Posts

Showing posts from 2021

Core blimey! (aka Tracking running #3)

Image
For a while I've wanted to add live heart rate reporting to my DIY GPS tracker  but never really had the time (or motivation), however, getting a new toy had given me some impetus to try again, also Christmas time meant plenty of time to play and tinker... oh and I'd put my back out somehow so needed a diversion! After looking into them a while ago, I'd picked up a CoreTemp body temperature sensor since I've had issues with my body temperature in some events in the past I thought this would be interesting to be able to track and monitor... but as a bonus *what if* it was possible for my crew to be able to monitor and track this remotely to be able to pick up on any issues before they become too serious to be able to handle? So it's time to figure out how to enhance the homebrew tracker with sensor support. I went back to the "version 5" model with its slightly roomier case (also the v6, or was it v7? had been really temperamental) the main board in these

Here comes the muffin man

Image
I don't normally post every run... but I think this is worth a few notes (if only for myself) Cara and me are up early and off for the final G3 Series race of the season, this one has 10k and 15k so *obviously* we're in for the 15k. We ran the first in the series (5k and 10k) but missed out on the second one being over in Wendover for the WW50 that weekend. We've done these races for several years now and they're great fun and brilliantly organised with a real mix of runners of all abilities. The weather can be rather unpredictable which just adds to the fun. Unfortunately no Hugo with us this year, being off at University now, so thankfully I'll be one place higher in the results. Bad boy bad boy, whatcha gonna do. Before the start we all hang around near to the starting mats... (although Cara has insisted she's not staying with me and goes back off into the pack to find some peace) I hang back a bit and leave a gap assuming a group will form in front, but eve

Track at it again

Image
Double post.... both quick write-ups, one failure, one completion. But both a bit disappointing.  Track again First up, some track running again. After running the Crawley 24 in August... I was certain I could do better. Coach Robbie wasn't enamoured with the idea of another 24 so soon after the last, but that performance was nagging at me and I felt ready to try again. Robbie didn't actually say no, but his modus operandi is to let you make your own mistakes. Usually by asking "well do you think it's a good idea?"... Well yes, obviously, it's a brilliant idea, duh! So I was down to run the Gloucester 24 hour on 28th September, it seemed that the steadily increasing heat had been an issue for me at Crawley causing the miserable decline between hours 6 and 20, hopefully the weather at the end of September would avoid this trouble. See brilliant plan. OK. Another track... The only grief initially was logistics, getting from the East of Surrey over to the ed

Run another day

Image
Run Another Day 3rd of July, mid morning and I'm heading down the the K2 running track in Crawley for a second attempt at a 24 track run after the first unsuccessful try in 2019 . The failure in 2019 wasn't a complete surprise since (as I've mentioned in other posts) I hadn't started with the intention on completing I was just pleased to be able to get to the start line and simply intended to 'go as far as I could' on the day. However, I had multiple different goals to target this time - A, B and C. Goal A was to achieve a Spartathlon auto-qualifying time (~140 miles) goal B was to get a Spartathlon ballot eligibility time (~112 miles) and goal C was to complete the 24 hours. I had it all worked out on a spreadsheet and had a plan. The race start is at mid-day so this is a relatively relaxed and leisurely start compared to most races, with time to setup a track-side gazebo with supplies and settle in. Tent town Base station Pre-race briefing and lots of familia

Goals (having)

Image
I started writing this back in November 2020, but just didn't have any focus or motivation at the time and rambled a bit, but I've been trying to decide what my next goal is, and how to achieve it. (North) Down As mentioned before, I've been a bit down following the North Downs withdrawal , obviously everything's been a bit strange and hard for everyone. I had still got my Wendover Woods 50 entry in the calendar after cancelling everything else, but as it became clear this wasn't going to happen either, James at Centurion had started organising a series of virtual events instead. Wendover (virtual) Like many people who run, I'd been (very) critical of virtual races in the past - apart from specific individual charity ones where the point is the publicity and fundraising for a cause and the run is almost secondary. But as the format has evolved and developed this year, I've been won over. When the race is being defined and run within very specific (unique) co