Recommendations
I take my own training very seriously, you have to when you are planning to run 100 miles in the mountains, and so what I learn, what I read and what equipment I use matters. I am always looking for things that will provide me with marginal gains to improve my performance further. That’s always balanced with value for money. I can’t afford to spend thousands of pounds on equipment that never gets used, and you don’t need to either. Rather than have to dig out links to regular recommmendations whenever a client asks, and reach into the back of my brain thinking where was it that I got X, I decided that having a simple page to store all that information would be useful.
Everything on this list is subject to change as I come across alternatives. One of the advantages of being a coach is I get to test out an awful lot of equipment and things to see how well they will work for myself or the people I coach. I also have clients who share their amazing discoveries with me too (Likewise if there’s anything on this list that you’ve used and had a bad experience with, please let me know). So, everything presented here is something that I have used myself and think may be of benefit or interest to you.
General Gym Equipment
- Super Sparrow Stainless Steel Water Bottle – my go-to water bottle.
- Free Soul Protein Shaker Bottle – 700ml, Stainless Steel BPA Free.
- The Protein Works Black ‘N’ Gold Steel Shaker – 700ml.
- Gorilla Sports Weight Bench with 100KG Vinyl Weight Set – a fairly cheap and cheerful compact weight bench and weights. It’s a little narrow, so there’s the trade off with it being compact and a bit awkward at times – especially when loading the bar for bench press.
- Easimat Interlocking Gym Floor Mats – some nice, solid floor mats which allow me to drop weights and give me a stable footing when training.
- TRX Suspension Trainer – I chose the Go one, I’ve been happy with it and it’s suited my needs – both with my own training and working with clients.
- Agility Ladder and Cones – a basic ladder and cones.
- Tiger metal hand tally counter – because I have trouble keeping track of reps.
Running
- Lock Laces – no more needing to tie shoelaces up on a long run. I’m not even sure I’m capable of tying my shoelaces towards the end of an ultramarathon.
- Injinji Run Lightweight No-Show Socks – funny “toe socks” that are like gloves for your feet. I’ve used these for my last few ultramarathons and they’ve solved my blister problems.
- Salomon Soft Flask Water Bottle – I use one of these in my running belt or vest. I think mine was a previous model.
- Salomon Pulse Trail Running Belt – I usually keep my phone, keys and a water bottle in this during my mid-range runs.
Rehab and Recovery
- Massage Gun, RENPHO R3 Mini Massage Gun – I use this to try and loosen some of muscles after a long run. It saves my thumbs and my time trying to massage myself, and a bit of money as it reduces the need to go for a professional sports massage.
Protein Powders and Supplements
- MyProtein.com – Does lots of protein powders and supplements, fairly cheap and cheerful, never had any problems with any of their stuff. (apparently if you click the link and spend £35, you get 3 months free next day delivery)
There are so many books that I could recommend, here are a few to get you started:
Physical Training:
- Coming
- Soon
Mindset:
- The Art of Resilience: Strategies for an Unbreakable Mind and Body – by Ross Edgley. It’s about his attempt to become the first person to swim around the UK, covering bits of his physical training, mental preparation and the swim itself.
- How Bad Do You Want It?: Mastering the Psychology of Mind Over Muscle – by Matt Fitzgerald. The books takes a look at some remarkable moments in the lives of endurance athletes and discusses the strategies they used to cultivate their mental strength.
- Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds – by David Goggins. Ultramarathon runner, motivational speaker and ex-Navy Seal. If you like your military-style tough mindset, this is worth a read.
Rehab:
- Becoming a Supple Leopard: The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain, Preventing Injury, and Optimizing Athletic Performance – by Dr Kelly Starrett with Glen Cordoza. This could equally have gone under training – but looks at the techniques and form you need to treat stiffness and achy joints, and prevent and rehabilitate injuries.
- Better Balance for Life: Banish the Fear of Falling with Simple Activities – A simple, but well laid out and easy to follow book outlining exercises which you can mix into daily life to help improve balance, strength and coordination. It’s targetted at those over 65, but to be honest, I know I could benefit from following some of the exercises.
Free courses that I have come across and enjoyed:
- De-Mystifying Mindfulness – a nice course on mindfulness. Each week is split between theoretical topics, such as the philosophy and psychology of mindfulness along with a practical meditative element.
Some general service recommendations. Some of these might only be relevant if you’re actually a personal trainer yourself, but I get a load of value out of them, so I’m listing them here anyway.
Fitness Related
- Thriva – private blood test company that can give you insights on your health, allowing you to test your vitamin levels, liver and thyroid function, or tests specifically designed for men’s health or to test for PCOS.
Other
- Fiverr.com – it’s where I got the monk designed, by the user Yerazel.
- GoCardless – for taking payments
- Hostinger.com – the web-hosting provider for this site.
- Inkthreadable – the people who print the Rebel Monk merch.
- Lift the Bar – personal trainer network which gives loads of advice and support for personal trainers. I can often be found in there answering people’s questions on coaching ultramarathon runners.
- Protonmail – secure, encrypted email service for my personal email.
* Please note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you click one of these links. This comes at no extra cost to you. I am not directly paid to promote any product or service, and any affiliate links are to products or services that I use myself and am happy to recommend.