Be advised - I'm posting this using my iPod touch...cool stuff but it is more twiddly than a normal keyboard.

So - no gym over the Xmas break but I did two half marathon distances.

I reckon 16miles will happen in Jan but the distances are heading towards the top end of my endurance. I need new and flatter routes. Training on the hilly route is fine up to half marathon distance but any more is too much of an ask right now.

So, the coming week brings an easy 10 miler on Brighton sea front, a PT session and a much needed sports massage. Oh, and back to work too... :-)

Longer than I thought...

Last week was longer than I thought. I spent a couple of hilarious hours running an easy ten miler with El Bobbo. Nice route, nice weather (running in shorts!) and great company.

That finished off last week with a grand total of over 29 miles! Not quite the full 30 but I'm still really chuffed with progress thus far.

Injury free and ready to lay down the winter fat - Goose for xmas day ;-)

So, the next Pt session is booked - 08:00 on Jan 2 '09 and the next sports massage is booked for the 5th @ 10:00.

16 miles in Jan.

Hmmm!

Long week!

Total mileage this week - 18.5 - that was 4.5 midweek and 14 today. Oh, and two gym sessions too.

S'funny, going up to 10 miles is now a relatively easy prospect. As soon as I head beyond 10 I get some sort of weird panic like I'm about to get out if my depth; the pace goes up so does respiration...almost as if I'm normally on the finishing straight. Today took a real conscious effort to chill out and cruise the last mile like it wasn't my last mile. It helped. I'll get there.

Oh and the scumbag pikey across the road from me tried to run me over at 14 miles! It was deliberate and he is a bully. It is hard not to smash his face out through the back of his head. He would be in hospital and I would be in custody. I don't want to be in custody but I do want him to leave me alone.

I hate bullies.

Quality route!

So, summary of last week - gym x2 and 16 miles total. Had a great 5.5 mile mid week run.

I decided to up the mileage this weekend and tried out a new route. Most of it is familiar. Basically it joined up a couple of other routes from Harefiled to Ruislip. Ducks Hill road around Northwood is friggin steep - some good hills to start with. Later, coming down Breakspear Road North there is a fantastic long slow downhill. With the frost of Sunday morning, slightly misty, fields on my right, hedgerow on the left it was like running in the countryside for real!

Positives:
- endurance is getting better
- recovery is getting better
- running in the morning
- good fueling

Stuff to work on:
- don't finish too soon - slow during the last mile
- hydration - take the camel pack?
- run with music less - it does work!
- run longer!
- keep stretching

The strategy (too loose to call a plan) is:

December - 14 miles
January - 16 miles
February - 18 miles
March - 20 miles
April - taper and race

I aim to do two runs at each distance intersperced with easier distances in between.

Top Gear was good last night too ;-)

*Proper Marathon training*

Unlike this morning, yesterday dawned cold and wet with a biting wind. about a mile into my ten miler I asked Nors if this counted as proper marathon traing. 'Yes, but you really need snow during a 20 miler to get the full effect'...I can't wait!

So, 10 miles yesterday - decent pace, not quite easy but the Wokingham Half Marathon route is nicely flat-ish apart from motorway bridges. T'was a good session running with 5 others - quite sociable.

So, the summary for last week was Gym x2 and a 3 mile mid week. After the 10 mile Pb last week I learnt how decent prep can make a run. I had a lowsy night sleep before the 10 miles yesterday and felt it. I was fairly bushed after a tough day last week so the 3 miler, although a fraction slower than the previous Sunday felt harder. Proper rest anf ueling makes a run for sure.

I'll be well rested for a 12 miler this Sunday. If I can get a 5-6 mile mid week total and 2 gym sessions I'll be well happy this week.

Waddling on...

Oops

As I walked in to work this morning in the miserable weather I thought it odd that I had a little extra spring in my step. Odd considering my calves are a little sore and that weather like this on a Monday morning is not normally condusive to springy steps.

So, why the spring (despite the soreness)? Well, it's partly due to the soreness...I had a great couple of runs over the weekend - 4.5 miles on Friday evening and 10 miles yesterday. Both runs were cold but yesterday had the added spice of being wet for half of it too.

Now, having the right gear really is a big help - I now fully understand the value of being warm but not too warm. Good rest and fuelling are the other two priceless ingredients.

Cutting a long (well 10 mile) stroy short - 1:43 - pb. Chuffed. Sore calves but rest and stretching will get me back on form. I was actually properly running for the last mile but with a nice flat pace line - steady constant pace. I had some left in the tank but I would have had to pace quite differently for a full half marathon.

A summary of last week:

Gym x2
4.5 miles Friday
10 miles Sunday.

Plan for this week:

Gym x2
8-10 miles in two runs during the week
10-12 miles this weekend.


I am certainly not aiming for any more speed runs - just looking to extend endurance now. I guess the cross training is working.

Now that's what I call a long run

So, to recap the last week or so:

• a couple of good gym sessions


• wet orienteering


• illnesses gone!

That last item is the best though! I got a 3.75 mile easy run in on Friday evening to try out my new skins. Crikey, they really do work better when they're new - felt great but a bit too warm. How odd is this weather? Balmy mid-November days are not normal.

Anyhow, I cranked out a half-marathon today. Felt pretty good about the whole thing. 2.5 hours is not stellar but it was just a training run - injury free please and the hills....my God the hills. The 3.75 miler on Friday went up and down about 500ft which is normally plenty thanks! The half marathon - South Ruislip to Rickmansworth in case you're wondering - climbed and fell 2500ft. I'll happily admit to taking sensible walking breaks throughout the run.

All good. More of the same next week ;-)

That was the end of the last of the old trainers - all new GT 2130 shoes from now on.

PT hates me part 2

Actually, it's more like 5 months to go...ooh!

Orienteering was a hoot on Saturday. Very wet but great fun. We sorta, kinda, totally got at least a bit lost in part as you can see in my Motion Based data. Old trainers in the bin...yukky.

Still - 2 hours of running is great.

PT session again this morning. The body of evidence that all personal trainers are sadists is growing steadily. I hurt.

5-10k Wed, Gym Thu, 13 miles Sunday? We will see.

New Trainers! GT2130

Progress

Friday evening - 3.66m (cold!)
Sunday - 7.5m - no walk breaks, avg 161bpm not massive distance but quit good feeling anyway.

Gym this am - good weights session, core and legs.

Run Tuesday evening - 10k I reckon.

Gym Wed.

Orienteering on Saturday!

This fitness lark is busy but fun ;-)

6 months to go...

Getting over it

The cold is nearly gone and I reckon if/when I get another one I won't change my approach at all. Run through it, cross train around it - just get on with the training. Having said that although I've done two good gym sessions this week I havn't run since Sunday (11.3m - remeber that one?!) so I am really keen to hack out a 6k on Friday evening before 12 miles on Sunday.

Looks like it'll be cold and wet so I'm going to invest in some new winter gear. Hat, layers and new trainers!

Cat sneeze

I was woken on Saturday morning by one of my cats (Widget in case you wondered) sitting on my chest. He looked at me, squinted (cat language for 'I love you') and sneezed in my face. Cold little flecks of pussy cat snot hit me square in the face. I now have a doozy of a cold. Thanks moggy. Gonna spit in his food tonight.

Still, it didn't stop be clocking 11.3m in 2:10 at an avg. heart rate of 163bpm. I feel pretty fatigued today but it's understandable I guess. That was my longest run since last years Wokingham half marathon. Entry confirmed for WHM '09. I was starting to feel tired by mile 9 so on the whole, not too bad considering. I would like a lower bpm - time is immaterial. I just want to feel stronger after a half marathon distance.

Gym x2 and a couple of 5k runs this week. More long mileage on Sunday - SLOWER!!!

FTSE is taking a beating today.

Don't panic (again)

Out of action for the weekend - unpleasant 'toilet' and other symptoms. Better now.

Thu - gym
This weekend - 10-11 miles

Get over it, suck it up, move on.

Why does my PT hate me?

5k medium last night. A pounder of a workout this am. The 'abs circuit' is a particularly effective breakfast-bringer-upper....well, nearly.

It must be doing me good as the 5k flew by.

Looking forward to 11 miles Sunday ;-)

Autumn running

Ah, that fresh feeling having just left the gym. Autumn is great for feeling fresh and cool. Running jast after the rain or during that oh-so-typical light mizzle is really quite nice.

I am not a distance runner in the summer - too hot.

Week 4 summary - 10 miles last Sat. Massage last Monday, Gym yesterday AM, 5K tomorrow, 11 miles Sunday.

Feelin' good ;-)

Pummeled

After a great workout last week, I had my best ever ten miler on Saturday. In the 145-150 bpm zone again but I felt fresher than ever afterwards. Really on the money. I'll be extending up to 11 miles this weekend then.

As part of the programme I have elected to engage The London Physio on a monthly sport massage in order to maintain my legs and iron out any niggles that crop up.

I went for my first session this morning and had a good thorough beating. Timo is a master of the elbow-to-buttock-with-full-body-weight manoeuvre. I'm not sure about the technical term for the technique but it has a definite effect. Apparently no one has ever passed out on the table from the pain but I felt like I could have been a candidate this morning.

I left with a saw jaw....from the clenching!

Ripped!

Well, not quite but I fell I'm getting there. I've got a great programme going at the gym with a good mixture of core, cardio and strength work. Just the right mix for long distance running....

I may look a bit more trim soon too ;-)

Feeling good about running ten miles this weekend. I'm going to stick with this distance as my top end for October. I'll up the miles in November in accordance with the Hal Higdon schedule. Come Feb, I'll be getting well into the long long long runs.

My right nipple is sore

First rain run - nothing torrential but enough wet to merit my swanky Gore jacket. Works well but rubs a bit - important lesson for the future.

Anyhow, I proved I ain't made 'o' sugar. Indeed - it was refreshing and kinda fun. Glasses are required but steam up a bit.

This was the same route I did a few weeks ago - thought it was tough then. This was a good run this time - next time it'll be easy! That is what I call progress.

Likewise, my last two runs have been pretty decent smooth pace graphs - even pace is good.

Happy.

Still not panicking...

3 miles outside tonight = 31 mins....a bit too fast. Next run - 8 miles on Sunday.

Don't panic

Of the goals I set for myself this week I have been to the gym for the PT session and haveeaten reasonably well. No other running took place (although a half hour on the 'mill tonight looks promising) due to work commitments...

I think the best best therefore is to 'front load' my week with immutable running appointments so that I keep up the mid week mileage.

To be frank, at this relatively early stage in the game a slow-ish week is nothing to panic about. To panic and throw in 2 10 mile days in a row to catchup would just lead to inury: not good!

So, sticking with the plan is key - eight miles this weekend and two 3-4 milers mid week is the aim next week. Fingers crossed that works. I'll be back at the gym to do the weights induction and then cracking on as planned with run and cross train sessions.

BTW, I didn't get my ballot place this year but no sweat.

Starting week 2

10 miles on Saturday @ 12 min/m and 143bpm avg heart rate. 143bpm!!! Right in the zone.

2 hours for 10 miles is not a stellar time unless it is a long training run in which case it is right on the money!

So, the plan for this week:

- 6 miles in 2 x 3m easy runs
- See personal trainer @ the Park Club and get a marathon programme setup
- Swim on Sat.
- Eat well.

Week 1

I'm treating this week as week 1 of proper training. With 31 weeks to go I feel I have a decent base to work on. This week has been very good actually. Despite the hard 8m on Sunday I have been really comfortable doing 3 and 4 mile runs this week. Sub 150bpm avg heart rate albeit at sub-marathon pace. This pace is good though - right in my aerobic training zone.

According to Hal Higdon's novice supreme schedule, I am little way ahead of schedule. This is okay though. I aim to be back on schedule 20 weeks in and to ramp up slowly being fit and strong for for Wokingham half in Feb which should actually be an easy run by then (!).

So, 10m on Saturday - easy pace again and I'm starting at The Park Club in East Acton next week.

8 miles

Bloody hard eight miles yesterday. Why so tough? Ten miles two weeks ago was a stroll in comparison.

Hmmm:

• Tired?


• Fighting a cold?


• Route - hills


• Going too fast?


• All of the above?

Probably the latter. So, take it easy this week with two 40 minute runs - EASY pace. Hopefully sort out the gym membership to get some cross training in and aim for a ten miler before the end of the month. I will do ten miles slower than marathon pace.

Injury free folks!

fastblog is now my official FLM '09 Blog

This is where it gets serious my friends. I have the confirmation, I have the motivation, the fitness is coming on...slowly but there are still 6 months to go to FLM '09

I'll be posting weekly updates on progress and mileage....injuries....blisters...the whole nine yards. I anticipate this'll be an mix of ups and downs over the coming weeks. I hope to make you smile, ponder my sanity, wonder why, maybe even encourage you to have a go at running one day but ultimately to share the awesome experience that is training for and running a marathon.

Wish me luck!

soory four my speling

It seamz I spend two mutch tyme hear

Sorry Kate ;-)

Catch up missive

It was quiet on the tube this morning. Is it because it's the last week of the school holidays? Dunno but I like the space. The downside of this extra space is that I stood out like a sore thumb when I was laughing my ass of whilst reading my book. There is something about toilet humour (farting for example) as a vehicle for disarming authority. I like the simlpicity of the argument - 'Who the hell are you to stomp on me when we both fart sometimes. Look - we are equal on so many levels!'

So, the marathon training is getting more serious - not 100% full-on just yet - and I'm happy to say all is going well so far. Over the last 5 days I have run 10 miles, walked 3 and cycled 14. I'll get 25 minutes on the treadmill (yawn) tonight and get a long run in on Saturday (8-10 miles) before a two week break...

The first two weeks in Sept will find me in Asia - Singapore and Malaysia. I'm spending time with my bestest friends and celebrating Marie's birthday!

I'll be back in two weeks - or so....assuming I don't stay there!

****ing junk mail

I can handle spam in my inbox as the software filters out 99% of the garbage. I cannot deal with the waste associated with unsolicited junk coming through my letter box.

I have a sign on the letter box saying 'No free newspapers or junk'....clear enough?

No. Evidently not so if you are a leaflet poster for bogus so called clothing collection charities. Sorry - it may seem...well...uncharitable but no junk means no junk. I do not see value in creating waste....even for a 'good cause' (so called). I choose to not be subject to someone else's lame ass marketing garbage.

PLEASE STOP JUNK MAILING ME!

Twats.

Thanks for the support!

Today was the big day. After a stalled run up to the British 10K due to injury, today was the day to go for it with all I had.

The forecast was not inspiring but I wasn't going to let anything so trivial as a hurricane get in my way - Pah!

Finding the start was a trivial process accompanied by a small shower. After waiting for a wee while to get going, accompanied by a stronger shower, I finally hit the roads with 25,000 other runners.

There was no sign of injury for the whole run! Just not enough fitness really, and some more showers.

The atmosphere was really great! The crowd lining the route was noisy but not as noisy as a few thousand runners in a road tunnel. I heartily approval of juvenile behaviour in the course of having fun. ;-)

So, for various reasons (walkers getting in the way, fitness...lack of, rain, wind, 24,999 other runners on a tight-ish track etc.) today was never going to be a fast run. the winner was over 30 mins where a fast 10k for blokes might be considered to be below 30 mins. Now that's olympic standard bear in mind. I was aiming for 55 mins at best....sub hour at least.....just finishing at worst!

So, According to my Garmin I finished the first 5k in just over 27 mins....hmm, going out a little too fast I think! The second 5k took me up to 58:45....crossing the line took me up to 1 hour on the nose!

So, morally, I feel that was a sub 1 hour race but it's the time you cross the line with that counts though so technically this was 60mins. I'm happy with that though all things considered. See what you think: The run.


British 10k feedback:

• Runners need to be penned according to time


• Chipped time required


• Sort the start out!


• Sort the finish out!


• More goody bag booty required


• This is a race with huge potential...if it was better organised...

Please support me

In July this year I'll be taking part in a very large running race. Large as in lots of people - not marathon large in distance but more on that in a moment. What The London 10k lacks in terms of killer distance it more than makes up for in terms of participatory scale. Tens of thousands of runners will be taking part and I for one will be doing so in order to raise funds for Diabetes UK. Take a look at the left hand part of this page for the links or if you are too lazy:

• Donate here


• Get more information here


• Make this your homepage
  

Now, as a type II diabetic, I take running quite seriously. I use it to look after myself whilst having fun. I monitor my blood sugar levels before and after running. I listen to what my body is telling me when I run. I still have fun though and supporting races is huge fun too. Come along and shout at me to make me run faster. It does help honest!

My eventual plan is to run the London Marathon in '09. I have set the wheels in motion but taking one step at a time (pardon the pun) I am going to race the 10k first. I'll keep my failthful readers posted on progress.

Just another day?

Its early/mid-April, Sunday, another day, another 35,000 tired pairs of feet - and that's just the runners of today's 100th Flora London Marathon (spectators get it tough too y'know).

It could be argued easily that today's race was one of the toughest in recent memory. Starting out as pleasant spring morning typical for mid-April, by just after lunch time (during my second pint), the heavens opened for the first time (of many times during the day) drenching the runners with sleety hail and blasting them with a brisk chilly wind.

Harsh

This was tough going...wet running gear tries to dry quickly at the expense of the runners body heat. T'was a cold afternoon sporting vests and shorts.

Those who had even the slightest risk of the dreaded chafing were guaranteed painful red patches by wet running/rubbing kit. St Johns Ambulance representatives responded with admirable speed and forethought by offering handfuls of Vaseline to passing runners who managed (whilst on the hoof) to discretely secrete the relief giving ooze in whatever nook or crannie that was subject to frictional discomfort.

Heroes

Two of my closest chums (Slick and Smooth to those in the know) showed real guts today getting through one heck of a run. I doff my cap, raise my glass, stand back in admiration and applaud with gusto as they take a bow for showing the backbone that was required at today's race - grit: dey haz it...plenty.

Get real

I'm glad in a very selfish way that today was tough. I was under no illusion that a 26.2 miler is an easy run. I know having done 13.1 how hard long distance running is and what preparation is required. A race such as today is a healthy reminder as to what level of commitment is required to see through such a gruelling challenge.

Hat's off to you girls. I hope to have even half the guts you showed today this time next year...yup, you can enjoy the beer in '09 whilst I slog it round....assuming I get the entry of course!

And here are the photos

Rickrolling is dead, long live Magnum rolling

Cool place to work recipe

No more than 6 people and lots of screens.

Wokingham Half Marathon Photos

First of all, a big thanks to Andy for taking the pics.

The masses

Can you see me?



Sue leading the way



?

I think I just smelt a fart but Kate seems happy with life. You'll notice Kate is a very smiley runner!



Still smiling



Go Norz!



Kate out in front



Still smiling!



Cheers Norz!



11 miles

The Stig

Some say he has destroyed the periodic table because The Stig only recognises the element of surprise.

Others say Apple pays him 99 cents every time he listens to a song.

I can haz ur smorlr iconz

If you run vista and think the desktop icons are too large - hold down ctrl and scroll your mouse wheel

- up = larger icons
- down = smaller icons

From - another site

The Stig

Some say he doesn't sleep...he just waits for his next power lap.

Others say he can actually slam a revolving door...

Wokingham half marathon

So I have updated my pb section as last Sunday saw my début on the half marathon circuit. I didn't trouble the front runners - indeed I got lapped by Liz Yelling at 12 miles on her 'warm down' second lap...harumph!

However, I hit my target and all my chums achieved personal goals which is great! I had such a great day - the sun shone and my injury didn't flare up as I thought it would. Changing to new trainers did the job - the old pair are being binned asap. It's surprising how quickly they wear out and cause injury to wonky runners like me.

Now I'm focusing on my 10k target for The London 10k in July as well as taking a couple of weeks off running and getting back in the air. I feel the need for speed....and all that ;-)

Pictures to follow soon.

How rubbish is Google Analytics?

Don't get me wrong. I am a fan of GA. It is a neat tool. I understand 'you get what you pay for' but one can expect decent software out of a gargantuan factory such as Google. They have hundreds of clever people but the new ga.js Analytics script is a pain in the arse. We adopted the new script quickly as it looked as if it should be a good step forwards. But as we reported here we quickly found things to be amiss.

So, getting a response from the mighty Google was a nice surprise. The quality of support is shocking though. Here is the email conversation I have had with a Google representative. I have removed their name so as to not attack/name/blame them personally...

Start out nice

Original Message Follows:
------------------------
From: doug@moneyspyder.co.uk
Subject: random dropping of transactions
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:22:53 -0800

Hi, we are experiencing exactly the same problem described in this post

on the GA group:-

http://groups.google.com/group/analytics-help-basics/browse_thread/thread/0690b6f9ac3c8163

Basically transactions are being recorded but randomly they are
recorded with £0 value. This badly affects the data being reported.
Oddly, the items in each transaction are being correctly recorded but
the transaction value is randomly £0.
This has only been happening since we started using the new ga.js

Please advise!

Regards

Doug Hall
CTO
+ 44 (0) 7717 603 912
www.moneyspyder.co.uk
moneyspyder.blogspot.com

Stock response

Analytics Support wrote:

Hello Doug,

Thank you for your email. To further troubleshoot this issue, please send
the fully populated HTML output of the receipt page from a test
transaction.

If possible, the following information would also help:

1. The exact steps for creating a test transaction on your website
2. The information required to complete a test transaction (username,
password, and test credit card number).
Once I receive this information, I will be able to look into this

further.

Sincerely,

GOOGLE REPRESENTATIVE
Analytics Support

Palying along

Original Message Follows:
------------------------
From: Doug Hall
Subject: Re: [#235790267] random dropping of transactions
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:19:11 +0000

Dear drone,
hi, the website in question is www.beautifulpure.com although we have been testing against xxxxxxxxxxxxx - same codebase, separate ga account though and the same behaviour observed.
so, go to the staging address, enter the password ********** and
purchase anything. the checkout details are as follows:

your email address
any delivery address
any billing address
credit card details:
name on card - ------------------
card no - ************************
card expiry - **/**
cv2 - ***

that should be enough to complete the order. You won't be charged a
penny but obviously you won't receive any goods either! ;-)

You will notice that the thankyou page will contain a javascript call
like this:

google_analytics('UA-1277333-2','/checkout/complete',{order_id: 
"100828", shipping: "2.95", affiliation: "Beautifulpure", country: "UK", items:
[{name: "Olivia Organic Lip Balm", category: "Marius Fabre", sku: "110005", price:
"2.00", quantity: 1}], total: "4.95", tax: "0.00"});

the google_analytics function is available in http://xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.js

here is the source for the function that generates the script to make the call to ga:

function google_analytics(uacct, url, transaction)
{   
  var tracker =  _gat._getTracker(uacct);
  tracker._initData();
  tracker._trackPageview(url);

  if (transaction)
  {
    tracker._addTrans(
    transaction.order_id,
    transaction.affiliation,
    transaction.total,
    transaction.tax,
    transaction.shipping,
    transaction.city,
    transaction.state,
    transaction.country
    );

    for (var i = 0; i < transaction.items.length; i++)
    {
      var item = transaction.items[i];
      tracker._addItem(
      transaction.order_id,
      item.sku,
      item.name,
      item.category,
      item.price,
      item.quantity
      )
    }

    tracker._trackTrans();
  }
}

As I have described in the report and as can be foundon the quoted ga
groups posts, the transactions are randomly reported incorrectly with £0 value but with all order items reported correctly. It may take a few
attempts to get the data to 'drop out' or it may happen straight away.

Please let me know if you find anything amiss.

Thanks for any help.

Regards

Doug

Time to upset the clever/dumb balance

Analytics Support wrote:

Hello Doug,

Thank you for your response. I reviewed the code and noticed that the
fields are not in order. Please know that all fields should be included
in the specific order. If you do not want to use these fields, use "".

Also, total, tax, shipping, price, and quantity can contain only numeric
values. These fields cannot contain special characters like '$' or
punctuation signs like a comma ','. Tax and Shipping fields are optional,
but cannot contain the value zero (0). Once you've made these changes in your account, please check your E-commerce reports. If you are still concerned about the data reported in your account, please feel free to respond to this message. I'd be glad to assist you further.

Sincerely,

NAMELESS INDUHVIDUAL
Analytics Support

Frustration kicking in

Original Message Follows:
------------------------
From: Doug Hall
Subject: Re: [#235790267] random dropping of transactions
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:17:23 +0000

Dear Cheesewit,
thanks for the feedback but I think the documentation I
have been using (from google -
http://www.google.com/analytics/GATCmigrationguide.pdf) disagrees with
you: Check out the google_analytics function call in flexshop.js and
compare to the field order specified on page 11 of this document:

         tracker._addTrans(
            transaction.order_id,
             transaction.affiliation,
             transaction.total,
             transaction.tax,
             transaction.shipping,
             transaction.city,
             transaction.state,
             transaction.country
         );

         for (var i = 0; i < transaction.items.length; i++)
         {
             var item = transaction.items[i];

             tracker._addItem(
                 transaction.order_id,
                 item.sku,
                 item.name,
                 item.category,
                 item.price,
                 item.quantity
             )
         }

Is the documentation incorrect? Can you advise as to the correct order
of the fields? I can confirm the format of the values you mention do
not contain currency symbols and are enclosed by quotes as all elements
in the hash passed to the google_analytics function are strings.
Now, regarding the zero values, occasionally we do need to pass zero
values for tax, shipping and certain products that are bought/awarded as
part of promotions. Why is it that these fields cannot take zero values
when it is entirely plausible that this scenario can happen? I'm sure
we're not the only e-commerce company that can handle zero value
transactions and I'm 100% certain that we are not the only company who
is having this random transaction value dropout issue with GA. The
google analytics forums are well populated with other reports. I have
to assume Google is aware of a widespread issue - what is being done to
resolve this?

Please advise as we will have to consider reverting back to the old
style tagging if we can't get a satisfactory resolution on this issue
and we would rather use the newer tag mechanism for all the reasons that
Google has published.

Regards

Doug

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Analytics Support wrote:
Hello Doug,

Thank you for your message. Please be assured that the Migration Guide is
accurate. As you have mentioned, the fields should be of the order:

 tracker._addTrans(
              transaction.order_id,
              transaction.affiliation,
              transaction.total,
              transaction.tax,
              transaction.shipping,
              transaction.city,
              transaction.state,
              transaction.country
          );

          for (var i = 0; i < transaction.items.length; i++)
          {
              var item = transaction.items[i];

              tracker._addItem(
                  transaction.order_id,
                  item.sku,
                  item.name,
                  item.category,
                  item.price,
                  item.quantity
              )
          }

However, please note that the following test transaction,

google_analytics('UA-1277333-2','/checkout/complete',{
order_id: "100828", 
shipping: "2.95", 
affiliation: "Beautifulpure", 
country: "UK", 

items: [{
name: "Olivia Organic Lip Balm", 
category: "Marius Fabre", 
sku: "110005", 
price: "2.00", 
quantity: 1}], 
total: "4.95", 
tax: "0.00"});

does not have the fields in the correct order. Also, the items are
included before the entire transaction line is complete. Therefore, you
may want to ensure that these fields match the specified order, so data is
accurately reported in your account. If you are still concerned about
the data after making these changes, please feel free to respond to this
message and I'd be glad to look into this further.

For additional questions, please visit the Analytics Help Center at
http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/?utm_id=tf. You can also
find helpful tips and information by visiting the Google Analytics Help
Forum at http://groups.google.com/group/analytics-help?utm_id=tr.

Sincerely,

CLUELESS BUT HAPPY
Analytics Support

Tired of repeating myself now.

From: Doug Hall
Subject: Re: [#235790267] random dropping of transactions
Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:01:30 +0000

Dear witless chump,
you seem to have fixated on the google_analytics method
call rather than the output. The order of the items in the hash sent to
the google_analytics method is irrelevant. This hash is extracted and
output by the google_analytics method in the order specified in the
documentation. The issue clearly resides with Google in the way
transactions are being received, recorded and reported on. We can see
that all transactions are being received as the transactions are shown
in the GA reports.

Lets take a closer look @ Sunday Feb 3 for Beautifulpure. According to
our admin dashboard there were xx transactions totalling £xxxx.xx. -
http://screencast.com/t/xxxxxxxxxxxxx

GA tells me there were indeed xx transactions but we can see some totals
are missing - http://screencast.com/t/xxxxxxxxxx

If I take a closer look at one of the transactions (randomly chosen but
I assure you this is the case for all of them) we can see not all items
are faithfully recorded - http://screencast.com/t/xxxxxxxxx (GA) - and
ours http://screencast.com/t/xxxxxxxxxxx (xx shower gels but no soaps
in GA).

So, some data is getting in but not all. Or is it getting in but not
being reported? If our scripts are in error surely we would receive a
total failure and an exception from GA rather than a partial success? I
think its high time to delve deeper into what is happening behind the
scenes with GA.js.

We are going to have to revert back to the old urchin style in the mean
time as we cannot afford to not have the data anymore.

Please let me know how we can escalate this further as a matter of
urgency. The GA groups are filling up with similar reports of this
error. We aren't the only ones having this issue. What is Google doing
to resolve this?

Regards

D

Footnote

We are reverting back to urchin.js because it works. I have had no further useful response from Google other than one informing us that we are using urchin.js and thats probably the problem....duh - I know, I just revtered back because you new POS don't freakin work.

If ga.js ever works I'll publish the date here as a landmark day. I am not holding my breath.

Back from holiday

I just spent 11 nights in Cuba. Cuba is a very cool place....it would be cooler if it wasn't for communism producing lots of concrete guvmint buildings.....but then again if it wasn't for communism it would be full of f***ing Americans (quote from a Canadian - not necessarily the opinion of the author).

The beaches are very nice. The snorkelling is first rate.

More pics to follow from our trip to Havana.

I seriously like Mojitos now ;-)

Now what is the funny smell