Our new collection included a running skort (skirt with integral shorts) called the City skort. We introduced it to see whether the UK was ready to follow in the footsteps of our American sisters who consider the skirt a running wardrobe essential.
To be honest, I had my doubts and I have been proven completely wrong. They have flown off the shelves and after it was featured in the May issue of Runner's World, we sold out within a week!
In one sense this is fantastic news but I am also very sorry to disappoint so many of our customers. Our new stock is not due to arrive until the Autumn and although we are looking into whether we can bring this forward at the moment the signs are not good.
So to all our disappointed customers out there, you have my sincere apologies for being too conservative. We will make sure that it doesn't happen again.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
LONDON MARATHON EXPO
Having got Paris under my belt my full attention has turned to the London Marathon which is on Sunday. We have a stand (166) at the Expo which I will be manning for all 4 days. This is our third time at the Expo and each year it gets better. It holds a special place for us as we launched the brand here in 2007 so technically this week marks our third birthday - any excuse for more champagne!
It's got a great atmostphere and I've enjoyed speaking to our customers and re-living my marathon experiences. Today a lady came on the stand who has run 180 marathons! I can't even begin to imagine why!
If you're coming to collect your race number, pop by and say hello. We're by the massage tables which I have had my eye on all day.
It's got a great atmostphere and I've enjoyed speaking to our customers and re-living my marathon experiences. Today a lady came on the stand who has run 180 marathons! I can't even begin to imagine why!
If you're coming to collect your race number, pop by and say hello. We're by the massage tables which I have had my eye on all day.
PARIS MARATHON 2010
Marathon day has come and gone in a whirlwind and I quite literally haven't found a minute to write about it until now. In fact the passage of time has dulled the senses a bit and so I'll be able to write a bit more positively about what was the most painful thing I have done since the London Marathon in 2007 when I vowed never again!
The whole weekend was great fun with the girls. Claire was in charge of our accommodation and she did a spectacular job of finding a wonderful hotel just minutes from the start. This proved a godsend as we were able to make the most of the facitities while the thousands queued for the what seemed to be very few portaloos.
In comparison to the London and New York marathons, the start in Paris was very slow. It was also a bit of an obstacle course as the ground was littered with discarded bin liners, water bottles, gel wrappers and other unidentifiable items. It took us just under 15 minutes to cross the start line and then the race was on.
Charlotte was off like a shot while Claire and I ran together for the first 7 miles. From the sidelines with her bagette, Lindsay also ran along for a little bit! I found it very difficult to get into my stride as it was extremely crowded with far more jostling than I have experienced before. The water stations were also fairly chaotic made all the more challenging by having to navigate the banana and orange skins on the ground.
I started to feel pretty tired by the half way point which wasn't a good sign. The jelly babies weren't giving me the energy I needed and my legs started to hurt. I was feeling very low by about mile 14 and a seed of doubt started to grow as to whether I could make the full distance.
But marathon running is full of highs and lows. After I saw Lindsay again at mile 15 and put on my ipod I started to feel a lot better. With Neil Diamond ringing loudly in my ears I found an unexpected turn of pace and powered through the next 6 miles with almost a spring in my step. Alas, it was not to last and at mile 23 I well and truly hit the wall. Michael Jackson couldn't help me and I slowed to a crawl. I was also extremely thirsty and the only aid station in sight was serving wine and cheese, but not water!
Again, unlike in London and New York I found the finish somewhat of an anti-climax. That said, I was delighted to finish but not so delighted with my time of 4 hours 13 mins. I'm not sure if I was under-prepared or just tired from an exhausting few weeks but I know I couldn't have run any faster.
Claire and Charlotte both seemed to enjoy themselves more than I did. It was Charlotte's first marathon which is always a special event. She did it in a fantastic time of 3 hours 42 mins. Her marathon lesson was that next time she'll be choosing her underwear more carefully and will not be running in a g-string. While I had blisters on my feet, hers were in more delicate places! From the photos, Claire seemed to having the most fun. Her time was a very respectable 4 hours and 41 mins which was all the more impressive considering that her blisters (on her feet) were monstrous.
We showered and changed and spent a very enjoyable few hours having lunch with Lindsay before catching the Eurostar home, drinking champagne all the way!
The whole weekend was great fun with the girls. Claire was in charge of our accommodation and she did a spectacular job of finding a wonderful hotel just minutes from the start. This proved a godsend as we were able to make the most of the facitities while the thousands queued for the what seemed to be very few portaloos.
In comparison to the London and New York marathons, the start in Paris was very slow. It was also a bit of an obstacle course as the ground was littered with discarded bin liners, water bottles, gel wrappers and other unidentifiable items. It took us just under 15 minutes to cross the start line and then the race was on.
Charlotte was off like a shot while Claire and I ran together for the first 7 miles. From the sidelines with her bagette, Lindsay also ran along for a little bit! I found it very difficult to get into my stride as it was extremely crowded with far more jostling than I have experienced before. The water stations were also fairly chaotic made all the more challenging by having to navigate the banana and orange skins on the ground.
I started to feel pretty tired by the half way point which wasn't a good sign. The jelly babies weren't giving me the energy I needed and my legs started to hurt. I was feeling very low by about mile 14 and a seed of doubt started to grow as to whether I could make the full distance.
But marathon running is full of highs and lows. After I saw Lindsay again at mile 15 and put on my ipod I started to feel a lot better. With Neil Diamond ringing loudly in my ears I found an unexpected turn of pace and powered through the next 6 miles with almost a spring in my step. Alas, it was not to last and at mile 23 I well and truly hit the wall. Michael Jackson couldn't help me and I slowed to a crawl. I was also extremely thirsty and the only aid station in sight was serving wine and cheese, but not water!
Again, unlike in London and New York I found the finish somewhat of an anti-climax. That said, I was delighted to finish but not so delighted with my time of 4 hours 13 mins. I'm not sure if I was under-prepared or just tired from an exhausting few weeks but I know I couldn't have run any faster.
Claire and Charlotte both seemed to enjoy themselves more than I did. It was Charlotte's first marathon which is always a special event. She did it in a fantastic time of 3 hours 42 mins. Her marathon lesson was that next time she'll be choosing her underwear more carefully and will not be running in a g-string. While I had blisters on my feet, hers were in more delicate places! From the photos, Claire seemed to having the most fun. Her time was a very respectable 4 hours and 41 mins which was all the more impressive considering that her blisters (on her feet) were monstrous.
We showered and changed and spent a very enjoyable few hours having lunch with Lindsay before catching the Eurostar home, drinking champagne all the way!
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