This morning I've been making some changes to the images attached to Conquercise zones.
There was a feature request that asked for the picture attached to a zone to be shown on the zone map as a camera icon. I decided to overhaul things and make a few slightly bigger changes.
First up, there's now no limit to the number of pictures that live inside a zone. Sure, some zones may have absolutely nothing picturesque on offer. But others could have a bunch of cool stuff.
Secondly, it used to be that only the zone owner could choose the image for the zone. Now, anyone who has visited a zone can contribute a picture.
Third, each picture attached to the zone will have either a 'Show On Map' button, or (if you own the pic) a 'Set Location' button. Once a pic has a location, it will show up on the zone as a little camera icon. And when you press 'Show On Map', it will zoom to it - which will be handy now there's the potential for multiple pics.
You can visit any of the zones you've explored, and look for the 'Add An Image' button (it's down below the leaderboard). This brings up recent pics from your gallery - just click the ones you want to associate with the zone. If the pic already has a lat/lng, you're sorted. If not, wait until it's associated with the zone, and then click the 'Set Location' button.
And I've changed the main image uploader - fetcheveryone.com/gallery-upload.php - so that when you upload new images, it will try to grab their latitude and longitude automatically. There's a checkbox to opt out of this if you want to protect the location; and you can also delete the location from any uploaded pic. On all your 'legacy' pics, you'll now see a map where you can click to locate the image.
To encourage you all to add locations to your pics, I've made a set of six badges. You earn these for adding pictures with locations to Conquercise zones. The first badge is for 10 pics, then 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500. At the moment there are 715 pics attached to Conquercise zones - and the majority don't have locations. But I am hopeful that eventually the majority *will* have locations. And eventually there'll be no need to manually map images to zones - it can just be done based on their location.
Longer term, I figure this could also prove useful for adding pictures to routes. For example, when I ran part of the GCU a few weeks ago, I uploaded a bunch of pictures. Imagine how useful it would be to be able to not just look at the route for a race, but to be able to see pertinent stuff along the way e.g. key navigational points or views to look out for.
If you'd like an example, here's a Conquercise zone I ran in over the weekend: fetcheveryone.com/game-conq-zone.php?id=108380 - there's one camera icon on the map. And down below the zone leaderboard, you can see the attached picture. Use the 'Show On Map' button to zoom in on the map.
Thanks for joining in (if indeed you do!) I hope this all made some sense. Good luck collecting badges!
There was a feature request that asked for the picture attached to a zone to be shown on the zone map as a camera icon. I decided to overhaul things and make a few slightly bigger changes.
First up, there's now no limit to the number of pictures that live inside a zone. Sure, some zones may have absolutely nothing picturesque on offer. But others could have a bunch of cool stuff.
Secondly, it used to be that only the zone owner could choose the image for the zone. Now, anyone who has visited a zone can contribute a picture.
Third, each picture attached to the zone will have either a 'Show On Map' button, or (if you own the pic) a 'Set Location' button. Once a pic has a location, it will show up on the zone as a little camera icon. And when you press 'Show On Map', it will zoom to it - which will be handy now there's the potential for multiple pics.
You can visit any of the zones you've explored, and look for the 'Add An Image' button (it's down below the leaderboard). This brings up recent pics from your gallery - just click the ones you want to associate with the zone. If the pic already has a lat/lng, you're sorted. If not, wait until it's associated with the zone, and then click the 'Set Location' button.
And I've changed the main image uploader - fetcheveryone.com/gallery-upload.php - so that when you upload new images, it will try to grab their latitude and longitude automatically. There's a checkbox to opt out of this if you want to protect the location; and you can also delete the location from any uploaded pic. On all your 'legacy' pics, you'll now see a map where you can click to locate the image.
To encourage you all to add locations to your pics, I've made a set of six badges. You earn these for adding pictures with locations to Conquercise zones. The first badge is for 10 pics, then 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500. At the moment there are 715 pics attached to Conquercise zones - and the majority don't have locations. But I am hopeful that eventually the majority *will* have locations. And eventually there'll be no need to manually map images to zones - it can just be done based on their location.
Longer term, I figure this could also prove useful for adding pictures to routes. For example, when I ran part of the GCU a few weeks ago, I uploaded a bunch of pictures. Imagine how useful it would be to be able to not just look at the route for a race, but to be able to see pertinent stuff along the way e.g. key navigational points or views to look out for.
If you'd like an example, here's a Conquercise zone I ran in over the weekend: fetcheveryone.com/game-conq-zone.php?id=108380 - there's one camera icon on the map. And down below the zone leaderboard, you can see the attached picture. Use the 'Show On Map' button to zoom in on the map.
Thanks for joining in (if indeed you do!) I hope this all made some sense. Good luck collecting badges!
Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.
I've just completed Feature Request 1706, which asked for a way of searching for night races (or those that required a headtorch).
On the Race Finder, if you go to 'More Filters', you can now specify a night/dark filter:
fetcheveryone.com/race-finder.php
However, here's where you come in. In order for this to work, we need to update our listings to flip the switch on all the night time ones.
You can do so with the 'Edit Listing' button on any race listing. If you could review your upcoming events and make appropriate amendments, that would be lovely, ta
On the Race Finder, if you go to 'More Filters', you can now specify a night/dark filter:
fetcheveryone.com/race-finder.php
However, here's where you come in. In order for this to work, we need to update our listings to flip the switch on all the night time ones.
You can do so with the 'Edit Listing' button on any race listing. If you could review your upcoming events and make appropriate amendments, that would be lovely, ta
Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.
Comments
-
What is the intention on this one? The Centurion North Downs Way 50 requires a headtorch as the cutoff is 930pm which is after dark but only a few would need it. The Centurion South Downs Way 100 has the elites finishing before sunset but the vast majority would spend an entire night outside with only the first 25% finishing before sunriseNDWDave10:25am, 19th Apr 2024
-
To highlight races that, in the normal course of events, would have a dark element. So maybe not necessary for events where it's an exception rather than the rule.fetcheveryone11:24am, 19th Apr 2024
-
Did you search all the listings for races with 'Night' or 'Dark' in the title? I mean, I could do that, but I'm guessing you might have some batch way of amending all of those? *goes off to do the one that she knows of*LindsD11:48am, 19th Apr 2024
-
niceSpanners9911:48am, 19th Apr 2024
-
That's a good shout Linds - I've just done a bulk update.fetcheveryone1:18pm, 19th Apr 2024
-
LindsD 1:21pm, 19th Apr 2024
When I was on the Tea & Trails podcast, the hosts mentioned that they were curious about how steep slopes have an impact on their running speed. I thought I'd have a look at the Fetch data, to see what I could see.
Our gradient analysis tool looks at your running over the last 12 months to give you some individual figures:
fetcheveryone.com/training-summary-pacebygradient.php
It takes all your runs and chops them into 100 metre chunks. It uses simple correlation to discard any chunks where you go up *and* down within the chunk. It disregards flat chunks, and anything where you're travelling extremely slowly. The result is a set of chunks which can be sorted by gradient, and then it's straightforward to compute your average pace at each gradient.
Aside from the fact that altitude data is notoriously a bit crap, there is a further caveat. Because each chunk is treated independently, the algorithm doesn't take into account what you did leading into it. For example, a gentle 1% uphill chunk could be on the flat bit at the top of Mam Tor - so it's unlikely you'd tackle it feeling daisy fresh. But the opposite is true - if you ran back down to the bottom, and encountered a small incline, you might motor through it.
For the benefit of simplicity, we'll assume that the figures for individuals are reasonable.
By grabbing this data for hundreds of runners, I could look for patterns. With everyone doing things a little different, and everyone's watch also a lore unto itself, a bit more cleaning was necessary. I looked at runners who had completed at least 500 miles in the last 12 months. I filtered out runners with less than 100 miles worth of 'chunks', which meant excluding all the runners who stick to flat ground. And for each runner I excluded any gradients where they had not accrued at least a mile of experience.
I came away from all this filtering with 1458 suitable runners, each with an average pace at a variety of gradients. And here comes the first graph.
Please ignore the value for 0 gradient (i.e. flat ground). The graph software has drawn a curve through my points, but there was no value in the data for 0 gradient. The interesting part of this graph is the way it tails off. 87% of all our hilly running is on gradients of plus or minus 7%.
The next step was to normalise the pace data. I started by calculating a 'flat' pace for each runner. Given that we have a lot of +1% and -1% data for each runner, I just used the average of these to determine a runner's 'flat' pace in kilometres per hour.
Let's use me as an example. My 'flat' pace is 10.5km/h. This is my 100% pace, and I can represent my paces at other gradients in relation to this. At an uphill gradient of 1%, my pace is 10.37km/h, or 98.9% of my flat pace. At an uphill gradient of 2%, my pace is 10.25km/h, or 97.7% of my flat pace. You hopefully get the picture.
This means that everyone now sits on the same scale. We all run at 100% pace on the flat. Now we can get some answers!
Here's our uphill graph:
Gradient increases from left to right on the bottom axis. As you might expect, our relative pace at low gradients is close to 100%. And as the gradient increases, so our relative pace decreases. The green line shows an average figure for all runners, and I've drawn a trend line through it. (Annoyingly, my spreadsheet software won't let me fix the intercept at 100). The headline is that we lose about 1.9% of our pace for every degree of gradient when travelling uphill.
I was also curious to see whether faster runners did any better when it came to maintaining their pace uphill. I divided my data into thirds, and the faster runners are represented by the blue line. It seems that they do a bit better than average, but not by much. And conversely, the slowest third of the field are represented by the yellow line. They slow down a bit more on the hills, but the difference is not huge I'd say.
And here's the downhill graph:
In this graph, the shallower gradients are on the right. This ones a bit weird, and not as linear as uphill - but I will try to offer an interpretation that fits the data. The green line shows the overall average - and it appears that the most significant uplift in relative pace happens at shallow gradients. I don't know about you, but a very gentle downhill is one of the most comfortable places to run. At increasing gradients, we still retain a small pace advantage over flat ground, but contrary to expectation, we don't seem to get faster as the downhill gets steeper. My best guess here is that it can actually be a bit uncomfortable and/or a bit scary to run down steeper slopes - so we tend to run with one foot on the brake. And this becomes all the clearer on downhills of 6% or greater, where (possibly because of body mechanics or self-preservation) we actually end up running slower than our flat ground pace. I am wondering if the comments section will be full of anecdotal machismo about this It also appears that the faster runners are more conservative when it comes to running downhill. Maybe they are better at maintaining a consistent overall pace, or maybe they are less gravity-led than the rest of us
And that's where I'll leave it for today. It's time for me to get my running kit on and get back out there. Thank you to everyone who took out the Audible trial on my previous blog. Assuming they pay out, that's £120 in the Fetch bucket, which I'm going to put towards a new keyboard. The offer is still open until the end of the month for those of you that haven't managed to do it yet Here's the link: amazon.co.uk
Our gradient analysis tool looks at your running over the last 12 months to give you some individual figures:
fetcheveryone.com/training-summary-pacebygradient.php
It takes all your runs and chops them into 100 metre chunks. It uses simple correlation to discard any chunks where you go up *and* down within the chunk. It disregards flat chunks, and anything where you're travelling extremely slowly. The result is a set of chunks which can be sorted by gradient, and then it's straightforward to compute your average pace at each gradient.
Aside from the fact that altitude data is notoriously a bit crap, there is a further caveat. Because each chunk is treated independently, the algorithm doesn't take into account what you did leading into it. For example, a gentle 1% uphill chunk could be on the flat bit at the top of Mam Tor - so it's unlikely you'd tackle it feeling daisy fresh. But the opposite is true - if you ran back down to the bottom, and encountered a small incline, you might motor through it.
For the benefit of simplicity, we'll assume that the figures for individuals are reasonable.
By grabbing this data for hundreds of runners, I could look for patterns. With everyone doing things a little different, and everyone's watch also a lore unto itself, a bit more cleaning was necessary. I looked at runners who had completed at least 500 miles in the last 12 months. I filtered out runners with less than 100 miles worth of 'chunks', which meant excluding all the runners who stick to flat ground. And for each runner I excluded any gradients where they had not accrued at least a mile of experience.
I came away from all this filtering with 1458 suitable runners, each with an average pace at a variety of gradients. And here comes the first graph.
Please ignore the value for 0 gradient (i.e. flat ground). The graph software has drawn a curve through my points, but there was no value in the data for 0 gradient. The interesting part of this graph is the way it tails off. 87% of all our hilly running is on gradients of plus or minus 7%.
The next step was to normalise the pace data. I started by calculating a 'flat' pace for each runner. Given that we have a lot of +1% and -1% data for each runner, I just used the average of these to determine a runner's 'flat' pace in kilometres per hour.
Let's use me as an example. My 'flat' pace is 10.5km/h. This is my 100% pace, and I can represent my paces at other gradients in relation to this. At an uphill gradient of 1%, my pace is 10.37km/h, or 98.9% of my flat pace. At an uphill gradient of 2%, my pace is 10.25km/h, or 97.7% of my flat pace. You hopefully get the picture.
This means that everyone now sits on the same scale. We all run at 100% pace on the flat. Now we can get some answers!
Here's our uphill graph:
Gradient increases from left to right on the bottom axis. As you might expect, our relative pace at low gradients is close to 100%. And as the gradient increases, so our relative pace decreases. The green line shows an average figure for all runners, and I've drawn a trend line through it. (Annoyingly, my spreadsheet software won't let me fix the intercept at 100). The headline is that we lose about 1.9% of our pace for every degree of gradient when travelling uphill.
I was also curious to see whether faster runners did any better when it came to maintaining their pace uphill. I divided my data into thirds, and the faster runners are represented by the blue line. It seems that they do a bit better than average, but not by much. And conversely, the slowest third of the field are represented by the yellow line. They slow down a bit more on the hills, but the difference is not huge I'd say.
And here's the downhill graph:
In this graph, the shallower gradients are on the right. This ones a bit weird, and not as linear as uphill - but I will try to offer an interpretation that fits the data. The green line shows the overall average - and it appears that the most significant uplift in relative pace happens at shallow gradients. I don't know about you, but a very gentle downhill is one of the most comfortable places to run. At increasing gradients, we still retain a small pace advantage over flat ground, but contrary to expectation, we don't seem to get faster as the downhill gets steeper. My best guess here is that it can actually be a bit uncomfortable and/or a bit scary to run down steeper slopes - so we tend to run with one foot on the brake. And this becomes all the clearer on downhills of 6% or greater, where (possibly because of body mechanics or self-preservation) we actually end up running slower than our flat ground pace. I am wondering if the comments section will be full of anecdotal machismo about this
It also appears that the faster runners are more conservative when it comes to running downhill. Maybe they are better at maintaining a consistent overall pace, or maybe they are less gravity-led than the rest of us And that's where I'll leave it for today. It's time for me to get my running kit on and get back out there. Thank you to everyone who took out the Audible trial on my previous blog. Assuming they pay out, that's £120 in the Fetch bucket, which I'm going to put towards a new keyboard. The offer is still open until the end of the month for those of you that haven't managed to do it yet
Here's the link: amazon.co.uk
Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.
Comments
-
Great stuff this.GlennR11:02am, 18th Apr 2024
-
Fun!sallykate11:22am, 18th Apr 2024
-
This is great, but as I have a spread of over 50 gradients ( - to + ), I can't actually see the paces for each, just the first number. Could it show on a hover over?Llamadance11:24am, 18th Apr 2024
-
This is really fascinating. I suspect that age also has something to do with slowing down when descending sharply. I used to hurtle down hills, now I find I have to work hard not to jam on the brakes. I'm also struggling to work out what "fix the intercept at 100" means, so that'll keep me occupied for a while. It sounds like something out of a Star Wars movie.Diogenes11:39am, 18th Apr 2024
-
Great bit of workRossco Peeko12:39pm, 18th Apr 2024
-
7% gradient hilly?? that's still flat in Yorkshire mate!cackleberry
Good number juggling. Will have a look at my own graph/s in a mo...4:47pm, 18th Apr 2024 -
Anecdotes for you - definitely a sweet spot for running downhill gradient wise. Gentle downhill faster than steep.cackleberry
I am, relatively speaking, faster uphill than I am on the flat. As in, I will breeze past people uphill, only for them to overtake me again on the flat bit.4:54pm, 18th Apr 2024 -
I guess the steeper gradients are more likely to be off road therefore trickier to negotiate so slower downhill. And yes, I’m definitely someone who will put the brakes on over a certain downhill gradient even if the surface is good.Fragile Do Not Bend7:00pm, 18th Apr 2024
-
Was about to say the same as FDNB. It's rare to find the steeper gradients on road, whereas they are quite common in fell races, so I suspect terrain (and the risk of breaking your neck) comes into it far more at that point. Uphill terrain is likely to have less impact (I'm probably faster uphill off-road than on). There's another possible skew in that those classed as fast overall are the same one who'd be fast off-road, so maybe not blue apples and blue apples.flanker7:12pm, 18th Apr 2024
-
You should removed Slowboy's data from any combined gradient analysis... his watch is certifiably insane with respect to altitude.RooA10:21pm, 18th Apr 2024
-
That's interesting. But as someone who's definition of a hill locally is the flyover bridge (York) I'm probably not anywhere in your dataset!3M10:54pm, 18th Apr 2024
Audible Free Trial - You get free audiobooks, I get five quid!
2:06pm, 16 Apr 2024
I've had an email from Amazon this morning. They've given me a link to a page offering a free month-long trial of Audible. They tell me that in that free month, you can 'download and keep' any two audiobook titles, and listen to as much stuff as you want.
The reason they were telling *me* is that for every 'eligible customer' that signs up to the free trial via my link before the end of April, they will give Fetcheveryone five quid. It doesn't matter if you then go on to cancel it.
My blog has ~550 readers - so if you all did that, it'd be f**king fantastic I can even do a follow-up blog in a couple of weeks to remind you to cancel.
Here's the link if you can spare five minutes and want some free audiobooks:
amazon.co.uk
Leave a comment if you'd like a personal reminder to cancel
EDIT: Once you've set up the free trial, you can cancel it straight away - you'll still get the 30 days (thanks K5 Gus for pointing that out).
Ta
The reason they were telling *me* is that for every 'eligible customer' that signs up to the free trial via my link before the end of April, they will give Fetcheveryone five quid. It doesn't matter if you then go on to cancel it.
My blog has ~550 readers - so if you all did that, it'd be f**king fantastic
I can even do a follow-up blog in a couple of weeks to remind you to cancel. Here's the link if you can spare five minutes and want some free audiobooks:
amazon.co.uk
Leave a comment if you'd like a personal reminder to cancel
EDIT: Once you've set up the free trial, you can cancel it straight away - you'll still get the 30 days (thanks K5 Gus for pointing that out).
Ta
Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.
Comments
-
I expect they have a shedload of analytics and metrics, so it may only work once.um
Unless a reasonable number decide to stay on, or forget to cancel.2:12pm, 16th Apr 2024 -
Once would be greatfetcheveryone2:15pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Send me a reminder to cancel.pkeaseSushi2:18pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
DoneWinniefree2:19pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
I already had a free trial and they won’t let me have another 😂runnerbean2:21pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
That's mean of themfetcheveryone2:22pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Done ✔️PaulaMc2:31pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
I already have a membershipDiogenes2:33pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Done and a reminder would be appreciated, thanks.Fenland Flier2:34pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
i only get an offer of 3 months for .99 but it then goes on to say "here's what you get for your 30 day free trial"minardi2:42pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Kerrching !! There's another £5 to keep the hamsters runningK5 Gus2:47pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
You don't need to wait a month to cancel, you can cancel immediately and the free trial continues for a month.K5 Gus2:51pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Yes please to a reminder to cancelElsie Too2:51pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Reminder pleaseMrs Jigs (Luverlylegs)2:55pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Ooh, just read your footnote, I will cancel nowMrs Jigs (Luverlylegs)2:58pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Won’t let me have it as I’ve had it before 😢EvilPixie3:11pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
I have audible already so presume it won't let me againIdristheDragon3:16pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Duly cancelled 🙂Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs)3:20pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
I have it already, love listening to books whilst I'm driving.Rosehip3:38pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
I might have to report youcathrobinson3:42pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Only after you've signed up Cath!um
(best not use your work email)3:49pm, 16th Apr 2024 -
Remind me to cancel pleaseLip Gloss3:59pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
You can cancel it straight away Lip Gloss. You will still get the 30 days.fetcheveryone4:04pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Done and cancelled.Windsor Wool4:13pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Thanks Fetch and it even works for people who have previously been audible subscribers. Most of their offers don't allow that.Garfield4:13pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
I've signed up. Please remind me to cancel!chunkywizard4:41pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Signed up! Hopefully £5 on its way to you. I’ve put reminder in my calendar to cancel 👍🏻Eawoman455:21pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Done!Pothunter5:27pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
I have a 99p for 3 months trial already. My top tip for Audible is that if you have Spotify Premium, check they don't have the book first before buying the Audible one.RunnyBunny5:48pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
I’m in the middle of a special offer already. They are really good in giving you a new offer about once per year, which suits my listening rate perfectlyroberton
I do really like audible though, everyone should do the trial for the 🤑 but hopefully you also get something out of it personally too!6:05pm, 16th Apr 2024 -
DoneSarahWoo6:11pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
I already subscribe I love audibleJenni-far-far6:32pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
ferret done8:13pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
Doneiaincr8:56pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
DoneLindsD9:37pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
I’ve signed up. I’ve had it before and still let me. Now to see what to download for my long runs.geordiegirl11:05pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
It willnae allow me to do it: "the Audible free trial offer is only available to new members" and then redirects me to a 99p offer which I don't think will give you the £5McGoohan7:41am, 17th Apr 2024
-
I’ve signed up. Looks pretty good. I might even stick with it for a while.Angus Clydesdale2:02pm, 17th Apr 2024
-
I signed up and went to cancel and they gave me another free credit to stay. I’ll still cancel it thoughFragile Do Not Bend3:02pm, 17th Apr 2024
-
Done and cancelled. I never listen to audiobooks.HellsBells6:53pm, 17th Apr 2024
-
I think I've managed to do this now.JCB3:19pm, 23rd Apr 2024
Occasionally I get a donation for the site where I can't work out who the sender is. I've had such a donation this morning. The initials of the person are JH, and I *think* it's from one of our overseas Fetchies. Unfortunately, I haven't got much more to go on - and no means of contacting that person. So if that's you, drop me a line and I'll switch your ads off
Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.
Comments
-
Jandy Hownsend?McGoohan7:36am, 16th Apr 2024
-
That'll be itfetcheveryone7:37am, 16th Apr 2024
-
LindsD7:38am, 16th Apr 2024
-
Jools Holland?Dave W8:28am, 16th Apr 2024
-
Joanna HummleyMark J 🇳🇿8:44am, 16th Apr 2024
-
They're my sisters initials. But I doubt she'd be sending you money, or running.*um
(unless there was a glass of something fizzy ahead and she needed to elbow past the rest of the queue)
*or walking or swimming or anything else people use this for8:46am, 16th Apr 2024 -
Jimi HendrixSigh9:01am, 16th Apr 2024
-
Jabba Huttrunnerbean9:05am, 16th Apr 2024
-
John Hurt?GimmeMedals9:36am, 16th Apr 2024
-
Jeremy Hunt, from the treasury?meadowsboy9:58am, 16th Apr 2024
-
Serious one Jhuff? Denizen of the Pose/Mers threads?GlennR10:26am, 16th Apr 2024
-
Jive Hunny.RichHL11:00am, 16th Apr 2024
-
Jandra Hullock?fetcheveryone11:01am, 16th Apr 2024
-
Jemima Huddleduck?Dvorak2:12pm, 16th Apr 2024
-
I'm a good friend of Jandra Hullock. I can put in a good word for you if you like?McGoohan6:05pm, 16th Apr 2024
Some of you have noticed a bunch of weird roads showing up on your Fetch maps. All our maps use Open Street Map, and it appears that it's a problem that they've been having for about five days. It's not something I can do anything about.
If you want an example, I spotted some when we were in Bristol this weekend (although they have been appearing everywhere). They are still there today. If you go e.g. to our route plotter, go slightly west of Bristol, and zoom out a bit, you'll see them:
It seems as though the person(s) who added all these naughty roads has taken exception to football commentator and former player Andy Townsend. Each road is called something like 'Andy [INSULT GOES HERE] Townsend'. I've no idea if he's done something that merits this.
But I thought I'd share what I know about online maps, in case it's helpful.
Online maps are made up of square tiles. The software works out which tiles are needed for the map area on display. When you drag the map, the tiles that disappear off the edge are effectively thrown away, and new tiles are loaded to fill the empty space.
There's a whole set of tiles for every level of zoom. When you're zoomed right out, there's a set of tiles that say things like "Birmingham", and have motorways and county boundaries. As you zoom in, you move into ever-more detailed tile sets that show things like A-roads and rivers and small towns; and then at even higher zoom, you get footpaths and pubs and streams etc.
There's a hooooj database somewhere that holds all of these features. There'll be a set of latitude/longitude pairs that represents the M1; and another that represents the footpath at the edge of the village. There are sets of points that describe county boundaries, the edges of lakes, contour lines, and so on; and a whole bunch of individual points representing statues and post boxes and bus stops and other interesting things.
And then there's a layer of software. It uses the data from the database to make tiles. It decides which details to include in any given tile based on the zoom level. At low levels of zoom it ignores all the tiny details and just does the big stuff. At high levels of zoom it includes all the details, but that's ok, because it's just a small area.
Here's one little map tile, zoom level 12. I've no idea where it is, I just picked a random X and Y value in the URL.
a.tile.openstreetmap.org
These tiles are just images on a 'tile server' somewhere. There are typically lots of these for any given map service, in order to spread the load. The map owner will have rules that govern how often these images are replaced e.g. if a new feature has been added, or (as a backup) if the tile is older than a certain number of weeks.
Open Street Map is a collaborative project with thousands of people contributing and correcting information to the big database. Some knobber has flung a whole load of spurious data at it. It looks as simple as "pick two random points about a mile apart, and say it's a road. Call the road something rude. Repeat.".
My guess is that the ability to add this spurious data has already been removed or put under increased scrutiny. And the bad data may already have been removed from the map database. It may just be that various tile servers around the world are still catching up.
It might possibly have an impact on directions (e.g. 'follow path' tools). Map databases can act as a list of connections between locations - so clever software can use them to build routes. Given that each road/path etc is a connection, spurious roads could make it into that list of connections, and may be offered up as part of the directions you receive. However, I think this is pretty unlikely. All legitimate paths are usually connected to each other - whereas these appear to start and end without any seamless connection to legitimate paths. So it's likely that they'll be ignored as route options.
My guess is that these rogue roads will disappear over the next few days. Whether it will have any impact on Andy Townsend is beyond my skillset.
If you want an example, I spotted some when we were in Bristol this weekend (although they have been appearing everywhere). They are still there today. If you go e.g. to our route plotter, go slightly west of Bristol, and zoom out a bit, you'll see them:
It seems as though the person(s) who added all these naughty roads has taken exception to football commentator and former player Andy Townsend. Each road is called something like 'Andy [INSULT GOES HERE] Townsend'. I've no idea if he's done something that merits this.
But I thought I'd share what I know about online maps, in case it's helpful.
Online maps are made up of square tiles. The software works out which tiles are needed for the map area on display. When you drag the map, the tiles that disappear off the edge are effectively thrown away, and new tiles are loaded to fill the empty space.
There's a whole set of tiles for every level of zoom. When you're zoomed right out, there's a set of tiles that say things like "Birmingham", and have motorways and county boundaries. As you zoom in, you move into ever-more detailed tile sets that show things like A-roads and rivers and small towns; and then at even higher zoom, you get footpaths and pubs and streams etc.
There's a hooooj database somewhere that holds all of these features. There'll be a set of latitude/longitude pairs that represents the M1; and another that represents the footpath at the edge of the village. There are sets of points that describe county boundaries, the edges of lakes, contour lines, and so on; and a whole bunch of individual points representing statues and post boxes and bus stops and other interesting things.
And then there's a layer of software. It uses the data from the database to make tiles. It decides which details to include in any given tile based on the zoom level. At low levels of zoom it ignores all the tiny details and just does the big stuff. At high levels of zoom it includes all the details, but that's ok, because it's just a small area.
Here's one little map tile, zoom level 12. I've no idea where it is, I just picked a random X and Y value in the URL.
a.tile.openstreetmap.org
These tiles are just images on a 'tile server' somewhere. There are typically lots of these for any given map service, in order to spread the load. The map owner will have rules that govern how often these images are replaced e.g. if a new feature has been added, or (as a backup) if the tile is older than a certain number of weeks.
Open Street Map is a collaborative project with thousands of people contributing and correcting information to the big database. Some knobber has flung a whole load of spurious data at it. It looks as simple as "pick two random points about a mile apart, and say it's a road. Call the road something rude. Repeat.".
My guess is that the ability to add this spurious data has already been removed or put under increased scrutiny. And the bad data may already have been removed from the map database. It may just be that various tile servers around the world are still catching up.
It might possibly have an impact on directions (e.g. 'follow path' tools). Map databases can act as a list of connections between locations - so clever software can use them to build routes. Given that each road/path etc is a connection, spurious roads could make it into that list of connections, and may be offered up as part of the directions you receive. However, I think this is pretty unlikely. All legitimate paths are usually connected to each other - whereas these appear to start and end without any seamless connection to legitimate paths. So it's likely that they'll be ignored as route options.
My guess is that these rogue roads will disappear over the next few days. Whether it will have any impact on Andy Townsend is beyond my skillset.
Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.
Comments
-
I noticed this yesterday - a road of this name appeared to be running through the middle of the river Mersey.Cerrertonia12:14pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
From an open street map forum (not sure how reliable this is, though!): "If the underlaying data is fixed (I believe it’s all been reverted), they’ll re-render soon, once someone has viewed the tile."♪♫ Synge ♪♫12:16pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
Adding to or correcting OSM is a joy! Even if it take an age to mark a bridge as connecting 2 footpaths, and then 7-10 days to populate all the servers.um
(except when your bot does it 100s of times)
The Fetch/OSM maps do seem slow recently. Is that the server and possible filtering out Andy? Or increase use in The Challenge ?12:17pm, 15th Apr 2024 -
I was concerned this might have been another obituary, this is much more fun.ptr_runner12:27pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
Having never heard of the man, I'm just relieved that your blog wasn't another announcement of the demise of a Fetchie.Sigh12:32pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
I was also worried this was another obituary, so pleased to hear it is some relative frivolity.roberton12:33pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
(I've put a smiley in the title, to offset any concerns)fetcheveryone12:34pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
Lol! I mean Grrr at sabotage, but lol at the nature of it! And thanks for heads up.HappyG(rrr) G12:39pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
jacdaw
12:39pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
they are still there but disappear when you zoom in. Shame cos I wanted to know what the insults werebigleggy12:43pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
I’d have been very surprised if it was only the UK. It looks like a randomly generated thing, and doesn’t take a genius to work out the upper and lower limits of latitude and longitude.fetcheveryone12:44pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
@bigleggy some were just childish name calling like ‘sh*tface’ etc, but others were darker if I remember right.fetcheveryone12:46pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
Fascinating.... People are such fun, sometimes!3M1:11pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
Furthest afield I have noticed is Italy. That's further away than Norwich!Ocelot Spleens1:32pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
The original one I found a week ago has gone. I did read somewhere the offending account has been deleted.Ocelot Spleens1:35pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
I saw something about this a couple of days ago; someone had plotted the route of a pro cycle race in the Netherlands and then took it down when they found it full of profane street names.MudMeanderer5:50pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
I'm glad you explained who this Andy bloke is because I had no clueRunningbauble216:56pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
Poor Andy Townsend (whoever he is). Decades ago, in my IT days, I had the opportunity to get involved in either facial recognition or to put digital mapping into police vehicles. The answers to my question, "In short words, how does this work?" blew my mind and I chose to work on something else instead with people who weren't trying to bamboozle me. Thank you for explaining it so clearly - I think I finally 'get it'.Helegant8:59pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
Fun fact, in the mid 80s Andy Townsend, whilst playing for Weymouth, worked with my stepdad as a painter and decorator. He was even invited around for dinner a few times.Velo_Dirtbag11:08pm, 15th Apr 2024
-
I'm always surprised this doesn't happen much more often, as I've never noticed any form of proper validation when adding updates to OSM. With more and more events relying on GPS-based nav, it would take nothing, and be virtually undetectable, to add in a non-existent path that looks an ideal route solution for my next race and see how many places it would gain me. Hypothetically, of course.flanker12:54am, 16th Apr 2024
-
It doesn't happen too often. I'm a (very) part-time OSM mapper and subscribed to various of the mailing lists where vandalism like this is discussed. Generally they jump on things like this very quickly to revert the offending changesets. It's then a matter of time and demand for the tile servers to regenerate the tiles that people see.Enigma6:27pm, 18th Apr 2024
GCU50: Citizen on Patrol
10:37am, 11 Apr 2024
Yesterday I went and did what I think is my longest ever off-road run. The plan was to recce the route from 33km through to 48km of the GCU. Because those points are a little way apart, I had to run back to where I'd parked the car, which bumped the distance up to a half marathon.
Firstly though, I don't like the word 'recce'. It doesn't feel nice to type, and the way it looks is very unappealing. I've just been to look at some synonyms, and from here on, I will call them patrols That's a much better word, and reminds me of the only and best septology of films - the Police Academy Series. And specifically, the 4th best and 4th worst Police Academy film: Police Academy 4 - Citizens on Patrol. Because flouting all laws of thermodynamics, it's also the only septology of films where each one gets better* than the last.
*this may be irony.
So I was on patrol! I parked up and took way too long getting going. It was 10.30am, and I hadn't had any breakfast. I'd brought a bag of crisps with me, and stuck them in the back of my vest, where they shook up and down with every step. If I'd been any kind of planner, I'd have bought salt and shake crisps and opened the little packet of salt at the start of the run.
I also wore knee socks, having seen Rosehip's reports of many nettles on her patrol of another part of the course. As it turned out, my section contained virtually no nettles, which was a surprise.
The first couple of miles track alongside Chicksands wood, and I got a lovely view of thousands of bluebells. But this part of the route was also the stickiest, and a wee bit of an uphill, so I spent most of the time looking at where my feet were going, and dodging side to side in search of purchase. There were a few stretches of 50 yards through narrow pathways where I had no choice but to walk - and I did so with a wide-legged gait to avoid the sludgiest mud in the middle of the path. I was a bit worried about what lay ahead at this point! Have some bluebells:
After walking up my first hill (I absolutely *never* walk when out for a run unless something's gone wrong, so it took a brief talking to in order to see sense), I found myself on something resembling a hard surface, which cheered this road runner right up My natural instincts were to follow it, and in doing so, I took my first wrong turn. Note to self: when you see this sign, take a hard right down the little path:
(I am intrigued by the eco lodges though. Very 'Spiritual Home').
It led me into this lovely, narrow down-and-up, where the sheep stared at me. I stepped very carefully, as I had visions of falling nostrils first onto the barbed wire.
After this came some fairly straightforward running across and around fields. I'd stop for a few steps on each field boundary, just as a little congratulations for myself; and also to get my eyeballs trained on the next path. Some were obvious, some were no more than the hint of previous footprints.
I did my road trick again at 3.5 miles, the lure of tarmac making the footpath sign across the road seem invisible. But the route pointer on my watch did a good job of telling me that I'd cocked up. Then came a bit through someone's garden. It always feels weird when a footpath goes through a garden. I try to wear an "I am confused but wish you and your property no harm" face, in case of conflict. There were signs on every other tree saying things like "Not this way, stupid", "WTAF?", and "Basically, you're trampling on our lives and we're going to shoot you soon". I'm assuming that when the event comes around, there will be a bit more guidance on this bit. I should probably have just had a little stop and a better look around. But it was just grass - I'd have definitely stopped if it looked like I'd harm anything.
Anyway, I was out of there, and then onto a little road section. And from there, a little diagonal path that I'd spotted on my drive to the start. A few paces on, and I noticed what I thought at first was a dog - but turned out to be the arse end of a deer. I kept trotting towards it, and eventually it noticed me, and ran ahead of me for a bit before turning off. It was lovely
The deer signalled the start of a very straightforward section. One of the paths was even slightly concreted. It went down into a dip, and back up the other side, where I spied some nice looking houses that must have nice views (except when I'm running past):
Into the village of Haynes, past the Mission Hall, which was a fascinating building that looked like it was on the wrong continent. I've just looked it up - it was built in 1899!
Then a weird tiny detour that would be very easy to miss, and back onto fields. Apart from being a bit exposed to the wind, this was all pretty easy. And then across the road at Deadman's Cross (he would be, if he didn't look both ways).
The running got super-easy (relatively speaking) here. I was looking forward to running through some forest, but it turned out to be a flat cinder track wide enough for a lorry for a couple of miles, then across a minor road, and a bit more of the same. I actually missed the mental stimulation of navigation and the not knowing what was coming next.
There was a nice view of Cardington Hangars (where they filmed the reality TV version of Squid Game, amongst many other things). That's the enormous green shed (there's a second one hiding behind it):
There were also a few of these on the route:
I'm guessing they're some sort of elaborate bug-house or wildlife assistance (a place for deer to scratch those hard-to-reach places?). Does anyone know? Aside from that, there was not much going on, so you'll have to put up with a picture of me looking determined. Btw, my vest was totally comfortable this time round. I must have got something cockled last time.
The only exciting bit beyond that was a 50-50 choice. The path reached a thick and brambly hedgerow ahead that I would not have wanted to clamber across, with a potential route on either side of it. Luckily there were enough hints of flattened grass on the right hand side that I took it, and it turned out to be right. The benefits of an accurately-drawn route on an OS map become clear at times like this - but that's why this was a patrol, not the real thing
After not-so-long, I arrived at the Lego bricks:
These are very exciting indeed, because they mark the start and end of the loop. Now I was onto a bit we'd walked a couple of weeks ago. On the ultra route, it marks a little less than 5k to go. So it's a case of leaving the loop and picking one's way back to the start at Shuttleworth College.
Two weeks ago, this bit was pretty boggy, and it's improved significantly - but still with a few places to be careful.
I also found this very interesting tree. Can anyone tell me what species it is please?
Back up through the church parking lot, and down a steep bit (will my quads be as happy to run down it when I've got 47k in my legs?), and I came out at the cricket ground. I realised that in my last GCU blog, I mentioned that it was gorgeous, but didn't share a picture - so here's a quick snap which doesn't do it justice:
And then, aside from a wistful look at the short footpath that leads to Shuttleworth (which I've decided to leave until race day), it was just a case of slogging on the roads for three-and-a-bit miles to get back to the car.
I did a little cheer when I spotted the car I was pretty tired by this point, and the road running came with a seemingly endless gradual incline just to finish my legs off. But I realised I was on 12.9-something, so chugged on into Chicksands Wood for as long as it took to reach half marathon distance. There was a fair bit of regret here, as it was quite steep - but I held on.
Stopping my watch and walking with hands on hips, I spotted one last little bit of intrigue - a monolith in the distance, surrounded by trees, like something from The Last Of Us. I decided to walk up to it.
The plaque on the side told me it was for George Montague Dunk, Earl of Halifax. I smiled, as I only know one other Mr Dunk, and he's undoubtedly more deserving. But this chap was clearly very diftinguished and truftworthy. If I'm reading it right, he also made sure the toilet block was secured - but I never did find that.
My patrol was over. I walked back down to the car, eating my crifps in the rain.
Firstly though, I don't like the word 'recce'. It doesn't feel nice to type, and the way it looks is very unappealing. I've just been to look at some synonyms, and from here on, I will call them patrols
That's a much better word, and reminds me of the only and best septology of films - the Police Academy Series. And specifically, the 4th best and 4th worst Police Academy film: Police Academy 4 - Citizens on Patrol. Because flouting all laws of thermodynamics, it's also the only septology of films where each one gets better* than the last. *this may be irony.
So I was on patrol! I parked up and took way too long getting going. It was 10.30am, and I hadn't had any breakfast. I'd brought a bag of crisps with me, and stuck them in the back of my vest, where they shook up and down with every step. If I'd been any kind of planner, I'd have bought salt and shake crisps and opened the little packet of salt at the start of the run.
I also wore knee socks, having seen Rosehip's reports of many nettles on her patrol of another part of the course. As it turned out, my section contained virtually no nettles, which was a surprise.
The first couple of miles track alongside Chicksands wood, and I got a lovely view of thousands of bluebells. But this part of the route was also the stickiest, and a wee bit of an uphill, so I spent most of the time looking at where my feet were going, and dodging side to side in search of purchase. There were a few stretches of 50 yards through narrow pathways where I had no choice but to walk - and I did so with a wide-legged gait to avoid the sludgiest mud in the middle of the path. I was a bit worried about what lay ahead at this point! Have some bluebells:
After walking up my first hill (I absolutely *never* walk when out for a run unless something's gone wrong, so it took a brief talking to in order to see sense), I found myself on something resembling a hard surface, which cheered this road runner right up
My natural instincts were to follow it, and in doing so, I took my first wrong turn. Note to self: when you see this sign, take a hard right down the little path: (I am intrigued by the eco lodges though. Very 'Spiritual Home').
It led me into this lovely, narrow down-and-up, where the sheep stared at me. I stepped very carefully, as I had visions of falling nostrils first onto the barbed wire.
After this came some fairly straightforward running across and around fields. I'd stop for a few steps on each field boundary, just as a little congratulations for myself; and also to get my eyeballs trained on the next path. Some were obvious, some were no more than the hint of previous footprints.
I did my road trick again at 3.5 miles, the lure of tarmac making the footpath sign across the road seem invisible. But the route pointer on my watch did a good job of telling me that I'd cocked up. Then came a bit through someone's garden. It always feels weird when a footpath goes through a garden. I try to wear an "I am confused but wish you and your property no harm" face, in case of conflict. There were signs on every other tree saying things like "Not this way, stupid", "WTAF?", and "Basically, you're trampling on our lives and we're going to shoot you soon". I'm assuming that when the event comes around, there will be a bit more guidance on this bit. I should probably have just had a little stop and a better look around. But it was just grass - I'd have definitely stopped if it looked like I'd harm anything.
Anyway, I was out of there, and then onto a little road section. And from there, a little diagonal path that I'd spotted on my drive to the start. A few paces on, and I noticed what I thought at first was a dog - but turned out to be the arse end of a deer. I kept trotting towards it, and eventually it noticed me, and ran ahead of me for a bit before turning off. It was lovely
The deer signalled the start of a very straightforward section. One of the paths was even slightly concreted. It went down into a dip, and back up the other side, where I spied some nice looking houses that must have nice views (except when I'm running past):
Into the village of Haynes, past the Mission Hall, which was a fascinating building that looked like it was on the wrong continent. I've just looked it up - it was built in 1899!
Then a weird tiny detour that would be very easy to miss, and back onto fields. Apart from being a bit exposed to the wind, this was all pretty easy. And then across the road at Deadman's Cross (he would be, if he didn't look both ways).
The running got super-easy (relatively speaking) here. I was looking forward to running through some forest, but it turned out to be a flat cinder track wide enough for a lorry for a couple of miles, then across a minor road, and a bit more of the same. I actually missed the mental stimulation of navigation and the not knowing what was coming next.
There was a nice view of Cardington Hangars (where they filmed the reality TV version of Squid Game, amongst many other things). That's the enormous green shed (there's a second one hiding behind it):
There were also a few of these on the route:
I'm guessing they're some sort of elaborate bug-house or wildlife assistance (a place for deer to scratch those hard-to-reach places?). Does anyone know? Aside from that, there was not much going on, so you'll have to put up with a picture of me looking determined. Btw, my vest was totally comfortable this time round. I must have got something cockled last time.
The only exciting bit beyond that was a 50-50 choice. The path reached a thick and brambly hedgerow ahead that I would not have wanted to clamber across, with a potential route on either side of it. Luckily there were enough hints of flattened grass on the right hand side that I took it, and it turned out to be right. The benefits of an accurately-drawn route on an OS map become clear at times like this - but that's why this was a patrol, not the real thing
After not-so-long, I arrived at the Lego bricks:
These are very exciting indeed, because they mark the start and end of the loop. Now I was onto a bit we'd walked a couple of weeks ago. On the ultra route, it marks a little less than 5k to go. So it's a case of leaving the loop and picking one's way back to the start at Shuttleworth College.
Two weeks ago, this bit was pretty boggy, and it's improved significantly - but still with a few places to be careful.
I also found this very interesting tree. Can anyone tell me what species it is please?
Back up through the church parking lot, and down a steep bit (will my quads be as happy to run down it when I've got 47k in my legs?), and I came out at the cricket ground. I realised that in my last GCU blog, I mentioned that it was gorgeous, but didn't share a picture - so here's a quick snap which doesn't do it justice:
And then, aside from a wistful look at the short footpath that leads to Shuttleworth (which I've decided to leave until race day), it was just a case of slogging on the roads for three-and-a-bit miles to get back to the car.
I did a little cheer when I spotted the car
I was pretty tired by this point, and the road running came with a seemingly endless gradual incline just to finish my legs off. But I realised I was on 12.9-something, so chugged on into Chicksands Wood for as long as it took to reach half marathon distance. There was a fair bit of regret here, as it was quite steep - but I held on. Stopping my watch and walking with hands on hips, I spotted one last little bit of intrigue - a monolith in the distance, surrounded by trees, like something from The Last Of Us. I decided to walk up to it.
The plaque on the side told me it was for George Montague Dunk, Earl of Halifax. I smiled, as I only know one other Mr Dunk, and he's undoubtedly more deserving. But this chap was clearly very diftinguished and truftworthy. If I'm reading it right, he also made sure the toilet block was secured - but I never did find that.
My patrol was over. I walked back down to the car, eating my crifps in the rain.
Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.
Comments
-
Very nicesallykate10:40am, 11th Apr 2024
-
Isn't 'recce' a shortened version of reconnoitre or reconnaissance? Maybe use those instead?Mushroom
Well done on the trail run - it's the future!10:41am, 11th Apr 2024 -
It is, but I will stick with patrol 😎fetcheveryone10:44am, 11th Apr 2024
-
Nice patrol! I thought the sticky up things might be a rack of fire beaters? Couldn’t tell from the photo whether they lifted out. Otherwise deer scratching posts as you suggested might save them destroying tender vegetation but I’ve never seen such an item. (But Scottish deer wouldn’t be seen using them on principle!!!)WayOfTheDodo10:45am, 11th Apr 2024
-
That species of tree is mastico phono mobilía - honest.......bigleggy10:51am, 11th Apr 2024
-
Definitely fire beaters for those hot, dry summers (remember those?). And the tree, the fairly rare English FourGee Signal tree 😉😂😂stilldreaming10:54am, 11th Apr 2024
-
Thank you for the picture of you, it reminded me I need to put my earpods case on charge.Diogenes11:06am, 11th Apr 2024
-
Oh, I had one of those trees on my bike ride last weekend. Bear with, I think it's in the galleryMcGoohan11:07am, 11th Apr 2024
-
Indeedly. It's top right here.McGoohan
11:08am, 11th Apr 2024 -
Love all of this. But especially Spiritual Home.LindsD12:04pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
Very nice!Ness12:04pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
You should take Steven. Paw Patrol.Fizz :-)12:06pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
Edit. Stephen.Fizz :-)12:07pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
What a great blog. Crifpsjennywren1:02pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
Just realised I didn't include the picture of the plaque - I've stuck it infetcheveryone1:12pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
Very good patrol. And yes, fire whackers.Dvorak
.1:29pm, 11th Apr 2024 -
A few years ago I’d have said it was an Orange tree.Fragile Do Not Bend2:08pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
Nice going!Garfield2:08pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
Love those sorts of adventuring runs. Well done. Bluebells a month away here!HappyG(rrr) G3:28pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
Looks like a lovely patrolRunningbauble214:22pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
Excellent patrolling.B.4:32pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
nice exploreventuringRosehip
I think recon sounds better than recce, I think use of the latter might have drifted across the atlantic?
fire beaters and bigleggy is correct about the tree species4:42pm, 11th Apr 2024 -
Love this and some great miles covered.Corrah10:33pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
...and I have the opening scene (the one with the 2 cops 'dancing' in the patrol car) embedded in my head. Thanks for the '80s memoryAlbert O Balsam2:55pm, 15th Apr 2024
I thought I'd float a few of the ideas I had regarding the overall format of the game.
The biggest change I'm considering is that everyone will play on the same grid. So wherever you run (please accept that as shorthand for run/bike/walk/swim), you will always start from the centre of the grid. But that grid will be massive i.e. I'm thinking ~120 square miles. That means you can travel at least five miles in any direction from home and still be on the grid.
This eliminates the need for setting/changing a home point. Each run starts in the middle of the grid, no matter where you are in the real world. It makes the game flexible too, so you can run from work/holiday/club etc seamlessly without having to change anything. A large grid also means that people in rural areas can explore further away with long straight routes, rather than the majority of icons being focused in a tight but hard-to-reach circle. And with everyone on the same grid, it means that there will *always* be the option of competing with others - it doesn't matter if you're central London, or central Hebrides.
And because there's just one grid, it eliminates reporting of inaccessible icons. If an icon is not accessible to you from your home point, it may well be accessible when you run from club etc. And it will likely be accessible to others. It also makes it impossible for players to trap others on commuting routes or popular races.
Being on one grid also means fewer icons. Right now, there are about 150,000 icons scattered all over the world. With one big grid, I'm aiming for a max of about 50,000 icons. That should be plenty for any one person at any one time, and makes the game that bit more computable for our beloved server.
I'm imagining that there will be fierce competition for icons that are close to the centre of the grid. But the plan there is to regularly replenish it with icons. In the current game, each player gets new icons once a day - but I can imagine something hourly that refills blank space. This will be about striking a balance with my code.
For those of you who don't tend to go far out of your mile radius, don't worry about all the far-away stuff. In my head, the centre point of the grid is represented by a flaming torch. But there will be other flaming torches to find on the grid. Once you find one of these, you can choose it as your base camp. So although I said there was no need for a 'home point', you can move your starting point within the grid by choosing any of the torches you've unlocked. For gamers, this is a bit like the 'fast travel' concept. For anyone confused by that, I'll try to make it obvious as you play along.
To avoid the grid being overwhelming at first sight, I would also like to introduce an exploring element. So when you first start, only the area immediately surrounding your home torch will be visible - the rest will be hidden in shadows. As you run around the grid, you will banish these shadows, and more icons will become visible.
I would also like to introduce the concept of an inventory. Actually, the original Fetchpoint had this! But when you run to certain icons, they will be added to your inventory. So for example, you might collect a shoe icon. Having shoes in your inventory will protect you against puddles. If you are shoeless, you may lose a few points for running through a puddle. Collect toast to pacify dogs or lose points when you meet a dog as it chomps your ankles instead.
I have a tonne of ideas for other things to hide in the grid, but I won't get too specific just yet. For now, I'll give you a flavour of it all Competitive elements (like the current traffic lights) where one user can take ownership and earn points from other players. Challenge elements (like the current relays) where you have to collect an item and deliver it somewhere else. Collection elements (like the recent Easter Eggs or Gore-illas) where you have to get as many as you can of something (or collect the whole set). Time challenges, where you have to get from one icon to another in under a certain time (based on your individual abilities, rather than fixed values). Route challenges, where you have to find the most direct route from one place to another. Puzzles (a bit like Rundle) where you collect clues to help you unlock chests full of goodies. And a few one-off icons like the Higgs Boson (RIP Peter Higgs) which will appear at random places and do magical things. And something like bugs, that will encourage you to pick them off each day. However, I think based on feedback on my most recent blog, avoiding negative scores will be the way to go. And as I'll be pretty much starting from scratch with the code, I think you'd probably all like it if I build in something that redresses the balance between runners and cyclists
Right then. I'm off to go recce a few miles of the GCU and will read your thoughts and *ideas* when I get back
The biggest change I'm considering is that everyone will play on the same grid. So wherever you run (please accept that as shorthand for run/bike/walk/swim), you will always start from the centre of the grid. But that grid will be massive i.e. I'm thinking ~120 square miles. That means you can travel at least five miles in any direction from home and still be on the grid.
This eliminates the need for setting/changing a home point. Each run starts in the middle of the grid, no matter where you are in the real world. It makes the game flexible too, so you can run from work/holiday/club etc seamlessly without having to change anything. A large grid also means that people in rural areas can explore further away with long straight routes, rather than the majority of icons being focused in a tight but hard-to-reach circle. And with everyone on the same grid, it means that there will *always* be the option of competing with others - it doesn't matter if you're central London, or central Hebrides.
And because there's just one grid, it eliminates reporting of inaccessible icons. If an icon is not accessible to you from your home point, it may well be accessible when you run from club etc. And it will likely be accessible to others. It also makes it impossible for players to trap others on commuting routes or popular races.
Being on one grid also means fewer icons. Right now, there are about 150,000 icons scattered all over the world. With one big grid, I'm aiming for a max of about 50,000 icons. That should be plenty for any one person at any one time, and makes the game that bit more computable for our beloved server.
I'm imagining that there will be fierce competition for icons that are close to the centre of the grid. But the plan there is to regularly replenish it with icons. In the current game, each player gets new icons once a day - but I can imagine something hourly that refills blank space. This will be about striking a balance with my code.
For those of you who don't tend to go far out of your mile radius, don't worry about all the far-away stuff. In my head, the centre point of the grid is represented by a flaming torch. But there will be other flaming torches to find on the grid. Once you find one of these, you can choose it as your base camp. So although I said there was no need for a 'home point', you can move your starting point within the grid by choosing any of the torches you've unlocked. For gamers, this is a bit like the 'fast travel' concept. For anyone confused by that, I'll try to make it obvious as you play along.
To avoid the grid being overwhelming at first sight, I would also like to introduce an exploring element. So when you first start, only the area immediately surrounding your home torch will be visible - the rest will be hidden in shadows. As you run around the grid, you will banish these shadows, and more icons will become visible.
I would also like to introduce the concept of an inventory. Actually, the original Fetchpoint had this! But when you run to certain icons, they will be added to your inventory. So for example, you might collect a shoe icon. Having shoes in your inventory will protect you against puddles. If you are shoeless, you may lose a few points for running through a puddle. Collect toast to pacify dogs or lose points when you meet a dog as it chomps your ankles instead.
I have a tonne of ideas for other things to hide in the grid, but I won't get too specific just yet. For now, I'll give you a flavour of it all
Competitive elements (like the current traffic lights) where one user can take ownership and earn points from other players. Challenge elements (like the current relays) where you have to collect an item and deliver it somewhere else. Collection elements (like the recent Easter Eggs or Gore-illas) where you have to get as many as you can of something (or collect the whole set). Time challenges, where you have to get from one icon to another in under a certain time (based on your individual abilities, rather than fixed values). Route challenges, where you have to find the most direct route from one place to another. Puzzles (a bit like Rundle) where you collect clues to help you unlock chests full of goodies. And a few one-off icons like the Higgs Boson (RIP Peter Higgs) which will appear at random places and do magical things. And something like bugs, that will encourage you to pick them off each day. However, I think based on feedback on my most recent blog, avoiding negative scores will be the way to go. And as I'll be pretty much starting from scratch with the code, I think you'd probably all like it if I build in something that redresses the balance between runners and cyclists Right then. I'm off to go recce a few miles of the GCU
and will read your thoughts and *ideas* when I get back
Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.
Comments
-
Would there still be bugs? A bug could be inaccessible with no way to mark it as such.Bright Strider9:52am, 10th Apr 2024
-
I like a lot of this I admit I lost off doing fetch point, I miss GOREilla collections even if it didn’t come with a prize. Maybe I just need to play againgeordiegirl9:59am, 10th Apr 2024
-
Sounds good, although, I'm not sure it's still Fetchpoint with all those changes.Grast_girl10:01am, 10th Apr 2024
-
Combating the “inaccessible” element will be a big positive for me. Is The Ring still being transported towards Mordor, or did that fizzle out?Alice the Camel10:01am, 10th Apr 2024
-
Does it mean that we'd have to pick a "quiet" time of day when fewer (less?) fetchies are out and about so a better chance to actually collect something?minardi10:04am, 10th Apr 2024
-
Grast_girl has a good point.minardi10:05am, 10th Apr 2024
-
It sounds good but does sound like a different game from Fetchpoint. I think I'd probably want to try doing both!IdristheDragon10:12am, 10th Apr 2024
-
It sounds like an entirely different game rather than a few tweaks . I will be very sad to lose Fetchpoint.DocM10:12am, 10th Apr 2024
-
Interesting! Sounds like a very different game, and I'm sure it will do me good to try to get my head around how it works.Velociraptor10:14am, 10th Apr 2024
-
I like the idea of always starting at the centre of the grid regardless of actual location as that solves my problem of running from at least 3 different locations each week (a reason I gave up playing WSW). Also it levels the playing field for those who are 'solo' players and those with lots of competitors.westmoors
Also like the idea of certain icons giving protection. Will the protection icons have a use or time limit? E.g. will I lose the shoe when I go through a puddle or will it only give protection for x days? Personally, I'd go for the use limit.10:24am, 10th Apr 2024 -
I like the sound of thisMandymoo10:25am, 10th Apr 2024
-
it does sound good - but not the same as Fetchpoint. I don't suppose there's server-space for both?Rosehip10:28am, 10th Apr 2024
-
I like the sound of thisCarpathius10:30am, 10th Apr 2024
-
As per previous blog, happy to keep the original FP going.fetcheveryone10:31am, 10th Apr 2024
-
I assume Wands, Protective Amour, Light Sabres, Water Pistols, Bows and Arrows, A book of Spells, an Invisibility Cloak, Potions. Also sounds like a separate game, but the idea of one grid makes sense as I get the feeling the fetchpoint experience wholly depends on where and who you are up against. Maybe, just Maybe you have divisions on how seriously you play?Ocelot Spleens10:32am, 10th Apr 2024
-
actually, keeping Fetchpoint with the enhancements CumbriAndy suggested vv would work for meRosehip10:32am, 10th Apr 2024
-
This does sound like a totally new game, rather than a change to Fetchpoint. Is it worth keeping the current one running for a whileBob!11:30am, 10th Apr 2024
-
*sorry*Bob!
I see fetch has already answered that above11:31am, 10th Apr 2024 -
Struggling to imagine our dog being pacified with toastSigh12:02pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
You can please some of the people all of the time, but not all of the people all of the time. The current version could be Fetchpoint Map, and the new version could be Fetchpoint Grid.Bright Strider
I prefer gradual changes, especially given that (I think) Fetchpoint works and is reasonably popular.12:08pm, 10th Apr 2024 -
Rather than give more points to slower activity types (walking, commando crawl, snail racing), there could be more points for objects harvested within your circle.Bright Strider12:11pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
I dislike paying to go through traffic lights on the way to work. I can see that it is the game, but if we are changing the game...Bright Strider
Could we change from a charge per time going through the light per activity, to a charge per week? So, you would pay once a week, rather than go to some effort to avoid them.
Also, in real life, traffic lights don't charge travellers. The way they work, they do not work a lot like traffic lights. Could we change the icon and the name? For example to toll point, or troll? The toll point or toll could change colour, moving along the visible spectrum from red to violet, as the charge goes up.12:16pm, 10th Apr 2024 -
Could we have frequented points where we often go, so that flowers don't reveal the fact? Similar to a home circle but smaller. Also, relays could not land there, for the same reason. The same relay block could also apply in home circles.Bright Strider12:19pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
I think your new ideas sound really exciting and (as others have said) like a cool new game though I’m also instinctively change-averse so like the idea of keeping a version of the current game going for those who like it (assuming the hamsters can cope) In the fullness of time people will vote with their feet and it will become clear if what’s sustainableCheeky’s Dad12:23pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
Please keep both! (I’ve only seen traffic lights and infected bugs about three times in ten years, so the option of playing on a busy grid sounds good!)♪♫ Synge ♪♫12:28pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
I like the sound of this.Sushi
I stopped playing because I was on my own which .ade it kinda boring. The one grid will eradicate this making it a lit more fun.12:40pm, 10th Apr 2024 -
I agree with Vrap ^Ness1:14pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
I think it all sounds a bit too complicated. I like the old game (will comment later below for that). And I suspect that as a relatively low mileage runner this new one might not suit me. Will the scores still be a rolling 30 day (or similar)? Also can’t quite figure out how I would plan what to target if my home point snaps to the start of my run.Fizz :-)1:33pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
“ Please note that if I go ahead and release a new version, there's no reason I can't keep the old one available somewhere for those among you for whom Change Is Not Good.”roberton
From the original blog post. So this was always likely an option!1:53pm, 10th Apr 2024 -
I like the ideas here. Shared grid makes a lot of sense. I do like the idea of inventory items too. Gives it an RPG sort of aspect.roberton
You mentioned collection challenges such as the eggs. A Pokemon-like aspect where there were several different types of things to collect, perhaps each month, could be fun.1:57pm, 10th Apr 2024 -
I never understood the game, but this version sounds playable. Thanks.rhb2:42pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
Sounds interesting but if we’re all starting from the same point does that favour people who run earlier in the day / live in an easterly time zone?Pothunter
Would be good to have separate leagues for cyclists and those on foot.3:19pm, 10th Apr 2024 -
If the feed of icons only happened once per day then it might. But as per the blog, I am planning to replenish the grid multiple times throughout the day - maybe even hourly. So it'll even out.fetcheveryone3:21pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
As has been said - this sounds like a completely different game to me. It also sounds way more complicated than the fair and simple original - but then many things turn out to be simpler in real life than the written description makes them sound so I'm happy to see what it looks like and give it a go.CumbriAndy
I hope the map/grid will have a 'select starting position' facility for route planning purposes before we press go on our devices? I imagine there will be many of us wanting to plot routes starting from 'Point A' using devices that are, at the time of planning, physically located somewhere else entirely. In my case, for example, that could easily mean using my lunch break at work to decide where I want to run from home in the evening when I get there.3:53pm, 10th Apr 2024 -
I like the sound of it. A lot.Winniefree4:17pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
Potentially,I stopped playing fetchpoint as I used to get out a few times a week and it seemed to favour the very active 'daily' peopleJen HB4:49pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
Sounds like a great concept and well thought out. Like the 'fog of war' exploration idea. In order to plan and get an idea of scale and where icons are, I'm guessing our individual real map can be displayed under the grid and moved at will?JCB5:58pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
Fetchpoint 2: The Seek-Wellishep 🇪🇺6:52pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
Sounds like a great prospect that addresses many of the issues with the original. The multiple distinct challenge aspects should interest users with all sorts of activity patterns, and might encourage me to mix up stale routines - great! The tricky part will be in balancing the points weighting between these components: for instance, I find the present points system to be so dominated by the bug clearing reward that no other aspect of gameplay really pays off.SpartanMyth6:52pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
Sounds very interestingFragile Do Not Bend8:23pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
I've moved away from 'home' games as they were starting to limit my adventuring. Left WSW (as I kept forgetting to take a break). I'm in FP but there's no competition over here so don't actively play. Anything new sounds promising and a shared grid even more so.FunkyPOM4:01am, 11th Apr 2024
-
Fetchpoint might favour cyclists, doesn’t matter, it’s just a game that adds bit of fun to my day. This sounds like a new game, am up for that tooferret6:09am, 11th Apr 2024
-
Centring the grid on the start of a run is a great idea that solves many issues. I wonder how much of a role you see the geographical location of the grid serving in gameplay. For instance, will a "shortest route from A to B" challenge encourage finding (driving to?) a starting point that positions A and B on a nearby straight road?SpartanMyth7:06am, 11th Apr 2024
-
Obviously, the more time you spend on the game, the higher your score is likely to be, which is fair enough, really. However, it would be interesting to have, as well as the points leaderboard, a points per mile leaderboard. Or, rather a board with at least two points columns. Clicking on the top of the column would order the board according to that column.Bright Strider
This way, there could be a use for straightforward traffic lights. In life, traffic lights slow you down, at least some of the time. In this game, traffic lights could add a time penalty, in the game.9:42am, 11th Apr 2024 -
New badges? I'm in. Missed the Easter egg memo but thankfully picked up a coupleFunkyPOM1:53pm, 11th Apr 2024
-
You could change the initial state of new traffic lights. Tolls too, if you go with that change.Bright Strider
Currently, the initial state of the traffic light is 'unclaimed'. This state favours early, frequent players.
Instead, the initial state could be 'assigned', to a player active in the area in the last 30 days. The more active that player had been, the more likely an assignment would be. That player would have the normal week to refresh ownership. The initial assignment would not earn points because the player did not go through the token. This state would give people who don't play every day more of a chance to have traffic lights (or tolls). Also, those of us who travel through busy areas in their normal business would have a chance of their normal routes being tolled less and there would be less of a deterrent to taking the otherwise sensible route.
This proposal is an alternative to previous suggestions of declared routes or starts and destinations of routes, routes that are routine and that we more or less have to do, whether actively or nonactively. For example: work, shopping, school, college.11:28am, 18th Apr 2024 -
Have the One Ring roll itself one mile a day towards its destination, in case of abandonment.Bright Strider
scifi.stackexchange.com7:52am, 23rd Apr 2024
One of our oldest Fetch games is Fetchpoint, dating back to November 2011. The game map around your home location is sprinkled with different things to collect on your runs, rides and walks. So the route for each new activity becomes a strategic choice to improve your standing on the game leaderboard.
Here's a link if you've never played before: fetcheveryone.com/game-fetchpoint.php
Anyway... I've been thinking about making some updates to the game. Maybe releasing a 20th Anniversary edition. Please note that if I go ahead and release a new version, there's no reason I can't keep the old one available somewhere for those among you for whom Change Is Not Good.
Before I get ahead of myself, and to make sure no babies are thrown out with any bathwater, I wanted to gather your feedback. Here are some questions for you to consider - but feel free to freestyle it with your comments:
1) if you like the game, what is the key aspect of it that you enjoy?
2) if you could suggest a new feature or improvement to the game, what would it be?
3) if you have played but given up, what made you lose interest?
4) if you have a gripe with the game, what is it?
5) if you've never played before, what put you off trying?
No right or wrong answers - feel free to roast it if you like
Here's a link if you've never played before: fetcheveryone.com/game-fetchpoint.php
Anyway... I've been thinking about making some updates to the game. Maybe releasing a 20th Anniversary edition. Please note that if I go ahead and release a new version, there's no reason I can't keep the old one available somewhere for those among you for whom Change Is Not Good.
Before I get ahead of myself, and to make sure no babies are thrown out with any bathwater, I wanted to gather your feedback. Here are some questions for you to consider - but feel free to freestyle it with your comments:
1) if you like the game, what is the key aspect of it that you enjoy?
2) if you could suggest a new feature or improvement to the game, what would it be?
3) if you have played but given up, what made you lose interest?
4) if you have a gripe with the game, what is it?
5) if you've never played before, what put you off trying?
No right or wrong answers - feel free to roast it if you like
Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.
Comments
-
I like it but it gets a bit obsessive and you need a bike to get the best scores IMO. Because of the terrain around here in the winter you will get very muddy playing as well which puts me off. It is also hard to mix with WSW and I generally prefer that. Not sure what you can do about any of that, but that’s my feedback!chunkywizard7:29pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
Like: it used to get me out to different areas and inspire different routes, as well as get me out for bike rides as well as runs and walks. No inspiration for improvements. I don't play at the moment because I live too near a large body of water which makes it too tricky to find a "home" square which makes any sense. My main gripe was always jealousy of people who were able to plant and harvest flowers, as they were few and far between where I lived (too many other players nearby).sallykate7:32pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
Played a *lot* in its early days, but then got bored as it felt never-ending and seemed to lack a real purpose (and I needed up wasting a lot of time moving inaccessible items). Conquercise & WSW took over as they felt better formed.flanker7:36pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I stopped playing due to there being way too many inaccessible places for me. Surrounded by farmers fields, motorway etc.Mandymoo
Loved the game as it made me walk different places with the dog7:37pm, 9th Apr 2024 -
4 Traffic lights!Bob!
I hate traffic lights proportionally more than I should do. I guess I just hate losing points, even just 4.7:42pm, 9th Apr 2024 -
My suggestion for improvement(s) would be a more user-friendly way of defining inaccessible areas (e.g. drawing round them), rather than waiting for something to pop up there and marking it as bad. While we're at it, I thought inaccessible marker spots were supposed to be automatically reenabled if someone successfully passes through them, but I don't think I've ever seen this happenishep 🇪🇺7:47pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I played the game briefly a few years ago but stopped because they're were too many inaccessible places (quarry, private land and/or farmers fields). I did return to it it to collect Easter Eggs but not sure if I'll continue to play it.Ness7:53pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
Played years ago, then found the ratio of bugs and traffic lights went up and felt like I could never make progress so stoppedfraggle8:06pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
Never played it and not sure I would. It seems like it might drive addictive behaviour…cathrobinson8:07pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I've played a few times - it did make me explore a few new streets, I do have a chunk of inaccessible areas, but the main reason I gave up was the obsession with squishing bugs every day - which whilst working, I simply can't do. - and I was always getting caught out by not having quite got out of the circle...Autumnleaves8:07pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I stopped for same reason as Ness, too many inaccessible places in my home circle.DoricQuine8:09pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I used to play but gave up after the pandemic. My main reason for leaving the game is that only two or three activities a week were from home or where I could choose the route. I therefore built up lots of bug penalties as I couldn't clear them every day. I returned for the Easter eggs and haven't left yet but I'm not sure how long that will last.westmoors8:11pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I play Fetchpoint more out of habit than anything else now. "Shall we go out and get our bugs?" is regularly uttered in our household. I'd like the game to be GPS-only, and I'd like to see some sort of weighting to recognise that it's much easier to play on a bike than on foot.Velociraptor8:12pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I played from probably the start when looking for gore-illas. I stopped playing as it got harder to stay in positive numbers due to me living in a place where cyclists come and infect my bugs on the roads without pavements! Rejoined to collect some eggs but not sure I’ll carry on for longnorthernslowcoach8:19pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
Inaccessible places - I live near Ness. Also you've got to be doing outdoor running regularly to stop your points getting eaten by bugs and I like to mix things up a bit more with gym visits and more rest days than I used to. Having come back to it to collect eggs, I'm not entirely sure what all the rules are with your stuff and other people's stuff and different coloured bugs and what you can move and what you can't. I used to like that it made me vary my routes a bit more than usual. I think fewer penalties and some way of making sure things were close to roads and footpaths would make me more likely to stick with it.RunnyBunny8:32pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I played for a while, but there are mainly two reasons I didn't continue.Mushroom
1) I live in a rural area with few streets and it's not always easily accessible to visit some areas of the map (eg. steep hillsides, private land, no footpaths), so often have to limit my access to/from home with a few spokes of a wheel, not 360 degrees.
2) I prefer to go out for a run based on what and where I feel like, without first thinking I'm obliged to look up a map for points.8:38pm, 9th Apr 2024 -
(Pressed enter before finishing!) I can see that it motivates some people, and that's always a good thing, but it's not a game for me.Mushroom8:40pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
3) rural area with lots of inaccessible places, and no one else playing locallyDiogenes8:43pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I liked it but it became addictive and too time consuming. Just had Beat the Street in Chelmsford. A much inferior version of Fetchpoint based on tapping in to boxes attached to lamposts, mostly at schools and intended to encourage healthy travel. Specific designs of Fetchpoint could probably be sold to councils for a similar purpose but with a much higher fun content and lower infrastructure cost. You'll be minted!CogNoscensme AHA
My only positive suggestion for improvement is to run it in time bound cycles so it's easier to participate for a short period and then take a break.8:51pm, 9th Apr 2024 -
Just restarted for the Easter eggs. Lost heart after accumulating a big negative score first time round, never seems possible to recover without a reset. I liked having to explore. I think my overall problem is I often train indoors or away from the home circle, or only have time for dog walks of a mile or two. I'd like infected bugs to lose you fewer points - maybe also if you pick bugs up you can move them closer to the edge of the circle even if you don't carry them out?JustCommando!
I like the idea of special features - finding the one true ring (where is it?!) and the higgs boson (I did find it once!) and the Easter eggs - so maybe more of that sort of thing?
Not sure the randoms and relays are adding much.
BTW I think I'm gaining fetchpoint score from Zwifting in London... Should I?9:01pm, 9th Apr 2024 -
Play out of habit, but not obsessively.Rosehip
I have marked most of the inaccessible places as such now, so it's easier to collect trinkets as they fall on the roads/paths more often. I still haven't managed the 30-day bug collecting badge though nor 10,000 points so I still have targets, but currently not sufficiently motivated to aim for them.9:11pm, 9th Apr 2024 -
Played a bit during the pandemic. Really did it to collect badges. Enjoyed it but once I’d got the ones I could get, I stopped.roberton
And then I came back for the eggs! Because there were more badges
I’ve never really got into it was a game though. Conquercise and WSW I get and have often really enjoyed.
Why?
I agree about the bike comments. Also the ones about the persistence required; to me personally it feels like to do well in it would require a never ending grind.
I do love Fetch games in general though and could be up for a new version!9:12pm, 9th Apr 2024 -
Never played because it feels really, really complicated.LindsD9:13pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
It's still my favourite Fetch game. I like that it allows me to stay quite local and run from my front door. I like the control of being able to mark areas inaccessible, so it matters less that I'm surrounded by fields. I'd like to separate wheeled activities from walking and running. The addition I would make is to have a monthly ( or weekly) aspect. From the first of the month a "pet" would appear as a marker on the map. It would move each day until.you caught it, and then remain your pet for the rest of the month ( or week) and enhance the value of some of the markers ( gems might become pet food) when you caught them. ( Yes I've been thinking about this for years ) .DocM9:24pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I gave up after a couple of weeks... seemed too complicated to get my head around when running!3M9:42pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I used to play but there are lots of inaccessible areas here. Having to leave the circle to kill the bugs makes it harder as I have the circle placed to optimise collecting the items but getting to the edges of the circle is difficult (we are a village with no footpaths connecting to the neighbouring villages and a main road that has got a lot busier in recent years).GimmeMedals9:50pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
It's my favourite game but I try to be less obsessive about clearing up my bugs each day. I use it mainly as a tool to give me somewhere to aim for an activity most days.alpenrose9:54pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
Loved the game initially - probably played it too hard at the start and made some enemies! Peaking at collecting a bunch of bugs in the corner of Kensington Palace Gardens - and then doing a very long run to move them out to the edge of the M25 and racking up a big score!DTs
Even now bug squashing is a big motivation for getting out regularly- it really helps me to be active without driving ever increasingly long runs like WSW can sometimes do. I find it a healthy balance.
No changes from me thank you.9:59pm, 9th Apr 2024 -
I love playing fetchpoint. As a newcomer to fetch (late 2022) I started playing not long after I joined and at first had no idea what I was doing! Had a big negative score but then worked it out and generally hover around the 5,000 - 6,000 level.IdristheDragon
I like trying to squash my bug each day although occasionally don’t and now can cope with not having done it. I did get the 30 day bug free badge which I liked.
I find I can quite easily position the circle that I can both get the bug and leave the circle in multiple ways from the house which helps.
I can find it hard to combine WSW and fetchpoint (enjoy them both) but it is currently helping me to go for a lunchtime walk too.10:27pm, 9th Apr 2024 -
Used to play when living in Cirencester, only 2 or 3 other regulars, plus the odd cyclist. Easy enough to clean up, not many places I couldn't get too. Now on the edge of Stockport, numerous runners and cyclists dump all sorts, plus passers through, plus lots of places I can't get too, eaning it is difficult to keep on top, got bored of flagging inaccessible. Gave up long ago. Can't see why I would play again short of moving house.Ocelot Spleens10:49pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
Tried to play a couple of times but never really got to grips with it. Rural area so massive amount of inaccessible space plus I think it needs interaction with other players and no one else is nearby.WayOfTheDodo10:58pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
wow. read all these comments. agree with most of them. for me once i hit a goid score and got a badge i struggled to see point of continuing.Spanners9911:10pm, 9th Apr 2024
-
I enjoy fetchpoint but find it very frustrating! I’d like to be able to take a week off when I’m not well or injured without accumulating so many bugsjelly12:03am, 10th Apr 2024
-
Living in a suburb so almost everything was accessible, I found the good challenge was to work out and then remember the ideal route. It probably slowed my running down because I for one did not try to run at my best speed up and down short cul-de-sacs. Eventually I stopped because it was going nowhere. I think I got the 10,000 badge but I would have had to be a serious cyclist to get the next badge.ChrisHB2:23am, 10th Apr 2024
-
I really like Fetchpoint, sometimes I very actively play it and go out and squish the bugs (the badges were a good motivation for this) but other times I just leave it in the background and you can just randomly get points when you head out. The Easter egg hunt was fab because it encouraged me out of my usual fetchpoint circle and I had plotted a couple of other routes to bag a pile of eggs but didn't get a chance to go out and get them before they disappeared - so something longer term outside the main circle would be welcome.Sweetie4:54am, 10th Apr 2024
-
Similar reasons to others on previously playing, giving up and restarting due to Easter eggs. Lots of inaccessible areas due to farmland, water and a busy A road. It also makes it next to impossible to clear bugs from the home circle. When I'm cycling it's usually straight out of the circle that doesn't help much.MsG5:25am, 10th Apr 2024
-
In the early days it got me out and about in the area but now I run less I left because the bugs drove me crazy LOL. Came back for the easter eggs but left again after that.gribb06:25am, 10th Apr 2024
-
My home area does not have enough roads/paths so most of the area is inaccessible and I could never be bothered to complete marking the inaccessible areas in order to be able to enjoy playing.Elsie Too6:35am, 10th Apr 2024
-
Been thinking about this a bit more - as I work from home and don’t go away much, it’s generally easy for me to squash bugs daily whereas for others it’s less so. The Easter eggs were popular with lots of people including some who hadn’t played for a while. So something like that where you can get something outside your circle, and there’s lots of them is a good idea. Maybe they could get points too? And change with the seasons?IdristheDragon7:33am, 10th Apr 2024
-
I play more or less daily as where the bug is chooses which direction I run in. I have a massive amount of inaccessible areas but that's down to where I live and not the fault of the game. I have no other players for miles so no traffic lights for me.minardi8:21am, 10th Apr 2024
-
I enjoyed playing it to get the 30-day bug badge and a points badge, but it doesn’t work long term in a rural setting. That’s fine, I’m not asking for or expecting changes for rural locations, I should think it’s great in a city.♪♫ Synge ♪♫
I have so few route opportunities from home that I only run in my home location a couple of days a week at most. (I know I could change the grid location, but I am not in any other location often enough to make that worth it as I wouldn’t build up flowers etc.).
So, in conclusion, it’s a brilliant concept. When we move to a more urban/suburban setting, which may happen, I’ll happily engage with it again.8:31am, 10th Apr 2024 -
Like many I'm surrounded by farmers fields, bog and pathless woodland, but not Fetchies. I don't like to mark something in a field inaccessible as I may get there when it's fallow, and the bogs sometimes dry out.57.5 Days of Pain
I did enjoy compulsive bug squishing and the Easter eggs were fun, but only really played the game to get badges or when my training happened to fit (repeated running and biking routes to collect flowers). Unlike other games it didn't inspire varied activity.
More novelty items would be good, but the ring is always vast distances away and I have no idea how you track the Higgs Boson.8:34am, 10th Apr 2024 -
Been playing since the start and enjoy it. One of my first 'tasks' on starting Fetch in the morning is to find out where my bug is so I can start to plan where to run and/or walk later - means I naturally vary where I go and the range of surfaces I run on. I have lots of inaccessible space, no active (Fetchpoint) neighbours and don't own a working bike - I've learned to accept these as lifestyle choices with the potential to limit my overall score so sitting around 10-12,000 simply through time on feet is fine with me. I guess I'm lucky that I can (and do have the motivation to) get out more or less every day; also that I'm not particularly bothered by unlit lanes without pavements or muddy trails/footpaths.CumbriAndy
For me, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the game but a few thoughts as to potential tweaks/enhancements:
- it would be nice to be able to see the underlying grid and mark spots as inaccessible without waiting for markers to appear
- it's clear that the option of daily breaks would be valuable for some - no 'new' markers and no points gained from our own activities on such days but no bug penalty/bonus that day either
- might be nice to revisit the original option of disabling traffic light rent collection at the weekend so as to avoid 'penalising' folk for running popular races
- can we do something a bit more 'exciting' with Randoms? Not the deeply unpopular large penalty that was tried once but maybe some bigger bonuses or score multipliers or bug expulsions?
- have the ring self transport itself to the middle of the nearest players' circle after a defined period (maybe 10 days?) of being 'stuck'. Just to keep it moving and maybe engage more people with the journey (not that I expect it ever to appear anywhere near me)8:54am, 10th Apr 2024 -
Weirdos! *runs away*Sharkie9:00am, 10th Apr 2024
-
I did find it motivational initially but also stopped because, being out in the sticks, I ended up with far too many inaccessible bugs.SarahWoo9:12am, 10th Apr 2024
-
1) I do enjoy gamification to encourage me to go for a runGrast_girl
2) Having to get bugs every day didn't really suit me as I only ever ran every other day and the walks I had to do to get outside my circle were just a bit too long to easily fit with my schedule, so I would suggest the ability to make the circle smaller, especially if you're walking mostly, or larger if you're cycling mostly (and therefore having different leagues for different activities).
3) I've mostly stopped running, so again the smaller circle would help me. Also, I'd like to be able to log yesterday's walk and it affect yesterday's map (to remove bug penalties), which I suspect would be incredibly hard to code.9:57am, 10th Apr 2024 -
Played it for a while but struggled being in a rural location and if I moved my midpoint to town it meant I had to drive to every run where I wanted to play. Also wanted to mix run locations so couldn't get to bugs everyday. For a while there was one other person locally playing but when they moved that reduced point scoring options and as I don't cycle that limited points also. Did enjoy playing though.Snoot10:02am, 10th Apr 2024
-
I used to be an active player but I'm running and cycling less. Hopefully that will change. The game favours cyclists, who can collect more items, but that is fine by me. It is ok to have a game like that.Groundhog
Minor issue, I can never find where the ring is.
A bit more explanation on bugs - is there a maximum number you get in your circle? I was interested to see just how infested I could get.10:22am, 10th Apr 2024 -
Since I'm the only fetchie around here for many miles, inevitable fate of an international, it doesn't make much sense to play the game, as scoring opportunities are low. I looked into it but didn't find it appealing or rewarding in my particular situation. I'm happy with Rundle, Conquercise, and Hide&Seek, they provide enough entertainment for me.tipsku1:13pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
I loved it but like so many things in my life I got completely addicted by it and had to go cold turkey!!Windsor Wool3:57pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
Seemed rather complicated and couldn't see the attraction, but gamification has never really attracted me. Exception being Conquercise that can just keep going in the background and I occasionally look at to see where I have been.Dibble5:08pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
I’m a participant in all the fetch games, but don’t really play many of them actively. Fetchpoint is the one I play most though - I even bought a bike to make scoring easier. (I had a few ideas about how to even it up a bit for cyclists and runners). I play on my own and a lot of my circle is inaccessible, but I’ve marked them all up nicely. I like the 30 day rolling, so if you don’t play for a while it doesn’t take too long to get competitive again. There have been a number of times when I’ve only gone running because of bugs.Fizz :-)6:27pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
You could (maybe) reduce the number of things to be generated by giving people a deadline (a month, say) to actively opt into the game and if not opted in then quietly stop generating bugs flower jewels etc for them.Fizz :-)6:34pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
I used to play it when I ran most of my runs on my own so could choose where I went. Now I'm running with my club or other people a lot more so I don’t decide the route, which doesn’t really work with this game.Fragile Do Not Bend8:18pm, 10th Apr 2024
-
Same as Linds. I never could get my head around it.TeeBee8:17am, 12th Apr 2024
-
Walker: can't cover the ground needed; lots of inaccessible round mw; no other fetchies near byLizzie W2:53pm, 12th Apr 2024
It's been a good seven days of training for me. After a lazy start to the week (no running Monday through Wednesday), I got on the board with a 9.5 miler which took me over 100 miles for the month. [Side note: here's a great thread if you're aiming for 100 per month: fetcheveryone.com/forum/100-miles-a-month-in-2024-62881/ - it makes you accountable, and it's fun checking in when you've made some progress].
On Friday we wanted to do some walking. We managed to persuade Nightjar and Silvershadow to drive all the way over to Old Warden with us, so I could recce a bit of the GCU (Greensand Country Ultra, or Greensand Cinematic Universe, by the time I've fleshed it out).
Here's the GCU 50k route:
fetcheveryone.com/routes-view.php?id=1861754
The first 4km of the route leads you out from Shuttleworth College, to the start of a 42km loop. Completing the loop brings you back to the same spot, so you retrace your steps for the last 4km. My plan is to go do various parts of the route prior to the event, so I know what to expect. I've even made myself a little chart to fill in:
We parked at St Leonard's church, opposite the gorgeous Old Warden Cricket Ground (the outfield slopes upwards towards the road - must be a nightmare to score runs along the ground if they haven't mowed the grass), with a view to covering km's 3 through 6 of the route.
In cricket, the team about to bat can ask for a heavy roller to be driven over the pitch multiple times to flatten out any bumps that might make batting difficult. Unfortunately, there appears to be no equivalent in trail running, so I am hoping that the ground will flatten out naturally over the next couple of months. It was really very uneven (as well as squelchy):
On Saturday, I got going early, with the aim of doing a longer run. I'd done 16 a couple of weeks before, so I thought I'd be ambitious and try 20. I reasoned that I could walk when I needed to, and it'd all be good time on feet. Aside from a Brief-But-Inexorable stoppage midway through, the details of which I will spare you from, I ran the whole way. It *feels* a bit like I've readjusted what constitutes 'long run' in my head.
fetcheveryone.com/t-22965603
I wore my new hydration vest. I got it free from Salomon, in exchange for promising that I would review my experiences with it on my ultra journey. I'd worn it on the Thursday to do 9.5 miles, and found it very comfortable. But from the start of my 20, it was nagging at my ribs on my left side. Luckily the fit is very adjustable. It has little strings and hooks on the front that let you pretty quickly adjust the tightness. At various points in the run I found that 'tight' or 'loose' was most suitable for me, and it was pretty easy to tug the strings accordingly. I still came away with a sore bit on my ribs, and will have to experiment more with the positioning and fit.
The bottles are 'soft flasks', each holding 500ml, and are pretty easy to drink out of once you get the hang of it. I haven't tested this fully, but I think it makes sense to remove all the air from them, so that the internal volume decreases in line with the amount you drink, therefore making it easier to slurp. At some points (particularly as they got emptier) I'd yank the whole flask out, and then stuff it back in. This can be a bit fiddly whilst running, but I managed ok. At points, the top of the most recently-used flask would flop around like an udder until I stuffed it deeper into the pocket. There's a loop of elastic inside each flask pocket that wraps around the neck of the bottle, which can be helpful in making sure they don't collapse in the depths of the pocket. Overall, I was mostly just very grateful of a source of fluids whilst keeping my hands free.
Aside from that, it has a multitude of pockets, so I had tonnes of room for my phone, keys, Airpods case, Maoam Squashies (one per mile, it's a bit of a ritual), and (crucially for next time) a little toilet kit. There's a big pocket at the back too, and it comes with a small foil-lined bag, a use for which I've not yet figured out. No doubt it's to keep something warm or cold - looks like you could stash a flask in it. But I can use the big pocket to store the mandatory foil blanket for the ultra, and probably a portable charger and the mandatory Emergency Snickers.
Here's a link to the vest if you're interested: salomon.com
I was a bit stiff by Saturday evening, with a tight spot on the right-side at the top of my right leg. I asked Katie to use her physio skills to fill me in on what this part of me was called, and she confirmed it was 'my arse'. Luckily it didn't go beyond a bit of tightness.
But I wanted to get out on Sunday and do a Run On Tired Legs, as this apparently gets one used to it. I managed a 10k, and sat around at Box End with Katie and the other swimmers. The tiredness hit me on Sunday evening, and I was asleep by about 7.30pm BST
There are now 54 days, or just under 8 weeks to go until the 50k. I think this week will be a lighter one in terms of mileage, but then I'd like a couple more longer ones (the plans I've looked at suggest going up to 26.2 as a training run). And the other component is enough dry weather that I can do some meaningful off-road running and tick off the other kilometres on my recce chart. Fingers crossed.
On Friday we wanted to do some walking. We managed to persuade Nightjar and Silvershadow to drive all the way over to Old Warden with us, so I could recce a bit of the GCU (Greensand Country Ultra, or Greensand Cinematic Universe, by the time I've fleshed it out).
Here's the GCU 50k route:
fetcheveryone.com/routes-view.php?id=1861754
The first 4km of the route leads you out from Shuttleworth College, to the start of a 42km loop. Completing the loop brings you back to the same spot, so you retrace your steps for the last 4km. My plan is to go do various parts of the route prior to the event, so I know what to expect. I've even made myself a little chart to fill in:
We parked at St Leonard's church, opposite the gorgeous Old Warden Cricket Ground (the outfield slopes upwards towards the road - must be a nightmare to score runs along the ground if they haven't mowed the grass), with a view to covering km's 3 through 6 of the route.
In cricket, the team about to bat can ask for a heavy roller to be driven over the pitch multiple times to flatten out any bumps that might make batting difficult. Unfortunately, there appears to be no equivalent in trail running, so I am hoping that the ground will flatten out naturally over the next couple of months. It was really very uneven (as well as squelchy):
On Saturday, I got going early, with the aim of doing a longer run. I'd done 16 a couple of weeks before, so I thought I'd be ambitious and try 20. I reasoned that I could walk when I needed to, and it'd all be good time on feet. Aside from a Brief-But-Inexorable stoppage midway through, the details of which I will spare you from, I ran the whole way. It *feels* a bit like I've readjusted what constitutes 'long run' in my head.
fetcheveryone.com/t-22965603
I wore my new hydration vest. I got it free from Salomon, in exchange for promising that I would review my experiences with it on my ultra journey. I'd worn it on the Thursday to do 9.5 miles, and found it very comfortable. But from the start of my 20, it was nagging at my ribs on my left side. Luckily the fit is very adjustable. It has little strings and hooks on the front that let you pretty quickly adjust the tightness. At various points in the run I found that 'tight' or 'loose' was most suitable for me, and it was pretty easy to tug the strings accordingly. I still came away with a sore bit on my ribs, and will have to experiment more with the positioning and fit.
The bottles are 'soft flasks', each holding 500ml, and are pretty easy to drink out of once you get the hang of it. I haven't tested this fully, but I think it makes sense to remove all the air from them, so that the internal volume decreases in line with the amount you drink, therefore making it easier to slurp. At some points (particularly as they got emptier) I'd yank the whole flask out, and then stuff it back in. This can be a bit fiddly whilst running, but I managed ok. At points, the top of the most recently-used flask would flop around like an udder until I stuffed it deeper into the pocket. There's a loop of elastic inside each flask pocket that wraps around the neck of the bottle, which can be helpful in making sure they don't collapse in the depths of the pocket. Overall, I was mostly just very grateful of a source of fluids whilst keeping my hands free.
Aside from that, it has a multitude of pockets, so I had tonnes of room for my phone, keys, Airpods case, Maoam Squashies (one per mile, it's a bit of a ritual), and (crucially for next time) a little toilet kit. There's a big pocket at the back too, and it comes with a small foil-lined bag, a use for which I've not yet figured out. No doubt it's to keep something warm or cold - looks like you could stash a flask in it. But I can use the big pocket to store the mandatory foil blanket for the ultra, and probably a portable charger and the mandatory Emergency Snickers.
Here's a link to the vest if you're interested: salomon.com
I was a bit stiff by Saturday evening, with a tight spot on the right-side at the top of my right leg. I asked Katie to use her physio skills to fill me in on what this part of me was called, and she confirmed it was 'my arse'. Luckily it didn't go beyond a bit of tightness.
But I wanted to get out on Sunday and do a Run On Tired Legs, as this apparently gets one used to it. I managed a 10k, and sat around at Box End with Katie and the other swimmers. The tiredness hit me on Sunday evening, and I was asleep by about 7.30pm BST
There are now 54 days, or just under 8 weeks to go until the 50k. I think this week will be a lighter one in terms of mileage, but then I'd like a couple more longer ones (the plans I've looked at suggest going up to 26.2 as a training run). And the other component is enough dry weather that I can do some meaningful off-road running and tick off the other kilometres on my recce chart. Fingers crossed.
Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.
Comments
-
That path would not be fun to run onSpanners993:56pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
The note looks very useful. I do hope the path flattens as well as dries. I have never worn anything with bottles at the front, they look like they would get in the way!Ocelot Spleens4:52pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
Good mileage, and practicing of `essential ultra skills'. If the Salomon is the same as my old one, that shiny pocket is to put a bladder in.flanker5:00pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
Where is The Tree of Strength?KatieB5:06pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
The Tree of Strength is in the seventh kilometre, which I have only gazed uponfetcheveryone5:07pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
Hmmmm.KatieB5:08pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
Agree with flanker, there’s probably a small hole to push the drinking tube through and a loop on one of the front straps to stow it. I found the water got too warm and tasted weird from a bladder. Soft flasks ok - used to freeze them ahead of runs in hot weather.MsG5:47pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
I wouldn't bet on it getting any dryer. I walked a bit of it last summer with Her Outdoors and nearly lost a shoe.RichHL5:54pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
The other thing about removing the air from the soft flasks / bladder is it significantly reduces the sloshingPothunter7:10pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
Great stuff 👍🏻Corrah7:34pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
When you're done with the roller can I borrow it for the3M7:51pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
garden, please!3M7:51pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
I love that you're becoming an ultra runnerishep 🇪🇺8:21pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
I'm enjoying following your journey (from my armchair!). I'd love to do the Greensand ultra - it goes straight past my primary school (in Northill).♪♫ Synge ♪♫8:43pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
The more the merrier!fetcheveryone8:47pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
that path looks relatively dryRosehip
I have been avoiding that route until the weather clears up a bit - ditto the down and up around warden tunnel area.9:20pm, 2nd Apr 2024 -
Do you know they've changed the route this year Rosehip?fetcheveryone9:21pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
oh! just checked your link and that's a different route from when I last did it in 2022Rosehip9:21pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
fetcheveryone9:22pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
cross post! that looks flatterRosehip9:22pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
And it's backwards!fetcheveryone9:23pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
It's very different. I do hope it dries out a bit, there are some potentially very soggy bitsRosehip9:24pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
I think less sticky would be helpfulD210:57pm, 2nd Apr 2024
-
See that path? The muddy squlechy stuff? Straight through the middle. It's the only way.cackleberry
You don't want it too dry 'cos it will stay the same shape but be rock hard instead of soft.11:18pm, 2nd Apr 2024 -
Loving this. Seems like it's going well.LindsD3:01am, 3rd Apr 2024
-
Nice vest. Shame they don’t do them in "Clydesdale".Angus Clydesdale9:34am, 3rd Apr 2024
-
I know exactly where you mean by the Lego blocks -EdJ
And St Leonard's church is well worth an explore inside if you pass again.
My first Salomon vest really bruised my ribs. I think it was a piece of plastic stiffening that was pressing down. I ended up changing it under warranty (for a different reason) and asked for a smaller size, which fixed the problem.
Enjoy the race - it's (mostly) a beautiful route.2:53pm, 3rd Apr 2024 -
Well done! Sitting around at Box End sounds like a good way to spend time tooHelegant8:13am, 4th Apr 2024
-
I love my Salomon Adv Skin 12. The foil bag is to keep your water bladder a bit cooler. It slides into the long pocket (non zipped) in the bag, then the hose goes from the middle bottom through little holes either left or right through the compartments and comes up through the pocket under the bottle - with a small elastic loop just above the bottle pocket to hold the top of the hose in place.Pegg
You should be able to drink the bottles completely empty without taking them out of the pockets. If you do need to put an empty or part empty soft flask back into the pocket, blow it up like a balloon first - it makes it easier.5:15pm, 5th Apr 2024
About Me
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!Blog Archive
Expand All
2024 (40)
April (10)
Six New Badges! Adding pics to Conquercise zones.
Night Races - Can you help?
Sifting Chunks: Gradient versus Pace
Audible Free Trial - You get free audiobooks, I get five quid!
A donation from JH
Andy Townsend :-)
GCU50: Citizen on Patrol
Fetchpoint: The Game - Where I'm Headed
Fetchpoint: The Game - a consultation
Heavy Roller please
March (11)
I can eat fifty eggs
Oscar the Grouch :-(
If a Fetch fails in a forest...
Trialling a new weekly update email
Lasting Power of Suspicion
Fetch Virtual Challenge 2024 *bunting*
Swittle's Funeral
Cadence
Tea & Trails Podcast
Down to my last pen
A bench for swittle
February (8)
The Lightning Struck Tower
Swittle
Cholesterol
This year so far in pictures
Three Noahs
Fetch is as strong as you make it.
100k - what do I need?
Paywalls are BS: I'm on a podcast!
January (11)
Chasing Round Numbers - A Cautionary Tale!
MOTM - Decision Made (and a competition for EVERYONE!)
MOTM - a chance to rethink
Training Home Page updates
How much walking will I do?
Training Plans - Further Updates
Training Plan List
Butter Police
Why no app?
Useful Chat!
Festive Fetch Calendar - Winners
2023 (136)
December (6)
Nearly forgot...
Jam today
Removing another bit of Google's invasiveness
Fancy an extra challenge over the next 12 days?
Chewie, we're home!
Two tips for today's advent challenge
November (13)
Spammy McSpamface
40 days and 40 nights
EfM confirmed!
New Training Log Beta! 😲 (aka Change Is Not Good)
Escape from Meriden
Waiting for your training?
Route of the Century?
I didn't know I owned a nutcracker
Design our anniversary shirts/vests!
Holiday Reading - plenty of fiction :-)
Swimming in a metaphor
Hello
Off World
October (11)
Fl'update
To think I tried to mop it up!
Vote Please: How many F'Laps will you try to do?
F'Laps 2024
Long Run
So it still needs a name...
Front Garden Ultra?
The Boy is a man!
Festive Fetch Calendar
Creative K's
Signs
September (7)
Training Edit Screen - time to ditch it...
Stock check
The Doctor K Cup - October 7th!!!!
Removing the training edit screen
A Happy Applecart
Happy 19th Birthday!
Forgotten pictures
August (14)
Just in case
Weekly Total Hours
Dim Brys Dim Chwys
All hail our robot overlords!
Your local parkrun
Fool on the hill
Survey Follow Up
A survey?
Did you know?
I made a thing
VC Day
FBI Agent
What keeps you going?
Be careful what's in your paste buffer (and July training update)
July (13)
Delight
Respecting your eyeballs since 2004
Hot Stuff, coming through
Ocean Colour Scheme
18 years, 10 months, 13 days and counting...
Ooof #fail
Our listings need you!
Pics from the end of the swim
A whispered, half-remembered dream
Try the Heatmap!!!
Teaser
100 Running Words (and my June summary)
July Virtual Mile
June (8)
Last Big Swim
I can't be the only one...
Which is the real me?
#EveryoneDay
The legendary sixth samosa!
WSW Main Page Layout Changes
May Summary (contains swimming!)
Hoodies pre-order closes at 10am
May (17)
A new WSW challenge
Tagging images
Hoooooooooooooodies!!!!!!!!!!!
Another Sweatshop Competition
Did you get an email?
Fifty Years Ago - Part VIII
Fifty Years Ago - Part VII
Fifty Years Ago - Part VI
Help on a slippery slope
Fifty Years Ago - Part V
Fifty Years Ago - Part IV
Fifty Years Ago - Part III
Chuck-off: Round 2
Not my king?
Fifty Years Ago - Part II
Fifty Years Ago
And that was April
April (10)
Centurion Safari!
Sheep treats (and a routes feature)
And I’ll sail her up the west coast, through villages and towns.
15,746 places to 💩
Track Your Blood Pressure
A couple of quick fmail updates
Rusty Metal and a Cycling Grudge Match
Please help me kick the fmail tyres!
Onset of Summer Watch. Have you got Onset of Summer? +fmail!
Premium?
March (10)
And that was March
Try the new fmail system
Can you help my boy?
Tell A Friend?
Some Sweatshop Competitions
Sign up to our 2023 Virtual Challenge
Review: FORM Smart Goggles
UTMOST vs Treadmills
33,258
Embranglement!
February (13)
And that was February
This year's Virtual Challenge
What does Points make?
Automatic Everything Collector
Peaky Finders
FAO Fitbit users
My favourite training graph
You've got this.
Coffee Survey (for my stepson)
Access all the tips
Tiny Usability Changes
Cod science
Hot Tips
January (14)
Monthly Infographic Bug Fixes
No, but really...
Have a play with the monthly infographic
It's not ready yet, but...
Introducing Fetch Premium
Help me design a new Monthly Infographic...
Still following?
Fettle
Definitely Not Betting
Do you follow? (plus burp chat)
Advance warning for stalkers!
I'm back (and the Fetch LS, SS and NS shirts preorder is open)
Attention Fitbit Users
Review 50 albums in 2023 (badge!)
2022 (144)
December (8)
Treasure Hunt Day 1 - the best gift
Important updates to the Fetch Relay
Introducing the Fetch Relay 2023
Who Am I? (Solved, thanks) And How Am I?
Confessions :-)
12 Days of Christmas Treasure Hunt
Chewie, we’re home!
A few pics from the Foffice :-)
November (24)
Yesvember - Day #30 (and Festive Fetch Calendar Eve!)
The Fetch Festive 160.934 :-) [Yesvember #Day 29]
You'd better watch out... (plus Yesvember Day #28)
Brace Yourself (and there's one spare bobble hat!) and Yesvember - Day #26
Hats in the post! Plus Yesvember Day #25
Look what arrived!
Yesvember - Day #24
Training Graph Manager - usability update (Yesvember Day #23)
Yesvember - Day #22 - Cheating?
Last chance to enter the Advance Performance comp
Yesvember - Days #11 thru #14 (plus Jumpy Boy)
Weather on the training home page watch. Have you got weather on the training home page? (Yesvember - Day #10)
Oh, and... it's Yesvember - Day #9
Another bit of the internet fenced off
Yesvember - Day #8 - taking steps
Yesvember - Day #7
Yesvember - Day #6
Yesvember - Day #5
The curse of swimming GPS
Yesvember - Day #4
The Les Mis effect
Yesvember - Day #3
Yesvember - Day #2
Yesvember - Day #1
October (15)
October gives way to Yesvember!
Anyone fancy a threeway?
More thoughts on races
Racing, post-pandemic
Contracts exchanged!
Competition Time!
Last call for Flobble Hats
A record year for swimming?
Woburn Lido
Order your Bobble Hat! If you like.
I appear to have entered a race! (plus new Garmin import queueing system)
Eric the Eel
Get your hobbit on
The Doctor K Cup: Saturday 8th October!
I felt the touch of the kings and the breath of the wind
September (16)
Take This Bus To Cuba
Fetch Bobble Hats
Trumpeting
Training View tweaks (switch maps, game overlays, mile markers)
Training View tweaks (and a play button bug fix)
A long ride and a cold swim.
Play Button
UTMOST Wava & Bike Division Rebuilds
New UTMOST leagues for cyclists and WAVA fans
The Doctor K Cup
Chance encounters
Do I ditch our Facebook stuff?
A keeper, from my feedback inbox...
Ultra distances - update
Adding ultra distances to Fastest Fetchies league.
Try the new Training Groups pages
August (11)
Training Groups Update - Coming Soon
Garmin Queue Issues
Donations without reference numbers :-)
New Elbow Laws
No longer the 3398th fastest Fetchie over 10k!
Pulling counties into league tables
What was I thinking?
County Champion?
Just bear in mind that you asked for this.
Wahoo and Coros users
How to make half a million quid (batteries not included)
July (6)
Club Listings
Book giveaway :-)
Updated Race Portfolio
Updated Targets Page
Exactly ***1*** Spare Ladies L Cycling Jersey
Search All Blogs :-)
June (10)
Imagine you could search all the public blogs...
Banking Scandal at Fetch Towers!
7pm on Baker Island #everyoneday
#EveryoneDay - Sunday 26th June 2022
Spare Challenge Coasters
The North West Passage
Feature Request Voting - Know Your Limits!
UTMOST Division 8: YIKES!
Shepperton Weight Gain Programme
UTMOST Division 9! Sub-50 10k :-)
May (16)
Four hours left :-)
Division 10: No hope of escape?
Book giveaway :-)
Division 11: No place left to hide
New HR Analysis
They're here! Well, not exactly *here*, but...
A quick Darth Mode update
Darth Mode! And a few biscuits for the hyperdrive.
Division 12: Two hours of pushing broom
Dark Mode: Beta
PB Potential? Fancy a quickie? ;-)
Division 12: Running Out Of Road?
Thank you everyone!
Making UTMOST moves :-)
Do you want a Fetch shirt?
I did my UTMOST :-) (plus new sharing infographic)
April (7)
Today's plan
NEW UTMOST BADGES!!!!!
A plug for some races
Raspberry Pavlov
Win a book :-)
United Colours of Cross Training
A little Streetview adventure
March (11)
The lockers are a pound.
Advice for Gym Noobs!
Feedback made easier
#EveryoneDay June 26th 2022
Fetch Virtual Challenge 2022 🎈
Thanks Chunky: parkrun routes!
Sniffer Dogs
Yikes!
Fetch Cycling Jerseys - Update
Route Plotting tweak
The Crow: A Pipedream!
February (7)
Fetch Kit Spares
Updated Race Listing Pages
Introducing Rundle!
I appear to be training for an OWS event!
Fetch Cycling Jerseys!!!
Does you wantz free shoez?
Post Office tomorrow - kit spares
January (13)
Updated Flanci Design (now with more Fetchness)
Badge Collection Graphic!
Updated elevation trace
Book Lists :-)
Updated sharing infographic - do you like it?
Spare Fetch Kit
Badge page refresh / feature requests
Flanci / Fetch Leggings
New Badge Pages
New hill badges
Join me on my fitness journey!
Are you the farmer?
Blog every day challenge - finishers
2021 (187)
December (14)
Book List
Ten years ago today...
A big slobbery elephant snog.
If you don't like hills, this must be getting tiring :-)
When does a hill end?
Hill finder - prototype v2
Hill Finder - prototype
2022 Targets
Chewie, We’re Home! Happy Fetch Independence Day!
Embed badges, plus a new badge :-)
Updated people page
Seeking map
Streak Watch
The new Fetch buffs are here…
November (23)
Almost there...
The Fetch Library
Update your thread titles
Ascent dissent
Mute a thread
Shortcuts
Training Import Queue
I fell off (but not really!)
Croeso i Fetcheveryone. Ydych chi'n siarad Almaeneg, Swedish neu Eidaleg?
New mobile nav
Last call for shirts
@
Just a trim please
Brought to you by wind power
300 miles later
Golden Ticket Shocker!
Banjobax (aka KOG)
Home and Away kit preorder - with long sleeve option
A little competition - win a copy of Daniels' Running Formula
Garmin testers - thanks
Add your grub stops!
Points Of Interest: Grub Stops
Garmin-owning testers wanted
October (19)
New home and away shirts and vests
Benchmark league - a few more updates
Benchmark league table
Hill areas
Preorder is now open!
'b'uffs then
Necktube design #1 & #2
Buffs (well, neck tubes)
Report dodgy GPS stuff
An apology for people who follow my training
New cycling and swimming badges
New Conquercise Feature: Grids
Sprouting a tiny biking antler :-)
Have a try of the cycling gradient analysis
Struggling with my big ring
Cycling: gradient vs pace
A question for cyclists
For Doctor K
Shan't.
September (14)
New comments (FID 1212)
Forum post previews
Garmin imports with a snippet more info
Gallery upload options
Golden Tickets
"No need to panic donate", says Williams
Forum Quotes
Spoiler Alert!
20th of March and all that.
Have you signed up yet?
This bit of crappy Upminister nearly cost me my f***ing life.
A guide with no pages
To steal a catchphrase from a wise lady...
Multiple choice polls
August (11)
Pre-Race Training - Updated
A connection!
New Member of the Month sponsor
Best Weeks - bug fixes
Your Best Week Ever
Rainbow Kit - preorder is open
Age Bests - filtering out the mistakes :-)
Sign up, sign up, for the Doctor K cup
A message from my lovely wife ❤️
Another batch of rainbow kit?
Spares: Event Clips, Swim Hats and a few rainbow tops
July (10)
A bunch of site goodies :-)
Hello kitty
Holy Simmering Mercury Batman!
Settings
A heart rate question
Sleepy Shuffle?
365 graph
Slipping on ma noob shoes
Meatronomes
World's Sexiest Bridges
June (11)
Benchmarks - a *tiny* little improvement
Race Leaderboards - some small improvements
Race Finder - Update
Up there ^
Routes - more updates
Last call for FE Event Clips
Server update
Minor code problem
Some little updates to your route list
Feature requests - two years on!
More than just a rainbow
May (8)
Rainbow Kit - update on delivery time...
Fetch Ron Hill Cycling Jerseys
Pre-order your rainbow kit now :-)
Jimi Hendrix vs Run DMC
The return of parkrun - a poll
Something in the woodshed...
Default to walk
A tour of the Fetch Office
April (11)
Instabanned :-)
I has Instagram
Fetch Event Clips
FERC
Castle Challenge Coaster!
My chess rating
Jab - symptom watch
This just in...
REVIEW: XMiles selection box
Let FE pay for your coaching qualifications :-)
Castle Challenge - A Quick Blog
March (18)
The Fetcheveryone Castle Challenge
Running vs Cycling Cadence
Fetch vests and shirts (and swim caps)
Elevation vs Follow Roads
£500 of England Athletics courses up for grabs!
TomTom users
Music by year: 1993
10k Analysis: Part 7 - Length of Training Runs
Music by year: 1992 (plus some 1991 additions)
Bot sniffing win :-) plus daily blogger count!
User profiles
10k Analysis: Part 6 - Training Pace Again
Time to update your injuries :-)
User profile - sticker button.. EDIT and race standard
More user profile adjustments
User Profile tweaking
Cute story of the week*
10k Analysis: Part 5 - Training Pace
February (17)
Year on Year mileage comparison
Elevation graphs
It's all kicking off in chess club!
Music By year: 1991
10k Analysis: Part 4 - Weekly Training Habits
Tagging virtual races
Chasing rainbows
Rainbow Shirts
Lance!
Blog writing improvements
10k Analysis: Part 3 - Accuracy of human predictions
Music by year: 1990
Smacking bots
29 slices - my seven days of dinner
10k Analysis: Part 2 - Age and Performance
Pass it on
10k Analysis: Part 1 - Distribution of best 10k times
January (31)
January
Mobile Usability Team Helping All Fetchies...
Salmon Ramen Recipe :-)
Salmon Ramen (for TBR)
Backup dog
The best GPS watches in the world... volume 1
Pick it...
People who liked...
Obscure bugs
Zen & The Art of Heart Rate Training
FIT file import - temporary issue
Keep the change, ya filthy animal
The honeymoon is over
Dirty data
Mobile Usability
Oops
Readership!
Stay sticky
It's Hip To Buy Squares
Related Threads - Exposé :-)
The Batshit Association
Jobs
Tag Team
Feed the monster!
An ad for Fetch Chess Club :-)
Estimating VO2Max
Three little birds
A not uncommon swelling
Church Mouse January
Honey, where's my super suit?
Not here.
2020 (128)
December (6)
Blog A Day 2021?
9 years ago today
Chewie, We're Home! Happy Fetch Independence Day :-)
Be Prepared
Becoming an effluencer
A few Fetch Mugs left
November (10)
The Festive Fetch Calendar is back!
FIT file import
Mugs!
Thank you, mysterious Fetchie!
Chess
UTMOST in the age of COVID-19
This'll cheer you up for sure...
Lost in translation?
Annual Infographic... updating now.
In theory...
October (11)
Training Plan Analysis
Mini plans with the training plan
5k with The Boy :-)
Welcome to tomorrow
Thank you
Become tradeable!
Pre-Race Training Volume
Doctor K Cup Week
Last orders
Advice for a friend
Trader Makeover
September (6)
The shop is open!
Hoodie Colour!
New Fetch Hoodies
A big up/holler!
VO2max
A benchmark derailed by GPS data *nerd*
August (8)
10k analysis
Officially a Sheepy Shuffler!
Pi Watering
Pre-order Avoid Everyone Face Masks
I got sent these...
Other sites? :-O
Benchmarks - an infinitely configurable set of ladders.
Try the monthly infographic :-)
July (10)
Update on Monthly Training Infographic
New Infographic
Monthly Summary (with a little tweak)
A quick Garmin update
Open Water / Wild Swimming Database
Avoid Everyone - spares
OWS Locations
Thread-level search
New Sharing Graphic & New Pastures
My first lamp post
June (16)
Replacing the Who's Training page
Combining some pages
In pursuit of the Gridmaster Ultra
15th Anniversary Kit - Spares
Shoelaces
A new How To video
Training Plan Updated
Black Lives Matter
Avoid Everyone Spares + Second Batch
Wikipedia page
Another YouTube video for sharesies :-)
Getting data to Fetch from **other places**
Feature Voting - some further updates
Feature Voting - speeded up
Another How To video - this time, Conquercise
Fantastisches Tweeten
May (13)
A video for sharing
Bees!
Fetch Introductory Zoom Presentations
A promise to all Fetchies
Fetch Virtual Weekend: Replacement Bus Service
How has Fetch use changed?
Fetch Weekly Virtual Races
Zoom Meeting - Thursday 9 til 10am
WAVA Standards Update
WAVA Standards + Poll
Fun with Age Grading :-)
New Badges Day
The test shirt fabric has arrived :-)
April (14)
Zoom Podcast - watch the video
What is WBC?
If you did the free Amazon trial...
Some small amends (and shirt version)
Pre-orders open
I was only joking, but...
If Fetcheveryone did lockdown merch
Site outage - Thursday 16th April 11pm
On exercising responsibly
My Sports Quiz - how would you have scored?
Your creative thinking required
WBC My Favourite Teacher (a bit later than the deadline)
Updated Training League
Server Downtime, Thursday 9th 00:01BST to 04:00BST (and thank you!)
March (13)
New Fetch Game: Hide and Seek
Free trial of Audible
Do you have a good memory?
New Opt-In for Fetch Miles
New Badges for Fetch Miles
The Fetch Five: Don't Let CV19 Win!
Amending event dates and notifying of cancellations
A green light comes on over your head, and you can get on with life
Most Popular Shoe Brands 2019
A review
Android: Session I
Compare Your Training
Book Now to avoid disappointment :-)
February (10)
Imports from Suunto, Fitbit, Polar and TomTom.
Plot A Route - mobile improvements
Happy tugging!
Something to play with
Adding A New Feature
February Treasure Hunt
Server Downtime
Miles = Smiles
Build Your Mile
Pop Will Eat Himself: Update
January (11)
Clarence the Cadence Kitten
Trim your trails :-)
Seven Day Leaderboard
Let's try that again
Some minor blog amendments
Try the new Forum Search Prototype
Pop Will Eat Himself
A card from HowFar?
Thank you HowFar? (Statement, not a question)
Take the red pill
Climb every mountain
2019 (134)
December (7)
The Christmas Poem
Where your treasure is...
Listen to the dog breathe
Chewie, We're Home
Thursday's Challenge
Which GPS?
Fetch Shop (of sorts)
November (12)
The zeroth challenge
Polar users - auto import
Calling all Polar users
Mobile Optimisation
Calling all Android users
Did your ads disappear?
Pin that sucker down :-)
Easier tagging
Category now editable from VIEW
Kit now editable from VIEW
Working towards tagging
Manual Add Training bug
October (16)
Boring Cricket Blog
Books Part 2
Books :-)
42
Training tags Part 2
Training tags
Let's Jazzercise
My precious
Cricket Week 4: Footage :-)
Forum Training Threads
Benny Neutrino Returns
Cricket Week 3: Wingardium Leviosa!
Benny Neutrino's Filter Tips
Cricket Week 2
Continuing Amazon Affiliate Saga
In case you haven't seen...
September (11)
Updated: Spare Anniversary Kit
Affiliate links
I did a cricket!
Fetch365 - enjoy responsibly
Filth
My dear old things
Buddies vs Follow
Server Invoice Day
Our new MOTM sponsor
Fetch Power!
Race Listings: Please Read
August (5)
Everyone *rainbow*
Almost there...
Quick blog
Country Badges
A new set of badges
July (6)
Pre-orders open
Anniversary Shirts v2
Fetch 15th Anniversary Shirts
Fetch Fest 2020
Shout Outs
Missing imports from Garmin yesterday
June (13)
Who Squares Wins: 64 screenshot
Who Squares Wins: 64 Player Edition
Training summary - older pages
Training sub-menu rejig
Try the infographic
Steady Edina
Annual Summary Infographic
The height of daft things
The training summary - the morning session
The training summary - a wordier blog
Try the annual summary thing
How to listen to the Fetch Podcast
12 month summary mega-graph!
May (15)
£79.99 off the bottom line
Competition
parkrun reviews - now with routes
Fix It Friday; Project Joker Week 2; and some shout outs.
Fetch Kit Cupboard Sale
The bonus ball
Project Joker - Week 1
Fix It Friday
A quick update on the server
Fetch 15th Anniversary Kit
There is a good service operating
Oof.
In case you're wondering...
Trouble auto importing from Garmin?
Fix It Friday: Stuff that came to me in dreams
April (12)
Feature Voting - now with virtual badges :-)
The moment of triumph!
New Feature Voting
Fix It Friday: What would your horse be called?
Marathon Pacing: tyre-kickers required
Fix It Friday: Back to Basics
Podcast Poll
Fix It Friday: The League Of Everyone
Dom, dom, dom, I've got DOMS, I've got DOMS!
Crouch, Touch, Pause.... longer pause... what am I doing again?
Training Log - Update
Site Update: New Font
March (15)
Fix It Friday: An Endless Mission
Naming and faming :-)
2nd in my age category!
Fix It Friday: Brought to you by Surprise Inset Day
New training log
Route Matching - Ready :-)
Fix It Friday
What's your unit of measurement?
Ciderthon competition
Fix It Friday: Stroopwafels of Doom!
Route Matching - Update
This week's cool list
Me in the river
Big Fetch Miles 2019
Fix It Friday: Fingerprints!
February (13)
A Maths Challenge
Fetch Legends: Activate!
Whose coat is this jacket?
Fix It Friday: The Fix Awakens
Joining the awesome list...
Fix It Friday
Naming and faming :-)
Fix It Friday - Monthly Summary
Training Month Summary
Podcast Q&A
If you can't read this, don't panic.
*redsaber* The force is strong with these Fetchies!
Fix It Friday *bluesaber*
January (9)
Some shout outs :-)
Fix It Friday!
Podcast Ep 3, plus some naming and faming :-)
Fix It Friday
Fetch Chaos
Oooh! Second chance Berlin trip! And new subbers, podcast episode, and Trader.
My week of running
Naming and faming - this week :-)
Naming and faming :-)
2018 (138)
December (8)
A Christmas Message (in podcast form)
Rungeon :-)
Hey, Everyone!
France Trip Vote
Happy Fetch Independence Day
Actual free trip to France (incl. flights)
Litter
Sombrero's Lovely Cards
November (14)
Hoodies + other spares
Spare Fetch Kit
Festive Fetch Calendar 2018
Avatars
Book Giveaway - Can We Run With You, Grandfather?
Fix It Friday
Bedford Harriers Half - place offered
Updated Kit Bag
Family Fortunes :-)
Any adidas experts out there?
No Fixes Today - just two challenges
Big Fetch Mile Cardiff
Fix It Friday
Festive Fetch Calendar 2018
October (14)
Hello landlubbers
Embedded polls
Member of the Month
Fix It Friday
Spare Fetch shirts and vests
Abingdon
Fix It Friday
My Fetch Mile
One thing's for sure, we're all gonna be a lot thinner.
Fix It Friday - 'Ave It!
Automatic route matching
Automatic route matching
One last reminder for those cycling jerseys
Fix It Friday - Forensics and User Experience
September (14)
Fix It Friday
Server Downtime 2.30pm 26th September
Never Again
Fix It Friday!
Handling your weirdness
Cards ordered :-)
Just wondering...
Fix It Friday :-)
Try the Fetcheveryone Tutorial
40 days and 40 nights
Fix It Friday
ARION insoles - review part 1
Fetch Shirt - Black Ones, and sizing
Shirts and Vests Pre-Order
August (14)
Fix It Friday
Blog Height squished
Site Outage Last Night
New Mobile Nav
Fix It Friday
New feature - how you doin'? :-)
Sunflower spread
Fix It Friday
A new pre-race mileage graph
Fetch Social: Draycote Water September
Fix It Friday: The Supermarket Analogy
A run with _andy :-)
Suunto 9 Review
Fix it Friday
July (5)
Fix It Friday!
Five Get Wet In Devon
Big Glasgow Weekend - Part 1: Gies A Cwtch
Tom Williams Interview - Final Part
Glasgow Big Fetch Mile Results and Pics
June (17)
Abingdon Week 17 - P&D Booster rockets
Interviewing Tom Williams: Part III
Walking League (and one just for Nellers)
Follow Roads - continued
Week 18 in the bag
Tackling turds
Abingdon Marathon Training: Week 18
Interview with Tom Williams - Part 2
Server
Five Questions (ready for serious answers)
Kick some tyres for me
Interview with Tom Williams - Part 1
Five Questions
Follow Roads saga
Google maps progress, plus Abingdon plans
Training Summary - Infographics
Who Squares Wins - ranking update
May (10)
Training log maps converted
More mapping updates
Who Squares Wins - The Wizard's Hat
De doo doo doo... another one bites the dust...
Invisible changes
Silverstone 10k
Three year throwback
Why your support makes the difference
Some high mileage Fetchies
dryrobe winner
April (14)
Interviewing Tom Williams
Swimming Caps!
#finishformatt
New batch of shirts and vests
You make big mistake my friend
Fetchpoint
Glasgow Big Fetch Mile announced
Two tickets to the Running Awards
Pics from Dudley Big Fetch Mile
Notes for London Marathon Fetchpointers
Results from today's Big Fetch Mile
Who Squares Wins - prototype board
Attention London Marathoners!
New game - coming soon
March (9)
Intervals, Solidarity, Swimming and Fmail
Ready to give the new fmail a try?
More on fmail
New fmail system
Win a dryrobe :-)
For jabberknit...
Updating the Training Home page
Pics from Bedford Big Fetch Mile
Sledgends :-)
February (13)
Buffs On Sale
Big Fetch Mile Bedford
Vlog :-)
Marathon Talk
Important GDPR stuff - PLEASE read
A page of historical importance
Vlog :-)
Road Rash, Marathon Prediction and T-Shirts
This :-)
Capturing the dog
It's BACK!
Enter Wilmslow Half Marathon
An advertisement
January (6)
Local Fetchies - Opt In
Revealed: World's Best Shoes
How I chose the Big Fetch Mile venues
Big Fetch Mile 2018 - Venues & Provisional Dates
Try adding an image to your training entry
Mileage Targets 2018 - Update
2017 (147)
December (12)
Mileage Targets 2018
Thank you
Brownie Recipe :-)
Phew
Fetch Hoodies + Buffs SALE Update
Chewie, We're Home
Fetch Hoodies SALE - what's left
Fetch Hoodies! SALE!!! (and Buffs available too)
Chewie, We're Home
Sharing pics
Fetch Jingle Mile Cambridge photos
Glorious Failure: Bedford Harriers Half Marathon
November (20)
Serpents, hamstrings and inversions
A special anniversary approaches...
Hamstring and prototype updates
Training Log Prototype - Today's Improvements
Red Venom sale
For what it's worth...
Training Log Prototype - Update #2
Training Log Prototype - Update
Big Fetch Mile - venue hunt
RT for a Garmin
Training Log Prototype - To Be Fixed
fetcheveryone.com/amazon
The Weekly vLog (by me)
Thanks :-)
New Training Log Prototype - Available Now
Thanks for following
VLog - footage from the Cardiff Big Fetch Mile
Big Fetch Mile[s] 2018
Win a place in the Surrey Half
I vont to scan your barcode.
October (12)
Big Fetch Weekend :-)
Fetch Mile Results
Festive Fetch Calendar :-O
Calling Parkers everywhere!
In which I decorate a cake.
Regent's Park Fetchie Discount
Elevation in colour
"I didn't come here to walk to Sparta!"
New elevation info
Chicken Ballot-ine, with a side order of beef
New training log headers
Ballot day tomorrow - help needed
September (19)
Weekly vLog - COCONUTS!!!
River Thames Half Marathon
The lollipop update
On failing gracefully
Doctor K Day
Fetch Kit Sale - Updates
Weekly vLog
Fetch Kit Sale
Training Log View Update
Fetcheveryone Weekly? Vlog?
Fetchie Race Discount - Regent's Park 10k
Training Log Tags - Live
Training Log Tags
Weekly vLog - Derby Mile, and a pause to salute the legendary Doctor K
24 hours later
Doctor K donation page
Doctor K
Fetch Weekly vLog
Derby Mile - tomorrow!
August (8)
Race Prices; and an alien earworm
Straight outta Cromford - the Fetch Weekly vLog!
A Fetch vLog! With prizes!
Quick search location for sharing
New WAVA graph
Weird FIT file thing
Back from me 'olidays :-)
Linking race results to training log entries
July (12)
Race Pricing - crowdsourcing
Appdate for Android and iPhone
Inhalers
Fetch Mile - Cardiff?
Bookends
Race listing omelette
Coding and town planning
Please review your races
A2B winners
Motivational Sounds - the final 10
Two more Big Fetch Miles? :-)
Bedford Fetch Mile Results
June (19)
Big Fetch Mile
Motivational Sounds
Fetch fug - updated design
Fetch fug (available at the Fetch mile)
I've done the naughtiest thing ever.
Donating Blood - my Vlog
Fapp In the App Store :-)
Can I kick it?
A***biscuits
This just in...
For Bean
Your app status is Waiting For Review
A2B
Fetch Caps
Garmin Communicator Plugin
Fetch App - strong and stable testing
HTTPS is here
Fetch App progress
https access to the site
May (14)
Fetch App
Apostrophes
[Untitled]
[Untitled]
Site down at 11pm
Round and round the garden
Try the new home page layout
Server down tonight @ 11pm
Browser testers wanted
The Big Fetch Mile!!!
Site *NOT* down tonight. [cough]
Bluffer's Competition - Winner
Bedford parkrun timelapse
Return of the cap
April (8)
Fetchpoint (London and Milton Keynes!)
Base camp, VMLM
Bronze!
Just for D2
Off to the awards
Bloodvlog
Hoodies - it's on!
Updated Training Home Page
March (6)
'Train' page
Project Joker
Hoodies and Londons
Hands up, hands UP! Draycote Water 10
Bluffer's Competition
Project Joker
February (12)
Draggable?
Running Awards shortlisted
Route Plotter now with OpenStreetMap
Plan for Bluffer's comp
Update to Route Plotter
First update to the route mapper
For Angus
Virtuous Circles
Competition coming soon
Race Guide Ads
Club La Santa vLog
Fetch Fixtures
January (5)
Word Clouds
Buckets Ready
New Home Page
Do me a favour...
Limited Companies, filing accounts, that sort of thing
2016 (128)
December (11)
Festive Fetch Calendar - Winners
Festive Fetch Calendar - Winners
Five Years Ago Today
Pantsfest! May the stains be ever in your favour!
#FEXIT
Photoshop SOS
Attention: Fitbit users
Bedford Half 2016
Luton Fetchmob: Breaking Point
Vote Fetch!
Breaking news: Paris Marathon
November (21)
How to end a LiveChat.
Define wrong
TomTom Runner 3 Review - Any Questions?
Deliveryman
Movember: Project Beard: Day 24: Beardraggled
Festive Fetch Calendar 2016
We're gonna be in the Hudson
Hey Chiefy
I've written summat
Going Postal
A special mention
Training Log Beta
Spare Hoodies
Updates to Training Beta
Movember: Project Beard - Day 8 (The Seven Day Itch)
Vote for Fetch
Training Log Detail View - Some Changes
Aberdeen University Study
Consultation V2
[Untitled]
Fetchpoint - October Winners and November Prizes
October (16)
Alien nuggets!
Keeping a tight lid on the biscuit tin
Training Log Beta
100 Running Words
Pssst....
Fetchmob, December 3rd
Where to mob?
Little things
That All-Time Mileage League
The sudoku that keeps on giving.
Sub-25 for 1km :-)
Fetchmob - December 3rd
New Training Log Preview
Fixed the overlap...
Why the new training log isn't ready yet...
vLog
September (12)
Doughnut or Donate
Training Log - Sneak Peek
Fetch Shop Sale! Old stuff clearout!
vLog!!!
The consultation system...
Garmin support for timezone info
The GMT/BST/Timezone problem
Training Log Consultation...
Training Log - Consultation
Fetch Social Runs
Subscriber shirts, vests and hoodies, and determination.
Fetch Voluntary Subscriptions
August (3)
Ze Gryndylows! My first #OWS :-)
Testing Fetchpoint exclusion zones
Fetchpoint scoring system
July (7)
Conquercise Prize Draw?
Fetch Games: Checkpoints (and what's wrong with them)
More owls...
Your Favourite Fetch Game?
Even More Utmost Than Before...
Chiswick!
15 days later...
June (10)
Five days on...
[Untitled]
A quick thank you...
What do you think?
If you'd be so kind...
Poised
Which watch?
Run Bedford 10k
Import from a TomTom
Attention TomTom users
May (10)
Race Distance poll
An ungainly fish
A five year plan
What Club La Santa can learn from parkrun
Cream Me Up, Scotty
Greetings from Club La Santa
And a quick poll...
Club Charter
A poll about intervals
More owls!
April (11)
Robin Hood and his Merry Dad :-)
Warning: Dull - some screen res stats
Responsive Design Update
For all you marathoners
A Poll
Fetchpoint
Ditching the forum categories?
Moving to Responsive Design
Sandy 10: Be Kind To Horses
Owls!
For Adam and Jamie
March (11)
Bacon Smoke!
Benchmarks Update
Bath - Race Report
PB!!!!!!!
An annoying eight-year-old.
Let's Cook and Cut and Paste :-)
Let's Cook :-)
RIP Gramma
Book Winners
Dog farming
Site header update
February (5)
Book Giveaway
Pi Club
Pi Project Update
Because I'd like to check the blogging badges are working...
Crapruary
January (11)
Snooker Freak
Badges - Another Update
Unlockable Badges - Update
Unlockable Badges
TomTom Runner 2 Review
Gallery updates
Snowball coding and Fetch Unlockables!
Achievement Medals - what do you reckon?
Run The Sum
2015 Book List (and a bit of a review / plan)
Festive Fetch Calendar - Winners
2015 (175)
December (7)
Red Red Wine
A Poll
Gis a job!
Bedford Half
REMEMBER!!!
Vote for Fetch
Now you've hopefully got the idea...
November (13)
The Festive Fetch Calendar
Don't get excited or anything...
Slightly Dismal Friday
Pre-order your Fetch Buff now :-)
A message from our sponsor
Dr Fetch will see you now
Only the grumbliest, achiest chocolate... :-)
The Stanford Experiment
Buff Design
Snugs - Review
Love, Commitment, Support
The pre-wedding blog!
Good morning Fetchers, good morning Everyone
October (9)
Monthly Totals
Did you write a blog yesterday?
The First Rule of Web Server Maintenance
The gain line
Fectch
The zipper challenge!
Sugar daddy
Now in colour!
Competition Time!!!
September (14)
Teach your kids (or yourself) to code
Sticky Training Choices
Goodies: GetMore water and the Alcatel OneTouch Watch
Shirt size guidelines
This nearly made it...
Subscriber Shirt Design
I've got wood!
Humbled
New Beginnings
Some more questions answered
Swimming
Some responses to your comments
Standing on the shoulders of Fetchies
Funtleks
August (8)
24 hours in the south
24 hours in the north
Fetchies Assemble!
Thank you
Better knowledge than riches
Fitbit Urge
The villainous Mr Fetch!
Uncomfortable rear
July (8)
Why don't you play Conquercise?
Another week of strange training
Book Giveaway - Winners
GPS Reviews
Criteria for reviewing a GPS
Auto-bike-detector :-)
Win some bookses :-)
Half Way!
June (13)
Time Lapse Clouds
TomTom Bandit - very QUICK first impressions
My wings are like a shield of steel!
Running plus Cycling update
Embarrassingly...
Stalkers Paradise!
Recommend me a bike :-)
Holy Steamrollers Batman!
Rest day (no such thing)
Sqveeeeze!
We will now imitate the flight of a goose :-)
You made me ink! Snorkel safari :-)
Good morning from CLS :-)
May (10)
Club La Santa :-)
The AWESOME Power of Fetchies!
Home Insurance Shaftage :-/
Editing Forum Posts
The Future!
Some London Marathon stats
Walking On The Moon
Hardest parkrun?
New found wisdom
Week 1
April (11)
Marathon vLog
I owe some hugs!
And that concludes the voting from the Danish judges
Adventures in geocaching
Your video clips wanted!
Jelly with no spoons
Random Ultra
Suncream in my eyes - a review of 'Running and Stuff'
Books what I've read this year
Measuring the effect of wind
Wind Roses
March (18)
Watching the tide roll away
A great week of running!
Happy Jigs Wisdom!
Mobile Fetch
I don't do this very often...
Breathless Optimism
20 miles yesterday
This Week's vLog
Decision Trees and the sub-4!
Democracy Street
Mayan Maths
Bath Half (at last)
Still a chicken
Costume Drama in Bath
TomTom importing
Updated 'Train' page
Zonked
Nearly
February (29)
Pheasant
An Unexpected Journey
Wind picking up...
An unplanned kit alarm
Race Pace Test
2nd place
Week ends
Bounceback
Barking carrots
Bedroom pizza
Top of the mountain
Blogs get the mobile treatment
Supersonic Katie, and a marathon pace question
Back home
Racing parkrun ;-)
Unblocking the sink
Start in Darkness
Some times I'd like
Mobile Site - Forum Section
All-Time Leaderboards
Batteries
Sword fighting
PB Attempts
Duct tape and WD40
Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants
Lessons
Shoe horning
Training vLog Week 13
Big February Project
January (35)
Cake, invalidated
Small sips
LiRF, award shortlist, beginners, books, boy.
Dog Available :-)
Cutback
New Recipe Section
Lazy
Another threshold run
New Beginnings
Blah
But far more importantly...
Fetch Beginners Programme
Give it a go :-)
Training vLog - Week 11
Threshold Run (a running blog)
Long day, short blog
(Lack of) Pump Action
A thread to follow
This Boy Can
Local Leaderboards for Checkpoints
Choking.
February 18th
Godzilla!
The Travelling Checkpoint Salesman
Acorn Antiques
Bearing Up
Deleted Bridges and Dodgy Lasers
I'm Batman!
Healthy and Appy
Punch O'Clock!
The plan, then.
Ten mile toes
On Parliament
[Untitled]
Bold Claims, and a Challenge for 2015
2014 (262)
December (9)
A trip to Wales (vLog)
Christmas Messages from Fetchies
Various
FERC London Marathon Places - Draw
It's gone in my sock...
Festive Fetch Five
This Week's Training
To the Post Office!
Training vLog - Week 4
November (12)
I Am Groot!
Slightly Dismal Friday
Week 3 - in which I nearly drown my wife!
I said yes :-)
Free Daps! aka Test GORE-TEX® footwear this winter!
Training vLog - Week 2
More chances for VMLM entries
Marathon Talk
My first training vLog :-)
Second place?
In :-)
Questionnaire about personality traits amongst runners
October (16)
Adidas API
Horseplay minimiser
Running with the big dog
Flat and Windy
Who'd like to test the Garmin API then?
Advantage Borg
Deal?
Jumble
Milk Tray Reps in the Rain
Geneva
Quote
Hatfield 5k, and some other running thoughts
Site layout changes
Vote for Training Plans
Maths help
3-2-1
September (8)
A quick device poll
Garmin Connect API
Cake at the lake :-)
Empowering Women
This Week's Training
Tick :-)
Article help
First outing with the Harriets
August (7)
Book club and Harriers
A treasure trove for bookish types
What I did on my Summer Holidays
Local decoration
The Fisher King
Mojitos and no mosquitos!
Cake-athlon
July (26)
James Mason
Missing Week
Camping View
Wild Camping
Quick
Transalpine Race
In brief
Urgent! Pair of runners wanted!
Fetch Kit Available to Pre-order :-)
Fetch Anniversary Kit - Preview
API and FAK!
That dog has a puffy tail
More books
Reverse Moses
Zombies vs Plants
Shovel required
Nightfever
Dayfever
Catcher in the Rye
My sister the psychologist
Drink your strong limey drink
Keep me in the loop
Bread knives, hedgehogs and the dog in the night time
Whoops
Pinteresting
Q&A?
June (34)
Checkpoints video
Walden
Happy boys and giggly imps
Spring loaded
Elbow grease
Fetch 10th Anniversary Kit
Fetch YouTube Tutorial - Race Guide
Finding the Library folder on a Mac
Stoat!
Sonic screwdriver
Live wires
Wiring help needed
Garmin Express Experiment
Scalded sloth
Garminge
Potching
New Forum Layout
Further updates to the blog layout
New blog layout
First woodpecker
Beastin' parkrun
Pantoball
All was well
USA! USA! USA!
Marking Territory
The People's Poet Is Dead :-(
Holy Water
Throwing shapes
Life moves pretty fast
Recursion is beautiful
Win an OS Explorer / Landranger map of your choice
Intervals with a Suunto Ambit 2S
Tick
Economy done two ways
May (31)
[Untitled]
Vorsprung Durch Lego Technic
How do I liberate my boy from his XBox?
Questions?
Life in the Woods
Lazy
MovesMissed
Intervals with a TomTom
Electioneering
[Untitled]
Tree fluff
More camping
Zen and Camping
Not eaten by bears
Bear food
Camping List
Camping Venn Diagrams
Floppy dog
Routes but not Rathbone
Illustrator wanted
Masking
Highlights
The Cosmic Ballet Goes On
Silverstone 10k :-)
Quick one
[Untitled]
Superhuman snooker
Dogturdflagman
Numbers!
Whittlin'
Chapter 1
April (29)
King Bin
Quiet day on Feedback Mountain
Listing
42
Go directly to parkrun. Do not pass Godzuki.
A day in Wales
[Untitled]
Spanner
The Lost Diadem of Fetchbook
Falling asleep in my dinner
Egg
Sofathon
God gave rock and roll to you.
Sugar Mule
Not bad, consid'rin.
Tinkering
Can U Dig It?
A weekend in Wales
Looking forward to Oliver!
Thank you, and more App talk
RIP Nan
Blah
Appy
Pyjamas at both ends.
Thump. Saturday has started.
Sore tum :-/
Zombies aside... first impressions of the new TomTom
TomTom Runner Cardio Press Event
Am I pregnant?
March (31)
Cornflakes Cornflakes Cornflakes Cornflakes Cornflakes Cornflakes Cornflakes
Sandy 10
#bedfordhappy
Me on YouTube
New graphs live
Follow the dot
Only the best for the Captain's table
Mrs Diahann Wagner is GOING HORNY
Sport Relief Win
Hot dogs, quick blogs
Toton Sidings
A sign!
Owen Farrell visualisation technique
Kebabs!
Booster fails to ignite
Myton Rugby Run (5 Miler)
Rugby before rugby
Sweetcorn antidote
Custard factory
Pooped
I did some intervals :-)
Speed work?
Many things
A bit cabbagey here.
Angry Wasp
Minty
Rainbow's End
Core Dump
Bath Half (in detail)
A quick overview
Down to business in Bath
February (28)
Made it to Bath
Unexpected hugs
Slider
I like to go a-wandering
Spring cleaning
Tongue-lolling
Because We're Worth It
I don't know what!
Thanks Jim
Enough now
Clearing the pipes
Crouch, Touch, Pause...
Medication, that's what you need.
Symptom Tour
Hello FBI
Dazed day
Why I'm an optimist
Mobius birds
Snotty knuckles
In this house...
Retch Everyone
Carrots
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also
Ultrahalfmarathoner
Angry Birds
Belching
Clarkson averse
Good day :-)
January (31)
*bunting* *cake*
Bigger Boys
Zombies!
Pretending to be Saga Norén
Waiting for the AA
Ship shape
Readthrough
Technology takes you further
Love Garden
Cushions
High Heel Striker
Bit of a rubbish one
Ta
Hot Re-fills
Coding Grinch
An august prediction
Some Running Goals for Q1
Wipe-clean dog
Breaking it down
Snakes and Ladders
Bigger Ponds
Drink Your Weak Lemon Drink
All in All
Panning the pancake
Does JK Rowling own a dog?
Back to the kitchen table
Steve Davis shoes
Pigs on a water slide
Sloshing
Protocol
19 books :-)
2013 (29)
December (3)
Oh...
Engine Management Light
Hannibal Vector
November (3)
Speed skating
Stew-pendous
Cool Hand Grandpa
October (3)
Bookish
Minecraft Cake
Random dump
September (2)
Blog by Email!
Catchup blah
August (3)
Big Green Caterpillar
Questions answered - final CLS blog
Last Days at Club La Santa
July (10)
A nice morning of swimming and tennis
Please Read: Questions for a sports coach
Snorkeltastic
Hitting the straps
First Impressions at Club La Santa
Mile High Blog
Clocking off
For the second week running...
Another Club La Santa catchup
The Floor In The Plan
June (3)
Club La Santa
Bulk Uploading, and win a book
FERC Charities 2011-2012
March (1)
Bath Weekend
January (1)
Meet Steve
2012 (39)
December (2)
Tired Now Boss
Bath - Week 14 + Foodbank
November (3)
White Level Reading
Bath - Week 15
Bath - Week 16
October (2)
Onwards!
C'mon Dave
July (1)
RIP Arnie
June (2)
Rub some bacon on it
18 weeks
May (9)
Techy not tetchy
Time for a techy blog
Time to walk the dog
Stevington 12k
Properly coldy
Still a bit coldy
New blog design live
A bit coldy
Blogs Redesign
April (2)
Easter
SERIOUSLY LORD FETCH, SORT IT OUT
March (8)
A long run up
Running Tick
Weekend
Sport Relief Mile
Back once again
Swimming sweetcorn and other vegetables
Joy Rides, Sticks and Medals
Training Tip
February (9)
And...
Katie, ICT, and some more MySQL
May The Ground Force Be With You
Functions
Well done Batman.
Optimisation Crossword
Snow Days
Gallery, and parkrun
Pleased
January (1)
There Are Some Really Sexy Girls On Fetch
Comments
Thanks Mr Fetch
A couple of things, please:
I've successfully tested attaching some existing photos to conquercise zones but when I try to "add location" to the zones, the map refreshes and takes me back to my home zone. I then have to scroll through the map back to the relevant zone (which may be a long way from my home) to mark the photo's location.
I've got loads of photos I could add from years ago, long before I joined Fetch, and the zones they belong to have never been visited by any current Fetchies. I guess that these photos will have to wait until someone logs a visit there.
As for your old photos - you can add locations to them, and they will still be handy if I roll out my plan of incorporating a photo layer into our route maps. But until *you* log a visit to the relevant zone in Conquercise, you won't be able to attach them to a zone.