THE JOY OF A GADGET-FREE RUN (guest post).

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Look at me! I’m gadget-free!

Disclosure: I love me some Shauna Reid. Like we used to do a podcast together love. Like if I had the chance to kidnap someone and could force her to be my sisterwife it would be Shauna love. 

Secondary disclosure: I invited her and her co-author, coach Julia Jones, to share thoughts on gadget-free running and to PROMO! PROMO! their new book (which I’ve read and adored).

The reason is an outgrowth of my own half marathon running experience.  Not being a runner and having this be my first race I heeded every rule in the packet.  Right down to the clear statement of listening to headphones/ear buds during the race was a violation.

I showed up race day ear-budfree and ready to chat during my run only to discover I was the only one who’d followed the rule.

13.1 miles later–all in my head and chatting to no one (they all had tunes. I was *not* disrupting the tunes.)–I’d become a hardcore, no music, all unplugged runner.

Please to enjoy Shauna & Julia’s thoughts on the subject.

GPS charged? Check.

Heart rate monitor strapped on? Check.

Sports bra secured? Check.

Phone in pocket? Check.

Playlist loaded? Check.

Satellites located? Check.

Congratulations, you are now ready for your 45 minute run! Or is that your mission to the moon?

There are so many fitness gadgets on offer today that it can feel like it takes longer to get ready for your workout than to actually do it.

And once you’re finally moving, technical hiccups can disrupt your rhythm – from hitting a wrong button on the RunKeeper app, to losing a satellite, to taking a phone call from your Mum.

We love gadgetry and wouldn’t be without it, but we invite you to try a workout with no technology whatsoever. Whether you’re running, walking, elliptical-ing or another kind of movement – just put on your workout clothes and go. Old school, baby!

Sometimes that silence can clear a delicious space for your mind to roam.

We’ve found that awesome creative ideas pop into our heads out of nowhere.

We make mental grocery lists and daydream about summer vacation.

We find solutions to problems that have plagued us for days.

Or sometimes it’s all quiet up there, and we just huff along in a moving meditation.

Start with one workout a week. Try to feel comfortable with your own company and have fun simply moving. Observe what goes on in your mind and body:

  • How’s your breathing? Is it shallow or deep?
  • What thoughts are popping into your mind?
  • How are your arms positioned?
  • What do your footsteps sound like? Are you shuffling or actively pushing off the ground?
  • How does this running speed feel? Could you pick it up a notch, or do you need to take a walking break?
  • What do your surroundings look like? What can you feel and smell? What’s the light like this time of year?
  • Now, what’s for dinner?

You can also experiment with running a gadget-free race.

We’ve had runners pull awesome PR’s after their GPS watches died at the start line, so they had nothing but the feeling in their legs and lungs to judge their pace.

Why not give it a go?

 

Renowned running coach Julia Jones and her sidekick Shauna “Dietgirl” Reid are the brains behind Up & Running e-courses for runners. Their brand new book UP AND RUNNING (CICO Books) is a friendly, fun and do-able 8 week program to take you from zero to 5k and beyond… and discover the life changing power of running! Find out more here.

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Comments

  1. Thanks for the pointers. Am currently getting ready for my first marathon in June, i’ve already done 3 half-marathons past year.

  3. I hecka love my Garmin, but I wonder how I’d like my run without obsessing over the numbers.

  4. I never race with music because I’m all business out there, and I love hearing the chatter around me or the crowds – it’s awesome. I also run frequently (outside) with just my clothes and shoes….now, on the treadmill, all bets are off and I need my tunes 🙂

  7. I’ve always loved Shauna’s wit. Miss your podcasts! This looks like a program I could use because I desperately need to get my butt into exercise gear!

  9. For years I ran without any timing gadets and it never occurred to me to start until I started racing more a few years ago. I haven’t used my Garmin more than once per week since my November marathon and for me I enjoy running a lot more that way.

  10. Yes, yes, yes! I have been running long enough that I can remember when gadget free was the only way. Much of that has stuck with me over the years–I have never used music, for instance. I do like my HRM, I will admit, but also like runs w/o nothing at all to interrupt the fun.

  11. When I run lately my back (upper) hurts a lot later.
    I wonder if trying this could help me tune into what my arms are doing to cause this.
    Great post.

  14. Hi,
    I enjoyed the story and the idea!

    I’m also sobered by how many devices people use. I do see earbuds all the time, wrist devices of various types, and phones, but it’s much more than I thought!

    I’m old-school, and work out this way all the time. I’m in a tiny minority, I guess. I have one advantage in that I’m a musician as well as athlete, so if I want tunes, they’re in my head in vivid detail, and sometimes even when I don’t want them.

    As Kierston said, you experience your environment much more. I think it’s also possible to pay more attention to what your body is doing, what’s going well, and what isn’t. And not running into a wall while texting is a nice perk. 😉

    I’ve learned to count seconds with no timer when needed. I did that by finding a song that uses 2 beats per second and thinking of that song while counting.

    In the end, whatever works for you is good! 🙂

      • Shauna,
        It is true, I’m spoiled. 🙂 I try not to take it for granted – music is incredibly motivating emotionally, and its rhythm doubles that, so I get wanting to have it.

        Of course I get zero compliments for my gear. 😉

        I also have less time for music now – I used to do long slow distance (with its very fun initials), now it’s all sprints. I can’t even listen to the Minute Waltz. 😉

        Cheers, Dave

  15. While I am an a music listener during my races…. I do sometimes run music free.
    Over the years my music free running has helped me write many a college assignment that I had writers block on. I also recovered from heartbreak on my runs by being able to process my thoughts and have planned many fascinating adventures in my life.

    • I’m with you there Carla, it can be sooo helpful for writing! Like that Henry Thoreau quote, “Methinks the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow” 🙂

  16. Every outdoor run I’ve done since the end of November has been garmin free and music free. I thought I’d be bored but I’ve quite enjoyed the time to myself. Sometimes I think deep thoughts, sometimes I have random thoughts, and sometimes I just get a song in my head for hours and not think at all and just enjoy the movement of point A to point B and worry about pacing and mileage.

    It’s exactly what I needed the month after a bit of a disappointing marathon finish. It helped me get my run <3 back. I also run more regularly since I don't feel the pressure to do x miles at x pace and I think I've even gotten faster.

  18. When I have had a long week and I’ve spent too much time on the phone and computer, I embrace those gadget free runs. They are so refreshing…FREE…and I love that chatter. I am a different person once I am done. It is amazing how many gadgets we rely on not just for fitness, but also in our daily lives. It is a little overwhelming!

  19. I love this! If I’m on a treadmill, I MUST have my headphones to enjoy my tv viewing. But if I’m on the street, I absolutely can not have headphones. I feel they just add to the clutter already happening in my head 🙂 I love having that time to sort out everything swirling around up there!

  20. I did my first half this year gadget free and it was great. I too loved the cheer of the crowd. Training however or just going out for a run to destress I need my tunes. These help me relax and just let me enjoy my run. If I don’t have them I find myself thinking about work and my huge to do list. Music allows me to lose myself in my run.

  23. OH MAN That checklist hits close to home!!! Great post.

    Running gadgets are such a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they can help us identify our strengths, weaknesses, improve, strive harder, etc., but on the other hand, they just suck all the fun out of the run, don’t they?!

    Back when I was first learning to run, the gadgets helped me learn to pace myself and set goals. Last year, training for my first 10k, I had to know how far I was going, so GPS was a must. Nowadays, no longer training for anything, I typically bring nothing but my music…

    Ah, I might have one last bit of your challenge here to master! Music-free workout, challenge accepted.

  24. Not a runner, and a techno dunce, so my workouts are just me following directions for how to do that workout. My mind does wander a lot.

  25. I have been running gadget free going on 44 years. Sometimes I don’t even wear my watch as I know my pace, course and it’s too dark to see my watch. Don’t need any of that stuff- sub 3:40 marathon, 41:00 min 10k, 22 min 5k (in triathlon), sub 6 70.3 and sub 15 Ironman (2), six hour pikes peak marathon, 12:30 hour grand canyon crossing (over and back). All times were not recorded by self-ran like I wanted, how I wanted, where I wanted and enjoyed every second (although I had no idea they were actually passing).

  26. I envy you for being able to run without gadgets. I have tried it and I just can’t get there. Part of my problem is that I use running as a chance to listen to music or even a podcast. Since I look forward to listening, it would be so hard for me to turn it off!

    But maybe I will try and force myself. It sounds like it would be a good chance to clear my mind – which is what running should be all about!

  27. Wow, nice timing for me to come across this article… 23 days ago I made a decision to drink more water and exercise daily. We live about 5 minutes form the beach so I have literally no excuses with scenery like that! Tonight I’m going OLD SCHOOL baby haha!

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