Software

Running with Everytrail

I'm still intent on running home once a week, so today I repeated the exact same running route as last week. I again finished the 10k distance in 1hr 20mins, and was strangely within 15 seconds of my previous time.

Given that it was direct replay of last weeks route, there isn't much point me repeating the sporttracks image. Instead I've used it as an excuse to introduce my new discovery - everytrail.com. I first came across this on The Trail Runners blog which is certainly worth a read.

Everytrail allows you to upload your running tracks directly from your GPS unit, add waymarks and photos and provides a really simple way to share the route as an iframe on your blog. Non of this is all that new really but I'm particularly happy that I can also directly upload the gpx file. This means I can plot out a route on memory map and upload it without actually having to cover the course with my garmin. I used this feature when I needed to plot my friends planned commute. I was able to stick it on the web for him to peruse at work and determine whether it was a manageable distance.

If you use another mapping package that saves the routes in an alternative format (eg tracklogs), you might want to try out GPSBabel which is a free tool for converting routes into the gpx format.

Software

More Playlist Mayhem

As I mentioned earlier, my Saturday has been pretty much ruined due to a wasted day waiting for a delivery from M&S. The delivery was to be expected anytime between 7.30 am and 6 pm. Its gone 8 now and I'm still sitting here, pee'd off, no parcel and no run. I've given up now and turned to the bottle, or at least a couple of cans of stella.

I've spent most of the day messing around with my iTunes library. I've been frustrated by the bpm column that remains empty against all my songs. This info could be super useful. As I determined earlier, my running pace is about 158 strides per minute when it ought to be 180 for maximum efficiency. Surely if I create my playlists around the target beat, I might be able to train my little ole legs to pump a bit faster.

So I've been researching bpm determining software. There are a number that require you to tap the beat out on your mouse or trackpad (absolutely useless for rhythmless me) and others that work it out automatically. Its not foolproof though, apparently it is common for the automatic system to either dbl or halve the true bpm, which might explain why my Norah Jones collection appears to the most upbeat music in my library.

I'm trialling beaTunes which is a standalone program that integrates well with iTunes. It populates my library with the bpm info that I'm after but also categorises my music in other ways too. It asigns a colour to each track which looks fairly pretty and again is designed to make intelligent playlist choices that reduce the opportunity for inappropriate or clashing tunes. I like the idea but I haven't had a chance to try this out as its taking about 20 hrs to analyse my library. The program itself is shareware - I get it free for 8 days, not ideal I suppose but at least I get to update my entire library before the free period runs out.

Software

Running - The Purists Sport?

Running is normally considered the minimalist sport, much favoured by purists who just like to pop on a pair of shoes and head out of the door to freedom. I somehow manage to thwart this image and see a necessity in spending the best part of a months salary on "essential" running clobber.

This snap shows a representative sample of the gear I require to push one foot in front of the other. Its amazing I can even move under the weight of all this gear.

Dr Nick asked me, a few entries back, whether the GPS actually improved my running performance or whether it was just the gadget factor. Thats quite a toughy really. It has undoubtedly improved my running but only really by providing me with the incentive to get out there and run.

I suppose the actual question he wanted answering was "will it improve my running?". This again is a tough question. I tend to think if it was going to work for you, you'd have one by now.

I enjoy the post run analysis more than the actual running. If I forgot the garmin - I just wouldn't bother running, it has become the most important feature to me. I run to feed its little data banks. If you were just such a data fiend I reckon you wouldn't have any difficulty rationalising the expense.

Here's my list of "essential" running gadgets and utilities from 2006:

1. Garmin Forerunner 305 - see above for my sad addicts confession. Here for a review and comparison with other speed and distance monitors. Plenty of other bloggers have seen the light as well and adorn their sites with the maps and stats acquired en-route: Steve's Running, Trail Runner, Celeste and Getting Buff


2. SportTracks - Training log software. I'm tempted to put this in at number 1 as it is the reason that the garmin forerunner is such a dream gadget. Without SportTracks the gps system would be seriously emasculated. SportTracks is available for free download and I can't recommend it strongly enough for anyone with a gps unit. It is by and far the best sports diary I have come across. Whats more it continues to be a work in progress, with the developer working closely with the users to make it increasingly brilliant. Most of the stats I dsplay in this blog are cut directly out of SportTracks.


3. Runners World Marathon schedules - I'm not up for the marathon yet but these have been made available as downloadable schedules for the garmin forerunner. You can select the schedule based on standard predicted finish times or alter each for your specific target. I've been playing around with these schedules as part of the testing phase and have found them to be excellent. Even without completing the full program I now have a load of training routines to add variety to my runs.


4. iPod Nano - I don't run with this all the time, sometimes its a joy to hear the birds and the rowers. The good thing about running with music though is that it adds an element of bouncing fun and it stops me hearing my gasping breath. It also stops me from hearing the fattist abuse hurled from white vans. I haven't been tempted by the Nike+ phenomonen, mainly because I have the forerunner, but you can see some interesting Nike+ paraphenalia at Booyaa.


5. The Filter. One of the reasons I don't use the iPod too much while running is that I struggle to develop suitably stirring playlists. I just can't be arsed to dedicate that much time to iTunes. My latest discovery is another free download and seems to be working wonders for my playlist doldrums. I can highlight a few songs that typify the mood I'm after and then press a magic button on The filter console and watch it search through my library to propose a whole new playlist. Apparently it learns from its mistakes and takes into account both my preferences and those of the online community. It seems pretty good so far.

Software

Even a rubber duck runs faster than me

It was a tough psychological run this morning. I took the new route around both the Chiswick and Hammersmith Bridges and I've displayed the MotionBased viewport below. It turns out to be an almost perfect 10k route, but its hard on the mind. I'm dreading starting my marathon training when I'll have to face considerably longer runs each weekend.

Continue reading "Even a rubber duck runs faster than me"

Software

This mornings 8km Run

This is a small extension to the 6.6k route I mapped out a few days ago. It saves me retracing my steps as its a truly circular route. It was nice and cool this morning with quite a blustery breeze, I'm sure this helped to keep my heart rate under control and meant I was able to run the entire route. Oh well, not quite the entire route, as usual I walked up the steps to each bridge and you can see this reflected in the heart rate profile. Still a pretty good effort I think, and makes a stark contrast to the enforced interval training on the 26th. It looks like a heart rate of 160 bpm makes a manageable run for me.

You can check out more details on the MotionBased website again.

Continue reading "This mornings 8km Run"

Software

New 6.6km Run

I've really started to increase the length of my runs now. I blame it on the Garmin Forerunner 305 as it seems to be encouraging me to try out new routes so I can play with them on SportTracks. Here is a satellite screenshot of my latest training run, I've taken all the images out of SportTracks.

This route takes me out from my flat, immediately along the Thames and up to Kew Bridge, up and over, back down Strand on the Green til I reach Chiswick Bridge and then a slight retracing of my steps til I make it home again. Nice ole route and not a bad length for my 10k training.

The red bits highlighted on the photo, represent the areas where I dropped down to a walk. Besides the fact that it is a really nifty feature of the SportTracks software, it is pretty abyssmal for a run - init?

I blame it on the weather, tis flippin hot! If you check out my heart rate profile, its clear that my heart rate climbs to around 170 bpm and then I quit and start walking til it gets to about 135 bpm and I can start again. I suppose this is enforced interval training and its meant to be good for you.

Continue reading "New 6.6km Run"

Software

PocketBFL

As any casual reader of my site will realise - I am a terrible, gadget freak, come spendaholic. It is therefore no surprise that I have managed to find a purchasable product that will be absolutely invaluable /an absolute necessity in my latest project - the Body For Life challenge.

Continue reading "PocketBFL"

Software

Online Bike Journal - Motivation

I've started hanging out on the Cycling Plus web forum, my handle is warriorwoman (of course). You can pick a fair number of tips as its a really active site.

Anyway the latest gem pointed me in the direction of BikeJournal which is a free site, geared up for storing all your ride details. You have to be bothered to key in all the relevant bits of data such as time, distance, av speed, av heart rate etc but in the long run you have a great record.

It's really quite motivational as well, so long as you have a competitive bone in your body, which I do. There are ranks of other riders, so you can see where you fit into the scheme of things. At the moment I am in position 498 or 44th in the womens rankings, only 6552 miles behind the leader.

Log on try it out - and why not join the warrior women team?