Update on Houston EP5K

Posted on January 26, 2009May 3, 2022 by GeorgeK

They just sent an email with updated stats. I had not been able to calculate the actual places within division and age group. They must have discovered that so sent the info out to everyone.

The percentages look really good, and I am really pleased with the performance.
Stats:
Chip Time 27:22
Pace : 8:49
Division: Male 55-59
Division: 13 out of 57 (Top 22%)
Gender : 379 out of 1230 (Top 30%)
Overall : 503 out of 2840 (Top 17%)

Time: 27:22 & Pace: 8:48

So overall a very positive start to the 2009 season. Next up is the Super 5K in Novi Michigan on February 1, 2009… back to the cold and snow. Have been running this week in 10-15 degree temperatures. With a good head cover, insulated compression shirt, light running jacket and tights I still work up a sweat and keep warm. Only issue I had… I have gone to really heavy weight gloves to keep my fingers from going numb. Maybe some windproof mittens are on the shopping list!

All the pictures are now posted on the photo album page!

Until frosty fingers are abolished,
George

The first race of 2009 Special Notes = Warm + PR

Posted on January 24, 2009May 3, 2022 by GeorgeK

This weekend was a bit of a change up for racing. If you read the last post on the New Year’s Eve run you know the temperature was around 20 degrees in Detroit when I ran it. This Sunday I ran in the elpaso 5K, in Houston, Texas. The weather at the 7:30 am start was in the mid 50’s! Very nice change. Actually it was warm enough the full marathon went “Condition Yellow” because of the wind and temperature.

The other positive aspect of the race, I set a new PR for a 5K @ 27:22, or a pace of 8:48. (I am going to assume a lot of the runners were in either the half or full marathon, which made it easier to move up in the positions in the 5K.)

Stats:

Overall in 5K race: 502/2818

Age Group: 13/57

Time: 27:22 & Pace: 8:48

So overall a very positive start to the 2009 season. Next up is the Super 5K in Novi Michigan on February 1, 2009… back to the cold and snow.

If I get them out of the camera, and onto the web site you will eventually be able to see the pictures!

Now I still have a couple of days to get outdoors and run in 70 degree temps before I have to return to the frozen city of Ann Arbor! There are at least two really popular places to run here in Houston, Memorial Park and Hermann Park adjoining Rice University. Hopefully will get a chance to do both of them in the evenings before I leave.

Until Global Warming hits Ann Arbor,
George

New Year’s Eve 4 Mile Fun Run – Belle Isle Detroit

Posted on January 1, 2009September 1, 2022 by GeorgeK

Ran a very “cool” race… freezing is more like it! The Belle Isle 39th Annual 4 Mile Fun run. Mostly what I can say about it… cold, windy, cold, snowy, and did I mention cold?
In spite of that it was a good time. The last race is now in the books for 2008. That makes a total of uh-oh, 13 races for the year.

So, guess that’s it for this years running… after the feast at the casino after the race, and a down day after the race today (New Year’s Day!) is for relaxing and thinking about the race schedule for next year!

If you are kicking back maybe you want to check out the pictures!

I am pretty sure I will not do all of the same ones again this year. Some were fun, but want to do some others this year. I also want to get to a few other bigger races. Was thinking of the Indy Half Marathon in May, but it is sold out now.

Lots of others though, so drop by to see whats in the upcoming schedule.

Until the final New Years Resolution is kept,
George

Upgrade your Magellan Maestro 3250 GPS Firmware, a How-To.

Posted on December 29, 2008December 4, 2022 by GeorgeK

Upgrading a Magellan Maestro GPS Firmware – Install Firmware

Before you attempt this step you should have completed the directions in the prior post to download the latest firmware for your unit off the Magellan web site.

When you completed the final step in obtaining the firmware upgrade (shown above) it was saved to your PC hard drive…. you remembered where…. didn’t you?

My Firefox download manager is set up to save downloads to the desktop where I can see them easily.

After it completes the download, you should have the file… here is the icon on my workspace/desktop.

You may want to create a directory to put the extracted files, so create it first, but since there are only two files, if you want to extract them directly to the desktop it isn’t a big deal. You can just delete the later, or save them to another place, but I doubt if you would ever need them again.

It is a self extracting .Zip file, so if you “double click” on the icon, it should begin the extraction process.

Once it unzips it will start the install process.

Do NOT have your unit plugged into the USB cable at this time! I think if you do, not only will it trash your GPS, it will reformat your hard drive.

Do NOT have your unit plugged into the USB cable at this time! I think if you do, not only will it trash your GPS, it will reformat your hard drive. Set your VCR time ahead two hours, turn the temperature up in your refrigerator so your beer is warm, it will also cause gas prices to go above $5 a gallon and melt the polar ice cap…. and you do NOT want to be responsible for all that! Leave the GPS unplugged!! Until it says to plug it in.

The defaults should be okay to leave as they are, so just click on “Next”.

When you get this screen it is okay to plug in!

Read carefully and take heed.

Make sure the unit is fully charged
Make sure it is turned on, and all the screens have opened so you are at a “street View.

Then, and only then, click on the Next Button.

Continue reading→

Upgrading a Magellan Maestro GPS Firmware – Software

Posted on December 19, 2008December 4, 2022 by GeorgeK

Upgrading a Magellan Maestro GPS Firmware – Software

So you, like me, want to take advantage of all the latest features your
Magellan GPS has to offer. Not only are there new visual features there are a
number of firmware upgrades that make the unit even faster when performing some
calculations.

The first part of upgrading your Magellan GPS… and note this is for the
3250 model, is to download the
firmware upgraded from the Magellan web site.

Visit the link above,
https://www.magellangps.com/products/ and follow along.

Go to Products (1), then GPS Units (2)

Select the 3250 from the model list.

Go to Product Support (4)

You can download a user manual in English or French (7) if you are so
inclined.

Otherwise go to the Magellan Maestro 3250 Firmware Version 4.60 link (5).

You can also download the 2008/2009 map update (6), but it is about .

You should get a screen that tells you about the release and some of the
features in it. Do a quick read through, and the click on the “I want to
download this update link (8)

Oh… you have to have registered your unit. If you have already done so,
then use your email address and password to continue.(9) If you have not
registered now is a good time to do so.

If you have not registered, click on the “Create User Profile” link (10)

Go through the entire process then resume here.

Continue reading→

Creating Editable GPS Files from a .MGLN format file.

Posted on December 12, 2008May 3, 2022 by GeorgeK

In a previous post I stressed making sure you saved your original .CSV file which you imported into your Magellan GPS since it creates a .MGLN format file. At the time I did not know a way to edit that file in the future. A little research found it can be done. If you have an Magellan “.MGLN” file in your unit here is how you can save it to allow editing with some of the tools I have previously recommended.

Open the Magellan POI File Editor.

Find the .mgln file you want to edit. You did save it. . . right? If not, all is not lost. If you plug your Magellan unit into a computer using the USB cord, it should link up. Use Windows Explorer (or a better method like “Power Desk”) to find the unit. Work your way through the directory structure until you find the .MGLN file you want. Copy this file back to your PC.

Now open the .MGLN file you previously saved or the one you just retrieved from the Magellan GPS.

Example:

(1) find the directory it is stored in

(2) highlight the .MGLN file

(3) Click on “Open”.

When it open’s it you should see the list of all the Categories and their POI’s. Pick the Category (5) you want to save so all the POI’s appear in the right pane. (6)

Click on the first entry (7)

Go to the last entry in the list, or the last items you want to export, hold down the Ctrl + Shift key, left click on the entry. (8) All the POI’s between the first and last selected one’s should now be highlighted.

Right click anywhere in the window (Do not left click or you select only the one POI and have to start over!), then click on Copy (9) (Or if you know your shortcuts you can simply use “Ctrl + C” to copy these.

Open Excel, (10) (actually I have found I greatly prefer to use Notepad – or any plain text editor – for this) “Paste” the information from the clipboard. (12) (Or use “Ctrl + V”)
Continue reading→