I just wear a normal watch

How else am I going get the top of the list for segments on strava? If Gerry Lindgren was on strava it would've made him more honest about how much he ran.

I use Strava, but not to compare to others, just my own efforts. I really don't care if I am in the top 10 for a segment that could easily be broken by a much faster athlete.

I also think "trophy-hunting" is dumb outside of a group of friends, especially if it has no training purpose. I think FKT's by pro runners runners are cool because they are usually done as a solo time trial training run, and I am sometimes curious to see how fast a certain segment or path can be covered.

For example, Joe Gray's 17:45 up the Manitou Incline, that's really impressive to me, and he trains for mountain runs, so it makes sense in his training.

No sense for me to bust my ass up some hill that a 15 minute 5k guy could jog up and beat.

For me the biggest benefit of GPS is getting an accurate time/mileage/pace for each run and it logging that.

When I used a digital watch for workouts, I had to take a pen&paper to keep a record of the session or rely on remembering splits for when I got back to the office.

I wish I had a decent record of all the running I did many years ago which a GPS / Strava would provide.

Most of the technology's metrics are a waste of time - forget all this vertical oscillation, left-right hip balance stuff.

For me, GPS is just easier. I don’t have to manually keep a log now. It all just uploads automatically. I also have much more granular data if I want to go digging into it.

Anyway, why are you amazed? It’s not like a GPS watch is somehow a burden to carry or more expensive. They’re the same size as normal watches now, and entry level GPS watches cost close to the same as a non-GPS Timex. Wearing a non GPS watch is like riding a fixed gear bike. Sure, it’s simpler, and you don’t really NEED something more complicated, but on the other hand, why would you choose not to have a lot of extra functionality when there is literally no downside to having it?

Strava is a different topic.

I’m with you. I don’t even wear a watch anymore on easy days. Get this - I started running before digital watches were invented. We used to time our runs with a regular analog watch. Unless a coach with a stopwatch was involved, speedwork was guess work with that second hand. A decent digital watch is all you need. I would never carry a phone on a run.

Regular Running Guy wrote:

I am amazed at how many of you wear GPS watches and iPhones to go on runs.

I ran D1 and have run over 60 mpw for like 25 years. I am not a Luddite. I just don't see value in Strava and all of that garbage. I just like to go run with a digital watch.

Why do you people need so many gadgets?

Couldn't agree more. I run with a $15 Timex, but even that is not needed. Almost every runner out there would improve GREATLY if they ditched the watch and just ran on feel....

Then nothing you do counts.

Wonderin' wrote:

Then nothing you do counts.

I started this year keeping a paper log as well. I mean what confidence do we have that Garmin connect, Strava will be around in 10-20 years? Garmin Connect sure, but a running social media site?

I like to use a GPS watch to measure my runs to make sure I'm getting in enough mileage. It's better than wondering "what if I get home and I'm like a mile short?" I suppose that over-logging a mile or two a week is not a big deal, but I like to know these things. And it gives me some freedom to change it up a lot and not get bored of the same loops over and over. It's fun to do something a little different

But I still use just a regular watch on loops that I know are a certain length, or track workouts where I need to take a lot of splits.

Wonderin' wrote:

Then nothing you do counts.

The true sign of a weekend warrior TriBruh right here.

Y’all are losing the ability to tell pace and distance by feel. I can still tell how fast and far I’ve gone just on feel. Don’t y’all have set loops? Do you really trust a Garmon more than a tried and true loop?

I have no beef with GPS and can see the benefits at times, but you’re missing out on the pure feel that comes with miles of self gauging mileage and pace.

For short distances on the ground true GPS accuracy is nill. GPS was designed for use in aircraft or known ground locations using differential.

GPS watches are the perfect accessory for hobby joggers.

You *NEED* a GPS watch.

Where else are you going to figure out such important running metrics as:

Virtual Partner

V02 Max

Recovery Time Estimator

Vertical Oscillation

Functional Threshold Power (Cycling)

Bluetooth Upload

it helps me keep it chill on easy days

If i go without my gps watch ill do easy runs as progression where I build into sub 6 pace when i should be holding 7:30. with gps watch I can check mile splits and if I see low 7s I know to back off

also easy to track everything and keep me honest about mileage when before i might just divide a run by 7 and call that the mileage

I used to think like this till I purchased the Garmin 235. Old school digital watches = boring.

I disagree with all these people saying run without a watch. I run with a watch but I pay no attention to it when I run. I run by feel, not pace.

Same here. To each his own, but I’ve always only worn a $10 digital watch, and even then not all the time. I have umpteen familiar loops where I know the total mileage and also some of the mile markers along the way. When adding new routes I map it on mapmyrun before or after.

I know my paces by feel, no continual gps feedback needed. Figuring splits along the way gives my brain something to do, since I also don’t carry music.

I guess I could see wearing a gps watch if you’re into gadgets, but the phone thing gets me. It makes me uncomfortable just seeing other small women with phones strapped on that are half the size of their arm.

I’m also introverted and don’t feel the need to make everything in my life ‘social’ and ‘connected’.

I use a GPS watch and then log it on paper. I just like to know how far I went, what pace, splits and all that.

I wear a sundial. Sucks for rainy days, but who runs in the rain anyway lol.

Also, cotton socks.