All Blogs | Prev Blog | Next Blog

fetcheveryone

View Profile
Search This Blog
Follow

548 READERS

Jump to

The lockers are a pound.

3:53pm, 31 Mar 2022

That was the extent of the induction I got at Robinson Pool Gym today :-)

Fair play, I did get a phone call about an hour before to ask if I'd been to the centre before. I explained that I'd used the pool and done a few BodyPump classes (circa 2011). That's fine then, the caller said. The lockers are a pound.

Because I was using a free trial token, I don't have a membership card. Luckily there was someone just coming out of the door as I went in - so I tailgated my way into the gym room.

In the gym itself, there were no instructors or attendants. No-one with a badge, or a clipboard or a whistle. Just two ordinary looking blokes (Fastidious Cleaning Man, and The Grimacer) loitering separately around the machines. Actually, that's wrong - there was an actual cleaning man there too, hoovering! The most qualified member of staff on hand :-)

I had a stroll around to see if there was somewhere to chuck my hoodie, and to suss out what there was. It was nice that it was quiet, as I didn't feel like I was in anyone's way, nor the subject of anyone's interest.

Ten mins on the dreadmill to warm up, and then I WENT ON THE MACHINES. Sorry, Ocelot Spleens, but that's what I felt comfortable with, and it helped me break a big problem down into small sittable-on parts.

I decided to do 3 sets of 10 reps, with a minute recovery between each set. Wet fingers. Wind.

On every occasion, I had to put the little pin onto a lighter weight than whoever had used the machine before me. BUT THAT'S OK, because as various Fetchies pointed out, FORM!!! So I focused on trying to imagine positioning myself correctly, and drew on every strand of my knowledge of locker pricing.

Here's my list, complete with the weights I did:

Leg extensions 12.5kg
Seated leg press 27.5kg
Shoulder press 12.5kg
Triceps on the multi-machine 8.75kg
Bicep dumbbells 6kg (actually one set with 7kg)
Pull downs 25kg
Chest press 17.5kg
Leg extensions 17.5kg*
Seated leg curl 27.5kg
Bodyweight calf raises

*I realised on the second machine that there's a little micro adjuster to make small weight changes, so I went on this machine again to check what my weight was.

And then I finished up with a little five minute blast on the treadmill, with the last minute at a heady 8mins/mile. It felt DAMN NICE to run at that pace - I haven't done so for a while.

It felt like there was a lot of sitting about. With a minute between each set, and a few minutes getting my head round each machine, the weights themselves probably accounted for about 20 minutes of the hour I spent in the gym. But I think if I go again, it should all be a lot quicker.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to my vague previous blog :-)

Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.

Comments

Looks like it went well.
Sigh
4:07pm, 31st Mar 2022
Well done, i'll check the disgusting people at the gym thread to see if anybody spotted you there
lammo
4:32pm, 31st Mar 2022
Hope you enjoy the DOMS tomorrow
larkim
4:39pm, 31st Mar 2022
Sounds good. at the induction, though.
LindsD
4:40pm, 31st Mar 2022
It might be worth asking if they have any PT's who will do you an initial program so that you can identify the areas you want to work on and the best way of achieving your goals. I have a little set (also using the machines as I'm liable to hurt myself with free weights by doing something wrong) that is aimed at rehab for my shoulders and preventing age related muscle loss - not that you have to worry about that yet. Takes me about half an hour which is about my gym tolerance.
Little Miss Happy
6:10pm, 31st Mar 2022
Rather worried that you didn't get any kind of induction. I was spoilt as hubby was a gym instructor years ago in uni, so he's always been around to torment for more information or correct my form.
Garfield
6:21pm, 31st Mar 2022
At my council gym you can't book unless you've had a induction. I got round that as I'm gym instructor qualified, but each bit of it is different so I always spend a wee but of time getting familiar with them.
Corrah
9:56pm, 31st Mar 2022
A rule of thumb for weights, according to the Teen , is to pick a weight that you can do 8 reps comfortably and have to push yourself to do 12. It works for me on everything except triceps, because I don’t appear to have any. I didn’t get an induction either which is why I took him with me to make me up a simple routine.
Minnie Mad
10:16pm, 31st Mar 2022
One thing I do to fit things in is do a different body part in the rest from another - eg if I'm doing arm curls, I do my no weight squats in the rests! Well done. I also don't change at gym - just go in gear and shower and change at home. I do light weights and higher reps, 15 or more. I wouldn't bother with PT or induction. But then, I'm arrogant! G
HappyG(rrr)
8:58am, 1st Apr 2022
defo ask about induction and a training plan. helps to have someone show you the correct way to do stuff so you don't overdo it. My PT has me doing supersets, so two sometimes three different exercises one after the other and then rest.
Gus
3:00pm, 1st Apr 2022
You were probably right to start on the machines but gravitate to free weights as you feel confident enough. HappyG's idea is good, I tend to split legs,core and upper body. Brother Iron's list is quite good and look at Kettle Bells plus add a bit if CV.
Ocelot Spleens
4:07pm, 1st Apr 2022
Everyfink's a pahnd guv. A pahnd.
McGoohan
5:01pm, 1st Apr 2022
Pahnd a Pahnd.
Ocelot Spleens
6:05pm, 1st Apr 2022
Cool! I miss all that sort of thing.
Wezza
10:38pm, 1st Apr 2022
Have you been back?
Dvorak
8:43am, 30th Apr 2022
Lol, no.
fetcheveryone
9:29am, 30th Apr 2022

Advice for Gym Noobs!

11:28am, 31 Mar 2022

(I've just done this as a thread, but all blog comments welcome too!)

When my calf popped last October, and Katie was gently telling me for the millionth time that I might want to consider strengthening work, I was considering joining a gym. Instead, I went and did a load of biking instead until my calf got better.

Today, Katie has a swim booked at a busy pool. I was hoping to join her, but there were no spaces left. So instead, I have booked a session at the gym. If I like it, I might go a bit more often.

The trouble is, I haven't really got a clue what I should be doing :-)

Advice for gym noobs please!

The session is at 2pm, so I've got about 2.5 hours to come up with a plan!

Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.

Comments

1. Don't overdo it. Start slow.

2. That is all...
Depends what you want from it, but whatever it is, treat it like a running plan. Start off slow and light, and build up, one way or the other.
Do you ultimately want strength increase, aerobic capacity, or a bit of both?
Strength, build up to heavier weights, but gradually.
Aerobic, light weights, but a lot more reps, faster.
Both, half way between.
But start slow... There,

Oh, have I said "start slow" before?
A man of your towering intellect will suss it out no problem. If Arnie can do it, I'm sure you can...
Dave W
11:35am, 31st Mar 2022
Take a good book and go and sit in the cafe
Diogenes
11:36am, 31st Mar 2022
Have you got any idea what you want to gain or get from it? Just legs, core, arms? Everything?
I'm not a gym user, other than many years ago when at uni, I used to do 30-45 mins gym based circuit training.
But I'm guessing the best approach is to ask - especially guidance on the kit and safe usage. Or if they have a multi workout circuit training type schedule?
Unless (like my daughter) you turn up with a very specific set of exercises you want to do for specific muscle/strength/stamina gains.

Be a shame to go and spend the time on a bike or a running machine.
um
11:39am, 31st Mar 2022
I reckon I get enough cardio stuff with the run/bike/swim - so it's strengthening I'm looking for.
fetcheveryone
11:43am, 31st Mar 2022
squats, deadlifts, bench press, shoulder press. beware of your form.
lammo
11:52am, 31st Mar 2022
Sit on each machine in turn,

scroll through your mobile feed,
exhale loudly with a 'hurrgh' every few seconds,
stand up, look around,
scroll through your mobile again,
leave your sweat on the bars and the benches without wiping down.

That's it - job done!
Mushroom
11:52am, 31st Mar 2022
Start slow, start low. Make sure you pay attention to the safety advice. If you don't get an induction, ask for one. Machines are probably safer for noobs than free weights but even they are not risk-free. Ask your instructor for a programme. Have fun!
RichHL
11:56am, 31st Mar 2022
Start with a whole body session. For very first session I would suggest 1 set of 10 reps per body part. You might consider
Squats
Deadlift
Barbell bicep curls
Flat Bench Press (wide grip)
Flat Bench Press (Narrow grip)
Barbell shoulder press
Calf raised
Something for the abs

As others have said form is vital so a bit of YouTubing in advance would be a good idea.

Pick a weight that feels like you are hardly working (the presence or absence of crippling DOMS tomorrow will tell you if you are right)

If you like it go 3 times a week. Increase volume first by adding more sets and a second exercise for each body part. You can increase weight in this stage but still keep RPE fairly low. THEN you can add weight until the later reps in each set make you gurn. Rest between sets. If you are after strength then treat it like weight training not circuit training.
TheGreatIWas
12:07pm, 31st Mar 2022
Most gyms will offer you an introduction, I'd take advantage of that and ask the person who shows you around for advice on it all. Start with low weight and concentrate on form, once that comes naturally you can increase. As you do increase weight then drop the number of reps. If you're there at busy times it's helpful to have a range of different things you can swap between as and when the equipment becomes available.
Sigh
12:12pm, 31st Mar 2022
Mainly good advice above. I've said similar on the thread you started. Get Katie to check your calf raises without weights at home.
Sharkie
12:16pm, 31st Mar 2022
https://youtu.be/PGLzm-Gy0dQ
ishep 🇪🇺
12:29pm, 31st Mar 2022
Plenty for me to think about Thank you all!
fetcheveryone
12:30pm, 31st Mar 2022
Not much else I can add. My physio has me doing a lot of squats, calf raises, lunges, wall sits. Squats & calf raises single leg. Different types of squats. Progress to using weights.

Core work very important too so find the Swiss ball.
geordiegirl
1:07pm, 31st Mar 2022
Form is key. If you are using the machines, read the instructions. ADJUST THE POSITIONS so they are correct for you. Try them out with the lightest weight. Don't copy others, they're probably doing it wrong. When you add more weight, don't add much. Do maybe 2 sets of 10, slowly. When you finish you each one, you should think it was too easy. DOMS is not the session aim. (Sorry Beanie )
Dvorak
1:20pm, 31st Mar 2022
Remember to post in "disgusting people at the gym" thread
Heinzster
1:30pm, 31st Mar 2022
You are a runner. Warm up. Low weights. Reps in sets. General strength in upper body, core and legs. Free weights not machines. Graduate to barbells and Olympic stuff, plus maybe kettle bells later. You might even run or cycle before after.

DO NOT USE MACHINES. They do nothing for engaging supporting muscles and core.
Ocelot Spleens
1:43pm, 31st Mar 2022
There is a lot of very bad form in gyms, so ask an instructor if there is one and don't assume anyone else has a clue what they're doing (including the peeps strutting around like they own the place), particularly if there is any 'jerking' in their weight-lifting movements. Keep it slow, smooth and steady.
RunnyBunny
2:15pm, 31st Mar 2022
im with Dio
DocM
2:16pm, 31st Mar 2022
I'm with Dio But then I never use the gym, I do weights and bands and core stuff at home, plenty of YouTube videos on each
fleecy
2:16pm, 31st Mar 2022
kettlebells are ace, and I would *not* suggest you do anything with a barbell until you've had a PT 1-2-1 to check you're doing it right. A 'flat back' with core engaged often feels like you're sticking your bum in the air and feels weird to start off with, but essential to prevent injuries.
fraggle
5:51pm, 31st Mar 2022
Stick with the cycling
Reiver
7:16am, 1st Apr 2022

Feedback made easier

10:43am, 29 Mar 2022

Right from the very start in 2004, listening to feedback from the Fetch community has been instrumental in the success of the site. Since I built a formal feedback system (approx 2006 I think), there have been 29,777 feedback messages, and I've read every one! I've hopefully replied to most of them too!

Back in those primordial days, I'd whack a new feature up, and wait for your responses. You used those features in ways I had not anticipated. Sometimes you broke them. Sometimes they just didn't do what you needed. And you shared your ideas on where those features should go next.

As a solo developer, it's difficult to see every angle. Getting that feedback on bugs, usability and functionality is something I view as one of the core pillars of Fetcheveryone. Don't ask me for a definitive list (although if you want another one, "no paywall" comes to mind).

Over the last half dozen working hours, I've made some amendments to the feedback system.

Firstly, I've tried to make it simpler. If you go to the Help page, and click 'Report a Problem' or 'Send me a message', you arrive here:

fetcheveryone.com/feedback-contact.php

There's just one big box where you can type what you like. Dead simple.

When you submit your feedback, your feedback conversations appear just below the text box. You can click on any of those to read the whole conversation thread. And if necessary, you can add further notes e.g. "it's still not working on Thursdays", or whatever.

It also used to be the case that you got an fmail whenever I'd replied to your feedback. But instead now you'll get a notification - and the notification will take you to the relevant feedback, where you can see my reply and add your responses if relevant.

But to make the whole thing much more accessible and in-thy-face to inexperienced users, I've added a text box at the bottom of all pages. This is, in effect, just a small version of the feedback form - my hope is that its prominence will make it easier for inexperienced users to find their way past any issues they may face. And in turn, we can continue that feedback loop that has brought us along this happy road :-)

If you want to give it a try, do feel free. I expect there are some bugs ;-)

Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.

Comments

It might be me... but has it eaten the link that used to be at the bottom of the page to the list of feature requests?
EdJ
11:11am, 29th Mar 2022
I had removed it... because it was available via the Help link... but I've just reinstated it.
fetcheveryone
12:06pm, 29th Mar 2022
Oooh I have something to feed back so I will try it out.

Thanks Fetch.
Sushi
12:24pm, 29th Mar 2022
Sounds good
Ness
1:55pm, 29th Mar 2022
Somehow this seems appropriate:
Pothunter
2:02pm, 29th Mar 2022
LindsD
2:37pm, 29th Mar 2022
Good stuff. I'm sure I’ll make use of it soon!
chunkywizard
8:23pm, 29th Mar 2022
RichHL
10:18pm, 29th Mar 2022
Lol pothunter!
fleecy
10:34pm, 29th Mar 2022
I have resisted the temptation to use the box to wave at you and say "hi", so I'm going to do it here instead "Hi!" Waves.
D2
11:09pm, 29th Mar 2022
Hello *waves back* 😀
fetcheveryone
6:36am, 30th Mar 2022
Loving the new feedback format Fetch, particularly the clear conversation thread 😁
panad
1:38pm, 30th Mar 2022

#EveryoneDay June 26th 2022

11:03am, 24 Mar 2022

Back in November, Oscar the Grouch came up with a great idea in his blog: fetcheveryone.com/blog/9803/2021/11/438330

In short, we pick a day when we all log as much activity as we can. It doesn't matter what it is - just whatever you're capable of.

The hope is to promote Fetcheveryone, and the benefits of exercise in general. We can have totalisers for the main sports, blogs, social meeeeeja spamming, and maybe even some meetups.

I've nudged our virtual challenge start and end date, so that it corresponds with the clocks going forward and back. And it puts our potential Everyone Day right in the middle. The longest day is June 21st which is a Tuesday, so I thought we could pick the first available Sunday, which would be June 26th.

Whatever your sport, whatever your activity - let's see if we can break all site records for our distance and time as a community on that day.

How about it? I've started a thread if you want to follow it: fetcheveryone.com/forum/everyoneday---june-26th-2022-62269/

Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.

Comments

Ness
11:04am, 24th Mar 2022
Sounds fun. I’m doing a marathon that day so I should have something to log
laterunner
11:06am, 24th Mar 2022
👍
westmoors
11:11am, 24th Mar 2022
good idea, I'm in!
chunkywizard
11:12am, 24th Mar 2022
Unfortunately that'll be driving back from the Lake District day for us, so a lot of miles but I'm not sure it can count as training!
Goofee
11:17am, 24th Mar 2022
I'll put it on the calendar!
Alice the Camel
11:32am, 24th Mar 2022
Shoot - the week before (18th) I'm running a 24hr race.
Mr. K.
11:34am, 24th Mar 2022
Ha ha, the day after my first ultra - an off road 47 miles - I'm not sure I'll be doing very much that day! In fact if I go slow, I could still be 'running' at 4am Sunday...
Pegg
11:54am, 24th Mar 2022
I shall also be recovering from the same 24hrs. Make it the weekend before solstice and I'm sure MrK and myself will contribute a few miles!
StuH
11:55am, 24th Mar 2022
im in for Fetcheversuchalot day
DocM
12:09pm, 24th Mar 2022
I have a 10k league race on that day, that'll do
Sigh
12:49pm, 24th Mar 2022
I’ve got the Round Sheffield Run that day 👍👍👍
Pikelet
1:11pm, 24th Mar 2022
I'm in
LindsD
1:51pm, 24th Mar 2022
Oh, that's the day of my club's charity 10k trail run if anyone is in the Midlands and wants a lovely run out (the Gate Gallop, Tamworth)! I'll be marshalling, but will run the course later in the day
stilldreaming
1:57pm, 24th Mar 2022
Hoping it's good cycling weather that day
Velociraptor
2:24pm, 24th Mar 2022
Nice
Spanners99
3:31pm, 24th Mar 2022
I’ll try and remember to get the day off. Should be good for a swim run and walk
Sushi
3:52pm, 24th Mar 2022
Amazing! Might I suggest a badge for each discipline logged on the day? Or badges by distance? Or just a badge for taking part?
BarefootEm
4:46pm, 24th Mar 2022
Can we make it the whole weekend instead? I don't run on most Sundays!
3M
7:17pm, 24th Mar 2022
Seratonin
8:08pm, 24th Mar 2022
Could be a day for The Bimble
eL Bee!
8:23pm, 24th Mar 2022
Great idea
Rosehip
8:37pm, 24th Mar 2022
Great idea, second 3M's idea of being the whole weekend.
JCB
11:49pm, 24th Mar 2022

Fetch Virtual Challenge 2022 🎈

11:48am, 21 Mar 2022

Today I'm finalising the code for the 2022 edition of our virtual challenge. It's completely free to enter, and it's hopefully a bit of fun to keep you motivated to achieve your training goals through the year.

Last year, with help from ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ you folks ran and walked 600 miles in our Castle Challenge.

This year, there are three strands to the challenge. Can I get an ooooooooh? :-)

A run/walk option returns - a smidge longer than last time, but just like last time you can keep going after the official finish deadline passes.

Strand 2 is a bike route - taking in over a thousand miles of Britain, with (hopefully) much of it on Street View to check where you are each day.

Strand 3 is a swim route. Synge has cleverly followed a major river to maximise the Street View opportunities, and the distance is hopefully in line with many of your swimming goals.

I hope to finalise a sponsor for the challenge any day soon. This'll mean that as you hit the various checkpoints along the route(s), you will pick up tickets in the hat for the random draw. And so you don't have to finish the challenge for a chance to win - you just have to do your best.

And I'll also be picking a memento for this year's challenge. Last year we did a square slate coaster - which I am hoping you have enjoyed resting your drinks on ever since. I am thinking about doing something similar again - but am also open to other suggestions.

For more news, please go and click the 'Watch' link at the top of this thread: fetcheveryone.com/forum/fetch-virtual-challenge-2022-62266/

Toot toot!

Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.

Comments

oh fab
EvilPixie
11:51am, 21st Mar 2022
Rosehip
11:51am, 21st Mar 2022
ooooooooooh! This does sound exciting!!
Autumnleaves
11:53am, 21st Mar 2022
That's excellent! I shall be looking at two out of three of those challenges!
Ness
11:55am, 21st Mar 2022
coolio
richmac
12:08pm, 21st Mar 2022
Love this. Should keep me motivated
Corrah
12:09pm, 21st Mar 2022
ooooooooh
minardi
12:15pm, 21st Mar 2022
Oooooh!
Fragile Do Not Bend
12:16pm, 21st Mar 2022
I’d be happy with another coaster if a slightly different design. Hopefully I’ll eventually have a set
Fragile Do Not Bend
12:17pm, 21st Mar 2022
I like the idea of a coaster collection too.
Sushi
12:20pm, 21st Mar 2022
Ooooooh
northernslowcoach
12:32pm, 21st Mar 2022
Fantastic, great to have the cycle option available 😊
Heinzster
12:47pm, 21st Mar 2022
Yippee!!! Best virtual event in the world. Can’t wait.
geordiegirl
12:55pm, 21st Mar 2022
oooh this sounds good
fraggle
1:05pm, 21st Mar 2022
Ooooooh! Sounds good. Nice builds on last year's success. Virtual challenges are one (of very few!) good outcomes from 2 years of pandemic restrictions. Well done for taking it forward. G
HappyG(rrr)
1:26pm, 21st Mar 2022
ooooo oooo ah
DocM
1:49pm, 21st Mar 2022
👍😀
Stevewjj
1:56pm, 21st Mar 2022
I'm all for building a coaster set of different challenges, if that's practical and easy to manage.
Looking forward to the challenge details.
um
2:55pm, 21st Mar 2022
Oooooh!
3M
3:42pm, 21st Mar 2022
Sounds great. With um on the coaster collection
laterunner
4:54pm, 21st Mar 2022
Sounds good! Could you include indoor rowing miles for injured runners that don't cycle? Ta!
_andy
6:18pm, 21st Mar 2022
Ooh! Sounds good!
Winniefree
6:36pm, 21st Mar 2022
Ooooooooh
jennywren
6:40pm, 21st Mar 2022
Ooooooh
Pinks
7:24pm, 21st Mar 2022
Same about the coaster collection.

Dreading there being badges for all three strands though - it will kill me trying to collect them all 😩
roberton
8:40pm, 21st Mar 2022
That's sounds great! I would also really like an indoor rowing challenge as well.
Liebling
7:37am, 22nd Mar 2022
ooooooohhh!
Irontubs
11:48am, 22nd Mar 2022

Thanks Chunky: parkrun routes!

9:56am, 17 Mar 2022

I got a feedback message from chunkywizard yesterday, noting that the majority of race listings for parkruns don't have routes associated with them - but if you add that parkrun to your race portfolio, and go through the pages that follow, you often see a bunch of matched routes. And the obvious question was... why don't they show on the listing in the first place?

So I chucked a bit of eye of newt and toe of bat into the Fetch cauldron - and now we have 561/1869 parkrun listings *with* routes permanently attached e.g. this Saturday's Bracknell parkrun:

fetcheveryone.com/races/bracknell-parkrun-6686021

Do my local parkruns have routes?

Find your own local parkruns here:

fetcheveryone.com/race

(put in your location, then on the results page, click the parkruns tab)

If there's no route associated, here's what you can do to make the magic happen...

1) create the route in the route finder OR find a training entry where you ran the run, and use 'Save as route...' on the map.

2) Make sure the route name matches the parkrun name exactly e.g. 'Penallta parkrun' AND make it public.

That's it.

It didn't happen immediately! I want a refund

The Fetch server speaks to the parkrun server in the early hours of Tuesday mornings (I believe they go hang out behind a 24hr petrol station), and at that point, the Fetch server will also attempt to hoover up any matching routes. Fun fact: it will use the most recent route (as determined by ID number), so if you wanted to be a dick, you could could create a route for a rival parkrun in the shape of an amusing vegetable. But if I find out, it'll be lunchtime detention mucking out the hamsters :-)

And whilst on the subject of parkrun listings, you folks sometimes ask me to add a new event, or ask if it's ok if you add it. In theory, all live parkrun events get added automatically, although with new events, the week 1 event is never included in the data feed. But on the Tuesday after the inaugural, any new parkrun should start to appear. Disco.

As always, slide into my feedback inbox if you get any problems: fetcheveryone.com/feedback.php :-)

Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.

Comments

Fab! I already had a route saved for my local parkrun but it wasn’t public, so I’ve ticked the box. Hopefully it’ll appear on the listing by Wednesday morning
Fragile Do Not Bend
10:06am, 17th Mar 2022
Top work Fetch, glad you liked my idea
chunkywizard
10:07am, 17th Mar 2022
Crewe parkrun is in the shape of a duck........
Mozzer
10:08am, 17th Mar 2022
By the way, how about a badge for entering X parkrun routes (where X is less that the number I have done?)
chunkywizard
10:12am, 17th Mar 2022
Good work. I like it, and have added some routes. Hopefully, they will not overlap with those added by others as a result of this blog entry.
I also wondered about a badge, a la chunkywizard's additional suggestion. :D
nme2no1
10:17am, 17th Mar 2022
Excellent! I’ve added routes to the few I’ve done that hadn’t come up yet 😀. I also made sure none of them were on an alternate course…
WayOfTheDodo
10:18am, 17th Mar 2022
Nice. Locally to me there are two I've not run that don't have courses, I suspect "Princes, Liverpool" isn't matching purely on the basis of the unusal name format? And the other is relatively new, so this may inspire me to head over there at some point!
larkim
10:20am, 17th Mar 2022
Thanks for this - good feature. I've edited the title of the existing public route I had for ours so hopefully it will attach itself in due course. I've also added a second route to match the one we use in winter - be interesting to see if both appear. And, yes, I have included notes as to which is which and when visitors may expect to run them.
CumbriAndy
10:31am, 17th Mar 2022
talking of alt. courses I ran the Aylesbury alt. course last weekend. I added the route and put 'alt. course' at the end. It shows on the routes list (as I believe you match against the beginning of the string) which I think it should but for the 'race' page perhaps you should match only against the exact name so it doesn't pick up an alt. course (or you could show both - normal and alt.)
chunkywizard
10:33am, 17th Mar 2022
The race page is looking for an exact match.
fetcheveryone
10:34am, 17th Mar 2022
x-post with Andy but I think showing main and alt. courses would be good if you can define how the naming works.
chunkywizard
10:34am, 17th Mar 2022
Have updated the route for Maldon Prom.
We started using a new permanent route from Covid restart.
Bob!
10:35am, 17th Mar 2022
Excellent 👍
Ness
10:52am, 17th Mar 2022
Had a poke about. Feedback sent.
Dvorak
11:39am, 17th Mar 2022
...and of course, I now need to create routes for all the ones that I've run that I haven't created routes for... (Currently on 24/43 - this may take a while )
AndyS
3:15pm, 17th Mar 2022
Could have a tickbox when making a public route to mark it as a race route and then have that automatically appear on the corresponding race page (not just for parkruns)?
CBN
3:24pm, 17th Mar 2022
if only there was a badge for it Andy!
chunkywizard
3:24pm, 17th Mar 2022
Are you suggesting I might be a badge badger, cw? There will be a few of my earlier ones that I don't have GPS traces for, because my old watch didn't have GPS...
AndyS
3:34pm, 17th Mar 2022
I was suggesting I'd like a badge for it Andy (as I have entered 20+ routes I reckon)
chunkywizard
3:35pm, 17th Mar 2022
What an absolutely SPLENDID idea cw
AndyS
3:38pm, 17th Mar 2022
have to say thats pretty comprehensive from Mr Fetch. Nice one
Spanners99
3:48pm, 17th Mar 2022
Excellent idea; I have, however, partly broken it for this week as I've now been through and deleted old parkrun routes from my public routes, leaving just the current ones (as it was pulling through an old one for the Wammy, at least).
Sigh
4:40pm, 17th Mar 2022
I've done the same Sigh, I renamed all courses I know that have changed since I ran them. Hopefully with a bit of crowd-sourcing we can fill in the gaps.
chunkywizard
4:42pm, 17th Mar 2022
Are servers Audaxers then? Often to be found at 24h petrol stations
MsG
4:51pm, 17th Mar 2022

Sniffer Dogs

2:32pm, 15 Mar 2022

For a brief moment, I was wondering who was sending me a kilo of heroin in the post - and then the lovely aroma of golden syrup hit me! No wonder the dogs were pretty excited when it arrived. Thank you Sushi for the lovely flapjack - you are the Walter White of post-run refuelling!

She'd contacted me a few weeks ago to see if I wanted in on the batch, and so this was hopefully going to be something to take with me as a treat after Hastings Half. But unfortunately my hamstring has put paid to that idea. I twanged it on March 2nd, half way through a six mile run, which meant it had to cope with a three mile trip home. Ironically, my race number came through the post on the same day :-/

I gave it a week off (feeling very lucky that I can swim and bike pretty comfortably with it), and went for a test run on Thursday. I could feel it being all tight on every step - and for the rest of that day I was wincing when going from sitting to standing. Luckily that has subsided, and I'm at the point now where I can walk normally without thinking too much about it. But a half marathon doesn't seem like the best idea just now - so (as Lord Sugarface says) "with regret", I have pulled out of the race. And given that petrol is now a billion pounds for a spoonful, we've also made the call to stay local instead, and get off our faces on flapjack. Disappointed not to be seeing some Fetchies, but as a wise Jedi once said... "sometimes the planets are not aligned". Well, I'll do my best to alter gravity with flapjack consumption :-)

Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.

Comments

what a wonderful bit of fetchiness. Hope the hamstring heals quickly (and fuel prices go down soon)
DocM
2:35pm, 15th Mar 2022
Hope the hamstring heals quickly.
Ness
2:42pm, 15th Mar 2022
Enjoy the flapjack If it's from the same batch as ours it's a particularly good one
I hope your gammy bits heal quickly.
Velociraptor
2:47pm, 15th Mar 2022
Shame about the hamstring but I'm sure it's medicinal flapjack and will do the trick
BaronessBL
2:49pm, 15th Mar 2022
Sushi's flapjack is more addictive than other substances...
JamieKai *chameleon*
2:54pm, 15th Mar 2022
*Resolves to get to know Sushi better 😄
Pikelet
2:59pm, 15th Mar 2022
I'm with Pikelet
Naughty hamstring, I hope you're back running again soon.
Fenland Flier
3:03pm, 15th Mar 2022
Hope you're fully recovered soon.
Sigh
3:45pm, 15th Mar 2022
Sorry about the injury and the resultant effects. Hugs and enjoy the flapjack.
LindsD
3:52pm, 15th Mar 2022
It's good stuff Enjoy !
bigleggy
4:00pm, 15th Mar 2022
You do know that you have to rub the flapjack in the injured hammy and not eat it right ?
runnerbean
4:05pm, 15th Mar 2022
Never tried a flapjack but I do believe Sushi’s are legendary so enjoy
Lip Gloss
4:43pm, 15th Mar 2022
Oooh "the Walter White of Post Race Refuelling' I like that title 🤣
For goodness sake, lease freeze and ration or you'll be blaming me for the scales going in the opposite direction again.

Enjoy!
Sushi
6:05pm, 15th Mar 2022
Seratonin
8:07pm, 15th Mar 2022
Sorry to miss you. And the flapjack
Serendippily
9:05pm, 15th Mar 2022
Is it the jammy one? The jammy one is sublime.
jennywren
10:08pm, 15th Mar 2022
Legendary flapjack! Yay! Sorry to hear Hastings isn’t happening for you, but that’s a darn good consolation!
♪♫ Synge ♪♫
12:16am, 16th Mar 2022

Yikes!

11:19am, 8 Mar 2022

Looking at my February server logs today, 634 new users arrived on FE via the page on the left. And 463 walked away again! It's a relic of pre-mobile-friendly times, and I've given it a tidy up. It lets you see how your best times stack up - have a look: https://fetcheveryone.com/league-percentages.php

If you see any page on the site that looks a bit suspect on your mobile, call Crimestoppers now on: fetcheveryone.com/feedback-bugreport.php

Don't have nightmares :-)

Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.

Comments

good fix!
chunkywizard
11:32am, 8th Mar 2022
Ness
11:32am, 8th Mar 2022
No idea how you keep on top of it all! Very nice improvement.
sallykate
12:05pm, 8th Mar 2022
Me either
fetcheveryone
12:06pm, 8th Mar 2022
Can you fix polysorbate market overviews too?
Nicholls595
12:58pm, 8th Mar 2022
Have you tried turning it off and on again?
fetcheveryone
1:01pm, 8th Mar 2022
LOL^^ and love the puking emoji!
Garfield
1:10pm, 8th Mar 2022
Yes, that's cured it
Nicholls595
1:17pm, 8th Mar 2022
I'm missing the puking emoji. The numbers look much better though! (Well, in terms of alignment. They're still just a little depressing when I compare myself against them!)
3M
1:25pm, 8th Mar 2022
LindsD
4:27pm, 8th Mar 2022
Much more friendly!
Alice the Camel
6:33pm, 8th Mar 2022
Great improvement!
JCB
11:57pm, 8th Mar 2022
Good work!
BaronessBL
8:04am, 9th Mar 2022

Fetch Cycling Jerseys - Update

10:02am, 2 Mar 2022

Sorry for the slow progress with these. I am hoping to get my hands on a Fetched-up sample this week, at which point I will set up a preorder.

A lot of the comments on my previous blog about this were asking for a full-zip version - so I've spoken to Ron Hill Specials, and they can do these too. So you can choose between full- or half-zip.

The half-zips will be £36, and the full-zips will be £39. This price includes free postage to GB/NI (I'll do postage at cost if you're overseas). Assuming we get a decent order, the price equates to about £10 in the Fetch coffers for each shirt sold.

Please can you add/update your vote in the poll so I can get an idea of the interest:

Thank you!

Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.

Comments

Yes, but only a full zip
eL Bee!
11:08am, 2nd Mar 2022
Full zip might swing it for me.
Ness
12:27pm, 2nd Mar 2022
Still want one. Half zip please
CStar
5:09pm, 2nd Mar 2022
Yes 100% full zip only
runningmumof3boys
2:10pm, 13th Mar 2022

Route Plotting tweak

3:53pm, 1 Mar 2022

Just a little update to point you at... when you plot a route, some of the options have moved about a bit. In the image below, the old version of the page is shown on the left:

The bar above the map was pretty messy, and too wide for mobile screens. And any time someone wants a new layer, or a new game gets added, the problem was only going to get worse. So I wanted to tidy up!

There's a new button in the bottom left of the map, titled 'Map Options' (see the right hand pic), and if you click this, you get access to all the game overlays (Fetchpoint, WSW etc), and the ability to toggle the map between our default tiles and the satellite view.

I've left the remaining buttons above the map for now... but I expect to make some further amendments to those, and add some more tools.

In particular (and inspired by my need to create a mammoth route - see my earlier blog), it would be great to be able to make easy adjustments to the middle of a route without having to 'Undo' the whole thing. I am imagining a scissors tool which would chop your route into parts. You could delete the section that you wanted to redo, insert your new bit, and then sew the parts back together. That sort of thing.

I figure there's also some interesting map tiles out there - I've seen other route plotters that have map options that show contour lines, that kind of thing.

More to follow over the next couple of days :-)

Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.

Comments

Interesting. Thanks, Fetch.
Ness
3:59pm, 1st Mar 2022
Completely by coincidence (!), I happen to be creating a mammoth route today. It’s private atm (but you can view it as #1835630). When it reached 100 miles, the mile markers turned to generic “FE” markers and even they ran out at 112 miles. Not an issue for me, but it might be worth looking at when you plot yours?
♪♫ Synge ♪♫
4:00pm, 1st Mar 2022
For me, the issue with the “undo” is that, once you go back to a saved route, it seems to apply the undo at about 0.01 miles per click. I guess it must have “forgotten” the actual clicks and distances used to create the route and simply stored it as a zillion sets of co-ordinates rather than a set of route sections between the actual pairs of clicks.
♪♫ Synge ♪♫
4:11pm, 1st Mar 2022
Yep - I've seen that too. The scissors tool would let you snip at the relevant point and discard.
fetcheveryone
4:13pm, 1st Mar 2022
Any change of a Rundle Overlay as well ?
um
4:14pm, 1st Mar 2022
The scissors tool would be great! Sounds as if it would come bundled with the awesome power of being able to stitch routes (and replacement inserts) to each other?
♪♫ Synge ♪♫
4:24pm, 1st Mar 2022
RidewithGPS has those sort of tools, it's the site I use most frequently for plotting as you can also toggle the base map, get Streetview etc. The "changing a mid part of a route" takes some getting used to however and I keep doing it the wrong way round!
Is this a good time to mention the fetch route planner uses footpaths a lot which is a pain when you're plotting a ride?
MsG
4:24pm, 1st Mar 2022
I can sort the footpath thing fairly soon I hope.
fetcheveryone
4:28pm, 1st Mar 2022
i would love to see the chance to edit the route while plotting. viewranger allows you to pick a point and drag it to somewhere else so you can adjust part of the run without breaking the string
DocM
4:41pm, 1st Mar 2022
....my brother is still looking for someone to collaborate with to produce a free mapping app...
DocM
4:43pm, 1st Mar 2022
Never a fan of hiding things behind buttons, but not sure there is a better option on a small screen. Definite improvement.

@DocM - how many free mapping apps does the world need? (and I'm already working on another 🤣)
flanker
5:20pm, 1st Mar 2022
Footpaths - will there still be an option to use them if desired?
♪♫ Synge ♪♫
5:22pm, 1st Mar 2022
@flanker so many start out free and then start charging so they can offer you stuff you dont need or sell themselves to someone who is useless
DocM
5:38pm, 1st Mar 2022
Although an independent Fetch routing tool is admirable, aren't you trying to re-invent the wheel here? mappedometer, RideWithGPS and Komoot already have good options, the latter two will allow you to chop a route about, mid-section.
Oranj
7:53pm, 1st Mar 2022
Ooh yes please! I've got a heap of routes which I'll getting the bus to the start so it would be great to add the 'bus stop to start of route' section onto the front of the saved route and have it as one gpx to follow on my watch.
Pegg
8:28pm, 1st Mar 2022
Was thinking the other week that an openbikemap or similar layer would be useful please. I haven't managed to decide which open source map is best for cycling
mityellow
11:36pm, 1st Mar 2022
Help! Please can you restore the previous recognition of footpaths. Many of my local paths are no longer recognized, which means I have to turn off the snap when I plot a route that is mixed roads and paths. When I turn snap on/off it is three button presses not one. This is very awkard with a semi-urban/country route. If the first problem were fixed the second could be lived with. This is very significant to me, as I plot a route every day for Fetchpoint.
NordRunner
8:59am, 2nd Mar 2022
The 'On Foot' option uses exactly the same method as before. If you're getting different results, it may be because we have overstepped our free quota with openrouteservice, and have flipped to getting directions from Google.
fetcheveryone
9:02am, 2nd Mar 2022
But I take the point that on routes where you need to enable/disable the functionality, it's more clicks than it ought to be. Bear with me.
fetcheveryone
9:03am, 2nd Mar 2022
The snapping is now visible all the time, at the base of the map.
fetcheveryone
9:15am, 2nd Mar 2022
Liked the changes. I can usually tell when you’ve passed the free bit and flipped to Google as it doesn’t like some of my frequent paths 🤷‍♂️ Just have to switch between snap and not for bits.
Snoot
1:18pm, 2nd Mar 2022
Thanks for the reply of 9:02 am. Later in the day the snap for footpaths works as before. It must be as you say. Thanks also for marker-zones in shadow. That will make plotting for fp quicker.
NordRunner
4:09pm, 2nd Mar 2022

The Crow: A Pipedream!

9:31am, 1 Mar 2022

I took my first ever complete month out from running back in October, to give my stupid calves a bit of rest. To give me something to do, I did some cycling - and I enjoyed it!

My longest ride so far is a 40 miler, done in November after about 5 weeks of biking twice a week. My training log notes for that ride say that my quads were a bit mashed (2hrs50 of riding) - but I have really enjoyed picking up lots of Conquercise zones; visiting all the little villages in rural Bedfordshire; and (less so, perhaps) finding out where all the hills are! It inspired our database of places where you can call in for a fry up too: fetcheveryone.com/poi.php

This year so far, with the return of my running and swimming, I've done relatively short rides, and aimed for about one per week. I haven't pushed my distance yet, but I am looking forward to doing so in warmer weather. I might have mentioned it before, but my plan is to cycle from Bedford to my parents' house in Wales, with a vague aim of doing that at some point this summer. I'm still trying to work out whether to attempt it in one day, or to split it into two, with a b&b half way. KatieB has kindly offered to support me too.

I've also been inspired by a Youtuber called Geowizard who tried to walk across Wales in a straight line. The Boy and I watched all his videos during the early lockdowns:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7w986ni7_g

I've got no ambitions to trespass, nor to have to throw my bike over any hedges or through any streams - but the idea of trying to follow a line feels like quite good fun. In his videos, Geowizard has a gold, silver and bronze system for adherence to the straight line (e.g. gold = distance + 5%; silver = distance + 10%; bronze = distance + 15%). Here's what my line would look like:

If I follow that line with a crow-like fervour, the journey would be 122.7 miles. Google's Directions API suggests that a no-holds barred legal route would be 136.3 miles, which is about 11% more - but obviously that'll include footpaths, stiles, potential 'big' roads and hills that a more sensible route for a road bike might be able to circumvent.

I'm under no illusions. It's a long way, and I'm an inexperienced cyclist. I've cycled up some hills, but I'm well aware that there are bigger ones. Very bigger ones. With teeth and claws. But it'll be fun to plot and poke at a route, whilst I build my cycling mileage over the next few months.

It's also given me an idea for a set of badges. Imagine the starting point to any run, ride or walk on a map, with circles radiating outwards from that point. Can you get five miles away from your starting point in a direction of your choosing, using no more than 5 miles plus 10% = 5.5 miles? Or can you get 10 miles away by running no more than 11 miles? And so on. A challenge based on route planning and adventure. What could go wrong?

Click here to suggest fetcheveryone's blog for today's highlights.

Comments

Hmm - where are the roman roads around here
ThorntonRunner
9:34am, 1st Mar 2022
TR, For some reason, that reminds me of the old (and very politically incorrect :o ) joke about why did the Romans build straight roads? Pretty sure the real answer was to get to places in as short a route as possible!

Looks like a good challenge - I'm thinking about the straightest routes I know, now!
3M
9:38am, 1st Mar 2022
You literally have to do a straight line cycle quest. I’ll throw in a pack of plasters and a tube of savlon.
runnerbean
9:47am, 1st Mar 2022
I think you are very fortunate that the river crossings at Gloucester are not far off your straight line!
♪♫ Synge ♪♫
9:48am, 1st Mar 2022
@runnerbean - I'd need legal representation and a jackhammer before I'd travelled 15 yards!
fetcheveryone
9:50am, 1st Mar 2022
@Synge - yes, I made my parents move house to make it fit
fetcheveryone
9:51am, 1st Mar 2022
*watches with interest*
LindsD
9:59am, 1st Mar 2022
Good luck. If you had some time at your parents' house in advance, you could cycle up and down the valleys for training
Dvorak
10:05am, 1st Mar 2022
The Crow! Love it
Angus Clydesdale
10:13am, 1st Mar 2022
Mate of mine, military pilot, showed me a tip many years ago for route-plotting long motorbike rides. Incredibly simple, you rotate the map on your table so that start and end points are horizontal to each other, lay a ruler between them and then see which roads jump out at you. Just like you've done up there (nearly), but this was long before internet maps and clever graphics (we were still using green-screen computers!).
Angus Clydesdale
10:17am, 1st Mar 2022
A lot of straight roads around here, bring on the badges.
minardi
10:21am, 1st Mar 2022
Watling St (with various other names on the way) between Blackheath and Bluewater in SE London is about 11 miles in almost a straight line. It does involve Shooters Hill though, and I’m not sure how pedestrian friendly the eastern end would be. With a bit of wiggling (probably within 10%) you could do Greenwich to Strood between 20 and 22 miles. Depending on availability of foot paths you could go all the way to Canterbury (~48 miles)
Pothunter
10:36am, 1st Mar 2022
Not that far round here with all the drainage ditches. Apart from the A1101.
I like your goal
There's an flattish night ride around London on 6th May (sort of like the Thames Bridges Challenge) which might be good for upping your distance, I'm planning to do this one. fnrttc.org.uk
MsG
11:32am, 1st Mar 2022
I wonder what %deviation there is on my 218km ride last year?

MsG
11:39am, 1st Mar 2022
@MsG - go to the route mapper, make sure Follow Roads is off, and then click the start and end points to get a crow-fly distance. Then it's 218/x*100 to get a percentage.
fetcheveryone
11:42am, 1st Mar 2022
Your straight line goes very very close to me - it would be great to see you and even maybe cycle a few miles with you
LazyDaisy
2:06pm, 1st Mar 2022
I tried to import the gpx to the route mapper but get a 500 error. Is the 12mb file too big?
MsG
2:21pm, 1st Mar 2022
@MsG - it looks like it's timing out. I've given the importer a bit more time to process it - so try uploading again.

@LazyDaisy - that could be cool
fetcheveryone
2:26pm, 1st Mar 2022
It's still timing out - is it possible to save the activity as a route?
MsG
3:40pm, 1st Mar 2022
If it's in your training log, there's a "save route as..." box on the map.
fetcheveryone
3:41pm, 1st Mar 2022
Thank you! It added about 149km to a 218km route so is that about 60% deviation from a crow line?
MsG
4:26pm, 1st Mar 2022
68%!
fetcheveryone
4:28pm, 1st Mar 2022
Quite wiggly then
MsG
4:28pm, 1st Mar 2022
Your blog inspired the route choice for my lunchtime walk...

Yorkshire Pie
4:39pm, 1st Mar 2022
Brill! No badge yet, but I hope it was an adventure.
fetcheveryone
4:41pm, 1st Mar 2022
Very tactful of you not to mention that the save as route is in my screenshot, thanks 😂
MsG
8:23am, 2nd Mar 2022
Lolcano If it helps, I hadn't clocked that.
fetcheveryone
8:30am, 2nd Mar 2022

About Me

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

Blog Archive

Expand All

2024 (39)

April (9)

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

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 :-)

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

fetcheveryone

The lockers are a pound.

Comments

Advice for Gym Noobs!

Comments

Feedback made easier

Comments

#EveryoneDay June 26th 2022

Comments

Fetch Virtual Challenge 2022 🎈

Comments

Thanks Chunky: parkrun routes!

Comments

Sniffer Dogs

Comments

Yikes!

Comments

Fetch Cycling Jerseys - Update

Comments

Route Plotting tweak

Comments

The Crow: A Pipedream!

Comments

About Me

Blog Archive

Free training & racing tools for runners, cyclists, swimmers & walkers.