Quick-fix: Typing ÄÖÜ on a UK Keyboard
UK keyboards, for good reasons, do not come with keys for ÄÖÜ. Here is a quick-and-dirty fix to customize the xkb symbols map, tested on on Arch Linux.
Pomodoro Timer: Prototype, Round 2
The “pomodoro technique” is a simple time management method, which requires a robust, simple-to-use timer, which doesn’t distract from the task at hand. After the first prototype with the ATmega32-based RN-Control v1.4 experimental board, I built another prototype: this time with a 4-digit display.
The Bike, Your True Sport Utility Vehicle
SUVs with four wheels? Zero sport utility, questionable utility for the climate, questionable use of limited space in cities, and on top of that a danger to pedestrians. An opinion in favour of making Switzerland friendlier for the bike, your one true sport utility vehicle.
Pomodoro Timer: Prototype with an ATmega32
The “pomodoro technique” is a simple time management method, however in my opinion completely lacks support from something essential: a robust, simple-to-use timer, which doesn’t distract from the task at hand. Thus, I built a prototype with the ATmega32-based RN-Control v1.4 experimental board.
Swiss Peaks 360, Lessons Learned
After completing the Swiss Peaks 360 foot race, it’s time to contemplate what I learnt from moving through the mountains of Valais over a distance of 360 km and a vertical gain in excess of 26,000 m, in less than 6.5 days.
Swiss Peaks 360 is a Go
This year’s challenge is approaching: Swiss Peaks 360. After recovering well from “the plague” in early July, and coming to terms with the turmoil it caused to my training, I decided already a few weeks ago: It’s a Go.
The Pandemic Wants Me, Too
Hit a roadblock 194 days into the training cycle, and 160 days after my previous post. Turns out the COVID-19 pandemic wants me, too. I am grateful, that so far, the pandemic does not seem to make me give as much as it makes others do. Nevertheless, time to reflect on the training so far. Time to poke a bit into available research on how to safely return to what all athletes want: get back out, and continue.
Exercised at home: hacking a plyo box
How to bring some hills into your home? Such to train for hiking using box step-ups when stuck at home? After surprisingly long Internet research, I finally found a compact, wooden, pretty-enough “plyo box” . Even though plyometrics wasn’t what I had in mind.
Right control key on keyboard as i3 modifier in Ubuntu 20.04
If you ever wanted to use the right Ctrl button in Ubuntu 20.04 as an i3 modifier, and struggled with xmodmap, try editing the modifier mappings directly in /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/pc. It’s dirty, and may fail during software update─but meh until then it appears to work.
Swiss Trail Tour, Day 3
Punishment. Today’s theme is voluntary punishment. The last stage of this footrace is framed by rain and snow. After two days of sunshine tralala, the adventure gets a new facet. Impressions from Day 3 of the Swiss Trail Tour.
Swiss Trail Tour, Day 2
The longest stage of the Swiss Trail Tour is awaiting me. Spirits are still running high, although my legs remember the effort from the previous day. How is it going to turn out today? Impressions from Day 2.
Swiss Trail Tour, Day 1
Nine months after signing up, after nine months of training, race day has finally come. Spirits are running high. I can’t wait for the start of this footrace. What does the first day have in store? Only time will tell. Impressions from Day 1 of the Swiss Trail Tour.
For One Thing Is Certain, Connie Loves Cake
Mid 2021. Almost 1.5 years have passed since we moved to Switzerland. Connie has seized the chance to create a new venture during challenging times, turning what could turned crisis into opportunity by starting her very own cake shop. I cannot help but write a few words on that journey.
Pursuit, a take on personal OKRs: Nine months later
In August 2020, I started using a home-made web application to track my personal OKRs: Pursuit. Nine months later, I am still using Pursuit on a daily basis. A brief review with which I hope to inspire you to work towards your own big goals, and particularly to stay present on what matters most: the journey to get there.
Swiss Trail Tour, Darth Vader on a Treadmill
What does Darth Vader do on a treadmill? Breathe, breathe, breathe. This week, I treated myself to the futuristic world of performance diagnosis: I wanted to learn more about where I am as a hobby runner, how to improve from there, and how applied science in sports works nowadays.
Thoughts on 'The Practicing Mind' by Thomas M. Sterner
Having been on a journey to increase my ability to focus for some time now, I recently read ‘The Practicing Mind’ by Thomas M. Sterner. This book emphasises process, and the importance of not getting distracted by a goal while being in the process of working towards it. Let’s review what to take out of this book.
Swiss Trail Tour, Incorporating Objective Feedback
Without feedback, you can only achieve what you already know how to do. With feedback, you can achieve what that you do not yet know how to do. I believe that feedback loops are at the core of any development. In this post, I am sharing my thoughts on incorporating objective feedback into long distance running training by visualizing data from Strava in Google Data Studio.
Swiss Trail Tour, Training Differently
After more than a decade of running, I figured it’s time to understand how training actually works. Unsurprisingly, after digging through three books on the art and science of exercise, I have changed how I train for the Swiss Trail Tour this year. Maybe such research will change your training, too.
A formula for converting pace from min/mile to min/km in Google Spreadsheets
If you are a runner and desperate for a quick-and-dirty formula you can use in a Google Spreadsheet to convert running pace from minutes per mile into minutes per kilometer, this nerdy post will give the formula to you.
Thoughts on 'Pragmatic Thinking & Learning' by Andy Hunt
Having been influenced by the ‘The Pragmatic Programmer’ a long time ago, I recently re-read another book from one of the authors, called ‘Pragmatic Thinking & Learning’. The book caught my interest since thinking and learning are absolutely essential in my line of work, and learning is a great enjoyment outside of work for me. Let’s review what the book is good for.
Swiss Trail Tour, Beginning or Comeback?
Having signed up for the Swiss Trail Tour in September, I am wondering whether this is a comeback to ultra running, or rather the beginning of something else? Either way: why do this, and how to prepare for three days of trail running─and hiking─a total distance of 103 km and 6000 m elevation gain?
Thoughts on 'Focus' by Daniel Goleman
One of these rare moments: I finished a book. Called “Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence”. Reading it to the end is an accomplishment by its own, as I had started this book years ago but then put aside for a reason I can no longer remember. Although it’s clear that, back then, my focus must have moved on to something else. Reflections after finishing a book on what is an essential topic in the information age.
Pursuit, a take on personal OKRs
The year 2020 taught me again how powerful good habits are, once established. How important it is to continuously do the many small steps that are required to achieve goals, from smaller to bigger goals. I wrote an app─nicknamed “pursuit”─which helps me to formulate, commit, and measure the progress towards goals. I will share the ideas with you, may it inspire you to progress towards your goals in 2021.
Visualizing Strava activities with BigQuery and Google Data Studio
How to load Strava activities into Google Cloud BigQuery and visualizing the activities with Google Data Studio? This article is for (hobby) athletes interested in taking a walk through the Strava API, Google Cloud Platform and Google Data Studio; showing how to gain the freedom to explore and visualize the data you have been sweating for over years.
A not-so-serious SARIMA forecast for running in 2020
Just for fun: what happens when you fit a SARIMA model (using statsmodel) over past Strava running activities in order to predict remaining running distance in 2020? Not much happens beyond the nourishment of my interest in predicting time series.