The important thing for me about it isn't data or geeky speed fetishism per se, but that you can see improvement. For my favourite Sunday morning run by the lake, I can see on the screen what I feel in my legs - how much better or worse I did than before. Thats an important part of keeping the shoes out of the cupboard
Understood that you don't want to be too serious a runner, but you'd be surprised at what an honest measure of yourself will do to your psyche in terms of training. I really got to know my body and what I was capable of after using one of these gadgets for a year, and was able to improve dramatically because of it.
If you want some inspiration, read this book. For ze englisch sprechende, the link is here .
Here's a story from Sunday. Went deep snow running with a pal up at around 1200 meters on the border of ZG, ZH & SZ in the woods way above Einsiedeln. Two hours of blasting the trails, stopping to catch our breath after some steep ascents, following some deer trails that cut diagonally through the pines. Tripping over in deep snow as the tree roots were hidden under the freshly fallen snow; white out and branches, accelerating through deep drops with nothing to stop the momentum.
Distance run = no idea
Vertical ascent = no clue
Fun factor = Priceless
Physical challenge = Awesome
No GPS involved, just a decent pair of Inov8 shoes and addictive enthusiasm.
I also tried the nike+ app on the iphone but for my tastes it was a bit flaky.
Eventually I have now moved to the Nike+ GPS sports watch. I am personally very happy with this indeed, and they just updated the firmware to add some functionality, improve other functionality, and increase GPS accuracy.
With the watch, you can use GPS, or both GPS and the little shoe pod (which fits into a special compartment on most nike running shoes (if you look on the sole and it says nike+ you are good) for improved accuracy or continued stats when you lose GPS (like when running through a tunnel or in a gym).
What I particularly like about nike+ is that you can programme challenges for yourself on your nike+ website profile, and then download them to your calendar. In this way you can set a programme to run a 5K, up to a marathon or other challenges. For me it provides more than enough info: time, distance, pace, avg pace, etc etc. If you are hardcore about stats the Garmins may appease you more, but for me Im more than good with the Nike.
I agree that a watch (or other running tool) isnt vital, but i certainly like to have it. Without it, there is pretty much no way I would have known I have ran more than 2000 km in the last few years for example.
I also agree that building variety into ones routes is a great way to keep up the motivation.
I have mates that are addicted to their Garmin
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=349&ra=true
It tracks your run and you can upload it to your 'puta and a whole lot of other wizz-bang fancy fandangle stuff.
I can see the attraction, and would get me one too if... i felt i needed it(?)
Strangely, I prefer the simpler things in life- a polar, just for heart-rate- to make sure I am not going at it too hard.
I generally check a map and measure distance from there - and approximate height gain.
The best runs are always those that you just run for the hell of it - go places you haven't been - safe in the knowledge you can always run back again.
Boxing Day - for example - a few friends ran up my "usual" trail up the side of a mountain - 4km and 400m of climb - ouch. We looped up further trying to find a hiking path - we couldn't. We ended up running up a steep ski-slope - then just to run down another longer steep slope!
We then went hunting for another path - but it was covered in 30cm of snow - which was just too extreme for us that day. We eventually ran down another track - covered pretty much all in ice.
It was great fun - and we had clocked well over 90mins without thinking.
Running should be fun!!
I've been running for years and the only time I've become demotivated is when I have seriously tried to improve my speed! Rather than having a relaxing run, I've spent the time clock watching.
So my recommendation to maintain a lifestyle change, ie. a running habit that lasts for years rather than just for January, is get a 1:25,000 map, a flower/bird recognition book and friends who don't mind getting lost on a run.
I'm glad you enjoy your GPS free runs with nothing but your enthusiasm and your trusty Inov8TM shoes. I, on the other hand, think what brand of shoes someone is wearing are pretty irrelevant as long as they're having fun, whereas they're obviously pretty important to you. You see where I'm going with this?
So, when are you joining us for a run in the Züri Oberland?
Gadgets and gizmos are a matter of personal opinion. Most of the time they are beyond me. However, once upon a time in a thinner life I used just a simple heart rate monitor. I have little care for how far, how fast, or how long I have run. But it was useful on those occasions that I felt I was off the pace, to check to see whether I was jaded and already pushing myself sufficiently hard, or whether it was my mind already willing myself to the pub for a hard earned curry and a couple of pints.
If you are the type of person that likes to share tales and adventures via social media, then it would be a great idea. I would rather take a camera though and record the views from some of wonderful runs that there are in this part of the world.
Happy running
Mike
One of the earlier posts mentioned borrowing one from a friend. That's a great idea.
Get yourself some kids. You won't get a lie-in anyway so rather than playing snap or doing a jigsaw puzzle at 6.00am on a Saturday morning, you could set off on a run and soon be running through a forest glade in the snow with a couple of deer a stone's throw away and total silence.
Of course, you still get to the the puzzles and change the nappies on Sunday morning while your wife gets a lie-in.
When I do go on a long runs, I take:
A watch.
A map.
A camera.
I think I try other options first. A sport watch requires less commitment.
It was fun, but there was a bit too much snow. I've been meaning to do the same route in better weather but I've since moved a bit further away, and family life makes it difficult to find the time for what is essentially a full day of running.