Helping others, my Garmin Zombie Badge journey

I love to help people. It's often why my posts on here end with 'Hope this helps'. And it's also why I started the blog post 'Reaching level 4 on Garmin and the badges I earned along the way'. It was merely an opportunity to share with others what it would take to get, at that time, the coveted 4 on your Garmin profile.

What I wasn't expecting was the influx of requests to help get the Zombie badge, which then led to a specific blog post 'How to earn the Garmin Zombie badge in 3 steps', which is easily the most popular by searches (and shortest) post I've made.

The unique attraction of the Zombie Badge is that you can only get the Zombie Badge from someone who already has it. A simple mechanic to get people connecting and engaging with their Garmin profile in pursuit of that oh-so-sweet fitness internet status.

This post then is to share what a wonderful experience it's been and to hopefully demonstrate that if you can spend some of your time thinking of and helping others you may be rewarded more than you'd expect.

I noticed you have the Zombie badge

Jill C, 31 July 2020

I believe Jill C was the first person to connect with me specifically for the Zombie Badge. I was likely giddy with excitement. Helping someone else because of a silly little blog post. How bizarre, yet how wholesome? And then it happened again in September, 2020. And then again. And then others were using my post as a means to spread their own Zombie Badges. It wasn't like my post had gone viral, but it reconfirmed to me that spending time writing a short article was making a difference to at least some people.

When will my badge come through?

I guess it's human nature and a reflection of modern technology and apps that we expect immediate service. I've found it quite amusing that at times I have people asking me why the badge hasn't appeared yet, when will it appear, or why haven't I synced to make it appear. I expect them to be anxiously app-watching waiting for my next sync to release that precious Zombie Badge. Fortunately, these interactions are rare, but it was interesting to see practically that my blog post had moved from 'Hope this helps' to an SLA expectation of delivery.

I feel so bad

On a daily basis I will accept connections and challenges from anyone, and at least once a week I'll have a light conversation with someone about the badge or training. Some people browse the blog further or my Garmin activities and comment on my little adventures. And then rarely still, but so sweetly, the conversations might continue.

To connect with others over a common interest is a genuine thrill, but sometimes I feel so bad. I sometimes miss connection or challenge requests. And I then worry about how that person feels. Do they feel rejected or put out of place? At best will they try again? Or at worse have I re-affirmed in their mind that it was a silly idea to even try and connect? I now make it a practice that as soon as I see the request come in, I connect. And it's the same as soon as I see a comment as well. But I have bad days and miss requests - Garmin also times them out after X hours - and when that happens I wear a sad face.

I still get giddy

I still enjoy the small thrill of connection. The browse of their profiles and adventures. The odd comment that starts a discussion. I'm not as into Garmin Badges as I was when they were first introduced, but I'm glad I was able to create that first post and experience the hundreds of connections I've made; many of which I've retained over the last few years.

Hope this helps.

5 things I learned at the Centurion Running Wendover Woods 50k

It was way hotter than expected

 Having done the 50 mile version there wasn't much for me to learn, or so I thought

1. James Elson offered to "get everyone off" at the start, which was new
   
   
2. Even though the day hadn't been all that warm, the temperature in the cloud-covered evening was far hotter than expected. If I was running the event again I'd start in a vest, and I certainly wouldn't have brought my merino buff
   
   
3. I usually pack some back-up energy gels for when things are getting tough, but I really shouldn't have bothered - there's no need for any additional 'what-if' items. If you really want them, add them to the drop bag
   
   
4. Mud trainers were a god-send. If I'd attempted them in my regular Summer trail trainers, I'd have quit. There's plenty of really loose mud - and don't hope that a Summers day will dry it all out
   
   
5. It's a bacon sarnie at the end, not hotdogs. I was crushed.

The Wendover Woods 50k in 2021 was run in the Summer alongside the Wendover 100.

Would I run the Wendover Woods 50k again? Yeah, I think so. As a Summer run, and I'm finding that I'm more of a warm weather runner than ever before, it's a great evening out. Wonderful crew, organisation, marking, course, and a decent medal too. But those hills may make you regret your decision.

Did I mention that it was hot? #SteamRising