The Crew Cut

Intrepid explorer and Crewroom Ambassador – Anna McNuff – has departed on her latest adventure. And this time, she’ll be taking on the challenge with her trusty and loyal friend – Bernard the bike! On her third big adventure, Anna is tackling the Andes (as you do). It’s a big one as she’ll be away from home for more than six months. Having had a few pre-adventure nerves Anna said, “The closer this adventure gets, the more I remember why I do this. The more I remember that, at this point in my life, I still can’t not do this. That the very thought of a big adventure makes my toes tingle and my stomach turn in summersaults. I remember that out there, on a lone mountain pass, covered in dust from the road, arms slightly tanned and grinning through a dirt entrusted face – I feel more alive, more often than I ever will at home. I remember that I will learn more and I will see more.” So our inspirational Anna took flight on a jet plane and has now landed in La Paz, a mere 4,000 metres above sea level. After a week of Spanish lessons, here’s her plan of action for the next six months: Make it out of La Paz on bike without being squished by traffic Head for a pedal up to Lake Titicaca. Because, well, it’s there. Pedal South through Bolivia, Chile and Argentina via as many Andes peaks and passes as possible (around 60) Revel in the glory of Patagonia. Skid into Ushuaia after 6 months and relax. Drink a beer. Or two. Sounds like a plan Anna – we’ll certainly have a beer or two waiting on ice for you. If you want to follow Anna’s adventures you can read all about it here.

This weekend the Crewroom roadshow is heading to Wimbledon in search of Wombles (yes, we believe they exist) to join a bunch of enthusiastic Sunday runners in the Wimbledon Common Half Marathon. The event, organised by Run Through Events, starts at 9.30am on Sunday, 16th October. We’ll be there with our Crewroom trade stand and you’ll find us by the Richard Evans Memorial Playing Fields. In addition to the half marathon, you’ll also find us at the following events over the next few weeks: British Senior Rowing Champs, Nottingham: 22nd & 23rd October Upper Thames Autumn Head, Henley: 30th October Kingston Small Boats Head, Kingston: 5th November Hermes Thames Meander, YMCA Hawker Centre HQ: 5th November Fours Head, Putney: 12th November Veteran Fours Head, Putney: 13th November

After the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon and our involvement with Team Squirrel, we thought we’d squirrel away a couple of prizes on our website for two lucky foraging winners. To be in with a chance of winning you’ll need to find both prize acorns somewhere on our site. All correct answers will be entered into a prize drawer and two names picked at random. You’ll need to get your answers in by Friday 21st October. So, for your chance to find out what the lucky acorns will grow into, follow our clues and send us the page links to enquiries@crewroom.co.uk: 1. Chester the squirrel and all of Team Squirrel were wearing vests made with our own sustainable fabric. If you remember what it’s called you’ll find the right page on our site. 2. We first started supplying RPHM with sustainable race shirts in 2008. Since then we’ve supplied the shirts every year, so check out our timeline to find out more.

Here at Crewroom we’re incredibly chuffed to announce that we’ve won gold and silver awards in Women’s Running and Men’s Running Magazines! Earlier this summer we submitted two of our top selling products – The Lunges Crop and The Fleece Liner Jacket – into the relevant categories alongside other leading brands. 50 testers were then asked to score products out of 10 under four category headings: Value for money Ease of use/Fit for purpose Practicality Quality All scores returned were logged, totalled and then an average score out of 40 determined for each product, giving the final score. As you can see, all products were thoroughly tested by experienced runners so we’re incredibly proud that our products came out on top. In Women’s Running Magazine, our new Lunges Crop won us gold in the ‘Capri Pants/Shorts’ category. The amazingly soft, non-pilling but fully opaque fabric along with flattering waistband, waist pocket, mesh knee panels and reflective branding meant that we were first over the finishing line and the favourite for all the testers and judges. Meanwhile, in Men’s Running Magazine our Fleece Liner Jacket won us silver in the ‘Waterproof Jacket’ category. This is a hybrid jacket which has been designed to protect your core from the elements. We've used a breathable and shower resistant Pertex Microlight shell and padded it with Primaloft for thermal regulation and combined this with super soft brushed fleece. Nice little features which impressed the testers include a zip pocket for valuables and gels and a discreet media pocket with lapel hole for headphones making this a fully functional piece of kit. The December 'Awards Issue’ of Men’s Running and Women’s Running magazines will be dedicated to the awards, featuring all of the winning products so don’t forget to pick up your copy!

This week our friend and Ambassador – Jess Eddie – popped in to see the team and brought along her new dachshund, Rizzo, and her Rio bling for us to behold. After winning silver in the women’s eight we couldn’t wait to congratulate her and to see her medal which, as it turns out, is really heavy! Jess’s ambition has always been to win an Olympic medal and she’s dedicated the last 12 years of her life to reaching that goal. After competing at both Beijing and London Jess was determined to succeed at Rio and, following years of sheer hard work Jess and her crew created the magic formula to finally take the first Olympic medal for the women’s eight. Not one to rest on her laurels, Jess is now planning life post Rio and will shortly be heading back to the books to study History of Design at the V&A as part of the Royal College of Arts. Studying design and material culture in all its aspects, from the early fifteenth century to the present day, across global geographies will be a bit of change from the gruelling training routine of an elite athlete but Jess won’t be hanging up her blades just yet. With plans to coach rowing at Putney High School she’ll be passing on her invaluable knowledge and experience to a future generation of rowers. If there’s anyone who’ll inspire the girls it’s Jess and, who knows, Jess may be coaching a future Olympian!

Denmark may be famous for a certain lager with a certain tag line but it also happens to host the very beautiful Lake Bagsvaerd which is where our events team pitched up last week at the World Rowing Masters. George and Sean were rushed off their feet with international customers queuing to buy our ever popular Air Head visors, North West Hoodies and a whole selection of Crewroom gear. It may have been a long drive in the trusty Crewroom van but both agreed the view by the lakeside made it all worthwhile. We’re back in the UK now so this is where you’ll find us next: Richmond Running Festival: Sunday, 18th September Reading Small Boats Head: Saturday, 1st October Maidstone Small Boats Head: Sunday, 2nd October Wimbledon Common Half Marathon: Sunday, 16th October