I got back from Maine on Sunday night and Monday morning was not easy. I’ve talked before about how difficult it is for me to come back from time away- I feel “off” and tired and lack motivation. But I have always found that running is the best cure for a vacation hangover…and really it’s the best cure for most things.
So on Monday morning I chose to run without the Garmin. I wasn’t feeling like it was going to be a good run. I wanted to run- but I didn’t want to have a bad run. But wait? What is a “bad run”?
A)Is a it a run that hurts?
B)A run that feels like it is never ending?
C) A run where you are not meeting your own expectations?
It could be any of those things, and more. I decided to take option C out of the equation by leaving the Garmin behind. If you are not tracking your mileage/pace/heart rate/cadence etc how can you fail to meet your own expectations?
I went out and set the timer on my phone, just so I would have an idea how long I ran for. I know most of the routes around where I live like the back of my hand, so there is really no fooling myself with mileage. I stuck my phone in my belt and didn’t look at the time at all while I was running (it’s much harder to peak when you have to take your phone out and unlock it versus glancing at your wrist). I did stop to take pictures, and didn’t worry about pausing my time. I did initially reach for my wrist to press the stop button, quickly remembering that there was no watch there.
I felt lost without a set distance, plan, or route in mind. So I started running a flat out and back course than can easily be made into a shorter route back if necessary. I had a general idea of where I would run to, but tried to ignore the voice in my head that was trying to plan, and just go- and turn around when I was ready. This helped to avoid option B above…when it starts to feel like its never ending, you turn around and head home.
Usually when I go out for an easy run I still push myself- whether it’s to go faster or slower based on what I see on my watch. I was thinking about this on my run and realized that “easy” is not a number-based speed. It’s a description of how you are feeling. It’s impossible to measure “easiness” through a gps watch. I was able to think about how I was feeling, and make sure that the run actually felt easy. When I was actually running easy, I was able to relax more. All these things helped to avoid #1…you’re way less likely to be in any sort of physical pain if you are relaxed and running at a pace that feels comfortable.
This most important realization I had on this run was of how dependent I am on expectations- basically my own expectations of what my Garmin will tell me. That feeling of needing to hit a certain mile marker to finish a run. Pushing that last mile to make my average pace a certain number. Analyzing splits, heart rate, and cadence. All of these things have there place in training, but when you become too dependent on them it becomes a habit that is near impossible to break.
Why do we constantly post pictures of our Garmins? The easy answer is that we want to share our workout with others- maybe to inspire someone else to get out and run. Or maybe to hold ourselves accountable in our training. But are there underlying reasons why we share this data? Are we looking for someone to tell us that we did a good job? Or to prove that we are getting faster? Or to justify a slow pace yesterday with a faster one today?
The truth is I think that I need to learn to be my own Garmin. To be able to feel when I am going at an easy pace versus marathon pace vs tempo pace. To be able to know intuitively that my cadence is where it should be or or that my heart rate is in the right zone. To be able to give myself my own recognition for a good workout without a Garmin screen flashing at me to tell me that I just hit a new fastest 10k record.
That being said, I think a Garmin can be fairly necessary if you are training to hit a goal time in a race. I’m not sure how you would know what an 8 minute mile feels like if you don’t know that you are running 8 minute miles (if that makes any sort of sense). So maybe the key is learning to feel those paces using a gps watch, and then practicing without it. I’m not really sure what the answer is- and it is a different one for each runner. But it seems like using the Garmin is like being observed and graded by a teacher…and the goal is to be able to go out sometimes and use that knowledge on your own without being monitored.
I had to laugh when I got home from this run with all these thoughts floating around my head and I saw on instagram that Michele had done the same thing that morning and wrote a post about her feelings about the Garmin here. We have some similar thoughts about it but she has a different take on how it affects her training, so go check that out if you want to hear more about the benefits of leaving the watch at home! Then I saw that Amy posted about her Garmin-free run, too! Check out her post here! I think we all must be needing a break from the Garmins!
How often do you run without a GPS watch?
How do you think dependence on a Garmin affects your running?
You may also like:
5 Friday Things
Want to Run Faster? How to Adjust Your Training
6 Fun Ways to Involve Your Kids in Your Running
I think my more negative perspective on it comes from the significant amount of time I spent really enjoying running without one! I’m trying to figure out when it will add to my run versus take away. It may be that I’m hiding it during long runs and leaving it behind for easy runs altogether. I think with all the emphasis on it though we have to question it once in a while!
Yea, its tough to find the best way to use it without becoming overly dependent on it. The fact that when mine wasn’t working today and I was so annoyed about it makes me feel like I rely on it too much. I know I ran hard so that should be all that matters.
I am loving the garmin free run this training cycle. I really am only using it for long runs and racing purposes (because those are basically long runs) and just seeing where it all leads me. And we. shall. see…
I don’t know how much I will be able to give it up! Part of me feels like it will keep me in check with weekly mileage, but really I know the general distance I am running and a few tenths of a mile is not the end of the world. I think its still such a mental things for me that I need to get past!
Before I got my Garmin for Christmas, I was using Nike+, which was never accurate so I had no idea really what paces I was capable of. Once I got my Garmin, I was relieved to finally feel what certain paces felt like, so I had a better idea of what my fitness levels were. I don’t think I’ve gone on a run without my Garmin since, so reading this is good motivation! Although, right now I like having it so I can look back on my routes since I don’t have a GPS tracking app on my phone that works internationally. But once I get home, I think I will start running watch-free occasionally.
Im sure its so helpful to see your maps while traveling! I know when I was in Maine I loved seeing where i went and also checking out the elevation maps. Its funny how at one point we didn’t need it (because we didn’t know what we were missing) and then it can become so hard to give up!
After losing my Garmin, I’ve sioent a lot if tine running without it – and I am finding that I enjoy each run more. I think I still push myself, but I’m able to enjoy each run more. And, although this seems counterintuitive, I’m still getting faster – I think because I’m listening to my body and pushing when it feels right!
That’s awesome! I know that the few times that my watch died and I was forced to run garmin free I really enjoyed it. Im just so type A and love seeing all the data, so its hard for me to give it up!
Sometimes you just need to run without the watch. I totally agree with all your reasons for what a “bad” run can be, but reason c has definitely been a big one for me recently. I couldn’t run for 8 weeks because of an injury, and while I did a lot of spinning and lifting to stay in shape, my times still aren’t quite what I’m used to seeing. I try to run without my watch once a week, usually on the day designated for my longer “easy” run. If I have a watch telling me my splits, I feel bad about easy runs. But when I don’t have the watch, there’s really nothing better than running at a pace that feels comfortable.
Its definitely a good skill to be able to run off feel! And I hate that the splits on my watch can make me feel bad…it defeats the purpose! That’s why sometimes I think its better to just run for the enjoyment.
Ya know, I have never gotten a Garmin because it would take the fun out of running for me. I would lose touch with my body.
When I ran my first marathon, I didn’t have one. But, I was lucky enough to run by a 50 year old man who did, and told me he would help me get my time haha. The best thing it did for me was slow me down so I didn’t wear out too fast.
I’ve run some of my best races with pacers! (Lately my husband has been my favorite pacer- he doesn’t like that because he is afraid I will sprint past him at the end…)
I do think it can be helpful with training, in some ways.
I definitely think my major problem stemmed from feeling like my runs wouldn’t meet my expectations. I guess it is crazy for me to expect every run to be the same, because every day is not the same. I am seriously considering going once a week with the garmin, maybe the day after speedwork. I am always dragging the day after speedwork and end up pushing myself too hard. It is nice to know others feel the same way, though!
Absolutely! I hate that the watch has the power to make me feel bad about a run. Sometimes (like today) my satellites go all crazy and I get mad that my watch says Im running all these crazy paces…when I am actually running just fine and my watch is the problem! Its nice sometimes to just run however you feel like that day.
I’m in desperate need of a Garmin-less run. Looking at my garmin just really makes me hate myself when I’m in the “trying to get back in shape” stages. I get way too obsessive over it and that really just hinders my love of running! Good reminder.
Agreed! I know that sometimes when Im just not feeling it, seeing the paces can make me feel bad. I don’t want to feel bad when Im running, I want to have fun!:)
I love running without my Garmin. It’s the most free I ever feel and when I’m having a bad day or not in the mood to go out, the first thing I do is lock my Garmin up so I can’t be tempted to bring it with me. Those are the days when I just need to run however long and fast I want and let the rest go. Right now, I’m very dependent on my Garmin as I practice hitting different paces to train for my full in November, but I make sure to keep some Garmin free runs on the book too.
Exactly! I want to use it to learn paces but also not rely on it for every single run. I have been a slave to my garmin for the past few years so Im gonna try my best to break away a bit.
I just recently got my Garmin and as much as I love it, I try so hard not to be dependent on it. But like you said, it’s important to run on feel. I like to run without it because I run based more on what I feel – those days where I can’t stop checking my runs are the days that my runs feel awful. I like to have it most days just so I can track my mileage and see my split trends, but I try to keep it on the time/date screen while I’m running so it’s not as distracting.
Thats a good idea! The one thing i dont like about bringing it (even if I cant see it) is that Ill know when I get home that I will look at my paces and everything, so Ill still push more than I should. But I do think it helps to not stare at it every 5 minutes while running!
I love my Garmin! It’s been a great tool. However, some of my fastest races have been without the Garmin. Something I need to learn is MY BODY’S personal paces. I’m not sure if I know what a 7 minute mile “feels” like without my Garmin on. Definitely something I need to work on.
Yes me too! I actually do pretty well using pacers at races. (But you never know what you will get, so it can be tricky). I think I need to pick my marathon goal pace and then learn it well so I won’t need to use my watch as much when Im training!
You pretty much just described why I never wear a watch. I probably will when I first start running around my new apartment because I don’t know the routes well enough yet but I’m so much happier and stress-free without it, not to mention I firmly believe it helps me stay injury free because I don’t worry about the pace and pushing myself too hard. It’s definitely good to mix it up once in awhile and see how your body does when it runs the way it wants to!
Yes! I am way too into the numbers and need to learn to chill out a little. I think since I am usually training for something I always feel like I need to know my paces and distance. I think for my next marathon I am going to try to do my easy runs without it so I don’t push too hard.
great post! I have never run without my watch, meaning I’ve never not put it on on purpose. I’ve had problems with it during a run and therefore wasn’t able to use it. The first time it was anxiety producing, and I felt totally lost. The second time I was ok with it but still told myself I would use mapmyrun to figure out my stats. I am totally dependent on it. I’m very much a numbers person. I wish I could be more laid back about it!
I am usually the same way! Its felt so weird to run without knowing exactly how far and how fast i went!