The Surprising Tech William Goodge Used To Run Across Australia
William Goodge after arriving in Sydney.
Running influencer William Goodge has been making headlines after becoming the fastest man to travel across Australia.
He took 35 days to cover 3,800km of terrain, from Perth to Bondi Beach in Sydney.
You can check out the data for his runs over on Strava, but what technology did he actually use to track those runs, which regularly ticked over 100km in a day?
Goodge used both a watch some of you may already own, as well as a tracking device a little more hardcore in order to be compliant with the Guinness World Records rules. Let's dig into it.
As noted on Goodge's Strava records, he wore a Coros Vertix 2S as his primary 'normal' tracker. This is one of Coros's top-end watches, and sells for $699.
Coros Vertix 2S
It's a good option for one of these ultra-endurance challenges as, unlike many new watches, it has a classic low-power transflective display rather than an AMOLED one. These are 'always on' by design and their visibility is only improved by high levels of ambient light, where OLED watches have to use more power to compete with it.
The Vertix 2S is rated for up to 118 hours of GPS tracking, so even under the gruelling conditions of Goodge's challenge, it shouldn't have needed too-regular charges.
While the Coros Vertix 2S would arguably be perfectly up for the job of GPS tracking this challenge, Goodge also took a Garmin InReach tracker with him. This is the Inreach Mini 2, a $399 tracker and emergency satellite communications device.
It was stashed in Goodge's waist pack, but as it weighs just 100g it shouldn't have caused too much of a practical issue. It's this device that mapped out his route on a publicly accessible Garmin webpage.
Garmin InReach 2
In his preparatory YouTube video, Goodge claimed it would be set to send a GPS ping every two minutes, rather than the default 10 minutes. This effectively allowed for real-time tracking, while the Coros Vertix 2S data would only be transferred when sync'd with a phone. Like most enthusiast running watches, though, the Vertix records GPS data every second.
Last of all, Goodge also wore a WHOOP tracker, although this is likely because he has some form of sponsorship with the brand. His YouTube videos bear a link to the WHOOP website.
A WHOOP would record additional heart rate results as standard, but such a band is typically used to moderate a fairly intensive workout routine and avoid injury or overtraining. And that doesn't really apply to someone attempting to run upwards of 110km a day for well over a month.
WHOOP 4.0 tracker
Despite using legit tech to track his runs, and posting publicly on Strava and the Garmin InReach web portal, Goodge has attracted criticism online, with some suggesting he may have in some way faked the attempt.
Cited evidence includes aberrations in the GPS and pace data, and that Goodge's heart rate was unrealistically low in long stretches, with some days' tracking average not too far above 100bpm.
Goodge's team refutes claims he did not run the full distance, as reported by Canadian Running Magazine last week. Its report is worth a read for more detail on these claims.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
Amazon takes up to 50% off Garmin watches — here's 9 deals I'm adding to my cart
Warmer weather is finally here — which means outdoor activities, including running, are topping our agendas. If you need an excuse to upgrade your running gear, we have the perfect one just for you. Amazon is slashing the prices on the latest and best Garmin watches. For instance, the Garmin Epix Gen 2 is down to $483, a whopping 47% off, and the Forerunner 255 is just $299, saving you $100. Plus, with Father's Day right around the corner, these epic deals could also make the perfect gift for a sporty dad. Whether you need a rugged adventure watch or a sleek smartwatch, the Garmin sale on Amazon has a little something for everyone. Keep scrolling to check out all my favorite picks. This is the Garmin to get if you're buying a running watch for the first time. It offers a bright screen, easy to read stats, and long battery life. You'll also have access to PacePro suggested workouts, which is like having a running coach on your wrist. In our Garmin Forerunner 55 review, we said this watch was like having an expert coach on your wrist. The Garmin Venu Sq 2 offers 11-day battery life, 24/7 health tracking, 25+ sports apps, and smart notifications, keeping you connected on both Android and iOS. The Lily 2 Active is easily one of the sleekest-looking designs Garmin has come out with, and this new discount only sweetens the deal. Now, we'd not only recommend a watch on looks alone, but you're also getting access to a built-in GPS and a wealth of different sports modes. The new Garmin Forerunner 570 now supersedes the Forerunner 265 in the Garmin range and has a bigger, brighter screen plus a mic and speaker, but the Forerunner 265 is $200 cheaper thanks to this deal and matches the Forerunner 570 well on sports tracking features. This discount on the Garmin Venu 3 equals the lowest price it's ever gone for, with both the standard Venu 3 and smaller Venu 3S reduced by $100 at multiple retailers. It's a sleek AMOLED smartwatch with features like NFC payments and music storage on top of Garmin's reliably excellent sports tracking. The Garmin Epix 2 is currently on sale for 47% off The watch comes in three different colorways, but it's the white titanium design on the silver band that is the cheapest. The black titanium and slate steel models are also on sale but are more expensive. The Garmin Forerunner 970 has just launched, meaning now's the time to look for discounts on its predecessor the Garmin Forerunner 965, and this $100 discount doesn't disappoint. The Forerunner 965 is an incredible AMOLED sports watch with offline maps and a wealth of sports tracking and training analysis features all packed into a lightweight design. The Forerunner 970 has a brighter screen and some new features like a built-in flashlight, but will set you back $749 right now. The Fenix 8 is the top dog in Garmin's smartwatch range. The Garmin Fenix 8 only came out last August so to see the entire range reduced by $200 is remarkable. If you prefer big batteries to AMOLED screens then the Enduro 3 is the watch for you. It lasts up to 90 days on a charge in sunny conditions. The Enduro 3 has almost all the sports and navigation features you get on the Fenix 8, only lacking the latter's diveproof design and mic/speaker.
Gizmodo
2 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Garmin Epix Gen 2 Just Got Seriously Cheap, Amazon Offers 50% Off This Premium Sports Watch
Garmin is the 'gold standard' when it comes to sports watches, and rightfully so. Garmin epix Gen 2 is one of the highest-end units produced by the brand and it offers a level of performance and usability that will meet anyone's needs whether you're a serious athlete or an occasional exerciser. With over 60 different sports supported, this smartwatch does have something for everyone. And right now, it can be grabbed from Amazon for an all-time low price of $483 which is a massive 46% discount from its usual price of $899. That's the same staggering deal that we saw last year's Black Friday, so it's the perfect time to spend money on a top-level wearable. See at Amazon Advanced Watch For Workouts The epix Gen 2 was designed to get the best out of every workout and adventure. The watch features a gorgeous 1.3-inch always-on AMOLED display that's bright, crisp and readable in any lighting. Some of the models, like the white titanium model, come with a sapphire face and titanium bezel which give it a classy look but also unbreakable strength. In smartwatch mode, it lasts between 16 days under gesture control or 5 days under the always-on display. Should you be in GPS mode, it lasts for as long as 42 hours with gesture control or 30 hours with the always-on display. This means you can go days, even weeks without having to plug it in, even on extensive adventures or training sessions. What's more, it has over 60 preinstalled sports apps that include running and cycling up to swimming, golf, skiing, and others. It also has advanced performance metrics and adaptive training plans with Garmin Coach and allows you to tailor workouts to your own goals and fitness level. The watch also monitors your heart rate, sleep, stress, and more and gives you the full picture of your well-being. Combined with its robust activity tracking and smart notifications, it's something that keeps you connected and informed on everything. For the off-road enthusiast, epix Gen 2 also supports downloadable TopoActive maps via Wi-Fi connectivity, or alternatively, they can be preloaded on Sapphire models. Skiers can utilize the preloaded SkiView maps providing detailed information for over 2,000 resorts worldwide. These mapping features are convenient to use when navigating and planning routes through the slopes, trails, or streets. At this type of discount, it's no surprise that this sale is so popular: make sure you grab yours before it runs out of stock. See at Amazon
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Forbes
Garmin Slashes Fenix 8, Forerunner Watch Prices In Major Sale
Garmin watches Garmin has dropped prices across several of its key watch lines as part of its Father's Day sale. Among the discounts are some of the watches I tend to recommend the most often, including the brilliant Forerunner 165 for $199.99, or $249.99 for the Music Edition with on-board storage for downloaded tunes. Deals are not limited to the lower-end lines either. The Garmin Fenix 8 is on sale at $200 off across the board, meaning the Fenix E now costs $599.99, while the highly recommended 47mm edition of the AMOLED Fenix 8 costs $899.99. The Garmin Instinct 3 is also worth a look, selling at $50 off. This means the range now starts at $249.99 for the non-OLED Instinct E, while the 45mm AMOLED version is $399.99. None of these three quite fit the bill? You'll also find discounts on the smartwatch—like Garmin Venu 3 family, the super-long-lasting Garmin Enduro 3, the Forerunner 265. And 2023's best all-round running watch from Garmin, the Forerunner 965. There are also discounts on the golf-specific Approach S70 and S12 watch lines. Those in the UK should also check out Garmin's discounts for Global Running Day, although most of these are roundly comparable with what we see for Father's Day in the US, with a few little additions. For example, the basic Garmin Forerunner 55 is on sale for £119 in the UK, where those in the US still have to pay $199.99. One factor to bear in mind here is older-generation Garmin watches frequently go on sale during other sales periods, such as Black Friday and Amazon's various Prime sales events. However, plenty of the watches in this sale remain the newest of their particular type, notably the Fenix 8, Instinct 3, Enduro 3 and — a personal favourite of mine as a sound buy — the Forerunner 165. And some, like the Instinct 3, are only a few months old.
