Kipchoge relies on his GPS watch for maintaing the right pace in a race

The only use of a GPS is if you're in unfamiliar terrain and need to know your precise location pointed out on a map.

It's not accurate enough to use for workouts. For precision use the gmap pedometer to plan out a run beforehand, it should be accurate to +/- 1m per kilometer if you're careful

Jordan hssay wrote:

I think the point of this was the runner struggles to hold pace DURING the concurrent mile. Mile splits do not help for this.

Neither does GPS instantaneous pace since it's not accurate enough

HardLoper wrote:

Jordan hssay wrote:

I think the point of this was the runner struggles to hold pace DURING the concurrent mile. Mile splits do not help for this.

Neither does GPS instantaneous pace since it's not accurate enough

Interestingly, Bekele uses the Vodafone sub 2 app, it is 3 times more accurate than standard GPS. I would guarantee that he has something of a similar standard.

HardLoper wrote:

Jordan hssay wrote:

I think the point of this was the runner struggles to hold pace DURING the concurrent mile. Mile splits do not help for this.

Neither does GPS instantaneous pace since it's not accurate enough

I use lap pace on my GPS. It works well, with reduced performance in forested areas, under overpasses, urban areas. It's better than RPE.

I'm not a dodo...

You said "realtiviely straight windy path". Since we were talking about accuracy it was common to think that since you used the word straight you were done describing the direction of the path since and can't be straight and also not straight.

Every GPS watch I have had has a Lap Avg mode, if basically tells you what you are running for the average of that entire lap(usually mile). If your lap average is 5:13 right before the mile clicks then you ran 5:13. It's usually pretty steady about 10 seconds into each mile. Great for tempo runs.

I find GPS very accurate when there are not many sharp turns, as in many marathons and road races. Most of the errors in measuring, typically around 1%, come from not running the actual shortest route, not from measuring mistakes.

I know my real pace (official pace) is always going to be 1 to 3 secons slower per k than my GPS says, but within that margin, the GPS definitely helps me not to make pacing mistakes at the beginning of races, and to stay on target pace when it gets painful.

Surprised no one has mentioned this - he quite famously (I thought) DIDN'T have a watch on during London 2016. If he had he said he wouldn't have missed the WR by 8 seconds.

Maybe this is what changed him?

Even Van Niekerk was wearing a GPS watch during his 400m world record.

Indoor? wrote:

I'm not a dodo...

You said "realtiviely straight windy path". Since we were talking about accuracy it was common to think that since you used the word straight you were done describing the direction of the path since and can't be straight and also not straight.

Relatively straight in the context of hikes simply means you're going the same direction, not that you're on a highway or freeway. You can be on a winding path and still be going the same direction, but have to make allowances for terrain.

Also if you think 7:15 and 6:45 pace are exactly the same pace, you truly are a dodo. In fact relying on a gps to determine your pace would drastically mess you up.

Seriously... wrote:

Indoor? wrote:

I'm not a dodo...

You said "realtiviely straight windy path". Since we were talking about accuracy it was common to think that since you used the word straight you were done describing the direction of the path since and can't be straight and also not straight.

Relatively straight in the context of hikes simply means you're going the same direction, not that you're on a highway or freeway. You can be on a winding path and still be going the same direction, but have to make allowances for terrain.

Also if you think 7:15 and 6:45 pace are exactly the same pace, you truly are a dodo. In fact relying on a gps to determine your pace would drastically mess you up.

I never said anything about 7:15 or 6:45 pace...

Also what about all of my athletes who wear them during track meets and get accurate results for their races?

Indoor? wrote:

what about all of my athletes who wear them during track meets and get accurate results for their races?

Is that for 3 1/2 laps, or 4 1/2 laps?

Well when they run 1600 they are just a tiny bit short of 1 mile, and when they run 3200 they are a tiny bit more short of 2 miles.

The best strategy for pace info in a road race is to use a gps watch with lap pace and auto lap off, preferably also showing current lap distance.

Manually hit the lap button when you pass a course mile marker to get your actual mile splits, then wait at least .25 miles before paying any attention to the lap pace estimate. This means you only have a minute or two at the beginning of each mile where your "current pace" estimate is somewhat prone to error - once it's averaging over a quarter mile or more it should be very accurate. This also gets you course marked mile splits as a solid pace check, right before your current pace estimate becomes temporarily questionable. If the course mile marker are off by a ton for some reason your watch will give you a hint about that too although I tend to trust those more than anything (unless you're in a janky race). If you miss a marker your current pace will just be averaged over a longer period while you wait for the next one, it you can just hit lap at some random point and wait for it to stabilize again.

Exactly ~ wrote:

Roughly 20 feet, if you're lucky, is absolutely not accurate on a course that's measured within inches. I can pretty much get closer than that with my watch.

Wheeling a course is NOT accurate whatsoever. The only time it is used is over rough terrain and even then you're only getting a very rough estimate.

Wait....since when is wheeling a course not accurate. I mean a course is certified by a person riding a bike with a distance calculator, who is literally wheeling the course. I guess any course is no longer certifiable in any way. Can't GPS it. Can't wheel it. Lets go by this guy's stopwatch. Thanks bud.

scorpion_runner wrote:

But using a GPS watch to maintain pace in a race is frowned upon in a lot of american circles.

I feel a GPS watch isn't necessary for slow runs or long runs. But for races, tempos, intervals, and speed sessions, they are a must in my book.

“I use a watch to monitor my pacing in a race and to keep track of the kilometres. It is a good way to see how fast I am going and to keep the right pace for the whole of the race so you don’t go too fast or too slow.”

I cant believe nobody called out this moron for saying that gps watches arent needed for long runs, but are for speed seesions? Makes no sense, who cares about tracking miles, but making sure im on the right mile pace for my speed session 200m is really important. This is idiotic. GPS watches wont be able to tell you exactly what you are running for a 200m on a track, the track has these little marks on it that are usually white, and when you compare that to the time on your stopwatch it makes it really easy.

Wrong. My GPS watch gives me accurate time when doing 200-400m speed sessions, and I do those session at 10-15 seconds above 5k pace or at 5k pace. And i'm not saying that a GPS is more important than a stopwatch. That is not the subject or argument. So your perception is way off.

Also, a long run and easy run are runs that are based on feel. You don't need a watch for pace in those situations, because your effort is the indicator. A runner is just getting the mileage in, and is not worried about speed/pace

What does he use?

He didn't state what watch he wears.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/10-running-tips-from-london-marathon-champ-eliud-kipchoge/

Exactly ~ wrote:

Wheeling a course is NOT accurate whatsoever. The only time it is used is over rough terrain and even then you're only getting a very rough estimate.

thanks for coming out wrote:

Wait....since when is wheeling a course not accurate. I mean a course is certified by a person riding a bike with a distance calculator, who is literally wheeling the course. I guess any course is no longer certifiable in any way. Can't GPS it. Can't wheel it. Lets go by this guy's stopwatch. Thanks bud.

Wow, a wheel is a bicycle??? I'll be sure to tell all my cycling friends,

that they can get rid of their frames and just use a unicycle from now on.