Why Your Watch Data Doesn’t Matter
The numbers on your watch are only numbers.
They’re meaningless until your mind interprets them.
If I told you “35,” it’s a neutral number. By itself, it doesn’t mean anything.
Once I tell you it’s my time in a 100-mile race, you attach a story to it - that’s slow, or that’s good on that course, or whatever.
So what you think about a number is more important than the actual number.
The problem many runners have with their watch and its data is that instead of managing their thoughts about what the numbers mean, they do the complete opposite - they let the numbers manage how they think about themselves.
They trust watch data more than themselves. It’s truth. The expert. The watch knows more than they do.
So they have a great run…and end up feeling defeated because the watch says they were slower than they thought.
This belief is so powerful that even when they know the data isn’t accurate they still use it to worry, judge, and compare themselves to others - who’s doing more mileage and vertical?
They become dependent on watch data to tell them how they’re doing instead of validating themselves. Heart rate on today’s run was higher than usual so they must be out of shape.
And let it determine how they see themselves. The data says they’re slow so they avoid group runs for fear they can’t keep up with others.
There are practical reasons to challenge thinking of watches as the all-knowing authority. For starters, a watch’s ability pick up enough satellites at the right position in your location varies, and there are way too many variables for you watch give a precise measurement of performance - a watch can’t tell your slow pace is because you’re post-holing through snow.
There are also human reasons to challenge thinking you even need the data.
Ultrarunners spent decades successfully running ultras before smartwatches showed up.
And I’ve run 132 100-mile races, 3 200-mile races, and lots of other ultras without a smart watch. I wear a regular digital watch for time, and occasionally an app on my phone for navigation.
My priority is listening to my body, not a middle man.
There are some people who handle watch data well. If that’s you, great.
But for everyone else, here’s what I suggest.
Create an intentional relationship with your watch and its data.
Decide:
When you’re going to use it.
What you’ll measure
What you’ll make the numbers mean.
How you’re going to use the data.
And set boundaries with it where you need to.
You’ll be able to keep your training in perspective instead of letting one “bad” run spell doom.
You’ll respond with calm instead of react with panic when your watch says you should already be at the aid station.
You’ll improve faster by learning your mind, body and race distance, instead of relying on the watch for answers.
And you’ll use more of your brain, which is light years more powerful and sophisticated than your watch.
I can help you change your relationship with the data and the other fears and worries holding you back.
Email me and let’s talk about your race and what’s between you and the finish line.
