When I first got into running back in the 90s, a quality pair of shoes was the only equipment I could imagine needing. Today, of course, we have Apple Watches, Garmins, heart rate monitors, high-tech shoes, running smartphone apps, and more.
In many ways, I love the technology I use — an Apple Watch, which I use to record my runs and upload to our Strava group. But I’ve heard from a few people lately who’ve decided to put their smartwatches back in the drawer, and are enjoying running by feel again.
Do you run with a smartwatch or use wearable technology, and get useful info from it? Or have you given it up/never tried it? — Terrell
A Garmin paired with a Stryd is what I use for to-the-second real-time pacing - great for intervals. Of course I use a HRM, but I prefer an arm one (as opposed to chest). I never listen to music and never bring a phone. I like the sounds of pre-dawn nature and my phone is just dead weight I don't need. The only times I bring my phone is if I'm doing 25-30km or more and then it's for safety reasons.
I've been using a Garmin watch for years. In the early years, I would monitor pace and heart rate because I was trying to reach specific goals. Almost 20 years later, I could care less about those things. I still use the watch, but now I focus on the map (I like to see where I've run) and the distance/elevation (for the Strava challenges).
I am an Apple person so I do have the Apple Watch; however, due to inconsistencies between my runner partner’s Strava on her Garmin watch (and they were up to two miles different on a 26 mile run) I bought a garmin. Fast forward to now and I’m still seeing inconsistencies. I did a 30k yesterday and it logged 17 miles vs the 18.3 miles it should have been. Even the lady I ran the first 6.2 mile loop with had longer distances than I was showing on my Garmin. I’ve had many other races show shortages too. Needless to say I’m not happy with the purchase since I bought it for accuracy. I have even run both my apple and Garmin and same...differences. Not just like .2 miles...more like a half mile during a 6 mile run.
Honestly I’m at the point where I do feel like dumping the Garmin. I hate that I paid so much for it though. Ugh! I prefer my apple watch only because it mirrors my iPhone and I have pictures of Prefontaine and my kids on it that keep me smiling :)
I'm not into wearable tech - I plan my routes in advance on plotaroute.com, but I keep them private, because posting routes openly on sites like that, much less using live trackers like Strava, can be a serious safety risk. I do all my running solo at night in a big city, much of it in dark parks, and I feel safe, but there's no point making it easy for some random creeper to stalk me. don't care about counting steps or any of that... I measure my resting heart rate at home with a pulse oximeter, just to get a general idea of my heart fitness, but the last thing I want is randos or big corporations having access to such personal data. I carry a phone, but only for music and emergency calls, data is turned off, and it's 11 years old, from the era when it wasn't so easy for our devices to constantly spy on us. As for pacing, I think I'm pretty good at intuitively pacing, but I also use familiar playlists to have an idea of how fast I'm going and to encourage a good flow. Music takes the place of a watch or something more sophisticated, in that sense.
I run with phone app to record my runs but my principle is that I don't look at the pace and the sound is always muted.And I almost always enjoy my runs.
I use the Runkeeper app on my photo keep my stats, start most runs with Strava (look at the data later) - my most important goal is to increase distance while knowing speed will come - I don’t need a ton of technology to replace simple logic - don’t have an issue with it (to each their own - I just choose not to get bogged down in minutiae) - penny for thoughts :)
I love my garmin watch but am not a slave to it. I can relax and enjoy my run, and not worry about my pace.
I sometimes run on a busy road. If its too crazy I head back to a farm road. It's nice to have the GPS to track my distance if I change up my route to know how far I've gone.
It's also encouraging to see monthly and yearly totals of miles!
I use a Garmin, mostly for tracking distance. I am not good at estimating pace, so I use it to get a better feel for that. Still working on that, for sure. I also carry pepper spray for the reasons in my reply to Christiana below.
I like the phone, for sure. And the Garmin...I don't think I really needed it, the phone does it all. I love Spotify!!!!💙💙💙🏃♀️🏃♀️so thankful for music to run and bike by!!🚴♀️🚴♀️
I do remember the days when all I needed for a run was a comfortable outfit and a pair of shoes. Those days are sadly gone, I think. For a while now I am focused on being a smart and injury free runner, and that comes with knowing when to dial it back and when to push it. I can't trust my mind or body to actually tell me how I am doing in regards to past runs. Also, in the beginning I was trying to hide that I could not run now that I am in so many groups of that have turtle runners like me, it gives me a community to speak to about how I feel. That being said I think I might be a little over tech'd this year but we will see.
I love my new apple watch! I have not quite figured out how to use it yet to improve my running. It logs my steps and communicates to my Noom account, and to my benefits wellness tracker, which is great. For runs, I am mostly interested in how far I ran, as well as the time I ran - Just to work up my stamina. The steps I took are usually the icing on the cake, and keep me honest on days I decide to take a walk instead of run. Another piece of technology I've used before is the Couch to 5K. That app trained me how to run!
Loving the diversity of opinions on this thread!! So many valuable pros/cons to consider about technology use. I wear my Polar Vantage watch 24 hours a day and thrive on the data...have 5 years of data at my fingertips in the Polar database (and I use it to define what works best for my fitness level over time). At my request earlier this week Polar also used my data to construct a marathon training program just for me (took about 2 minutes for the database to lay out 222 days of training which will auto adjust every 4 weeks based on my weekly training results.) But it may surprise you that I don't look at the watch while I run. Just run by feel, listening to nature...and soft classical music...wearing my AfterShokz bone conduction headphones (which I love). Like others have suggested, the watch data can be used by my doctor to check for hidden health issues, which is really comforting at my age because I enjoy pushing the limits. I'm a bit of a tech geek, but not obsessed, just feel more secure with some serious science to guide my fitness habits (and sometimes fitness shenanigans).
The Bay State marathon to see how close I can get to a BQ. This is my first (last?) 26.2 so I don't expect to get even close. One of my fitness shenanigans.
I have worn an Apple Watch every day since Series 1 came out. Frankly, I would feel exposed without it. I’m all about the data, but I listen to my body first. Hardly ever have ear buds in. I like the quiet.
I'm a watch person and for a while had almost a dozen I would switch off, sometimes daily... I bought the series 2 Apple watch and it's on my wrist from the moment I wake up until I fall asleep... I'll wear my Rolex on special occasions but if I had to get rid of one, the Apple would still be around.
Good afternoon. Great question, especially in this time. I use a Fitbit [2 I believe, it's been a while since I got it!] and really use it to track my steps more than anything else. It's funny how "running by feel" was mentioned. I run by feel and, as I'm quite inexperienced in running, haven't yet figured it our yet! I've got a half this Sunday and all I've been doing is figuring out how to "maintain" the pace without it being too fast or slow...
I run with a older Garmin that’s easy to program vs my newer one. I have my iPhone on me. My husband keeps track of my long rubs& before the sun is totally up on my short runs. It’s always nice to hear him say “ your here” as I walk in the house.
O.M.G.! He tracks you like my wife does me! She's afraid one of these days I'm going to get hit by a car running the street... cars have come close... I see the usual.. people on the phone, putting on makeup and the worst was someone reading the newspaper... I've even had a crazy swerve at me and laugh as he drove off.. A lot od sick people out there..
Yes, there are a lot of crazy people. My friends husband was running with his buddy, early morning, they had the green light someone turned hit & run. Another driver witnessed it & called police. Both men were in light clothes yellow running vest and headlights. Plus that area is well lighted. That’s ok, I make sure he gets to his destination. But we are dealing with a cognitive impairment, so for me I feel better when I know he is safe. He worries when I’m out. He was a runner himself. Tell your wife she is in good company. Stay Safe.
Well, no data geek here. I carry a smart phone only so that my daughter can track me in case I fall over on the trail. The only piece of technology I use is a clip on metronome that keeps track of cadence--177bpm. My times are written down on paper and the times I turn around and get back home are sent to my daughter as a message. . .mainly so she knows where I am. It's a bit archaic, but oddly enough when I tried Strava one time, my recordings were in sync. :)
Guess mine is sort of a planner. I have a notebook that sits on my desk along with my half marathon training book. And yes, everything is Penciled in! I do record the finished results on Map My Run. I certainly am not apologizing for my methods and applaud you for taking time to do the same!
My mentor when I was training for my first marathon got me in the habit. She also told me to keep track of which running shoes I wear. Oh for my early runs as the sun comes out I do wear a headlight.
Great ideas. I've been writing things down since my first 5K. Couldn't remember all the numbers. I need to check my shoe miles. I definitely need a new pair. The
ones I'm using now must have close to 1,000miles on them--their my favorites, but all good things come to an end! The headlight is a good tip. I don't have one, but then I tend to be a mid-day runner.
I'm a frugal runner and I'm using Amazfit Stratos3. Usually, I just run and see the stats after the shower. I'm peeking into watch only when I have the goal to run some certain distance or gain a certain amount of vertical meters to check my progress.
Have been using a Fitbit watch for a number of years, currently the Fitbit Ionic, which I download to Strava. Find it convenient to keep track of the mileage on my shoes in addition to how far I have Run or Walk every week.
As a relatively new (and solitary) runner without a full feel for pace and distance, I find technology to be very useful. Being able to track those metrics as well as correlating perceived effort to actual outcomes is helping me train effectively (I hope!) for my first HM in a couple of weeks and a full later this year.
Also, as a nature lover and valuing my situational awareness, I love my Bose Frames. They let me hear the birds and activity around me while still being able to listen to music and audiobooks.
i love my garmin. i have an old version which is fine with me coz i am not great with technology. but i love being able to upload my runs and see my progression. i used to have a tom tom which i would still have but it stopped working right. and it is fun to be on strava and see what others are doing.
I am a bit of a data geek and I love my Garmin 645. I also have a Whoop strap which tells me about effort or strain, recovery and sleep. I primarily use my watch to monitor distance and will occasionally check my pace if I feel like I am running too slow or too fast. If I am doing a run that requires specific pacing I will check it more frequently. I also have a Garmin running pod so that I can see my run dynamics such as vertical oscillation, cadence, etc. I always bring my phone for music. After my run I will look at my data to see how I did. At the moment I am really into the data I'm getting from my Whoop. It allows me to see how habits such as my Friday night glass(es) of wine impact my recovery which in turn impacts running (not favorably, unfortunately). Sometimes when I feel like I had an awful run the data will tell me otherwise, which is always a nice surprise when it happens.
Lately I have put away my Garmin and time/PR focused apps. I am trying to consciously move towards just being grateful for a healthy body, enjoying movement, being outside, and the relaxation/feeling of being alive that running brings. I have always been a outcome driven individual so this has been a different kind of challenge for me.
Good for you Gwen! I have been focusing on that mindset for my runs as well. Exploring new routes for fun, tracking distance so new routes can be incorporated into future training.
I always wear my Garmin watch- it's the only way I improve my speed. I am really bad at pacing by feel and my watch always catches me going too fast or too slow.
I use it because I do a lot of different challenging and there all tied things different virtual racing I do when someone have to automatically manly do but I need apps to do this
I use a Fitbit and also log my runs and the temperatures and such as well as what I wore for the conditions in an Excel spreadsheet. I think I should try to get away from it because if I have a bad running day, I feel deflated because of seeing I did it better the day before but I am quite anal (it can be good and bad!!!!!), so will I stop doing it, probably not! Everyone, have a great weekend of running or walking or simply relaxing!!! In Wisconsin, we are enjoying "fake spring" so I plan on being outside while I can! :)
I'm a retired engineer and love data. I run with a heart monitor and have a running app and listen to music when I run. I put my mileage, average time/mile, air temperature, air dew point, average heart rate, and peak heart rate into a spreadsheet and play with the data. Last year I saw my time/mile increase (and fatigue set in quicker), my average heart rate at my peak levels, and my peak heart rate was through the roof. I took this to my doctor, and with the supporting information, was diagnosed with AFIB. I had no other symptoms other than that. I was scheduled for a shock treatment in the hospital and haven't had a problem since. Yay data.
Wrote last week how I wasn't as concerned with pace anymore, but use Garmin for tracking miles. I do like to know how many I'm getting in a week . I also like it for when I'm in another city, state, country where I have no clue! My son bought me a Garmin 920XT for when I was training for a couple of sprint triathlons a few years ago. Might have to try that again to get full use out of watch!
I’m completely content wearing my Fitbit to track distance and listening to music on my little Apple shuffle. I don’t like running with my phone because of the bulkiness and awareness/potential distraction it brings. As a stay at home of 3 (born in 3 years) who became a distance runner the year all 3 kids were in full day school, leaving my cell phone home affirmed that running was a commitment to myself and my family would survive. 😂 Now one is in college, the next on the way and I still feel that way! I have run with my phone for limited scenarios to be part of Strava community e.g. December 100 mile challenge or posting a run for a cause or training with friends out of state for a half. I like snapping occasional photos on those runs but always welcome the return to running without my phone.
I run only with a small sharp weapon for self-defense just in case (have never had to use it, thankfully) - no tech for me, not even music because I want to always be aware of my surroundings. It's not an issue anymore, but where I used to live there were a lot of loose dogs and not much of a fitness culture so I experienced a lot of street harassment including cars slowing down to tail me. Hence, no headphones so I can hear anything or anyone sneaking up on me.
I do love the data/numbers, but I've decided for me it's not a healthy thing because I find myself focusing on the numbers and not on the joy and health benefits of running. I also don't like wearing a big watch on my wrist or carrying a phone - if I want to time myself on a pre-determined route, I wear only a small digital watch and do the math to calculate my pace.
I carry pepper spray on almost all my runs, Christiana. Some of the trails where I run are not well-traveled and others have dogs off leash. Dogs, creeps and bears -- watch out! Also no music so I can hear everything around me, mostly because I find it relaxing to concentrate on nature, but I like to be aware too. Stay safe!
I like my Coros GPS for the data but I'm not obsessed. I don't look down and say I need to run faster but it's nice to have the data. I think runners rely too much on data and it can get overwhelming and hinder their running in the long run.
I use a Garmin to track distance on long runs. My friend says HR monitor is important to measure cadence but i am reluctant to incorporate new technology into my runs. Part of me loves the simplicity of running. Slap on some shoes and go. Thanks again for the good topic Terrell.
Run with tech, but tech is my jam. I actually use two watches. The Garmin Fenix 5s and the Polar Grit X. I won the Grit X and like some of the details, it adds that the Fenix doesn't include (basically it automatically counts hills and gives a calorie break down that I don't see with my Fenix). The Fenix though does my call-outs for paces and lets me know my heart rate through my headphones. I need the music and callouts for a distraction so I can just run. I have busy thoughts otherwise.
I ran 19 years with little/no technology, although I’d borrow my husband’s headphones once in a while. Last year I bought an Apple Watch. I was surprised to learn I’m not far off of my estimation of distance, heart rate, etc. I enjoy having the technology (& frankly feel safer knowing I can text/call for help when needed), but I could live without it too. The only thing I’d miss is music on my long Saturday runs. That’s the only day I listen to music. I’ve really enjoyed that.
clearly in the minority on this one. No music, no noise of any kind. i listen to the sounds of the street, the birds, my foot fall and chat with my friends. no watch or fitbit. i've used one in the past, but i just get too hung up on trying to be someone i'm not. if i want to know distance i'll either map my run or ask a friend who's with me.
I wear a Garmin Forerunner 35 to track my mileage and pace. I'm not a competitive walker or runner so I don't try to outdo a previous pace. I do track my pace and cheer myself on when I do better than before, but I currently don't try to speed up.
I run with a Stryd power meter. It’s not to make me go faster; it’s to help me follow the planned pace for a particular run. I have a very bad habit of going waaaay too fast in the first miles and then crashing. Case in point, sensor was dead this morning for my ‘easy jog’ so instead of my usual watch app, I ran by feel—3 miles @ 1-2 min/mi too fast. [Marathon tomorrow with no pacers 😖 I’m going to have to turn up the volume on my ‘stupid meter’!]
I use a Fitbit Charge 2 for two things: distance and history. I don't run on a track, and I'm not a super great judge of distance, so it's helpful if I have a particular distance goal in mind. Otherwise, I'll look back to see my pace, splits, weekly totals, etc., so I don't have to have a running diary to know what I've done. For example, I had a good, fast run (for me) yesterday, and I was able to satisfy my curiosity and see when was the last time I ran that fast (over a month ago).
I also use my phone and earbuds to listen podcasts, usually Strength Running.
I never leave the house without my Apple watch. It's my phone, contains my music playlists and tracks my runs. I also slip on my Beeps earbuds, and then decide which route... that depends on the weather and how motivated I am... I haven't run naked, without technology, in I can't remember when. I have asthma and don not want to hear myself breathing.
Yes... I used to run with my phone but that got to be a pain... When I purchased one with a cellar plan I could call if I got in trouble and set it up with my emergency data.. Also, my wife like to know where the hell I am and she likes to get in touch with me sometimes.. Especially, when I run the streets on my long Sunday runs.. It's was a couple of buck to add it to my cellar plan and after the first year, my wife update to a watch that had that option..
A Garmin paired with a Stryd is what I use for to-the-second real-time pacing - great for intervals. Of course I use a HRM, but I prefer an arm one (as opposed to chest). I never listen to music and never bring a phone. I like the sounds of pre-dawn nature and my phone is just dead weight I don't need. The only times I bring my phone is if I'm doing 25-30km or more and then it's for safety reasons.
I've been using a Garmin watch for years. In the early years, I would monitor pace and heart rate because I was trying to reach specific goals. Almost 20 years later, I could care less about those things. I still use the watch, but now I focus on the map (I like to see where I've run) and the distance/elevation (for the Strava challenges).
I am an Apple person so I do have the Apple Watch; however, due to inconsistencies between my runner partner’s Strava on her Garmin watch (and they were up to two miles different on a 26 mile run) I bought a garmin. Fast forward to now and I’m still seeing inconsistencies. I did a 30k yesterday and it logged 17 miles vs the 18.3 miles it should have been. Even the lady I ran the first 6.2 mile loop with had longer distances than I was showing on my Garmin. I’ve had many other races show shortages too. Needless to say I’m not happy with the purchase since I bought it for accuracy. I have even run both my apple and Garmin and same...differences. Not just like .2 miles...more like a half mile during a 6 mile run.
Honestly I’m at the point where I do feel like dumping the Garmin. I hate that I paid so much for it though. Ugh! I prefer my apple watch only because it mirrors my iPhone and I have pictures of Prefontaine and my kids on it that keep me smiling :)
I'm not into wearable tech - I plan my routes in advance on plotaroute.com, but I keep them private, because posting routes openly on sites like that, much less using live trackers like Strava, can be a serious safety risk. I do all my running solo at night in a big city, much of it in dark parks, and I feel safe, but there's no point making it easy for some random creeper to stalk me. don't care about counting steps or any of that... I measure my resting heart rate at home with a pulse oximeter, just to get a general idea of my heart fitness, but the last thing I want is randos or big corporations having access to such personal data. I carry a phone, but only for music and emergency calls, data is turned off, and it's 11 years old, from the era when it wasn't so easy for our devices to constantly spy on us. As for pacing, I think I'm pretty good at intuitively pacing, but I also use familiar playlists to have an idea of how fast I'm going and to encourage a good flow. Music takes the place of a watch or something more sophisticated, in that sense.
I run with phone app to record my runs but my principle is that I don't look at the pace and the sound is always muted.And I almost always enjoy my runs.
I use the Runkeeper app on my photo keep my stats, start most runs with Strava (look at the data later) - my most important goal is to increase distance while knowing speed will come - I don’t need a ton of technology to replace simple logic - don’t have an issue with it (to each their own - I just choose not to get bogged down in minutiae) - penny for thoughts :)
I love my garmin watch but am not a slave to it. I can relax and enjoy my run, and not worry about my pace.
I sometimes run on a busy road. If its too crazy I head back to a farm road. It's nice to have the GPS to track my distance if I change up my route to know how far I've gone.
It's also encouraging to see monthly and yearly totals of miles!
I use a Garmin, mostly for tracking distance. I am not good at estimating pace, so I use it to get a better feel for that. Still working on that, for sure. I also carry pepper spray for the reasons in my reply to Christiana below.
I like the phone, for sure. And the Garmin...I don't think I really needed it, the phone does it all. I love Spotify!!!!💙💙💙🏃♀️🏃♀️so thankful for music to run and bike by!!🚴♀️🚴♀️
I do remember the days when all I needed for a run was a comfortable outfit and a pair of shoes. Those days are sadly gone, I think. For a while now I am focused on being a smart and injury free runner, and that comes with knowing when to dial it back and when to push it. I can't trust my mind or body to actually tell me how I am doing in regards to past runs. Also, in the beginning I was trying to hide that I could not run now that I am in so many groups of that have turtle runners like me, it gives me a community to speak to about how I feel. That being said I think I might be a little over tech'd this year but we will see.
I love my new apple watch! I have not quite figured out how to use it yet to improve my running. It logs my steps and communicates to my Noom account, and to my benefits wellness tracker, which is great. For runs, I am mostly interested in how far I ran, as well as the time I ran - Just to work up my stamina. The steps I took are usually the icing on the cake, and keep me honest on days I decide to take a walk instead of run. Another piece of technology I've used before is the Couch to 5K. That app trained me how to run!
Nice to "meet" you, Meredith!
Hi, Meredith!!
👆 This is my wife, y'all!
If it weren't for Terrell, I would not be a "runner" :)
Loving the diversity of opinions on this thread!! So many valuable pros/cons to consider about technology use. I wear my Polar Vantage watch 24 hours a day and thrive on the data...have 5 years of data at my fingertips in the Polar database (and I use it to define what works best for my fitness level over time). At my request earlier this week Polar also used my data to construct a marathon training program just for me (took about 2 minutes for the database to lay out 222 days of training which will auto adjust every 4 weeks based on my weekly training results.) But it may surprise you that I don't look at the watch while I run. Just run by feel, listening to nature...and soft classical music...wearing my AfterShokz bone conduction headphones (which I love). Like others have suggested, the watch data can be used by my doctor to check for hidden health issues, which is really comforting at my age because I enjoy pushing the limits. I'm a bit of a tech geek, but not obsessed, just feel more secure with some serious science to guide my fitness habits (and sometimes fitness shenanigans).
Love it - which marathon are you planning on doing?
The Bay State marathon to see how close I can get to a BQ. This is my first (last?) 26.2 so I don't expect to get even close. One of my fitness shenanigans.
I have worn an Apple Watch every day since Series 1 came out. Frankly, I would feel exposed without it. I’m all about the data, but I listen to my body first. Hardly ever have ear buds in. I like the quiet.
I'm a watch person and for a while had almost a dozen I would switch off, sometimes daily... I bought the series 2 Apple watch and it's on my wrist from the moment I wake up until I fall asleep... I'll wear my Rolex on special occasions but if I had to get rid of one, the Apple would still be around.
It is amazing how these devices can start to feel like they're a part of us, isn't it?
Good afternoon. Great question, especially in this time. I use a Fitbit [2 I believe, it's been a while since I got it!] and really use it to track my steps more than anything else. It's funny how "running by feel" was mentioned. I run by feel and, as I'm quite inexperienced in running, haven't yet figured it our yet! I've got a half this Sunday and all I've been doing is figuring out how to "maintain" the pace without it being too fast or slow...
I'm sure you're further along than you think, Stan! What's your half this weekend?
Greybeard Half, Sarasota, Florida. One that’s not virtual - haha.
I run with a older Garmin that’s easy to program vs my newer one. I have my iPhone on me. My husband keeps track of my long rubs& before the sun is totally up on my short runs. It’s always nice to hear him say “ your here” as I walk in the house.
O.M.G.! He tracks you like my wife does me! She's afraid one of these days I'm going to get hit by a car running the street... cars have come close... I see the usual.. people on the phone, putting on makeup and the worst was someone reading the newspaper... I've even had a crazy swerve at me and laugh as he drove off.. A lot od sick people out there..
Yes, there are a lot of crazy people. My friends husband was running with his buddy, early morning, they had the green light someone turned hit & run. Another driver witnessed it & called police. Both men were in light clothes yellow running vest and headlights. Plus that area is well lighted. That’s ok, I make sure he gets to his destination. But we are dealing with a cognitive impairment, so for me I feel better when I know he is safe. He worries when I’m out. He was a runner himself. Tell your wife she is in good company. Stay Safe.
Well, no data geek here. I carry a smart phone only so that my daughter can track me in case I fall over on the trail. The only piece of technology I use is a clip on metronome that keeps track of cadence--177bpm. My times are written down on paper and the times I turn around and get back home are sent to my daughter as a message. . .mainly so she knows where I am. It's a bit archaic, but oddly enough when I tried Strava one time, my recordings were in sync. :)
Nilima. all my workouts & runs are penciled in my planner.
Guess mine is sort of a planner. I have a notebook that sits on my desk along with my half marathon training book. And yes, everything is Penciled in! I do record the finished results on Map My Run. I certainly am not apologizing for my methods and applaud you for taking time to do the same!
My mentor when I was training for my first marathon got me in the habit. She also told me to keep track of which running shoes I wear. Oh for my early runs as the sun comes out I do wear a headlight.
Great ideas. I've been writing things down since my first 5K. Couldn't remember all the numbers. I need to check my shoe miles. I definitely need a new pair. The
ones I'm using now must have close to 1,000miles on them--their my favorites, but all good things come to an end! The headlight is a good tip. I don't have one, but then I tend to be a mid-day runner.
I'm a frugal runner and I'm using Amazfit Stratos3. Usually, I just run and see the stats after the shower. I'm peeking into watch only when I have the goal to run some certain distance or gain a certain amount of vertical meters to check my progress.
Have been using a Fitbit watch for a number of years, currently the Fitbit Ionic, which I download to Strava. Find it convenient to keep track of the mileage on my shoes in addition to how far I have Run or Walk every week.
As a relatively new (and solitary) runner without a full feel for pace and distance, I find technology to be very useful. Being able to track those metrics as well as correlating perceived effort to actual outcomes is helping me train effectively (I hope!) for my first HM in a couple of weeks and a full later this year.
Also, as a nature lover and valuing my situational awareness, I love my Bose Frames. They let me hear the birds and activity around me while still being able to listen to music and audiobooks.
Awesome to hear that, Matt! What's the half you're running in a couple weeks?
Thanks, Terrell! I’m running the half in the Lucky Trails Marathon in Seabrook, Tx.
i love my garmin. i have an old version which is fine with me coz i am not great with technology. but i love being able to upload my runs and see my progression. i used to have a tom tom which i would still have but it stopped working right. and it is fun to be on strava and see what others are doing.
That's the part of Strava I love the most, just catching up with my running friends and seeing how they're doing/the cool places they're running.
I am a bit of a data geek and I love my Garmin 645. I also have a Whoop strap which tells me about effort or strain, recovery and sleep. I primarily use my watch to monitor distance and will occasionally check my pace if I feel like I am running too slow or too fast. If I am doing a run that requires specific pacing I will check it more frequently. I also have a Garmin running pod so that I can see my run dynamics such as vertical oscillation, cadence, etc. I always bring my phone for music. After my run I will look at my data to see how I did. At the moment I am really into the data I'm getting from my Whoop. It allows me to see how habits such as my Friday night glass(es) of wine impact my recovery which in turn impacts running (not favorably, unfortunately). Sometimes when I feel like I had an awful run the data will tell me otherwise, which is always a nice surprise when it happens.
never heard of the whoop sounds cool. you sound like a running friend of mine who knows all the statistics when running....that's great!
Lately I have put away my Garmin and time/PR focused apps. I am trying to consciously move towards just being grateful for a healthy body, enjoying movement, being outside, and the relaxation/feeling of being alive that running brings. I have always been a outcome driven individual so this has been a different kind of challenge for me.
Good for you Gwen! I have been focusing on that mindset for my runs as well. Exploring new routes for fun, tracking distance so new routes can be incorporated into future training.
I always wear my Garmin watch- it's the only way I improve my speed. I am really bad at pacing by feel and my watch always catches me going too fast or too slow.
I wear my Garmin and my old Ipod with matching green wired earphones.....Thats all I need 8-))
and I don't need a phone, that's what voicemail is for 8-)
Ha! I love that 😂
I use it because I do a lot of different challenging and there all tied things different virtual racing I do when someone have to automatically manly do but I need apps to do this
I use a Fitbit and also log my runs and the temperatures and such as well as what I wore for the conditions in an Excel spreadsheet. I think I should try to get away from it because if I have a bad running day, I feel deflated because of seeing I did it better the day before but I am quite anal (it can be good and bad!!!!!), so will I stop doing it, probably not! Everyone, have a great weekend of running or walking or simply relaxing!!! In Wisconsin, we are enjoying "fake spring" so I plan on being outside while I can! :)
Enjoy the "fake spring" as long as it lasts, Nelda! It sounds lovely, even if it won't last.
I'm a retired engineer and love data. I run with a heart monitor and have a running app and listen to music when I run. I put my mileage, average time/mile, air temperature, air dew point, average heart rate, and peak heart rate into a spreadsheet and play with the data. Last year I saw my time/mile increase (and fatigue set in quicker), my average heart rate at my peak levels, and my peak heart rate was through the roof. I took this to my doctor, and with the supporting information, was diagnosed with AFIB. I had no other symptoms other than that. I was scheduled for a shock treatment in the hospital and haven't had a problem since. Yay data.
I can't imagine anything else you would need to know about your run...
Wow! That is amazing! Yay science!
Wrote last week how I wasn't as concerned with pace anymore, but use Garmin for tracking miles. I do like to know how many I'm getting in a week . I also like it for when I'm in another city, state, country where I have no clue! My son bought me a Garmin 920XT for when I was training for a couple of sprint triathlons a few years ago. Might have to try that again to get full use out of watch!
I’m completely content wearing my Fitbit to track distance and listening to music on my little Apple shuffle. I don’t like running with my phone because of the bulkiness and awareness/potential distraction it brings. As a stay at home of 3 (born in 3 years) who became a distance runner the year all 3 kids were in full day school, leaving my cell phone home affirmed that running was a commitment to myself and my family would survive. 😂 Now one is in college, the next on the way and I still feel that way! I have run with my phone for limited scenarios to be part of Strava community e.g. December 100 mile challenge or posting a run for a cause or training with friends out of state for a half. I like snapping occasional photos on those runs but always welcome the return to running without my phone.
I love the commitment to yourself, even for just the run -- it's so important as a parent, isn't it?
Agree and good for everyone to feel untethered sometimes.
I run only with a small sharp weapon for self-defense just in case (have never had to use it, thankfully) - no tech for me, not even music because I want to always be aware of my surroundings. It's not an issue anymore, but where I used to live there were a lot of loose dogs and not much of a fitness culture so I experienced a lot of street harassment including cars slowing down to tail me. Hence, no headphones so I can hear anything or anyone sneaking up on me.
I do love the data/numbers, but I've decided for me it's not a healthy thing because I find myself focusing on the numbers and not on the joy and health benefits of running. I also don't like wearing a big watch on my wrist or carrying a phone - if I want to time myself on a pre-determined route, I wear only a small digital watch and do the math to calculate my pace.
I carry pepper spray on almost all my runs, Christiana. Some of the trails where I run are not well-traveled and others have dogs off leash. Dogs, creeps and bears -- watch out! Also no music so I can hear everything around me, mostly because I find it relaxing to concentrate on nature, but I like to be aware too. Stay safe!
I like my Coros GPS for the data but I'm not obsessed. I don't look down and say I need to run faster but it's nice to have the data. I think runners rely too much on data and it can get overwhelming and hinder their running in the long run.
I use a Garmin to track distance on long runs. My friend says HR monitor is important to measure cadence but i am reluctant to incorporate new technology into my runs. Part of me loves the simplicity of running. Slap on some shoes and go. Thanks again for the good topic Terrell.
Run with tech, but tech is my jam. I actually use two watches. The Garmin Fenix 5s and the Polar Grit X. I won the Grit X and like some of the details, it adds that the Fenix doesn't include (basically it automatically counts hills and gives a calorie break down that I don't see with my Fenix). The Fenix though does my call-outs for paces and lets me know my heart rate through my headphones. I need the music and callouts for a distraction so I can just run. I have busy thoughts otherwise.
Yes, giving my brain a break from my life is a great benefit of running!
I ran 19 years with little/no technology, although I’d borrow my husband’s headphones once in a while. Last year I bought an Apple Watch. I was surprised to learn I’m not far off of my estimation of distance, heart rate, etc. I enjoy having the technology (& frankly feel safer knowing I can text/call for help when needed), but I could live without it too. The only thing I’d miss is music on my long Saturday runs. That’s the only day I listen to music. I’ve really enjoyed that.
You can put music playlists on your watch.. I have 3 different ones for my different runs...
clearly in the minority on this one. No music, no noise of any kind. i listen to the sounds of the street, the birds, my foot fall and chat with my friends. no watch or fitbit. i've used one in the past, but i just get too hung up on trying to be someone i'm not. if i want to know distance i'll either map my run or ask a friend who's with me.
I love listening to the birds, too :)
I love that, Leslie. Especially the part about getting "too hung up on trying to be someone I'm not" -- really something to think about there.
I wear a Garmin Forerunner 35 to track my mileage and pace. I'm not a competitive walker or runner so I don't try to outdo a previous pace. I do track my pace and cheer myself on when I do better than before, but I currently don't try to speed up.
I use an older Garmin forerunner for many of the same reasons Derek H commented on earlier, and liking older stuff, I use my iPod, quit laughing.
Hey, if it works!
Not laughing at all -- huge iPod fan here. Once, I gave up my iPhone and switched back to a flip phone, and used my iPod Touch for all the apps.
I run with a Stryd power meter. It’s not to make me go faster; it’s to help me follow the planned pace for a particular run. I have a very bad habit of going waaaay too fast in the first miles and then crashing. Case in point, sensor was dead this morning for my ‘easy jog’ so instead of my usual watch app, I ran by feel—3 miles @ 1-2 min/mi too fast. [Marathon tomorrow with no pacers 😖 I’m going to have to turn up the volume on my ‘stupid meter’!]
Have a nice run... I used to write on my wrist the split times I wanted to hit... I feel OLD!
Run well Tomorrow!
Good luck tomorrow, Steph!!! I'll be thinking about you and rooting for you!
I use a Fitbit Charge 2 for two things: distance and history. I don't run on a track, and I'm not a super great judge of distance, so it's helpful if I have a particular distance goal in mind. Otherwise, I'll look back to see my pace, splits, weekly totals, etc., so I don't have to have a running diary to know what I've done. For example, I had a good, fast run (for me) yesterday, and I was able to satisfy my curiosity and see when was the last time I ran that fast (over a month ago).
I also use my phone and earbuds to listen podcasts, usually Strength Running.
The earbuds are Jlab Airsport true wireless, which I just got and LOVE!
Nice! I'll have to check them out.
And the price is right, too. Less than half the price of Airpods, and they don't fall out when I'm running!
Been running with Dr Dreds Beeps for the last 5 years..
I never leave the house without my Apple watch. It's my phone, contains my music playlists and tracks my runs. I also slip on my Beeps earbuds, and then decide which route... that depends on the weather and how motivated I am... I haven't run naked, without technology, in I can't remember when. I have asthma and don not want to hear myself breathing.
Do you have the Apple Watch with a cellular connection?
Yes... I used to run with my phone but that got to be a pain... When I purchased one with a cellar plan I could call if I got in trouble and set it up with my emergency data.. Also, my wife like to know where the hell I am and she likes to get in touch with me sometimes.. Especially, when I run the streets on my long Sunday runs.. It's was a couple of buck to add it to my cellar plan and after the first year, my wife update to a watch that had that option..
Have you ever tried speed walking???
Really interesting, Allen! What are you finding when you see how slow you can run?