Why I run without a watch, gps,or heart rate monitor

Running for the sake of running provides a feeling to many of us that well exceeds any distance achieved or PR that we might have accomplished. Here is a great story by a 3SF athlete about her "discovery" of pure running...

Once upon a time I was an excellent runner. As time went on ( OK I got OLD and injured and had to work for a living) keeping that level of performance became more difficult. I became a type AAA driven runner. If in fact I went on a run and had NOT run faster and or farther than the day OR workout before life was awful, and I was a grumpy runner/person. Running had been fun. It suddenly became a chore and then it started to make me anxious and depressed until one day....a friendly "running fairy" said something important to me. " Have you ever tried to run without your watch?"

"Why, NO! "I replied. The very thought struck terror through my soul. "A real runner couldn't possibly run watchless could they? I mean naked maybe, but at least you wore your trusty running watch!"

"Try it- the joy of running will return", the fairy assured.

After several more months or maybe a year of self punishment..I gave up and tried the fairies advice. The watch hadn't been removed from my wrist for???, well since it's purchase! 3-4 years before- wow- the skin under there looked- different. I wasn't really sure I could put it down. Darn the luck, my running shorts didn't have a pocket it would fit in..that would count? right?

I asked my trusty spouse for assistance. He had to wrestle the watch from my terror stricken grasping , clawing and scratching hands and ran away with it...and HID it. I felt like I was going to die. He then made fun of me..then... he taunted me. He actually thought..no he was sure- I could not actually run a step without it. Now, no self respecting person could let it go at that and I had to prove him wrong- I actually got my shoes on and walked to the front door but I couldn't open it. Using all my strength and will power somehow I got that door open, and tried to leave the house. There was this force sucking me back in, my heart was beating through my chest and I couldn't breathe- but I couldn't let him win either- I'd have to listen to it for the rest of my life- now the way I was feeling- I didn't think my life would last much longer but still he could not be --oh I can't even type it---RIGHT!

After an interminable amount of time- which I'd known had I had on my trusty and faithful watch...I slipped and fell out the door. My spouse laughed and triple dog dared me to run sans watch. It was time to face the truth..I was addicted to my watch. I tried to trot to the end of the drive-I felt like I was moving thru sludge-first thing I did was try to hit the timer-dang- no watch-no timer- the reality was too much- I prayed...alot... and tried to run. God heard and answered my prayer and was most merciful in the near immediate response-THANKS-Then I started running real hard- but I didn't know how hard-or maybe it was easy- but how easy? no watch...how do you know if you're running hard or easy? Panic was abounding.then it hit me- I knew how to run before I owned a running watch. I ran my best races before I had a watch. ( Oh there was a time when running watches and gatorade didn't exist- or running shoes!)I loved running before I had a watch.I had to force myself to remember what running easy medium and hard were. How do you forget such things? beats me- I'd forgotten....

I made my 6 mile run. Can't say I enjoyed it at all. I did enjoy the victory of telling my honey-he was WRONG...( I Know! love doesn't boast- I did- I sinned- my bad!-he did have my watch after all!)Got home..thought."I'll know how fast it was if I look at the kitchen clock!" oops didn't look at it after my husband wrestled away my watch and I fell out the door. Hmmmm how long must that have taken? I had to face it- I had to log those miles without an accompanying time. Now what? I tried to talk my other half into giving me back my watch. He wouldn't budge. He said getting rid of my watch was the best decision I'd made other than marrying him. He sure made it hard to slug him.Too smart for his own good.

That evening I had ( get that had? I'm a junkie-sure enough!!) to do my second workout...no watch. I was tempted to go buy another and use it surreptitiously but decided I'd get caught. That run went a wee bit better. No panic or suicidal thoughts. I think I noticed the name of the road and a house I'd never seen before and some neighbors who -did they really? waved. Huh, never saw that before...because I was too busy looking at my watch and sucking air! Revelation..I used to wave at everyone- stop and have a chat..remove debris from the road...how long had it been since I stopped in the middle of a run?

The next morning, my run was much better. I counted how many types of birds I saw. Waved at my neighbors as they passed or were out getting their papers, noticed the kids out waiting for the bus ( had school started back already?- OK it was the end of September!)
I came home cheerful and with a neighborhood report. My husband was impressed. He raised an eyebrow as if he were listening.

My workouts became more and more pleasant. I experimented with fartleks again as I couldn't run hard 5 minutes and recover for 1 as I had no way to time it! I did hill repeats, I did pick ups and sometimes I simply ran. This went on for 3 to 4 weeks. I was thinking the fairy was right, lose the watch and regain the joy of running,BUT.Yes, the big BUT. I had a race coming up. I'd get timed there...what IF? well. if you run and race you know the 100 what ifs that come up.

So the race arrives. You get asked the usual questions,but I have no answers. I simply had no idea how my training was going. I personally felt good. That was about all I had to offer.No one asked if I was having fun running. Not sure how I'd answered- well yes, the last month after my watch was forcefully removed from my protesting body! that did come to mind. Now the other dilemma. We all lined up for the race. EVERYONE is ready to start their watch as they crossed the starting line ( this was before chip timing) except me. I was the alien being, I felt completely naked, no watch, no satisfying little beep when it starts and stops( that's all they did= no splits or laps). I
truly felt I didn't even belong there. BANG! the moments of truth were before me. I mean why train if you don't race?....(OK another addiction for a future blog)

I just had to run by feel. The miles clicked by. I started passing more and more people. Some looked quite worried, their times weren't where they should have been.Gee...did I have that look? I'm sure I did at many a past race. They looked so uptight , I'm sure that made their running worse. Well, I had no idea how long I'd been running- I only knew what mile marker I was at. I sure was tempted to ask everyone I passed how long we'd been out there, but I was too embarrassed about my naked wrist to say anything.Then the most marvelous thing happened, we were coming into the finish chute and at the line there was this huge clock with the race time on it. Better yet, it had a GOOD race time on it, well for me. Not a PR, well, a PR for that age group. The best I'd run in a year or 2 well- maybe 3. I wonder how much time and energy I saved by NOT lifting my arm and turning my head to look at that blasted watch? Maybe training without a watch wasn't all that bad. It's good to remember what easy, medium ,hard and REALLY hard are. It's better to recognize my neighbors and their kids and be more sociable and helpful when running.I think my left arm felt lighter...maybe that was it.

OK it was FUN to run again. There are times when knowing what time it is or how long you've been running are good and appropriate things,but always relying on it can be bad. Now, I wear a watch because sometimes I need to know if I need to turn around and get home or do I have time for another mile, or another hill. Can I actually make that distance under the cut off times? NOW I have to push a button and hear the little beep just to see what time it is. My watch doesn't show the time unless I want it to. No use glancing at it every few seconds. Keeps me from my bad habits.Lets me focus on other things and has helped me keep running for over 30 years with no burn out.

The moral of this story...don't over rely on technology. Learn to exercise by feel. Love the training. Race day comes -you go hard..the watch is irrelevant- you learn to follow the rules- don't go out too hard, but let it all out by the end...the watch, heart rate monitor, gps, etc...they don't know what is right for you on race day, nor do they know the circumstances..weather, excitement, hills.....but you know; and that's what you trained for and practiced and hopefully are able to execute come race day. Running should be enjoyable and can be social and gee who else is up at 5 in the morning and can remove downed limbs after the storm before everyone leaves for work? The road clean up fairy-that's who! Doing unseen good deeds just leaves you feeling plain good! Feeling good is also...fun!

Thank you my good friend running fairy!