Ode to my Fuel Band

I coveted you from the moment I saw you.

So sleek, so simple.

I had been a Nike+ user from the early days. No, of course I never used the shoes... I really hadn't worn Nikes since, what, 7th grade? But I loved being able to track my miles when I ran. Heck, I still do.

I started with the little shoe pod, a pouch to attach it to my laces, and a sensor I attached to my iPod. My iPods came and went, and I even wore out a couple of sensors. But it was still good.

A year or so ago (probably more?) I bought the SportWatch. That was also cool -- and I still run with it because I love the GPS functionality. It's too bulky (and, well, too NIKE...) to wear every day as a watch, but who cares.I never wore my Garmin as a watch either. And this is much better looking.

And then, ah, the Fuel Band. A sleek little black band for my wrist, tracking my movements and granting me "Fuel Points". I love the device, I love the gamification, I love it love it love it.

But after 219 days, I had a problem. A stretch of the LEDs on the watch had died. Now, these aren't functional, really. I could still see if I hit my goal for the day. But I worried that if they were going, something else inside my be going, too.

Since I'm in Las Vegas for the NNG Usability Week conference -- and staying at Caesar's Palace -- I walked down to the Nike store to see if the folks there could help. After a little hemming and hawing, ("Well.. do you have a receipt?"), the manager said just to swap it out for a new one. Great.

Here's something a little shameful: I asked them to help me sync my day's Fuel Points (and those of the previous couple of days) so that I wouldn't break my streak. Yeah, it's like that. So we synced my old Fuel Band, and it was unceremoniously put in a box... while I was handed a shiny new one.

So -- Nike Store customer service gets an A. That said, they know the device hasn't been around all that long -- so they couldn't pretend I had had it for years.... But it was with a minimum of hassle, and I didn't have to lose my Fuel Band for weeks on end if I had to send it in.

But now I'm struggling to set up the new Fuel Band. Am I perhaps the only person in the history of the Fuel Band to ever get a second one? (No, I'm sure I'm not... but I may well be an edge case...) And it seems that my points from the past three days haven't actually synched. Which leads me to the real crux of the issue:

MY 176-DAY STREAK IS OVER.

Yes, since having the Fuel Band, I only missed hitting my goal one day -- on day 41, I think. And now I have "missed" three more -- including a day when I ran a PR in a half marathon. But, assuming everything sorts itself out, I will be back at it tomorrow. I hope.

By the way, I know I'm a dork.

Runner's Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon race report

After a bit of chaos trying to pick up my bib (in the pitch dark morning, along with several hundred other runners and six panicked volunteers...), I stood around trying to relax and stay warm before taking off my long sleeve and leaving it at the bag drop. I noticed that the race had pacers for 2:07, 2:15, and 2:30. I idly wondered how long I could hang on to the 2:15 group, but then just laughed that off.

I made my way to the starting area, where I lined up on the right-hand side (the slow lane...) and a but behind the 2:15 group. But when the race started and we all had to funnel through the timing mats, things got a bit jumbled and I was running with the 2:07s. Yeah, not my tribe.

I ran the first two intervals without the walk break -- we seemed too bunched together to stop. I did decide to walk the next break, however, which is when the 2:15s passed me. But when I started running again, I caught up with them quickly. Given that I struggle with my pace over even short runs, I decided to experiment with joining a pace group.  Crazy, right? But I figured I would just run with them until I ragout of gas.

Marie was the pacer. Holding her balloons (2:15 ROCKS!) and wearing a Santa hat, she kept up an almost constant chatter.  She asked members of the group if they wanted to dedicate miles to people, told funny stories about being a pacer all over the country, and sang songs. At every mile marker she would sing,, "Do you see what I see? It's mile marker number ________". And then the group would shout "2:15 ROCKS!!!"

Never having run with a pacer (umm, besides Wil...), I didn't know what to expect, but it was okay. All I had to do was keep close to them and let the miles and minutes click by.  It was sort-of the real-world version of running on a treadmill.

I have been running intervals for years now, and other than occasional long treadmill slogs, I really haven't run more than 30 minutes straight for a long time, if ever. So I kept thinking that eventually I would just crash.  But the pace was fine, I felt good, and I just kept going.

Then at a water stop somewhere around mile 8 I somehow ended up behind three other women from the group, but ahead of Marie.  I figured we would all shuffle back together, but we never did.  For a while I could hear Marie right behind me, but I stuck close to the three lively ladies and soon we had gapped them. I also knew that I should try to eat up some road while I was feeling good mentally and physically... And that I could let the 2:15s sweep me up later.

After another little stretch we did a loop to turn onto a bike path. As we wound our way through a park, I thought the ladies were slowing down, so I scooted around them and ran on my own. I kept picking out a runner to join, but I would catch them and keep going. I should remind you that this is a very unusual phenomenon for me!!!

The organizers had placed lots of water stops toward the end of the race -- one at mile 10, 11, and 12. This was great for me because it gave me a chance to have a sip of water, walk for a few moments,, and then move on.

At mile 11 -- always the toughest mile for me, mentally -- I decided to just think about things I love... Wil, Kiki, Bub, half marathons... ;) I thought about how great this year has been, how much Wil and I have accomplished, and how proud I am of us.

Then came mile 12 -- such a relief! I dedicated the final mile to Wil, my favorite running buddy, and wishing he was there running with me. The day had been nperfect -- coolish temperatures, gorgeous blue sky, no wind, flat course.

Every so often I looked at the elapsed time on my watch. But seeing that stat meant I didn't really know where I was on the course. So I started just thinking in terms of minutes. Fifteen minutes of running left... Fourteen minutes of running left...

I had looked at the course map before and noticed that there were three 90-degree turns in the last little stretch: right, left, right, finish. That was hugely helpful because I knew that I wouldn't see the actual finish until I was almost there. So I was ready for that.

It was interest ting -- and shamefully satisfying -- to pass so many people in the last couple of hundred yards. But I knew a PR was on the line, so I went for it.

As I was running in I got a shout out by the announcer, which made me wave and whoop. No one responded. But who cares?!? I had just finished in 2:13:06!!!

I felt wobbly and winded and gratefully took the medal and cup of water from the volunteers. At a bit of a loss for what to do next, I just picked up my gear bag, called Wil, and walked back to the hotel.

I already don't remember much about the race. No signs, no sits, just running behind and with a little group of strangers for a couple of hours.  Nice volunteers. Good course markings, including big, honking mile markers. Tons of police helping direct traffic. Plenty of water stops. A handsome medal. OH, AND STATE #17!!!!

A new PR!!

Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Finish Results

Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney at the Finish in 2:13:06.

Pace 10:09 min/Mile.
Time of Arrival: 9:44:13.

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Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Split Results

Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney at the 12 Mile in 2:02:24.

Pace 10:12 min/Mile.
Estimated Finish Time: 2:13:43.
Estimated Time of Arrival: 9:44:51.

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Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Split Results

Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney at the 10 Mile Split in 1:42:05.

Pace 10:12 min/Mile.
Estimated Finish Time: 2:13:50.
Estimated Time of Arrival: 9:44:58.

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Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Split Results

Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney at the 10K Split in 1:03:48.

Pace 10:16 min/Mile.
Estimated Finish Time: 2:14:36.
Estimated Time of Arrival: 9:45:43.

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Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Split Results

Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney at the 5K Split in 33:21.

Pace 10:44 min/Mile.
Estimated Finish Time: 2:20:40.
Estimated Time of Arrival: 9:51:48.

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Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon - Start Notification

Runners Den Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon:

Sunny Delaney has started.


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November Wrap-Up

Well, it was a strange month.  No boot camp, and only five runs. Of course, each of those runs was a half marathon....

I am writing this in my room in Scottsdale, where I am running a half marathon tomorrow and kicking off December.

I still have about 80 miles to run in order to hit my annual mileage goal. That is gonaa be pretty hard to hit, but I think I will get close. I would like to find a way to get some mid-week miles in again... It's just so darn dark!

Kerry's boot camp doesn't start again until January, but I have a deal for another one that will cover me for the weeks between Vegas and Orlando. And Nijah is teaching Zumba at work every Thursday. I have also been feeling like swimming again, so maybe I can find morning lap swim. And then of course I still have Zumba classes on my Fresh Fitness punch card, as well as samba classes with Janeale. So I should be able to shake off my sloth!