FionaOutdoors

Ok, so maybe I’m not normal but I love the snow, especially when Running Every Day in December. Running three miles or more every day can get a little boring, especially as all my other work and home chores require me to frequently follow a similiar-ish running route. But when the snow comes it adds [...]

The G-Force likes his outdoor kit. In recent months I have listened to endless chat about ice axes, walking jackets, off-road running shoes, Gore-tex trainers, finger boards, harnesses, gloves, fleeces – and now rucksacks. Don’t get me wrong, I probably do my own fair share of wittering on about outdoor kit and I’m very happy [...]

Facebook discussion came alive this morning after a tri club pal posted a message about his love of YakTrax grips for running in ice and snow. Meanwhile, I posted about the G-Force’s high praise for another ice grip product called EzyShoes Extreme. After this, people began asking which products were the best. I’ve already vouched [...]

If Hi-Tec means only walking boots to you then you’ll be a little surprised to see the energy that they are giving to trail running. In 2012 they launch a Hi-Tec Ultra Trail Series – and the outdoor walking and running equipment company now have a range of trail running shoes. The Hi-tec Ultra Trail [...]

An hysterical phone call from daughter and her friend this morning sounded more like a drama on a mountainside than two teenagers stuck half way up the road outside our house. To start with I retorted (in fierce mummy style): “Oh, for goodness sakes pull yourself together, it’s only a bit of ice, so try [...]

What is the rain good for? Mud. And what are both rain and mud good for? Testing walking boots, of course. The first up are Keen’s Gypsum Mid Walking boots. I’m a big fan of Keen boots – and so, it seems, are many of my friends who whenever they see me in my fave [...]

I do not normally take guest blogs form people who have approached me, unless I think the topic is spot on for my readers and the blog is well written. Cindy Prosser is a former underwear model, so she presumably knows a thing or two about comfy bras! Having now started a family she has turned [...]

Envy is not a strong enough word to describe the G-Force and his reaction to my Gore-tex Active Shell test jacket. Then, as if by magic (or thanks to the kindness of me, his partner) the opportunity arose to test a Gore-tex jacket of his own. While it is not made of Gore-tex’s super new [...]

I like to make sure that outdoors equipment really does what it says it will. So I have been testing my Gore-tex Active Shell in a range of different situations. The Gore-tex Active Shell claims to be waterproof yet also breathable. This means that while the rain can’t penetrate the Gore-tex membrane, the sweat, in [...]

Running uphill without any flat sections for 5k on a gorgeously sunny, but breezy and chilly, day in the Bavarian Alps with two top French bloggers and runners, Greg-Runner and Mountain Goat Sylvain, makes me sweat. Of course it does! It’s faster than my usual pace, steeper than my usual hills, at higher altitude than [...]