I like the training tool mindset. Tools like this are helpful while you are learning about pace and heart rate and when training for a specific event/time, but sometimes you have to leave all that behind and feel your way to that runners high. It truly is freedom.
Awesome book titled “Unplugged” by Brian Mackenzie, Andy Galpin, and Phil White that dives deeper into the topics covered in Michael’s post. Tech is a tool that can be helpful in some cases until it begins dictating what we do or even where our attention is. When you’re pushing yourself, taking the time to check a device for any reason is going to cause a performance detriment. Thanks for the great info as always!
Great post! I ran my PR marathon (3:09) with a $10 Timex. There is a time and place where tech is very beneficial and at least as many where it is detrimental. I love the treadmill (I know, I know) and my “precious” (Garmin superwatch) but find it difficult to make easy days easy enough when confronted with the pace “judging me”. As a fitness instructor and educator I try to strike a balance when coaching intensity between objective and subjective measurement tactics (e.g. , watts on the bike vs. perceived effort). Some folks just can’t let it go and allow it to get in their way despite being informed otherwise.
As an aside, with the amount of narcissism, nonsense, and bandwagon mentalities in the “fitness industry”, I sincerely appreciate your approach and sound advice. Keep it up. Two percenter for life over here!
I had a similar experience before the GPS days with treadmills. When I was in the Army National Guard I had to qualify every year on my physical. Back in those days it was push ups, sit ups, and a 2-mile run.
I used to train for the run on a treadmill and would run my 2 miles at pace of 8 mph and would take me 16-19 minutes.
When I was on the field doing the actual run I would shave off 3-4 minutes easily. Adjusting to the terrain and not looking at any timers made the run better. And I always passed my physical 😁.
This is a great article. I agree that too many people just look at their watches and try to run to hit a time. That being said, I've found a GPS watch useful for a couple purposes. The first time I ran a marathon, I left the start line feeling good. My watch said I was running about 15 seconds per mile ahead of my goal pace, but I ignored my watch and just ran. I felt great for 15 miles. Then I hit the wall after 18 miles. Hard. I ended up doing a walk/run combo for the last 4 miles. My next marathon, I kept an eye on my watch. I slowed my pace to match my goal pace a few times despite feeling like I could go faster early. The first 18 miles flew by. The next six miles were increasingly difficult. The last two miles were painful, but I didn't stop running. I followed my planned pace, which allowed me to give everything I had. Someday maybe I'll have enough marathon experience to pace myself without a GPS watch, but for now it's an invaluable accessory.
When I ran that second marathon, however, it was not just pace I was looking at; it was heart rate as well. Perhaps even moreso. After my first marathon I decided to (almost) completely ignore my time on my training runs and instead run based on heart rate. Despite running this way for more than six months now, I still need a GPS watch to get a good estimate of my heart rate. My intuitive sense of my heart rate is improving, but I still find it easy to underestimate my heart rate and push hard than I should be on an easy run. I think the great thing about running watches is that they give real-time feedback so that you know what different paces and heart rate zones should feel like. Ideally I'd like to get to where I don't need one, but that time is not now.
When I did training runs/rides for events, I used HR as my gauge. Tried to stay high in the aerobic band for as long as possible. The trick for me was to extend my capability to run high in the band and to not pop into anaerobic. Once I did that, I was usually toast. I did some anaerobic training (which sucks) in order to hit a hill or a sprint without gassing myself into oblivion. I could withstand some anaerobic effort and then get back into my aerobic band and continue the race. I think it is a balance of HR and pace. I had a coach tell me you could not outperform your training.
I like the training tool mindset. Tools like this are helpful while you are learning about pace and heart rate and when training for a specific event/time, but sometimes you have to leave all that behind and feel your way to that runners high. It truly is freedom.
Great post!
Great comment!
Awesome book titled “Unplugged” by Brian Mackenzie, Andy Galpin, and Phil White that dives deeper into the topics covered in Michael’s post. Tech is a tool that can be helpful in some cases until it begins dictating what we do or even where our attention is. When you’re pushing yourself, taking the time to check a device for any reason is going to cause a performance detriment. Thanks for the great info as always!
Thanks for the recommendation! I've seen that book around and heard great things. Haven't read it, though.
"Unplugged" is an excellent read. I was forced to re-think quite a bit on technology after I read it.
Great post! I ran my PR marathon (3:09) with a $10 Timex. There is a time and place where tech is very beneficial and at least as many where it is detrimental. I love the treadmill (I know, I know) and my “precious” (Garmin superwatch) but find it difficult to make easy days easy enough when confronted with the pace “judging me”. As a fitness instructor and educator I try to strike a balance when coaching intensity between objective and subjective measurement tactics (e.g. , watts on the bike vs. perceived effort). Some folks just can’t let it go and allow it to get in their way despite being informed otherwise.
As an aside, with the amount of narcissism, nonsense, and bandwagon mentalities in the “fitness industry”, I sincerely appreciate your approach and sound advice. Keep it up. Two percenter for life over here!
I had a similar experience before the GPS days with treadmills. When I was in the Army National Guard I had to qualify every year on my physical. Back in those days it was push ups, sit ups, and a 2-mile run.
I used to train for the run on a treadmill and would run my 2 miles at pace of 8 mph and would take me 16-19 minutes.
When I was on the field doing the actual run I would shave off 3-4 minutes easily. Adjusting to the terrain and not looking at any timers made the run better. And I always passed my physical 😁.
This is a great article. I agree that too many people just look at their watches and try to run to hit a time. That being said, I've found a GPS watch useful for a couple purposes. The first time I ran a marathon, I left the start line feeling good. My watch said I was running about 15 seconds per mile ahead of my goal pace, but I ignored my watch and just ran. I felt great for 15 miles. Then I hit the wall after 18 miles. Hard. I ended up doing a walk/run combo for the last 4 miles. My next marathon, I kept an eye on my watch. I slowed my pace to match my goal pace a few times despite feeling like I could go faster early. The first 18 miles flew by. The next six miles were increasingly difficult. The last two miles were painful, but I didn't stop running. I followed my planned pace, which allowed me to give everything I had. Someday maybe I'll have enough marathon experience to pace myself without a GPS watch, but for now it's an invaluable accessory.
When I ran that second marathon, however, it was not just pace I was looking at; it was heart rate as well. Perhaps even moreso. After my first marathon I decided to (almost) completely ignore my time on my training runs and instead run based on heart rate. Despite running this way for more than six months now, I still need a GPS watch to get a good estimate of my heart rate. My intuitive sense of my heart rate is improving, but I still find it easy to underestimate my heart rate and push hard than I should be on an easy run. I think the great thing about running watches is that they give real-time feedback so that you know what different paces and heart rate zones should feel like. Ideally I'd like to get to where I don't need one, but that time is not now.
When I did training runs/rides for events, I used HR as my gauge. Tried to stay high in the aerobic band for as long as possible. The trick for me was to extend my capability to run high in the band and to not pop into anaerobic. Once I did that, I was usually toast. I did some anaerobic training (which sucks) in order to hit a hill or a sprint without gassing myself into oblivion. I could withstand some anaerobic effort and then get back into my aerobic band and continue the race. I think it is a balance of HR and pace. I had a coach tell me you could not outperform your training.
This post inspired me to add a “Blind Run” activity in my Garmin.
It’s basically just a run where I only see the timer and nothing else. It’ll give me a chance to run on feel some of the time.
Wondering if this also applies to rucking!
I primarily use my watch on an out and back run to let me know when to turn around!