The Crew Cut

On October 12th over 16,000 runners took part in the 13.1 mile route through Central London, taking in the spectacular sites of the capital and the beautiful Royal Parks. And, amongst the masses, there were hundreds of squirrels running their little feet off. Although not actual furry rodents, Team Squirrel is the nutty scurry of runners who take on the challenge of conkerin’ the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon, while raising vital funds for the Royal Parks Foundation. As proud sponsors of Team Squirrel, Crewroom got in on the action with our retail duo – Tiina Mielonen (pictured below left) and George Verdon (pictured below centre) – both achieving PB’s on what was a beautiful day in the leafy outdoors. To top the day we all got to meet Chester (big squirrel pictured above right). Apparently he’s nuts about nuts.

Yes, the Christmas clock has started ticking and we know you’ll soon be scratching your heads for gift ideas so we’re here to help. The Fleece Liner Jacket £99 Perfect for winter outings, this jacket has been designed to keep your core protected whilst you get a sweat on. We've used a breathable and shower resistant Pertex Microlight® shell and padded it with Primaloft® to keep you protected. Soft stretch fleece in the arms will wick away the sweat allow you to manoeuvre with ease. The South East Fleece £65 If you're a fan of our North West Hoodie you'll love the South East Fleece. It's just as soft and technical, but this time with a quarter zip neck instead of a hood. The performance fabric is brushed to feel amazing against your skin and it wicks and breathes so it's a perfect mid-layer for frosty morning runs and workouts. We've even inserted wrist sleeves with thumb loops to keep those mitts toasty warm in our winter months. The Shackleton Down Jacket £250 This is a true winter jacket which uses the unique Primaloft® Silver Insulation Blend making it super warm yet easy to pack down. Unlike traditional down fill, the insulation is water resistant and breathable so your jacket stays nice and light if you’re caught out in the elements. The perfect winter companion. Don’t forget, these products are now available in-store at our Putney Embankment, Putney High Street and Northcote Road stores. Late night opening starts on Thursday November 12th, check here for details.

The Head of the River Fours is a processional rowing race held annually on the Tideway in London over the 6.8 km championship course from Mortlake to Putney. This year the race takes place on Saturday November 7th and Crewroom will have prime position to cheer on over 400 crews as they approach the finish line. Our Embankment store will open both Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th from 9am where shoppers can shelter from the elements whilst enjoying some tasty nibbles at the till. With our AW15 collection, JL Racing Kit and a bag of bargain samples we’ve got something for everyone in the run up to Christmas. And if you can’t make it to the race, Crewroom will bring the Spirit of Christmas to you with our mobile pop-up store: City of Oxford Rowing Club: Sunday, November 22nd, 12-5.30pm Henley Rowing Club: Saturday, November 28th, 10-4pm Walton Rowing Club: Saturday, December 19th, 10-4pm

The nights are drawing in and it’s easy to get home, pop on your onesie and hibernate until well after the finals of Strictly and X-Factor. But here at Crewroom we’ve decided to focus on fitness and get our endorphins flowing through the shorter days and long months ahead. If you’re local to London and fancy embracing the elements, here are a few sessions which might tempt you from the sofa: Warrior Training: From our very own hub here in Putney, our good friend Paul will have you flipping tractor tyres, tugging ropes, hanging from hoops and he’ll throw in some shuttle runs, just for fun. Project Awesome: Free fitness fun open to all at famous iconic locations across London. Checkout their FB page to find out where intrepid explorer, Anna McNuff, and friends will end up next. One Element: Known as the ‘social fitness company’ Tom and his team run high-intensity interval training sessions at outdoor locations in South West London. Swift Fitness: One of London’s friendliest boot camps, the team run fun and effective classes in various locations across the capital from Parson’s Green to Highbury Fields.

We know how hungry you rowers get when you come off the water so last weekend Emily, our Putney High Street Store Manager, fired-up the BBQ and threw on some bangers for the masses at our very own Après row event. Crewroom HQ was packed with rowers enjoying burgers in baps whilst trying out some of our new kit including the JL Flying Pigs unisuit which proved to be a big hit. The happy bunch of shoppers left Crewroom fed and watered, ready to watch New Zealand beat Australia in the Rugby World Cup finals. For future events at the Crewroom hub, keep an eye on our Facebook page.

Some people say we’re nuts, but we’re thrilled to be officially sponsoring Team Squirrel, the VIP Royal Parks Foundation squad that’s running the charity’s Half Marathon this month. And we’d like to wish all of you taking part on Sunday the 11th the very best of luck in the race. On Monday (Oct 5), Crewroom Founder Kate Giles (pictured above, centre, with Team Squirrel mascot Chester the Squirrel) will be hosting a special, hour-long Q&A on Facebook to answer any last-minute queries you may have. (At 12.30pm, check out https://www.facebook.com/events/432478643594340/). Experts in running gear, we have the technical know-how and getting your kit choices wrong over 13.1 miles can prove disastrous. "As every runner knows, picking the right kit for a race day is vitally important. The vests for Team Squirrel, like all 16,000 runners in the HM, are made from our Vapour X fabric, comprised of recycled bottles and bamboo. It’s beautifully soft to avoid chafing,” says Kate. “Plus, our research shows that nine out ten squirrels always choose our Vapour X.” Hmmm...