Greg's outdoor adventures
Monday 23 July 2018
New beginnings
So improvements and disappointments already 😆
Sunday 8 January 2012
First run in 2012
After a week of procrastinations and really poor weather, I finally took the plunge and went running. I think 21st November was the last time I was out! This really was the epitome of my running calendar for 2011 so 2012 MUST improve!
The forecast for Saturday was sunny and wind, so I promised myself that come-what-may, I definitely would go out running, and opportunity presented itself in fine form when Rab Edgar phoned asking me to accompany him on a run. It really was windy, and somewhat cold, so I wore my mizuno tights, my new birthday long-sleeve top, new birthday windbreaker and the wee beanie hat. Brand new birthday Nike socks never been worn too. As an aside, I took along the Garmin 310XT as well, seeing how I finally took the plunge and bought the replacement ANT stick for the one I lost. It meant I could upload the November data onto the computer also! After £40 to replace it, I better keep better track of this one!
Wearing hat, gloves and the windbreaker, it wasn't too cold out there. Waiting for the Garmin to find a satellite was a bit chilly, but once we got started things were fine. Having the wind in your face was tiring but occasionally I got the wind at my back and it was great! We started on Lincoln Ave together, got to Anniesland Road then to Southbrae. That was the last I saw of Rab! My left hamstring was tight the first mile, and the cold air was not helping my lungs. I kept going, onto the track alongside Scotstoun Leisure Centre, down to Dumbarton Rd. and then into Victoria park, right around the park and along to Victoria Park Drive, Danes Drive and alongside the Leisure centre again. Just past there on Danes Dr, I reached the the 5 K mark and stopped the Garmin and stated walking. 31:13. Not bad for a first run.
All this while, I'd set the RunKeeper app on my Nokia phone. It is really inaccurate and looks like I run zigzags the whole way. I kept it running till I got home. I measured the route on Google at about 4.1 miles. RunKeepr showed over 4.8 miles, but of course the plot line read zigzaggy lines the whole way! I might just give up on RK for Symbian... It is such a waste of time!
Today is the day after and I am quite stiff and sore in thighs and calfs. I'll try to go for a leisurely cycle if the weather isn't too bad later on. Anything to loosen me up.
Anyway, I now have mileage on the clock for 2012. Last year I only managed about 198 miles so an easy target to beat!
Monday 2 January 2012
Greg's outdoor adventures: New Year and resolutions
New Year and resolutions
Sunday 27 November 2011
A wet and stormy adventure
Tuesday 15 November 2011
A slow 5k and some confusing data streams!
I had dinner (tikka masala) and decided that I was needing to get out and go for a run. I dressed warmly as it was windy though the sky was fairly clear... So 7 pm, nice and dark, with a perfect, clear night sky... Beautiful running conditions. I was wearing my Lidl running tights and matching top, with a very light windbreak (courtesy Kate and Steve for my 50th). I had a flashing reflector hanging from my Runners Forum UK ball cap, and reflective straps on my ankles. Need to be seen, eh! I also had my new Nike running gloves on, although in hindsight i could have done without them! I had my Garmin 310XT on as well as RunKeeper app going on my Nokia C7. I've never successfully used the RunKeeper so wanted to test it against the Garmin.
I set out on a frequently used 5 k route I call the Duntreath loop. I had the phone in the arm holster and no sound on RunKeeper, so no active data coming out of that. Garmin was showing the first mile about 9:30 pace, and I was on the slow-down from there. Next 2 miles were decidedly worse.... As I said, I was out there to be out there and not to be quick!
When I got to the 5K point, I switched the Garmin off. It showed 31:30. Sounded about right. I then fished the phone out of the holster and it showed a similar time, but 0.8 additional miles!
I got home and stripped off all the sweaty gear, anxious to compare the readouts of Garmin vs RunKeeper. The latter tracking map when you zoom in looked like I'd been running zigzags the whole way! http://runkeeper.com/user/GregUsrey/activity/60022229
Garmin is not available because the USB ANT agent thing is hiding. I'll need to find the damn thing! Meantime, I went to google maps and measured the course to measure and it is definitely a 5k course!
All in all, it was good to be out there, despite Caitlin's friends laughing about my running gear. Men in tights; maybe not the height of teenage fashion!
Ps. Forgot to say. Had the senseiser headphones on, listening to my whole playlist on random select. In future, I think I'll pick a particular playlist as sometimes you kinda want to know what is coming next!
Cheers for now....
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Glasgow,United Kingdom
Sunday 13 November 2011
A beautiful day for a cycle!
Anyway, got up this morning and made a big batch of pancakes for the brood. After that was cleaned up, I went and did a wee shop for the week. That done, I was ready to get ready! Clothing etc was already laid out (supposed to use it for the run yesterday!), so was ready fairly quickly. Got Storm out of the shed, tried to switch on the Garmin and nowt. Dead.? Will investigate later. I recently got RunKeeper app on the Nokia, so tried it for the first time. Seems to be working fine!
Route wise, the Glasgow to Dumbarton cycle, via the canal path and cycle trail is pretty well worn as I have done this route many times. I mixed it up a bit this time by moving back and forth between path and streets. It was a really nice day, albeit a bit windy. There were loads of walkers, cyclist and dog walkers about on the paths, so had to go fairly slow in lots of places. I did the wee circle round the Gardens in from of Dumbarton Castle. Quite pretty looking out ver a peaceful Clyde river.
I didn't have time to dally, so headed straight back. I took the roads through Old Kirkpatrick and then back onto the cycle trail. it was at this point that I really started to feel it in my legs. Combine this with fairly strong winds and I really started to struggle and could feel the strain in my thighs! I wasn't exactly pushing it, but I did try to maintain a decent pace. Trouble wit RunKeeper is I didn't have it set for coaching or anything so was getting no feedback from it at all. No idea of pace, so just kept peddling. The last 5 miles or so were quite sore, and. Was glad to be home.
RunKeeper showed 20.? Miles in 1:38-ish and avg. pace of 4:32? But failed to upload to the website. It said go to support, which I did. By the time I sorted out the connection, the data disappeared! Such a shame as I really wanted it to work! Hopefully now that the settings are correct, it should upload automatically next time!
Before it got dark, I went out and gave Storm a wee wash-down as the mud and dirt were pretty bad! Looks good as new now, putting her back into the shed!
Well, now that I am rested and recovering, I am really glad I went out. Meant to go with Rab today, but thought he was going hill walking. He shoulda told me he didn't go! Anyhoo.... Next time!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Glasgow to Dumbarton