The race jacket

With one of the wettest months in years, many of you have experienced a soaking while exercising outdoors or running recently. And even with a brief burst of sunshine now, in Spring it is always tricky knowing what to wear on a long run.

Wear too much and you get hot and have to carry your jacket around your waist. Not enough and you run the risk of getting cold, or more likely at the moment, bone-shiveringly soaking wet.

And then there is the whole issue of wearing something waterproof only to find yourself soaking because your jacket doesn’t wick away sweat. Even when it says it does.

Which is why this jacket, by the organisers of Snowdonia’s Original Mountain Marathon, is worth every penny.

Any rain, from a drizzle to a downright deluge, runs off this jacket like water off a duck’s back. But more importantly, you can run and even sprint wearing this and the inside of the jacket remains bone dry.

And that is a very, very rare property in a running jacket. And believe me, I’ve tried loads in my years during which I’ve skied, run, mountain biked and just plain hiked in them.

As you might expect of a company that puts on a race in the variable conditions of Snowdonia, where the elements can suddenly change in seconds, every little detail of this jacket has been brilliantly thought out.

With velcro fastenings at the cuffs to keep out the cold on the arms, a drawstring at the bottom, as well as a two way zip which means you can udo the jacket from the bottom for air circulation. And then there is the hood.

Anyone  who exercises or runs regularly will get what I’m saying here. There is nothing more irritating than putting your jacket hood up, only to turn your head and find yourself looking at the inside of your hood.

This hood moves with you, and it doesn’t even flop over your face as you run staying perfectly in place.

At £150, this jacket is more expensive, and then some, than your average running jacket. But then it is so superior in terms of quality and performance, it is not your average jacket.

I don’t think I’ll be trying any other running jacket brand for quite some time.

www.theomm.com

Eggs, the original superfood

Want to know most women’s biggest mistake when it comes to diet? A lack of protein sources, such as eggs, meat, fish, and nuts.

Here’s three reasons why protein should be a vital part of a healthy, balanced diet.

1. Fill yourself up

Protein is harder to break down and therefore it keeps you feeling fuller for longer, so you are less likely to overeat.

2. Breakfast boost your focus

Eating a protein source such as eggs, chicken or fish for breakfast increases your attention and focus. Yet what do most of us do? We eat cereal, a carbohydrate source which boosts serotonin in the brain induing relaxation. Doh!

3. Repair and regeneration

As the essential building block of the body, protein is vital for rebuiling muscle fibres. In other words, there is no point working out if you don’t give your body the fuel to create the change you worked so hard for.

Got the runner's blues?

You’ve spent months training for the marathon, and the last eight weeks of that dreaming of a time when you don’t have to spend every weekend running, thinking about running or eating so that you can run.

But now it’s all over and you have sworn you would never run another marathon, how many of you are feeling just a tiny bit blue?

You are not alone as once the novelty of drinking wine and not having to get up and run on a Sunday morning has worn off, many runners report feeling lost without their marathon training.

So, what can you do to prevent the runner’s blues? And more importantly ensure all that hard work and training doesn’t go to waste?

1. Go short

Enter a series of shorter races, such as 5 or 10ks or even an obstacle race. This will allow you to work on your speed, keep you training without the risk of injury that can occur when you have a long list of marathons to race.

2. Switch your sport

Do something entirely different such as volleyball, or biking. It will help you to see fitness as fun again, particularly if you have the runners’ blues but dread the thought of looking at a training plan for a while.

3. Enter a ‘life’s dream’ marathon

If you already know that you would like to run another marathon, don’t must think of repeating the one that you have already done. The temptation to stick to what you know, in an effort to beat your time can see many runners do the same marathon year after year.

Why not use running as a way of exploring the world and choose a race in a country that you have always longed to go to? That way, you can run the marathon and get a holiday.

(The FitBitch running club head to Lake Garda 2012 marathon if you wish to join us – there’s a 15k race for those who would prefer a shorter race.)

Shaping up fast takes work

Make no mistake about it, when a Hollywood star needs to get in shape for a movie part, it requires a serious amount of work.

How much are we talking about here? Olympic athlete style-training, but in a short amount of time with the leanest, protein specific eating plan.

And Scarlett Johannson, makes no bones about the fact that it took a lot of hard, dedicated work to get in shape for her role as the Black Widow in Avengers Assemble.

‘It was many, many hours, days, and months of stunt training and strength training, but it’s fun because I had a goal,’ she explained. ‘That goal was the Lycra catsuit.’

So, how did the 31-year old actress do it? With the help of her personal trainer, Bobby Strom, a former New York police officer who has also worked with Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Biel.

We tracked him down to get some exclusive tips on how he helped get Scarlett in shape.

‘No workout was ever exactly the same because I didn’t want her to get bored,’ he explains. ‘I was having her do a lot of balance, coordination, and core work, but she really loved the strength work, like pull ups and the idea of feeling and looking strong.’

Just as important for preventing boredom, varying workouts also shocks the body into adapting to a new stress, working the musucles in different ways to create fast, more visible change.

Although exercising alone is not enough to create figure shaping change alone.  Whilst confessing to a ‘liking for grilled cheese sandwich as much as the next person,’ Scarlett admits that she stuck to a balanced, healthy diet of lean protein and slow energy releasing carbohydrates.

‘There is no magic wand to wave over oneself to look good in a latex catsuit,’ she explains. ‘Eating healthy and getting fit is about commitment, determination, consistency and the dedication to self-preservation.’

Sounds like a FitBitch way of thinking.

If you want to find out some of the exercises that Bobby did with Scarlett to get her into shape, then don’t miss our Hollywood Bikini Bodies Weekend Camp, 28th-29th April, 12-13th May, or 30th May-1st June, £150.
Want to WIN a camp on the April weekend? All you have to do is become a fan of FitBitch Boot Camp on Facebook by following this link and we will enter you into a free prize draw. 

Keeps you full and great for your joints

Nuts are a fantastic source of protein, which helps keep you fuller for longer. But having a bag at your desk is seriously dangerous.

They are hugely calorific if not eaten in moderation, and before you know it a 250g bag is gone. So stick to using nuts in recipes, buying only the small taster packs from the supermarket so you are not tempted to overindulge. This is a perfect lunch and you can add chicken or even fish to help turn it into an evening meal.

Ingredients

olive oil spray

50g whole natural almonds

1 cloves fresh garlic, crushed

1/2 finely chopped red chilli

1 tsp sea salt

4 finely chopped tomatoes

1 tbs chopped coriander stem

1/4 cantaloupe melon

1 tbs blueberries

1 tbs fresh mint

Method:

1. Toss the almonds in oil and cook over gentle heat for 4 mins, tossing them around regularly. Add the chilli, salt and garlic and cook for a further 2- 4 minutes or until the garlic turns into a golden colour.

2. Remove from the heat and stir in the coriander and tomatoes

3.  Toss the melon, fruit and fresh mint together and serve with salad leaves. Delicious with a spoonful of natural yoghurt.

Almondboard.co.uk

Although don’t go near them until you’ve first read ourreport on whether you’re ready for them.

Best for the entry level racer

Nike LunarRacer+, £87, www.nikestore.co.uk

Weight: 6.7ounces

Weigh these in one hand with an IPhone in the other and the trainers feel lighter which is pretty incredible. Bright pink is not necessarily a colour I would associate with a serious racing shoe but this small quibble aside (they come in yellow too) these are perfect for someone making the transition to a racing shoe as they have more support than most without sacrificing weight gain. They make for an incredibly comfortable, cushioned ride and this last part is crucial. If you are trying lighter shoes for the first time then great, but if you are used to race shoes these could feel a little too cushioned.We loved them though – a Fitbitch favourite.

Best for the conditioned race runner

Brooks T7 Racer, £65, Www.brooksrunning.co.uk

Weight: 6.4ounces

These were the lightest shoe we trialled and worn by the likes of Chrissie Wellington, we were expecting these to be super fast and they are. It feels like you are wearing nothing on your feet although they have just enough protection to make the difference between allowing you to feel the texture of the road without it being painful.

In addition to feeling lighter than pair of blister resistance running socks, these shoes are designed with an asymmetrical upper which means they lace up on a diagonal to work with the natural anatomy of the foot. Shame that for all that, the laces came undone a few times which is not great if you are going for a personal best. Other than this minor flaw, easily fixed by switching laces these are fantastic and look pretty snazzy too. This is a shoe that will help you get your personal best.

Best for the racing trail runner

Salamon Speedcross 3, £90, www.salamonrunning.com, 01276 404800

Weight: 9.9ounces

Prefer trail to roads? Well don’t worry because there are performance shoes for you too.

These are super light weight (around 3 ounces lighter than usual trail shoes) and feel like a second skin. They have quick release/tie laces, just requiring you to pull a toggle although tuck them between your laces otherwise they flap about. Their only design flaw, is partly a plus point too and that is their grip.

I tried these on very muddy, steep terrain and they were 100% secure in traction but picked up a lot of mud, which stuck resolutely making them rather less than lightweight. But can you get a shoe with good traction that also ‘releases’ the mud from the soles as you run? That aside I will be racing in these shoes, particularly now they’re not so gleaming-ly neon lime.

Kettlebells, boxing and celebrity fitness secrets

Want to learn the secret core exercises that Heidi Klum did to get her pre-pregnancy body back? Or how Jennifer Lopez manages to look both curvy and toned?

This and more will be revealed at the Hollywood Bikini Bodies Weekend Camps, in Brighton on April 28th-29th, May 12-13th, or June 30th-1st July.

Designed by founder of FitBitch and lifestyle journalist, Rachael Woolston, who has interviewed the top celebrity personal trainers in the world.

‘Who cares what the celebrities do?’ you might think. Well, it’s their job to be in shape and no one knows how to do it, and more quickly, than the stars and their trainers whose job it is to make their clients look good in front of millions.

This fun, outdoor camp with a week’s eating plan to follow before camp is perfect for those who want a fitness blast, or who are wanting to get in shape quick be it for a wedding, holiday or just to get into your summer dress.

Booking now on our Prices and Booking page, £150 for the weekend. Hurry though, there are limited spaces.

Mmmm...Mackerel

Fancy winning a luxury break for two at The Hamburgh Hotel, the only Michelin starred hotel and restaurant on the Isle of Wight?

All you have to do is take a snap of your fabulous, FitBitchin’ style lunch and upload it to www.stylist.co.uk/showusyourlunch before 5pm Monday 30th.

Even more of an incentive to get cooking and experimenting with our FitBitch recipes!