I’m adding this paragraph somewhat belatedly as I’ve realised that I have said very little about the project in the intro. other than that it consists of an extended run around the boundary of the M25 Orbital in 9 stages over 9 days. The live relay consists of a stream of still images and GPS tracking that are being streamed from my mobile phone to the Stephen Lawrence Gallery in Greenwich as I run. I am also attempting to record video footage with sound. Each day I will make my way from one identified prebooked motel located in the vicinty of the M25 to another as I make my way round. As well as providing much needed rest and sustenance, these stops are an opportunity to take stock of the project in progress and also to recharge equipment batteries and my own.
As well as being an art project, I am also raising money for the mental-health charity ‘Mind’ as following this challenge I will be taking part in the London 2012 Marathon. Please support me by making a donation at: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/veroniquechance
I’m writing this post on Sunday 4th March, from my room at the Premier Inn, Thurrock West, the night before I start the first leg of my run. Feeling somewhat apprehensive about the task I’m about to undertake and what I’m letting myself in for, but I’m also perversely excited at the same time, about the sense of the unknown and what I’ll encounter and have to negotiate along the way.
The launch event at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery last Thursday went very well, although not entirely stress-free due to the logistics of the live interface being ready for the start of the run tomorrow. Just as well that it didn’t feature as part of the pv. A large map made from 9 pieced together 1: 25,000 Ordinance Survey maps with an overlaid drawing delinates the route. It fills the central wall of the left side of the gallery as you enter the room. This will serve as the projection screen onto which the live GPS route and streamed photographs will be projected. No photographs yet, but you will be able to follow the run from the following link:
www.toomanylegs.com (click on ViewBlankMap)
This should show both the GPS tracking and the images as part of the same interface. I’m anticipating a few possible minor teething problems as we get things underway tomorrow for the first run, but all looks good so far. A test we ran on Saturday showed that everything was working as it should so I’m fairly confident that once we get things going it should be fine (bar a few natural technological hiccups along the way). Thanks so much to Matt Watkins and Robin Shackford without whom none of this would have been possible.
Tomorrow’s run be from here to the Brentwood Holiday Inn, which works out at just over 10 miles. Not a bad distance to start (the others are all longer) and will give me a taste of things to come.
Tomorrow’s post will be able to speak more comprehensively from experience. What I’m most nervous about is negotiating the junctions- even though I’m running on the inside of the boundary (in the adjacent landscape; not on the moterway itself), I will still have to cross the junctions or approaches to them at some point. I start near Junction 31, running anti-clockwise and have two others to cross tomorrow (no’s 30 and 29).
Meanwhile I’ll say ‘goodnight’ from the Premier Inn Thurrock West (photo to be added tomorrow).
