How do you measure distance?

[Ballesta]

I know that at this stage we should not obssess with how many km we are making (I just did W8R1). However, I would like to know roughly how far I am to the 5k and aim for it, if not next week, in the following consolidation weeks.

I bought a smartwatch and I decided to measure only the time running (not the 5 and 5 min to warm up and cool down later), so I could see my average cadence when running without the walking part (I want to work on keeping it slow and steady). However, that means that my watch is not counting the meters I have covered in the 10 minutes walking. When we talk about 5k in 30 minutes, are we supposed to exclusively measure the distance in the 30 minutes running, or should we include as well the other 10 minutes?

Thank you!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Hi, yes , you would be just measuring running time 👍

[Ballesta Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thank you! I have done so and realised how far I am from 5k 😅 much work to do!

[nowster Graduate]

The warm up and cool down walks don't count towards the distance.

If you have a smartphone you could use the GPS receiver in that with a suitable app to track your distance, independent of your watch.

[Ballesta Graduate in reply to nowster]

Yes, I am using a smartwatch, I just needed to know when to start counting. Thanks!

[Hidden]

I start my polar running position on the watch and warm up, when I hit the run part of the run I press the record button on the strava, then I stop recording on that when I finish the run and just leave the polar record the rest of the activity. Then I know my run pace and distance on strava and the overall effort calories etc on the polar watch and app x

[Ballesta Graduate in reply to Hidden]

That is a very good idea. Thanks!

[Hidden]

It was worked out on here with other runners helping me as I needed to know my actual pace and not including the warm up and cool down walks x I don’t care now so much though as I am so overjoyed I can run for 25 mins in a row haha x enjoy! X

[Ballesta Graduate in reply to Hidden]

You are right, that what we have achieved is a joy. But it also gives me motivation to track my performance (even if it is a very modest one) and hope to slowly improve it 😊