Radderz’ Randomness

I’ve just discovered yet another glitch with the ‘Import Data’ tool within the ‘Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio’. It took me a while to figure this one out as the error message was of a slightly unhelpful wild goose chase.

Error

If you have a column within excel that contains a mix of both data and null cells, the import tool fails even if the destination column is set to ‘Nullable’ within ‘Column Mappings’.

“Text was truncated or one or more characters had no match in the target code page.”

Solution

The only work around I have found is to separate the null columns and import them separately.

As alternative I think you can place a single quote (’) in each null cell, this forces the excel engine to register the cell as text rather then a null type and import it as an empty piece of data; I’ve used this technique before to force mixed numeric and text fields to be solely text, as using ‘format cell’ and selecting ‘text’ still imports the cell as a numeric value. I haven’t tested it for this scenario, but it sounds plausible that it will have the same effect with null values.

Versions

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 10.0.2531.0
SQLServer 2008
Excel 2007

Techie Bug, SQL

Woohoo! I’ve just completed my first rather hilly half marathon!

My unofficial time, as timed by myself using my iPhone when crossing the start/finish line, was 1:59:40. I beat the 2 hour mark by just 20 seconds! That last sprint was really worth it

I started quite near the back, and had quite a bit of traffic to get through during the first few miles, but this didn’t have a negative effect on me, in fact me trying to get past people only spurred on my completive streak.

The bulk of the up hill bits were tackled within the first 5 miles. I don’t find hills that taxing probably due to my training methods which involves finding the steepest and longest hills and maintaining a steady pace. Still, I was shocked when I reached the timing station at the 5 mile mark, it showed that I had taken 45 minutes to complete the hardest 5 miles. Quickly I came to the conclusion in my head that I was good for a two hour target with the hardest part of the course out of the way. I was quite shocked at this, in my training I was achieving 2 hours 30 minutes, and this was before my 2 weeks of illness which through my fitness and training out of the window. Could I really shave 30 minutes off of my time? All I needed to do was keep a steady pace along the ridge, a 3 mile stretch to ore with slight inclines and declines, sprint down the 2 mile downhill stretch from ore to the old town, then tackle the remaining final 3 miles of flat along the sea front without allowing tiredness to take control. This was my plan.

The ridge run was going quite well. I grabbed some water on the way, I was pushing myself so I had lost more fluid then I would have normally, I splashed the remaining water over my face to keep me cool. It was quite pleasant out, not too cold or warm, slightly damp on the road but dry in the air; the odd cool gust was refreshingly welcomed. A while passed before I was presented with a banana, of which I nearly turned down due to not normally eating or drinking anything during my normal runs, but in a split second I decided that this was no normal run, and I could possibly do with replenishing the extra energy I was exerting to prevent tiredness when approaching the end. The next mile or two was painful. I had to slow my pace to try and recover from a stitch caused by eating. I must have lost a fair bit of time here, but all I was concerned about was recovering for the downhill sprint I was about to embark.

I reached Ore, a small uphill section awaits before double backing on itself in preparation for a long steep run down to the sea front. This was what I had been looking forward to, for me it was the start of the home straight. As soon as I hit the decline my pace switched from a jog to as much of a sprint that could be managed at this gradient. It caught me by surprise that no one else around me seemed to have this tactic, and as I weaved through whole groups of people I became half concerned that what I was doing was foolish and risked burning myself out. Such thoughts didn’t root in my mind for very long, I used this method regularly during my training, so I put those thoughts aside and enjoyed running past people as fast as I could with seemingly minimal effort.

Approaching the Old Town the hill started to level off. The 3 mile remaining mark was accompanied by another timing station. I had forgotten about time and was encouraged when the clock told me that I had 30 minutes to do the remaining 3 miles. That was more then doable so long as I could get through the tiredness that had been creeping upon me. I was starting to think how I could make myself keep up the pace for the final section while also getting prepared that I would just miss out on this fantasy target of mine. Pain started to kick in before I knew what to do, but it was in my back. It was becoming quite debilitating, all I could do was try and keep moving, and return from a tired to a good running posture. I don’t even remember running parts of the last few miles, I was just concentrating on moving and getting that finish line in my sights. I kept trying to pick up the pace as if I were on the final stretch, but it wasn’t happening.

With half a mile left I could see the finish line. This made things easier, but dare I look at the time on my phone? Eventually I did, it showed I had 3 minutes to reach the line which was now fast approaching. That was all I needed to get my second wind, immediately I struggled into a ‘proper’ run again, with greater determination than anyone else around. I’m glad I did, and it made the difference, finishing just 20 seconds shy of the 2 hour mark.

If you haven’t already, donations can be sent via my ‘Just Giving’ page. It’s for women’s aid helping women and children who suffer from domestic violence. If you can, please send something no matter how small.

Here are my stats according to the MotionX-GPS iPhone app
Time:1:59:40
Avg Speed:6.6mph
Distance:13.2 miles
Max Speed:11mph

Official Timings
Race Time:2:05:06
Personal Time:2:01:11

I’m not sure why there is over a minute between the official personal time and my recorded time, I’m assuming that the race timing chips had a lag when being recorded, or the start time was somehow averaged as I started from near the back. I wasn’t scanned by person when starting, but I was upon finish, so maybe an inaccuracy crept in here. Nether the less, I timed myself when crossing the start and finish line, so I know for sure that this was an accurate time.

Hasting Half Marathon for Womens Aid iPhone, Personal, Running

Actually, I find hills not to be a challenge anymore and perversely enjoy them. Hastings has a lot of steep ones to practice on which I have taken full advantage in learning how to tackle them.

The Hastings half marathon route is set so the up hills are of a more gradual level over the first five miles of the race, with a steep decline at the end. I tend to do it the other way around for training purposes in aid of building up greater muscles on the steeper hills, and now I find the gradual inclines pretty straight forward to tackle.

So how do I do it? Well, I don’t sprint up them that’s for sure. Quite a few people tend to keep running at the same speed and take breaks, but this really adds strain and tires you out. What I do is cut my speed and try to keep my energy levels constant at the same levels as if I were running along the flat. Controlling your exertion is the main key, and if you manage to keep the same amount of energy going up hill then on flats by controlling your speed, you can quickly speed back up when the incline levels off without feeling tired. Quite often I would halve my speed or even more depending on the steepness, but I would never stop or reduce to a walk. Doing so I find that I can keep going and going without any more effort. If I feel tired or a drain, I cut my speed. If I feel I have energy, I speed up. This is a good method for distant running (probably not when racing for speed).

If you know anything about skiing, it’s a little like traversing. This is where you ski down the mountain by taking a long route from side to side which in effect reduces the incline to a more manageable level. I’m not saying with running to zig-zag up the hill to make it less step (although you can if you want to keep your speed constant, but it will dramatically increase the distance you run), but cutting speed will have a similar effect.

Similarly on downhill stretches I keep my energy levels constant and increase my speed. I can run steep downhill stretches at my maximum pace and still feel that I am exerting less energy than normal, so it feels like I’m having a break and recovering a bit.

You can do the same method for terrain as well. I run cross country a fair bit, I prefer it really, but it can be a lot harder especially if it’s muddy. I tend to piss my running partners off as I cut my speed when the going gets tough, but as soon as tarmac is hit I speed up dramatically and am off in the distance before they realise that they have to suddenly run faster. I’m told this is a pretty sensible tactic of running, and is suited well for long distance 50 mile runners; It probably isn’t the best if you are looking for speed to break a few records, but it does make running a lot easier and enjoyable without feeling overly tired at the end.

Hasting Half Marathon for Womens Aid Personal, Running