Just before Christmas I managed to strike lucky and get my hands on a Motorola Defy to play around with. Due to a bit of fortune and good luck I got into discussion with a guy from Vodafone who is also a keen runner and has a personal project which he has set up, http://peoplerun.net/. This is very similar to my site, Havens Runners, and he was happy to send me one of these phones to play with.

Branded as ‘rugged and waterproof’ this Android phone seemed the perfect phone for British weather and also a sweaty runner like yours truly! Charged and armed with a couple of running apps over the last few weeks I have seen it through its paces. I added both the Endemodo and Runkeeper apps and tried them over various runs and scenarios – I also threw on a few tracks to listen to whilst running – albeit a very very limited collection (including the classic blast from the past We Built this City).

I love the fact that I didn’t have to worry about getting this phone wet or damp so I chucked it into my pocket or held it whilst running.  Basically,  I just went for it and hoped it would indeed live up to its ‘rugged’ reputation – which it did!

The screen is the same size as my iPhone and the quality much sharper (just to remind you I have the very dated 3g model, not the 4). The phone is MUCH smaller and lighter than most phones that run android or iOS.  It was barely bigger than my old nano and the phone could obviously take the task of a phone (shocker!), music player, camera and GPS and running distance application.

What was the verdict of the running apps?

As I mentioned earlier one of the first things I did when I got the phone was to load on some different apps. I’ll be the first to admit that my knowledge of what was available for the Android operating system was very limited having only really looked at apps for my iPhone. However, it didn’t take too long to find out that both endemondo and runkeeper both offered versions for this phone and away I went.

Anyone who follows this blog regularly will know that I would never go out without my Garmin so I have been able to compare the app data with what my watch displayed and on the whole the results are pretty respectable coming in very close in distance to the GPS watch data.

What has to be constantly remembered though is these apps are TOTALLY free, unlike my very expensive Garmin. The phone will also give me a map to see me home when I get lost whereas the best my watch can do is give me a compass. This phone has much, much more functionality than the watch!!

I loved this phone, so much so I would seriously consider it for my next purchase over the iPhone. The size, coupled by its relative price, replaceable battery, durability and great screen resolution makes this phone actually pretty smart. Plus its substantially cheaper than its Apple rival! If you are a runner and want a phone to match your lifestyle without worrying about damaging it then this is the one for you! I know a lot of people run with their iPhones or similar phones by wrapping them in a sandwich bag or equivalent but this is not necessary with this phone meaning you can actually use it when you need to without the added hassle! As one of those people who have tried the sarny bag method in the pouring rain it was a refreshing change not to have to do it with this phone!

Go get this phone it rocks! Cheers Vodafone for sending it out to me, you may have just got a customer out of it too!!

A few months ago I purchased the Long session Audiofuel track to use during my marathon training. I really liked the idea and think it worked pretty well. I actually used the track on my Silverstone Half and achieved a PB.

The concept is simple, using tracks with different bpm the pace can be altered by landing your feet on the beat. Much like with spinning classes you are in essence moving to the music. The long run session sets off at a slow pace and injects different bpms throughout, all with the intention of keeping you alert and pushing you through pain barriers. I didn’t realise how much a beat in a song affected my stride and cadence until getting this track.

I decided to then download a few of the other tracks and last week I used the intermediate interval coaching session. I loved it. I have never been a huge fan of intervals, finding them repetitive and dull. The track turned the session into something much more enjoyable. It was a pyramid interval track going faster and longer and then reducing after meeting the peak of 75seconds at maximum effort or 180bpm.

The songs are all unfamiliar but that didn’t seem to bother me. I’m starting to wonder how unhelpful some of the tracks on my iPod may be. If the bpm is low perhaps I’m slowing without even knowing!

The tracks remind me a bit of the Nike+ training tracks which used to be aligned with the footpod. However, Nike appear to have given up on this approach as I haven’t seen any new ones in some while which is a shame. The Nike ones tended to involve songs you would know and coached by big names like Serena Williams, the band OK Go all adding power and credence to the tracks but the marketing, at least in the uk has been poor.

Why not check out the tracks, if you run on your own but with an iPod I think most would like and benefit from them.

Click here for the Audiofuel website.

This post is not one to review the unit, that will come in a few weeks time. Whilst I have had the device for at least a month now today’s treadmill run was the first time I really used it for it’s coaching powers.

miCoach offers real time audio coaching allowing sessions to be hooked into the device. The unit revolves around heartrate training (although I have read reviews to suggest pace based training will appear soon) and by specifying heart rate zones you can push your body accordingly. The sessions have audio to tell you to enter the zone and maintain that heart rate for a given duration.

Today I opted for the VO2 test, one that incorporates all zones. At it’s toughest the device wanted me to enter its ‘Red’ zone which is max heart rate for 2mins and at it’s easiest it was running at a pace just above walking. The session is designed to be tough and it sure was, my t-shirt resembled something straight from the washing machine and by the end of the red zone intervals I couldn’t have slowed the machine down any quicker!

I may have to play with the zones a bit though as I’m not sure it’s calibration is ideal – I suppose that’s fair enough considering I didn’t calibrate it! It was good fun though, reminded me of the Nike training tracks they did a while back which offered similar audio coaching.
» Continue reading “My first ‘proper’ miCoach run”

Following recommendations from a few people I shortened my final run to the local ‘classic’ route. The schedule listed 12 miles which most people thought was mentally far and in fairness in that run it’s too late to improve fitness or ability and there is a greater risk of becoming injured and increasing recovery time.

I set out on Saturday am with the camelbak and one spare gel to see me through the run. It was a sunny morning but still early enough to be a little chilly. The run went perfectly, no real issues and stuck to the pace recommended in the schedule. I added the extra 2 mile segment onto the journey resulting in a 9 mile run.

That’s it now for runs over an hour until the big one! Busy week ahead, expo, final massage as well as other bits and bobs. 15 weeks of fairly structured training. Over the next week I hope to write a blog highlighting all I have achieved including the races and hundreds of miles covered.

See mile splits

Until next time.

N

The last post I wrote had me complaining about having heavy legs following the 10k, since that point I did a fastish treadmill session in the gym on Thursday clocking up 6kms which was again felt heavy and on Saturday morning I went for my 3M ‘easy’ run around the block as a warmup. Fortunately the rest day on Friday seemed to go someway to help with the recovery of my legs and Saturdays run felt much better. However as a bonus I was booked into see Chris over at the sports clinic for a 20min session on my legs – perfect pre race massage!

The massage was excellent and left my legs feeling a lot better than earlier and with the added knowledge that I wasn’t showing any real signs of damage I left the clinic ready for Sundays run, although at that point I hadn’t decided whether to race or just take it as a training run, although Chris did say as I left – go and crack 1:45, i’m sure you can.

Sunday arrived and with all the negative press that Silverstone seems to receive I don’t think I was looking forward to it as much as I possibly should – reports of difficulties getting in and out of the course on top of a dull circuit filled me with a bit of dread on the 1 and a bit hour drive. Fortunately, as always, Laura offered to come along and do the driving as well as watch from the sidelines and take photos, this is always a blessing – to have company before and after an event is perfect as it stops me stressing and getting worked up, not what you need before a race!

We got to Silverstone at about 1015 ish, plenty early for the noon start. We pottered down to the start areas and had a look at the shops before I started the lengthy process of sorting out my kit. Gel belt, heart rate monitor, pre-race isotonic drink, toilet break, banana….this routine takes almost as long as running the race but I find it works so I may as well stick to it. At 11:15 over the tannoy we were ushered into the pens, so I left my hoody with Laura and headed in – bad move. It was actually pretty damn cold still and I realised at this point I would be hanging around for 45mins without a jumper – did they really need 45mins to enter pens? On top of this because I got cold my body decided it needed the loo but I decided to hold it, if I needed to go during the route I would grudgingly have to stop!

Bang on midday Martin Yelling started the race and we were off – as usual I set off faster than I had really intended on and found myself running with the sub 8min runners. I tried to take the pace down a bit but judging by my Garmin that didn’t really happen! I managed to maintain a sub 8min/mi for the whole course – averaging 07:43 min/mi and according to my chip time I came in at 1:41:52 a new PB knocking 6 1/2 mins off my previous PB of 3 weeks prior (Laura – you were right I did a 1:48) and amazingly about 20mins off my Half Mara time of last year. On top of that my 10k chip time was sub 45 mins @ 44:15 another PB for me!

Obviously as I hit PB’s the run was incredible for me – it was tough but it wasn’t a killer I’m not sure I had another half in my legs at that speed but that is to be expected really! Marathon training is going well this year All in all a great run, wide course with no bottlenecks which is perfect! Would I do it again? If i was chasing a PB again then possibly, if I was going for scenery then probably not!See 19Mile Splits

Chip Timer Splits
Split Time
5K 00:23:25
10K 00:44:15
15K 01:11:25
20K 01:35:07

place (total) 671
place (gender) 614
place (cat) 484
finish time 01:41:52
http://silverstone.r.mikatiming.de/2010/index.php?content=detail&type=&id=0000030F5ECC83000005416E&lang=EN&event=SVRM&ageclass=

Once again I opted for the treadmill, I’m sure this is counter productive but find this is the only way to push myself. I’m glad I did it before work as had planned for 2 sessions today the sprints and then a niketown after work (the first of the season) but due to work constraints and the launching of a rather last minute tool I had to skip this evening.

I’m starting to feel a lot more comfortable with my base rate at 12km/h which is reassuring as a few weeks ago I wasn’t really feeling it. I sprint intervaled  today 400me/200recovevy pushing top speed around the 17.4km/h. Twas tough – as usual, but the schedule required 9 intervals which I did. Did some stretches then headed to work (early – fool!).

As an aside on Sunday I listened to the latest marathon talk podcast and there was an interesting bit in there that talked about weight and running, can’t remember the precise numbers but something like for every pound you lose you can expect to lose 2seconds off your mile time. I found that interesting, whilst I wouldn’t classify myself as overweight I certainly have a bit of excess fat which if I cut out sweets and chips I’m sure I could lose, hence I’m watching what I eat for a little bit to see if it helps…also whilst talking about marathon talk, I got a mention in the last one Finally I’m famous! hehe

Till tomorrows long run

N

Saturday morning was the designated 4M slow warm-up jog in preparation for the Sunday run and following a rest day on Friday. Plotting a loop online during the week I took to the frosty streets. The route I chose was hilly to say the least, thinking back now I don’t remember more than 200m that was flat, however this did not come as a suprise as I had done stretches of the route before. Easy 4m under the recommended time, perfect!

Sunday was billed in the diary as the first ‘race’. Having not been able to find an organised run to enter at the required distance (10km) I realised I would have to do it alone. I was also very aware of how quickly I was supposed to do it and wasn’t overly confident of my own ability to meet the target of sub 47mins. During the last summer I ran the British 10k in 46mins so know I can do it, however it wasn’t to be the case on Sunday.
» Continue reading “W4 D4 & D5 – Gentle jog and ‘Race’ day”

I sit writing this on my phone overlooking a mountain and that may explain why w3 of training was can celled…much like last year I incorporated a week of skiing into my training schedule however unlike last year I haven’t even done one run…the promise of a treadmill at the hotel made me think I would at least get in an interval run but the day I tried (Tuesday) the treadmill proceeded to cut out and restart every minute. After about 10mins and 1km later I gave up and that was my training! I am hoping that the stresses and pressure on my legs whilst skiing can’t have done a disservice and perhaps I will be able to resume into w4 without issues!

Just before flying to Andorra on Sunday I did manage to fit in a Saturday morning long slow run. The snow had finally melted and it was the first opportunity in weeks to get out onto the roads. However, whilst the snow had gone the rain came down and I possibly was out in the wettest conditions I have experienced (including last years training!).

I opted to try a new route, which turned out to be a bad idea, the first 8 or so miles went pretty well albeit on a really dull set of roads. However at about the 8m point I managed to hit a forest trail. First instincts told me to turn round however I didn’t and 1m further I found myself on a muddy path leading onto a waterlogged park(snow had just melted). My trainers now weighed double and my socks were sopping. I took this as a sign to find the quickest and shortest route home as not sure I really wanted to get more blisters which seemed poss given how wet I was! » Continue reading “W3 Cancelled (Includes W2 D5 The Long Run)”

Ok so I have been away for a week on a cruise. Some people may think I’m a little young for this but this ship wasn’t targeted for the oldies, so Laura and I made the most of her last week off before starting her new job to cruise the med.

For anyone who hasn’t been on a cruise before there seems to be this common theme of ’24 hour dining’ or otherwise known as eat till you explode, being healthy does not seem to be an option. Judging by their size for a vast number of people this cruise wasn’t their first as there were some real biggies on that boat (Mike – if only I had your book, I’m sure I could have offloaded a number of copies!). Anyway, not wanting to feel like I had paid for something and not used it I indeed proceeded to eat and, baring one short 5k run on day two, do no form of physical exercise for a week. Sure there was a lot of walking and across the week we must have covered in excess of 25k but that was about it…

After coming back I allowed myself one day off before hitting the gym in style with an afternoon spinning session, wow it was hard, harder than I remember for a long period of time. I also thought I’d hit the sauna after and it appears a combination of the two which left me coming out to get changed fealing sick and very week. I can only remember one other gym session like this and once again I headed for the lucozade. This time it seemed to make no difference and 2hours later, whilst I write this blog I still feel fairly quesy and to be honest this is keeping my mind off it.

What does this mean? Can my fitness really change in the course of a week? If so what will it take to get back to where I was before? Another oddity is I am aware my stomach capacity is growing again meaning the lunch which whilst marathon training would fill me, now leaves me hungry, what can I do to reduce this again?

Think I’m going to have to put myself down for another run to work towards again because at the moment I don’t feel particularly motivated to keep fit and go for runs, naughty Neil! So on that note watch this space for information of my next run.

NB 17JUNE 2010 When I posted this blog I thought I would update this code base a little more – as there was limited (read none) feedback and requests for it I stopped working on it. Should you want some info about the code feel free to ping me a comment on this thread and ill get back to you or drop me a message here. Since starting this coding I now have my Garmin data retrieved through wordpress and fed into the amchart graphs displayed on the right.

I am a developer by trade and one of the reasons I bought this Garmin device was to play with what extra stuff I could get above and beyond my Nike+.

When I searched google I couldn’t really find any form of api to interact with the data so I cobbled together a first draft of stuff. Currently the code is used to pull the TCX file from the garmin site extract the raw data and create an embeddable google map (see below). I will provide the JS file and some code for others to embed on there own blog very soon and will attempt to update the php classes when I need to update them for my own benefit!

Please find all code classes in this folder: http://neillock.co.uk/code/php/. This code is *roughly* commented. For simplicity I have also created phps files for you to look at before downloading here
http://neillock.co.uk/code/phps/.

If you do look at, use, sniff at any of my code can you give me a shout – it would be cool to see what others have done with it! Also if I have been beaten to the mark and there is better api out there shout cause I couldn’t find it!!!

Neil