Relax and run “NAKED”!
Posted January 11th, 2007 at 4:00 PM by Paul Petersen
Section: Running & Training, Motivation
I have an odd habit. I try to run naked once a week. By “naked”, I actually mean “without a watch”.
We runners love our gadgets, and the sports watch is the grandaddy of all running accessories. Many of us literally feel naked without one. Take my iPod, GPS, HR monitor, and hydration pack - but leave me my watch!
Running with a watch is essential for good training and racing; it allows us to quantify our speed, estimate distance, and track fitness gains over the duration of a training program. Maintaining set paces for various types of training cannot be understated, and is emphasized in nearly every training program, such as those advocated by Pfitzinger, Daniels, and others.
So why would I want to shed my Polar S610 (with its sweet 99-lap timer, massive 21 hours of memory, and glorious chartable heart-rate functionality)? After all, I’m a competitive runner, and losing the “wrist noose” could do some damage to the integrity of my training log. Well … simplicity is beautiful. There are more important things than pace and routine.
Nearly every day, I track my distance, time, splits, and effort-level, and I know I am in the majority of runners with these habits. But sometimes it’s refreshing to just go out and run. Yes, run without constraints, without a set pace, without a set time limit, to wander and run as a child again. My weekly “naked run” serves as a reminder of why I fell in love with running in the first place, and helps prevent burnout. Philosopher and theologian C.S. Lewis once said,
“If one could run without getting tired I don’t think one would often want to do anything else.”
I think C.S. Lewis hit it right on the head. There is something sublime in running. When it is just you, the running path, and the sky, life is just good. When your mind is cleared of all the garbage, clutter, and pressure of the day, you feel invigorated and refreshed with every stride. It is liberating to not be chained to the “carpal collar”, even if infrequently.
There are also physiological beneifits. Freeing your mind and legs from times and mile splits on a weekly basis will allow your body to truly find its appropriate pace. Sometimes our legs are tired and need a rest, but we tell ourselves we have to run a certain time, pace, or distance. Doing a weekly “naked run” can serve as a valuable workout where our legs get to make the decisions rather than the watch. Even elite runners such as Deena Kastor occasionally take the watch off for recovery and enjoyment.
So try it. Try running naked. I’m not advocating going sans watch every day, just try it once a week. Be a kid again, and let your run be filled with dreams and adventure. Try a new route, one where you don’t know the exact distance. Run fast, run slow. Enjoy it.
Research sources and for more information: [Runners World]
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Tags: accessories, deena kastor, forrest gump, gps, HRM, ipod, love for running, mp3, naked, physiological, running accesories, sports watch, stress, time, timing, training assistant, training program, training regimen, training routine, watch
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The Final Sprint
Thanks for this post! I firmly believe that the only thing one needs in order to run is a good pair of shoes. When I run free of gadgets, I relax and remember what I love about running — a clear mind, an active body, and the world around me.
January 12th, 2007 at 5:37 pm