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You get home from a run and automatically press save on yourbest smartwatchorbest running watch.
Before jumping in the shower you check the run has uploaded to Strava and pool over the stats.
What was my average pace?
Have I bagged a segment course record?
What was my maximum cadence and heart rate?
How much did I slow down on the hill?
Instead, you are busy planning how to better your stats on your next run.
And yet we are increasingly slaves to our smart watches, heart rate monitors and fitness trackers.
According to global data published byACSM Health & Fitness Journal, wearable technology is the top 2024 fitness trend.
There is also a wealth of evidence thattechnology anxietyis continuing to rise in younger people.
When were not glued to our phones, our watches and wearables are pinging us with notifications instead.
Is it best to run without a smartwatch?
Taking the pressure off can also help to increase enjoyment in running, says endurance coachStephanie Holbrook.
It can be a rewarding challenge to set aside your ego and embrace gear-free running.
It allows you to focus on enjoying running without being distracted by technology.
Simon James is the founder ofRun the Wild, an organization with the mantra exploring places not running races.
He believes running without tech leads to a more meditative state.
Tech detracts us from the moment and takes us away.
We just don’t do that in our society anymore.
Something to distract you.
But studies show immersion in green spaces is beneficial for our mental health, he adds.
The importance of running to feel
Its not just about the mental and social benefits.
And lets face it, tech can sometimes fail so its important not to be over reliant on it.
So how can you run naked?
Maximum effort like sprinting is 10/10 whilst an easy effort is more like 4/10, with resting 0/10.
Sometimes simple things like this are much better than always looking at your watch and looking for reassurance.
