That marathon isn't as big a deal as if I strapped on running shoes and did 26.2 miles (41 Point Something Km) and actually ran it. It takes 2 hours on a bike to do that distance including water stops. 3 hours on inline skates.
I miss my skates, I'm strongly considering returning to them before the death apple tree threatens my titanium collar bones again this season.
Never mind that.
There is a lot of technology I strap onto myself to monitor my performance. Probably too much. They all talk to the phone as a central clearing house. I have a "little man" talking in my ears thanks to Runkeeper. He comes by every 3 minutes telling me my distance, heart rate, speed, and averages. That kind of crap I keep a record of on a spreadsheet to tell me if I am training well.
I'm not really that focused though. I do go, and enjoy the journey, but on a bike I am not competitive. Inline skates yes, but a bicycle I am intermediate distance and speed.
I don't have sponsors to answer to and while I would welcome one, I'm not looking for it. I was a sponsored inline skater Back In The Day, but that time came and went.
The thing is that every time Mr. Announcer clears his throat in my head, turns down the music, and fights with the wind noise, I pay attention. Then I start taking note.
Nothing agrees.
Mr Announcer "lives" in Runkeeper. Runkeeper talks to the phone. The phone talks to the chest strap for Heart Rate. But the phone does not talk to the speedometer on the bike.
I'm sorry, Bike Computer. Meh.
Runkeeper does not talk to the sport watch, that has its own software.
I check speed, and now there's a difference because while I am extremely stable at speed, I do speed up to avoid obstacles. Just like those Death Apples which would puncture the tires, or landscaper's work, or worst of them all Karens who are Trail Hogs. Trust me, Trail Hogs and Karens are the WORST!
Damnit! Keep Right Except To Pass!
Anyway, I look at the Bike Computer and the speed and distance are now varying from the phone.
I check the watch. Yes, I have a sport watch. I have to. That does a fair job, sometimes, of reporting to the phone and software current speed, heart rate, and other details. At the end it tells me calories burned.
Most importantly the software it runs with is semi-permanent. I have details going back two years. With the recovery I have had to go through with the broken clavicles and other issues through lockdown and so forth, those details are extremely useful.
I rattled off everything that I get from the "cloud" of gadgets I have to the Doctor and he told me that I don't need a Stress Test (I'm quite over 40) and that a Resting Heart Rate of low 50s is excellent.
But nothing agrees.
I have to pick and choose what I believe in.
The watch has to be proven to synchronize to the heart rate. It often reads at half speed when I am in a sporting event. The first lap at the park is me checking and verifying and taking my eyes off the trail. If the watch is "wrong" and does not have a heart rate that agrees with the chest strap by the first mile, I stop, curse loudly, take it off, threaten to back a Jeep over top of it, lather, rinse, and repeat.
To get this far, I have already restarted the watch at the trail head, and told it the sport I will do today. Watch the heart rate reported after 3 minutes while I load the gear onto the bike. Start the Body Camera because Karens exist. Verify the heart rate is reasonable.
Now I have started Runkeeper. Started the Body Camera. Verified the chest strap heart rate.
Finally on the trail and under power.
I am an endurance athlete. Decidedly in the Master Class of everything I do. Master Class is a polite way of saying I'm an old duffer. I could also out train most people a third my age so step off with the ageism.
Oh wait, I'm talking to myself again, never mind!
Three laps to an hour. That's a half marathon. 13.6 miles on average, but it dips as low as 13.1 and as high as 14.1 depending if I do extra circles in the parking lot to verify the bike is in tune.
After three laps, water stop, and carbo-load in the form of a cookie.
Verify all the electronics are working.
Stop at the golf club pro shop for ice water.
Back on the trail.
Mid workout I have about 1/4 of a discrepancy between all three GPS. Mutter to myself that GPS is supposed to be accurate. Complain to myself until I get going. Check speed. Realize I have just rode another 2 laps and debate.
Is today a Marathon, or is the workout done?
I may not know exactly how far I have gone, but it's a good day to burn 1500 calories. 300 calories per lap, 18 minutes per lap.
Give or take.
Since GPS is questionable, I have gone so far as to measure the distance using cartography tools on the computer. My own measurements come up as 4.6 miles per lap plus whatever I do to get to and from the Jeep and the water stop at the Pro Shop.
Average.
Bike Computer says it's a little less.
Apple GPS says its a little more.
Average.
I guess with multiple GPS you never really are sure where you are.
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