Gelpacks Direct

Currently, the average household spends around £1,254 a year on heating and power, according to Ofgem, the industry regulator.
That makes energy one of the biggest annual costs for UK families, and with costs set to rise by an average of £700 this year, we’re all looking for ways to reduce our bills so we can stay warm!
Read our top tips for saving energy this Winter!
https://bit.ly/GPDreducingenergycosts

👋 We are BACK!!!
Just in case anyone missed us, after a break from socials, mainly due to our friend COVID19, we’re back at GPD HQ busy planning for the exciting year ahead, and what a year it’s gonna be!
✅ New member arriving sometime in February. 👶
✅ Winter Olympics 2022!
✅ Extra Bank Holiday for the Queen’s PlatinumJubilee 💪
✅ The return of festivals and events.🤞🏻
✅ Commonwealth Games 2022, here in our hometown!
✅ World Cup 2022!
✅ New products landing soon............
So Happy New Year everyone! What are you looking forward to this year?
2022, Let’s do this 🙌🏻

As the dark nights are settling in, it’s tempting to ditch your regular run in favour of a Netflix marathon, but, braving the cold not only helps to maintain your physical health, but works wonders for your mental health too!
We’ve spent some time investigating the science behind cold weather running to bring you our top tips for surviving winter training and we’ve even sourced our favourite pieces of kit to help you stay safe and warm on the roads.
Find out more here..........https://bit.ly/WNTrunguide

Shin there, done that.......... 😩
Roughly half of all “regular” runners confess to experiencing injury at least once a year!
The dreaded shin splint being one of the most commonly reported. 👀
A sharp or achy pain develops in the shin as a result of small tears in the muscles around the tibia.
First things first....check your trainers! Are they the right fit? Always ask your physio for advice on this. Have you ran too many miles in the same pair? On average you should expect to run 450 - 550 miles in a pair of trainers before replacing.
Next, rest! I’m sorry but yes, that means time off your feet! In the first instance you can use ice to ease the pain and reduce any inflammation.
48 hours later, start to introduce heat. Heating the affected area for 20 minutes at regular intervals.
Replace your running with lower impact activity such as a cross trainer and slowly return to training with short runs, gradually building your distance.
Use your reusable gelpack as part of your regular recovery routine to help you stay on your feet!
https://bit.ly/treatmyshinsplints

“There is never enough time to do all the nothing you want!”
Well, I wouldn’t say we’ve been doing nothing, but we’ve had a short break to recharge the batteries, leaving our No.1 employee in charge of the warehouse, as you can see, he’s been working hard fulfilling orders and helping our customers! 😉
Happy

🏅Another medal in the bag for 🏅
Your heartbeat slows, the adrenaline has subsided, the sweat has dried and your body temperature cools. The thrill of race day is over, so what now?
Book another race of course!.................
But before you do that, take a rest day! It’s actually rest days which help us run faster, allowing our bodies to recover, avoiding injury whilst keeping our spirits motivated to continue training.
We’ve got the science on how rest days can truly help you recover, and some tips and tricks to help you incorporate a rest day into your routine.
https://bit.ly/GPDRestday

Shin there, done that!
Chances are, if you’re a runner, you’ve probably encountered the dreaded shin splits at one time or an other.
It usually starts with pain and tenderness at the lower leg, it usually isn’t serious but if untreated can lead to stress fracture.
There are things you can do to prevent shin splints. Increase your mileage gradually and change your running shoes regularly. 👟
If you experience pain after your run, use your reusable gel ice pack straight from the freezer to relieve pain and reduce swelling. Introduce heat two hours later and alternate between heat and ice for best results. 🙌

If you aren’t begging for a rest, than you aren’t training your best!
Ahhh rest day......but now what? 🤷
For a runner, taking time off running is like not brushing your teeth in the morning! It’s part of our daily routine and one that we’ve worked so hard to perfect, but, it is just as important to rest, as it is to exercise!
For those of you who find a rest day somewhat prohibitive, here’s some ideas that we’re sure you’ll enjoy, and make a rest day, something to look forward to!
Take a walk! Grab the family and the dog, explore somewhere new, 30-45 minutes out in the fresh air is a perfect stretch for those legs and will make you feel brand new!
Take an open water swim! No watches, no toys, no drills, just you, your wetsuit and maybe a few fish for company.🐠
Take a yoga class! If you’re not a member of a studio, no problem, there are hundreds of classes you can try online at home.
Eat & hydrate! Rest day diets should include plenty of antioxidants, and that’s the good stuff, lots of berries, pecan nuts and dark chocolate, YES! 🙌🏻
Finally, Netflix & chill! No explanation needed! 😉
Happy rest day!.

Did you know the average age for becoming a runner is 40!
Athlete, Paula Radcliffe juggled long-distance running with motherhood and was 41 with two kids when she completed her last competitive race in 2015!
Whether you are just entering your 40s or you are well acquainted with them, keeping fit at 40 helps to combat the internal and external signs of ageing.
Read our blog for tips and advice to keep you running well beyond your current decade!
https://bit.ly/GPDRunat40

All you knee’d to know about running injuries is right here! 🦵
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) or quite simply, Runners Knee, is one of the most common running injuries.
The dull pain behind or around the kneecap is caused by irritation, it usually flares up during or after your long run, the risk is increased by weak quads, hips or glutes.
Use your gel pack straight from the freezer immediately after activity, then two hours later, introduce heat. Continue to alternate every two hours.
Accompany hot and cold therapy with strengthening exercises for maximum results.
You’ll be amazed by the results we promise! 🙌
Read more https://bit.ly/GPDRunInjuries

Give some sugar to burn some sugar!
The average kiss can burn 2-3 calories per minute, use your hands too and burn up to 5! 😉
A serious, tongue-tangling French kiss exercises all the underlying muscles of the face which may keep you looking younger, and certainly looking happier!
Happy International Kissing Day!

Is it time to ditch the watch?
Are you a slave to technology? Your running watch will keep you on pace, monitor your training load, your heart rate and in most cases, uploads your workout straight to Strava! 🙌
But...........occasionally running without your watch might be something you want to consider, and here's why;
Easy runs - When you’re running a pace that’s a lot slower than you would typically, a watch reminding you of how slow you going isn’t going to make your run any better.
Disconnect - Hard day at work? Leave the technology behind and hit the trails. Trailing running can be a form of mindfulness and there's little chance of a PB so why bother with the watch?
Injury recovery - Recovery is tough enough. A constant reminder of how slowly you’re moving isn’t what you need. Start your first runs back from injury without a watch and give your body time to get there.
For further tips and advice on recovery have a read of our blog.
https://bit.ly/RestNRecovery

"But first.....let me take a selfie"
Not exactly the most flattering of selfie's but here it is!
The selfie gets a great deal of stick 😉, but we think the selfie is a brilliant way to capture memories and share new experiences.
Our first dip at our local Bittell Reservoir! Thanks to BRAT Club Bromsgrove & Redditch for making us feel welcome.
What's your selfie of the day?

Yay! Short weather! 😀
Unfortunately for some of us, this means a touch of the old chub rub or even a bit of gyp from a jogger’s nip! 🤭
Runners and endurance athletes are particularly susceptible. The friction produced from repetitive movements plus the skin-to-skin contact combined with salty sweat which acts as sand paper, are a perfect recipe for chafing!
Read our blog for the latest advice to keep your skin as smooth and shiny as your last medal! (although......that may have been a while ago!)
http://bit.ly/GPDChafing

Forgotten something? 🤔
It's Father's Day on Sunday!!
Don't worry there's still plenty of time! Our best selling multi-purpose is available on Amazon Prime for next day delivery! 🙌🏻
The perfect gift for the sportsman in your life!
Use cold to relieve swollen and inflamed tissue and use hot to treat chronic pain, stiff joints and aching muscles.
http://bit.ly/GPDShopFathersDay

I found this HUMERUS 😂
Do your shoulders and arms get so sore when you run? 💪
Whilst we tend to thin of running as a lower body sport, your arms and shoulders provide momentum when you run - putting them also at risk of injury 😔
The most common are tendonitis, bursitis, impingement syndromes, and rotator cuff tears as a result of the repetitive movements that result in “wear and tear” of the joint structures, leading to inflammation and pain.
To treat this we recommend using your 3 in 1 gel pack and the RICE method - RESTING ICING COMPRESSION AND ELEVATING - to soothe inflammation and relieve pain.
🔗 in bio to shop our range our range of 3 in 1 hot, cold, compression gel packs

I thought they said RUM 🥃

With beer gardens and restaurants finally opening, our alcohol consumption seems to be increasing with the post run beer occasionally turning into two. How does alcohol affect our running and does that post-run beer really aid recovery? 🤷

Unsurprisingly, there are many drawbacks to alcohol and it can be detrimental to performance! Exercise generally causes you to sweat as your body temperature rises. Combined with drinking alcohol, this will worsen the effect of dehydration, impairing the flow of blood through your body, which is essential for circulating oxygen and nutrients to your muscles as you run 💪

Whilst alcohol is definitely not recommended before physical activity, the post-run trip to the pub for a beer could actually be beneficial to your body. After a run, rehydration is key! 🚰

Whilst beer in this case won’t prevent or treat injury, (for that we recommend a gel pack, obviously!) it will definitely provide your body with the nutrients you need to recover ❄️🔥

🛍️ our range of 3 in 1 gel packs

Knee-sy does it 😂

The knee is the most commonly injured joint among runners with pain in the knee, both during and after, running caused by a handful of conditions.

Treatment will depend on your specific knee problem but we often recommend Resting, Icing, Compression and Elevating the affected area using your 3 in 1 gel pack.

To prevent knee injuries:
1. Rest
2. Treat any niggles with cold therapy
3. Check your footwear
4. Regularly exercise the muscles surrounding the knee to strengthen the area.

Shop our 3 in 1 range of hot and cold packs.

There's no such thing as too many ice packs 😂

Recently, we were excited to here that world breaking runner, Nick Butter has been using our products as part of his daily recovery, whilst on his challenge, Run Britain.

In 2019, Nick Butter became the first man to run a marathon in every country on Earth. That's 196 Marathons in every one of the worlds 196 countries.

Now, 2 years later, Nick is embarking on a new challenge, to run the entire coastline of Great Britain. Thats 200 marathons in 100 days, a total of 5,240 miles, with 14 hours of running everyday until his journey around Britain concludes at the Eden Project on the 26th July.

We would like to wish Nick all the best on his new record breaking challenge! 🙌

Have you heard, I am a runner. What that means is I run. A runner isn't defined by their pace or size or what they look like. Runners are like family. We support each other and we stick together.

Happy International Day of Families 👪

What type of salt has the best vision? Sea Salt 🤣

We’ve all trawled the internet and scoured our socials searching high and low for the perfect sports drink to fuel our workouts and recovery, but the choices on offer can be baffling even to the most seasoned of weekend athletes! 🏃‍♀️🏊‍♀️🚴‍♂️

With hot summer days fast approaching, we’ve tried to make things simple for you to avoid dehydration and heat related illness! There are in fact three types of sports drinks which use salt to help hydrate the body through different types of training.

Check out our blog for a simple recipe to make your own sports drink at home.

https://bit.ly/guide-to-sports-drinks

An injury is not just a process of recovery , but a process of discovery - Conor McGregor 🙌

Millions of people pound the pavements every single day in the UK. Some enjoy running, while others feel like they need to do it. Regardless of a persons reason behind getting out there, it is an alarming fact that roughly half of all ‘regular’ runners develop at least one injury over the course of a year 😔 🏃‍♀️

While the majority of these running injuries are minor, some are very uncomfortable and without treatment can develop into something more serious.

We recommend RESTING the injury, ICING to reduce inflammation and pain, COMPRESSION to ease swelling and ELEVATING the affected area.

Happy Sun Awareness Week 🌞

In 2019, it was reported that almost 900 people died as a result of heat related illness. We all know that staying out in the sun for too long can put us at risk of dehydration and sunburn, if we’re not careful. Having said that, as Brits, we are a nation of sun worshipers, taking every opportunity to whip out the shorts and crack open that holiday draw!

The good news is that research suggests running in the sun brings benefits to both running performance and overall health...that’s a win win!

With warm summer days fast approaching, check out our blog for staying safe whilst on your run this summer https://bit.ly/summer-running-safety

It’s estimated that 2 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide every day ☕ 😲
Coffee is the choice of drink for many pre-run, providing a range of benefits from a much needed energy boost first thing in the morning and in the evening when energy levels are low. Check out these top 5 benefits:

1. Mental alertness and improved state of mind

2. Increases your body’s ability to burn fat running

3. Increases speed in running long distances and improves your power

4. Caffeine and heat tolerance running

5. Helps you get a faster 5k time

Read on for more information about the affect of caffeine on running performance . . . https://bit.ly/caffeine-and-running

Remember to take it KNEE-sy 😊
Jumper's knee (a.k.a patellar tendonitis) is an overuse injury that occurs when a tendon is overloaded, causing it to thicken.
It's characterised by a pain in the front of the knee which can be especially painful when you squat, jump or land and typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood.
To treat and relieve the pain from jumpers knee at home:
1. Take a break from running until your pain subsides.
2. Ice the affected area to help with pain using our 3 in 1 gel pack.
3. Choose a low-impact activity until your knee pain is gone.
📸

In it for the long run 🏃‍♀️

Did you know the long run is one of the most effective workouts any runner can do, It improves endurance and cardiovascular capacity, which allows you eventually to hold a faster pace for longer distances.

Here's 4 tips to get you started:

1. Eat and Drink - If it's your first time running around 60 minutes, take a gel with you, whilst you may not need it, it's nice to know you have a shot of energy if you want it.

2. Plan Your Route - Do you run near your house, where you are more likely to cut it short? Consider driving somewhere to eliminate the temptation. If you feel more confident knowing you can grab water and use the bathroom at home, then do some loops close to home.

3. Break It Up - Once you're moving, break up the run into segments, letting your mind wander and then re-engaging at certain points throughout when you may need a mental push.

4. Pace Yourself - Long runs are often referred to as long, slow distance runs, for good reason. Your pace should be conversational and your breathing comfortable.

We’re all guilty of running the same perfectly mapped 5k route, again and again, which starts and ends at our house. What if we told you that mixing up your running routine will actually make you faster, stronger and less injury prone, you’d give it a go and add it into your routine?

Here’s a round up of the different types of run and how to build them into your training……..

http://bit.ly/types-of-running

14% of UK adults have injured themselves during the coronavirus lockdowns with pulled muscles the most common, making up 36% (BupaUK).
A pulled muscle occurs when the muscle is overstretched or torn usually as a result of fatigue, overuse, or improper use of a muscle.
To treat a pulled muscle, we recommend using the RICE technique:

Rest - Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.

Ice - Ice the area. Use an ice pack for 15 to 20 minutes each time and repeat every two to three hours for the first few days after the injury.

Compression - To help stop swelling, use a compression wraps to compress the area until the swelling stops.

Elevation - Elevate the injured area above the level of your heart, especially at night, which allows gravity to help reduce swelling.
View in 🛍️ our range of 3in1 hot and cold gel packs which come with a compression wrap to treat muscle pulls.

Happy World Immunisation Week 🎉
With over half the population now having received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine we’re well on our way back to normality - for us that's running races 🏃‍♀️
However, it's reported that 1 in 10 of us will experience mild to moderate symptoms which will resolve in a matter of days (gov.uk)
It's important to remember that all vaccines and medicines have some side effects and that these side effects need to be continuously balanced against the expected benefits in preventing illness.
🔗 in bio for our tips on treating symptoms of the covid vaccine with your 3 in 1 gel pack.