Today I went out with the purpose to keep a closer eye on my pace. This because lately I either run too fast or too slow and it is frustrating me hard. So I shifted my watch to show my current pace and set off for a 30 minute run with the idea to regularly check my pace on my watch.
Ok, so that was useless. My watch showed numbers that jumped up and down and totally did not correspond with how I felt. I don't know if that was me or the flukes of gps due to running besides buildings and under trees. Either way, it did not help at all and I felt exhausted despite trying to run slower when my watch showed too high numbers and faster when it went too low.
So that is not a solution either. I was thinking about shifting my watch to show my average pace next run. But then I just read this article about how you have to run on feeling and not by your watch. And it hit me that I am overthinking everything again. I am worrying too much about how I run instead of just enjoying it.
But then again, if I run too fast, it takes away the joy and causes me to suffer by the end of my run. So my pace IS important. How to solve this conundrum...
The problem is that I don't feel it... I had the same problem with horse riding. You have to feel the horse below you, you have to feel how it moves to anticipate. And I just did not feel a thing. Though I very easily feel pain, I seem to be otherwise very unconnected to my body...
Running is supposed to be fun. You seem to be over thinking and making it painful
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The watch is not the problem, I normally never look at my watch. Just have it to see the distance afterwards. I just don't FEEL the pace, because of which I tend to run too fast or too slow causing my run to end in suffering (as in having to crawl instead of run because I exhausted myself). I just can't find 'my' pace anymore. I thought to use the watch to see my pace and try to run faster or slower depending on the number I'd see. Did not work...
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You know, there is no right way or wrong way to do this
Just head up and smell the flowers. Enjoy every step of the way. Sometime this will no longer be possible
Not sure this helps, as I seem to luckily be a natural ultra-slow runner 🐢🤣🤣, but have you tried running to music with certain beats per min?
I have bookmarked Spotify play lists for 145BPM, 150 and 155bpm. And I just love running in time to the beat.
Many runners seem to have taken the time to put their playlists in, so just search for whatever BPM you might need. Some are better than others, but trying them out is also quite fun.
Of course this works only if you like running to music 🎶 😁.
I thought I was a natural snail too, but now.... I used to run to Podrunner music of 160 bpm to get my steps per minute up (not my speed). But I stopped at a certain moment with listening to music while running and I must say I like running in the silence of nature. But maybe I should pull my music up again. A few weeks ago I downloaded some other music with 160 bpm, but haven't used it yet. Part of me wants to keep running without music, but maybe it would help with my pace... I am going to think about it!
Ahhh yes, I did read about someone using the podrunner podcasts, so must have been you! 🤣🤣I listened in on them but felt it was too electronica for me. And I like reconnecting to songs I used to know and love. But podrunner is such a great concept, just the style of music is not my thing.
I know someone here on the forum just runs with a metronome app, which might be the compromise between nature and beat.
Thanks, the music I downlozded but have not used yet is less electronic and a bit more pop I think. A metronome might be a good idea too... Things to ponder! 😁
The metronome apps are easy to find. I have used one in the past to stop me rushing off at the beginning. I just put it in low sound and found it faded into the background once I had found the beat (often took 10 minutes or so to settle). 🐢
Have you tried using the stepping-stone podcasts just for a couple of runs? if one of them is the right cadence for you it might help.
I used them for a few weeks after c25k and find that if I am struggling Laura's voice still pops into my head and I start the counting 1234..1234...1234 .After a few repetitions I find things settle down again and I am off.
Bit convoluted sorry and obviously will only work if there is on in the correct cadence for you, but might be worth a try?
I have not yet tried them, also because I could not use the app you all use as it is not compatible with my phone. So I never had Laura with me 😞. But let me look into the podcasts!
How long have you been running for? For me, feeling my pace was ability I needed to learn - and it only came with time. For instance, when I graduated c25k I had no conception of pace. Easy? Hard? It all seemed the same / I could not think about a pace and actually run it.
6 months later even it was a totally different ballgame. Paces just came naturally. Now? I feel even more in tune than I did then.
As advice, I would give you to:
1) Focus on breathing - can you breath normally? If you can, keep going. If not, adjust
2) Do not conceive of too high or too low numbers! your pace is determined by your sleep, eating, stress levels, tiredness, the weather... don't have one magic number which you try and aim for. Instead, maybe a range is better?
3) Try not to stress about it too much. What is too slow anyways? As for running too fast, focus on breath, feeling comfortable, and tuning in to your body.
Good luck! I'm sure this will begin to become easier.
I started C25K mid November, have been running 3 to 4 times a week (always 1 day rest between) since then except when I had migraine. So that is 4 months almost? And it is as you say, I absolutely have no conception of my pace and it frustrates me. I ought to learn to feel my body, but I feel nothing...
My breathing is generally ok, only towards the end it grows a bit heavier / faster. But indeed, I should not lock onto a number. I am doing that too much. And stress, I am build from stress 😂. I tend to overthink everything, very bad habit...
Some great responses here so I don't have anything to add, except how your breathing feels is a really simple but effective approach. You might be expecting too much of yourself too soon as well? Good luck - will be interested to hear how you get on with this.
My breathing feels ok whether I run slow or fast, only by the end of the run does it speed up a tad. So not really an indicator for me I fear. But foing to note all the tips down and think about it a bit ☺
I don't know if this will help, everyone is different, but I had a similar problem for a while and eventually worked out that for me the key is to start off slow. Looking at the splits on my watch I realized that my first K was always way faster than the rest. Initially when I transitioned from my warm up walk into running I was setting off too fast and then my breathing was all over which would force me to slow down and then I would try and speed up and the result was my pace was up and down. Because I was running too hard at the start I also got tired and struggled later on in my run.
I made a conscious effort to start off running more slowly and let my breathing settle down then gradually run faster. That made a massive difference in terms of settling into a steady pace. I don't find it too helpful to look at the watch too much while I am running but I do look at the splits afterward and think about that on my next run. I aim to try and get the splits fairly consistent so if I see that I started off quick and slowed down a lot at the end I would make an effort to start off more slowly next time. I think the start of your run is the key. If you start off slow you can build your pace up but if you go off too quick and then realise your pace has dropped it is too late because you are already tired and it is really hard to increase the pace then.
You mention not being able to feel your pace. That might be because if your pace is all over the place your body doesn't know what it feels like to run at a steady pace. Running at a steady pace is a muscle memory thing. I had that problem initially but now that I have been starting more slowly I find that I have a natural pace and I can feel if I am going faster or slower because I have that experience of running a lot at that pace to compare it with. That natural pace does vary though. Like everyone else I have good days and bad days and on a bad day the pace I settle into is slower and on a good day quicker but it tends to be fairly steady, each time if that makes sense. My pace has gradually increased a bit as I have run more as well.
Once you develop that pace and know what it feels like you can vary it so if I am doing a longer run, which for me is 10K, I will consciously run a bit slower and if I am doing a short one like 3 or 4K I will push the pace and try to run faster, but I have that reference of my "natural pace" so I can feel if I am going slower or faster.
Indeed, I don't have the feeling of a constant pace yet, you are right. On Saturday on my 'long' run I did have a moment of about 5 minutes where I think I was pretty consistent. I kinda fell into a trance, hearing my feet slap the path and feeling my legs move in rhythm. It felt lovely! Unfortunately I could not keep it up and was out of my trance.
I'll try starting of slower, though I have to beware of not going too slow either (have had that once and it was just as exhausting as going too fast). In any case, I am not going to keep an eye on my watch anymore because that was certainly not a help. The watch is for after my run to see my stats.
Can't wait till I have enough exercise in my legs for me to feel the pace 😊
Just a thought, If you are having trouble getting accurate gps readings from your watch can you get it to show your cadence instead? because that is counting steps rather than using the gps. Trying to maintain a constant cadence is another good way to get that consistent feel. You can shorten your stride going uphill which means you go slower but you can still try to maintain the same number of steps per minute. Again start off a bit slower and speed up to your target cadence over the first minute or so
I'll check my watch and try it. The last 2 runs my cadence was pretty ok (more consistently than the ones before). Did not go for a run on Friday due to being exhausted after work. But going today (if the weather permits, otherwise it will be the dreadmill).
Hi BS. There’s been a lot of good comments here on just enjoying running. But to get to your original post, yes I think GPS tracking does go weird in valleys, on the “wrong” side of hills and in tree coverage. Often I know I’m struggling uphill but I’m getting a great pace reading. And vice versa. Enjoy nonetheless!! 😎
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