Running in Marseille

I'm in Marseille in the South of France with work this week, and as part of my vow to run in every country I visit, I made sure I packed my running gear. 

I've been a little preoccupied recently, and ashamedly running has been put on the back burner. That said, I've been really looking forward to getting back to it whilst I'm here, and I think you'll appreciate why when you see the pictures below. 

I'm staying in the Vieux Port of Marseille, which is really close to the beaches too. My route took me along the coastline, and while I only did about 8k, it was totally mesmerising. 

In the distance you can see les Isles Calanques - a group of small, semi deserted islands, one of which - the Isle d'If, was made famous by the author Alexandre Dumas, in his novel The Count of Monte Cristo. You can take a ferry the short distance from Marseille and visit the islands.  

I watched the bobbing boats and couldn't help wishing I was diving off one of them.

Part of what I love about this part of Provence is that it's not too gentrified. The architecture reflects the city's past, and while many may loathe this ostentatious style - I love it!

A statue which I didn't stop to read about

Eric Cantona at the bus stop

On my run I wore trusted Nike Dri Fit vest, shoddy old Topshop leggings (I had packed a new pair of swanky new running shorts to debut en France, but the wrong size was displayed on the hanger - so I had to resort to wearing these) Wright Sock socks and my well loved and better worn Nike iD run like 'elle Lunar Glide 2 trainers.  

I'm staying at the Sofitel hotel in Marseille and before I left they gave me a cute trainer shaped map showing local running routes, and on my return I was given a sweet little pouch containing a towel, bottle of mineral water and a cereal bar. It's only a little thing, but they make the difference right?!

Sofitel Marseille 36 Boulevard Charles Livon 13007 Marseille France Tel: +33 4 91 15 59 56

www.sofitel.com

Thanks Provence. Tu me manques. x (I lived in Provence for a very idle year)

Nike Make Yourself launch event

In celebration of the launch of the new Nike Make Yourself campaign, I was asked to contribute by styling my favourite pieces from the autumn/winter 2011 collection at a press event at Nike Town London.

Make Yourself is all about attaining your personal goals - whatever they may be, and the campaign, shot by world acclaimed fashion photographer Annie Leibovitz, shows different Nike sponsored athletes in full motion shots - each one displaying the woman's unique physique.

The images are incredible and I was already in awe of them before I'd been asked to participate, so it was a doubly big honour.

How can this not inspire you?!

Allyson Felix - sprinter, USA

Lee Na - tennis player, China

Perri Shakes Drayton - hurdler, UK

Laura Enever - surfer, Australia

Hope Solo - footballer, USA

What I wanted to portray - and hope that I managed to, was that: 

a) Sports should be fun. If you're not enjoying it, then why are you doing it? 

b) Clothes aren't everything, but they are an expression of your personality - so why not express that when you're doing sport too 

c) If you feel confident and comfortable in what you're wearing then it permeates to what you're doing

d) Vibrant colours promote dynamism. N.B. I have no proof to back this up, but I do believe it

I was given a sneak preview of the collection and gradually picked and sifted my way through it and wittled it down to a few key all-round exercise outfits. 

I wanted to incorporate different styles for different body shapes, whilst also using my own personal preferences when it comes to sportswear. 

I was really happy with the result, and technicolour is an understatement of the final result!

But before it was my turn to take the stage and present, there was a store revamp - as rails were removed and replaced with a cocktail bar. Members of the press were invited to peruse the wares, and there was giggling and gossiping a-plenty. 

The store looked great too

Nike Victory bra wall - all important

Nike Free trainers - I'm a big fan

Nike Legend pant wall - there's a style for everyone

Girls gossiping behind a poster of Hope Solo in mid flight 

The lovely Natalie at Nike advises ladies on best bras

Press try and buy before the presentation

Presenter Jane Lusk interviews Nike athlete and campaign model Perri Shakes Drayton about working with Annie Liebovitz and her training for the forthcoming Olympics

And then we begin...

Jayne Lusk was talking about the technical attributes of each garment, while I was discussing the stylistic  ones.

I love this outfit, it reminds me of carnival

The girls wear the hotpants well

Strike a pose

Perri stands in front of a giant poster of herself in the campaign

I give it a pose too

It was so fun to be involved with such a great event, and thank you to everyone who came to speak to me afterwards - I particularly enjoyed the little personal shopping session, which I took it upon myself to host!

Running in Barcelona

Wow, apologies for my delayed reaction posting, but for the past few weeks I have been entirely consumed by moving house - a task I’d massively underestimated the scale of.

Anyway, two weeks ago I was in Barcelona to report from 080 Barcelona Fashion Week which was held in the incredibly School of Philosophy – part of the University of Barcelona.  An incredible building, which was so majestic it made me want to learn Spanish – and Philosophy – at once!

You can see ithe show venues here

The schedule was full with shows from morning till night, then a cocktail party or two to frequent, and invariably a nightclub (or many) to dance in until dawn. All in the name of research you see...?!

On Thursday morning - after dragging myself home in the early hours, I managed to drag myself out of bed and on to the streets to go for a quick run before another full day of shows. I was based in Plaça Catalunya – anyone who’s ever visited a Barcelona based tradeshow will know this part of town, and while it’s not the most picturesque part, it’s certainly spectacular – with columns and converted bull fighting rings dotted around.

A lot of my friends know Barcelona well and love it a lot, but every time I’ve visited it’s rained - a lot. This trip was no exception (though admittedly my photos don’t show that), but it’s a city that I always feel slightly defeated by, however many times I visit (probably because I have no sense of geography , so always get lost) and this run was no exception. 

 I decided to keep it simple as I was short on time – and energy, and yet I still managed to find myself on some obscure back steet - not even a pretty one, hence the lack of photos.

Anyway , next time I visit Barcelona I’m determined to have great weather , a great run, and not get lost!

 That said, I still had a lot of fun - and saw some beautiful clothes too. Especially the men's chambray tailoring by one of my favourite London designer Omar Kashoura. Sorry - couldn't resist!

Team Bangs On The Run

Running’s great, but hours of training can get a little lonely. Occasionally I used to cajole friends in to joining me for a training run, and I was accompanied by friends on foot, on bicycles, in cars and even in a baby in a buggy. But I seem to have exhausted all those options now, and was back to running solo – until I joined a running team...

Meet Team Bangs on the Run 2, a group of inspiring women who have been handpicked by Bangs And A Bun, a fellow former sportsphobe turned running enthusiast, to run the Run to the Beat Half Marathon in London on September 25^th.

Since her initial foray in to sports, Bangs has run a half marathon and has more races in the pipeline, and somehow she has found the time – and inclination to organise, encourage and support us gals to train hard and enter into what can only be described as some sort of sorority. 

Bangs And A Bun

I wouldn’t say I’m a particularly girly type of girl, but being a part of this team has catapulted me in to a world of friendship – albeit friendship conducted largely over email and Twitter.

The team is made up of writers, office workers and everyone in between, and each woman’s reason for running is very personal. I hope this doesn’t sound crass, but it’s pretty humbling to read and talk about some of those reasons, and it’s given me a fresh perspective on how running changes – and ultimately empowers people. There’s got to be something in that dynamic action of thrusting your arms back on forth, covering ground faster than you would normally and being ok with looking like absolute sin that hooks people.

 Team Bangs on the Run 2  

The team is spread out around the country, so our chances to train together are minimal, though the other day Queen Bangs and I went for a long run together. From here on in I’ll be keeping you updated with our training and progress.

In the meantime, if you’d like to donate towards our fundraising for Refuge, then please do so here.

Looking forward to reorting on the latest.

run like 'elle.

Run Like A Girl

My latest acquisition. Will be the enlightening read it promises? I'll let you know.

run like 'elle

Nike Training Club goes alfresco

Last week I was reunited with my long lost personal trainer Brian Cochrane. In addition to training me for the London Marathon back in April, Brian is also a Nike Master Trainer, and whilst I was training, I religiously attended his rigorous Nike Training Club classes.

Bri and I flexing some muscle

Now nike are celebrating the summer months and have taken Nike Training Club to the parks. You can currently attend the free 45 minute mixed ability session in either Hyde Park, Clapham Common or Regents Park. Or, if park life doesn't appeal to you, then there's the option of taking the class inside Nike Town.

I chose Regent's Park, and after a swift jog to meet the group - I was late (I blame it one the pre work-out glass of champagne) We caught up and got stuck in to the burpies, star jumps and Russian Twists a-plenty. I'd been thinking that I missed Brian, but after 10 minutes of gruelling challenges I quickly changed my mind (just joking Bri!)

Despite the rubber neck bystanders and grass stained knees, I found working out in the great outdoors to be really liberating - especially under the sun setting sky. And the work-out definitely did was it was supposed to, as I could barely lift my arms the next day!

Bri and Nike Natalie stretch out post workout

I'm definitely going back this week (Some might say I'm a glutton for punishment)

For more information on Nike Training Club visit: www.facebook.com/NikeTrainingClubUK