weekend would be most ideal, both because it would be less holiday days to take from work and makes most sense given the time the round trip to and from the Lake District would take us.

We looked at the routes and how we could tick off the most on our first trip and decided to start with The Newlands Watershed, which includes 10 of the fells. This turned out to be a little ambitious for our first walk and we met others along the way who were doing 1 or 2 and we realised we were perhaps trying to go from zero to hero. We ended up completing 7 the first day, 3 the following day and then a final 1 before heading home. Those 11 completed include:

  • Dale Head
  • Hindscarth
  • Robinson
  • Knott Rigg
  • Ard Crags
  • Scar Crags
  • Causey Pike
  • High Spy
  • Maiden Moor
  • Cat Bells
  • Castle Crag

We created a spreadsheet (love a spreadsheet – don’t judge me) to include a list of all the individual fells and also the 36 walks so we could easily track our progress.

Accommodation

There is so much accommodation in the Lake District and it varies massively! It can vary from a tent up to luxury holiday rentals and price varies from one end of the spectrum to the other.

Knowing this would be the first of many trips we had a budget in mind and were open to any options aside from tent camping. We found a lot of holiday rentals had check in and out on Friday and Monday’s only and this was not negotiable to add a day either side, which we wanted, with a Thursday to Monday stay so that ruled out some options. We were also looking for accommodation where dogs are allowed.

We ended up booking a yurt at Inside Out Camping in Keswick. This was a site with yurts in their own private field, located next to a stream and close by to the walking trails.

Kit

Both of us have dogs and appropriate clothes etc for hiking so to all intents and purposes we were good to go. But you can always have more stuff!

The weather in the Lake District can be temperamental so we knew we needed a kit list for the hikes and this included the following:

  • clothing layers so we can remove/add as needed (I find some of my MTB tops great for hiking as the material wicks sweat really well)
  • hat, buff, gloves, socks
  • hiking boots (I also took a spare pair of trail shoes too)
  • backpack/bag to carry essentials
  • water bottle
  • jet boil
  • travel mug/flask
  • battery pack/charger cables
  • headtorch (just in case – plus spare batteries)
  • rubbish bag (always leave no trace and take litter home with you)
  • first aid kit plus foil blanket
  • tissues/wet wipes
  • snacks (obviously)

Following our first weekend we covered over 35 miles hiking and are now 11 fells ticked off and will update you more as our adventures continue!

Also huge shout out to the third furry member of our little hiking group – Max, who was an absolute trooper!

Have you done the Wainwrights? Any hints and tips you want to share feel free!

Category: Cycling, Fitness, Product Reviews

Beeline Velo 2 Cycling Computer Review

I am always up for trying new cycling gadgets and kit, so when I was asked to try the new Beeline Velo2, of course my answer was yes!

This is the second iteration of the Velo cycling computer from the computer and follows a hugely successful kick-starter campaign.

The Techy Bit

Here are the main details:

  • Cost – The unit itself costs Ā£79.99 and for that you get the bike computer, charging cable, handlebar mount (two different sized rubber bands to allow for different sized handlebars) and instructions. I was also sent to the carry case, which easily holds the bike computer, has a net to hold the charging cable too and a carabiner to secure when transporting.
  • Battery – battery life is over 11 hours ride time so less when comparing with other major brands offering competing products but still more than a respectable battery life. When I complete in rides longer than this I would carry a battery pack so I can charge on the go/at rest stops as a fall back and could do this for this unit too.
  • Display – 32mm LCD screen, with rocker top buttons rather than touch screen so great if you are riding with gloves as you don’t have to take them off! It has ambient lighting and back lighting, which is great for rides not in daylight but also if off road and in heavily shaded areas too. You can adjust the brightness as well.
  • Shock and water resistant (including dust for the off road riding)
  • Weighs just 25 grams!

Getting Started

Initial set up was super simple and complete very quickly. The bike computer works with an app and once downloaded and device paired you are good to go. I have an iPhone but this is available on android too. I would note that you need software of iOS 13.0 and above to run the app on an iPhone. This does mean you need your smart phone with you when riding although for me I always carry my phone so this is not an issue and it’s not super heavy draining the battery either, which is good, although I have not tested on any endurance riding.

Route Planning

You have the following two options:

  • Route mode – this uses the most commonly used route and best for road riding and you can add points to go via by simply dragging the route on the screen in the app
  • Compass mode – this is best for off road riding and is an ‘as the crow flies’ navigation, so you are given an arrow in the direction you need to go and can pick the path to follow to get there

In addition to the above you can also choose from the route mode out of:

  • Fast route – will select a route to get you to your destination as quickly as possible
  • Quiet route – will select a route that uses more quiet roads
  • Balanced route – a blend of the two options mentioned above

The routes are feedback led too and so you can see those that have been rated good and not good by others and amend your route if you wish. You can do this too when riding using the red and green rocker buttons on each side – reminds me of the Waze navigation system I use in the car and helps other users.

It is also compatible with Strava and again super simple to pair and claims worldwide navigational coverage but I have only used in the UK so cannot comment on that.

You can also import routes from other planners, so once I paired with my Strava the app showed immediately routes I had from there that I could select and use.

Like other bike computers the route planning uses turn by turn navigation, easy re-routing when off the planned route and although it uses the app on the smartphone it will still work if you do not have any service on your phone.

Recording Data

The unit itself tracks all the usual/expected things you would expect from a bike computer including speed, average speed, distance covered, distance remaining and estimated time left on the route with your ETA. Personally I prefer not to have data overload and just enjoy the ride and if possible would remove some metrics from the display. I did reach out to Beeline support to ask if this was possible and they confirmed and got the following response:

Unfortunately at the minute, it’s not a feature we have. But, it is a very popular request, I will make note of your email, and who knows what the future may bring!

Not so long ago we launched our largest ever single update that was almost entirely made up of user-based ideas and feedback, we made a brand new UI to go along side major improvements done to our route planner. So it is how we as a company like to work, so stay tuned, and do share any further ideas you may have! 

I did reach out to Beeline support to see if it was possible to pair heart rate and cadence and got the following response:

At the moment, Velo 2 is unable to connect with heart rate or cadence trackers.

I would say they were super quick in getting back to me and offered further help with anything else so was impressed on that front.

My Thoughts

I love the simplicity of this and the price point is far more accessible than competitor units.

Part of what I love about being on the mountain bike is exploring and making up routes so I love that I can use this unit to do just that and think it will live on my MTB. The mountain bike I also find goes back to just loving being on the bike and that simplicity is matched with the unit.

I was really impressed with the customer service and that developments are very much driven by customer feedback.

I also loved that the brand have intentionally designed this unit to be carbon and plastic negative with sustainability in mind.

I will probably stick with my current bike computer for my road bike as I use that for training and require access to some functionality that is not available on this unit but for MTB and casual riding (as in not specific training sessions) it is perfect.

Product was gifted but all opinions are my own.

Category: Cycling, Events, Fitness

When Ride London Came to Essex

Having done Ride London, when it went out to Surrey, four times before, I will admit that the event had gotten so busy with lots of accidents etc that I had said I wouldn’t do it again. Then I signed myself up (insert face palm) and here is why:

  • it is basically on my doorstep
  • there is something about closed roads that is hugely appealing
  • there was no ballot to start and you could just sign up without having to wait for an acceptance of rejection letter/magazine to drop on your doorstep
  • I got massive FOMO when friends were signing up and didn’t want to miss out
  • it is a cycling event and there is a medal

I am training for The Vatternrundan event again and so the timing and distance having a 100 mile ride in my schedule seemed perfect. With a lot of events cancelled/postponed/rescheduled due to Covid it has been exciting having events start again that it is easy to get caught up in the buzz.

As the event drew closer I will admit I was less and less excited about it. There had been lots of wet and windy weather in the run up. But more because living in Essex meant I could see the backlash/comments from lots of local residents about road closures for the event(s). I say event(s) because there were stages locally from the Friday through to the Sunday for the pro women’s Classique, and so different closures across the three days. It definitely put a grey cloud over the run up to the event.

Event Changes

There were some other aspects of the event that was different, aside from the Surrey to Essex aspect, as follows:

  • the start had moved from QEOP to Embankment
  • the finish had moved from The Mall to Tower Bridge
  • there was no bag drop available to any participants

Would I Do It Again?

Now there is the question! And the answer is probably no BUT never say never as I may change my mind when it rolls around next year! Regardless, here is my reasoning:

  • it is largely on roads I regularly ride on and so now that I have done it once I do not really feel the need to pay Ā£90 for that luxury again
  • the finish was disappointing as there was such a lack of green space (or any space really) to stop, wait and relax – the previous finish meant having the huge expanse of Green Park and St James Park close to the finish line and waiting there with friends really added to the atmosphere
  • in the run up there were reports of local roads having tacks/pins strewn across them, that I know a couple of people who suffered punctures as a result. I did not experience this although we were funnelled to one side of the road twice on the ride as the marshals were picking up said tacks that were across sections of the roads
  • the negative reaction from locals was quite a lot across social media
  • logistically arranging your day can differ depending on your start time – mine was 6:25am and I needed to be in my loading pen from 5:45-6am – as the trains do not run that early my option was to ride almost 20 miles to the start only to find the start funnel was actually a free for all with no organisation at all
  • I didn’t rate the route, although I think I am in the minority with this, but I would say the Essex part was great but the London part was super main roads, hair pin switch backs and lots of flyovers – I actually titled my strava ride Tour de Flyovers!
  • as always with a mass event the ability and etiquette of riders on the roads varies hugely! There were massive pelotons passing very quick, which is fine, but so unbelievably close especially considering it was closed roads with two sides to utilise so they could have moved back to the left without being shoulder to shoulder!
  • there were a lot of accidents – we were stopped for about 25 minutes for one, that thankfully we could not see, where a man was receiving CPR and a helicopter was called and multiple ambulances and this was just one of many. I sincerely hope that gentleman is ok!
  • there were also so many punctures – although my bike had new Continental GP 5000 tyres put on the day before and they are amazing so I did not experience this
  • this was a course that should have played to all my strengths and yet it didn’t feel like the easiest day in the saddle, there were no hills to speak of just lots of undulations but these took a toll on my legs and when I got home my left knee was very swollen

The Positives

On the plus side:

  • I had a day out on my bike with friends, which I can never regret
  • I rode with my friends Colin and Lucy and this was Lucy’s first 100 mile ride, which she made look easy!
  • I got a new medal, which I quite like, although there seems to be a difference in opinion for this one
  • the marshals who gave up their day were awesome
  • the people out in Essex who were outside their houses or on the roads cheering were amazing
  • I got multiple complimentary comments about my Foher kit and bike, which is always nice!

Did you take part in any of the Ride London events? What did you think of them?

Category: Fitness

Increasing Your Training Load Whilst Listening To Your Body

I’ve mentioned before that I, like many others, had numerous events cancelled/postponed/rescheduled during Covid. It meant that my training during that time looked very different and I was staying active but the emphasis was on the fun and enjoyment – and I won’t lie, I loved it! I am a firm believer that you have to enjoy what you are doing and so remembering why I cycled in the first place, enjoying the trails, taking my time and having a more relaxed approach was good!

That being said I do have some longer rides planned for this year and so I switched tactic again in order to increasing the training load in a sensible way.

How To Increase Your Training Load?

This can look different to everyone depending on what your goal is or what events you are training for. It is also important that you keep this in mind because whilst advice from others may be great, if they are training for something totally different to you then that advice may not be applicable to you.

This is the approach that I took:

  • took time to work on my base fitness during the winter months
  • built in shorter, more intense workouts by committing to racing with a team once per week
  • when racing ensured I allowed time to warm up to raise my temperature and increase blood flow to the muscles
  • allow time to cool down to regulate blood flow and slowly reduce heart rate
  • gradually increased mileage on my rides
  • gradually increased the number of rides I completed per week
  • planned for differing rides including endurance, tempo and recovery rides
  • if you need to scale it back then do so
  • added in yoga for mobility

Why You Should Not Ignore Recovery

I have previously written a post about the benefits of a recovery ride that you can read here.

Rest is essential! Your muscles need this time to repair from activity and it leaves you stronger.

Over training is not good and you will not perform or get the results you want with sore/swollen muscles so it really is counter productive.

Remember To Listen To Your Body

We all react to training and sessions of varying intensity in different ways and in order to limit injury it is important to listen to your body. If you need to skip sessions or adapt it is good to do so and wise to remember that one session you may not be able to do will not make or break your event/goal.

My Product Recommendations

I am an ambassador for Premax and highly recommend their products. They are genuinely part of my routine and I can really notice the difference when I do not use them. Two of the products to note in relation to this topic, that are my go to, are:

  • Premax Warm Up cream – depending on the type of ride I am doing I will often use this cream. You can actually feel this cream working and the muscles warming.
  • Premax Recovery cream – I use this after almost every ride. As noted on their website it includes evidence based ingredients (sour cherry, omega 3 and arnica) that help both the body and skin recover from the rigours of exercise and sport.

There is also a huge amount of information available on the Premax website on many topics including this. Plus founder Randall Cooper regularly hosts live sessions, which are also recorded, providing professional advice and information on how to get the best from their performance skincare range.

In addition to the above I also use FlexiSEQ and have done since I got my knee injury a few years back. This gel is drug free, targets joint pain and again has become part of my regular routine. As described on their website:

The joint lubricating ingredients in Flexiseq are small enough to penetrate the skin but too big to enter the bloodstream. Over time Flexiseq lubricates the joint you are applying it to and in doing so targets joint damage thereby reducing pain.

There are two gels which include FlexiSEQ and FlexiSEQ Max Strength. I have used FlexiSEQ for several years now and honestly I don’t even think about using them any more, I just reach for them and can really notice a difference when I don’t, and not in a good way!

There is a lot of expert advice on the FlexiSEQ website including the following:

I should note that my mum, who has osteoporosis and my grandfather who has rheumatoid arthritis, use this following my recommendation and much like me highly recommend it (my grandfather would bathe in the gel if he could!).

Want to be in with a chance to win yourself some FlexiSEQ and Premax product? Head over to my Instagram where I am giving some away.

Category: Fitness, Product Reviews

The Importance Of A Good Sports Bra

Let’s talk boobs! How many of us ladies get fitted for our bras? Most of us. But how many of us ladies get fitted for our sports bras? The reality is that very few do.

I spoke to a handful of ladies I know who are active and was surprised to learn that almost all of them had never been fitted for a sports bra or in fact a normal bra. Being a woman with an ample sized chest (I think that is the most polite way to say I have big boobs), I have always had to get measured to make sure I am securing those bad boys in and ensuring I am not injured through any activities.

When it comes to women and fitness there are certain barriers that cause obstruction and a good sports bra is one of them, and yet is essential.

Why Is A Properly Fitting Sports Bra Important?

Wearing a properly sized sports bra:

  • will ensure that you are comfortable during activities
  • will reduce movement of your boobs during activities
  • absorbs sweat
  • reduces shoulder/back tension
  • can help prevent sagging
  • increases confidence during activities

What Sports Bra Is The Right One For Me?

How do you know which bra is right for you? Sometimes women may look, see the vast selection on offer and decide to stick with a good old faithful, which in many cases is a regular every day bra. When selecting a sports bra think about the following:

  • What sport/activities are you doing? Think about the impact, for example yoga is much less than running.
  • How much/little support is required? This can vary based on the above, and also the boob size, however, don’t assume smaller chest sizes do not require a good sports bra – comfort and support is key for all size boobs.
  • Comfort – there are so many designs available now from crop tops to multi strap bras and there is nothing wrong with trying them on and having a move around in the fitting room (don’t worry no one will see you) so you can test the comfort and support during movement.
  • Breathability – when I say this I mean it two fold both in terms of the material but also the sizing. Sports bras are snug but you need to be able to breath in them! This may sound silly but I know that I have struggled both in and out of sports bras and sometimes think yeah this fits – providing I don’t move or don’t need to breathe at any point, ever!

Some Interesting Boob Related Facts

Who doesn’t like a boob fact? Here are some things to consider alongside the above:

  • During activity your boobs move ie when running they move in a motion that is similar to a figure 8 and depending on size can be as much as up to 14cm according to Shock Absorber – that is a lot of movement!
  • The first sports bra was not invented until 1975, called the Free Swing Tennis Bra, and offered no support.
  • Following the above Polly Smith and Lisa Landahl, following comments from Lisa’s husband, wanted to create a sports bra with support and used two jockstraps stitched together. They then teamed up with Hinda Miller to create the Jog bra.
  • The average boob weighs between 200-300g, which to add some perspective, is the same as 2 medium oranges, 8-10 slices of bread, 2 cricket balls, a large hamster, 80 pennies. Imagine running around with that strapped to your chest!

Why I Recommend KnockerLocker

I was lucky enough recently to talk with Rachel who is the founder of KnockerLocker.

Rachel teaches Les Mills group exercise classes each week and is passionate about all things boobs! We managed to talk about sport, sports bras, what I do, what she does, what Knocker Locker is about and of course boobs with ease! I would recommend taking a look at their site not only for a huge selection of sports bras but also the following:

  • KnockerLocker are all about women empowering women
  • they are a Pink Ribbon partner with 5% of all sales going to the charity
  • they try and test every bra they have on their site
  • every bra on the site has a power rating, which helps you find the right bra by coupling your breast size with your chosen sport and directs you to bras that will give you the right support level
  • there is information on the different boob shapes us women have and advice on which bra would be best for each
  • they have a super useful step by step guide for measuring
  • all packaging is sustainable

My Favourite Sports Bra?

I was sent a sports bra by KnockerLocker to try, and I did say I am a girl who has a brand that is a firm favourite so I was sceptical. BUT this bra is amazing!

It is made by Elomi and called Energise and speaking as a bigger chested lady this may have just become my new go to bra. Why?

  • super comfortable
  • loads of support
  • the material wicks great when sweating through an activity
  • front, side and back support
  • added clasp to make into racer back should you wish
  • the annoying strap slippage is non-existent

Product from KnockerLocker was gifted but all opinions are my own.

Category: Events, Fitness, OCR, Running

My Sisters First Ever Obstacle Race

You will have seen many blog posts from me over the years about various muddy obstacle runs that I have taken part in and I will be the first to admit that it has been a while – Covid and all that!

Nuclear Races has always been a firm favourite of mine with events that never disappoint, amazing atmosphere, great staff and always sure to bump into someone you know (and probably met through OCR). When they got in touch about attending their Rush weekend I was very excited BUT I have a previous knee injury that has been niggling me and with some endurance riding coming up I thought it best not to take a chance. However, I knew of someone who is always up for a challenge – my little sister.

This would be her first experience of a muddy obstacle race and she would be doing it with a friend in the same position. I gave them hints and tips on what they should be wearing and also some ideas of what should be in their kit list for before and after. Below is an idea:

OCR Kit List

  • Phone with race entry plus photo ID
  • Trail shoes (trainers will work but will have much less grip)
  • Kit in tech material and not cotton (gets heavy when wet and doesn’t dry out quickly)
  • Dry robe for after (if you have one)
  • Spare clothes, socks, trainers for post race, including warm hat
  • Wet wipes
  • Towel
  • Black bag for wet, muddy kit
  • A bag for all the above
  • Watch to record your activity (if you wish)
  • Compression gear (again if you wish or are racing and not for fun)
  • Money (you will be hungry after)

I will admit that some of the questions I had ahead of the race from my sisters friend (I will not name her) were amazing and honestly made my day! They included:

  • Will I break a nail?
  • Will my hair get wet as I had a blow dry yesterday?

Naturally I went along to support – this was going to be fun!

I should start by saying my sister was always the sporty child in our house growing up and still is in her adult life. She has 3 children but continues to manage a netball team for the county, whilst still training and playing herself, she walks a lot, runs and is competitive! Her friend has 5 children and is also very active, again with netball, the gym and lots of walking.

What Did They Think?

They did the 12km course for Rush and here is what they thought:

  • there was a group of six of them who ran together and they agreed that this is about the fun and that doing the course together would be their preference rather than alone – there are people who race solo but for them this was a fun experience and the group helped
  • my sister is small (but mighty) and very much has the attitude to give it a go and so that is what she did
  • even once my sister got home she messaged me to say she was still buzzing – honestly she loved it and would go back without a second thought
  • let’s just say my sisters friend gave it a go but in future she may spectate – she had not appreciated how much mud and water there would be (this is Nuclear and their slogan is Love Mud)

Sarah’s Review:

I had the BEST day ever at Nuclear Races at the weekend. From the moment I got there until I got back in my car (was actually still buzzing when I went to bed). I was a little nervous to start with, wondering if I would be able to do everything and complete the whole 12km course but all the marshals were so supportive and encouraging and guided you through all the obstacles – even the cameraman, Tony, was enticing people to get involved!

I ran the course with my bestie, who to be honest was not a fan. She didnā€™t realise it would be so muddy and wet, but that for me was one of the best bits. I just threw myself into everything – literally. The muddier the better – you just have to embrace the mud.

A couple of the obstacles were daunting due to being vertically challenged at 5ft 2ā€ but where thereā€™s a will, thereā€™s a way.  The marshals find a way for you to do everything and even the other runners help you out with tips and a leg up here and a pull over there. Itā€™s a real community and everyone wants everyone else to do well. You get a sense of achievement of completing an obstacle you arrive at and think ā€˜thereā€™s no way I can do thatā€™.

I think my worst obstacle was Ebenezer, purely because it stinks and is slimy mud so youā€™re waist deep in mud and slipping in every direction trying youā€™re best not to get you face submerged for the fear it tastes as bad as it stinks. But again, once I got out the other side I felt like a warrior!

Itā€™s hard to pick a favourite. The Death Slide and Zip Wire are obviously up there and the half pipe at the very end. My body was screaming at me to stop, legs and arms dead but you just find that reserve in the tank to sprint up a near on vertical wall, lucking I had a strong helper at the top pull me over.

I honestly cannot wait to do it again. Iā€™m going to bring my kids as they will love it just as much as I did. Thank you Nuclear Races!

What If You Want To Spectate?

There is something for everyone at Nuclear! Parking is free and to spectate you pay Ā£5, unless you are accompanying a child taking on the Rookie course or under 12, in which case it is free. What can you expect?

  • there is a main event village, which has the start and finish so you can watch the warm up, see the runners off and finish for both the adults and children
  • food and drink stalls, including a licensed bar
  • merchandise shop
  • live music
  • inflatables for the kids
  • two tractors work at the same time to ferry people from the event village to the fun zone so you can spectate on course
  • the fun zone is near the lake zone and so you can see the obstacles on the lake such as magic carpet, donuts, death slide, zip lines and ebeneezer for all the mud!
  • also at the lake there was an ice cream van and a van selling drinks, crisps and fresh pizzas

It was an amazing day, despite having serious fomo once there, I had a blast watching them and walking round the course, although I did get very sunburnt!

Head to my Instagram for a short reel to give you a taste of some of the course.

Entries were gifted but all opinions are our own

Category: Cycling, Events, Fitness

Women V Cancer – Ride The Night

At the weekend I took part in the Women V Cancer Ride The Night 100km event. I have done this ride before as a ride angel, that you can read about here.

This time round I was gifted my place on the event and having taken part before I quickly accepted the opportunity again for such a great cause. Participants taking part challenge themselves to cycle either 50km or 100km through the night. The 50km point is by Buckingham Palace and if you finish there the organisers have put on coaches to return riders to Windsor Racecourse and lorries to take bikes back too – I have not done this before so cannot comment on this element of the event.

All fundraising from the event raises vital funds and awareness for Breast Cancer Now, Ovarian Cancer Action and Joā€™s Cervical Cancer Trust.

The atmosphere is amazing and the effort people go to is amazing! You don’t have to, but a lot of people dress up, add to their cycling kit with all the pink things and lights – there are lots of lights and some truly superb outfits – even from the doggos!

I knew quite a few ladies who were doing this ride as ride angels so also want to take a moment to give them a shout out. Events like these rely on volunteers and having been a ride angel on this event myself, I know how crucial that role is to support those taking part. Plus look at those halos!

I knew a lady who was taking part in the ride solo and we had done some mountain biking together and also a couple of road rides so I offered to ride with her. She was fab and managed to finish within the first 10 riders back to the racecourse – super proud of her!

Highlights

Highlights for me are:

  • absolutely the atmosphere at all stages of the event, beforehand, during and after
  • in with your event entry you get a pink hi-vis waistcoat to wear and a ticket for the pasta party so you can carb up ahead of the event starting
  • in the event village there were food trucks, face painting, music, dancers, kit to purchase and photographers to capture it all
  • the support along the route and at the finish – you can tell how much this event means to so many and heading out to London there were so many people by the side of the road cheering too
  • in addition to event day there is a lot that the company do by way of support including emails with training tips and advice
  • there is a facebook group you can join where so many share stories, hints/tips/advice and support
  • the feed stops were amazing with everything you could have wanted included more support from the volunteers there
  • marshalls who were out for the duration of the event in the dark and cold but always had a cheer and kind word
  • when we got to the Mall it was closed off as the Westminster Mile was taking place the following day and so riding up that to ourselves was fab
  • there is such a huge mix of abilities taking part so people are returning over quite a long time period but the organisation to allow people to leave when they were ready and not disrupt those riders returning was very well thought out

Not So Highlights

There are a few negatives as follows:

  • there could have been more toilets in the event village – as always there are queues before events take place (that nervous wee) but with so many people taking part and just over a dozen portaloos it definitely could have done with more
  • we found a few stretches of the route where we were unsure if we had gone wrong or missed a sign but we would eventually come across one – this is super hard as the organisers cannot put signs up everywhere but we were not the only ones who wondered if they’d made an error
  • some of the signs were a little late with instruction ie you would be on the left in the cycle lane and it would have an arrow straight forward and then it would show right and there were more than one lane of traffic to get across in busy areas
  • there was one part of the route towards the end where you were directed down a side turn that appeared to be to a closed gate but actually you were turning right to get on a cycle path but by the time we realised we were at the bottom so had to get off bikes and bump up the pavement
  • absolutely nothing to do with the event but there was a lot of speed bumps, pot holes on some roads – the joy of riding in London!

If you are thinking of taking part as either a participant for the challenge or as a ride angel I would definitely recommend both having taken part now as both.

I was gifted my place at the event, but all opinions are my own.

Category: Fitness

#BreakTheBias – International Women’s Day 2022

Today, 8 March 2022, is International Women’s Day and the theme for this year is Break The Bias. According to the official International Women’s Day website:

‘Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.

Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.‘

But what does Break The Bias mean to you? What does it mean to me? Well the name of my blog is Fat Girl Fit and that is my way of breaking the bias. I am not cover girl size, but that does not define me, it does not determine my worth and it is not indicative of my ability. I am more than capable and I am fearlessly unapologetically me, always!

I spoke with some ladies who I respect and admire to find out what this years theme means to them:

Bianca Fernandez-Clark

Being a cyclist and triathlete is being constantly reminded that I am not the norm: female, black, and with a bigger body. Breaking the bias is ensuring that my sport sees me, makes me feel represented and that my strength is not questioned, because I am constantly seen as weak because I’m a woman.

Amy Marren

Sport to me is total freedom and pushing your body beyond own boundaries. I love sport because it gives me a chance to feel strong, when the world would expect otherwise. I also love how sport does not have a ā€œone size fits allā€ nature about it, you can be the tallest or the littlest and still be in it for the love of the game.

Lucy Edwards

The number of women who compete in triathlon has increased, but the ratio still remains lower for females compared to males. This gender gap is caused by many factors, including cost, ability, access to training facilities and time constraints.

But often the biggest barriers to triathlon are not external, but rather internal blockers and fears which prevent women from getting outside of their comfort zone.

One of the ways I try to help break down the barriers is to share my own journey openly and honestly, including my own fears and how Iā€™m overcoming them. Iā€™m passionate about encouraging and supporting other women to challenge themselves in sport.

On International Womenā€™s Day, Iā€™m grateful to the women who inspire, encourage and empower me to challenge myself.

Sarah Biss

Netball has always been a big part of my life since school years. I have continued into my adult life both as a player and coach and now my two daughters also play. It is not uncommon for me to be one of the shortest players on the team and sometimes underestimated, which is wrong. I am quick, constantly moving and work hard on the court in either centre position or wing attack.

I am a mother now to three children, one boy and two girls, and people assumed the sport would be something I stopped but instead it is something I can share with my daughters and continue to be passionate about. Plus it is as they say the best things come in small packages.

Karla Williams

I have fallen in love with cycling and the ways it can help physically and mentally.

As my love of the sport grew, I realised how hard and intimidating it is for women to get into the sport and e-racing. This realisation made me passionate about promoting, highlighting and supporting womenā€™s e-racing by managing a womenā€™s e-racing team, Aeonian Race Team, and offering different types of races for the womenā€™s community on Zwift. By doing this, I hope to provide the ladies the opportunities to try these races and get the confidence in themselves to enter the racing scene, which in itself is very intimidating.

Managing a women’s e-racing team also comes with itā€™s own challenges. People often think my e-racing and cycling knowledge is lacking simply because I am a woman, have no professional background or race at an elite level. My experience in Zwift and e-racing have empowered me with a lot of knowledge to offer. With my work in promoting womenā€™s cycling and my love for the sport, I hope to help break some of these barriers and show other women out there, we can do anything.

Michelle Shaw

Cycling is still very much seen as a male dominated sport. Breaking that bias for me means being visible, being loud and standing proud.

Share your achievements and support other women to do the same.

Social media gets a really hard time but Iā€™ve met some of the most inspiring women online-women like me, who I feel I can totally relate too, we are a force to be reckoned with, there will always be those who think men are more superior but these views are now being called out-people donā€™t seem as afraid to shout up when they think something is unfair.

Category: Cycling, Events, Fitness

A little 2021 Roundup

Not to sound like a broken record as I realise I added a round up at the end of last year, but it got me looking back at the year and you know what? Yes, there may have been fewer events but I had a blast!

2021 Events

As expected, most events were cancelled, rescheduled of postponed until next year, but I did complete:

  • Virtual Vatternrundan 315km (not the same as being out through the night in Sweden sadly – but I will be going back 2022 with all my fingers and toes crossed)
  • Ride Essex Dirty 58 miles off road

2021 Cycling Highlights

Looking back I was surprised that I have done pretty much an equal amount of road riding as I have off road. Considering I only got my first ever MTB towards the end of last year I am loving it! However, despite lack of events I wanted to maintain my training and have completed the following:

  • Women’s 30 day Cycling Challenge
  • I joined Aeonian E-Race Team and started racing in the virtual world
  • Breeze Champion for both road and off road rides as I was part of the inaugural Into The Forest champions to qualify and have led a few rides off road already this year
  • Level 2 British Cycling Coach qualification
  • British Cycling Trainee Commissaire qualification
  • 100 Women In Cycling award from Cycling UK
  • First try at bike packing on part of King Alfred’s Way and looking forward to more!

Other 2021 Highlights

I have had so many weekends away in the campervan and don’t think I will ever get tired of that. The flexibility of working mostly from home has meant I can balance the work/life balance so much easier.

I did finish the year with Covid but super mild symptom of a sore throat only so can’t complain.

I have my 2022 events set so I am hoping everything goes to plan and these continue to be in real life events.

On a more positive note, I will be going into 2022 as my third year as a Foher ambassador, which I am very excited about!