26.2 and beyond…

Currently training for Valencia Marathon 2019

The race to the top

The race to the top

It was a beautiful, crisp, dry October morning when I left the house with my rucksack packed, bike lights flashing and Fitbit ready to go. I travel out of the city centre towards my work, avoiding the main roads but consequently having to deal with sleepy pedestrians and impatient drivers on their own commute. Half way through my 3 mile journey, I am at risk of encountering the A bus and knowing where I meet this bus is important as it impacts the remainder of my commute. On this second half of the commute, I approach a certain hill through a residential area where families walk along the footpaths to school/work, cars are parked along both sides and of course, the A bus goes up and down, resulting in the traffic coming to an absolute halt some mornings. Every day, I cycle along in quite a care-free manner, mindful of traffic and courteous to other people however, when I approach this hill I feel like should be wearing a polka-dot jersey. As soon as I take the right turn on to this road, I immediately drop down through the gears as the road inclines and I give it all I’ve got. The gradient steepens as the road veers left and I’m off my seat, absolutely smashing it. At the top of the hill the road veers right again and flattens off but I keep pushing, often shouting out in pain, to make sure I make it to the end of the road. My exhaustion is not in vain, however, as it is not just a road I’m travelling along but a Strava segment and my Fitbit has been timing my efforts. That particular morning, I raced up the hill in 1 minute and 56 seconds, which keeps me at 2nd place on the leader board for all-time females, a position which I have held for a few weeks but have fought for over nearly 60 attempts at this segment.

Each morning I arrive at work, telling my colleagues how fast I cycled and how close I am to the number 1 spot. In case you are wondering, I need to knock off another 10 seconds, which doesn’t sound like much but it has taken me months to get to where I am right now. I have friends commenting on my commute on Strava each morning telling me that they look forward to seeing how close I can get and when I phone home, I will tell them about the car that reversed out in front of me, or the strong wind that prevented me from achieving a new personal best. I am thankful for the friends that listen to me explain the daily struggles of Strava segment battles.

This fight for number 1 has made me think about whether Strava is a helpful training tool or becoming an unhealthy addiction? Of course, I am going to say it’s the former, but I have definitely thought about it.

When I’m running, I don’t worry too much about segments but that could be because I’m not near the top. I do like to see improvements on my own times for 1 mile, 5K, half marathon etc, but that’s competition on a completely personal level. Strava is great for breaking down your runs to how fast you ran each mile/km and to map out where you have been and it’s fun to connect with friends and give kudos on their runs.

For me, cycling is different. I don’t really know what a normal time to cycle 5K is and I don’t think that really matters, so personal records for distances seem a bit pointless. I didn’t realise I was in the running for a top 10 position on my morning segment battle for weeks. There is also another segment on my route, which I am in number 1 position for but I maintained number 4 for ages because I just didn’t realise the segment existed. It’s not as exciting anyway as it’s pretty flat (where’s the fun in that?!) Competing for the number 1 spot makes me cycle more often and encourages me to go faster which improves my overall fitness and therefore also helps my running. Sometimes it can seem like cyclists/runners are bit Strava-obsessed and yes, we probably are but we’re also better athletes for it!

It can be liberating to run (or cycle) without knowing your pace and split times (another blog post maybe?) but for now I’m quite happy logging my times as it’s a way I can record my progress each day. Sometimes I do forget to sync it all up but hey, it’s not the end of the world! No matter what, I’ll be back on the road again the next day, trying to knock off another second or two.

What do you think about Strava? Leave me a comment if you have any similar segment battles!

0 thoughts on “The race to the top”

  11. Useful material. Appreciate it.
    http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
    online discount pharmacy global pharmacy canada cialis online canadian pharmacies that ship to us
    canadian drugs
    online pharmacy usa
    online pharmacy without prescription
    online pharmacy no prescription needed
    safe canadian online pharmacies
    reputable canadian mail order pharmacies

    Reply

  14. Well expressed really! .
    http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
    overseas pharmacy forum aarp approved canadian online pharmacies canadian rx pharmacy online north west pharmacy canada
    prescription cost comparison
    best canadian pharmacies
    ed meds online
    canadian drugstore reviews
    canadian drugs without prescription
    northwest pharmacy canada

    Reply

  19. Great postings. Thank you.
    http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
    best online pharmacies canada canadian online pharmacies canadian pharmacy king canadian viagra
    online canadian pharmacies
    canadian prescription drugstore
    buy drugs online
    online pharmacy no prescription needed
    online canadian discount pharmacy
    mexican pharmacy online medications

    Reply

  24. With thanks! Loads of information!
    http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
    prescription prices comparison canada pharmacy online approved canadian pharmacies online trust pharmacy canada
    canadian pharmacy uk delivery
    mail order pharmacies
    drugs for sale
    canadian pharmacies online prescriptions
    canada pharmacies online prescriptions
    online rx pharmacy

    Reply

  29. Fantastic write ups, Regards.
    http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
    online pharmacy no prescription needed canadian online pharmacies canadian prescriptions canadian pharmacies-24h
    rx online
    cheap drugs online
    no prior prescription required pharmacy
    drug prices comparison
    pain meds online without doctor prescription
    <a href="http://vincent.bonduau.free.fr/?s=+Very+good+write+ups.+Thank+you.+http%3A%2F%2Fwww.canadianpharmacymsn.com%2F+most+reliable+canadian+pharmacies+canada+pharmaceutical+online+ordering+canadian+drug+stores+online+canadian+pharmacies+online+%0D%0Aprescription+price+comparison+%0D%0Apharmacy+prescription+%0D%0Aprescription+drugs+canada+%0D%0Abest+online+pharmacy+stores+%0D%0Aprescription+price+comparison+%0D%0Acanadian+family+pharmacy”>canadian pharmacies top best

    Reply

  31. Regards! A lot of tips!
    http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
    cheap canadian drugs northwest pharmacy canadian cialis canada pharmacy online
    best online pharmacies no prescription
    best canadian pharmacies
    northwest pharmacy
    highest rated canadian pharmacies
    best non prescription online pharmacies
    legitimate canadian mail order pharmacies

    Reply

  32. Thanks! Excellent stuff.
    http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
    drugs for sale online pharmacies canada online pharmacies no prescription northwest pharmacy
    medical information online
    medical information online
    <a href="http://www.ikeaclub.biz.ua/lib/ajax/contact_us_form.php?form_ajax=contacts&name=Quentinnax&email=zittel020eejf%40songwriter.net&phone=82489532845&message=+Valuable+forum+posts.+Cheers%21+https%3A%2F%2Fnicktambone.com%2F+canadian+pharmacies+online+prescriptions+online+pharmacies+canada+buying+prescription+drugs+canada+northwest+pharmacy+%0D%0Acanadian+drugstore+%0D%0Acanadian+cialis+%0D%0Acanadian+online+pharmacy+reviews+%0D%0Aonline+drugstore+%0D%0Acanada+drugs+online+pharmacy+%0D%0Aoverseas+pharmacies&security_code=57514389&send=”>cheap canadian drugs
    trusted overseas pharmacies
    buy prescription drugs without doctor
    top rated canadian pharmacies online

    Reply

  36. You actually mentioned this well!
    http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
    canadian pharmacy uk delivery online pharmacies canada canadian pharmacies that ship to us canadian online pharmacies
    prescription cost comparison
    canada meds
    canadian pharmacy without prescription
    online canadian pharmacy
    onlinecanadianpharmacy.com
    online pharmacies no prescription

    Reply

  38. With thanks, A good amount of knowledge.
    http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
    reputable canadian mail order pharmacies canadian drugs northwest pharmacy canada canadian viagra
    costco pharmacy pricing
    best online pharmacy stores
    online pharmacy no prescription needed
    canadian pharmacy without prescription
    online pharmacy canada
    canadian pharmacy

    Reply

  40. You actually revealed this perfectly!
    http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
    canadian pharmacies without prescriptions online pharmacies canada canada pharmacies online prescriptions canada drug
    canada drugs online pharmacy
    canada pharmacy online
    approved canadian pharmacies online
    pharmacy online mexico
    prescription drugs online without
    top rated online canadian pharmacies

    Reply

  44. Terrific content, Thanks!
    http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
    global pharmacy canada canadian cialis discount pharmacy canada drug
    prescription pricing
    pharmacy prices
    canadapharmacy
    drug prices comparison
    <a href="http://www.bryandornan.com/index.php/2010/03/organic-search-engine-optimization-converts-better-than-ppc/#comments?form2mailerror&inquiry=Business+Development&fname=ScottLed&lname=ScottLed&email=jimmievag%40gmail.com&company=google&phone1=88683345925&phone2=82121648627&phone3=83489772364&comments=+Great+write+ups.+Cheers.+http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com+canadian+pharmacy+365+%3Ca+href=%22http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com%22%3Ecanadianpharmacy%3C/a%3E+canadian+online+pharmacy+reviews+%3Ca+href=http://canadianpharmacymim.com%3Enorthwestpharmacy%3C/a%3E?form2mailerror&inquiry=Business Development&fname=Quentingroow&lname=Quentingroow&email=zittel020eejf@songwriter.net&company=google&phone1=84685227375&phone2=87545554264&phone3=84747968837&comments= Nicely put, Thank you! http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/ best canadian prescription prices canadian pharmacies that ship to us prescription drug cost northwestpharmacy overseas pharmacies my canadian pharmacy pharmacy price compare pharmacy price comparison prescription drugs online without doctor highest rated canadian pharmacies“>pharmacy prescription
    canadian prescription drugstore

    Reply

  49. You have made your stand extremely clearly!.
    http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
    compare prescription prices online pharmacies canada pharmacy prescription canada pharmaceutical online ordering
    the canadian pharmacy
    online pharmacy without a prescription
    pharmacy without dr prescriptions
    trust pharmacy canada
    canadapharmacy
    no prescription pharmacies

    Reply

  53. Incredible lots of fantastic info!
    http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
    drugs without prescription northwestpharmacy cialis canadian pharmacy mexican pharmacies shipping to usa
    canada pharmacies without script
    no prescription pharmacies
    prescription cost comparison
    pharmacy prices compare
    canada pharmacies prescription drugs
    medication costs

    Reply

  54. You actually suggested it well.
    http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
    prescription drugs prices canadian drugs prescription drugs without doctor approval canada drug
    best non prescription online pharmacies
    canada pharmacies prescription drugs
    board of pharmacy
    canadian pharmacies that are legit
    trust pharmacy canada
    visit poster’s website

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top
Bitnami