Keeping Track

Today I visited the London Marathon Expo and picked up my running number and shoe chip as well as a few other bits and pieces. I also finally got round to ironing my name on my Christian Aid vest.

For those who would like to know how I'm getting on on Sunday I think you'll be able to follow my progress on the results page of the Virgin London Marathon website - click here. On Sunday if you click this link there will be a 2013 section (I'm assuming). If you click on the Results you'll be taken to a page where you can enter the names and numbers of any runners you know. You can then ask for 5km splits. Not sure exactly how it works but I'm sure you'll be able to work it out with a bit of fiddling and clicking here, there and everywhere.

Added on 19th April - here is the official link that VLM have now posted to track runners from 7am on Sunday: http://results-2013.virginlondonmarathon.com/2013/

Progress of every runner is recorded every 5km using a timing chip that fixes to the laces of one of your shoes. There is also a mat at the start line and one at the finish. The mass race starts at 10am but it will take several minutes to cross the start line - but the chip isn't activated until it crosses the line.

Chip is fixed using small ties - not shown in this photo

Every 5km along the course there is a mat across the road, and as the chip passes over this area it is recorded on computer. This information is fed live to the website so you should be able to follow my progress in 5km chunks. [Looking at last year's results and entering a random race number you'll come up with a runner's name - if you click on their name you'll get the break down of their race.]

My dream goal is to finish in 3:45. If it all goes wrong on the day but I get under 4 hours I'll be consolable with the thought of a new PB. The biggest danger is to go off too quick.

As you may have picked up from some of my previous posts, running is a hobby designed for those who like statistics, numbers and spreadsheets etc. So here's an extract from my pacing spreadsheet which gives miles in the first column, the equivalent in kms in the second column. The third column is the time taken to reach each mile marker if I'm on course for a 3:45 finish. The final column is splits for a sub 4 hour finish. The race starts at 10am and I'll probably cross the start line within 3-5 minutes, so looking to finish about 1.48-1.50pm.

Mile	KM	03:45:00	03:59:59
1	1.6	00:08:35	00:09:10
2	3.2	00:17:11	00:18:19
3	4.8	00:25:46	00:27:29
4	6.4	00:34:21	00:36:38
5	8.0	00:42:56	00:45:48
6	9.7	00:51:32	00:54:57
7	11.3	01:00:07	01:04:07
8	12.9	01:08:42	01:13:17
9	14.5	01:17:17	01:22:26
10	16.1	01:25:53	01:31:36
11	17.7	01:34:28	01:40:45
12	19.3	01:43:03	01:49:55
13	20.9	01:51:38	01:59:05
14	22.5	02:00:14	02:08:14
15	24.1	02:08:49	02:17:24
16	25.7	02:17:24	02:26:33
17	27.4	02:26:00	02:35:43
18	29.0	02:34:35	02:44:52
19	30.6	02:43:10	02:54:02
20	32.2	02:51:45	03:03:12
21	33.8	03:00:21	03:12:21
22	35.4	03:08:56	03:21:31
23	37.0	03:17:31	03:30:40
24	38.6	03:26:06	03:39:50
25	40.2	03:34:42	03:49:00
26	41.8	03:43:17	03:58:09
26.2	42.2	03:45:00	03:59:59

One of the things I picked up today was a pacing band that fits round the wrist with this 1 mile break down info on it (columns 1 and 3) - to help runners make sure they keep to the right even pace.

Why do I need this as well as a GPS watch? Just in case the watch stops working!

Don't forget the race is on the tele - you may see me whizz by at one stage!

I'm running for Christian Aid and although I have now reached my target of £2000 every little extra will help transform some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities in the world. Thanks for you support.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/keithtarring