Welcome to this second GPS Training podcast for this, it’s our 35th episode.

With the current lockdown in the UK we are creating two Podcasts a month, rather than our usual one to hopefully keep you entertained.

In this month’s we again have Ian and me Jon, both from GPS Training and we have two guests, but more about that later.Have you been up to much Ian over the past month?

So, without further ado let’s get on with today’s podcast ……

This month’s Podcast we have an interview with -

· Lindley Chambers, from Challenge Running. He is also the safety co-coordinator for the Spine races, both summer and winter events.

· We have an interview with Carol Payne, you may know this lady Ian? This is Ian’s wife and we are going to talk to her about the way she is using her Garmin Fenix, especially with the couch to 5 k initiative to get people running 5k

· We then have Ian’s FAQ’s, the frequently asked questions Ian has answered whilst supporting our customers or on some of the GPS Training courses he has been leading.

To start this month’s Podcast, we have a chat with Lindley Chambers

Lindley, welcome to the GPS Training PodcastI met Lindley through a Facebook page (Outdoor Gear UK), when I was reaching out to some people with expertise for an article I was writing.

Frankly, Lindley went well beyond anything I was expecting from everybody and after reading the help he gave me, I thought, we need this guy on the podcast.

I know it is an impossible question this, as I know you have many feathers to your bow but what are the key things you do.

• ML leader
• Personal business
• Consulting on events/ safety
• Safety coordinator for both spine races (summer and winter), which includes writing the kit list and managing kit checks before and during the race.

Our listeners will know the spine race as we interviewed Paul Freeman on the 31st podcast after he had completed the Montane Spine MRT Challenge race, if you have not listened to this please do, it’s a great listen.

I first contacted you Lindley as I personally was trying to understand when it was acceptable to use an app on a mobile phone rather than a standalone GPS unit, if it ever was. You came back with a great explanation of what your personal thoughts on this which are? He categorized your walking into three key categories didn’t you?

• Local routes or familiar areas of low risk and shorter duration.

I am unlikely to take a map as I either have a rough idea or I have my phone as a backup GPS with Viewranger on it. I will primarily use my watch (Suunto 9 Baro) for navigation and GPS location in an emergency. I have a phone that I know will last for 3-4 days with GPS on that is fully waterproof and drop tested.

• Longer routes or unfamiliar areas with medium risk

I will take My watch still probably as a primary source and use my phone as an occasional check or overview, My watch can load routes I have planned onto it.
I will probably take my Handheld Garmin (Oregon 450) as an emergency back up with a fresh set of batteries.

• Very long or high-risk routes including multi-day stuff

All of the above plus a map and compass and most likely my spot tracker too. I would still usually use my watch on a planned route and my handheld or phone on a route I have not planned or maybe be practicing with my map and compass.

When is a phone acceptable?

It's one of those "It depends" scenarios.

If you can’t read a map but can use your phone with an app like viewranger or OS locate/maps then that's better than not having anything.

If you are on a tourist path with lots of other people in good weather on an easy to find route then no big deal, after all we see people all the time on paths with a phone and no map and they are usually ok.

If you are competent with an app and your phone or your watch and know how long the battery lasts and how to use them then great as long as you kn...