Category: Running

  • How to breathe

    How to Breathe while Exercising

    Initially, this may seem like a simple concept and one which is often overlooked. Breathing is something that is handled by our subconscious mind most of the time and not often given much thought. This is probably why a lot of people do not consider how to breathe. By taking control of your breathing you can retrain yourself to perform better. If you often feel breathless and struggling for air this is definitely something you should read…

    If you learn to breathe properly you can push yourself harder for longer. You can work your muscles more efficiently and feel less tired at the end. Whether you’re Cycling, Running, Hiking, Walking this is something that will make what you’re doing much easier.

    Breathing is something you will have to do. You’ll have to do it more when exercising. It is easy to see runners going along, hardly out of breath and assume they are super fit. The likelihood is that they are but they didn’t start there. They are indeed working hard but have learnt to control their breathing in a more effective way.

    How to breath while Cycling

    Take the small wins to get going

    Firstly, it is very easy to get carried away. When using Strava it is easy to become disheartened if you weren’t as fast as last time. Don’t do this. Accept you’re going back to step 1 to build yourself up stronger. The aim here is simply to not get out of breath and keep going.

    Pick a distance you normally have to slow down and walk or push or stop. Instead of trying to run quickly just breathe deeply. Breath in through your nose for 3 seconds, hold it, breathe out through your mouth for 3 seconds, hold it and repeat. If you find you’re breathing faster, slow down. Do not allow to yourself to get to the point of hyperventilating. It’s much harder to recover from this and you will have to stop. Concentrate on letting your breathing control your speed. Use all of your lungs.

    You will start to feel like you’re getting better and gaining fitness very quickly. More than likely you’re just fuelling yourself with oxygen much more efficiently. Also you will save a little energy from not breathing as hard and inefficiently !

    Yogi's know how to Breathe !

    Why does this make you so much better ?

    Under normal resting breathing you only utilise about 20% of your lung capacity. Instead of rapidly using a small part, try using all of it, breathe deeply and slowly. Rest days are still important but if you feel like you can go and push yourself more often then why not. Well done, you’re starting to learn how to breathe.

    Learning how to breathe more efficiently is your first step towards being more efficient. Fuel your muscles with more oxygen. It is easy to assume that breathing faster and heavier will increase the amount of oxygen in your body but it has the opposite effect. Slowing down your breathing will increase your blood-oxygen saturation level.

    How to Breathe while Running

    The Next Steps

    Once you have learned to cover that distance you couldn’t do without stopping you can either start speeding it up or you can go further. This is where you can start to see greater fitness gains. Being able to go further or faster or longer, whatever your goal is, is where you can start getting fitter.

    Don’t try to do it all at once. Remember you are rebuilding yourself ultimately better than before. If you have to slow down to go further, do it. Build up slowly. This is about pacing yourself so you don’t get exhausted as much as it is about improving. Stay in this zone of not being out of breath and you will build fitness much faster. This is how you can work your muscles more efficiently and reduce fatigue.

    How to Breathe whilst Spinning

    A Life Skill to Master

    This is truly a skill to master. There are many good videos and guides out there with various different techniques. Ones to give you a burst of speed or ones that might just work better for you. Everybody is different and it is not a one size fits all solution. However, this is a good place to start. In conclusion, all you need to do is keep it slow and deep and allow your breathing to control your pace. Don’t let your pace dictate your breathing.

    Once you have mastered this doing whatever you are doing, it translates over to making you better at any other type of aerobic exercise.

    As always, If you found this useful, support me by buying some of my awesome sportswear

  • Recycled Polyester Sportswear

    Recycled Polyester Sportswear

    The Grizzly Wears Recycled Polyester Sportswear range is a core part of our line up. Whilst we grow as a business, this range will grow with us. I see this range as an important part of our journey to a more sustainable future.

    Grizzly Wears Clothing Recycled Polyester Sportswear

    Why is Recycled Polyester so great ?

    Firstly, this fabric is great. Each T-Shirt is made from about 8 plastic bottles worth of plastic waste meaning we prevent that waste going to landfill. Not only does it mean we have less requirements for virgin material to be produced from oil but we reduce landfill waste that takes a long time to break down. Both important points in the battle to save the planet.

    And secondly, this is a great performing fabric for technical clothing. It breathes well, it is soft and smooth. It dries quickly. We sacrifice none of the performance we are used to as we gain so many benefits.

    Polyester has become the dominant fabric of the sportswear industry. It is good for running, cycling, the gym, hiking, walking. You name an activity and there will be a polyester garment designed specifically for it. This is due to the particular balance of properties it provides. Along with an industry scaled to meet demands.

    Is there no better, natural alternative ?

    Few natural fabrics have the properties of polyester. There are a great number of natural fabrics being created. The issue we face is that they are costly, in short supply, hard to get hold of. Recycled polyester is more widely available. Although it isn’t the ultimate solution it is one step in the right direction.

    The main advantage is that it doesn’t take up land, natural habitats or limited resources to produce. It is made entirely of a waste product. In addition it requires much less energy to produce. We should look ultimately towards natural solutions but use what we have in the mean time. We have a lot of plastic waste.

    I hope that is Recycled Polyester Sportswear !
    Exploring the natural world (Probably wearing Polyester)

    What about when it reaches the end of it’s life ?

    Because Grizzly Wears only uses 100% recycled polyester, it can be easily recycled again. When polyester is blended with another material, the process of recycling becomes harder. In addition there are limited places which can process this. By sticking to 100% polyester and nothing else, we have a product range that is recyclable again.

    Currently, I am looking in to services to have this range recycled but do have the possibility of sending clothing to people in need. If you return this range of clothing to us in the future, it will be dealt with in the best way possible. We may even give you money off some new clothing for doing so.

    Clothing wears out, fashion changes. Make new clothes from old ones. Check out my Shop to buy the latest items available and send them back once you’re finished.

    Are there any downsides ?

    I am yet to discover a fabric that has no downsides at all. Recycled Polyester is no exception and I see the biggest problem as being microplastics. this is a problem we all have to tackle by washing clothes less, for a shorter time and at a lower temperature. Filters are available for your washing machine from Planet Care. Scientists are working on identifying plants that can remove microplastics from our water. Even though this is not perfect, the advantages do outweigh the negative effects. Polyester is something we just have not found a natural replacement for yet.

    Recycled Polyester Sportswear in Conclusion…

    As polyester is an engineered fabric which performs like polyester, a natural replacement is not easy to find. For sportswear, most people will demand a level of performance. And also have a limited budget. Utilising recycled polyester lets us create high performance clothing and meet the performance and price requirements that you have come to rely on.

    Choose 100% recycled polyester and take steps to a more sustainable future. This is one of our tools to fight climate change in the fashion industry and maybe one day we will tip the balance more in favour of recycling. One day we may create a closed loop eco system of infinitely recyclable polyester. Read about how its used in our Sustainable Bamboo Running Clothes

  • Clear your mind of Excuses

    How to Clear your mind of Excuses

    Finding motivation can be hard at times. More so in winter months when the weather is less inviting. As a result I definitely end up with a seasonal fitness dip and I know I’m not the only one. This definitely applies a lot more broadly than fitness but here are a few ways I fit things in. Here are a few tips to Clear your mind of Excuses and get things done.

    For the purposes of writing this, I chose running as the target activity. Just switch the word with whatever you make excuses about not doing to fit. It could be running, cycling, mountain biking, yoga, going to the gym. The same excuses come up for everything.

    To start with, everybody has objections to doing things. The difference between somebody who does take action is they are better at overcoming the excuses in their own mind. It is as simple as that. On occasions they have built up that level of resilience, some are just that way to start. Take some steps towards being that person who just does things and stop procrastinating !

    Yoda says Clear your mind of Excuses
    A wise man, a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away

    “Try not. Do. Or do not, there is no try”

    — Yoda, Grand Master Jedi

    Tackle that to-do list

    When you have a huge “to-do” list it can be overwhelming. Bear in mind everything on that list is only one thing. Do one thing. Do one more thing. It’s strangely addictive and before you know it, that list is much shorter. For example: Today you need to do the shopping; walk the dog; go to work; grab some lunch; cook the dinner; tidy up after last night; put the washing machine on; load the dishwasher; hang the washing up to dry; go back to the shop for what you forgot; collect that missed parcel and try and squeeze a run in. Looking at your day this way, it seems like an unstructured mess of 12 things. It absolutely is. Take a breath and relax.

    Today you will:

    • Get up and run with the dog, have breakfast, then leave a note of where to leave your parcel and throw your workout clothes in the washing machine.
    • Grab lunch on the way to work and have a relaxing walk on your break.
    • Go shopping on the way home with a photo of the recipe you’re making for dinner.
    • Load the dishwasher and start cooking, hang the washing out whilst you’re waiting.

    This way you have achieved six tasks (half of them) before starting work. And one of them was that critical “you time” run. This way the jobs are done. A little planning has even given you a few hours to crash at the end of your day. Furthermore by being a little proactive, some of the jobs took care of themselves.

    Do the boring quickly and enjoy the interesting

    Quite importantly, nobody wants to savour the boring jobs. By getting on and just doing them so much time is saved. Time that is now free and absolutely all yours !

    When you clear your mind of excuses you can get on and get things done. Unfortunately, every day there are boring jobs. This is part of being a grown up. The “I’ll do it later” philosophy seems to just add to that to-do list. In conclusion it is another simple solution. However, it is easy to postpone things and let the excuses build up. Leading to all of these individual things to become an excuse in their own way. “I haven’t got time to run because I have to tidy up”. Turn this around. “I am going for a run and then I will speed tidy on my runner’s high!”. When you find a different perspective, you begin to wonder why there was a problem in the first place.

    What are the most common excuses ?

    Like cheap brand cola, excuses seem to come in similar flavours with a unique twist. Every supermarket has them, but who makes the best. Well this one is down to personal preference. This section may be offensive as I blow holes through your top excuses. If you find it offensive, this is more than likely because it is true !

    These are some of the excuses I use myself and have heard others use, along with the arguments to clear your mind of excuses.

    I’ve got [insert here] to do instead.

    Sometimes a reason rather than an excuse. Probably the most common one. If it is something you can do in advance or afterwards, move your schedule and make that run happen. In the event of not having flexibility, run at a different time. It isn’t always a one or the other choice. Choose both.

    Someone couldn’t come with me today/I don’t want to go by myself.

    So your friends are busy ? Go by yourself. When you go with somebody else you tend not to mix. Go by yourself and you will meet new people. Other people by themselves. If you spend your life waiting for other people, you will have a lot of free time. To make it worse there will always be someone who says “I would have come with you”. This is normally the person who said they were too busy the last twenty times you asked.

    Check out Lost Explorers, and their great idea, the green light, This signals to other people that you are approachable when you are out and about.

    The weather is too hot/cold/windy/wet/muddy.

    You probably want to wash your clothes and have a shower anyway. Just get on with it. The perfect weather hardly ever seems to come, especially in the UK. If I waited for the right weather I would probably leave the house a maximum of three days per year. Some of the best adventures I’ve had have been peeping out from the comfort of my goretex jacket on a rainy day.

    The weather is what you make of it. Just remember, everywhere you go, always take the weather with you.

    I won’t get back in time to watch [insert here] on TV.

    Get Netflix. This is the 21st century. Plenty of streaming services, some are free.

    My [insert body part] hurts.

    Well this is exercise. Furthermore, I can confirm it only gets worse with age. There are two different types of pain. Firstly, the kind where you should stop, slow down, rest, recover. Secondly the kind that is just your body adapting to what you demand of it. This is the kind of pain you probably won’t benefit from backing away from. Get up, get out, face the pain. When you push through this type of pain and find it gets no worse or disappears, you learn to cope and push through it. Use this pain as an opportunity to build yourself up stronger. This is how you build muscle and get better at what you choose to do.

    In summary, try to push yourself and if it gets no better, walk home and get the peas out of the freezer.

    I’m tired.

    Yeah… everybody gets tired. There is usually enough left to get a few miles in. Tiredness is something that’s with me most of the time. Beat that tiredness with a run in the fresh air, get your heart pumping and get going. You’ll sleep better. Problem solved. On the other hand you’ll get an energy boost. Problem solved.

    I’m waiting for a parcel.

    Every day is parcel day when you have Amazon Prime. Remember when we had to get up and physically go to a shop?

    Try to get your parcels delivered to a neighbour or safe place. Even better get them all delivered on one day to minimise time spend waiting for parcels. (I’m currently waiting for a parcel and not running).

    Clear your mind of Excuses conclusion…

    Unless faced with a valid reason, organise your day better, combine tasks. Deal with things that are stopping you doing what you enjoy.

    The more you manage to overcome these excuses, the more your default habit becomes to dispose of them. If it wasn’t a problem last time, it won’t be next time.

    If you found motivation here, show everybody with one of my T-Shirts. Grizzly Bears don’t make excuses. If you’re going to be a bear, be a Grizzly !

    Lastly, for more news, updates and what I’m up to, check out other posts on my blog and follow me on Instagram.

  • Activities that Help with Mountain Biking

    Activities that Help with Mountain Biking

    Every year I tell myself I will continue to ride through winter to maintain my bike fitness. Every year I find an excuse not to. This year I took up running which has given me a big boost out of winter. See How to Run for Bike Fitness for more information on this. Mountain Biking does seem to need its own type of fitness. The best way to achieve this fitness is absolutely by riding more often and pushing yourself. In reality there are times when it is difficult to get out and ride. For this reason I thought I would put together a list of Activities that Help with Mountain Biking. These are the things I personally find, make me better on my bike.

    Being that time of year when everybody is in a similar position and wanting to get back out riding more, I thought it would be good to write down the things I find help me. Let’s get over that downtime and off season with a boost into the season ahead.

    Running

    As mentioned in the opening section because it is a big one, there are so many aspects that translate. Any type of running is good but I like trail runs. It’s rare in mountain biking that you will be riding smooth, flat ground. For this reason I like to run on the slippery slopes. Constant pace is not as important as constant effort and this helps with flow.

    Activities that Help with Mountain Biking - Running
    Running

    Running definitely helps with aerobic fitness and this is important. In addition is the breathing control learned from running. In other words, I personally find allowing your breathing to dictate your pace rather than trying to match breathing to pace, allows you to keep pushing for longer. This is a great skill to learn if you haven’t already. Breathing should be deep and slow and never to the point of hyperventilating. When you breath shallow and hard it feels as if you’re able to give more effort but this is not true. On the whole your breathing should follow a sustainable rhythm. In essence, slow down and build stamina and fitness and speed will follow.

    There are different types of run which help with different things. Normally I run around 3 miles, currently I can do this without having a level of pain that impacts on my riding. Sometimes I like to push it and do 10+ miles, I definitely need time to recover but I feel these runs are the ones I benefit most from.

    Spinning

    Recently I took up spinning. This is the indoor activity I can make myself do when the weather is bad, I can’t be bothered cleaning mud off things, there is nothing on Red Bull TV. Although I love relaxing on an evening and not doing a lot, I have watched everything worth watching because of lockdown. I was getting bored on evenings and as a result, decided to fill my time with spinning classes whenever possible.

    Activities that Help with Mountain Biking - Spinning
    Spinning

    Being completely honest, I thought with years of mountain biking under my belt I could walk in and smash it. This was absolutely not the case. Mountain biking does not help with spinning but spinning does help with mountain biking. Being conditioned to pedal full suspension means I have a weird cadence. Without realising I compensate for pedal bob in my strokes. Being up and out the saddle, in different positions works muscles in different ways. In either case it does help my riding. To summarise the benefits, it helps me power through climbs and sprints without as much pain.

    Try spinning with an open mind. It is not easy. Mountain biking does not help you be good at this. Give it a few classes at maximum effort and you will feel the benefits. My local Gym does pay as you go classes, meaning I can walk to somewhere that I don’t need to sign up for a year.

    Walking

    Never underestimate the power of a good walk. I find a walk can help loosen off muscles, keep you more mobile and help recovery. You don’t have to go for miles on end but a quick half hour gentle walk with the dog usually helps.

    Activities that Help with Mountain Biking - Walking
    Walking

    It is also nice to get fresh air, exercise and not over exert yourself from time to time. Even better as you’re moving more slowly you tend to pick out new trails created by the trail fairies and can take the time to track walk some trails and pick new lines. As you are a mountain biker I probably don’t need to tell you to be mindful of other riders trying to beat Strava times and get out of their way. Also, you can take your GoPro and use it to get some great photos of things you don’t normally stop to appreciate because you are moving too fast.

    Yoga

    Yoga has many benefits. Probably too many to cover in a paragraph or two. In this context it will help with core strength and balance. In addition it helps to undo some of the damage and pain caused from riding your bike. By stretching out and following the sun salutation you can definitely ease out muscle pain in areas that mountain biking seems to aggravate. In particular, your spine.

    Activities that Help with Mountain Biking - Yoga
    Yoga

    Constantly leaning forwards in that pedalling position and twisting intensely, definitely takes it’s toll. Rather than reaching straight for the painkillers, take 10 minutes to go through the sun salutation. I always find the pain and stiffness goes away a lot faster than painkillers can take effect. Moving forwards I know I need to find time to fit a round of this into the start or end of my day as spending long hours sitting at a desk is also bad. This routine will help to make you more flexible, build core strength and in addition, relieve pain. The list of ailments I have cured with yoga is always growing. I have fixed headaches, pain anywhere down my back, in my shoulders, hips, legs and all from this one simple routine. Learning this will save a fortune on Ibuprofen and Paracetamol !

    Cycling

    Although I don’t do any road cycling personally, I do understand that it translates over to mountain biking well. I have tried it in the past, I don’t like the feeling that someone is likely to injure or kill me when not paying attention driving. In my head it is much better to do it on my own terms going head first into a tree.

    Activities that Help with Mountain Biking - Cycling
    Cycling

    Like spinning, cycling is a different body position and slightly different variation of the same motion. It is probably cheaper to buy a bike trainer and cheap road bike/racer to cycle indoors rather than a spare wheel, tyre and cassette for your mountain bike. In addition my boost axle doesn’t fit in a trainer and I don’t want to clamp my carbon frame into one. Riding on a trainer in front of the TV during winter is a good way to boost fitness and get the miles in.

    Mountain Biking helps with Mountain Biking !

    Last but not least, the ultimate way to get better at mountain biking. More rides, more often, more distance. Not every ride has to be long, hard and fast. A short, half hour gentle ride is still a ride and it all helps. An obvious one in the list of activities that help with mountain biking.

    Be more strategic with your rides and try to get something out of them. Small goals can be great motivation whether it be beating your PB on a Strava section or a whole ride, or even challenging a friend’s PB. You can just challenge yourself to riding past a landmark on a big hill without getting off and pushing. If you manage your goal, that’s awesome, now beat it. If you didn’t get out and try again. This type of motivation can really help you set aside time for rides and get more enjoyment. Even just getting through X miles without putting a foot down or stopping for a rest is an achievement.

    Mountain Biking
    Mountain Biking

    As I said in the opening paragraph, Mountain Biking does seem to require its own type of fitness. Other activities can benefit greatly and feed into your level of “bike fit” but getting out on your bike is how you put it all together.

    A Summary of Activities that Help with Mountain Biking

    If you want to be good at mountain biking, there is no substitute for getting out and riding trails. In the UK, weather isn’t always on your side so sometimes it’s good to have an indoor replacement or a way of getting the exercise without having to clean everything. Furthermore it is nice to mix it up from time to time and do something different. If that activity can help with your riding, all the more reason to do it.

    Personally, I feel the off season is where all the work I did last season is undone and struggle to find motivation to ride knowing I will be rubbish again. In addition anything I can do to ease the pain of those first few rides is more than worth the effort. Building back up to full strength and better in a shorter time means I can enjoy my rides more.

    As time goes on I may add to this list.

    Finally, If you found this blog informative, helpful, inspiring and want to support me, You can buy sustainable clothing for a range of activities in my online shop. You can also follow me on Instagram or sign up to my mailing list. I’m even on Facebook and YouTube too !

  • Benefits of a Morning Run

    Benefits of a Morning Run

    I don’t always leap out of bed at 5am with enthusiasm. Definitely not always enthusiasm for running. However, sometimes when I wake at an unsociable hour, I like to get hydrated and cash in on the benefits of a morning run !

    A timelapse of the sun rising from one of my early awakenings !

    Are you a morning person ?

    Confidently, I can declare, I am not a morning person. Furthermore I’m probably not an evening/night person either. My peak arrives in the middle of the day I would say. If you are a morning person you should absolutely have no trouble running early on a morning. Those who are inclined not to love mornings similar to myself, will probably gain even more benefits from a morning run !

    Battling with my busy schedule to find time to run mid day often means I miss runs. With all the best intentions it can be too easy to play the “too tired” card on an evening and miss out again. This is where dragging myself out of bed, going straight for a drink, then a run comes in to play. It does not matter how far, how fast, how long. The aim is to have achieved something before breakfast. Furthermore, these are the days where I find I can accomplish most.

    Common sense would indicate a morning run will make you tired, however this is absolutely not the case. Consequently, running on a morning gives you a boost into the day. I always feel more energised after a run than before.

    What are the benefits ?

    Most importantly, the benefits of a morning run, to me are:

    • Firstly, an achievement before breakfast. Already 1 step ahead and nobody can take that away !
    • Waking up much more quickly.
    • Feeling ready to take on the world.
    • Increased energy levels to start the day.
    • Already burned some calories.
    • The paths/trails are all yours. Nobody else is in your way.
    • It’s cooler in summer
    • Improved mental health (According to NIMH)
    • Better sleep quality.
    • Helps to manage blood pressure.
    • Reduced stress

    Firstly, we all get frustrated at times on a weekend when everybody else is using our paths. You’re going for that PR on Strava and a group of people is in your way. Maybe next week. At 6am they are definitely still in bed. Secondly, in summer its hard to run in the heat of the day however if you’re up before the sun gets hot it is refreshing.

    Additionally, starting the day by putting yourself first is great for your mental health. Coupled with lowering blood pressure this is a great thing to do for your own wellbeing. Prioritising yourself and starting the day in a positive way can put you on your A game for the rest of the day. In essence you have already achieved something positive and you’re one step ahead. Follow on with a relaxing walk in your lunch break and keep the momentum going.

    Benefits of a Morning Run
    Benefits of a Morning Run
    Benefits of a Morning Run
    Benefits of a Morning Run

    An even greater benefit if you run through scenic places is seeing amazing sunrises. Take a camera or your phone and get an awesome picture that most people haven’t got motivated enough to witness.

    To conclude why I run on a morning

    I run on a morning because it helps me start the day. The likelihood of something preventing my run is lessened. Before breakfast I have burned calories, improved my mental state, already achieved.

    My run has happened. It was relaxing, quiet and focused.

    I don’t usually run with headphones in as I like to find space for my thoughts. However the world is quieter early on a morning and I find more focus. Essentially there is less happening in my head because less has happened today.

    If you love a mindful run on a morning, make a statement and do it in one of my Yoga Bear t-shirts !

    I hope you found this insightful and motivational. Get up early and get out running !

  • Bamboo Running Clothes

    Bamboo Running Clothes

    Approaching everything with a balanced point of view, Bamboo Running Clothes are no exception. I test a lot of fabrics. Firstly because it helps to identify where they are best used. And secondly, you wouldn’t build a bridge from jelly (jello in the US).

    What does fabric for running have to do ?

    Fabric used for high intensity activities must perform highly. I treat running as a top tier activity demanding highest levels of performance over a long time. Importantly this makes running our go to activity when it comes to initial testing. When fabrics pass the running test it means they are good for almost anything.

    Bamboo is what I would class as a nearly there fabric. The features that make bamboo great are…

    • Very strong.
    • Incredibly durable.
    • Super soft.
    • Retains heat when wet
    • Regulates temperature
    • Antibacterial (Open to debate)
    • Odour resistant
    • Moisture wicking

    There is one attribute that prevents me from using this fabric for running. It does not dry fast enough. When real world testing products, t-shirts made of bamboo tend to absorb sweat and not let go. This means as you run and sweat the t-shirt gets heavier. With a t-shirt covering a huge surface area, its job is to remove heat and sweat. Furthermore when running, lighter is better. However, I am not finished with bamboo for t-shirts forever, when time permits there will be more testing around bamboo-cotton blends.

    Lastly the industry standard for running t-shirts is Polyester. As a business I can not make an inferior product which has this setback. There are other brands who are happy to sell bamboo running t-shirts but I don’t believe it is the optimal use for this fabric.

    What is the optimal use for Bamboo in Running clothes ?

    Boxer shorts.

    Bamboo Running Clothes - Boxer Shorts
    Grizzly Wears Bamboo Boxer Shorts

    When used to create underwear, all of the positives of bamboo really come into play. The softness and smoothness reduces friction, they hold their shape really well. They give support. Boxer shorts made of bamboo are so good for running you forget you’re wearing them !

    Finally, you may wonder why the drying issue isn’t a problem here. Using a lighter weight of fabric prevents as much sweat being absorbed. The main job of the underwear is to provide comfort and support rather than transitioning the heat and sweat away.

    Underwear made of polyester is far less comfortable than bamboo. The fabric is rougher and not as comfortable over a longer duration. Cotton tends to lose its shape and not spring back like bamboo does. Meaning Polyester and Cotton can lead to uncomfortable chafing. Bamboo does not chafe even when wet and after hours of running, retains its shape as if fresh out of the washing machine.

    Will there be more Bamboo Running Clothes ?

    Yes. I will keep testing blends of bamboo to find the best solutions. Already looking towards shorts. Still searching for an optimal blend for t-shirts.

    As I said earlier Bamboo is a great fabric. In addition it is eco friendly and sustainable. It is part of the longer term Grizzly Wears plan. Using a range of fabrics over the entire catalogue is how I will balance sustainability. As time goes on I will update this blog with my findings.

    Help support me to do more research into alternative and sustainable solutions for sportswear by buying some of my current products.

    T-Shirt sales do help and the money goes towards research into new and exciting sustainable materials and how to use them best in the future. To see some of these great, innovative fabrics created by hard working, clever people who think outside the box become mainstream would be fantastic.

    Lastly, check out my Instagram and follow me for updates and news !

  • The National Running Show 2022

    The National Running Show 2022

    I may have mentioned once or twice that Grizzly Wears will be at the National Running Show South. As a small business and a fresh start up this is a big challenge and a big deal !

    For those of you who have not booked your tickets yet, head over to https://nationalrunningshow.com/south and use the code GRIZZLYWEARS at checkout to get your tickets free of charge. It would be great to see you there so come over, say hello, buy some of our awesome sustainable clothing and support me. Help me make the most of this show and lets have a great couple of days. I will be there all weekend, right by the main stage.

    https://www.instagram.com/grizzlywears/

    On with the Show

    When I booked the stand at the show, I definitely was not ready or prepared. As I write this there are only 64 days left before showtime. The last few weeks have been extremely busy. But I am on track. Being a fresh start up working on a new range of sustainable running clothing there was nothing in stock. There still isn’t on my website. On the plus side, the men’s t-shirts are being made as we speak. Boxer shorts are being made and will arrive on time. Women’s t-shirts, vests, and a couple other items have a slot booked in and will be here. I’m not entirely sure how I pulled this one off but now I have headroom and can relax a little.

    Furthermore, as a business that has nothing this is a big challenge, I need transport, hotels, helpers and all important stock. There is no experienced events planner here leading me to believe there will be a lot of lessons to take from this show. Either way I intend on making the best of it and hopefully doing a few more !

    What will Grizzly Wears have at the Show ?

    Grizzly Wears Clothing will have:

    • Men’s Boxer Shorts !
    • Men’s and Women’s running tees
    • Women’s racerback vests
    • Women’s crop t-shirts and hoodies
    • Some cotton t-shirts

    This is what I hope to definitely have available. I will try and think of some exciting competitions that don’t get me into trouble too. The last part of that sentence is the bit I am struggling with.

    Updates

    7th March

    Getting closer and closer, time is ticking away now. But definitely on track, Men’s products to be printed soon. Women’s are due to be ordered this week. I should definitely put some effort into making the show stand !

    15th March

    Waiting for first batch of clothing ready for the show, this will go live, test stuff has been sent to testers & ambassadors. still have that to-do list to blow through. Yesterday was busy busy. Today, I’m getting hydrated and going for a quick morning run to gain that productivity boost.

    Women’s stuff all here and in preparation.

    4th April

    So… I completely lost track of time and forgot to update this weekly !

    It has certainly been a busy few weeks. We have our men’s recycled running tees available, women’s is in progress. Boxers are in transit. I have loads of freebies and promo items ready for the show. It seems like times is getting tight but I am definitely on track. Most things are all in place and ready. I definitely need to make a stand though !

    18th April

    With less than 3 weeks to go I feel I am nearly there now. Everything is ordered and/or in transit. The show must go on !

    Somehow I feel like I have pulled back a little time and can relax a little. I definitely need to take a few more photos of items and get them put on the shop. Hopefully I can get round to this week. Currently I am waiting on other people getting things here on time so most things are out of my hands and I just need to remain positive. I’ll do this by running and riding in the nice weather.

    27th April

    Into the last 2 weeks before the show, 1 week before we need to start packing and getting ready to head down… I am very nearly ready, pulled everything I can think of together. Few final touches to things and some sorting to do but we should be ready to arrive and give 100% on the day. Fingers crossed nothing goes wrong, I definitely need to get organised and get the counters finished. This was well underway at the weekend but I found some ducklings and had to rescue them so got a little behind. I’ll make the time up this week, get back on track and maybe even have some time to sleep.

    30th April

    One week today… I really need to get on with finishing everything off, thankfully the weather is sunny so I can get out and do some painting. All there is to do then is label everything, organise where it goes and load into van accordingly. I haven’t injured myself running or on the bike so just need to not do that now. I am totally on track for once. Hopefully no more wildlife in need of help turns up today. I believe everything is in hand and we will get to this show with everything in order and kindof planned for.

    If you see me at the Running Show, come and say hello. Hoping it will turn out to be a great weekend and although it wouldn’t be the worst thing to be rushed off my feet the whole time, it would be nice to see some more of the show. Later this week I will remove all stock from the website, If you wish to order anything online, now is probably the time.

    If you can’t make it to the show, here are the latest products which are available to buy in my online shop now:

    I will definitely add to this blog as the countdown to the show gets closer. And finally, there will be some awesome guides to running for you to read in the run up !

  • Best Running Clothes for Sweating

    Best Running Clothes for Sweating

    We all sweat, there’s no hiding or denying it if you’re working hard enough. So what are the best running clothes for sweating ?

    To put it simply, sweating is your bodies way of getting rid of excess heat. The longer and harder you push yourself, the more heat you need to get rid of. Essentially, longer and harder means more sweaty (Yes – I am well aware of how that reads !).

    Generally you want clothing to accelerate your bodies ability to get rid of this heat. Any sweat needs to be soaked up by your clothes and pulled away from your skin, taking the heat with it. Furthermore the clothes need to dry quickly and get rid of the sweat they have soaked up. These two factors make up what we call “breathability”. This is how your clothing gets a cooling effect. On the other hand is this the effect you want all the time ?

    How much should clothes breathe ?

    This is a difficult one. We assume that more breathable is better but it does not always work that way in the real world. Firstly the temperature can play a huge part in how much breathability is right for you. Secondly, we aren’t all equal and some of us sweat more than others. On the other hand remaining dry is definitely an advantage, especially at colder times of year. Some fabrics do retain heat better when wet and if you sweat heavily in winter, these are not a bad choice.

    Which fabrics breathe best ?

    Polyester. The undisputed champion of that near perfect balance of breathability. In a virgin state this material is far from sustainable. However, I strongly believe that recycled polyester is a great tool for tackling climate change. You can have all the advantages of virgin polyester and make use of otherwise waste materials. Be sure to check out the recycled range in my online store !

    Bamboo is an intermediate fabric. It wicks well but does not dry so quickly. On the other hand it does retain heat well when wet so if you are considering running in cold weather and taking a few breaks, this is not the worst choice. When used as a base layer underneath another garment it does seem to stay warmer, reduce chafing and further insulate.

    Sheep’s wool is often disregarded as a performance material but does have some fantastic qualities. Not only an insulator but also an effective regulator of body temperature. This material retains heat very well, even when wet. I am yet to do some testing with this material but it is something I would be looking to use in the future.

    Running Clothes for Sweating in Summary

    Often running clothes do come down to personal preference. What works for one person may not work for another. One day something may work well for you and another day it may not. Weather does play a huge role but I would recommend recycled polyester for its fast drying in most conditions. Cotton is the fastest drying natural fabric but it doesn’t retain heat when wet and doesn’t dry fast enough for this to not be an issue in my experience.

    Give our recycled polyester range a try. It is soft, smooth, hard wearing, quick drying and each T-Shirt diverts 8 waste plastic bottles from landfill and into a circular economy !

  • Sustainable Running Clothes

    Sustainable Running Clothes

    Leading up to the launch of my sustainable running clothes, I thought it would be good to explain a little more about them.

    Clothing intended for running tends to demand highest performance. For this reason I chose to start with running. Knowing that products not meeting my standards could likely still be used elsewhere in the range.

    A market need

    Looking at the current ranges of running clothing, it is hard to find items I would call truly sustainable. Many brands have sustainable ranges of “up to 50% recycled material”. To me this says “At least 50% unsustainable”. I don’t mean to be overly critical because some level of recycling is better than none. Some of these brands have been pioneers at developing technical clothing to the level it is at now. They deserve credit for that. What if I could increase the level of sustainability and retain performance.

    If a plant existed that grew like bamboo, was as easy to process as cotton but had the balanced properties of polyester this would be an easy task. Everybody else would be using it already. To my knowledge such a plant does not exist and so it was back to the drawing board.

    Polyester is the closest we have to perfection in terms of performance. The majority of clothing for running is made from polyester because of this reason. Virgin polyester is a harmful material. Firstly, being an oil based product it is inherently unsustainable. Polyester does require extensive energy and resources to be produced. It is also typically a single use plastic.

    What about Natural Fabrics ?

    There are some fantastic organic fabrics available. Each has their own characteristics. On the flip side, something is not sustainable just because it is grown. A plant growing in nature is different to the ones farmed for industrial use. When farmed, plants have often been selectively bred to give certain qualities. Furthermore it takes a lot of land to produce enough. Soil is losing it’s level of fertility leading to fertilisers becoming a necessity in farming. This is due to the same land being repeatedly farmed. In addition most crops require pesticides. Not great for the environment or local insects. And lets not forget bees !

    Bees are a species that the world could not survive without. Reducing use of pesticides and making more land available for bees is a good thing.

    Bamboo is a great crop. Requiring no pesticides or fertilisers make it much more eco friendly than some others. Soil erosion is helped by bamboo and it requires very little water. Consuming more CO2 than an equivalent plantation of trees is just another advantage.

    Producing bamboo viscose does however have disadvantages of requiring chemicals to break down fibres. The effect of these chemicals has not yet been studied in depth and therefore it is important to only source bamboo fabric from the most responsible suppliers. Lyocell bamboo replaces the chemicals with a mechanical process to break down the raw bamboo into fibres. This is a long and energy intensive process.

    Lastly there does not seem to be a natural fabric which does stand up to the performance of polyester clothing.

    Fabric Testing

    Refusing to accept virgin polyester as the only solution to make running clothes from I decided to test a number of other fabrics.

    Bamboo feels great against the skin, its biggest downfall is that it does not dry fast enough and holds on to sweat. Cotton is the fastest drying natural fabric. It still does not dry as fast as polyester and lacks a lot of the qualities of bamboo.

    By blending cotton and bamboo the result is still compostable and non toxic. Is this the simple solution I was looking for ? No. It is impossible to take the quick dry time of cotton and add it to bamboo to produce a fabric that ticks all the boxes. By mixing the two you end up with a compromise between them. This type of fabric although has benefits of both natural ingredients, carries the negative attributes with it too.

    I tried very hard to find the mythical easy to grow, easy to process plant that produces the best technical fabric. Unless somebody knows otherwise, I can confirm it is not real.

    After testing cotton, bamboo, combinations of both there is only one solution left. Refusing to blend natural with man made fabrics also means I cant combine polyester with bamboo. On the outside this seems like a good solution. The reality is a fabric you can not recycle and is not biodegradable.

    And the best Sustainable Running Clothes are…

    Recycled polyester !

    The best sustainable running clothes currently are made of 100% recycled polyester. Here are a few reasons why:

    • No Land is required to grow it
    • Water, Pesticides, Fertiliser are not required
    • 79% less energy is required than producing virgin polyester
    • Waste is diverted from landfill
    • Being 100% recycled polyester means it can be recycled again
    • All the properties of polyester are inherent

    It seems obvious when you know the answer. Because of this the Grizzly Wears Clothing current running products will be 100% recycled polyester. I will continue looking for alternative solutions. I have picked up and identified uses for other fabrics along the way. Polyester is a hard fabric to replicate. To conclude, this is why I chose to use it. I believe it belongs as part of a balanced range.

    Finally running clothing has many demands. Performance is number one. To create a successful range of running clothes the level of performance must not be compromised. By maintaining this and adding an aspect of sustainability we have created sustainable running clothes that are usable and sustainable.

  • What are the best Running Clothes ?

    What are the best Running Clothes ?

    Have you ever wondered what the best Running Clothes ?

    There are a number of key points when selecting the optimal clothing for running. These include performance, comfort, breathability, drying time and a few others. Briefly I will try to cover as many of these points as I can and give my point of view as a clothing designer.

    Firstly, I will be upfront and honest – I am not a good runner. I run slowly, cross country and get enjoyment from doing it but an athlete I am not.

    Performance

    Firstly, performance comes down to the properties of the fabric. Developing products for Grizzly Wears Clothing has given me opportunity to test many different fabrics. Some fabrics work better in different environments, different temperatures. All fabrics are not created equal. Although I like to use natural fabrics as much as possible, there does not tend to be a natural fabric that ticks all the boxes when it comes to running. Polyester is great in this application and the good news is it can be 100% recycled.

    Polyester is fast drying, wicking, breathable. It is the go to fabric for most sportswear for a reason. By using recycled polyester over virgin polyester it is also sustainable. All Grizzly Wears polyester products are made from 100% recycled polyester. The main advantage is that it can be recycled again. When polyester is blended with other fabrics it can not be recycled.

    Overall performance can also be measured on some of the other key attributes I’m covering. Running is an activity that demands a high overall level of performance from the clothing you are wearing.

    Comfort

    The most important factor. If clothing intended for running is not comfortable then it is no good. While the cut of the clothing can affect comfort, this again comes down to the fabric. softer, smoother fabrics are much better for running as they move with your body and glide over your skin. As a rule of thumb you should not be conscious of what you are wearing to run in, it should feel natural and unrestrictive. Providing a level of freedom !

    When comfort fails, so does your pace and stamina. There is nothing more demoralising and distracting than a piece of clothing causing irritation. Especially shoes, the best thing you can do is find a good local running shop who know what they’re doing and get the most comfortable pair of shoes fitted. I thoroughly recommend On Running for shoes. Personally I find them very comfortable but remember I put my feet inside them, not yours. You need to find the shoe which is best for your own feet.

    Socks do play a part but not as critical, your socks should allow movement (but not too much) of your feet inside your shoes without causing blisters. I like to run in shorts but haven’t really found they play a huge part. Definitely not as important as your underwear. Grizzly Wears Boxer shorts are perfect for me when running, they don’t ride up, they don’t chafe. Check out my Boxer Shorts. 

    Lastly is the top. This does seem to play a huge part in maintaining your core temperature. Remember you don’t want to be too hot or too cold. You need to find the goldilocks zone when layering and selecting long sleeves or short sleeves. The top you are wearing should enhance your bodies own ability to heat or cool.

    Breathability

    Breathability is how much air can get to your skin. You would not want to run in something like a bin bag because it would become very sweaty, very quickly. This will ultimately impact your level of comfort. 

    Bamboo is a great fabric against the skin as it is so soft and smooth. The downside is that its not fast to dry. However it stays warmer when wet like wool. Cotton also tends to get cold quickly when wet.

    Known in the industry as “Moisture vapour transmission” this is a very important characteristic of running clothing. When it comes to T-Shirts there is one clear winner of all the fabrics and that is Polyester. In terms of breathability it wicks and dries at a fantastic rate. Competing with this engineered fabric using only natural materials is a tough challenge. Although we strive to use renewable sourced fabrics in our clothing, we have not found the right balance to compete yet. By using 100% recycled polyester we reduce the environmental impact, have an infinitely recyclable product and also reduce energy usage. 

    For these reasons Grizzly Wears Clothing’s range of running gear currently uses 100% recycled polyester. This allows us to match the performance of most clothing but produce a product that is sustainable and does reduce environmental impact.

    So, What are the best Running Clothes ?

    The best running clothes are the ones which you feel comfortable and free. Breathability, Comfort and overall Performance play a huge role in best sportswear. We fully understand performance is the key player when it comes to running gear and will be investing time and money into researching alternative fabrics to launch new ranges. Having a focus on balanced environmental impact mean recycled polyester will remain in our range for years to come.

    To summarise, the aim of the clothing is to maintain the correct temperature. Be light, breathable and comfortable.

    Lastly running clothing should be durable and last as long as possible. Good quality clothing, kept for longer is a big part of sustainability. Running clothing should last for many runs and not be a disposable item.

    If you found this useful, be sure to check out the other articles in my Blog.

    And if you really love this, have a browse of my products