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So Apple has today announced its new Apple Watch.
Now previously, I’d said I was going to get one when they came out, pairing it with my iPhone 6 to do all sort of smart watch stuff but with the added health and fitness features. But I’ve changed my mind.
Instead, I’ll be upgrading my Garmin Forerunner 410 to the new Garmin Fenix 3.
Why? Well the Apple Watch isn’t capable of acting as a standalone fitness device as it relies on a Bluetooth connection to your iPhone for WiFi (understandable) and GPS (no, just no). Add to that the battery life of the Apple Watch being “up to 18 hours” (yeah, right) as opposed to the Fenix 3’s 6 weeks (!) and it’s a no-brainer. On my run-commute, linkage to my iPhone 6 isn’t a problem, other than battery life for any devices, but on a fitness/general run, I don’t want to have to have the iPhone strapped to my arm. No, I’d rather rely on the watch’s own GPS noting my distance.
And the Fenix also links via ANT+ to my footpod, heart rate monitor and bike cadence to measure a range of metrics. And the Apple Watch isn’t even waterproof!
Price? Well like for like (ish) you’re looking at £899 for the Apple Watch and £450 for the Fenix 3 Sapphire. Half the price.
So despite suffering with Achilles Tendonitis in my right heel (brought on no doubt my tight muscles and over-compensating for the left calf) and having only rested for a fortnight – not counting a 20 mile bike ride – I had to man up and take part on the London Winter Run in aid of Cancer Research UK on Sunday.
It was a bitterly cold day and because we didn’t want to have to drop off and collect our bags and coats, Ali and I both grabbed an old fleece top of mine to wear, knowing that we’d have to be pretty quick getting home in just our running gear afterwards. At least it wasn’t raining though 🙂
I finished in 1:05:41 which wasn’t bad considering the pain I was in; that even constituted a PB for me in what was only my second 10k. We immediately re-booked for 2016!
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- Photo Certificate
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- I absolutely turn heads…
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- They’ll not escape me!
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- Nope. Not caught them yet!
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- Competitive much, Ali?
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- Definitely baulking me…
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- Reaching the finish line
So this weekend – Achilles tendonitis permitting – I will be doing a 10k race: the London Winter Run 2015. This should be fun(!) and a trial for my fitness and injuries.
Then in May on the Bank Holiday, it’s up to Milton Keynes for the Milton Keynes Half Marathon as part of my ongoing – if slow – build-up to September’s full Berlin Marathon (eek!).
| Well that was much, much better today. No idea why, though... | ||
| Owner: | CaptainBlue | |
| Location: | -- | |
| Activity Type: | Running | |
| Event Type: | Fitness | |
| Distance: | 3.11 Mile | |
| Time: | 00:31:12 | |
| Elevation Gain: | 57 Feet | |
| Ouch! Shin splint on my left leg maybe? Best I roll and rest it... | ||
| Owner: | CaptainBlue | |
| Location: | -- | |
| Activity Type: | Running | |
| Event Type: | Fitness | |
| Distance: | 3.11 Mile | |
| Time: | 00:33:15 | |
| Elevation Gain: | 63 Feet | |
| Very windy for this evening's run-commute and warmer than this morning. | ||
| Owner: | CaptainBlue | |
| Location: | -- | |
| Activity Type: | Running | |
| Event Type: | Fitness | |
| Distance: | 3.12 Mile | |
| Time: | 00:32:06 | |
| Elevation Gain: | 72 Feet | |
| Knackered today! This was a tough one today and a bit cold, to say the least. | ||
| Owner: | CaptainBlue | |
| Location: | -- | |
| Activity Type: | Running | |
| Event Type: | Fitness | |
| Distance: | 3.11 Mile | |
| Time: | 00:33:31 | |
| Elevation Gain: | 52 Feet | |
| Well after the jabs for flu, diphtheria, polio, hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid and yellow fever all struck me down, it was tough getting back into it... | ||
| Owner: | CaptainBlue | |
| Location: | -- | |
| Activity Type: | Running | |
| Event Type: | Fitness | |
| Distance: | 3.11 Mile | |
| Time: | 00:33:58 | |
| Elevation Gain: | 39 Feet | |
| After my calf went again last week, this was my first run-commute. It felt OK too, so slightly disappointed with the time. | ||
| Owner: | CaptainBlue | |
| Location: | -- | |
| Activity Type: | Running | |
| Event Type: | Fitness | |
| Distance: | 3.11 Mile | |
| Time: | 00:32:38 | |
| Elevation Gain: | 48 Feet | |
