Eilish McColgan – My Must-Have Travel Bag Essentials

Being a professional athlete, my job is not only to run fast but to look after every part of my body from head to toe. One slight problem or imbalance can have a huge knock-on effect to my performance.

There is no doubt that my feet have been an issue throughout my career. Suffering from serious injuries which required surgery in 2011 and 2015, it made me realise how careful I need to be with regards to looking after my feet.

I have seven screws and a metal plate in my left foot, so caring for them and the rest of my body, has been a high priority, especially as I have got older.

Running daily subjects my feet to a lot of force and impact. Then when you add in extreme weather conditions such as the dry heat of training in Dubai or the snowy, altitude conditions of our training camps in Font Romeu, France, there are some steps I like to follow to keep my feet happy.

Stretching and foam rolling is a fundamental part of my daily routine to keep my muscles loose and elongated. It reduces my chance of picking up any unwanted niggles, but I also find it helps me to unwind in the evening before bed. It is part of my self-care routine to let my mind and body switch off a little.

For the soles of my feet, I often use a tennis or hockey ball to roll out my plantar facia. Many runners focus solely on reducing tightness in the legs, however a tight foot can in many cases lead to injuries further up the chain!

Making sure I change out of my trainers after 500 miles also minimises the probability of picking up any niggles. Wearing worn out shoes can lead to increased stress on the feet so finding a trainer with the right support is essential.

I am also very careful with what type of shoes I wear, which sadly means no more high heels or unsupportive sandals. Unless it is the end of my racing season, you will find me in trainers for around 11 months of the year!

In harsh weather conditions, my feet can frequently become cracked and sore. For the most part of the year, we are either training in the mountains of Colorado, USA or the French Pyrenees. The mountains have the added element of high altitude which leaves the air very dry.

CCS Foot Care Cream has been a great addition to my daily routine, keeping my feet healthy, moisturised and reducing my chance of picking up any unwanted blisters! CCS Foot Care Cream is especially formulated for dry and callused feet and works in 3 ways: softening, hydrating and improving the protective barrier of the skin.

Staying healthy is of the upmost importance, but it can sometimes be compromised with the amount of travel I do for training and competitions. Typically, we move between the UK, UAE, USA and France for training camps and competitions which can take place in all corners of the globe.

Long-haul flights, jumping from one time zone to the next can be super stressful on the body, knocking it out of sync. There are some things I do every day to lower my stress levels and no matter where I am in the world, I keep these key items in my self-care travel bag:

SPF Moisturiser. My skin is super sensitive to sun burn and as I have gotten older, I've made more of a conscious effort to look after my skin (especially when I have so many freckles and moles).
Electrolytes. Training at high altitude increases my respiratory rate which means my body is working harder, both whilst training and at rest. This means I need to keep a closer eye on my hydration and fluid intake throughout the day. I use Precision Hydration which have differing concentrations and allow me to select exactly how much electrolyte I need for that specific day.
Lip balm. I love how small the EOS lip balm is as it's super easy to throw into my training bag.
Stretching Rope. After travel, stretching is the best way to get my muscles feeling good again.
CCS Foot Care Cream. Keeping the skin on my feet smooth and soft is the best way to avoid any unwanted blisters and to keep my feet moisturised. I like to use it straight after I've come in from training and showered.
Training Diary. I love keeping track of my progress throughout the year. Not only do I use it as a training log but also as a journal, keeping note of memories I'd like to remember. It's a way to stay accountable too, seeing what type of training has worked or hasn't worked.
Bionsen Deodorant. This year, I switched from an antiperspirant to a deodorant after learning the differences between the two. Bionsen allows my body to sweat naturally instead of blocking the pores. After all, sweat is good for us and our skin should be able to breathe!
A book. There is no better way to unwind in the evening than a good read. It's the easiest way to switch off and relax before bed.
Polar GPS Watch. Not only does my watch allow me to track my pace, distance and time for every run but it can also tell me how well my body has recovered overnight by tracking my sleep. This helps me to make essential decisions with my training programme.
Eye Mask. I always travel with my silk eye mask and ear plugs. Having uninterrupted, solid sleep and getting at least eight hours every evening is crucial for recovery.