Monday Motivation - July 22nd
Hello and welcome to the 100th edition of your Monday Motivation!
To celebrate this milestone, we've asked the teams from all of our clinics - Fulham, Kew, Marylebone, Putney and Tooting – to share their favourite things to do in summer. We hope you find some new ideas, inspiration and sun!
Thanks for reading our weekly doses of motivation and here’s to the next 100 issues – enjoy! :)
Luke Brady, Co-Founder: This summer I'm off to north Sweden for the annual Fjällmaraton, a 43km trail marathon up and down mountains. This year’s training has primarily involved running to the gym and nailing consecutive "leg days" i.e. lifting heavy stuff with your legs. Will report back with photos!
Craig McLean, Co-Founder: Unbelievable - an SUP (stand-up paddle) for £200! Not only is it great for core strength and good for a healthy back, but you don’t need waves to ride it – it can be taken on holiday as check-in luggage (as I did last week), in the car to Devon or Cornwall, or just hit the Thames in Teddington!
Sammy Kale, Fulham: My favourite European summer destination I have travelled to (so far) is Balos Beach in Crete, Greece. It often makes the 'most beautiful beaches in the world' lists, with a 1km hilly trek to get there from the nearest carpark (worth every step but be sure to wear comfortable shoes!).
Liam Kelly, Fulham: My favourite thing to do when the weather is warm is to explore new beaches and coastlines. I will always make time every summer for a long weekend or a week of discovering new beaches. The UK has some amazing coastlines and places like Cornwall, Devon and Dorset are definitely in my list of favourites! Walking, hiking, swimming, surfing etc. are all active and healthy activities to do and will help to offset the fish and chips!
Michael Lezuo, Kew and Tooting: One of my favourite places to visit in summer is the Mayfield Lavender Farm in Banstead, Surrey. It's like a mini holiday with the smell and the sunshine!
Luke Mulvihill, Marylebone: Love these dudes and their brand, tentree. Not only are their products made entirely from sustainable fabrics, but they plant 10 trees for every item sold.
Ami-Bree Said, Putney and Tooting: I love Southbank in the summer! Walking along the river, people watching, street food, as well as all of the pop-up bars. It’s a fantastic place to meet up with friends or to spend time with the family.
Drew, Head of Everything: Although I walk it all year round, there’s no better time to take a leisurely stroll along the Thames and over Hammersmith and Putney Bridges. Clocking in at 4.22 miles, the Bridge loop is an easy route for all fitness levels, and the recent traffic closure of Hammersmith Bridge makes it an even more pleasant walk. It’s a great way to start the day (especially when combined with an iced mocha from Ground Coffee Society!).
Katie, Clinic Manager at Putney: I absolutely love getting out on the water to row over the summer as all the hardcore local clubs have finished for the season and the river is quiet. Living in Putney and Fulham, I’d wanted to try my hand at rowing for years, and for my birthday a couple of years ago I was given the gift of a ‘Learn to Row’ course and never looked back! There are a few clubs that offer these courses – some of them seasonally – but Barn Elms Boathouse and Fulham Reach Boat Club run them all year round.
Genevieve, Reception at Marylebone: Did you know it takes 5,000 gallons of water to manufacture just a t-shirt and a pair of jeans? The Good On You app rates clothing brands on how ethical and sustainable they are, it's my favourite resource this summer.
Kate, Reception at Tooting: My favourite things to do in summer are eating frozen yoghurt in the sun, reading a great book in the park, and drinking sangria in Lagos, Portugal while the sun goes down!
Lisa, Reception at Fulham and Marketing: I love going to the races whenever I get the chance, and in England, we’re lucky to be blessed with some of the most beautiful and picturesque courses in the world. The Qatar Goodwood Festival (affectionately known as “Glorious Goodwood”) takes place next week, overlooking the spectacular Sussex Downs. It’s more relaxed than Royal Ascot and feels like a glamorous picnic – think sundresses, linen suits and panama hats. It’s also very family-friendly, with a playground and free crèche to keep the little ones entertained.
Sam, Reception at Kew and Putney: My favourite thing to do in the summer is head back down to Somerset, where I’m from. Summer down there is lush! Often as a kid, my family and I would go to the Greenbank Outdoor Pool in a town called Street (just by Glastonbury). Now there’s an extra generation in the family, it’s nice to introduce the younger members to this fun activity we all remember fondly from our childhoods.
Taryn, Reception at Fulham and Tooting: With winter out, summer fruit and veg are in (YAY!), but did you know 30% of fruit and veg go to waste due to their appearance? I love to cook and keep myself inspired in the kitchen with a fortnightly box of veggies from Oddbox. Not only does it mean I’m branching out and using a wider range of veggies, but I’m saving them from being wasted due to sizing, colour and supply issues, too.
What are you favourite things to do in summer? Send us an email and let us know – we always love to hear your feedback!