Do smartwatches help to motivate you?

[LinziWearables]

I'm starting to think about running more often!

Does anyone use a smartwatch to help set reminders to go for a run? Are there any other ways they can help to motivate you, and get you running?!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

They are good...useful for stats and workout planning etc... but not as a motivator for me... I just enjoy running.. with or without my Garmin

[Yesletsgo Administrator]

I hate devices (or people come to that) telling me what to do, so didn't find the (Garmin) smart watch useful for that. Mine does have lots of useful functions though, for planning runs and looking at the numbers afterwards. I wouldn't be without it (though I spend a lot of time trying to ignore it).

I think all this says a lot more about me than the usefulness of the watch 😂

[T2runner Graduate]

I use mine as a rough guide to my fitness stats, great way to count steps and see the heart rate etc, but only as a guide, a £200 watch is no comparison to the 10's of thousands of pounds proper equipment costs.

[Pugwash Graduate]

It's a 'different strokes' thing I think. I use a cheap (Amazfit) smartwatch and it provides more than enough info for both me and Strava TBH. The biggest stat for me, from a motivational standpoint, is my avg. pace. Also, I have a friend who is a much better runner than me (ultras etc.) who nags me when he sees I haven't posted for a few days - it really works!

[Cmoi Graduate]

What a coincidence that you should post this. I posted on the Fun Beyond 10K forum about a podcast on this topic just the other day. Link here: bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct5rjd

I own a Garmin, but my answer to your question is no, no way does it motivate me.

[Fitness2025]

I have just ordered one. But I use Strava on my phone to track my runs. For now I just force myself as motivation haha

[LinziWearables]

Thanks so much everyone! I think I'm going to bite the bullet and get a smartwatch! Hoping the fitness stats will motivate me to improve them with each run 🤞

Going to give one of these a whirl! o2.co.uk/shop/smartwatches

[Mojoxxx Graduate]

Hi, when doing C25k, I wore a fitbit and logged things like HR, distance etc and took photos of my progress which helped me see how far I’d come. I continued with my fitbit for another year or so (through completion of C25k and some 10k’s) until my partner started running too. He had a Garmin and had access to more stats so I upgraded and got a Garmin 265 for my next birthday. The display is clearer and I especially like that I can link music and podcasts to it. I am also now using their free Garmin Coach function to achieve a goal. Having said all that, 2 of my Park Run PB’s occurred when my watch technology (operator error!) failed and I had nothing to determine how I was doing! So take that as you wish and good luck with your running

[RunningNoobs]

Hi, I'll add my two pennies-worth, as I thought this post lacked the opinion of a technophobe 😉

I swear by my basic stopwatch. One of the reasons I took to running was that I can just put my shoes on and get out there.

I don't need any special equipment or expensive gizmos, I can just go and get out.

For my motivation that is essential, as it has a tendency to play hide and seek, and having to go to a special place in a special outfit at a special time would add so many obstacles I would never make it out the door!

Now, don't make me say what I didn't say : you still need decent shoes, and most of the time I do get all dressed up, but it's quick and easy (plus I like the way I look in my outfit 🐆).

And I always, always warm up before I get out, even when I just want a quick run.

But I'm losing my point here.

Point is, if you think a fancy watch is going to motivate you, get one !

For me I don't think it makes much of a difference. I would just spend way too much time thinking about running rather than actually running.

And just to be honest: I did get a second-hand Suunto Watch in January, but it's not a great one. It doesn't do a lot of stuff since it is not supported by the brand anymore, so a lot of the cool functions from the app can't get transferred to the watch.

But it still tells me how long I've been running, and I can switch to kilometers. That's about all I do with it, and I'm happy that way. For me most of the info that's available is not going to make a difference whether I run or not.

And it actually annoys me that it compares my performances! Like if it tells me my previous run was faster or further, when I thought I did great in this one.

I find reality can sometimes be demotivating, in fact, since it (could) tell you something different than what your sensory experience was.

And I don't want to run for the wrong reasons, or beat myself up because my watch says one thing and I feel another.

Wow, sorry I realise I'm on a rant now, and I hope you're getting the jist of what I'm trying to say !?!

Anyway, I run because of how it makes me feel, not for stats on a screen. I do enough of that at work! 😜

[LinziWearables in reply to RunningNoobs]

Good to hear! I never thought about the comparison in performance. Nobody wants to be judged, especially by a watch 😂