Team

Derby Babe

02 December 2014

Tags: as worn by, MadeinBritain, models, team, welove, win

Derby Babe

We LOVE these new shots of Roller Derby Queen Donna in our Icon Collection Clara tee.

Even more excitingly she's just been picked for the 1st team again! Clearly a winning combo!

Race Time

26 November 2014

Tags: as worn by, awesome, British, Fit, inaction, Lake Leggings, Sarah, team, win

Race Time

The last two months has been an incredible learning curve for me, and I have finally begun to understand how to balance different goals.

For the first time in my life I am pursuing my three greatest passions all at the same time.

I am in full time training for Jasmin Vardimons young company JV2, with trail running and surfing events squeezed in at the weekends and during the Christmas holiday break.

I believed for a very long time that there was no limit, and in many ways, it still remains a foundation in my motivation.

But it is clear that doing TOO much can hinder your performance in everything you do, and in a way, your limit for achievement begins to drop.

The last few races have been a huge eye opener to what the human body is capable of.

Helped along by reading ‘Born to Run’ a both educational and inspirational book written by Christopher McDougal, I decided to venture further than the 42 mile race I had dragged myself through in Cornwall.

I first ramped up a gear and took a slightly doubtful dive into the self-navigated 58mile race across the sparse Snowdonia mountain range.

I had entered without really thinking about it, and it was only when Benn Berkeley, a good friend and experienced expeditioner, helped me track and visualise the route along an OS map that I gulped with apprehension. He looked at me and said ‘wow, that’s long way’ … and that was coming from a man who has endured one of the toughest endurance ice races across Siberia!

None the less, I had entered, and I am not one for backing out, so I set off on an adventure with the thought that if the worst came to the worst, I could always pull out at a checkpoint.

The small pool of runners set off as the sun rose, and I was in my normal chirpy mood, excited to explore a great route across mountain range I hadn’t seen before.

I latched onto the back of two Australian runners in desperation of not getting lost, but they shot off after the first 6 miles.

I knew there was a long race ahead so I stuck to my own pace and made more of a focus to reach the end in one piece.

With over 10,000 ft. of elevation, I felt at times I would never stop climbing, but luckily the surrounding view was enough to distract from the pain.

I wearily stopped to fill my water pouch from the fresh river by the slate quarry, then continued, paying close attention to the terrain.

By the fourth checkpoint, I had caught up with a lovely chap called Tom. His smile was enough to cheer me up from a severe state of self-pity and I decided I would try and stay close too him for as long as possible.

He munched on some jellybeans and bound off down the trail, so I plodded after him, still shovelling nuts into one side of my mouth whilst trying to breathe out the other.

He welcomed my company and became a hugely motivating leader. He had some knowledge of the area so whilst he chatted away, I replied very abruptly, just trying to concentrate on keeping up.

All in all we ran together for a good 6 hours and I feel that without his chirpy spirit I may have crumbled and withered far sooner!

As we reached the last checkpoint, I was so desperate to finish but my legs were screaming at me, so I told Tom to head off without me and assured that I would see him at the finish line.

He spun round and waved me a good luck smile before disappearing into a never-ending horizon.

For the last few miles I had my map clutched in my fingertips, tracking every slight advance towards the end.

As I crawled out of the forest and reached the road, I could smell both civilisation and the finish line.

An old man stood with a walkie-talkie and buzzed back to HQ that he had seen the first woman. I had no idea I was running in the lead! My mind had been so focussed on my map, looking where my feet were going and not losing sanity, I almost forgot I was even in a race.

I was hit with a wave of last wind energy and embodied the bounding energy I had envied Tom having hours beforehand.

I could hear the band playing and I could see the lights of the finish.

As I broke through the tape I was greeted but the few male runners that had come through already, a teary eyed mum, and a very happy race director armed with a bowl of hot pasta.

I was in disbelief at my finishing time and position.

Being the youngest runner by about 6 years I was overwhelmed with words of congratulations from spectators and other runners.

Sarah x

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