I might be addicted. I can’t wait for my next fix. I’m looking at the clock on the wall tick round so I can get home and be alone.
Finally it hits 5.30 and I can get home, to finally get on my computer and get my hit.
It always follows the same pattern.
Watch on. ANT stick in. Garmin Connect followed by Strava. And enjoy.
There is no doubt about it, I am addicted to data.
Breakdowns of distance, time, pace, elevation, heart rate, GAP (Grade Adjusted Pace), laps, calories, time and speed all flood my screen like I’m Neo in The Matrix.
And then there’s the map.
There is something mesmerising about looking at the route you have just run, it’s like watching a repeat of a show you’ve watched before.
Even though I know where I went and what I did, there is something gratifying about following your own progress like checking the marks on the door frame that shows how much you’ve grown.
But I always save the best for last. Segments.
Segments on Strava are the closest I’ve come as an adult to the infuriating competitiveness of computer games as a child.
It’s the equivalent of playing Tetris or Snake to try and beat the high score.
Except that in the case of Strava, you get to not only try and beat your own best, you get to try and beat the best in the world.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t get close to the top of the leaderboard in any of the segments but it’s fun to see where you rank.
At the time of writing, I am 3,425th in the world for distance covered in January but that does come with the disclaimer that I am 3,425th of the 63,081 participants on Strava.
I am also the current fastest around a generic part of Shadwell for 2015 probably because nobody else has run around that particular of the East End this year.
And while I continue to gorge myself on the data in the hope that I will reach some kind of analytical epiphany, for the rest of the time, it is the closest I will ever get to a medal or any kind of top ten so I am going to enjoy it while it lasts.
Day 16
Total words: 4677
Total miles: 81.9 miles (131.8k)
#writeandrun31
Sam Staggers On 