Training- out with the Harriers again

Yesterday with the Harriers was a bit of a rare one apparently. We had about 20 people out- whether this was because we were scheduled to head to the pub afterward, there is a race on Sat and all the really fast runners were staying at home to rest their legs, or just because it was a lovely route, I don't really know.We headed out from the Carpark just below Kinder, up past the reservoir, and up to the Mermaids pool. (just beyond there we crossed paths- quite literally with the Pennine guys- and almost acquired a rather nice Collie which got confused as to which group of runners it should be following.
On we went, keeping a nice slow and steady pace over to the Downfall, and a variety of lines were taken up to the top. I favoured the short and steep scrambling, whilst others preferred the less steep, (but not leisurely at all) walk up the side.
By this time it had taken us a fair old while to get where we did- waiting for some of the slower runners, which, to be fair, wasnt a problem really.
My legs were feeling like lead, and Charlie was hammering out in front in a way that I just couldnt keep up with.

After re grouping around the top of the fall, a general consensus was made to head along the B route and back down to the pub. Although the A route would have been nice, it would have been another couple of hours or so in the running, and people had to get back for trains etc.

The run along the top was good fun- practicing my speed on rough ground work- I still need to get out and do 1km/100m ascent hill practice... - but this was neither the time nor the place. And the final downhill section was glorious- thrashing through peaty paths, and down over deep heather. It seems that my downhill speed is fine for a short amount of time, and then I have to reign it in again- I think it must be the CP system kicking in for about 15 seconds before it runs out of Creatine Phosphate, and I have to slow back down again in order to use Aerobic capacity.
Halfway down the hill we (or rather someone else... I was down the hill and had to run back up it to see) found a stone which had been carved- but it was upside down- so the carving was face down on the floor on a 1/2 ton rock.
Luckily there were some strong people in the group- who managed to lever it up so we could have a quick look at the carving.
So I took a picture of it.
Then we hammered down the hill and over a meadow and down through the wood back to the cars. In the long tradition of fellrunners everywhere, we went to the pub.
It was great to have a bit of a social run, out with 20 other people, talking and relaxing, and even better to have some time at the end in the pub.
I wouldnt want to do that every week, but it was great to do it this time.
Still dont know everyones names though....

and here is a link to the garmin connect page- if it works, and if youre interested.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/86704778

Training ride- just a short one

So as Im going out with the Harriers this evening, I thought that I'd better not do anything too crazy today- but I definitely needed to get out this morning as the sun was out, the birds were tweeting, and, well, it would have been rude not to.

Also, I have had a slight twinge in my back- but more of that in a different place- so i wanted to have a quick stretch out of that as well.
So I decided to have a quick blast around the Monks road circuit- but backwards, so that the 20% hill was a downhill rather than an uphill. (cheating you may say, but I didnt want to blow my legs out this morning if Im heading up to Downfall this evening with a load of masochists as well).

Off I went on my Allez Elite, in my mountain bike shoes and baggies, with a baggy t-shirt- yes, I looked a right sight, but what the hey.
Glad to report that I feel pretty good, I know it was only a short one, but taking the route that way round was quite an intelligent thing to do.
Only out for 40 mins, but now Im at home with a new computer, Im having a quick look at Garmin Connect. In the past I have been using the general Garmin download programme- which is pretty rubbish, but quite good for getting all the stats you need, and then looking at the route/ general bits and pieces in Sportracks.
Ive just downloaded the latest Connect, and so far it looks pretty good. The only thing that appears to be missing on a cursory overview is the ability to completely cross-reference between activities. You can do so to a point, but it would be good to be able to overlay them together on a map/graph thing and play them together to see where you are gaining/losing time.

Maybe this actually exists, and I just havent found it yet.
More playing with is needed I feel.

Suunto X series

After my post on Garmin vs Suunto, I thought I'd better write a quick bit up about the X series watches by Suunto as they are another type of watch that is comparible to Garmin by virtue of the fact they have GPS.

The previous version was the X9, which you can still find on sale in various places at a discounted price since the X10 came out. (note that there is a minor cosmetic defect to these in that the actual watch itself can break away from the plastic surround. Make sure you keep the recipt as you can take it back to the place you bought it from. It'll be sent back, and you'll get the new X10 surround- which looks pretty cool, however, you do still have the X9).

So the X9 was a pretty good watch as far as it went, but it had much the same issues as the Garmin 205- which I spoke about before- in that it was a little tempermental in getting GPS signal. Sometimes it got it really quickly, and other times, it was like the thing didnt even realise there were satellites in the sky. Slightly annoying.

The X9, X9i and X10 do not have Heart Rate monitors, and as such, I would not call them training devices as such. Personally I would put them in the GPS tracker bracket- it lets you know where you have been, rather than helping you find your way.
I know that you can put waymarks into watches, and theoretically you can use them to find your way to specific points, however, I would not like to use this feature in the Lakes on a claggy night. There are a few too many precipitous drops that might appear in front of you.

The series does include a compass within the watch, which is a useful addition. It is not waterproof (but it is water resistant).

The X10M is a much improved version, and takes much less time to find satellites. I see that the battery life is meant to be up to 2 months without recharge if used as a normal watch- but again- like the Garmins its about 12 hours with the GPS on.
One of the things I like about these watches- over and above the Garmin 305 is the fact that as well as Lat/long, they also do British Grid, which I do tend to get along with a lot better than lat/long.

The official line on the battery life is that it is good for 500 discharge/recharges, and if the battery shows any signs of wear, not recharging properly etc. to get in contact with suunto and they will sort it out.
To be fair, the customer serice I have had in the past from suunto has been absolutely fantastic, and I have no doubts that they would be fine with anything you send back which is warranty.

So generally- Id say this series is a good bet if you are wanting a watch that does GPS, that is actually pretty much watch shaped and sized. I wouldnt use it as a training device, and I wouldnt use it as a GPS to tell me where to go.
Im not sure who would actually buy one, unless just to say, yes, I own a GPS watch... but then, some people want that.