Free Yourself from Your Watch
Could you leave your watch at home for your next run?
Most runners would balk at this idea. I have heard endless reasons why the watch is “needed.” But the truth is, no one, absolutely no one, needs data from every run. And it is not helpful to be overly dependent on data. (Read: You Know Better Than Your Watch for reasons why)
If you’re reading this, I assume you are at least open to leaving your watch at home, occasionally, even if the idea makes you uncomfortable. So here are some baby steps to get you started:
Step 1) Customize your watch display.
Most smart watches allow you to customize the data shown on the watch display. Use this feature to set either only time or only distance or simply the time of day. This will help you get used to not seeing any data during your run, even if you habitually glance down at your watch.
Step 2) On your next easy run (or warmup/cooldown for a workout) wear your watch but don’t start the timer.
Run a route that you’re familiar with and you know the distance. Check the time of day when you set out and check again when you’re done so you know approximately how long it took. But you did not actually collect data.
If you feel uneasy without the watch feedback, try to redirect your focus to how you feel, or simply to your body’s ability to run.
Step 3) On your next easy run (or warmup/cooldown for a workout) do not wear your watch.
Elite runners compete at the London Marathon without data feedback.
Run a route you’re familiar with, so you’ll know how far you ran but not how long it took.
These two steps go a long way. Once you’re comfortable at this level, try a workout:
Step 4) Run a workout and don’t look at your watch.
It’s helpful to still wear the watch if you program the workout in. That way you can get sound or buzz notifications when you need to start and and stop each interval and there’s no need to look at the watch at all.
After the workout, you can look at the data associated with your effort in the workout. Obviously, it’s important that you don’t program in goal pace or HR ranges for this exercise.
Related Blog Posts:
Custom Interval Workouts with Garmin
Apple Watch Custom Run Workouts
Step 5) Run a race and don’t look at your watch.
This is a big step and honestly not something I’d recommend for most runners. If the race is short, or the competition is more important than the total time, this strategy works better. Even most elite marathoners wear a watch to help them guide their effort through a long race. It can be easy to run too fast early on, and the watch can help avoid doing that.
However, when you are racing to win (or place as high as possible) it makes sense to run without a watch and instead focus on responding to the moves of your competitors and gauging your own level of effort in order to reach the finish line strong.
Nicole Sifuentes is a full-time Running Coach for adults of all ages and abilities. She is a former professional runner and 2-time Olympian, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Read more about her services, and schedule your free coaching consultation.