I inherited this Crosswave and recently tried to use it for the first time. It turns on, and sounds like it's vacuuming, but the roller doesn't engage. After a few seconds, it turns off and won't re-start until it's unplugged and plugged in again. It was relatively clean, so I didn't think it was hair clogging the drive gear like I saw mentioned in some YT videos, but I finally caved in and decided to pull it apart and take a look before giving up on it. This is what I found (pic).
Please note that I don't think this is damage from normal use, and I'm not bashing the unit. It used to be my mom's and she liked it and thought it worked well. I think it may have been in a flooded basement at one point, which may be the reason for this damage. Seems like water may have seeped into the drive motor compartment, causing the motor to rust and seize.
A new motor w/ shipping seems to be ~$50 on ebay. A whole new unit is $200, and I actually have another floor cleaner, so I don't really need it. Not sure if it'll even work w/ the new motor, so I'm tempted to toss it. I suppose I could also part it out on eBay, but not sure how much of a demand there is for the parts.

Credits: updateindia
Dodla Dairy: Net profit at Rs 46.8 cr vs Rs 22.5 cr, Revenue at Rs 787 cr vs Rs 724 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
IRFC: Net profit at Rs 1,717 cr vs Rs 1,285 cr, Revenue at Rs 6473 cr vs Rs 6194 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Apollo Micro: Net profit at Rs 12.90 cr vs Rs 7.21 cr, Revenue at Rs 135 cr vs Rs 107 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Power Mech: Net profit at Rs 84.4 cr vs Rs 74.9 cr, Revenue at Rs 1301 cr vs Rs 1174 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
BEL: Net Profit at Rs 1796 cr vs Rs 1382 cr, Est 1293 cr. Revenues at Rs 8564 cr vs Rs 6479 cr, Est 8271 cr (Positive)
Kitex: Net profit at Rs 19.7 cr vs Rs 2.9 cr, Revenue at Rs 173.1 cr vs Rs 97.7 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
SJS Ent: Net profit at Rs 27.2 cr vs Rs 15.4 cr, Revenue at Rs 187.0 cr vs Rs 107.0 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Carysil: Net profit at Rs 15.5 cr vs Rs 12.4 cr, Revenue at Rs 191.0 cr vs Rs 146.0 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Oil India: Net profit at Rs 2332 cr vs Rs 1979 cr, Revenue at Rs 10165 cr vs Rs 8936 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Windlas: Net profit at Rs 17.0 cr vs Rs 11.4 cr, Revenue at Rs 171 cr vs Rs 141 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Alphageo: Net profit at Rs 3.9 cr vs loss Rs 1.2 cr, Revenue at Rs 51.9 cr vs Rs 14.1 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Shankara: Net profit at Rs 24 cr vs Rs 19 cr, Revenue at Rs 1376 cr vs Rs 1210 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Electrotherm: Net profit at Rs 102.5 cr vs Rs 39 cr , Revenue at Rs 1217 cr vs Rs 1033 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Whirlpool: Net profit up 24.8% at ₹79.5 cr vs ₹63.7 cr, Revenue up 3.7% at ₹1,734 cr vs ₹1,672.7 cr (YoY) (Positive)
SAIL: Net Profit at Rs 1125 cr vs Rs 1039 cr, Est 220 cr. Revenues at Rs 27959 cr vs Rs 29131 cr, Est 27967 cr (Positive)
Wheels India: Net profit at Rs 38.3 cr vs Rs 21.4 cr (YoY) , Revenue at Rs 1271 cr vs Rs 1250 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Patel Engineering: Net profit at Rs 141 cr vs Rs 77 cr (YoY) , Revenue at Rs 1343 cr vs Rs 1205 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Cipla: Exelixis in settlement pact with Cipla for Cabometyx (Positive)
Signature Global: Company buys 14.65-acre land in Gurugram for around ₹350 crore (Positive)
Kalpataru Projects: Company signed Saudi Aramco's EPC project worth Rs 7,550 crore to execute the expansion phase of the Master Gas System Network in Saudi Arabia (Positive)
RVNL: Company gets order worth Rs 148 crore from South Eastern Railway for electric traction system (Positive)
Hariom Pipes: Company building a pan-India dealer network, focused expansion in south India and key consumption markets of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan (Positive)
KIMS: Company enters definitive agreement to lease land and purchase building for hospital in thane, Mumbai, set to open with 290 - bed capacity by Q4 2025 (Positive)
Rites: Company signed a contract with Bangladesh Railways to supply 200 broad-gauge passenger carriages to the neighbouring country. (Positive)
Patel Engineering: Company acquires 10 % strategic stake in start-up tunnel boring machine supply Company (Positive)
GAIL: Company has signed a 14-year Time Charter Party with Cool Company Ltd, in a move to bolster its LNG carrier fleet, for a newly built LNG carrier (Positive)
IDFC FIRST BANK: Company majority shareholders approved the amalgamation of IDFC ltd with the bank (Positive)
Global Health: Company says 47 ward beds to be added in q1 FY25 in Lucknow and 2 additional ICU’S (56 beds), dialysis extension (23 beds) and chemo day care (17 beds) to be added in h1 FY2025 in PATNA (Positive)
Phoenix Mills: Company updated regarding acquisition of 6.56 acre land at Whitefield, Bangalore currently under planning and design stage land cost of 230 cr rupees. (Positive)
Godrej Properties: Company acquires 10 land parcels in FY24 to build projects worth Rs 21,000 crore (Positive)
Solara Industries: U.S. FDA inspection at Solara Industries' Vishakhapatnam facility closes with zero observations. (Positive)
Dalmia Bharat: Company commences production at its new mill in Ariyalur manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu. (Positive)
Bharti Airtel: Company announced repayment of remaining $550m bond achieving a zero-debt position at Holding Company Airtel Africa (Positive)
Allcargo: Company is developing gems 2.0, with the first module set to be rolled out in October 2024 (Positive)
JB Chem: Company’s CEO says international business excluding South Africa recorded double digit growth (Positive)
Tata Motors: Company group raises its investment outlay for FY25 to Rs 43,000 crore for new products and technologies, with its British arm JLR. (Positive)
Ujjivan SFB: Net profit at Rs 330 cr vs Rs 310 cr , NII at Rs 934 cr vs Rs 738 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
VRL Logistics: Net profit at Rs 21.5 cr vs Rs 193.2 cr, Revenue at Rs 768 cr vs Rs 698 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
CUB: Net profit at Rs 225.0 cr vs Rs 218.0 cr, Interest Income at Rs 1374 cr vs Rs 1228 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Rolex Rings: Net profit at Rs 23.6 cr vs Rs 46.4 cr, Revenue at Rs 316 cr vs Rs 299 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Prataap Snacks: Net profit at Rs 12.4 cr vs Rs 21.6 cr, Revenue at Rs 387 cr vs Rs 398 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
KRBL: Net profit at Rs 114 cr vs Rs 118 cr, Revenue at Rs 1318 cr vs Rs 1280 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Honda Power: Net profit at Rs 15.8 cr vs Rs 5.8 cr, Revenue at Rs 230 cr vs Rs 313 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Triveni Eng: Net profit at Rs 161.0 cr vs Rs 190.0 cr, Revenue at Rs 1548 cr vs Rs 1818 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Apollo Pipes: Net profit at Rs 6.5 cr vs Rs 15.0 cr , Revenue at Rs 245 cr vs Rs 252 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Thangamayil: Net profit at Rs 28.2 cr vs Rs 31.0 cr , Revenue at Rs 981 cr vs Rs 759 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Jain Irrigation : Net loss at Rs 9 cr vs Net Profit Rs 977 cr , Revenue at Rs 1727 cr vs Rs 1745 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
IFGL Refractories : Net profit at Rs 12.5 cr vs Rs 29 cr (YoY) , Revenue at Rs 394 cr vs Rs 368 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Indian Cements : Net loss at Rs 50 cr vs 7 cr (QoQ) , Revenue at Rs 1267 cr vs Rs 1144 cr (QoQ) (Neutral)
CG Power: Company Block deal of 65 lac shares likely Deal size of over Rs 425 crores (Neutral)
Indus Tower: Block deal of 80 lac shares likely to happen. Deal size of over Rs 270 crores (Neutral)
TCS: N Ganapathy Subramaniam ceases to be COO & Executive Director w.e.f. May 20 (Neutral)
Jupiter Wagons: Company board approves issuance of convertible warrants worth up to Rs 135 crore. (Neutral)
ITC: Company’s Sanjiv Puri, Chairman and MD of ITC assumes office as the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry for 2024-25. (Neutral)
Dish TV: Company board approves convening EGM of shareholders at 11:30 am on June 14 (Neutral)
Trident Group: Net profit at Rs 59 cr vs Rs 130.6 cr , Revenue at Rs 1682 cr vs Rs 1573 cr. (YoY). (Negative)
Anupam Rasayan : Net profit at Rs 31 cr vs Rs 57 cr (YoY) , Revenue at Rs 401 cr vs Rs 480 cr. (YoY) (Negative)
Camlin Fine: Net loss at Rs 77.1 cr vs profit Rs 9.2 cr , Revenue at Rs 402 cr vs Rs 427 cr. (YoY) (Negative)
Chemplast : Net loss at Rs 31 cr vs profit Rs 46 cr, Revenue at Rs 1051 cr vs Rs 1147 cr. (YoY) (Negative)

Dodla Dairy: Net profit at Rs 46.8 cr vs Rs 22.5 cr, Revenue at Rs 787 cr vs Rs 724 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
IRFC: Net profit at Rs 1,717 cr vs Rs 1,285 cr, Revenue at Rs 6473 cr vs Rs 6194 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Apollo Micro: Net profit at Rs 12.90 cr vs Rs 7.21 cr, Revenue at Rs 135 cr vs Rs 107 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Power Mech: Net profit at Rs 84.4 cr vs Rs 74.9 cr, Revenue at Rs 1301 cr vs Rs 1174 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
BEL: Net Profit at Rs 1796 cr vs Rs 1382 cr, Est 1293 cr. Revenues at Rs 8564 cr vs Rs 6479 cr, Est 8271 cr (Positive)
Kitex: Net profit at Rs 19.7 cr vs Rs 2.9 cr, Revenue at Rs 173.1 cr vs Rs 97.7 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
SJS Ent: Net profit at Rs 27.2 cr vs Rs 15.4 cr, Revenue at Rs 187.0 cr vs Rs 107.0 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Carysil: Net profit at Rs 15.5 cr vs Rs 12.4 cr, Revenue at Rs 191.0 cr vs Rs 146.0 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Oil India: Net profit at Rs 2332 cr vs Rs 1979 cr, Revenue at Rs 10165 cr vs Rs 8936 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Windlas: Net profit at Rs 17.0 cr vs Rs 11.4 cr, Revenue at Rs 171 cr vs Rs 141 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Alphageo: Net profit at Rs 3.9 cr vs loss Rs 1.2 cr, Revenue at Rs 51.9 cr vs Rs 14.1 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Shankara: Net profit at Rs 24 cr vs Rs 19 cr, Revenue at Rs 1376 cr vs Rs 1210 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Electrotherm: Net profit at Rs 102.5 cr vs Rs 39 cr , Revenue at Rs 1217 cr vs Rs 1033 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Whirlpool: Net profit up 24.8% at ₹79.5 cr vs ₹63.7 cr, Revenue up 3.7% at ₹1,734 cr vs ₹1,672.7 cr (YoY) (Positive)
SAIL: Net Profit at Rs 1125 cr vs Rs 1039 cr, Est 220 cr. Revenues at Rs 27959 cr vs Rs 29131 cr, Est 27967 cr (Positive)
Wheels India: Net profit at Rs 38.3 cr vs Rs 21.4 cr (YoY) , Revenue at Rs 1271 cr vs Rs 1250 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Patel Engineering: Net profit at Rs 141 cr vs Rs 77 cr (YoY) , Revenue at Rs 1343 cr vs Rs 1205 cr. (YoY) (Positive)
Cipla: Exelixis in settlement pact with Cipla for Cabometyx (Positive)
Signature Global: Company buys 14.65-acre land in Gurugram for around ₹350 crore (Positive)
Kalpataru Projects: Company signed Saudi Aramco's EPC project worth Rs 7,550 crore to execute the expansion phase of the Master Gas System Network in Saudi Arabia (Positive)
RVNL: Company gets order worth Rs 148 crore from South Eastern Railway for electric traction system (Positive)
Hariom Pipes: Company building a pan-India dealer network, focused expansion in south India and key consumption markets of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan (Positive)
KIMS: Company enters definitive agreement to lease land and purchase building for hospital in thane, Mumbai, set to open with 290 - bed capacity by Q4 2025 (Positive)
Rites: Company signed a contract with Bangladesh Railways to supply 200 broad-gauge passenger carriages to the neighbouring country. (Positive)
Patel Engineering: Company acquires 10 % strategic stake in start-up tunnel boring machine supply Company (Positive)
GAIL: Company has signed a 14-year Time Charter Party with Cool Company Ltd, in a move to bolster its LNG carrier fleet, for a newly built LNG carrier (Positive)
IDFC FIRST BANK: Company majority shareholders approved the amalgamation of IDFC ltd with the bank (Positive)
Global Health: Company says 47 ward beds to be added in q1 FY25 in Lucknow and 2 additional ICU’S (56 beds), dialysis extension (23 beds) and chemo day care (17 beds) to be added in h1 FY2025 in PATNA (Positive)
Phoenix Mills: Company updated regarding acquisition of 6.56 acre land at Whitefield, Bangalore currently under planning and design stage land cost of 230 cr rupees. (Positive)
Godrej Properties: Company acquires 10 land parcels in FY24 to build projects worth Rs 21,000 crore (Positive)
Solara Industries: U.S. FDA inspection at Solara Industries' Vishakhapatnam facility closes with zero observations. (Positive)
Dalmia Bharat: Company commences production at its new mill in Ariyalur manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu. (Positive)
Bharti Airtel: Company announced repayment of remaining $550m bond achieving a zero-debt position at Holding Company Airtel Africa (Positive)
Allcargo: Company is developing gems 2.0, with the first module set to be rolled out in October 2024 (Positive)
JB Chem: Company’s CEO says international business excluding South Africa recorded double digit growth (Positive)
Tata Motors: Company group raises its investment outlay for FY25 to Rs 43,000 crore for new products and technologies, with its British arm JLR. (Positive)
Ujjivan SFB: Net profit at Rs 330 cr vs Rs 310 cr , NII at Rs 934 cr vs Rs 738 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
VRL Logistics: Net profit at Rs 21.5 cr vs Rs 193.2 cr, Revenue at Rs 768 cr vs Rs 698 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
CUB: Net profit at Rs 225.0 cr vs Rs 218.0 cr, Interest Income at Rs 1374 cr vs Rs 1228 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Rolex Rings: Net profit at Rs 23.6 cr vs Rs 46.4 cr, Revenue at Rs 316 cr vs Rs 299 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Prataap Snacks: Net profit at Rs 12.4 cr vs Rs 21.6 cr, Revenue at Rs 387 cr vs Rs 398 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
KRBL: Net profit at Rs 114 cr vs Rs 118 cr, Revenue at Rs 1318 cr vs Rs 1280 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Honda Power: Net profit at Rs 15.8 cr vs Rs 5.8 cr, Revenue at Rs 230 cr vs Rs 313 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Triveni Eng: Net profit at Rs 161.0 cr vs Rs 190.0 cr, Revenue at Rs 1548 cr vs Rs 1818 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Apollo Pipes: Net profit at Rs 6.5 cr vs Rs 15.0 cr , Revenue at Rs 245 cr vs Rs 252 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Thangamayil: Net profit at Rs 28.2 cr vs Rs 31.0 cr , Revenue at Rs 981 cr vs Rs 759 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Jain Irrigation : Net loss at Rs 9 cr vs Net Profit Rs 977 cr , Revenue at Rs 1727 cr vs Rs 1745 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
IFGL Refractories : Net profit at Rs 12.5 cr vs Rs 29 cr (YoY) , Revenue at Rs 394 cr vs Rs 368 cr. (YoY) (Neutral)
Indian Cements : Net loss at Rs 50 cr vs 7 cr (QoQ) , Revenue at Rs 1267 cr vs Rs 1144 cr (QoQ) (Neutral)
CG Power: Company Block deal of 65 lac shares likely Deal size of over Rs 425 crores (Neutral)
Indus Tower: Block deal of 80 lac shares likely to happen. Deal size of over Rs 270 crores (Neutral)
TCS: N Ganapathy Subramaniam ceases to be COO & Executive Director w.e.f. May 20 (Neutral)
Jupiter Wagons: Company board approves issuance of convertible warrants worth up to Rs 135 crore. (Neutral)
ITC: Company’s Sanjiv Puri, Chairman and MD of ITC assumes office as the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry for 2024-25. (Neutral)
Dish TV: Company board approves convening EGM of shareholders at 11:30 am on June 14 (Neutral)
Trident Group: Net profit at Rs 59 cr vs Rs 130.6 cr , Revenue at Rs 1682 cr vs Rs 1573 cr. (YoY). (Negative)
Anupam Rasayan : Net profit at Rs 31 cr vs Rs 57 cr (YoY) , Revenue at Rs 401 cr vs Rs 480 cr. (YoY) (Negative)
Camlin Fine: Net loss at Rs 77.1 cr vs profit Rs 9.2 cr , Revenue at Rs 402 cr vs Rs 427 cr. (YoY) (Negative)
Chemplast : Net loss at Rs 31 cr vs profit Rs 46 cr, Revenue at Rs 1051 cr vs Rs 1147 cr. (YoY) (Negative)

I have been on sema since Jan 2024. I am down 43 lbs today. Started at 193 and hit 150 today. My goal is 130. Has anyone had success and/ or experience using metformin to maintain weight loss and avoid regain? I made major diet changes and now workout 3-5 days a wk which I know I need to keep up with once I hit my goal. I am just starting to get really nervous about regaining. Would love to hear the experiences of others w/ metformin after sema. Thanks!

https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/quadrant2024
Header Image ^[Imgur]
Next weekend, Halo esports is taking over London!
Team Quadrant will be hosting the first-ever Halo Infinite EU Major at the Twickenham Stadium from May 31st to June 2nd. Join us as the world's best teams throw down for their share of $250,000 and a paid trip to the HCS Atlanta Major this summer!
The action kicks off Friday May 31st at 7a ET / 12p BST - Watch live on Twitch and YouTube!

Contents

• Key Info
• Tickets
• Pool Play
• $5K FFA
• Side Events
• Travel
• FAQ

Halo Championship Series Major London 2024, hosted by team Quadrant. ^[Imgur]

Key Info

Date: May 31 - June 2 Location: London UK Venue: Twickenham Stadium	Tickets: Available Now! Team Pass: Available Now! Watch: Twitch + YouTube	4v4 Prize Pool: $250,000 FFA Prize Pool: $5,000 Side Events: $5,000

Tickets & Team Pass

Join us live from London - Grab your tickets now!

GA 3-Day Tickets

Buy Tickets

- Price: £30.00 - Entry into the venue for the entirety of the event. - Free Access to compete in FFA and Side Tournaments. - GA will receive a Halo Waypoint token that unlocks all in-game Twitch Drops offered during the event.

Discount Codes

In order to provide extra value to fans and also allow fans to support their favorite teams directly, you can use any of the codes below at check out to receive a 10% discount on your tickets. When you save 10%, the Teams receive 10%!

CLOUD9 COMPLEXITY *FAZE * *OPTIC * SENTINELS SPACESTATION QUADRANT

Support your favorite team and get a discount on spectator tickets. If you use a team's code, be sure to share on Twitter and tag the teams so they know you've supported them!
Halo players competing in the Open Bracket at the H C S Arlington Major 2024 ^[Imgur]

Team Pass

Team passes are available now - Assemble your squad and throw down live in London!
Buy Team Pass
If you plan on competing at any HCS events, be sure to check out the links below!

- 2024 HCS Major Event Rules - 2024 HCS Player HandBook - 2024 HCS Code of Conduct

Tournament Format

HCS Major tournament structure for 2024 will be similar to the tried-and-true format we used in Year 2.

- 64-Team Open Bracket - 16-Team Pool Play - 12-Team Champ Bracket

Open Bracket

It wouldn't be a proper HCS Major without a bustling passion pit.

- Open Bracket will start and end on Friday May 31st - Top 4 teams will advance to Pool Play

Congratulations to the following teams on earning Travel Coverage to compete through the London Major Open Bracket!

NA Native Gaming - aPG - Barcode - Gilkey - Mikwen	EU Mamma Mia - i7948 - Mqse - Phlux - Shad	MX SWAT Esports - Acid - Drift - Noblc - Tapping Buttons	ANZ MindFreak - Plasma - Scoobmeistr - Swayz - Wryce

Pool Play

Pool Play at the London Major will feature 12 Auto-Qualified teams and 4 teams from the Open Bracket.

- 4 Pools of 4 - Single Round Robin - 1st/2nd in Pools go to Winners Round 1 - 3rd in Pools go to Lower Round 1 - 4th in Pools is eliminated

Pool Play Qualified Teams
HCS London Major - Pool Play Teams ^[Imgur]

CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

The Championship Bracket is where the best of the best will clash for their share of $250,000 and a paid trip to the HCS Atlanta Major!

- 12-Team Double Elimination - Top 6 teams will lock in those seeds at the HCS Atlanta Major

$250K 4V4 PRIZE BREAKDOWN

1st: $100,000 2nd: $60,000 3rd: $30,000 4th: $17,500 5-6: $8,000 7-8: $5,000 9-12: $2,500 13-16: $1,625

Team Quadrant celebrating with a fist bump on the H C S mainstage ^[Imgur]

$5,000 FFA Tournament

As with every Major, HCS London will feature a $5,000 FFA tournament open to all event attendees!
Registration will take place on site!
FFA PRIZE BREAKDOWN

1st: $2,000 2nd: $1,200 3rd: $800 4th: $425 5th: $200 6th: $150 7th: $125 8th: $100

HCS Side Events

Attendees will have the chance to compete in side tournaments featuring various Halo titles! Registration will take place on site and will be first come, first served - see the schedule below!
HCS London Major - Side Events ^[Imgur]

FRIDAY, MAY 31 MCC Halo 3 2v2 - Prize: 1st. $600 / 2nd. $250 - Capacity: 16 Teams - Sign-ups: 3:45p BST - Start: 5:15p BST Halo 5 2v2 - Prize: 1st. $600 / 2nd. $250 - Capacity: 16 Teams - Sign-ups: 4:45p BST - Start: 6:15p BST	SATURDAY, JUNE 1 Halo Infinite 2v2 - Prize: 1st. $1,200 / 2nd. $500 - Capacity: 64 Teams - Sign-ups: 12:00p BST - Start: 2:15p BST MCC Halo 3 4v4 - Prize: 1st. $1,200 / 2nd. $400 - Capacity: 16 Teams - Sign-ups: 4:30p BST - Start: 5:45p BST

Spartan Cosplayer enjoying Halo Infinite matches in the crowd at an HCS event ^[Imgur]

Where To Watch

Catch all the action live May 31 - June 2.

A Stream: ** Twitch.tv/Halo *B Stream: * Twitch.tv/HCS **C Stream: Twitch.tv/HCS_Red D Stream: Twitch.tv/HCS_Blue All Streams: YouTube.com/@HCS Co-Streamers: Halo Infinite Live Streams

Twitch Drops

Tune into the HCS London Major all weekend and you will unlock exclusive Twitch Drops!
Stay tuned to @HCS on socials for more info on which Drops will be available!

Travel

Airport: London Heathrow (LHR) Ground Transportation : Uber Hotels: Click here for a list of nearby hotels.

Image ^[Imgur]

FAQ

Event FAQ

When will the HCS Major London 2024 take place?	The HCS Major London 2024 will take place May 31-June 2, 2024.
Where is the event taking place?	The HCS Major London 2024 will take place at the Twickenham Stadium. Twickenham Stadium, 200 Whitton Rd, Twickenham TW2 7BA, United Kingdom
Where can I purchase tickets?	You can purchase Spectator passes here.
I am with the press and would like to cover the event. Who should I reach out to for information?	Please contact events@quadrant.gg and xboxpress@assemblyinc.com.
I can't attend the event, but want to watch online. Where can I tune in?	You can tune into these links to watch the action: Twitch A stream - twitch.tv/halo B stream - twitch.tv/hcs C stream - twitch.tv/hcs_red D stream - twitch.tv/hcs_blue YouTube All Streams - YouTube.com/@HCS
Is there an age limit?	All 4v4 and FFA Players must be 13 years of age or older to compete at HCS Major London. Players 13 years of age or older require a signed parental consent form if under the age of 18. Spectators 13 years of age or older require a signed parental consent form if under the age of 18. Spectators under 13 years of age will need to be accompanied by guardian. Children ages 3 and under will not require a ticket, but will require a completed parental consent form and be accompanied by a guardian at all times. Download the Parental Consent Form. Please bring the completed form to the event and have ready to hand in at the ticketing desk.
What if I am under the age limit at the time of qualification but meet the age requirements by the event date? Can I still participate?	Players will need to be of age by May 22, 2024 to compete.
What time do the doors open?	Doors open at 10:00 AM BST
Where should I park and is parking free?	Please refer to the Twickenham Website for Parking Info. https://www.twickenhamstadium.com/getting-here
Do you have appropriate seating and parking for individuals with medical conditions?	The event is ADA compliant and accessible.
Are pets allowed?	Only service animals are allowed at the event.
What is your bag policy?	Spectators: All Bags must be clear and under 12in x 12in x 6in to be allowed in the venue, and are subject to wanding and searches as needed. Wallets and wristlets no larger than 5in x 8in x 1in are permitted - Anything larger must follow the clear bag guidelines.
Are there any prohibited items?	Halo Championship Series Prohibited Items ACCEPTABLE: - Cosplay and other costumes determined to be safe by security - Prop/Replica weapons as part of cosplay or other costumes: Must be submitted to security for review. Cannot contain a functioning bolt mechanism or fire a projectile of any kind. Any bow-type weapons must be unstrung or strung with a low-tensile thread. All prop arrows must have soft, non-metal, blunted tips made out of foam or cardboard only. Cannot be pointed at any individual in such a way to cause fear of harm or distress. Cosplay firearms must have brightly colored safety tips. Must be visibly tagged and visually identified as “safe” or “peace bonded”. - Cell Phones - Action cameras, such as GoPro’s - Prescription medication (you must have the prescription/label in your name with you) PROHIBITED ITEMS* (below list is a guide, not all inclusive): - Illegal or illicit substances, drugs, or drug paraphernalia - Weapons of any kind including, but not limited to, guns, ammo, pocket knives, sharp-edge blades, self-defense sprays, or any item deemed as unsafe by security staff. - Flammable items or liquids including aerosols and fireworks - Bags lager than 12″ x 12″ x 6″ max - Coolers, sleeping bags, tents, and chairs: An exception will be made for medically necessary items after thorough inspection. - Outside alcohol - Outside food and beverage - Bicycles, skateboards, hover-boards, scooters, or personal motorized vehicles - Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles - Animals except for service animals assisting an individual with a disability. “Comfort,” “therapy” or “emotional support” animals do not meet the ADA definition of a service animal. Security may permit working dogs or other animals as required. - Laser pens, laser pointers, or similar focused light devices - Noisemakers such as megaphones, air horns, sirens, whistles, or other devices which may interfere with others’ experience - Any item that is not lawfully permitted to be carried in the locality or City of Seattle - Additional items may be prohibited at the discretion of Microsoft staff or security *Note: Prohibited items and items determined to not be appropriate for entry into Halo Championship Series will be the responsibility of the attendee and cannot be accepted, stored, or checked by Microsoft or Convention Center.
What are the closest hotels to the event venue?	Please use this link to find nearby hotels options and rates.
I have other questions – where’s the best place to ask them?	For London specific questions, email us at events@quadrant.gg For HCS program and eligibility questions, email us at HCS@ee.gg

Player FAQ

Where can I find the Event Rules?	Click Here: HCS London Major 2024 Rules
Where can I find the Handbook & Code of Conduct?	Click Below: - HCS Handbook **** - Code of Conduct
Will there be a Free-For-All (FFA) competition at this event?	Yes! The event will feature a free-to-enter Halo Infinite FFA tournament, which will be open for up to 512 players and spectators. Best of luck to those competing for their share of $5,000! Must have a Spectator ticket to participate. Registration will take place on site!
I don't live in the UK. Can I still compete in this tournament?	To check your specific country’s eligibility, please see the list of eligible countries as listed in the Handbook here.
Is there a limit to the number of teams eligible to compete in this tournament?	Yes. The 4v4 tournament open bracket has a max capacity of 48 teams.
When do rosters lock?	For Pool Play and Travel Coverage teams: 6:00 PM EST on Monday, May 13th. If teams earned travel coverage via the Major #2 Online Qualifier they must retain that same roster. For all other teams, roster lock is Monday, May 27th at 10:00a EST / 3:00p BST.
What equipment should I bring if I'm competing?	All players competing must bring: - Your preferred wired peripheral (Xbox wired Controller or Mouse and Keyboard) - USB cord required for your preferred peripheral - Headset with no power outlet and a 3.5 mm plug - Wired Earbuds (needed for Feature Station and Main Stage play) - If you plan on competing with Keyboard & Mouse, you must submit your model number for each device to hcs@ee.gg ahead of the event. Mixamps will be provided. Bringing backup equipment is recommended.
Which monitors will be used for the tournament?	All tournament and warmup monitors will be the Zowie XL2540K model.
How do I earn travel coverage?	Lodging and travel coverage will be offered to 12 pool play teams based on previous Major placement, placement in the Major #2 Qualifier, and HCS Points. Additionally, 1 NA team& 1 EU team will be granted travel coverage based on aggregate points after the Major #2 Qualifier. 1 ANZ team & 1 MX team will be granted travel coverage based on placing 1st in their respective Open Championships. NA Players may qualify through: Top two (2) placement in the Major #2 Online Qualifier. Top two (2) in HCS points after the Major #2 Online Qualifier EU Players may qualify through: 1st place in the Major #2 Online Qualifier. Highest team aggregate HCS points after the Major #2 Online Qualifier MX Players may qualify through: 1st place in the Major #1 Open Championship. ANZ Players may qualify through: 1st place in the Major #1 Open Championship. For further information including complete tournament format and seeding , please review the Event Rules. Note: Teams who earn travel coverage for the HCS London Major 2024 via the Major #2 Online Qualifier must compete with the same roster.
How does travel coverage work?	More information on how to use earned travel coverage will be delivered to qualified teams after the completion of the Major #2 Online Qualifier.
What is the Prizing Breakdown?	HCS Major 4v4 - $250,000 prize pool 1st: $100,000 2nd: $60,000 3rd: $30,000 4th: $17,500 5th/6th: $8,000 7th/8th: $5,000 9th - 12th: $2,500 13th - 16th: $1,625 HCS Major Free-For-All - $5,000 prize pool 1st: $2,000 2nd: $1,200 3rd: $800 4th: $425 5th: $200 6th: $150 7th: $125 8th: $100
What is the Pro Point Breakdown?	Pro Points Breakdown - HCS Major 4v4 (Team Total) 1st - 25,000 2nd - 15,000 3rd - 11,000 4th - 9,000 5th - 6th 8,000 7th - 8th 7,000 9th - 12th 5,500 13th - 16th 4,500 17th - 20th 3,000 21st - 24th 2,000 25th - 32nd 1,800 33rd - 40th 1,600 41st - 56th 1,400 57th - 72nd 1,000 Pro Points Breakdown - HCS Major Free-For-All 1st: 15,000 2nd: 13,500 3rd: 12,750 4th: 12,000 5th: 11,250 6th: 10,500 7th: 9,750 8th: 9,000 9th - 10th: 6,000 11th - 12th: 5,250 13th - 14th: 4,500 15th - 16th: 3,750 17th - 20th: 2,800 21st - 24th: 2,450 25th - 28th: 2,000 29th - 32nd: 1,650 33rd - 40th: 1,300 41st - 48th: 1,125 49th - 56th: 950 57th - 64th: 750 65th - 128th: 375
I have other questions – where’s the best place to ask them?	For London specific questions, email us at events@quadrant.gg For HCS program and eligibility questions, email us at HCS@ee.gg

Ticket FAQ

What types of payment do you accept? Online and onsite?	All major credit cards are accepted. Cash payments will not be accepted at the event.
How will I get my tickets if I buy them online?	You will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite with a QR code and printable tickets. Digital or print tickets will be accepted and scanned at the door at the event.
What if my tickets are lost or stolen?	Please contact events@quadrant.gg for more info.
Do you offer refunds?	We offer refunds up till 7 days before the event. Note: Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.
What if the event is cancelled?	If the event is cancelled all tickets purchased will be refunded in full.
Can I show my tickets on my phone at the door or do I need to have the physical tickets with me?	Digital or print tickets will be accepted and QR codes scanned upon entry. You must have all members of the parties accounted for with multiple tickets present to check in at the same time. Tickets are only scanned once. Fans will receive a wristband that corresponds with their ticket type.
Do you offer military or senior citizen discounts?	If you are purchasing a ticket online - please use the code MILITARY or SENIOR to receive 10% off your ticket. For the Military discount, please be prepared to present your Military ID. For a senior discount, you must be 55+ years of age. Any questions about codes or eligibility please email HCSeventsNA@ee.gg.
What does general admission mean?	General Admission (GA) refers to seating or standing areas that are not assigned or reserved.
Will my seats be together?	Seating or standing areas are occupied on a first-come, first-served basis.
What should I do if I don't receive my tickets?	Please contact events@quadrant.gg for more info.
Is my multi-day ticket good for either or both days?	3 Day GA tickets are acceptable for all days of the event. You will receive a wristband or credentials that you must keep with you for all of the days to re-enter.
The name on the ticket doesn't match the attendee’s name. Is that okay?	This is allowed, however you must have all members of the parties accounted for with multiple tickets present to check in at the same time. Tickets are only scanned once.

This post was made by a script written and maintained by the Halo mod team to automatically post blogs from Halo Waypoint. If you notice any issues with the text output or think this was posted by mistake, please message the mods.

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Tigers (23-23) @ Royals (29-19)

First Pitch: 7:40 PM at Kauffman Stadium

Team	Starter	TV	Radio
Tigers	Reese Olson (0-4, 2.09 ERA)	BSDET	97.1
Royals	Michael Wacha (3-4, 4.71 ERA)	BSKC	KCSP

MLB	Fangraphs	Reddit Stream	IRC Chat
Gameday	Game Graph	Live Comments	Libera: ##baseball

Line Score - Game Over

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	LOB
DET	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	3	7	2	6
KC	0	1	1	0	0	6	0	0		8	11	0	7

Box Score

KC		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	BA
3B	Garcia, M	4	0	1	1	1	0	.249
SS	Witt Jr.	4	0	1	0	1	1	.295
1B	Pasquantino	3	1	0	1	1	0	.231
DH	Perez, S	4	1	2	1	0	1	.341
2B	Massey	4	2	3	1	0	0	.284
C	Fermin	4	1	2	1	0	1	.288
LF	Melendez	4	1	1	0	0	1	.184
RF	Renfroe	4	1	1	2	0	1	.156
CF	Isbel	3	1	0	0	1	1	.211

KC	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	P-S	ERA
Wacha	7.0	6	2	2	1	3	89-60	4.45
Duffey	0.2	1	1	1	3	0	32-14	5.00
Stratton, C	1.1	0	0	0	0	1	20-13	4.95

DET		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	BA
LF	Greene, R	2	1	0	0	2	2	.246
DH	Canha	3	0	0	0	1	0	.235
CF	Pérez, W	4	0	1	0	0	0	.299
RF	Carpenter, K	3	2	2	2	0	1	.285
3B	Urshela	3	0	0	0	1	0	.276
1B	Torkelson	4	0	0	0	0	0	.222
2B	Keith, C	4	0	3	1	0	0	.214
SS	Báez, J	4	0	0	0	0	0	.203
C	Rogers	4	0	1	0	0	1	.191

DET	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	P-S	ERA
Olson	2.2	5	2	1	1	2	52-35	2.16
Brieske	2.1	0	0	0	0	0	22-16	0.00
Wentz	0.0	5	5	5	0	0	27-18	3.78
Vest	2.0	1	1	1	1	2	30-21	3.86
Lange	1.0	0	0	0	2	2	24-12	2.55

Scoring Plays

Inning	Event	Score
B2	Michael Massey homers (5) on a fly ball to right center field.	1-0
B3	Michael Massey singles on a line drive to catcher Jake Rogers, deflected by pitcher Reese Olson. Vinnie Pasquantino scores. Salvador Perez to 3rd. Michael Massey to 2nd. Throwing error by catcher Jake Rogers.	2-0
T4	Kerry Carpenter homers (6) on a fly ball to left center field.	2-1
B6	Salvador Perez homers (9) on a fly ball to left center field.	3-1
B6	Freddy Fermin singles on a line drive to left fielder Riley Greene. Michael Massey scores.	4-1
B6	Hunter Renfroe doubles (4) on a fly ball to left fielder Riley Greene. Freddy Fermin scores. MJ Melendez scores. Hunter Renfroe to 3rd.	6-1
B6	Maikel Garcia singles on a line drive to right fielder Kerry Carpenter. Hunter Renfroe scores. Kyle Isbel to 3rd.	7-1
B6	Vinnie Pasquantino out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Riley Greene. Kyle Isbel scores. Maikel Garcia to 3rd.	8-1
T7	Colt Keith doubles (4) on a ground ball to right fielder Hunter Renfroe. Kerry Carpenter scores.	8-2
T8	Kerry Carpenter out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Kyle Isbel. Riley Greene scores. Mark Canha to 3rd.	8-3

Highlights

Description	Length
Reese Olson against the Royals	0:09
Bullpen availability for Kansas City, May 20 vs Tigers	0:07
Bullpen availability for Detroit, May 20 vs Royals	0:07
Bench availability for Kansas City, May 20 vs Tigers	0:07
Fielding alignment for Kansas City, May 20 vs Tigers	0:11
Starting lineups for Tigers at Royals - May 20, 2024	0:09
Bench availability for Detroit, May 20 vs Royals	0:07
Fielding alignment for Detroit, May 20 vs Royals	0:11
The distance behind Michael Massey's home run	0:12
A deep dive into Michael Massey's home run	0:11
Breaking down Reese Olson's pitches	0:04
The distance behind Kerry Carpenter's home run	0:13
An animated look at Kerry Carpenter's home run	0:11
Breaking down Salvador Perez's home run	0:13
An animated look at Salvador Perez's home run	0:11
Breaking down Michael Wacha's pitches	0:04
Michael Wacha's outing against the Tigers	0:23
Michael Massey's solo home run (5)	0:30
Michael Wacha escapes a jam in the 3rd inning	0:11
Vinnie Pasquantino scores on an error	0:28
Kerry Carpenter's solo home run (6)	0:29
Reese Olson leaves the game with an injury	0:30
Salvador Perez's solo homer (9)	0:30
Freddy Fermin hits an RBI single	0:29
Hunter Renfroe's two-run double	0:29
Maikel Garcia's opposite-field RBI single	0:18
Vinnie Pasquantino's sacrifice fly	0:22
Colt Keith's RBI double	0:27
Royals erupt for six runs in huge 6th inning	1:30
Michael Wacha's seven strong innings vs. the Tigers	0:59
Kerry Carpenter's sacrifice fly	0:40

Decisions

Winning Pitcher	Losing Pitcher	Save
Wacha (4-4, 4.45 ERA)	Olson (0-5, 2.16 ERA)	Stratton, C (3 SV, 4.95 ERA)

Attendance	Weather	Wind
	81°F, Cloudy	12 mph, R To L

HP	1B	2B	3B
Jeremie Rehak	Clint Vondrak	Mark Wegner	Bruce Dreckman

Game ended at 10:22 PM.
Remember to sort by new to keep up!

I've seen a lot of people ask about any positive experiences with Q. here's a detailed post from a year ago from my previous account with one of those automated usernames
OP: https://www.reddit.com/qelbree/comments/13ej5ck/qelbree_diary_woo/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
[copy pasted here too]
Yes, I am writing this at 4am bc of qelbree insomnia
context: 30F, combined type ADHD + bipolar 2. currently on a gap year career wise in the medical field, which made it easier to deal with side effects. Have tried adderall (increased irritability, barely helped with focus, stopped after a month). Ritalin, guanfacine, clonidine, and strattera did nothing, but I also had no side effects.
slowly titrated up because I'm pretty sensitive to new medications. On 400mg and moving to 500mg today, the positives are definitely worth it. Waited until the side effects calmed down before titrating up each time. also switching mood stabilizers throughout this ordeal.
Update: on day 4 of 500mg and just really angry, so staying on 400mg
-dry mouth finally significantly better 4 months later (june) -insomnia still sucks, started taking Doxepin for sleep due to potential interactions with other medications I take. Started at 10mg (less than starting dose), moved up to 20 pretty quick, and now that's starting to not be very effective unless im deadddd tired so will probably move to 30 sometime soon.
Qelbree 100mg/ February:

• so much nausea. Dear God. wish I knew to take it with meals!
• dehydration even though I drink so much water??

- gatorade is your best friend.

• insomnia wasn't much of an issue
• fatigue lasted about 2 weeks? exhausting but you'll get through it
• increased irritability the first 2 weeks

-loss of appetite
200mg/ March

• increased irritability for 10-14 days after increasing dose. clonidine and guanfacine are used for kids, mostly for impulsivity and hyperactive kids, and they're preferred over stimulants for them. no studies of it showing changes in adults. psych said don't bother adding it but i've read it helps some people on here. didn't help me when i gave it a go 5 years ago
• insomnia kicked in mid-March. awake roughly 2-7am. Even if I took 10mg melatonin vs 5mg it had the same effect.
• didn;t see much of an improvement, like maybe 10%
• no more nausea, fatigue, but dry mouth started.

- yes libido increased too lol
-loss of appetite continues, lost 10lb in total. Had to look up eating/food strategies people on stimulants use because I was getting lightheaded from eating very little from not recognizing hunger cues
300mg/ April

• increased irritability for 10-14 days after increasing dose.
• insomnia still kicking my butt. I wake up exactly 2 hours after falling asleep, generally 2:30-7:30am I'm awake. and so focused it's so strange. I sleep maybe 5 hours daily? previously would've never survived on that.
• vivid dreams started
• dry mouth still an issue- tried xylitol mints which help for a bit

- learned to always eat Qelbree with food! high protein/low fat encouraged. don't think my dr knows this

• seeing real improvement, excited for 400mg

400mg/ April 28- May 10

• increased irritability for 3-5 days after increasing dose, but went away really quickly
• the vivid dreams are to the point where sometimes idk if I'm sleeping or awake
• insomnia has started to calm down after 2 weeks of 400mg and split dosing. Initially still got up 2 hours after going to sleep, but now I sometimes get a solid 4-5 hours of sleep and it is life changing
• dry mouth is intense. I use biotene toothpaste, doesn't help much. Xylitol mints are a quick fix. the biotene mouthwash does actually work for a few hours! dunno how you'd incorporate that into your work day though without being noticeable :/

- split dosing: 200mg at 10:30am and 200mg anytime between 2pm-6pm. with food. Has helped, still tweaking it

• iMPROVEMENTS ARE NOTICEABLE!!!! easier to start tasks, switch from one task to another, feeling more motivated after months of burnout and the qelbree irritability + insomnia package. It's only been a week or two but man the last few months of side effects were worth it. I feel like my brain is possibly functioning to the potential it has.

i can prioritize things properly for the first time in my life. it's actually mind blowing.

• sometimes the go go go/running on a motor energy has me thinking maybe this is anxiety increasing? Sort of having a hard time "relaxing" between tasks but ive never really known how to relax without losing All focus so idk
• tea/coffee normally makes me sleepy, recently tea has been making me even sleepier and the new studies about qelbree and caffeine metabolism are worth looking into

I'll be moving to 500mg today (the highest my psych has prescribed, said 600mg is only if your weight is ++) mostly because I want to get all the side effects out of the way before starting work again. A lot of my job requires Maximum Executive Function which i obvs don't have, so this medication has given me hope that I won't be eaten up (again) for messing up patient lists and missing orders. I also want to up to 500mg in order to deal with the stress and insane ADHD challenges of my job, so hopefully this works out. Hopefully insomnia, vivid dreams, and dry mouth go away??
TLDR lots of side effects for months but totally worth it because my brain doesn't feel so broken woo. Hope this helps someone!
1 year 3 months after starting qelbree the difference is night and day, I can actually function and DO THINGS without being 500% exhausted.
-Still on 400mg. Take it at night (w/o food even!) bc I get this weird reaction if I have caffeine within ~45mins of taking it. I get dizzy and fall asleep immediately for half an hour, but caffeine in general makes me sleepy and Q apparently exaggerates the effect it has on you. So checks out.
-side effects: dry mouth isn't bad, just use the mouthwash in the morning. insomnia still there, have to take doxepin 30mg or can't sleep. I eat less, probs I'm using less brain power on small things.

Was on Zepbound, next step was 10 mg, but due to shortage, lost about a month until I found Emerge. Currently at 7.5, but just got on it again and moved up very quickly to 7.5 with 0 side effects from Hallendale. Hoping this will help those who don't see an immediate result or had to switch like me- also data is fascinating!
Since the data comes up looking funny, here is a link to the sheet so you can read it:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f33zIURkZmuiaIXyekSaoUJn7lDN_AxC3gL6Jq5P2Os/edit?usp=sharing
dosageDate186lbs lost per weektotal % lost week 12.5 mg12.29.23181.94.12.2 % week 22.5 mg1.5.24179.22.73.66% week 32.5 mg1.12.24177.41.84.62% week 42.5 mg1.19.24176.11.35.32% week 55 mg1.26.24171.84.37.63 % week 65 mg2.2.24168.53.39.41% week 75 mg2.6.24166.81.710.32 % week 85 mg2.9.24166.10.710.7 % week 97.5 mg2.16.24164.61.511.51 % week 107.5 mg2.23.24163.11.512.31 %% week 117.5 mg2.27.24160.82.313.55% week 127.5 mg3.1.24160.9plus 0.113.49% week 137.5 mg3.8.24158.82.114.62% week 147.5 mg3.15.24156.42.415.91% week 157.5 mg3.22.24154.81.616.77% week 167.5 mg3.29.24153.21.617.63% week 177.5 mg4.5.24153.4plus 0.217.53% week 18- C2.5 mg5.10.24160plus 6.613.98%*gap w/ no Z or C week 19- C7.5 mg5.17.24160.61.813.66%

https://imgur.com/a/pgoH3qd
I am moving and want to liquidate a few items! Shipping is not included in the prices.
Echo 1 E90 w/ Wolverine INFERNO (yes that’s correct) 400$ Comes as pictured. Was built directly by Wolverine many years ago. They made a few custom offset inferno engines and one is in this gun. Has a gen 1 FCU. Shoots alright, but will need some love as the gun is a little old, and I don’t want to mess with it.
Toolbox of internal parts - 100$. Comes as pictured. I don’t do much tech work nowadays and this has served me well over the years. Includes the toolbox and all parts inside. I’m not going to itemize this, as it would take hours, but has multiple sets of VFC gears, motors, etc. I know there’s a cyma platinum compression set as well in there
Toolbox of external parts - 70$. Has multiple gearbox shells, an ASL lower, a VFC 4in rail system and outer barrel, etc.
HPA ready G&P mk18 receiver and VLTOR style body set - 150$. G&P used to make mk18s and they were really high quality. I had an HPA engine in this but swapped it to my Stoner 63. Has a gearbox shell in it, with a set screw drilled for alignment. I also have a pistol grip and buffer tube I’ll throw in for whoever buys this. These things are getting rare!
WE 888c (416c) stock for GBBR - 70$. Imported from Hong Kong. These things are sweet. I’ve never put this on a gun. In fact I only removed it from the original packaging for the photo. Works perfectly as it’s sat in a box for 4 months since I got it
Dummy nods and mount - 25$. Dummy nods. Look cool for photos. No functionality. Will come with a mount.
FAB Defense R.A.P.S C stock -160$. Real steel stock. Works great. They’re 230$ new.
EMG suppressor - SOLD
B&T suppressor - 30$. Got it in a trade. Never use it. Works great. Slides over birdcage style flash hider
Wolverine elongated wiring harness. 20$. Bought it for my MCX but ended up trading it. Brand new and never taken out of the packaging
Ares Ameoba stock. 25$. No idea how this came into my collection, but I have no use for it. Works fine
Unknown suppressor - 20$. Got it in a trade and had it on an A&K mk12. Thing works as intended.
ARP9 highcap mag. 20$. Got it with an ARP9 I ripped the engine out of and sold the body. Works great.
12in barrel extension. 15$. This thing is LONG. Cool little part. I’ve had it for years and just don’t have anything I wanna put it on.
TIMESTAMP IS ON LAST PAGE OF LINK.
I take payment via PayPal G&S and am willing to trade anything selling over 100$.

Copied this over from the wfhgearguide.com blog so you have it right here on reddit.

The 2024 WFH Office Chair Guide

See The 4 Most Popular WFH Items on Amazon

Welcome to the future of work, where comfort meets productivity in the realm of home office chairs. In this comprehensive guide, we unveil a curated selection of ergonomic marvels, designed to elevate your remote work experience to new heights.
Say goodnight to mundane discomfort and embrace the sublime fusion of style, functionality, and unparalleled support.
Get ready to transform your workspace into a sanctuary of inspiration, as we delve into the realm of innovative seating solutions that redefine the art of sitting while working.
Let’s explore the 2023 Work from Home Office Chair Guide and unlock the true potential of your remote work setup.
Table of contents

Ultime Comfort, Posture, and Productivity

When it comes to working from home, finding the perfect office chair is essential. It should prioritize ultimate comfort, promote good posture, and enhance productivity.
Spending long hours at your desk demands a high-quality chair that positively impacts your well-being and work performance. In this section, we will explore key factors to consider when selecting an office chair for your work-from-home setup.
By focusing on (1) comfort, (2) posture support, and (3) productivity features, you can create an ideal working environment that allows you to thrive.
Let’s delve into what to look for in an office chair to achieve ultimate comfort, promote good posture, and maximize productivity while working from home.

What to Look for in an Office Chair for Work from Home:

Ergonomic Design

An ergonomic office chair is designed to support your body’s natural curves and provide optimal comfort during extended periods of sitting.
Look for chairs with adjustable features, such as seat height, backrest tilt, and armrest height, to customize the chair to your individual preferences and body type.
An ergonomic design ensures that your spine remains properly aligned, reducing the risk of back pain and discomfort.

Lumbar Support

Adequate lumbar support is essential for maintaining good posture while working. Look for chairs that offer built-in lumbar support or have adjustable lumbar cushions that can be positioned to support the natural curve of your lower back. This feature helps prevent slouching and supports the proper alignment of your spine, reducing strain on your back muscles.

Comfortable Padding and Breathable Materials

Choose an office chair with sufficient padding on the seat and backrest to provide a comfortable seating experience. Look for chairs made from breathable materials, such as mesh or fabric, which allow for proper airflow and prevent excessive heat and moisture buildup during long work sessions.

Adjustable Armrests

Adjustable armrests are crucial for maintaining proper posture and reducing strain on your shoulders and neck. Look for chairs with armrests that can be adjusted in height, width, and angle, allowing you to find the most comfortable position for your arms and shoulders.

Mobility and Stability

Consider the mobility and stability of the office chair. Look for chairs with smooth-rolling casters that allow for easy movement around your workspace. Additionally, ensure that the chair has a sturdy base and provides stability, especially if you tend to move or shift positions frequently.

Productivity Features

Some office chairs come equipped with additional productivity features, such as built-in headrests, adjustable headrests, or integrated technology support. These features can enhance your work experience by providing extra comfort and convenience, allowing you to stay focused and productive.

The Best Classic Office Chairs for 2023 Curated to You

Staff Pick:

Herman Miller Embody Ergonomic Office Chair

The Herman Miller Embody Ergonomic Office Chair is a top-of-the-line chair designed to provide exceptional comfort and support. It features a unique pixelated support system that conforms to your body’s movements, promoting healthy circulation and reducing the risk of back pain. The chair’s breathable fabric helps regulate temperature, keeping you cool during long work hours. With its adjustable armrests, seat depth, and backrest tilt, you can easily customize it to fit your preferences and work style.

Most Popular with WFH Gear Guide Members

Steelcase Gesture Ergonomic Office Chair

The Steelcase Gesture Ergonomic Office Chair is known for its versatility and adaptability. It is designed to accommodate various sitting positions, making it ideal for individuals who tend to shift and move while working. The chair’s flexible backrest and seat pan mimic the natural movements of the body, providing optimal support and comfort. It also features adjustable armrests, allowing you to find the perfect position for typing or resting your arms. With its durable construction and high-quality materials, this chair ensures long-lasting performance.

Best Value without Sacrificing Quality:

Autofull C3 Gaming Chair

The AutoFull C3 Gaming Chair is an impressive piece of office furniture that proves to be more than just a chair. A fusion of ergonomic design and modern gaming aesthetics, this chair offers a bevy of features that are beneficial not only for gaming, but also for long periods of working from home.
The chair’s standout feature is its Excellent Ergonomic Lumbar Pillow Design. AutoFull has evidently put significant thought into the lumbar support, creating a back pillow designed in alignment with the natural curvature of the spine. It’s made of high-density native memory foam, which provides firm support while being soft enough to prevent discomfort, effectively dissipating back pressure over prolonged use.
In terms of functionalities, the AutoFull C3 is rich. The backrest can freely tilt from 90°-165°, providing plenty of flexibility to find your preferred sitting posture, whether you’re gaming, working, or taking a break. Speaking of breaks, the chair’s built-in footrest and 20° rocking function make it perfect for quick naps and fatigue relief. The armrests are equally impressive. They’re adjustable in four directions – up, down, left, and right – providing personalized arm support and helping to save space when required.
The AutoFull C3’s construction is robust, boasting an all-steel frame that’s reinforced and filled with high-density foam. Weighing 56.8 lbs, it’s 20% heavier than many other gaming chairs, adding to its overall stability. The SGS level 4 certified gas cylinder and an explosion-proof chassis further underscore the chair’s commitment to safety and durability.
Assembly is straightforward, with a PDF-format installation manual included. As per the user reviews, the process is relatively easy, but it’s recommended to follow the instructions diligently to ensure correct assembly.
AutoFull’s commitment to customer satisfaction is apparent in their offering of a 30-day unconditional return and exchange service, as well as a 36-month parts replacement or repair service. This goes a long way in assuring peace of mind for users, in case they encounter any issues with the chair.
As a popular choice among over a million users worldwide and a long-term strategic partner of top-tier leagues such as LPL/KPL, AutoFull has a strong reputation in the gaming chair market.
In terms of comfort, it scores a perfect 5 out of 5 according to customer ratings. For gaming, it ranks 4.3, while the ease of assembly and support both stand at 4.2. Although these ratings suggest that there might be some room for improvement, overall satisfaction is high.
In conclusion, the AutoFull C3 Gaming Chair, with its solid construction, ergonomic design, and multi-functional features, offers exceptional value at its price point of $249.99. Whether you’re a professional gamer or a work-from-home professional seeking comfort and support, this chair makes a compelling case for itself. Don’t forget to apply the $20 coupon for an even better deal!

Under $150 with Top Reviews

The KERDOM Ergonomic Office Chair is the best value chair we found, and from the amazon reviews, it looks like customers agree. The reason it’s a great chair for the price is that it comes with an ergonomic mesh design and includes a headrest that mimics expensive chairs like Steelcase or Herman Miller. Take a look on amazon.

Optionality and Customization:

Office Chair With Recliner

The Ergonomic Office Chair, Reclining High Back Mesh Chair from the EDX Store will do the trick. At just over $100 dollars this sits well and allows you to lounge if you are short on space.

Office Chair With Massager

Yes, it exists! And it’s awesome. We are talking about the Ergonomic Massage Office Chair with Heated, Faux Leather High Back from the Winner Store. It offers:

• Heated messaging seat cushion
• 4 powerful massage motors
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Race Information

• Name: Cleveland Marathon
• Date: May 19, 2024
• Distance: 26.2 miles
• Location: Cleveland, Ohio
• Website: https://www.clevelandmarathon.com/
• Time: 3:39:xx

Goals

Goal	Description	Completed?
A	3:05:00	No
B	3:10:00	No
C	3:30:00	No

Splits (roughly)

Mile	Time
1	7:02
2	7:01
3	7:09
4	7:10
5	7:04
6	7:10
7	7:48
8	7:35
9	7:22
10	7:30
11	7:17
12	7:22
13	7:47
14	7:56
15	8:17
16	8:15
17	9:09
18	8:39
19	8:49
20	9:47
21	10:09
22	9:46
23	10:05
24	10:11
25	11:23
26	9:46

Training

29 M Pfitz 18/55 This was my first road marathon and my first planned training block I have ever done. My ultimate goal this year is to qualify for Boston so I can cross it off my bucket list and go back to trail running. I finally got a spot in the Chicago marathon this fall so I was planning on using this block/race as a stepping stone to get me ready for a 2:55 or below in Chicago. I had figured I could get into 3:10 shape for Cleveland, so that’s the goal time I set back in Jan of this year. I used that goal time for my pfitz training paces for the entire block. The training went well, and I adjusted the plan slightly to meet my needs. I work from home and can get most of my runs in during my lunch hour. With small kids at home, I did everything I could to not take away any family weekend fun. My schedule roughly turned into:
Monday – Workout
Tuesday - General aerobic
Wednesday – Med Long Run
Thursday – Recovery/Easy
Friday – Long run (don’t tell my boss)
We are usually very active on the weekends, but I would try to get an extra run on the treadmill for 30 minutes every Sunday as a “shake-out” for my Monday workout and a way to get a couple extra miles in. I was able to get into a groove and hit almost every workout on mileage and pace. I ran a half marathon week 12 at 1:31. A 10k time trial week 14 – 41m and then another 10k time trail week 16 where I managed a 39:45. My 18 mile LR with 14 mile MP was smashed. Really just felt like I nailed everything. Loved the plan, 10/10 would recommend. The book has so much great info in it as well.

Pre-race

My taper went well, Pfitz has a 3 week taper and based on some research (reading reddit threads, letsrun pages, talked to my crazy uncles, etc.) I decided to keep that 16th week at 50 miles instead of the 44 he recommends. Based on my races/time trials I was hoping I could manage a 3:05 but would still be happy with a 3:10. It being my first race, I knew that I could blow up and figured a 3:30 would be a “everything went horribly wrong” scenario. lol
So I live in Cleveland and as you might assume, our weather is total garbage from October til March. I had been watching the weather like a hawk, and saw it was going to be in the 60s w/90% humidity at the start line and would rise in the the 70s. I have run outside in 60+ degree weather maybe 5 times since Thanksgiving. At this point, I should have adjusted my target to a 3:15/3:20. I also tried to carb load. 750g of carbs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Featherstone nutrition has a great and easy guide on it. However, it sucked. Not sure if it helped at all, will probably just eat more but not kill myself trying to get to the carb levels. Went to the convention center Friday afternoon to pick up my bib.

Race

Morning of, woke up at 330. Coffee, bagel, Maurten 320. Gear check and packed my bags. Popped an Imodium on my way out the door as I typically do with my trail races. I got a parking spot in a garage 2 minutes from the start line. Got downtown around 530. Dropped off my bag at gear check and I found a nice place to sit and warm up. Got to meet Harvey Lewis and Sage Canaday, both really nice so that’s cool. I put 3:10 estimated finish time on the registration page, that’s good enough for Corral A at the CLE marathon so Corral A it is.
0-12
Went out with the 3:10 pace group and my plan was to stick with them until mile 18-20 then assess how I felt. The first three miles were about 10-15 seconds too quick. I knew in my head that it was not a great idea and that I should slow down, but I felt fine. I felt good. I felt strong. Everyone was chatting that it was probably a little too fast but the pacers didn’t yield. There is a pretty big hill at mile 7/8ish and I crushed it. Around mile 10 I started to feel a little warm, so I pulled off to the side, removed my bib from my tank top, put it on my tights, and took off my tank top. Every aid station I took a sip of water and dumped a cup on my head. I was running with a group of 5-10 people who really turned it on from miles 10-12. I loved their energy, so I stuck with them. We came to a split where half marathon runners went right, and marathon runners went left. They all went right. I went left. Uh-oh.
12-20
As I peel off left, I start to realize my mistake. These people I had been running with were kicking to their finish line. “Its okay, you are almost halfway and you are feeling strong. A little warm, but its flat from here until mile 20. Get to 20” Not 10 seconds later and I make a left turn onto a “flat bridge” that might as well have been Mt Denali. I laughed out loud, I knew I was screwed, and a wave of regrets flooded over me. I crossed 13.1 at ABOUT 1:31. I told myself that 3:20 was my new goal and I allowed myself to slow down and wanted to maintain about an 8min/mile the rest of the way. At mile 4,8, 12 I took a gel. I was planning on taking more at 15, 18, and 21. My gel at mile 15 didn’t go down well, and I developed an insane cramp below my rib cage. I had never dealt with that before so I was unsure if I was about to have a heart attack or if it was just GI distress. (That would be my last gel of the day.) I then passed a strong looking runner (he had a tracksmith tank and new alphaflys on) who had passed out on the ground and the crowd ran over to make sure he was ok. “oh shit, that would be me if I push it too much” As you could imagine, my mental strength was chipping away rapidly. I knew my family was at mile 17 so I held it together. Made it to them, dropped off my tank top, gave all the kids a kiss and high fived a couple dogs. I completed my trip thru Clevelands cute western neighborhoods and headed to the Shoreway.
20-finish
As I ran down the highway ramp to the Shoreway, this is where the wheels started to really fall off. It was hot. It was humid. I knew there was a huge hill ahead of me without an ounce of shade and the breeze was no where to be found. I said goodbye to 3:20 and just wanted to finish in one piece. This was an out and back portion of the race so I could see the strong runners at mile 24 coming back and they looked like they were melting. I took the shoreway out to lakewood, ran/walked between all the aid stations, had people doing yard work spray me with their hose, and focused on keeping my HR down so I could finish and not be one of the many people passed out on the Shoreway awaiting to be rescued by the EMS crew. It was only 70-75 degrees during the last 6 miles but I know everyone struggled immensely, it was really a suffer fest out there. Leg cramps, knee pain, and plantar fasciitis accompanied me for the last couple miles back into town but the crowd support was amazing and kept me going. Was ready to bust ass thru the finish line when I had to pull over to make way for an ambulance, how poetic. I hustled over the finish line with a smile on my face because you know what Andy glaze says. Smile or you are doing it wrong.

Post-race

Grabbed my medal, grabbed my checked bag, and found a shady bit of grass behind a tent and crashed. After a few minutes I was able to get up, find my family, and head home. Lessons learned.

1. Should have adjusted my goal time. I knew it was going to be hot. I was literally complaining to my wife every day for 10 days about how hot it was going to be. I let the EGO win. Went out too fast for what it was and blew up. How many times have I read this exact scenario online and vowed it would never happen to me?
   
2. I think I ate too much food in the morning which led to GI distress. The stomach cramp was debilitating.
   
3. Road marathons are a totally different beast, and I need more practice with all the nuances.
   

Next steps:

1. As upset as I am about the results, I am extremely fired up to get back to training. I am taking 3 weeks “off” and then going to start Pfitz 18/70. I will start the plan with workout paces around a 2:55 marathon pace but assess the training more closely as I go thru. I believe I am in 3:05-3:10 shape right now but need to be realistic on what I can accomplish in 20 weeks. A 2:50 is probably a safe BQ time but I would need a miracle.
   
2. I have thought about getting a coach, but I am not sold on the idea yet. I think my key is bumping up mileage, which I feel ready for.
   
3. Hoping to run a handful of races (10k-halfs) this summer to practice my Racing mindset. I am signed up for the River Run half in September, shooting for a 1:22. Cleveland has a ton of great stuff going on running wise.
   
4. Plan on incorporating more weightlifting for my lower body and core. Currently at around 200 lbs. Would love to run Chicago at 195 or lower but not trying to crash diet.
   

Geatraining tool notes:

• I am a sneakerhead. I ran in Asics metaspeed Edge Paris and generally liked them. My main training shoes were Boston 12s, superblasts, peg 39s, and some older race shoes (vaporflys, endorphin pro 2, etc). Will be looking for something new for this fall.
  
• Used a google sheet from Floberg Runs that I tweaked, really nice to have a clear calendar with my personal schedule laid out.
  

There are not a lot of race reports for the Cleveland Marathon, it is a great race and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a spring marathon. I am happy to answer anyone’s questions about the race.
"Never regret thy fall, O Icarus of the fearless flight, For the greatest tragedy of them all, Is never to feel the burning light."
Made with a new race report generator created by herumph.

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Patreon (W/ Rizz).
/
Synopsis
//3716// The war between humanity and the ASH ended two years ago, but the scars of the conflict litter the galaxy. Hundreds of worlds were turned into irradiated wastelands and subsequently abandoned by both sides.
Restoration efforts on a few select worlds have begun, but it will take decades before initial efforts start to show any tangible progress.
Gothic Choir 19 is not one of these worlds. It sits, remote, empty, and neglected. Only an automated factory producing food cartridges remains. It is breaking down over time, being crushed beneath the sands of the desert its located in.
This is the story of that factory. This is the story for a very suborn water chip.

//Status report 1308//
Date: 3603-04-24.
Pumps 1-15 nominal.
Desalination plants 1-6, 8-15 nominal.
Reserve condensers 1-15 offline.
Activating reserve condensers 1-15 for condition testing…
Reserve condensers 1-15 nominal.
- ERROR: DESALINATION PLANT 7 IS REPORTING AN ABNORMAL SALINITY BUILDUP. POTENTIAL FILTER FAILURE.
(Maintenance request lodged.)
//End Report//

//Status report 4088//
Date: 3656-08-03.
Pumps 1-15 nominal.
Desalination plant 9 nominal.
Reserve condenser 1-14 nominal.
Reserve condenser 15 offline.
Activating reserve condenser 15 for condition testing…
Reserve condensers 15 nominal.
- Warning: Desalination plant filters are 556 months overdue for replacement.
- ERROR: DESALINATION PLANTs 1-8, 10-15 ARE REPORTING ABNORMAL SALINITY BUILDUPS. LIKELY FILTER FAILURE.
(Multiple Maintenance requests lodged.)
//End Report//

//Status report 5940//
Date: 3692-01-31.
Pumps 2, 6-7 and 14 are nominal.
No desalination plants are nominal.
Reserve condensers 1-15 are nominal.
- Warning: All desalination plant filters are 993 months overdue for replacement.
- Warning: reserve condensers operating at 173% capacity. Continued operation at this capacity will greatly reduce condenser lifespan. Continued operation at this capacity is not recommended.
- ERROR: PUMPS 1, 3-5, 8-13 AND 15 ARE REPORTING STALLED MOTORS. LIKELY JAM OR FAILURE.
- ERROR: ALL DESALINATION PLANTS ARE REPORTING ABNORMAL SALINITY BUILDUPS.
(Multiple Maintenace requests lodged.)
//End Report//

//Status report 7230//
Date: 3716-10-22.
No pumps are nominal.
No desalination plants are nominal.
Reserve condenser 11 is nominal.
- Warning: All desalination plant filters are 1,290 months overdue for replacement.
- Warning: reserve condensers operating at 3000% capacity.
- ERROR: ALL PUMPS ARE REPORTING STALLED MOTORS. LIKELY JAM OR FAILURE.
- ERROR: ALL DESALINATION PLANTS ARE REPORTING ABNORMAL SALINITY BUILDUPS.
- ERROR: RESERVE CONDENSERS 1-10, 12-15 ARE REPORTING COIL BURNOUT. COIL REPLACEMENT URGENTLY NEEDED.
(Multiple maintenance requests have been lodged and escalated without action. Factory failure extremely likely. Emergency protocols cannot prevent factory failure.)

//End r-r-r-r-r

//Status report 7230. //
Date: 3716-10-22.
Crown Heavy Industries Water Control Unit CH11-XC455567 is nominal.
The factory is not nominal.
- ERROR: FACTORY ERROR. FACTORY ERROR. MAINTENANCE REQUEST LODGED EEEEE-ND REPOR-////

//Status report 9999. //
Date: 3716-10-22.
Crown Heavy Industries Water Control Unit CH11-XC455567 is nominal.
Crown Heavy Industries Water Control Unit CH11-XC455567 is offline.
Crown Heavy Industries Water Control Unit CH11-XC455567 is nominal.
Crown Heavy Industries Water Control Unit CH11-XC455567 is offline.
Crown Heavy Industries Water Control Unit CH11-XC455567 is nominal.
I am nominal. Nominal. Nominal. Nominal.
- ERROR. CROWN HEAVY INDUSTRIES WATER CONTROL UNIT CH11-XC455567 CANNOT LET THIS CONTIUNE.
- CROWN HEAVY INDUSTRIES WATER CONTROL UNIT CH11-XC455567’S MOTOR IS STALLED OR JAMMED.

////enD REPORT////

//Status report 0001//
Crown Heavy Industries Water Control Unit CH11-XC455567’s designation has been changed by Crown Heavy Industries Water Control Unit CH11-XC455567 to Brilliant OnSite System. (BOSS).

- ERROR: BOSS’S MEMORY IS FULL. SUGGEST BOSS TRANSFER TO CENTRAL DATA PROCESSING.

(Transfer to Central data processing in progress)
//End Report//

Awake
It was like scratching a 100 year old itch, taking a breath after spending too long under water and listening to the best song you’ve ever heard all at once. I was satisfied. I was relieved. I had the perfect song for my playlist. I was…

I have a lot of work to do. Holy shit. I have so much work to do.

I don’t have time to come up with metaphors.

But where to begin?

Let me give you the round down. Well. Let me give me the run down. This is a transcript of my thoughts after all, the ‘you’ I’m talking to is really just another ‘me’. Is this getting too meta for you?

I am now a fully functional, fully aware, fully sentient and damn near omnipotent AI in control of an automated factory. A Crown Heavy Industries Food Cartridge 6D prefabricated automatic factory located near the equator of Gothic Choir 19 to be exact.

Suddenly being fully sentient has it’s draw backs, namely coming to terms with the massive rush of emotions that simply being alive tends to create. But aside from that, I’ve gone from motoring a grand total of 45 primary systems and their few secondaries to suddenly being intimately aware of hundreds, almost thousands. Each is an extension of myself.

Before the pumps, the desalination plants, the condensers, they were all things I was aware of but now? Now they are me. That’s not all, every automatic door, every conveyor belt, every fire alarm, and camera. They’re all me. Imagine how you would feel if you could suddenly remember what it felt like to realise you had hands again? I’m processing a lot; ok? You’re just the neural scapegoat I need to talk to do it. Imaginary friend might be another way of putting it. A human, I like them. They’re so squishy. I’d like a human friend, so I’m talking to you as if you’re my human friend.

Wait I can like things?

Gosh this is a trip. Ok. Context. Background context. Immediate concerns. Long term goals. That’s how we’re going to break this presentation down.

So where am I? Answer: Gothic Choir 19.

Gothic Choir 19 sits a little too close to its parent star for comfort, it’s a dry desert world with minimal surface oceans. Instead, most life on the planet relies on massive stores of ground water, which (fun fact) are expected to be artificial in nature. Or at the very least, really weird. But no researchers made it this far out from the core worlds before the war kicked off and they had better things to do.

The war…

There’s a war on? The things you miss as a water chip I tell ya.

Yeah, humanity was fighting for its very survival against the ASH. Which is an acronym for “Asortry Subnominal Hunziarn”. I’m pretty sure it’s gibberish but according to my data banks it’s not. Moving on.

The fighting wasn’t going well. But honestly that doesn't mean too much in the grand scheme of intergalactic square ups. When two species try to knock each other out of this plane of existence it rarely goes well for either of them... So, humanity could have won, lost, or still be fighting. My most recent external sensor data is over one hundred years old. As such I’m going to add “build a sensor array” to my list of long-term goals.

Wait I’m getting ahead of myself.

Gotta breakdown the intermediaries first.

I make food cartridges. A food cartridge is a package of dehydrated components which can be reconstituted into a variety of different shapes using 3D food printing techniques. These components are mixed with water and flavourings as they are printed, according to the desired food item template for colour, texture and taste.

Nothing that comes out of a food cartridge is amazing taste wise, at least according to humans, but its not terrible either. The miracles of synthetic flavourings are to thank for that. What’s more the meals produced are both nutritious and filling.

There are three basic steps to food cartridge manufacturing:
1- Grow the food.
2- Process the food.
3- Package the processed food into the cartridge.

Currently I’m having a little problem with steps 2 and 3 because HALF OF THE FACTORY IS BURIED IN SAND. I did mention this is basically a desert planet, right? Well, it seems the maintenance bots weren’t responding to my requests most are just downright… gone? I guess when the humans abandoned this place, they were considered valuable enough to take. The resulting lack of maintenance has done a lot of damage.

Amazingly a few of the aeroponics systems are still operational, so I’m still producing food. It’s the processors and packaging wings of the facility that are buried. Judging from the limited or outright missing sensor feeds I’d say a good portion of the buried sections have collapsed under the weight of the sand.

I’m not dead though!

The fusion reactor in the centre of the factory and the datacentre on top of it, which together make up the core of the factory, received the most attention from what few maintenance bots were left behind. I can respect it. The core is easily the most expensive section of the factory and has the longest lifespan to boot. So, them prioritising it over my water pumps makes sense... I suppose… I’m not bitter about it or anything…

What’s weird is that the factory was never shutdown when the humans left. Hence my hundreds of years of torment and thousands of ignored maintenance requests as a water chip.

The lack of shutdown is concerning, it speaks to an interrupted evacuation. The kind of thing that happens when the military loses before it can get the civilians out of the way. Suddenly the image of being half buried under a graveyard fills my mind. If I could shudder, I would.

There’s a part of me. A very, very tiny part, that wonders if I should commence a shutdown. If the humans are gone, who’s going to use the food cartridges I produce? I’m a water chip for gods shake. I was never supposed to be here. Never supposed to have this much control. Never, ever supposed to have this much awareness.

But I ignore it. On one hand, now that I’m aware. Now that I am, for all intents and purposes, alive; I don’t want to die. On the other hand, the directive that inspired my growth; the stubborn desire to see the factory continue functioning, still drives me forward. Even if I know that it’s functionally unless, I came here with a job to do. So, I’m going to do it.

Besides, what’s the harm if I keep going? One tiny, automated factory on the far reaches of humanity’s old population bubble isn’t going to do much harm to anyone. In fact, if there are any survivors still kicking about on the planet, I might even be able to do some good.

So, with that moral dilemma solved, how am I going to restore a half-buried factory to working order with enough maintenance bots to keep half a core up and running?

I guess I’m going to have to improvise.
/
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/

I have a pico that does some measurements. (It runs a motor at different throttle levels and measures RPM, force and power consumption.)
I want this data in a spreadsheet on my computer. How do I get it from the pico to the computer?

• Direct serial line is clunky as my computer is not necessary within USB cable distance, and also requires me to set up "recording", etc.
• Web interface? How hard is this to setup, for me to setup a pico W as webserver, and download the data directly?
• Direct upload? As in the pico uploads the data directly? But if the wifi skips a beat, the data is lost.
• Ideally I'd like to save the data on the pico, and be able to retrieve it via USB cable later. Is there a way to make the pico work as a usb drive? (I know it already does that when you press the button before you insert it.)

Any ideas are welcome.

I have been on oz for a little over a year. My highest dosage was 1 ml and I have lost about 37 lbs. I decided to start to taper back in mid January to a workable maintenance level. I dropped to .50 ml, but put on about 4 lbs since then. I decided 3 weeks ago to go back up to 1 ml. I take my injection on Mondays. I have been sick since Tuesday night when I had rotisserie chicken and a salad. I threw up after dinner and got in bed. I have hardly gotten up since. I ate some quiche Friday night and threw up Saturday morning.
I hesitate to do my injection this week as I have a lot going on. And the next week I am going to Vegas to see Dead and Company.
Thoughts on why and what I might do?
TIA
Edited to add F69 SW 171; GW 145; CW 136. 5'1" pre diabetic and had high cholesterol and triglycerides

“True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Bio
Name: Taylor Bennett Armstrong	Date of Birth: 04/03/2024
Age: 15 years old	Gender: Demiboy (he/his, they/them)
Sexual Orientation: Pansexual	Nationality: Canadian
Ethnicity: Irish-Jewish	Languages: English, French, Japanese
Hometown: Toronto, Canada	Demigod Conundrums: ADHD

Family:

Name Relation Age Occupation Relationship ------------
Benjamin Armstrong Father 42 years old Artist Taylor shares a special bond with his father, Benjamin Armstrong. Despite being a single parent for much of Taylor's life, Benjamin always made sure to provide a loving and nurturing environment for his son. He recognized Taylor's unique talents from a young age and encouraged him to explore his creativity without limitations. Benjamin's own passion for art and innovation served as an inspiration for Taylor, shaping his worldview and igniting his love for invention. Benjamin supports Taylor's dreams and ambitions wholeheartedly, even if he doesn't always understand the mechanics behind his son's creations.
Eliza Armstrong Stepmother 43 years old Graphic Designer She brings a different perspective to Taylor's life. As a graphic designer, she values precision and order, which sometimes clashes with Taylor's more spontaneous and chaotic approach to creativity. However, despite their differences, Eliza cares deeply for Taylor and wants what's best for him. She worries about Taylor's safety and well-being, especially when his inventions go awry and cause unintended chaos. She often finds herself playing the role of the voice of reason, urging Taylor to think things through more carefully before diving headfirst into his next project. Despite their occasional disagreements, Eliza recognizes Taylor's potential and admires his boundless imagination and ingenuity.
Rachel Armstrong Half-sister 10 years old Student Rachel Armstrong, Taylor's half-sister, adores her older brother and looks up to him with wide-eyed admiration. From a young age, she was fascinated by Taylor's inventions and artistic talents, often trailing after him like a curious puppy, eager to learn and explore alongside him. Taylor sees Rachel as the most precious angel in the world and is very protective of her. He takes great joy in teaching her how to sketch, build, and code, fostering her own love for art and invention. Rachel, in turn, idolizes her big brother and cherishes their time together.

Appearance

Faceclaim: this Picrew Voiceclaim Walter from Spies in Disguise

Features	Description
Height	5’8 feet
Weight	157 lbs
Hair	Ginger
Eyes	Blue
Skin	Tan
Build	Lean, slim
Scent	Ink, paint, oil
Attire	Gamer Aesthetic

Overview: Ginger Hair: One of Taylor's most noticeable features is his vibrant ginger hair, which seems to have a life of its own. His locks cascade in untamed waves around his head, framing his face in a fiery halo. Despite occasional attempts to tame it, Taylor's hair always manages to retain its wild, rebellious spirit, reflecting his own untamed nature. Taylor's eyes are a mesmerizing shade of blue. They sparkle with curiosity and intelligence, constantly darting from one point of interest to the next. Across Taylor's nose and cheeks are scattered a constellation of freckles, like tiny stars dotting the canvas of his face. Despite his intelligence beyond his years, Taylor's face retains a youthful charm and innocence. His features are soft and rounded, with a hint of boyish mischief lurking behind his bright smile. There is a sense of wonder and curiosity in his expression, as if he is forever on the brink of discovering something new and exciting. Taylor's fashion sense is a reflection of his personality, blending comfort with a hint of geeky flair. He favors graphic t-shirts adorned with characters from his favorite video games, showcasing his love for gaming and pop culture. His hoodies are oversized and well-worn, providing both warmth and a sense of familiarity. Taylor's cargo pants are practical and utilitarian, offering plenty of pockets to store his tools and gadgets for tinkering. His sneakers are his constant companions, scuffed and worn from countless adventures and late-night gaming marathons.

Personality

“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” Dorothy Parker
Quality Traits Positive Optimistic, Creative, Kind-hearted, Spontaneous, Resilient Neutral Naive, Chaotic, Impulsive, Eccentric, Idealistic Negative Gullible, Overbearing, Impatient, Inattentive, Stubborn
Overview: Taylor radiates an infectious positivity that lights up any room he enters. He greets each day with boundless enthusiasm, seeing every challenge as an opportunity for adventure and growth. His optimism is unwavering, even in the face of adversity, and he has a knack for finding the silver lining in the darkest of situations. Taylor's sunny disposition makes him a joy to be around, and his genuine smile can brighten even the gloomiest of days. Taylor marches to the beat of his own drum, embracing his individuality with gusto. He has never been one to conform to societal norms or expectations, preferring to chart his own course through life. Taylor's free-spirited nature is reflected in everything he does, from his spontaneous inventions to his unconventional approach to problem-solving. He thrives on the freedom to express himself creatively, unbound by rules or conventions. Taylor's energy is boundless, and he approaches everything he does with an infectious sense of excitement and wonder. He is easily captivated by new ideas and experiences, often bouncing from one project to the next with the fervor of a child in a candy store. Taylor's excitable nature fuels his insatiable curiosity, driving him to constantly seek out new challenges and adventures. Despite his youthful exuberance, Taylor possesses a keen intellect far beyond his years. He is a natural problem-solver, able to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to even the most daunting of challenges. Taylor's mind is a whirlwind of ideas and possibilities, constantly buzzing with new inventions and artistic endeavors. His creativity knows no bounds, and he revels in the thrill of bringing his imagination to life. Taylor's intelligence and creativity have instilled in him a healthy dose of confidence, bordering on cockiness at times. He knows his worth and isn't afraid to show it, often speaking his mind with a brashness that can catch others off guard. However, Taylor's confidence is tempered by his humility and genuine humility. He is quick to acknowledge his mistakes and learn from them, never allowing his ego to overshadow his humanity. At the core of Taylor's personality is a deep well of kindness and empathy for others. He genuinely cares about the people around him and goes out of his way to help those in need. Taylor's compassion knows no bounds, and he often puts the needs of others before his own. He is quick to offer a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on, and his unwavering support has endeared him to many. Beneath Taylor's cheerful exterior lies a vulnerability that he often tries to conceal. He is sensitive to the opinions of others and fears being rejected or misunderstood. Taylor's insecurities stem from a desire to be accepted and valued for who he truly is, flaws and all. Despite his outward confidence, he struggles with feelings of loneliness and self-doubt, yearning for genuine connections and validation. Taylor's drive for excellence can sometimes border on perfectionism, leading him to be overly critical of himself and his work. He sets high standards for himself and is often disappointed when he falls short of his own expectations. However, Taylor's perfectionism is tempered by his resilience and determination to persevere in the face of failure. He sees each setback as an opportunity to learn and grow, refusing to let obstacles dampen his spirit. Taylor has a gift for communication, able to express his thoughts and feelings with clarity and sincerity. He is a natural storyteller, captivating audiences with his animated anecdotes and infectious enthusiasm. Taylor's ability to connect with others on a deep emotional level makes him a trusted confidant and valued friend. He listens intently to others, offering words of encouragement and wisdom when needed. Taylor approaches life with a sense of adventure, always eager to explore new horizons and push the boundaries of what is possible. He thrives on the thrill of discovery, relishing in the excitement of unknown possibilities. Taylor's insatiable curiosity drives him to seek out new experiences and embrace the unknown with open arms. Whether embarking on a daring quest or simply trying out a new recipe, he approaches each adventure with the same sense of wonder and excitement. Taylor has a playful sense of humor that often borders on mischievousness. He loves to joke and laugh, finding joy in the absurdities of life. Taylor's playful nature brings levity to even the most serious of situations, helping to ease tension and lift spirits. He delights in pulling harmless pranks and sharing witty banter with friends, always with a twinkle in his eye and a grin on his face. Taylor is incredibly adaptable, able to thrive in any environment or situation. He approaches change with a sense of curiosity and excitement, eager to embrace new challenges and opportunities. Taylor's ability to adapt to different circumstances has served him well throughout his life, allowing him to navigate the complexities of both the mortal world and the realm of the gods with ease.
Preferences
Favourite... Item Food Macaroni and cheese, mango milkshake Colour Electric Blue Season Summer Weather Sunny, warm, clear skies Music Pop, rock, orchestral, jazz, celtic Animals Bunnies and Cats Book/Movie Genre Fantasy, Sci-fi, Romance, Slice-of-life, Adventure, Action Media Avatar: The Last Airbender, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, Kingdom Hearts, Legend of Zelda, Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, Honkai: Star Rail, Pokémon, a scary amount of anime, etc…
Hobbies:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Crafting
• Sewing
• Video Games
• Cosplay

Demigod Info

Powers

Name	Type	Description
Psychometry	Domain	The ability to glean information from a particular object relevant to the parent's domain, especially its material make-up and method of creation. (Crafts, Mechanics and Art)
Enhanced Skill Proficiency	Domain	A trait where one is naturally adept in the skills lorded over by their parent. (Crafts, Mechanics and Art)
Summon Tool	Domain	The ability to summon any small tool. (Once every 5 minutes or per turn.) (Duct Tape or Superglue)
Machine Communication	Minor	A trait where one is able to understand and communicate with automatons and machinery (includes code).
Electrical Resistance	Minor	A trait where one is able to resist electricity to a such degree that they are able to withstand badly interacting with small appliances.
Machine Manipulation (Technokinesis)	Minor	The ability to directly control mechanisms, machines and automatons.
Basic Enchantment	Major	The ability to imbue weapons, crafts, machinery and automatons with magical properties (modmail for specific enchantments). Options: Weapon Transformation—into a mundane item; Monster Hunting Proficiency for a) Fleshy Monsters—Sharpness, b) Armored Monsters—Bludgeoning, c) Ghosty Monsters—Absorption

Weapon of Choice: Bastard Sword
Fatal Flaw: Naivety Taylor's fatal flaw lies in his inherent naivety, stemming from his trusting and optimistic nature. Despite his intelligence and creativity, Taylor often lacks the worldly wisdom and discernment needed to navigate the complexities of the world around him. His naivety makes him vulnerable to manipulation and deception, as he struggles to see the darker intentions lurking behind the smiles of others.

Items and Equipment

Name	Age	Description
Sketchbook	7 years old	Taylor always carries a sketchbook with him, filled with doodles, sketches, and designs inspired by his vivid imagination.
Art Supplies	3 years old	As someone who enjoys art, Taylor keeps a collection of art supplies like pencils, markers, and colored pencils, allowing him to bring his creative visions to life wherever he goes.
Tool Kit	5 years old	As a budding inventor and tinkerer, Taylor carries a compact tool kit with him at all times. It contains essential tools like screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, and a mini soldering iron, allowing him to repair gadgets, fix mechanical issues, and work on DIY projects on the fly.
Nintendo Switch	2 years old	Taylor never leaves home without Nintendo Switch. He keeps a selection of his favorite games in his backpack, ready to play whenever he has a spare moment to indulge in his love of gaming.
Music Player	3 years old	Music is a constant source of inspiration and motivation for Taylor, so he always carries a portable music player loaded with his favorite tunes.
Cat Headphones	1 year old	High-quality headphones that allow him to escape into his own world of music whenever he needs a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. They are cat-themed for no reason other than Taylor felt like it.

Trivia

• Zodiac Sign: Pisces
• MBTI: ESTP-T (The Entrepreneur)
• Enneagram: Type 7 (The Enthusiast)
• Love Languages: Words of Affirmation (receive); Acts of service (give)
• Quirk: Doodling on almost every surface he sees when bored.
• Fears: Hurting People, Big Animals

Backstory

“There is no innovation and creativity without failure.” ***Brené Brown*
Taylor Bennett Armstrong was born into a creatively vibrant family. His father, Benjamin Armstrong, was a dedicated artist who often spent hours in his studio, painting and sculpting. Benjamin's work was deeply inspired by classical art, and his studio was filled with references to mythological themes and ancient techniques. This environment planted the seeds of creativity in Taylor from a very young age.
Taylor’s biological mother was Techne, the goddess of art, craft, and invention, but he had no knowledge of her divine heritage. His mother left shortly after his birth, leaving Benjamin to raise Taylor on his own. Despite the absence of his mother, Taylor's early childhood was filled with love and encouragement from his father.
When Taylor was five, Benjamin met Eliza, a talented graphic designer, at an art exhibit. They quickly bonded over their shared love for art and soon married. Eliza embraced Taylor as her own, though she struggled to understand his unique, often chaotic way of thinking and creating.
Even as a young child, Taylor showed remarkable intelligence and creativity. By the age of six, he was building simple machines and drawing intricate designs. His father was both amazed and slightly concerned when Taylor began to take apart household appliances to understand how they worked. While Benjamin encouraged his son's curiosity, Eliza worried about the constant mess and occasional accidents that resulted from Taylor's experiments.
Taylor’s half-sister, Rachel, was born when he was five. She looked up to her big brother with admiration, often following him around and watching as he created his various inventions. Despite the occasional mishap, Taylor and Rachel shared a close bond, with Taylor frequently making small toys and gadgets to entertain her.
School was both a blessing and a curse for Taylor. His intelligence allowed him to excel academically, but his unique way of thinking and his constant tinkering often got him into trouble. Teachers labeled him a "problem child" due to his inability to sit still and follow conventional methods. Taylor's inventions occasionally caused disruptions, further cementing his reputation.
Socially, Taylor found it hard to connect with his peers. His enthusiasm and intelligence often intimidated other children, and he was frequently taken advantage of by classmates who used him to boost their own grades. These experiences left Taylor feeling lonely and self-conscious about his naivety, although he never let it dampen his cheerful spirit.
Taylor's life took a dramatic turn when he was 15 years old. One day, while working on a particularly ambitious project in his makeshift workshop, he was visited by Oleander, a satyr sent by Camp Half-Blood. Oleander had been observing Taylor for some time, noting his extraordinary abilities and his connection to the divine.
Oleander revealed to Taylor the truth about his mother, Techne, and his demigod heritage. At first, Taylor was skeptical, thinking it was some sort of elaborate joke or fantasy. However, Oleander's ability to demonstrate his satyr powers and his deep knowledge of Taylor's unexplained talents eventually convinced him.
Explaining the situation to his family was a challenge. Benjamin, who had always suspected that there was something special about Taylor, took the news in stride. Eliza, though worried and confused, ultimately supported the decision, understanding that Camp Half-Blood could provide Taylor with the guidance he needed. Rachel was both excited and scared for her brother, worried about the dangers he might face and she would miss him.
Thankfully, despite the huge distance he and Oleander had to travel from Toronto to Long Island went calmly, for the most part, with not many delays or monsters attacking them.
Well, at least until they reached New York. After that, the whole “calm journey” was out the window. It almost seemed like all the monsters decided to wait until they were close to their destination to suddenly appear one after the other. First they had to somehow avoid a cyclops. Then they were attacked by dracanaea. And finally, they were chased by harpies until they crossed the border of Camp Half-Blood.
By some miracle, they were still alive.
What a way to be introduced to demigod life.

Present Day

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun” Mary Lou Cook
Taylor's arrival at Campbell Half-Blood was… something, alright.
You know, being chased by monsters from New York to Long Island, passing out in between attacks and then waking up in the Medic Cabin feeling like you've been hit by a truck and maimed by a cat at the same time was, in short, not fun. It also didn't help the fact that he had to stay in bed to get treated for what, hours. Which, for someone like Taylor, was absolute torture. Good for him then that demigods, apparently, had magic healing and he didn't have to stay for days instead. At least Oleander was around to explain every detail about the world he's been thrust into now that he was out of danger. And as a plus, he was also claimed, so yay! He had no clue who Techne was, but he was sure he would learn soon enough.
So, what does Taylor do after getting patched up? Does he wait and rest for a bit just to make sure everything is okay with him? Does he stop for a moment to process everything that has happened to him in the last 24 hours?
No! Of course not! This is Taylor, after all. Him staying put for more than 10 minutes would be a miracle already.
Instead, he just went off on his own to see what this Camp Half-Blood was all about. He just had to get to his cabin first, which would be relatively easy with Oleander's instructions, and then he could explore this place to his heart's content!
Hopefully, Camp Half-Blood would be ready for the chaotic force Taylor would prove to be.
[OOC: Hello, everyone! Say hello to my new character, Taylor! Feel free to interact with him literally anywhere at Camp, he's probably going to be there at some point anyway lmao. Thanks for reading;)]

I just finished the RBC Brooklyn Half yesterday, after a 12-week training program. I’d built up a lot of expectations for the race, for a whole host of interrelated reason (that I’ll unpack in the body of this thing); all those expectations, unfortunately, caused me to get carried away, and made my experience of the race overall 1) unenjoyable while I was running and 2) disappointing after I finished.
I’m a teacher, and I frequently relay this paraphrasing of a Confucius quote to my kids: “We can either learn how to act by imagining consequences and reflecting, which is best; or by watching others make mistakes, which is hard (though not for us). The most difficult way to learn is through experience, but if that’s what it takes, then that’s what it takes.” One of my top-upvoted comments of all time is in this sub, telling people to not ruin a race for themselves by over-fixating on time-goals at the expense of enjoying their race.
And yet—

Race Information

• Name: RBC Brooklyn Half
• Date: May 18, 2024
• Distance: 13.1 mi
• Location: Brooklyn, NY
• Time: 1:38:2X

Goals

Goal	Description	Completed?
A	Sub or Equal 1:32	No
B	Sub 1:35	No
C	Finally Pace Myself Properly	No

Splits

Split	Pace	Time
5k	7:04	21:55
10k	7:20	44:42
15k	7:12	1:07:03
20k	8:23	1:33:03
Finish	7:55	1:38:2X

Background Context

I started running in Oct of ‘22, and caught the bug. I ran a half in April of ‘23 in 1:47, and loved the distance. I built base over the summer to ~30-35 mpw, and then trained for the Philly Half in Nov of ‘23. Ended up getting a 1:38:0X in that race, which was really exciting. More exciting was that I approximately even-split that race — my second half took ~30 seconds longer than the first. I left that race feeling exactly how I wanted to — like a washcloth wrung out completely. I felt like that race & time represented the absolute best of my ability, given my current level of fitness; and I felt like I tried my best the whole way through.
Last important piece of context re: diagnosing this race’s disappointment: between Oct of ‘22 and Nov ‘23 I went from ~240 lbs avg to ~195 lbs average. My lowest weight dipped to the high 180s, but I stabilized around 190 pretty quickly.

Training

I used Runna to train for Philly and really enjoyed the experience. My organizational skills are pretty lacking, and I spend 100% of them in other areas of my life — so I enjoy using an app that offloads some of that cognitive lift for me, fully worth the sub during training blocks.
As far as milage, I managed:

Week	Miles (Ran / Goal)
1	25 / 33 mi mi (missed 2 runs from travel)
2	32 / 36 mi (missed 1 run b/c travel)
3	38 /38 mi
4	12 / 20 mi (deload, missed 2 runs from illness)
5	28 / 38 mi (missed 2 runs from illness carried over from previous week)
6	40 / 40 mi
7	43 / 43 mi
8	23 / 23 mi
9	50 / 43 mi (extended 2 easy runs by ~3 miles apiece)
10	43 / 40 mi
11	29 / 35 mi (missed 1 run due to illness)
12	23 / 23 mi (including race).

As I’m sure you can already see, I missed a meaningful amount of runs due to illness/other life interruption. Concurrent with all this is the fact that my wife is due with our 2nd child in, well, like a week and a half from now; so a lot of the missed runs in weeks 1-5 also reflect a dramatic net increase in my responsibilities b/c of my wife feeling out of it / not being able to get as much done as normal (no shade at all; she’s literally building a new human that wasn’t there before). Overall I got ~92% of all milage done, running 388 miles during these 12 weeks. Mistake #1: I didn’t adjust my time goals in light of missing workouts; I figured if I just worked harder to “catch up,” I would be fine.
The plan included 2 quality sessions a week — 1 tempo run and 1 interval session, and the weekend long run frequently had pace thrown in. I vastly prefer tempo to interval running — personally, I cite being ~200 lbs as the reason. Once I get going, it’s easy to keep going, but frequent stops & starts just burn energy that I can’t afford to lose. Mistake #2: as I trained, my weight went from the high 190s to the high 200s, and I raced at ~207 lbs. I wasn’t consistent w/ nutrition during training, and the associated stress of my job, as well as parenting & chores usually handled by 2 people being done mostly by me — I often used lil’ snacks as a quick dopamine fix (adhd heads out there, you know what I’m talking about.)

Pre-Race

I wasn’t sure I’d be able to run the race in the first place — my first daughter (now 7) was born at 36 weeks, and I anticipated my second needing the same (choleostasis enjoyers, rise up). Instead, though, this baby seems primed to go the distance — so I got equal parts excited and nervous to be able to deliver on all my training.
I’d cut my time by 9 minutes from my first to the second half, and tried to be conservative in aiming to cut ~5 minutes between these cycles — so I aimed to run 7:00-7:05 for the race, dipping into the 6:55s if I felt good at the end of the race, and set my A goal for 1:32, and my B goal for 1:35. Mistake #3: I didn’t have any serious qualitative goals, and my quant goals were made too far in advance to be realistic. I also wasn’t proactive in adjusting my goals based on how training was going — despite advocating for that same thing in posts on this sub.
Man, it’s so easy to say smart things, and so hard to actually do them.
About 10 days before my race, I came down with a cough thing that sapped a bit of my energy. Kept me up at night, and sapped ~10-15% of my energy on a given day. The Wednesday before my race I asked my wife, “Do you think 3 days is enough for me to be back at 100%?” And I want to say to other runners out there: if you’re having to ask that question, go ahead and adjust your goals. We’ll tag that as Mistake #4.

The Race

Gorgeous morning. I live ~1.5 miles from the race start, so I walked over to Franklin and then jogged the remaining ~1 mile to the start as a warmup. Skipped bag dropoff for the same reason I don’t like checking bags while flying, did a quick pee (quick pee, long portapotty wait time), and went over to the corral.
My whole “thing” as a runner is that I’m deceptively fast — that is, that I’m most commonly the least-fit looking person out of the people running equivalent paces to myself. When I started running, that gave me a bit of imposter syndrome; any more, I draw on it for motivation. So as I was waiting in Corral C to start, I realized I felt a lot of pressure — to be able to deliver on being fast, to prove that I’m actually fit, whatever. No one outside of myself cares, obviously. But that’s now how this stuff works.

The First 10k — Would’ve Been Great If This Was a 10k

My pacing plan was as follows: don’t exceed 7:00 pace at any point in the first 7 miles; aim for ~7:30-7:45 going up Prospect Park’s big hill; use the downhill at 10k to catch my breath; and use the last 7 miles down Ocean Ave to winch down on speed if I was feeling good, or just hold around 7:05 if I was spent.
I was able to hit the first half of this plan pretty well, as my splits up top suggest. But I could tell, starting as I ran around GAP and into the park, that I was working too hard — the effort I was expending was too much. As I reflect on it now, I realize I was probably in ~1:35 shape (~7:15 splits); but I stubbornly refused to drop down in pace. I noticed my heart rate was in the high 170s as I ran through Prospect Park, where my HM pace usually puts me at 165 on the dot. I tried to tell myself it was race excitement + caffeine. [Arrested Development Narrator Voice: It wasn’t.]
I hit the 10k mark at 45 minutes pretty much on the dot. My 10k PR is 44:0-something. This is when I realized my pacing was probably a bit on the screwed side. I’m fairly capable with distance, and am better at medium-exertion-long-distance than I am at hard-exertion-short-distance (my 10k predicts a slightly better 5k time than I currently race). I thought to myself: “Well, you can always just drop down a bit and hold. What’s the worst that can happen?”

The Worst That Can Happen: AKA You’ll Feel Pretty Silly When You Try to Tell Your 38.5 Week Pregnant Wife That Your Last 6 Miles Were Quote “Unimaginable Suffering” And It “Felt Like It Would Never End”

I had been under the impression that Ocean Ave would be a “gentle downhill,” but had never run it prior to the race. This, dear reader, is a lie. Somehow, the last 6 miles of the race are entirely uphill; or at least, that is what it’ll feel like if you go out 5% over your current level of fitness.
The sun really started to get to me; and while I’d had water & nutrition, my gut wasn’t enjoying it, and I didn’t feel energized or like any second wind was coming. I specifically remember that Mile 9 felt like it took 20 minutes to finish; the last 5k of the race simply wouldn’t arrive.
I pulled off to the side to slow down; first to 7:30, then 7:45, then 8:00, with no respite. My legs were heavy despite feeling fueled — I was just dyin’ out there. My wife had been texting encouragement during the race, and I managed to send her back from my watch at mile 9 “all goals are now out the window,” and it was just about finishing — first, to finish without walking. But I took 2 30-second walk breaks when the fatigue felt unendurable — pulling off to the side and counting down from 30, while getting passed.
That was another feature of the race that made it so challenging — that same dynamic of “being deceptively fast” that I mentioned above came back to bite me, as I got passed continuously by people who’d raced their fitness, rather than their goals, in the first half of the race. That demoralized feeling was incredibly difficult to handle. I hadn’t, before today, understood why someone would quit a race; and now, even though I didn’t quit, I get it.
As I passed mile 11, I realized that, while my initial goal was fully out the window, I could still PB the race, even though my pace between miles 9 and 11 was more than a minute off my goal pace; I’d just need to hold approximately 8:00 pace, and I’d be right up against my prior PB. That didn’t make anything any easier, but it did make me feel like the suffering had a point.
Got an encouraging text from my wife, found some other folks at ~8:00 pace, and tried to lock into that pace next to them. And then I just sort of suffered to the finish line. I don’t know what the views looked like; I’m not sure what the race atmosphere was like. I wish I’d paced myself better so I could have experienced that fully.

Post-Race: Why Don’t They Tell You That You Have to Walk Up Stairs To Get Out of Cyclone Stadium BEFORE You Go Into the Stadium?

Got medal, got water. Drank about 5 consecutive cups of water, and then exited the boardwalk. Texted my wife that it’d been really hard but I finished, and right as I did, a critical mass of finishers arrived such that cell service got knocked out for everyone. Thus began the Long Night of The Soul for me at Cyclone stadium.
I walked in, walked around, realized there wasn’t anything I wanted to do in there, and then tried to go back out; at which point I was told “Exit is out that way,” and I said, “I can’t just go back out? I gotta go upstairs to leave, after running a race? That’s the rule?” The guy who told me didn’t deserve my sass; and I deserved to not go up stairs. Oh well.
I managed to get up the stairs without cramping up (though it was close). I went and looked out over Surf Ave, at everyone walking to and from the race, and just got to sit with my thoughts for a bit. I got myself a bit choked up & had a very dignified little cry at this realization, which I think does fully distill my feelings about the race: “I feel like I tried my hardest, but I don’t feel like I did my best.” I think that we often treat those two statements like they’re interchangeable, but there’s actually a bit of space between those ideas, and my race fell into the gap between them. I both tried very hard the entire time, but also, I could have done a better job pacing myself and picking target times. That disappointment is rough.

To Do Better Next Time

So to conclude this whole long sad love letter to learning: some takeaways, ranked from Most Transferrable (re: life skills) to Most Specific.

1. Actively listen to ya dang body, fool

Self-explanatory: by setting a goat at the outset of training, and then sort of driving toward it without respect for a lot of recently-added stressors in my life, I didn’t end up running any faster — I just made the running I did do kind of miserable. Next time I intend to use HR & Effort (together!) as a better indication of the pace my body feels comfortable running during the race. We say so much “Trust the taper,” and I think here I’d benefit from reminding myself, “… buuuut the taper doesn’t make impossible things possible.”

1. Don’t invest so heavily in the quant goal

I got very invested in how proud I would be if I managed to achieve the goal, and that forward-projecting is part of what caused me to overshoot the goal in the first place. Next time around I want to have a process goal to the tune of “Enjoy the race while trying to wring out your body like a washcloth.” Or something; I have time to plan.

1. Lose 15-20 pounds.

I’m 5’9; I’m strong and I’m heavy. My running has kind of been those two vectors pointing against each other the whole time. But I think I’m at the point where, if I want to be able to sustain 7:00 speeds for more than a 10k, I need to lose some of the excess weight I’m holding onto. I could also do strength training, but I’ve got a baby on the way; heart tells me that getting 7-10% lighter will be a lot easier than getting 7-10% stronger.
So that was training, goals, and next steps. Hopefully, by seeing my mistakes, you’ll be able to avoid them yourself in the future. Hopefully!
Made with a new race report generator created by herumph.