Swansea 10k and Scam monkey update

Another year, another run around Swansea for 6 miles! Only this year my expectations were on the floor. After a year of physio and rehabilitation classes, before starting back to run properly, I was happily hoping to get round in 55 mins or so (although I was faster than that in the Merthyr 10k).

Come race day, I'm feeling good, had to run an unexpected 1k kids race practically dragging Gracie by the hand  first thing. But that's all warm up I suppose! Plenty of stretching so as not to destroy my knee again and i was off.

Got to give it to Swansea, it's a nice course, especially when the sun is pumping down on you on such a nice day. Downside is... sun is pumping down on you as it's such a nice day. Big thanks to the guy with the hose at about 6 or 7k, much appreciated. So so hot!

On route, felt horrible at first, had been stood in the baking sun for 20+ mins before hand, was really overheating! But got myself into a good rhythm and within 2 or 3k i was going at a decent pace. Then the realisation hit me... I could maintain this pace, this was comfortable... so I maintained it. It got to the point where occasionally I was losing time due to traffic, this does not happen to me.

Got to the last 400m or so and I felt like i had more in the tank, so off i went, no quite a sprint finish but a quick one. I run in before the clock gets that close to 51 mins and instantly know... PB. Phone says 50:38, but slightly over distance (as usual me wandering past the line trying to turn it off). But regardless I'm happy.

Time later comes through at 50:19, 1:31 off my old best time! Barely mediocre in the grand scheme of things but for me, not bad. Although I have got sunburn on both my shoulders... in September... and it is quite sore...

Also, update on scam monkey from other day, reported to police, PayPal and gumtree (who ignored my email) and my money is on it's way back! Massive thanks to Andrew Aitcheson for the assistance/advice on this. Now hoping to get a capture card again! Have recorded one XB1 video, but it was shite and has been filed away on some god forsaken corner of YouTube. as a WIP!

Cardiff half in 2 weeks, expect more running related writings before then.

Scammed!!

Right this is the second time of writing this, Blogger... poor show.

I can be really annoyingly fucking stupid on times. I try to see the best in situations and people and while most of the time, this stands me in good stead, every now and again it comes back to bite me in the arse. Well this is one of those times.

I wanted to get an external capture card to record game footage on my xbox one/360/wiiu etc. The idea being it would enhance the reviews etc I do over at www.keyboardwarriors.co.uk. However, the main stumbling block was the price, the one i wanted was an Elgato Game Capture HD, which would set me back about a hundred quid. Too much for me to justify paying sadly.

So I hit eBay and Gumtree, start pricing them up at anything between 40 and 70. I select one (on the bottom of the price chain) and check him out a bit. He has picture of the actual product, not a stock one, looks like a verified uk location, history of posting to the site. Looked legit.

After a length back and fore by email, he agreed to post, I agreed to pay. Guess what? Only 50% of us kept their end up and shockingly that was me.

The day after I paid (this morning) I get a message off Gumtree saying he was a suspected fraud and my cash was gone. I head to PayPal and try to dispute the payment, but apparently I clicked an option wrong when sending the money (option I needed wasn't there on the screen I used mind), then to Natwest who may be able to help when it appears on my statement, but I already know there'll be some reason why they can't.

Informed Gumtree who can do pretty much nothing, so I'm minus cash and item.

Worst part is it's made me not want to do the very thing I was trying to do better, I really resent writing any review or game news now and I don't think I can do it anymore.

It's definitely the end of me buying second hand online. Which will stop me buying... most things I want.

Anyone want to play balls the guys email/paypal add is  ohservice3@outlook.com - John Daily (yes spelt like the every 24 hour thing). Enjoy!