Teams Bangs On The Run 2

With only a month to go before I run the Run To The Beat 1/2 marathon, I met up with my Team Bangs On The Run 2  fellow runners to talk training, tactics and all things running related.

You can read more about Team Bangs in the interview Women's Running magazine did with Bangs and a Bun, here

And should you feel inclined to sponsor us, you can do so here

I'm really looking forward to running with this group of inspiring young women through the sound systemed streets of London. Speaking of sound systems.... It's Notting Hill Carnival this weekend and I caaaaaaan't waaaaaait! Happy long weekend ya'll. x

A splash of reality

After a week of sizzling my socks off in Madrid, I was a little dismayed to be greeted by heavy rain in London, especially as I had to ride my bike to little photo shoot I was doing in town - and by the time I arrived I looked less a sporting gazelle and more like a drowned, dried out, then re-drowned rat.

Needless to say, it took a little while in hair and make-up to get me looking half normal again. I can't show you any more pics yet, but in the meantime - here's a picture of the photographers repping run like 'elle!

Thank guys, I had fun fake-running along the Embankment, and can't wait to see the shots!

Running in Madrid

Last week I was in Madrid with work, and what a hectic time to be there - as 1.5 million pilgrims descended on the city to see the Pope as he visited Spain. There were nuns, priests and pilgrims everywhere, and to say it was surreal would be something of an understatement, particularly when I found myself in the middle of a Catholic fiesta that was as big (and loud) as any festival I've been to.

I was staying really close to Jardines del Buen Retiro - a large park in the city centre, so once the sun had sunk a little I joined hundreds of other runners and made my way around the edge of the park.

On my run I wore: sports bra, vest, shorts and iD trainers all by Nike

I should have realised the scale of the park by paying a bit more attention to this

It turned out that the park is rather larger than I'd anticipated, and by half way I could really feel it - especially as it was sooooo hot

Views like this made the journey a little more bearable though!

There were a lot of Madrid Marathon t-shirts on display (but I couldn't get a steady shot of any) Anyway, it got me thinking that maybe it might be quite a nice marathon to run. Then I thought better of it!

And couldn't help but wish I was sitting here rather than running past it

Scenes like this made me feel like I could be in the gardens of Versailles

It's such an amazing space - with manicured gardens, ponds, secret seats and so many people to see. I love that it seemed as though everyone was there just enjoying their evening - be it on rollerskates, whilst walking the dog or lifting weights

If you're in Madrid then I definitely recommend checking out the lovely Jardines del Buen Retiro, and after your run I think your totally justified in admired the setting sun with a self-congratulatory glass of wine.

Thanks Madrid!

I stayed at the Hotel Hospes - so close to the park, it's perfect for runners.

Hospes Madrid

Plaza de la Independencia 3  

28001 Madrid

Spain
Te: +34 914 32 29 11

www.hospes.com

Running in Paris

Last week I was working in Paris, and was lucky enough to be staying at the luxurious Le Bristol hotel - something of a classic on the hotel circuit. Having lived out all my foodie dreams dining at Le Restaurant Gastronomique -  the hotel's three Michelin starred restaurant, where I worked my way through six courses and a vintage wine list - and was even invited in to the kitchens afterwards to meet chef Eric Frechon, the guilt of my gorging got the better of me, so the next morning I headed out in to the sunny Paris streets for a run.

Dinner. Amuse bouche

You know the butter's going to be good when they name the farmer who made it mmmmmmm :-) butter face

Langoustine and caviar wrapped in Provencal green pepper

Truffle ravioli (Ordinarily I have an aversion to any foam based food, but I made an exception for this)

Seam bream with muscles, celery and samphire

Wine that's older than me

As seen through my eyes

Pudding. Chocolate sorbet covered in edible gold leaf, balanced on a dark chocolate tower filled with chocolate mousse and encased in a chocolate sculpted dome

Demolition

And that's an abridged version of the meal!

On my 'recovery' run I wore: vintage vest, fluorescent bra, capri pants and iD trainers all by Nike, socks by Sweaty Betty.

Le beau Bristol

Le Bristol is set just off the Champs-Élysées and close to Les Tuileries gardens, a verdant manicured garden which edges on to the Louvre museum - so that's where I ran.

First past Prada...

Then past a blushing bride 

Place de la Concorde

Le Tour d'Eiffel

Les Tuileries

The Louvre

It was such a beautiful day, and running past world famous monuments felt pretty epic for such an early hour. Though it did make me realise that I don't run in enough new ares in London - so from here on in I'm going to make an effort to 'run London'.

Later on that day I undid all my good work by tucking in to a cactus tostada at my new discovery - a Mexican cafe and speakeasy bar in the Marais. But believe me, it was worth every bite! I even got photographed for Mexican newspaper Reforma, so if you see me, please will you send my taco stuffing face a copy?!

Thanks. x

Le Bristol
112 rue Faubourg St honore
75008 Paris
www.lebristolparis.com

Candelaria
52 Rue de Saintonge
75003 Paris
www.candelariaparis.com

The art of running

Some people may already describe running as an art form, but now it really is - as Nike release the product of a collaboration with digital design agency Yes Yes No.

Running routes in New York, London and Tokyo were recorded and uploaded to the Nike+ website, and a year's worth of routes were programmed to create this video and the corresponding - almost anatomical images, which document and highlight the most popular routes.


Nike+ City Runs from yesyesno on Vimeo.

Nike also invited runners to record runs using the Nike+ GPS, and encouraged them to vary their speed and performace - thus creating a more dissipated recording. The runners' recorded steps were uploaded to specially designed software, which imported the metrics of their run, creating the highly stylised 'foot painting' images below.

 

 

Whilst undeniably dynamic, the images' painterly quality makes them appear quite soothing to me, and I think quite figurative too. I love the idea that what is essentially numerical data can be manipulated to create something that is equally valuable in a purely aesthetic capacity.

Innovative digital marketing. Nike smashed it again, as have Yes Yes No.

For more information visit www.yesyesno.com