Strenua's World» Outdoor Activities

Review: Zippo Hand Warmer

Strenua — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:20:38 +0000

As someone who has spent quite a few hours shivering on river banks after kayaking waiting for the support vehicles to arrive, after scuba diving waiting for the boat to take me to shore, or just in a field after running a muddy wet cross country cheering on the rest of my team mates, the thought of a reusable hand warmer is a great idea.

I was looking forward to try the warmer even though the press release sounded like it had been written by someone who had never experienced the need for one:

‘The Hand Warmer is a great accessory if you’re outdoors a lot of the time – we all know that even in the hottest summer it can get cold at night… This would be perfect keeping you warm in your caravan, as well as being an ideal accompaniment to take with you to the footballing terraces when the weather turns sour. It is also ideal for those taking part in outdoor sports and want to warm up/down’.

My experiences of hot summers are that even in the evenings I’ve no need for a hand warmer as I’ve got a cold drink in my hand; caravans have heaters and if you are cold you have your hands round a mug of coffee or you have a hot water bottle; the people who would use one on a football terrace are the sort who bring a flask of tea with them anyway and for the rest of us can you imagine being with your mates and getting your hand warmer out? And finally if you take part in outdoor sports you warm up and down by moving you whole body and getting blood flowing though your muscles not holding a hand warmer.

In spite of this I was keen to try it as it is made by Zippo, a worldwide trusted and recognized brand, and unlike other types of heat packs that either only last for 40 minutes, require heating in a microwave, or can only be used once, this is a new liquid-fuel warmer. The Zippo Hand Warmer claims it can produce more than ten times the heat of traditional warmers and lasts up to 12 hours on just 0.4 ounces of Zippo’s Premium Lighter Fluid.

To see how easy it was to use the hand warmer watch the video below. The Zippo Hand Warmer also comes complete with a can of lighter fluid, and using the filling cup you can fill the warmer to work for either 6 or 12 hours. After lighting the platinum-catalyzed glass fiber burner, heat is produced without a flame. It recommends you put it straight away into the warming bag included and you really need to as quickly it felt as hot as a boiled kettle if you touched the warmer directly. After about 8 hours it had cooled so I could hold it without the bag but after giving it a shake it immediately reheated to the initial temperature and lasted for a further 4 hours.

After road testing the hand warmer I appreciated why the press release was a bit vague on where or when you could use it:

It is slimline, about the size of an iPhone or Blackberry, so fits easily into pockets but you probably want to buy two as it’s not something you would stand about wrapping you hands round.
If you are going to use it when you watch an outdoor sporting event or on a summer evening out then you can’t be spontaneous when you want to use it as you wouldn’t want to carry lighter fluid around with you so you have to fill it up before hand which also means you have to estimate how long you will need it for as once it’s lit you can’t turn it off.
After watersports would be when I would find it the most useful, but it’s not a very waterproof product as you wouldn’t want to get the glass fiber burner wet by taking it with you on the water.

I feel that the hand warmer is a really useful product. It is compact, it maintains a high constant heat for a long time, it’s virtually odourless and it’s reusable and at around £20 is affordable. I just don’t know exactly which outdoor activities it is most suitable for.

However, the best use for the warmer that I found though was not for using as a hand warmer but as a heat pack for muscles. Although heat should not be applied in the first 24 hours following an injury, heat application can increase blood flow and promote healing in an injured area.

Heat is also useful to increase muscle temperature and if it’s used before stretching exercises, can increase extensibility of connective tissue such as tendons, ligaments and muscles, significantly increasing flexibility.

Hot water bottles and microwaveable heat packs are great but they are large and quite inconvenient also they need to be regularly re-heated. This hand warmer though was the perfect size to hold against specific muscles or joints and slipping it down some tubigrip round my arm or leg kept it in place even when I was moving about.

Overall I can’t fault the Zippo Hand Warmer for the quality of the product and it performs exactly as it is described, my only problem is recommending when it could be of most use.

Women still wanted for Cancer Research UK’s 2010 Race for Life

Strenua — Sun, 30 May 2010 09:39:03 +0000

Summer is finally here, a perfect time to go for a walk, run or jog in the sun. Whether you are new to running to get fit or just enjoying exercising outdoors in this fantastic weather, having a goal to aim for is always great motivation to keep training.

What could be a better goal than to complete a 5k this summer for charity?

Entries are still available for the Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life series this June and July. Whether you want to walk for fun alongside girlfriends and family members, or get competitive with your work colleagues, you can improve your own health and fitness whilst also helping to raise money for Cancer Research UK, whose work has saved millions of lives in the UK and across the world.

5k is an achievable distance for most people and women are being encouraged to come together to walk, jog or run to help raise over £60 million to fund Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work into all types of cancer. 5k is also a good distance to attempt if you are beginning starting a fitness program and with a little bit of training through the summer you may be ready for one of Cancer Research UK’s Run 10k events that occur in the Autumn, when the men in your life can also enter.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life continues to be the most successful and largest women-only fundraising event series across the UK and has raised a staggering £290 million for the charity’s life-saving research. The 2009 series was the biggest yet with over 730,000 women taking part. This year is Race for Life’s 16^th Birthday and since it began there has been a 15% drop in the death rate from cancer, something that Race for Life has helped to achieve.

If you are looking for something to wear during the event then visit the online shop, where you can buy your fancy dress accessories including fairy wings, bunny ears and pink glitter cowboy hats. If you want to show your support in other more subtle ways there are also socks, sweatbands, caps and key-rings as well as essential T-shirts. These include the new Race for Life 2010 celebrity T-shirts designed by choreographer, Arlene Phillips; girlfriend of Arsenal star Theo Walcott, Melanie Slade; and fashion designer Tracey Boyd.

This year there are over 230 Race for Life events throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Women from across the UK of all ages and abilities aged are invited to enter, whether you are a cancer survivor, want to test your fitness, celebrate or remember a loved or simply do something positive to raise money for a great cause. Entry fee is only £12.99, although participants are encouraged to also get sponsorship and help is available to set up on an on line fund-raising page. Enter by clicking on the banner below or visiting www.Raceforlife.org.

Final Advice For New York City Marathon

Strenua — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:48:03 +0000

Luggage vans in front of Verazzona bridge at start of New York City marathon

I’m very disappointed that due to injury I have had to cancel my entry this week for the ING New York City marathon on Sunday. Whilst I probably could make it round, I haven’t trained properly for almost 5 weeks and I wouldn’t be able to put in a good performance, so I’d rather save myself for a different marathon in the new year.

As I have helped before at both the start and finish of the race, as well as running myself last year, I have a few tips to pass on to anyone else racing on Sunday. There are many people giving advice on running a marathon, New York Road Runners give their own advice on completing the race along with their race etiquette suggestions, which I have touched on in a previous post. Marathons also put a lot of stress on the body. If you have been suffering from any recent illnesses or have not been able to train as planned it is always acceptable to withdraw from the race and enter another later on. No matter what your experience make sure you rehydrate efficiently and don’t push yourself too hard.

Paula Radcliffe has also given her own tips to first timers running the New York City Marathon and surprisingly some of her observations apply to both the elite and mass participation runners. Observations such as the Jewish Rabbis, who obliviously walk straight in front of the runners with no concern for anyone else, whether they are leading the race or as I experienced when you are part of the mass pack. Can’t give any advice here except watch out especially as you run through Brooklyn around miles 9-10.

To allow time to arrive at the 5am coach pick up I had to leave before 4am, which was over 6hrs before the race starts, so I recommend you take food with you to eat at the start area. There is food available at the start but personally I found bagels too heavy to digest before a race so I prefer to take my own bananas and dried toast. When I volunteered at the start food stands I was surprised how many people were taking energy bars they had never tried before and eating them before the race or asking my advice on what they should eat before the race. The day of the race is not the time to be trying out new products and you should have already established your pre race breakfast. By all means take the free samples but save them to try during future training sessions.

Runners wait in start corral as others run across Verazzona bridge.

As the marathon starts on Staten Island which can only be assessed by official transportation you end up having to arrive very early in the morning. Aside from the very long wait allowing your nerves to develop and boredom to set in, it is also very cold at 5am on a November morning. I recommend taking a book or magazine with you for entertainment, something to sit on such as a plastic bag and the side of a packing box as insulation from the cold wet floor, or even a blow up pillow. In spite of wearing three layers of clothing I was freezing whilst waiting 5 hours for the start and I noticed a few people were sitting inside sleeping bags, which I would recommend. I don’t know if they are accepted in the luggage trucks as you need to use the clear plastic bags provided so it may be necessary to try to find a cheap one you won’t mind if you have to leave it behind. Also you have to drop off your bags and move to the start corrals over 1 hour before the race starts so it’s a good idea to wear old clothes over your race kit that you can remove just before the start. After the start volunteers collect the clothes to be donated to charity.

For those of you who haven’t raced a large marathon before you may not be aware of the blue line on the course. Whilst it is mainly of use for the elite runners, it indicates the route to run exactly 26.2miles. I’m not suggesting you religiously try to follow the line especially at the beginning but it can give you an indication where the turns in the course are as the line crosses over the road. According to my GPS I often run more than 1 mile extra during a marathon, something it would be good to avoid when you are already covering 26.2miles. It actually only equates to around 60meters extra per mile which isn’t much when you consider how much you move weaving between the crowds or crossing over towards the drink stations. Whilst every metre adds up, following the blue line will help to reduce your extra miles.

Finally make sure you remember to turn your clocks back on Saturday night before you go to bed so you take advantage of the extra hour of sleep.

Good luck to everyone running on Sunday.

Ten Top Tips To Assist Marathon Runners

Strenua — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:12:52 +0000

I successfully ran the marathon last weekend in 3:55, as it was just a training run for New York City marathon in November I was quite satisfied. I was glad I wasn’t trying for a personal best as a few of my fellow runners may have made it difficult for me. So I have decided to suggest ten top tips for running a marathon in consideration of your fellow athletes. If you have more suggestions, feel free to leave your ideas as a comment at the end.

Fancy Dress- Fancy dress is common sight in the London Marathon and is becoming more so in other races around the UK. Fortunately it hasn’t invaded the races of many other countries around the world. There are benefits to fancy dress, it helps draw attention to your cause and gives identity to you if you are running in a group. But PLEASE think about what you choose to wear. If you have run many marathons and want to fund raise, running in costume makes it more challenging, but it shouldn’t be a challenge for the rest of us running around you. Superman outfits are fine until the cape catches the wind and wraps around us running behind you; firemen carrying 6 foot ladders are great as hurdles for fellow runners; or my favourite last weekend was the carrier of a flag on the end of a 6ft pole, which combines both obstacles.

Bin Bags – Large races often require you to leave your clothing on the busses up to an hour before the start and it can get cold so it’s sensible to wear something such as a bin bag to protect against the wind or rain. But you don’t see Paula and Haile wearing bin bags on the start line and I would guess they have less natural insulation than you do so get rid of your bin bags 2-3mins before the gun. ALSO don’t even think about running wearing it and disposing during that race. Aside from the bags catching the wind and making it difficult to race in they are frustrating and dangerous when they get tangled around runners’ legs.

Start at Correct Corral – This is my pet hate, the arrogance of joggers who ignore the race etiquette and insist and starting at the front. If you used to weigh 20 stone and have diet and exercised down to 15 stone then congratulations. You deserve recognition for your achievement but that doesn’t give you the right to start impeding the 5min/mile runners.

Linking Arms –You set out on the challenge together and have supported each other at every training session, but you are now at the race day so, (unless you have some physical disability) you should now have the strength to walk unaided without having to link arms 4 a breadth. Giving support to an injured tired participant is not a problem, but blocking the course from mile 1 so no one else can pass through your linked arms as you walk with you rucksacks, is not endearing you to your fellow competitors.

Stopping Abruptly – Often happens because of point 3. You start too near the front, try to keep with people around you and after 30 seconds of running at your max pace, you stop as if you had just been shot. Causing a pile up of everyone else running 10miles/hour behind you. Later in the race you may get tired which is understandable, but so is everyone else around who has to dodge to avoid you, so unless you have just had an immediate health emergency move to the edge of the course before you stop to recover.

Wash Your Kit – Everyone knows not to wear brand new kit for a marathon, and if you do decide to wear new kit specifically for the race then you should at least go for a run in it before hand. But for the benefit of your fellow runners, please at least wash your kit before the race. Sweat only smells when it becomes stale and bacteria is growing so I never understand why some people smell so bad as you pass them If they have only been wearing their running vest for an hour.

Personal Hyigene – Associated with tip 7, your fellow runners want to breathe in deeply as they run so if you want a people to help pace you along rather than hold their breath and sprint past you then deodorant and a shower is a top tip.

Watch Your Wings – This is for the tall people. It may be easy to run if you pump with your arms but consider us little people. I’m only 5’3 and when I try to run past, your elbows are level with my head. I try to shout out that I’m trying to pass, but you are often wearing your iPods loud and ignore me till my eye and your elbow make contact.

Water Bottles – drink stations normally have a number of tables so there is no need to stop at the first one. But no matter how thirsty you are, keep on running through the drinks station as we are all carrying on running behind you. DON’T stop at the table like you are leaning at a bar. When you throw away the water bottles or cups try to throw to them away from the road. Think of the slower runners who will also be tired at 24miles having to avoid twisting their ankle on 10,000 bottles on the course. But no matter how competitive you are taking the race also try not to take off you competitions head as you hurl your half empty bottle to the curb.

Talking – Occasional words of encouragement, comments about a how tough the course is or asking a fellow runner if they know the pace you are doing is fine. I just seem to attract people who try to have random conversations with me whilst I’m obviously trying to run hard. If you want to appear creepy then fine ask questions about what football team do I support, or what I am I studying at University, or wanting to know my name. You wouldn’t ask random people in the street so why would you think it’s OK to ask someone whilst they are running a marathon.

Sorry if I sound like a grumpy old woman, but not matter how fast or slow we are, we all find the marathon a challenge, so it would be nice if people could considered how they could help (or at least not hinder) their fellow competitors.

Make supermarkets your next stop for sport and leisure equipment

Strenua — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:22:09 +0000

Supermarkets used to be the place to go just for food and household products but over the last few years they have been branching out with their own clothing ranges and stocking household appliances. Now if you want to improve your health and fitness, a visit to Sainsbury’s no longer has to end at stocking up on fruit and vegetables or a visit to their pharmacy. Sainsbury’s now has a range of sport and leisure products online from elliptical cross trainers to dumb bells, pedometers to sculpting balls.

It’s not only home fitness equipment you can buy either. Whatever is your favourite outdoor sport they probably now cater for you too. Sainsbury’s online now sell badminton and tennis rackets, cricket and football sets, fishing tackle, cycles and golf clubs. As a swimming instructor I was also impressed by the wide range of swimming accessories often not even stocked in specialist sport shops, such as children’s sun protection floatation suits.

So next time you need some leading brand sports equipment there’s no need to just stick to departments stores and sports shops, with next day delivery available it’s just as convenient to visit online supermarkets.

Geocaching – A 21st Century Treasure Hunt?

Strenua — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:36:51 +0000

This week I have been on a form of high tech scavenger hunt, called Geocaching. According to the website Geocaching.com, It’s a high tech treasure hunting game, played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The treasure is actually a just box or ‘cache’, often containing only a log book to record the find with the prize simply self satisfaction.

Geocaching started in 2000, when 24 satellites from around the globe had their selective availability removed allowing the accuracy of GPS technology to improve tenfold. Now anyone could precisely pinpoint their location or the location of items left behind for later. One GPS enthusiast wanted to test the accuracy by hiding a navigational target in the woods and posting the coordinates on the internet for others to find. Within days his stash was found and others began hiding their own containers and posting coordinates with the concept quickly spreading, to be later known as geocaching.

I was surprised to find that there are 166 caches located within 5 miles of my own house. Whilst many special handheld GPS navigator products are available to buy, I actually discovered that through my iPhone, Blackberry and Garmin Forerunner, I already owned 3 GPS devices allowing me to go geocaching.

After putting my postcode into the website I selected which caches to hunt for. The Garmin Connect site had a program to upload the details direct to my Forerunner but after an hour of unsuccessfully trying to export the details to my watch, I decided to just put the coordinates into my Blackberry which provided detailed topographic and street-level maps. The website also had some cryptic clues about where the caches were hidden at the location. The cache can be any type of waterproof container, one I was looking for was an ammunition box and the other a film container.

I decided to go for a walk in my local countryside and chose two locations on my walk. Both were described as easy terrain with a difficulty level of 1. The first coordinates I came across on my walk seemed accurate as the directions said it was opposite a pub and there was a footpath across from the car park, but it was overgrown with nettles and I wasn’t that committed to looking for the hidden treasure. I headed on towards the second location when a thunderstorm started and getting home became my first priority. So my first attempt at geocaching was unsuccessful.

However, today I was walking through my local park when I decided to just check if there were any caches hidden nearby, and there was. Getting to the location wasn’t a problem, although the cache did take some time to find as it was a tiny metal container hidden in a park bench and I’m sure I looked very stupid trying to casually look for a box attached to the bench. But success, my first cache!

Not sure I’m going to explore my local area for the 166 caches hidden near me, but I imagine it can be quite fun with children as they appear to be hidden everywhere from busy streets to secluded footpaths and with current new phones most people already own GPS devices. Also if you are visiting a new area of the country and you don’t know where to go for a scenic walk, it could be worth visiting the geocaching site as many of the cache detail pages lead you to unique views and describe nearby points of interest to look out for.

There seems to be quite a community of world-wide geocachers and if it means that people are encouraged to get active outdoors more, then perhaps the concept should be promoted. A wide range of GPS devices are available in both the UK and the US. For more information of geocaching visit www.geocaching.com.