Nothing Worse Than Tech Issues, Plus Other Inane Ramblings. Oh and Garmin Watches. I Want One.

[PaulS83]

That's how I feel redoing all these runs. If I didn't crock myself (nobody's fault) first go 'round, I could be sitting having a cup of tea and a pink wafer with Mo Farah by now.

Anyway, I've just rolled Week 1 up in an old carpet and dumped it amongst the bins in some urine soaked alleyway and walked away whistling. Now to go teach his mate Week 2 some manners as well. Any back-chat from him and I'll be punching him where it hurts (right in the wife).

I've had some tech issues this week. On R2 I was given the prompt to walk, so I did, and did. And did. Next thing I know I'm in the next county, so I check in on MJ and he's frozen. I think it's my headphone port that's a bit loose and it auto-pauses under minimum duress. It happened again in the cool down walk and then again tonight. The problem with it happening then is that it doesn't let you resume, only save and exit and then you have to guess when you're done. Wreaks havoc on my Strava, let me tell you. There's nothing worse than tech issues. It's just an added needless stress, like a wasp buzzing in your vicinity.

Actually, there is one thing that's much worse. One of my socks burst its elastic and spent the entire run trying to migrate southwards beneath my heel. That's unbelievably frustrating. I've never been angry at a sock before so didn't immediately know how to exact revenge. I've put it to one side until I can figure out a suitable punishment.

A lot of frustrations this week now I come to think about it.

I keep falling for the same trick with MJ when he's getting you gee'd up for your next run. He says something like, "OK, it's time for your next run [something, something, something]. Ready?" Then there's a dramatic pause and he says, "You can do this." So I start running. I can hear him trying not to laugh at me when a few seconds later he starts a countdown from 3 and says go. I think I've accumulated 30 seconds of extra running, so I'll be applying for them back, thank you very much.

Hang on, where was I? Oh yeah...

I love the Strava. In fact I love over-analysing data in general. It's currently my third love after routing my running down posh streets to bring down the house values (what with my sweat haze and frankensteinian demeanour) and tip-tapping utter drivel on this site.

I've also got a wife and 2 kids. They're like the honourable mentions.

I've been coveting Garmin watches over the last few days (thanks to ktsok) as well as incontinence pads (thanks to ktsok) but have been expressly forbidden from getting one (the watch) until either my birthday (late April) or when I graduate this shebang. Life's pretty cruel at times. The amount of data those things spit out after a run is incredible. Heart rate, stress, cadence. I'll have a million new ways to realise what an unfit mess I am. I'm drooling at the prospect.

I certainly can't wait until the end of April, so looks like I've got no choice but to get a divorce.

Mind you, I don't fancy my chances as a bachelor any more. Not unless someone out there has got a thing for a bloke with identical bodily proportions to that of a frog: all spindly limbed and pot-bellied, with a gormless, vacant expression usually reserved for your morning pee.

Looks like I'll have to continue muddling through with this then.

Anyway, happy running you bunch of zealots. W2 starts Friday for me and I've found a new street full of borderline mansions to terrorise. If I horrify the neighbourhood enough, it might knock one of them down into my price range. Now there's a thought.

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

I had a dog that liked eating socks.....I’d send him round if he was still with us. Well done on completing the week and getting rid of the first hobo 👍😁

[PaulS83 in reply to Wenderwoo]

Maybe I’ll try eating myself. I mean, I had some sprouts over Christmas and nothing can be worse than that, right? I swear I can still taste them.

[Beads Graduate]

To punish the sock stick it in the wash, it'll lose its partner and have to spend eternity pining for it!

Regarding Garmins, they sent me an email yesterday about the new Fenix, just what I want, the 6 in a small case rather than the 3 in the large case currently taking up too much room on my wrist. I was drooling happily at all the stuff it can do that I don't currently take advantage of on the 3 and the metrics that are available on both models that I just ignore, wondering if I could justify the £700 it would cost to replace it just so I could have prettier colours in a smaller size. Then I noticed the battery life was under half my current battery life due to the smaller size. Nope, not buying one, no, no, no!

Enjoy week 2!

[PaulS83 in reply to Beads]

The one I’ve been perving at is the *goes away to check spelling* Vivoactive. Currently pretty cheap on Amazon. The wife says 3 runs does not count and “running again”, as I’ve been boasting.

[RunningMigster Graduate]

Ah yes, those tech issue.

I had ex exactly the same issue on Week 2 Run 2.

Except I got caught out on the running bit. I though it felt like a really tough, long run... and guess what, I was 🤣

Hey ho, onwards and upwards!

[PaulS83 in reply to RunningMigster]

In reality, I was walking for an e tea 30 seconds, but I felt like I cheated the run, but then again I’ve been setting of early so I suppose it all evens out. It’s funny that stuff like that is utterly inconsequential in the real world, but feels so significant when your on plan.

[RunningMigster Graduate in reply to PaulS83]

Very significant when it freezes on a run. I mean, what if I hadn't checked? I might have just been like Forrest Gump and just run and run and run, waiting to be told to walk.

Though, the reality is, I might have gone another 20 seconds before passing out 🤣

[LeeU Graduate]

I didn't use the app, I didn't know it existed when I first did C25K in 2017, I've always used the podcasts, I know the music isn't to everybody's taste but it's only there for noise in between the prompts to walk or run

I bought myself a Garmin ForeRunner 735XT the first time I graduated, absolutely brilliant it is, it's the triathlon watch so also measure swimming and cycle if I want it to.

I also bought my wife the ForeRunner 245 Music for Christmas, very good too as it can store quite a few albums on there reducing the need to carry your mobile (to a point).

[PaulS83 in reply to LeeU]

There’s a podcast?

Apparently everyone has got a Garmin except for me! I’ll be showing these to the wife.

[Beads Graduate in reply to PaulS83]

Yes, there's a podcast, for those of us 'old' enough it was our only option, apps weren't a thing back in the dark ages. Though as Lee says some of the music is distinctly dodgy; Julie anyone????

[LeeU Graduate in reply to Beads]

I still use the podcasts from time to time, I keep them on my phone just in case, they come in handy for shorter faster runs of intervals.

[Yogaandrun Graduate]

Loved your post and glad you are enjoying? your running.

Burn the sock !

I also drool over garmin watches but maybe a graduation present for you?

Keep running and listening to MJ.

[PaulS83 in reply to Yogaandrun]

Unless I can earn some serious good husband points (unlikely as my start off point is well and truly in a black book) I guess I’m resigned to having to complete this programme.

[Yogaandrun Graduate in reply to PaulS83]

Socks in the meantime maybe?

[Jell6 Graduate]

I haven't got a Garmin, I had one briefly, it was so big I could barely move my arm. It had to go!.

The slippy bunched up sock is something I can relate to.

I know that ktsok absolutely couldn't wait for a Garmin, and I suspect that you will be equally unable to!

As you stride happily into week 2, as a minimum I think that you should treat yourself to some running socks, not quite up there with a Garmin, but they do make a difference 🧦🧦

[PaulS83 in reply to Jell6]

Left to my own devices, I would’ve flipped screens and bought one the moment it fancifully popped into my consciousness. I need to be reined in at times. I get a bit...excited.

Socks are definitely on the shopping list. And undies.

Elastics just aren’t what they used to be...

[lexi6 Graduate]

So sad about the sock’s demise 🙁 still you’re better off with proper support for week 2. Good Luck.

[PaulS83 in reply to lexi6]

It’s gone to a better place...(below my heel). It’s time for my 3-yearly restock I think.

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

My other half - Mr grumpy - went for a run in the summer, got himself nice and sweaty. Walking back home through a nice new housing development, a woman stopped him and asked if he lived there. He was lowering the tone! 😂

[PaulS83 in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

My kinda man 👍🏻

[ktsok Graduate]

Get one. Life is short. Just do it.

So long as you can pay the rent and feed the kids in doing so.

In 200 runs it will be less than £1 a run, total bargain.

Unless your wife is still pissed off. Then it will be a bad decision.

😈

[PaulS83 in reply to ktsok]

I’m all for that logic. Plus, she’ll have plenty of other things to be angry about before that debt is paid. She’ll be distracted with sheer fury at another one of my antics before the week’s out. I’m like her nemesis.

[PaulS83 in reply to ktsok]

Oh, and there was me laughing about your post unwittingly gaining “incontinence pads” as a related tag, I’ve gone and done exactly the same. I truly feel for anyone searching in teary desperation for sensible information and ending up here.

That and wafers. Apparently.