5.01.2009

Spy Tip 1: Amazing Pace

Knowing the length of your pace is uncommon nowadays, despite the fact that 100 years ago, most anyone would have a good guess as to the size. This seemingly obsolete talent is actually a skill among those that are the lifeblood of spies-- it has numerous applications (listed below) and can be pretty impressive if you're just looking for another trick to learn.
However, you can only use your pace if you measure how long it is:
  1. Start out by measuring out 15 feet or 5 metres, depending on what country you're in.
  2. Walk around casually, not thinking too much about your steps.
  3. Start counting them without changing your gait (the way you walk).
  4. When you're comfortable counting and walking, count the amount of steps it takes you to complete the distance you measured out in step one.
  5. Repeat this a couple of times for accuracy.
  6. Divide the distance by the amount of steps it took you to walk across-- this number is the length of your pace.
Using your pace, you can:
  • Measure a room and create a floorplan-- pacing out from walls to other landmarks in a room (desks, computers, etc.) is useful for knowing a room at night. If you need help storing the pace data, one of my favourite tricks is to enter a text message into my phone using letters and numbers. i.e. DW8WC5 (Desk to wall, 8 paces. Wall to Cabinet, 5.) --you can convert them into feet or metres later.
  • Create a map for stashed items where only you can find them-- unused fields are often good for burying things where people won't find them.
  • Figure out how far you are from the nearest exit, plotting an escape route (more on escape routes later).
  • You can impress people by randomly knowing distances.
That's pretty much it!

1 comment:

  1. That's pretty legit. I look forward to the escape routes thing. You should do some quick little spy tips that don't take to long to do or to describe.

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