Why I run... Denise Lewis

"I started athletics after watching the Moscow Games in 1980. Seeing Daley Thompson and Sebastian Coe win gold had a huge impact on me. I was only seven but it was then when I knew what I waned to be. I was completely captivated. I wanted to be on that podium too. I loved training and competing because I'm a highly motivated and competitive individual. Athletics allowed me to push myself. It encouraged me to squeeze everything out of my body to get the best out of myself. It gave me the opportunity to be the best I could be". Denise Lewis, Olympic gold medallist, Heptathlon. Sydney Olympics 2000.

The month of May

I opened a box of shiny new (and bright) Nike iDs

I visited the amazing Bauhaus: Art as Life exhibition at the Barbican 

I love the Barbican building :-)

I did a shoot with photographer David Shama for a piece I'd written about Charlie Dark and Chaka Bars in Tank magazine.

Charlie and his Run Dem angels!

Chaka and his bars

Urban playground 

I went home and walked in the hills

I visited the Hermes exhibition at the Royal Academy

I saw the Snowdon Blue exhibition at Acne Studios 

I popped in to Yoyos

I marvelled at London in sun 

I went to see the incredible flowers at Chelsea Flower Show

I entered shoe heaven, by way of the Louboutin retrospective at the Design Museum

I went to see the world's fastest man Usain Bolt launch the Jamaican Olympic sports kit

I got all Patriotic for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

And that way May!

run like 'elle. x

Jamaican Olympic kit launch

Miss Marley and the world's fastest man - I'm playing with the big boys now!

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of the Jamaican Olympic track and field sports kit by Puma.

Designed by Cedella Marley, the oldest child of Bob and Rita Marley, the collection includes active sportswear and formalwear, all inspired by the designer’s home country of Jamaica. 

Colours mirror those of the famous Jamaican flag  - which also formed the backdrop to the running track catwalk, and each look featured graphic black, yellow and green. The flag’s colours are said to represent ‘Black for the people, yellow for the Sun, and green for the island’s lush vegetation’.

Activewear features technical fabrics and ergonomic design, while the formalwear collection references military jackets that Cedela’s father Bob was famed for wearing.

Later this month Puma will be releasing a diffusion collection of apparel, footwear and accessories based on the Olympic collection. See www.puma.com for further details.

I have to say, I’ve been to a lot of catwalk shows of late and this wasdefinitely the most fun. Jamaica really knows how to put on a party! No matter that it was 5pm on a rainy Friday - the bar was churning out Wray & Nephew rum cocktails, the kitchen was serving homemade patties, curried goat and ackee and saltfish and the DJ played Buju Banton’s Champion (definitely one for my Reggae Marathon playlist) as Bolt took to the catwalk to close the show - seen here with Cedela.   

  

 

I'm not usually one for food photos, but I'll make an allowance for this one :-)

Then look who I found lurking amongst the mannequins - Candice and Bangs !! 

run like ‘elle – Jamaica will be. x

Julio Bashmore — Au Seve

If this doesn't make you run, then not a lot will.

run like 'elle

Miss Mei and me

I was just taking a quick look a a few of my favourite running blogs, one of which is I'm Running. I Promise. and found a picture of myself on there! This is me with Sarah Mei of I'm Running. I Promise.

As she introduced me to her readers, I feel it's only right that I introduce her to you... Sarah works for Nike and is relatively new to this running game. Sarah joined Run Dem Crew and completed her first race - the Berlin Half Marathon, as part of the new Team Bangs on Run - the team I was in for the Run To The Beat half marathon in September last year. Sarah is pretty as a peach and hard as nails, and though she ran a tough race in Berlin, I feel pretty confident in saying that we'll be seeing her on a running course again soon... run like 'elle. x

Running by Rhalou's rules

Running has introduced me to many an amazing person, one of which is Rhalou – the online editor of Women’s Running magazine. We attended our first ever Run Dem Crew session together, and have run the length and breadth of London together since. Oh and a bit of Berlin too, which you can see here.

She’s an inspiring woman in so many ways – kind, vivacious, and enormously courageous. After years of living in London, she is hanging up her hotpants and taking to the hills in the name of love. Her beau is an ultra marathon runner (you couldn’t make it up if you tried), and together I’ve no doubt that they’ll smash every running record that Scotland’s got. 

A self confessed city slicker, Rhalou will be recording her relocation, runnings and attempts at bonding with the locals on her new blog. I urge you to read it here…

And in the meantime I wish her lots of love and luck. 

Remember www.rhalou.com

run like ‘elle. x